The CRY: Abortion

A key issue surrounding the CRY this time was that of abortion.  It wasn't really what all of the event was about, but there was significant discussion and prayer about this issue.

One of the men on the worship team got up, identified himself as a Catholic, and went on to tell his story about how he pressured his ex-girlfriend to abort her baby (his child).  She plunged into depression and drug addiction after her abortion.  He talked about the difference that he now saw in life.  When his girlfriend was pregnant, he was not just a potential father, he was a father already.

During a part of the day where the First Nations people were doing some prayers, one of the women that stood on the platform told us a story about her mother.  On the day JFK was assassinated, her mother was on her way to abort her baby.  She was so distraught about all that was going on with the President, that she went to her sisters house.  In the process of speaking to her sister, her plans to abort her baby came up, and her sister was able to talk her out of it.  The woman telling the story identified herself as the one her mother was going to abort, but she chose not to.  This woman felt that God had restored her mother.  She was born on Mother's Day.

The most poignant part of the day with respect to abortion was that of the Life Siege.  All the people on the Hill were given a piece of red tape with the word Life/Vie written on it.  We all took it and taped over our mouth with it.  The idea was that we were silently praying on behalf of the unborn.  It was very symbolic and moving.  For 15 minutes we prayed in the direction of the Supreme Court.  15 minutes was towards the House of Commons, and 15 minutes was in the direction of the Senate.  Several people were deeply impacted.  Several people had old wounds healed.  Leigh-Anne took some very cool pictures.

The next day at church we found out about someone that was deeply touched by the experience.  He was asked to share what he had gone through in the past.  He was impacted by the man that stood up and spoke about being a father already.  In this man's life (the guy from my church) he had gotten into drug and alcohol addiction.  He admitted through tears about having pressured 4 women into abortions.  He found comfort in the fact that he would see those innocent children in heaven.  "Honey, when we get to heaven we're going to have 6 kids", he said as he left the platform.

One thing that this giving the Order of Canada to Morgentaler  has done is remind people how they feel about abortion.  It still hurts.  It still brings a sense of injustice.  People seem to have such a passionate view one way or the other.  When we live in a country like Canada where there is no abortion law, the church must stand up on behalf of those that cannot speak for themselves... the unborn... the innocent...

Sometimes you just need a good CRY!

I was involved with something on Saturday August 23rd, 2008.  It was called the CRY.  It was about young people of the Christian faith getting together to pray and cry out for Canada.  Some may read some of what I write about over the next few entries, but these will be some of my reflections of what I saw and experienced.

The body of Christ has a chance at true unity.  I saw and was a part of this event.  Involved also were people from other evangelical churches, people from other parts of Protestantism, people from the messianic Jewish community, and people from the Catholic church.  There were French, English, Metis, Inuit, and other First Nations people.  There were national leaders, a letter from the Prime Minister blessing us in our event, and a minister of Parliament.

All people cheered on, and prayed as Jesus was preached, and as issues like abortion, and pornography were prayed against, all in attendance for the Rally agreed.  We began the day on the Quebec side, in Jacques Cartier Park, and part way through the day we marched across the bridge to Parliament Hill.  

I saw people praying from deep within them.  I saw people praying in symbolic ways (One woman had a small Canadian flag and a Quebec flag and was praying over them.  Several First Nations people came in full dress that they had consecrated to God.  Their stories were incredible.)  We did something called a Life Siege (which I will talk about in a different post), and we got burned to a crisp in the heat.  (I look like a raccoon)

My point for this post is just to say that if that diverse of a group can meet together to pray, and seek God for Canada, then why not all of us.  People put aside their differences and worshipped God.  We all do things a bit differently, but God is not wrapped up in a denomination.  His church is those that follow after Him, and choose to follow after His example.

 

More soon....

Wow... That was loud!

Let me just begin by saying that this entry may end up all over the place.... much like my Friday night to Saturday morning.  

Sometimes living Infuzion is about having ministry events that are a bit of a calculated risk.  We had an event with the girls from Infuzion.  We called it "An Evening of Honour".  We had the girls that were available sleep over.  Leigh-Anne had some crafts for them to do.  We played some video games.  We watched a movie.  We ate pizza and chips.  I guess we never did get to the nachos (Sorry M)

I saw this as a positive event, and I think there were a lot of issues spoken of (mostly in our fun time), and we got to know each of these young women better.  They all have such potential and such energy.  We also had some time to talk to them about the way our culture tries to define what is beautiful, and then we talked about what the Bible said about what true beauty was.

1 Peter 3:3, 4 says:

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

There was quite the discussion from all of them about how people at school were, and how people were treating others and how people responded to feedback on clothes and peer pressure to dress in certain ways.  This is just the first of many ways to reinforce that it's ok to try to look your best, but if your character stinks, how do you take a shower to get rid of the AO (Attitude Odour)?

There were a few points where I sat and thought to myself, "What have I gotten myself into?"  There was screaming and giggling and laughing and they loved Casey's toys.  These 9/10 ish girls kept playing with toys aimed at a 6 month old child.

At one point the room sort of took control of itself.  There were markers being used to draw mustaches on each other.  Some of the drew armpit hair in.  Some wrote words on their arms.  Good thing they were water based markers.  It took them a little bit of time to get them to clean off.  Some wanted to go outside and show people.  We nixed that idea.  

The decibel level in my house with that many girls was incredible!  How could such tiny people make such huge noise?  They worry about the weirdest things.  They rearranged who they were going to put their sleeping bag beside several times.  They were fascinated by Nestea water-bottle crystals.  They like extremely plain pizza.  They don't like popcorn.  They have siblings that drive them nuts, but still they love them.  They loved my swords and lightsabers.  They were ok at Wii Bowling, and seemed to struggle with Mario Kart Wii.  They loved the little glow in the dark bracelets we gave them.  They love to express themselves.  They all wanted our attention at the same time.  They got along.  Put Logan or Casey into the middle of it and the energy was greater.  Casey sort of wanted to stay back out of it though.  He was best, just off sitting with Mommy or Daddy.  He had this look on his face that just expressed confusion, and uneasiness.  "Mom, you never told me that the human voice could be so loud!"

I think there is really no way I can express all of what I saw this weekend.  I still shudder to think that at some point I will be crazy enough to do that again.  It was fun in a scary kind of way.

Leigh-Anne and I spent time loving and pouring into each of them where they were at.  What an incredible group of young women!  Get ready world, here they come and you better brace yourself!