Personhood

Guest post by John Kline Kurtz (my dear hubby)

Person (n): A human being
What makes you a human being? Your honest educated answer will reveal your world-view. At the core of your answer is whether or not you believe that God's final creative acts during the creation were to make man and woman, breathing into them His breath of life. He granted them the means to reproduce after their kind, human beings. Only mankind was created in God's image. Man is special among all the creatures. The Psalmist declares the relationship of the pre-born with God:

For You are He who took Me out of the womb, causing Me to trust while on My mother's breasts. I was cast on You from the womb; You are My God from My mother's belly.
(Psalms 22:9-10 MKJV)

He also declares:

For You have possessed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are marvelous and my soul knows it very well.
(Psalms 139:13-14 MKJV)

Now what God has covered is precious! The same Hebrew word for “cover” is used to describe the protection of important objects and principles, as well as His protection and defense of his people. God holds the pre-born children in a very special place of protection. We should too!

From the time that you were conceived, all of the necessary information to form you was present to begin the development of your body. Recently, in one of my classes at St. Clair Correctional Facility, a student referred to the child at an early stage as a “blob of cells”. I interrupted my student to address that phrase. If he thinks that the baby is just a “blob of cells” then the student himself is still just a “blob of cells”. If the baby is just a blob of cells, then he/she is equivalent to any other growth within the body of the mother. This is an argument which has permitted the “Pro-Choice” folks to choose to eradicate those cells, even if the next day, those cells would have been born a “baby”.

Redefining “Pro-Choice”
The real choice is made before intercourse. “Pro-Choice” should be defined as the “choice” to proceed with intercourse knowing it may produce another person. In other words, make your “choice” before the life of another person is involved.

Moral Laws
From a recent online article, there was a picture of a woman holding a sign declaring “Keep your laws off ..." presumably "my body”. Does she really mean that? Without laws to protect her, she could more easily become the victim of rape, abuse, and murder. Moral laws are good. The moral laws of protecting a baby's rights are meant to protect mother as well. She will be protected from the mental anguish and guilt of an abortion, and she will be protected from the eternal consequences of choosing to destroy her own child.

The same picture showed another woman holding a sign, “I regret my abortion”. This is a deeply moving picture.

(Dueling South Dakota protesters after the 2006 abortion ban passed: AP.)

The horrible cases of rape and incest are usually brought up at this point. But following up one atrocity with another is not the right solution. The mother will be reminded of the tragedy that took place throughout the pregnancy, birth, and subsequent life of the child. But in reality, would the mother be any less tortured by the rape or incest while also feeling the guilt of having aborted the child? We must understand “forgiveness” and “hope” in order to proceed. But our culture has come to ignore these God-given entities. Rather some prefer to hold on to the hatred and bitterness. Some seek to find healing in death and destruction (abortion), rather than in forgiveness and hope. We can change as we look to Jesus’ example of forgiveness and follow Him.

We are not looking to place blame or cause guilt on persons for deeds from the past. Rather, we offer life-giving hope that will produce great rewards for individuals and our land.

Conflicting Laws
An inmate at St. Clair Correctional Facility handed me the laws of our land demonstrating a dual standard about the pre-born child. Currently, if a pregnant mother is murdered, the murderer can be charged with a double homicide, one for mother and one for pre-born child. At the same time, two people, mother and abortionist can plot and execute the murder of the unborn child via an abortion, legally. Premeditated murder is more severe an offense than one that is not. How is abortion different from a woman and her lover plotting to kill her husband? He is an inconvenience as well! This is despicable. The reader should be bothered severely at this contradiction. We need moral laws that are consistent in protecting the life of the pre-born child.

Illegal Abortions
In a recent discussion a person lamented that in the removal of legal abortion people would resort back to dangerous and illegal ways of ending their pregnancy. The laws would again indicate that such activity is on par with murder - abortion would be a criminal act. So we see that there is an urgent need to teach God's word concerning the value of human life. Without the mindset of the people being turned toward life, abortions will continue. Personhood is not just about ending abortion, but is also about educating people of God's promotion of life.

