Life Matters 4 All

San Marcos = 2 SAVES~!!!

2010-09-29T13:15:00.000-07:00

I received a call Friday morning (09/24) from the Prayer Vigil site. Several ladies have made a continuing practice of trying to be at the abortion mill Tuesday, Thursday & Friday mornings year round, as those are the times at which abortions are performed. One of the ladies saw a young Hispanic couple heading to the abortion clinic, and spoke to them for about 15 minutes. Besides sharing all the resources available to help them during and after the pregnancy, she also made them aware of the link between breast cancer and abortion and directed them to seek the services of COLFS or Alternatives. The side-walk counselor left them saying that she would pray for them and their baby. She then joined the other Prayer Warriors and asked one of the other ladies, who is fluent in Spanish, to please speak with them. As the couple was again walking toward the clinic, the Spanish speaking counselor approached them. Since the man was wearing a shirt that had a Cross on it, she felt moved to tell them how Jesus would not want them to have an abortion and end the life of their baby. She told them how they would regret the decision and the pain that would follow. It was the language of their heart.......... They went back to their car and after a few minutes they left the clinic. Thank you Lord~!!

Here is the ‘God-incidence’ part, the lady fluent in Spanish was getting ready to leave the Vigil site just when the other ladies were arriving………and decided to stay on.

Thank you ladies, for your unwavering commitment to pray for our most vulnerable.

As a result of my e-mail I received this one in return~!!

Gene,

I wanted to let you know that my friend and I have prayed at the clinic every week -- normally on Thursday -- since last year's Fall campaign. On Thursday, 9/16 as we had just finished praying, a young woman approached us and spoke with my friend, a member of Silent No More Awareness, and asked several questions regarding abortion. The young woman was scheduled for an abortion that day and, after talking with us, decided that she was not going to keep her appointment. She wanted to keep her baby. Praise God! We saw her get into her car and leave. We have been praying for her every day. We gave her information on COLFS and told her to contact Dr. Delgado.

Katie

Fighting for the Innocents

2010-09-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

Pastor Matthew Richardt's, Gloria Dei Lutheran - Escondido, talk at our Candlelight Prayer Vigil Opening Rally -

Today begins 40 Days For Life. We should consider the following.

Years ago, when Nijole Sadunaite, a Catholic, was sentenced in Soviet Lithuania, she told the court: "We owe to Caesar only what remains after having given to God what is His due. The most important thing in life is to free heart and mind from fear, because yielding to evil is the greatest sin."

Yielding to evil is the greatest sin. What a simple but deep insight~!

Yesterday, September 21, was set aside to remember St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist. He wrote the opening book of the New Testament. And speaking of abortion, Matthew is the only one of the Four Evangelists to relate how Herod killed many little boys, two years old and under, in an effort to kill our dear Lord. This event is called in the church "The Slaughter of the Innocents". You can find the account in Matthew 2.

But then keep reading. In the next chapter, Matthew 3, John the Baptist comes preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Keep reading. In chapter 4 Jesus devotes Himself to fasting forty days and nights to do battle against the evil one. Keep reading. In chapter 5 begins the great Sermon on the Mount and this instruction: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Keep going, one more chapter. In chapter 6 we are given the Lord's Prayer and its closing line (in the earliest form), "but deliver us from evil".

Yielding to evil is the greatest sin. But this means something else. It means that fighting evil is the greatest virtue.

But how~? How do we fight the Slaughter of the Innocents~? With what weapons~? Matthew describes the arsenal, and the Spirit enables us to use each one.

Repentance. Let us repent throughout these forty days in two ways. First, repent of the sin in your own life, turning away from it and not returning. Second, repent on behalf of our society and its sin.

Fasting. Join your Lord in the practice of fasting. Go without a meal or a particular food you're accustomed to. Such fasting, properly understood, works humility and can deepen your prayers and faith.

Loving Witness to the sanctity of human life. "Let your light shine before others." Standing and holding a vigil near an abortion clinic is a powerful and yet gentle, loving witness. Use a candle to remind yourself of - and communicate to others - the Light of Christ, His love and forgiveness.

Prayer. Many beautiful prayers will be said throughout these forty days. Among them will be the prince of prayers, taught to us by the Prince of Peace. Pray the Lord's Prayer from all your heart.

Caution: These are extremely powerful weapons, thought weak in the eyes of the world. They will intimidate our true enemy, but also incite him to greater ferocity~! "But thanks be to God, who is giving us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ~!"

May the Crucified, Risen, Present Jesus help us in every way! Amen.

