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Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,
Please don't let the title of this post discourage you from reading it. In general, I dislike politics. I dislike being lied to by politicians. I dislike the division politics causes between friends and families. I dislike how those with whom I agree politically constantly berate and belittle the other side, instead of treating all people with honor and dignity as Christ commands us to. I strongly dislike name calling because it betrays an immaturity that just isn't appropriate when discussing serious issues. Nobody wins an argument, because the person proven "wrong" is so badly hurt that they'll never take the "winner's" position no matter how much sense it makes. With that in mind, I'm going to dip my toes into the political arena for this one post because I feel that it matters. In this day of hostile politics, please read this post as a humble plea for the protection of the weakest members of our society.
At the end of the day, I'm a single issue voter. I've been told that's an ignorant and uneducated way to vote, but I don't believe that's the case. Let me share some information with you.
The three greatest genocides of the 20th century were led, first by Mao Zedong, who was responsible for the death of tens of millions of Chinese in the mid-twentiest century in the founding and early years of the People's Republic of China; the second was led by Josef Stalin, who killed at least 8 million Russians and was responsible for the deaths of many more Ukrainians while he ruled the Soviet Union with an iron fist; and the third was led by Adolf Hitler, who killed approximately 6 million Jews during the Holocaust. History records the time periods under these leaders as dark tragedies to not be repeated, and rightly so. However, since abortion was legalized in this country in 1972, more than 50 million children in this country have been killed, which is more than Mao, Stalin, and Hitler combined.
And this genocide is ongoing. Today, Wednesday, October 31, 2012, another 3,700 children have been killed in our country. Compare that with the approximately 8,000 US soldiers who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last ten years. The loss of those servicemen is a tragedy, but we have lost more children in the last 3 days in our country than soldiers in the last ten years through two terrible wars. Where is the outrage on behalf of the most weak and defenseless members of our society? 1.3 million children are killed in our country every year! It is my personal conviction that the lives of these children matter more than any other issue, more than taxes, the economy, healthcare, or foreign policy.
I was recently told that abortion would never be made illegal in this country, but I'm far from convinced that is true. For the first time in decades, the majority of the Supreme Court leans in the direction of life, and challenges to Roe v. Wade are working their way up the court system. Also, for the first time since Roe v. Wade made abortion legal, more than 50% of Americans describe themselves as pro-life. If the Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, then the Congress will have to pass pro-abortion legislation to keep it legal, which may or may not happen, depending on who controls Congress. Your vote matters.
I want to be very sensitive here and let it be known that I don't support any war on women, and that I am not in any way advocating for a reduction in women's rights. Quite the opposite, I am advocating for an increase in the rights of preborn women, whose rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are being altogether disregarded.
Let me also make it clear that I'm not advocating punishing women who have or have had abortions. I believe these women are victims who have been lied to by so-called professionals about the nature of life and the person they carry in their wombs. The grief and loss experienced by these women is an indication of that. It is the doctors and healthcare professionals who actually kill the children who should be held responsible and prevented from continuing. Penalties should only be levied against those practitioners who continue to take the lives of children after it becomes illegal to do so.
Finally, let me encourage you to think about adoption, and what that would mean for your family. Presently, about 20,000 of the children killed each week are simply unwanted babies. If abortion becomes illegal, there are going to be a lot of unwanted children who need good homes, and we the Church are going to have to take the lead, step up, and take care of them.
It is life that matters to our Maker. Whether you like the candidate or not, let me encourage you to go vote for life and give the babies a chance. That's why I'm a single issue voter.
Next Tuesday, please go vote if you haven't done so already!
I'll write you a personal note and ministry update next week. Until then, here a few pics of the family from the last couple of weeks.
Psalm 82
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God presides over heaven’s court;
he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:
2 “How long will you hand down unjust decisions
by favoring the wicked? Interlude
he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:
2 “How long will you hand down unjust decisions
by favoring the wicked? Interlude
3 “Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.
4 Rescue the poor and helpless;
deliver them from the grasp of evil people.
5 But these oppressors know nothing;
they are so ignorant!
They wander about in darkness,
while the whole world is shaken to the core.
6 I say, ‘You are gods;
you are all children of the Most High.
7 But you will die like mere mortals
and fall like every other ruler.’”
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.
4 Rescue the poor and helpless;
deliver them from the grasp of evil people.
5 But these oppressors know nothing;
they are so ignorant!
They wander about in darkness,
while the whole world is shaken to the core.