Alabama v. “Roe v. Wade”
The recorded words of the judges and lawyers in the 1973 Supreme Court decision known as “Roe v. Wade” indicate that if the unborn child was protected as a ‘Person’, then the case for legal abortion would have been very difficult to defend. We have gone nearly 40 years and have aborted over 50 million babies, making very little progress towards defending the lives of the pre-born. But now there is more hope. If we return to the pursuit of establishing these children as 'Persons' with the unalienable rights that you and I enjoy, we can protect them from destruction.

Such a pursuit is beginning in Alabama. The Constitution Party of Alabama hosted a small meeting in Birmingham in 2010 to share what was going on in other states in the “Personhood USA” movement. Then in February 2011, The Foundation for Moral Law (Honorable Roy S. Moore, President) hosted a meeting to ignite the effort in Alabama. I attended both meetings and met some wonderful people who are determined to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from person to person by means of promoting a proper knowledge of the preciousness of life in the pre-born. Cal Zastrow and others shared the vision of the 'Personhood USA' organization to help each state make law for the protection of the unborn as 'Persons' from the point of fertilization forward. This drive has two key elements. First, design and submit the correct wording for the Bill to account for the nuances of each state's existing laws. Second, gather the people's signed opinions (in other states, known as petitioning) to submit to the government leaders of the state, reinforcing the public opinion about the importance of protecting the pre-born children’s right to life.

This understanding of personhood needs to be taught in our homes, churches, schools and media. This country was established by the preaching of righteousness throughout America’s churches to the people, who then fought and gave their lives for our freedom. It is now our turn to fight for the freedom of our children.

Wake up Alabama! The South will rise again, but this time it will be in the humility and righteousness of calling our state, country, and world to acknowledge and protect the rights of the pre-born child.

Learn more at www.personhoodusa.com and sign the petition for your state!

Weekend waterfall hike

Our church started an early service yesterday, so we had all afternoon to hike before the super bowl :) The weather was just about perfect, so we enjoyed a nice hike following the little streams on our property and then later on the wildlife management area.

These two waterfalls are on our property. They are seasonal and run in, around, and through the hillside.

We also have a little bamboo “forest” growing on our land. We walked to “the rock that Mommy took a nap on”! One time while hiking, I really just needed to lay down and rest, so this place now has this unique name :)

Beautiful blue sky. Little tree growing out of a crag in a rock.

We spent some rest time up on a rock plateau. John’s a thinker. Me … not so much.  He was kind enough to shorten his thinking time when I started to get cold from not moving.

There were more waterfalls to see, you know. John heard this one from up on the plateau rock, so we went and found it. We have been here before, but the water was not running quite as much then. Love how the water was shooting off the end of the rock. OH – and the sound!!! I took a couple of little videos just for the sound.

Another rest stop – look closely to see Hadden – he’s camouflaged :) Neli LOVED the waterfalls! She was all over them – I half worried that she was going to slip and get stuck somewhere! Crazy dog!

Same section of waterfall in these two shots – one is just a little closer in.

This is actually the same rest stop :) By this time, we had hiked 3+ miles and hadn’t brought any snacks besides water.

 

This is my favorite little waterfall.

Oh, I like this one, too.

Really like this one – my handsome hubby! :) And here’s proof that I was actually along! 

Our weekend

The weather was beautiful this past weekend, so we enjoyed some time outdoors. We had talked about going for a long hike, but until yesterday, 1/31, it was still hunting season here in Alabama. Part of our long hike is on wildlife management land, so we thought we should go with plan b instead. Savannah really wants to go camping – as in tenting – on our property. While I am all for enjoying the great outdoors, tent camping is not real high on my bucket list (I am still recovering from living in the camping trailer :), but it did seem like a good idea to clear some underbrush. John has been forging ahead clearing trails around and through our property and we join him sometimes. Hadden LOVES to “whack” with a machete.

So, clear we did. Then we gathered rocks for a fire pit. Then on Sunday, John enjoyed cooking burgers on the fire. (have to give him credit here – he took care of all of the fixin’s for the outdoor cooking party!) Later, we had s’mores … it is just not a campfire without s’mores!

 

John tending the burgers. Savannah enjoying a burger. She worked hard clearing brush and hauling rocks for the fire pit. She has all kinds of plans for using the camping site now :)

Lilly and Savannah. A decent picture of Mercy – she normally doesn’t cooperate for pictures.