What Would Jesus be Doing Today

2010-03-05T16:24:00.000-08:00

What would Jesus be doing today if he were to miraculously appear among us? Would he assume the Chair of Peter in Rome, he certainly would be qualified. No, given the words of the Gospel this evening, I think we might find him next door at the grade school as a kindergarten teacher. I think Jesus should be credited with coming up with what the youngest students share and that is show and tell. How many times did he show his closest disciples miracle after miracle, yet they just never caught on. I would guess 90% of the kindergarteners in his class would have not been concerned with a lack of food because if they would have witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands of people over and over again they would have understood the power of the Lord. Where was this faith in his closest friends, his apostles? Aren’t children truly a blessing from God?

What about us, what do we do when we come to the end of our resources, when we feel inadequate, shorthanded, or empty? Do we wring our hands, complain, fret, and give in to worry, fear, and despair? Mark tells us that the apostles set off in their boat across the Sea of Galilee only to discover that they forgot to bring enough food for their journey. What were they to do miles away from land and any place where they could buy food and supplies? They were anxious of course, and this happened right after Jesus had performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes where the disciples fed more than four thousand people. Jesus knew the trouble in his disciples' hearts even before they could speak. Jesus dealt with their anxiety by first warning them to not fear what can harm the body rather than what can destroy the very heart and soul of their being.

Jesus cautioned the disciples to beware of the bread that corrupts and leads to death, such as the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod, which today would be the leaven of our society. Our "daily bread" is whatever nourishes us, not just physically, but spiritually, intellectually, and morally as well. Why did Jesus tell his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod? To the Jew leaven was a sign of evil. It was a piece of dough left-over from a previous baking. In due course it fermented and this fermented dough became leaven. Fermentation was associated with decomposing rot. Jesus warned his disciples to avoid the evil influence of the Pharisees and of Herod who sought their own wills rather than the will of God. As the apostles continued to worry about their lack of bread, Jesus reminded them of his miraculous provision of bread in the feeding of the four thousand. He then upbraided them for their lack of trust in God. Do you not yet understand? It's easy to get preoccupied with the problems and needs of the present moment and to forget the most important reality of all, God's abiding presence with us and his abundant provision for our lives as well.

The murder of innocent children is probably the greatest sin of our times, and abortion is an issue that is never going to disappear by ignoring it, and we can’t pretend like we don’t have a serious problem in a country that kills 900,000 of its citizens each year. This Lenten season presents an opportunity to speak on this horrific sin that cries out to heaven, and to speak about it in the light of God’s infinite mercy. Though we may “sit in darkness” in this culture of death, we have seen the “great light” of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.

Abortion affects everyone, our entire society. We are one body, especially as a Church, but also as a society. And as St. Paul explains “if one part of the body is honored, all the parts share its joy,” but “if one part suffers or sins, all the parts suffer with it”. Abortion affects everyone in our society, and one obvious example is the epidemic of depression in our culture.

Think about it. A society that permits 900,000 abortions a year is proclaiming by example an anti-Gospel. And this anti-Gospel is all around us, it’s in the airwaves and the media, we breathe it in and absorb it under our skin without even knowing it. And what is the content of this anti-Gospel? Human beings have no intrinsic dignity or worth. Created in the image of God? That means nothing. We destroy thousands of those little images of God every day. According to our “pro-abortion” society, your dignity or worth depends upon whether or not someone else wants you or loves you or finds you somehow useful or productive. If not, you’re nothing but a burden; you’re expendable and disposable. That’s depressing. A society that permits 900,000 abortions a year is a depressing society. We are all affected by this anti-Gospel whether we consciously realize it or not.

However, just as the prevalence of abortion in our society contributes to the epidemic of depression, so the opposite is true – the proclamation of the Gospel of life in our society contributes to the understanding of joy, the fire of Christ’s love leaping out of His heart to shine on the entire globe, this heart on fire with love for us, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle and in the Mass. If we take some time to be with Christ during a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration, we will, in words of John Paul II “feel the infinite love present in his heart”.

In a Christian society, or in a person with a deep Christian faith, if we fail a test or lose our job or someone rejects us in a relationship, it’s difficult, yes, but there’s no need to get depressed because our dignity and worth as a human being does not depend on any of those things. We are a child of God even from the moment of our conception, but especially from the moment of our baptism. God has loved us even before we were born. We are created in the image of God, that’s the source of our dignity and worth, and nothing on earth or under the earth can ever take that away from us.

Let us proclaim the Gospel of life in our society and contribute to the epiphany of joy. Some people assume that to be pro-life equals public demonstrations and political action. That’s only a small part of it. To be pro-life means to be a Christian in all our thoughts, words and actions, to be pro-life also means to “sing songs of joy, praise and thanksgiving for the priceless gift of life”. And don’t forget that to be pro-life also means to respect ourselves as a child of God.