6 I say, ‘You are gods;
you are all children of the Most High.
7 But you will die like mere mortals
and fall like every other ruler.’”
8 Rise up, O God, and judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you.
for all the nations belong to you.
Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,
Please don't let the title of this post discourage you from reading it. In general, I dislike politics. I dislike being lied to by politicians. I dislike the division politics causes between friends and families. I dislike how those with whom I agree politically constantly berate and belittle the other side, instead of treating all people with honor and dignity as Christ commands us to. I strongly dislike name calling because it betrays an immaturity that just isn't appropriate when discussing serious issues. Nobody wins an argument, because the person proven "wrong" is so badly hurt that they'll never take the "winner's" position no matter how much sense it makes. With that in mind, I'm going to dip my toes into the political arena for this one post because I feel that it matters. In this day of hostile politics, please read this post as a humble plea for the protection of the weakest members of our society.
At the end of the day, I'm a single issue voter. I've been told that's an ignorant and uneducated way to vote, but I don't believe that's the case. Let me share some information with you.
The three greatest genocides of the 20th century were led, first by Mao Zedong, who was responsible for the death of tens of millions of Chinese in the mid-twentiest century in the founding and early years of the People's Republic of China; the second was led by Josef Stalin, who killed at least 8 million Russians and was responsible for the deaths of many more Ukrainians while he ruled the Soviet Union with an iron fist; and the third was led by Adolf Hitler, who killed approximately 6 million Jews during the Holocaust. History records the time periods under these leaders as dark tragedies to not be repeated, and rightly so. However, since abortion was legalized in this country in 1972, more than 50 million children in this country have been killed, which is more than Mao, Stalin, and Hitler combined.
And this genocide is ongoing. Today, Wednesday, October 31, 2012, another 3,700 children have been killed in our country. Compare that with the approximately 8,000 US soldiers who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last ten years. The loss of those servicemen is a tragedy, but we have lost more children in the last 3 days in our country than soldiers in the last ten years through two terrible wars. Where is the outrage on behalf of the most weak and defenseless members of our society? 1.3 million children are killed in our country every year! It is my personal conviction that the lives of these children matter more than any other issue, more than taxes, the economy, healthcare, or foreign policy.
I was recently told that abortion would never be made illegal in this country, but I'm far from convinced that is true. For the first time in decades, the majority of the Supreme Court leans in the direction of life, and challenges to Roe v. Wade are working their way up the court system. Also, for the first time since Roe v. Wade made abortion legal, more than 50% of Americans describe themselves as pro-life. If the Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, then the Congress will have to pass pro-abortion legislation to keep it legal, which may or may not happen, depending on who controls Congress. Your vote matters.
I want to be very sensitive here and let it be known that I don't support any war on women, and that I am not in any way advocating for a reduction in women's rights. Quite the opposite, I am advocating for an increase in the rights of preborn women, whose rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are being altogether disregarded.
Let me also make it clear that I'm not advocating punishing women who have or have had abortions. I believe these women are victims who have been lied to by so-called professionals about the nature of life and the person they carry in their wombs. The grief and loss experienced by these women is an indication of that. It is the doctors and healthcare professionals who actually kill the children who should be held responsible and prevented from continuing. Penalties should only be levied against those practitioners who continue to take the lives of children after it becomes illegal to do so.
Finally, let me encourage you to think about adoption, and what that would mean for your family. Presently, about 20,000 of the children killed each week are simply unwanted babies. If abortion becomes illegal, there are going to be a lot of unwanted children who need good homes, and we the Church are going to have to take the lead, step up, and take care of them.
It is life that matters to our Maker. Whether you like the candidate or not, let me encourage you to go vote for life and give the babies a chance. That's why I'm a single issue voter.
Next Tuesday, please go vote if you haven't done so already!
I'll write you a personal note and ministry update next week. Until then, here a few pics of the family from the last couple of weeks.
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| Our little Zebra in motion! |
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| Lily and Daddy had fun at our Fall Festival tonight! We helped with a Gas Card giveaway that we will use the contacts from to share the gospel with and invite them to our church. |
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| She loves the horsey ride! |
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| My wife is stunning! |
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| Snow on the mountains! |
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| Little Diva! |
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| All the Shrader cousins. |
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| Shrader men (minus Josh) and their babies. |
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| Lily loves livestock! |
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| Lily made her second visit to the NC State fair, even if it was only for a few minutes! |