This shows why we call him “Happy” – he looks like he is smiling! He belongs to a neighbor, but he spends a lot of time with us. He’s a very sweet dog, so we don’t really mind. Very convenient to have a dog that you don’t have to feed or take care of :)

   

Neli is growing up! So is Hadden! Like I said, he loves doing this. He is careful – trust me! If this overly protective mom doesn’t cringe with him using a machete, he is able to handle it :)

 

Here, he is taking down a tree. Baseball season is starting soon, so I think he is trying to build up some strength :)

Finally, we finished burning up the brush. John then tends the fire until it is burned down enough to be safe while the kids and I head back to the warm house for a shower! Don’t worry, I think he actually likes it ;)

Annual We Care Crusade

Last week was the annual We Care Crusade - the yearly event where men and women from all over come to Alabama and minister to the men and women in prison.

Somehow, I didn't get any pictures! We were blessed to have several men join John at St Clair and I am so grateful for all who come. John really gets a boost during this week and even though the hours are long, in the end, it is all worth it.

The kids and I joined them one day for breakfast and one night for supper. In past years, they have also made a short trip up to the house. Our road is SO bad this year, that we didn't feel it was wise to have them bring their vehicles up. In fact, one night, John wasn't even able to get the car up the last portion of the hill and had to walk in the dark! :)

MANY thanks to those who came this week and encouraged my man! It means a lot to all of us!

Proverbs 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

Sometimes the hassle is worth it …

Back track with me to last summer when my sister and her family were visiting. We took a mini-vacation to Gatlingburg, TN for a few days and enjoyed a nice stay in a cabin in Pigeon Forge. To make the trip less expensive, we decided to eat all of our meals in – with just easy things to make. With that, I took my hand mixer to make an easy pudding dessert. What I didn’t realize until we got home was that I had left the most important part of the mixer in the cabin!

I was actually sad because the mixer belonged to my maternal grandmother and the mixer portion still works great. Strangely enough, I found a brand-new hand mixer at Good Will that very next week! I assumed I would just be able to interchange parts to the mixers and I didn’t really need the old parts to use the old mixer. That was not the case. For some reason (which is actually quite unlike me), I kept the hand mixer anyway.

This past weekend, some women from our church went to Pigeon Forge for a women’s retreat. Knowing that I was going, I contacted the rental company from the cabin that we had stayed in last June to see if they might still have the extra beaters in the drawer in the cabin. I was pretty sure that no one would bother throwing away parts to a mixer. The people at Kimble rentals were SO incredibly kind to send someone to go and look and then contacted me by email to let me know that they had found them!

Now, the only obstacle was asking the person who drove our carpool to take me by the rental office. I have to admit that I was just slightly embarrassed to bother someone about this, but I did ask and they were very gracious to agree to go. So, Saturday, I went shopping with a group that was driving right past the rental office, so we stopped in. I had this funny feeling that it wasn’t going to just be that easy :) When I explained who I was and what I was there for, she handed me a set of beaters … but they weren’t mine! The cabin also had a hand mixer and the man had brought the beaters to the cabin’s hand mixer instead of mine.

Long story short – they went even the extra, extra mile (as did my friends) to get the right ones to me. We returned on Sunday morning and picked up the right set before coming home.

See – sometimes the hassle is worth it!

ps - If you ever do rent from them, tell them that I sent you. :) (You may have to mention the hand mixer for them to know who I am - ha!)

Too good to miss

Copied with permission from Jennifer Walker at Smelling Coffee

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This list was was written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the local newspaper "The Plain Dealer", Cleveland, Ohio. Hope it makes you think and re-think a few things~

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

“My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

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Special visitors

We were blessed to have John's sisters visiting last week! They are both very special to all of us and it was great to have a chance to catch up with them. We still had pretty slippery roads, so we were thankful that they arrived safely. The weather did keep us from touring around too much, but we enjoyed wonderful conversation and I had some chick-flick buddies :)

They treated us to Jim & Nick’s BBQ – that was tasty!

 

We also had our usual stop at Noccalula Falls – very beautiful with the snow and ice all around.

They were here for my birthday and brought some delicious red velvet cake! They also brought shoo-fly pie. Oh my - yummers!

And, here’s a picture of Neli in the snow – she just keeps getting bigger and bigger!

Thanks again, Becky and Kathy! We already look forward to the next time you are able to come :)