Therefore, "live as children of light" advises St. Paul, "for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth". He also urges us to "live as" children of God, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world".

We will never see an end to the holocaust of abortion or witness a rebirth of a culture of life unless our society is transformed from within, one person at a time, by passing on the light of the Gospel and the flame of faith, symbolized by the baptismal candle, from one person to another – you and I must pass on this flame to our family, friends and neighbors whose baptismal faith may be a smoldering wick or may have burnt out completely.

When Jesus Christ began to preach the Gospel of life, St. Matthew announced that the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled: the people who walked in darkness had seen a great light. How does this great light shine in the world today if not through the Church? The Church which includes every single person here should proclaim the Gospel, in private and in public, through all our thoughts, words and deeds.

Being pro-life does include public demonstrations and political action. In fact, I don’t think it is possible to be a Christian in the 21st century while excluding public demonstrations and political action. I invite every single able-bodied person here to attend the 40 Days of Life celebration this Lent by showing and telling our families, neighbors, and our community about the evil of abortion right here in San Marcos. Around the world this Lent there will 165 public gatherings of peaceful prayer with one not far from this church on the corner of Twin Oaks Valley Road and Craven Road across from Cal State San Marcos.

As we heard from the first reading, “Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of light,” and to where does the light of the Father lead us? “To the place where he dwells, to the altar of God, the God of our joy.” It is from this altar that we receive our joy, the sacred body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we can go out as bold disciples into the darkness of this culture of death, and live as “children of light,” producing “every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

-Deacon Dave Bennett - Feb. 16,2010

Campaign Update - Thru Day 3

2010-02-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

We are on Day 4 of the campaign and it's time for an update.

Here are the links to articles on the San Diego/San Marcos campaign:
North County Times
Good News, etc,
Catholic Exchange
California Catholic

We had our local kick-off events on Tuesday, February 16th.

A Mass for Life was celebrated at St. Mark's Catholic Church.
All those who came to Mass listened to strong, courageous and inspired words from Deacon Bennett: rich food for Lenten meditation. A blessing sent us forth to begin the campaign.

Later that night, we gathered in front of the Dr. Kung's abortion clinic.
About 60 participated in singing praises at the candle light vigil. It was a grace filled night.
A special thanks goes to Don Meziere who lead us in singing. We are so very grateful to Don who made changes to his plans to come to our vigil.

Pictures of the candle light vigil are posted on the San Marcos 40 Days for Life Photo Album, courtesy of Thomas McKenna, the only one who remembered to bring a camera :) Thanks Thomas!

On Thursday, Day 2 of the campaign, when the prayer intention was for the healing from abortion, the ladies from Silent No More Awareness Campaign, stood at the back drive-way to the clinic with the sign "I Regret My Abortion".

After the group left at about 11:40 AM, two prayer warriors standing at the front driveway, Julie and Michelle, were approached by a woman who was coming from inside the building. She appeared very sad and teary-eyed, and asked why they were there. When she was told about the constant prayers for all those involved in abortion, the lady was moved and shared her past abortion. She also said that she was just coming from a counseling session to help her with the grief of her past abortion (In the medical building there are Counseling and Psychiatric help). At first she looked apprehensive and afraid of being judged, but Julie and Michelle kept speaking of God's love for her and informed her about post abortion healing resources. The woman left with one of the brochures with contact information and seemed relieved and calmer.

Friday at about 8 AM a young couple parked right in front of the prayer site. They headed in the direction of the building before we made contact with them. When they came back, we reached them. The young lady, M., spoke only Spanish and said that she went to Dr. Kung for a "tumorito" and had an appointment card in her hands. When asked if she was going for an abortion, she looked down and nodded. At that point, we offered her to call Dr. Delgado's office in Escondido to make an appointment with him. She spoke to Dr. Delgado's receptionist and agreed to call back during her lunch break.

Please keep M., her boyfriend A., and the post-abortive woman in your prayers.

God puts the right person at the right time in the right place. The only qualification necessary to do His will is to be available.

Please join us during this 40 Days for Life.

Love and blessings - Elena

North County Times Article Feb. 12, 2010

2010-02-18T05:41:00.000-08:00

Local churches launch prayer campaign to change hearts on abortion

By BETHANY LEACH - For the North County Times | Posted: February 12, 2010 12:00 am | 1 Comment | Print

St. Joseph's Academy seventh-grade students take part in November's 40 Days for Life prayer vigil against abortion at a facility in San Marcos where abortions are performed. (North County Times file photo)

Next week marks the beginning of the second "40 Days for Life" campaign to be held in North County. The church-based anti-abortion effort, which lasts from Wednesday through March 28, is based on prayer, fasting and a round-the-clock peaceful vigil outside the Palomar Pomerado Health building in San Marcos, where abortions are performed.

The nationwide campaign, which will be occurring simultaneously in 162 other communities as well as in a few international locations, is aimed at building support to end abortion.

"We're not there to prevent people from going in," said Ted Stearns, one of the local campagin's organizers. "We're to be a visible presence, and if there's someone contemplating abortion, they have someone to reach out to."

Many of the prayer volunteers are connected to abortion alternative organizations, such as Stearns, whose wife has been the executive director of Birth Choice of San Marcos for 22 years.

The 40-day campaign will kick off locally a day early, at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday with a candlelight vigil outside the clinic.

Organizers said the duration of the interdenominational Christian campaign comes from the Bible, in which God used 40 days for significant life changes ---- such as when Noah stayed on the ark for 40 days during the flood, or when Jesus Christ returned to the disciples for 40 days after his resurrection.

Although the campaign is intended to be 24 hours a day, there are some gaps in the schedule, said Elena Di Ventra, who helped start the North County campaign last fall. As a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad, she was interested in the pro-life arena and heard about the 40 Days campaign on EWTC, a Catholic TV network. She decided to bring the campaign to North County, starting with the fall 2009 event.

A volunteer in a pro-life pregnancy center, Di Ventra said, "That's something we really have a heart for ---- those women who are contemplating abortion."

The first campaign, which ended in November and which was staged outside the same San Marcos clinic, drew more than 500 participants from about 20 local congregations, Di Ventra said, and she expects more this year. Organizers have encouraged local churches to "adopt" a day of the schedule and be responsible for covering all the shifts that day.

During each two-hour shift, the volunteers generally pray and hold signs. However, during the three days a week that abortions are performed at the clinic, the vigil will take on a more somber, quieter tone. No one is to hold a sign, and there will not be much socializing among volunteers.

"We want to be sensitive about who is entering the clinic those days," Di Ventra said.

Nationally, the campaign, which started in the Texas towns of Bryan and College Station in 2004, say they have helped prevent more than 2,000 abortions so far ---- based on more than 2,000 women who have approached them to say that the vigil affected them.

"A lot of people would like to see abortion end overnight," Stearns said, "but it starts with changing the hearts of the people in this nation first."

Visit 40DaysForLife.com/sanmarcos.

One Night for Life

2009-11-18T14:53:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends for Life:

In case some of you didn't hear this story about what happened on our prayer vigil, I was asked to write it down and share it.

My special thanks to those six prayer warriors who first joined me and witnessed this event. (Hector C., Jim R., Don M., David M., Connor F....and one nice lady named Joanie.)

It is a bit long...but it's a worth a few minutes.

One Night for Life

This story occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 20th, outside the Palomar Pomerado "Health Building", where a small group gathered to hold a prayer vigil next to the San Marcos abortion clinic.

I had gone there at midnight to set up for our church’s one day contribution to this 40 Day Prayer vigil. Within two hours, five other men, and one woman from our church joined me. We had set up a table with some candles, and had begun praying a few rosaries, and two of the young men had brought their guitars, and were singing some beautiful Christian songs.

It was 2 a.m in the morning, and although this abortion clinic had been strategically placed right across from a state college, it was very dark and quiet, with only an occasional car passing by once every five minutes or so. We talked about the 200 plus lives that had already been saved by these vigils around the country, where mothers had come out and informed those praying that because of their presence there, that they had chose life for their baby, and I remember commenting to my buddy Jim R., "If I could ever have one of those moments, where I knew I saved a life, that would be one of the best days of my life–-to know I had saved even one young innocent life, would be awesome."

About 2:30 a.m., we had just decided to start on another Rosary, and the sorrowful mysteries. The Rosaries we were saying had special intentions for the unborn and for their mothers, that were prayed before and after each of the mysteries.

Jim started us on this round of the rosary by saying, "On these first three beads of the rosary, let us pray for all the unborn and for the mothers that come to this clinic today, that they chose life, that they know by our prayers that they are loved."

Right then, I looked to my right, and there was a young man, a stranger to our group, standing right next to me. He was a clean cut, good looking young man, that looked like a marine. He was standing there quietly listening to our rosary, and to our special intentions, and I offered him a sheet of paper with the words we were praying, and he politely, but firmly said, No.

After about 10-15 minutes, he was still standing there, and we were on the third or fourth sorrowful mystery, and I offered him some rosary beads, and again, he simply said: No.

We prayed for about 10 more minutes and when we were done, he said. "Wow, Coincidences, coincidences, coincidences!"

We asked him what he meant, as he was dying to tell us, but first he had to tell us that "he wasn’t a believer."

He said, "I don’t mean any disrespect, and I respect that you guys have faith, and you guys don’t believe coincidences just happen, but I don’t share your faith."

I was closest to him, so I did most of the talking, and I asked him what he meant.

He said: "First of all, I’m lost. I’m totally lost, I’m out here in the middle of nowhere, and I have no idea where I am."

I asked him where he was going, and he said: "Camp Pendleton". I told him he was about 30 miles from Pendleton.

He again tells us he doesn’t share our faith, but then again tells us: "Coincidences ...coincidences."

He’s dying to tell us, so eventually, he just comes out with it.

He says: I’ve been dating this gal for a while, and a couple days back, we found out she was pregnant. For the last couple days, we’ve been discussing what we were going to do, and 45 minutes ago, as I was driving around lost, she calls me, and texted me, and says: "I’m going to have an abortion."

He says: "I’m lost and driving around, and there’s nobody for miles, and I see you guys. I parked about 500 yards up the road. I walk up to you guys to ask for directions, and as I walk up to you, I get this text from her: "I’m going to have my baby, I’m not going to have an abortion." At that moment, and for the next 20 minutes, I hear you guys praying for the unborn and for their mothers, and for the mothers to chose life."

He says: "I’m going to text her back and tell her I’m going to support her and the baby."

We’re all very quiet, and some of the younger guys in our group, look like their mouths are wide open....and I say to him: "You may believe in coincidences ..or that things just happen randomly, but at some point, you’ve got to acknowledge that you’re being here, in the middle of nowhere, where six of us are praying for the lives of the unborn, and you saying "you were lost", were not just coincidences, and that what just happened here tonight, was no accident.

He thinks about it for a while, and I could tell he’d been drinking a little that night, so he responded with his stock set of atheist defenses he has ready to draw on any occasion, and ignoring for a moment the gravity of what just happened.

He says: Do you all believe in the Devil?

I said, Of course! There’s a God and a Devil, just as there is good and evil in this world.

He says, as if he’s now proven something: "If there’s a Devil, how come you never hear about him bothering any atheists?"

I said, "The Devil doesn’t bother atheists because he already has won their souls. There is a battle between good and evil and battle for all of our souls. The saints, and all of those who get closest to God, or those who stand up for God and his commandments, are those most likely to suffer the attacks of the Devil or demons. I’ve studied a lot of saints, and I’ve read about their great suffering and enduring of demons or other hardships, which are all attempts to undermine their faith and commitment to God. It is because they suffer and endure, and remain faithful, that we remember and honor them as saints.

He again takes pause, and he says: "I wasn’t always an atheist, I was raised a Christian, and I know about the first saint, and the first martyr of the Christian Church, Saint Stephen, and I was named after him. I am Stephen."

I said, "You want to hear one more, you’ll call a coincidence? ....All of us here at this prayer vigil are from St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, named after the first martyr of our faith."

At this point, all around me are in amazement and awe of what has been happening, and what has been said.

Unfortunately, for the young marine, he had alcohol in him, and other demons, that were clinging hard to his new age atheism, and he tried his best over the next 10 minutes to throw at me all of his cliff notes and stock reasons for his lack of faith. After some time, realizing that I was not going to make a convert by getting through all of the alcohol or other blockades he had put up to ever believing, I decided to end our discussion when he went so far at to even deny that "any one named Jesus ever existed."

I said, "Look Steven, it’s obvious you’re never going to get me to believe that there is no God, or to deny that there was a historical Jesus, and that he was man and God, and that he died and was resurrected.....But, in the morning when you wake up, think about all the things you are calling coincidences. Think about your decision to support your child. As a father it is right and good that you should defend and protect your child...and think about where that comes from. I know it comes from God the father, who made us in his image and likeness...and just as God wants to love and protect us from harm, we have that same virtue, in each of us. And, know this: Every man here will support you and your girlfriend’s decision to choose life, and we will give whatever medical or financial support she needs, and if she doesn’t want the baby, we will help put her in contact with someone who will love and raise the baby."

I told him I had to go walk the lady in our group to her car, but that we would all be there to support him and his girlfriend. When I came back about 10 minutes later, he was gone, and I asked the group about him. They said they gave him my number and Don’s number, and that he acted as if he was going to keep in touch with us.

At that moment, I was still kind of frustrated over the long debate I had had with him, and what appeared to be my always pointless attempt to convert or convince atheists that there is more to life, than just random events. I shared this with Jim.

Jim looked me dead in the eye, and in his most serious tone he said with a huge smile on his beaming face: "Mark, what are you talking about? You just got a save!"

I said "What!"

He said, "It just happened, you were waiting for the moment, and you almost missed it, you just got a save."

I said, "I don’t know about that."

He said, "Mark, if you’re not out here, none of us are here, none of us are praying for the unborn, and that young man does not come up to us and announce that he and his girlfriend chose life."

I thought about it that night, and I’ve thought about it a lot since. It wasn’t the moment I had been looking for, where a pregnant woman tells us she saw us praying and it changed her heart, and that she chose life, but it was pretty good."

The very fact that I was so consumed with my apparently futile arguments, and the act of being engaged in argument itself, almost cost me a chance to recognize the workings of the Holy Spirit, and His works in all things. It was not me, or my acts that saved that life, but through some of our works and through the prayer of thousands, the Holy Spirit can show us that God cares and is moving among us. That our prayers for life may be answered in many different ways, and that whenever we see any progress we should be ready for the moment, and rejoice in all victories for love and life.

God Bless the people of 40 Days for Life for their leadership and may God Bless all 155 people from my little church of St. Stephens, for their willingness to stand, kneel, and be counted in this effort to save lives.

Mark G.

Ephesians 5:6-14

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said,

"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."

Letter to Dr. Kung from a former client

2009-11-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

The above 'picture' is a copy of a letter from a lady that was at Birth Choice - San Marcos on Sept. 24th, and made the decision to keep her baby. We have just received permission to publish it.

Bishop Brom's Prayer & Remarks

2009-10-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, creator of all things, we thank you for the gift of life and above all for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who came that we might have life in its fullness.

Lord, God, look upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women, girls and boys, who are victims of abuse and violence, of the sick and elderly who die as a result of indifference or out of misguided mercy.

Grant that we who believe in You as the origin and destiny of our lives may proclaim the Gospel of life to the people of our time with honesty and love, and with energy always renewed by the outpouring of Your Spirit.

May we have the courage to bear witness to it resolutely in order to build, together with all people of good will, a civilization of truth and love, of justice and peace.

We conclude our prayer in the words Jesus gave us.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

My Friends:

I am here this morning not only to pray together as we just have, but also to express appreciation to all from this area, including many young people, who have been participating in the 40 Days for Life Campaign. Special appreciation, of course, is due to (the Coordinating Committee).

You are among the many who are attempting to evangelize the cultures of which you are a part in defense of human life by proclaiming the gospel of life. Ordering temporal affairs according to the plan of God is the vocation of the laity which flows from baptism and confirmation, but, unfortunately, is too often forgotten. You, however, have taken this responsibility seriously, as have, for example, Helpers of God's Precious Infants, and people from parish-based groups who bring prayer and outreach to sites like this.

Calvary is extended to every time and place where there is human suffering and death. This is especially true where innocent human life is unjustly taken.

On Calvary there were: spectators - bystanders, who stood at a distance from the horror of what was taking place; the perpetrators of the crime and those who cooperated or sided with them. Not to be forgotten are those who fled, many of whom later had a conversion of mind and heart. But of particular note are those who remained - mournful and prayerful with Jesus.

When Calvary is extended to a place like this there will be, as on Golgotha, the bystanders, as well as the perpetrators and those who cooperate with them, some of whom may not even grasp the seriousness of their wrongdoing or its destructive effects on society. However, there must always be those who do not flee, but remain with Jesus, in his suffering, showing compassion for him present in the flesh of unborn human beings, publicly mourning the unjust taking of human life and prayerfully committed to replacing a culture of death with a culture of life.

Thank you for your prayers and abiding commitment.

I miserably missed the target.

2009-10-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deluding himself. Galatians 6:1-3

After 16 days at the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil, we all have had many encounters.

Some of us met other prayer warriors and could visit with them. It's always inspiring and encouraging when we affirm each other, our work and especially when we share the story behind our commitment to being "pro-life". These stories always touch our hearts. Each is unique because we are unique persons.

The ones that leave me with a deep impression are those shared by women who have had abortions. They don't have an "opinion" or a "stand" on the issue of abortion. They have an experience. When they "stand" with us on the sidewalk, they may feel that they were once considered "the enemy" by us and they considered us the "enemy" as well.

I know that they are there because they love Jesus. In the words of one of them, "If Jesus could carry that cross, I can stand here for an hour". They have to face us -the pro-lifers- and they have to face them -the women who have had or are going to have an abortion. They fill the gap. They feel an obligation to "fulfill the law of Christ" by sharing the burdens of abortion and helping other women make a better choice or heal from a life of regret.

Some of us also met with passersby. Those are uplifting stories, in most cases. The nice lady who parks and comes to pray for us, the young paramedic driving into the San Marcos Care Center who stops by to share his experience as a prayer warrior, the young man who wants to be a father and asks for our prayers, and many more. It feels really good to be "pro-life" with them, no challenge at all!

It's also interesting when someone asks us how come we pray for an end to abortion, but not for an end to war, or for other causes, or even when they are "intellectually-pro-choice". In the words of Paul to the Galatians, we "who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit..." and we are usually "prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have".-1 Peter 3:15

However, there was also the challenging encounter. The lady from Africa, now a student at Cal State - San Marcos, who struggles with her faith since she feels that abortion and contraception are necessary in her home country. She went straight to the ladies of "Silent No More" Awareness Campaign attracted by their sign "I regret my abortion". She started a heartfelt conversation with one of them. She could go right into the questions: "Did you have an abortion?", "Why do you regret it?", "How do you know it's wrong?".

I realized that there was nothing I could say to her, because all my reasons, as valid as they are, were not answering her questions. Still, I thought I could give her some helpful literature.....I miserably missed the target. She didn't care! The only person who could talk to her was the woman that shared her experience.

What a humbling experience: "For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deluding himself." I learned a very good lesson, one that I hope will make me a "gentle spirit, looking to myself, so that I also may not be tempted" when I try to "correct someone caught in transgression".

It also made me realize that we all need to learn how to work together and be aware that what we have to offer may not be good for someone and that the person right next to us can be the one God appointed for that someone at that time.

I think this is particularly true when dealing with post-abortive women. We are so fortunate to have the group "Silent No More" with us in this 40 Days for Life campaign. If women approach them, we need to let them handle the situation and pray at a distance. God is using them!

Keep praying!

Yours in Christ,
Elena

WHO IS THE GREATEST

2009-10-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

Matthew 18: 1-5, 10
The Disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." AMEN

Thank you to all the prayer warriors, who with heartfelt prayers look to Our Lord Jesus Christ for His Mercy - for LIFE for each unborn, precious soul and for the conversion of hearts for all abortion providers

-Rhonda

A God-incidence

2009-10-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

I think that the miracle that we experienced at Birth Choice on Thursday, 9/24 with the lady who had had 3 abortions by Dr. Kung would be newsworthy and an encouragement to all the other prayer warriors here in North San Diego County... and nationwide. She just "happened" to come to the center for a pregnancy test on 9/24 after much prayer had started on and before 9/23, the start of the 40 Days for Life campaign. She just "happened" to share during the in-take process that she was fine, no problem, with her prior 3 abortions... and then, with a little bit of loving, compassionate caring by the counselor, broke down and confessed her sorrow at the abortions and her anger at the abortionist, who just "happened" to be Dr. Kung over whom we've been praying. Kim, the ultrasound tech, just "happened" to be there at the center providing other ultrasounds but just "happened" to work this lady into her full schedule and witnessed to her about the love and forgiveness that can be found in a personal relationship with Jesus. It just "happened" that this lady was so angry with Dr. Kung that she wrote him a personal letter imploring him to stop these abortions and the pain that he is causing so many people and Birth Choice just "happened" to be able to use her letter in the monthly newsletter that just "happened" to being put together that week. And it just "happened" that one of our wonderful ladies at the center at that time was part of the post-abortion healing ministry and could start the healing process immediately with this lady. Hmmmm, seems to me that there are too many just "happened" circumstances - this had to be a God thing and the result of the fervent prayer of righteous people being obedient and available to the Lord!!

- A Birth Choice Volunteer

An inspiring friend...

2009-10-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hey,
I'm thankful to Dave S. for inspiring me to sign up...not through his word... but through his deed of doing so himself. On Sunday I saw the gap from 3-4 am and thought yeah...I can do that. I'd be tired for the day... but for a worthy cause. I kept thinking I would have till the following day to prepare but then it hit me around 10:30 pm that it was Monday morning...like THAT morning...haha. Anyway, got there couple minutes before 3 to see Dave sitting there praying under the dim light of the street lamp, really touched my heart...so surreal. He smiled when I arrived and prayed for me...such a blessing. I stood under that same street lamp, and after the first few minutes started praying out loud...hey it's like soooo calm and peaceful and no one to be seen. The Lord met me there and we had sweet communion as I was led to pray for those who worked there, for the heart of Dr. Kung, for the confused and desperate women who would go there, and for the little souls who entered our Lord's presence before seeing the light of day. Prayed for His Light to Shine through that darkness and before I knew it, a guy from Calvary O'side showed up. It truly seemed like it had only been 20 minutes or so...amazing.
I drove past the clinic after work that day, still touched by the silence of that early morning with our King. I saw Rodney from church there and others. It was noisy with cars and people, but to me it seemed like amidst all that, Rodney and the folks in prayer were just there with the Savior.
I'll be there Friday. :0)

- Ron

Praying at Night during the 40 Days 4 Life

2009-10-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

Hey you all,
The Prayer vigil went great. I asked Kathy to set my clock for 1 am, then I checked it to be sure. I went to bed at 8p.m. right after "60 minutes" I woke up at 1:07 and the alarm hadn't gone off. Lucky me. I got dressed quickly and went. I got there at 1:35 am and a couple of guys (Dave and John) from church were there. They were the 12 to 1 hour but hung around until someone came so it was good I got there early. They prayed for me then took off.

A police officer came by and he was a christian and we shared our testimonies. It was kind of cool sharing with a cop. You wouldn't believe this but a lady then came by. She was a lawyer and had gotten up early because she had to write a court brief. She said she felt led to sing a hymn. She had the lyrics on a sheet of paper and at about 2 a.m in the morning a cop, a lawyer, and a teacher were singing a hymn in front of an abortion clinic.

The rest of the time I tried to kneel and pray but my knees and ankles were killing me. I am getting so old. It was a beautiful night though. I prayed for the abortion doctor, my family, but I'm afraid I prayed mostly for me because I was so uncomfortable. I tried reading my bible and read a couple chapters from Job.

Ron from bible study came about 2:54 to relieve me. Yeah! Thanks Ron, it was sure good to see you. I asked him if he wanted to borrow my pad I used to kneel on and he said that he would just stand. I should have done that. Next time I will. My kneeling days are over.

On the way home I was stopped by the police on the freeway. I thought that was funny because I can't remember the last time I was stopped by a cop, maybe twenty years ago. He asked what I was up to and I told him I was praying at the abortion clinic and he said he stopped me because my headlight was out. I didn't know. He let me go. Weird. I got home and getting back into bed never felt so good. Tired now but I feel really good about what I did. Really good. I really feel a sense of fulfillment, that I bore witness for the Lord.

- A Calvary Chapel Vista 40 Days for Life prayer warrior

If I could see...

2009-10-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

"Dear Friends of Life,

The "40 Days for Life" campaign is a laudable and practical means through which people of faith in San Diego County can engage in the urgent and necessary work to end abortion."

These are the words of Bishop Brom encouraging all of us to become active participants in the protection of human life.

In his letter, Bishop Brom adds that every year in San Diego County 25,000 babies are denied the right to be born.

To make this figure more meaningful to my everyday life, I did some simple math.
25,000 babies killed per year became 68 babies killed each day in abortion clinics in our community, while we go to work, take our kids to school and activities, shop, cook, eat, sleep, etc. Broken down per hour, that figure became almost 3 babies killed every hour while I live my life in beautiful Carlsbad. While being at daily Mass, 3 babies have lost their lives. When I'm done writing this message, 2 babies will be dead.

I often ask myself if I would be able to stand the sight of this violence. It hit me that the only reason I can accept it is because I don't see it. My day would be very different if I could see babies dying every 20 minutes. It would also be very different if I could see the pain of all the mothers coming to their senses, realizing that their babies no longer exist and that they have no power to undo what happened.

I'm sharing these thoughts with you not because we should feel guilty, but because they helped me realize that I have a responsibility to care for my neighbors and to show them that God loves all of us, even more when we suffer and feel overwhelmed by our problems. I also realized that I have a responsibility to stop something that is morally wrong.

We can't solve the problem of abortion counting on our own devices. Prayer is the most powerful weapon because with God all things are possible. God defeated death once and for all through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is the confident assurance of our Christian faith!

I invite you to take action and join us in praying and fasting for an end to abortion during these 40 days.

Love,
Elena

Thoughts from the Vigil Site

2009-10-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

Dear 'Committee',

I've been back a number of times, with great experiences. Friday morning, Elena & Marie the gals who MC'd the Kick-off Rally were there. Ted came from Calvary Chapel Vista. Later, Ann from St Elizabeth came, and the gal (Kim) who runs the ultrasound trailer came, too! We were finishing up a rosary, and Ted told us to continue, grabbed a kneeler pad, and silently prayed with us. Afterwards, I asked him how he would like to pray, so we could be 'together'. We prayed extemporaneously, and also read scripture. Then he wanted to "do the walk" around the premises, and we prayed & sang aloud. Dr Kung arrived for work while we were praying. What an experience! And the ultrasound gal had a letter from one of her clients; apparently, she encouraged her to write it, regarding the remorse and repercussions of the abortions she had under the "care" of Dr. Kung - and will be mailing a copy to him!!!

I noticed that one security camera had changed its focus toward the building entrance...

Noticing in all the excitement that I forgot my beach chair, I went back later in the day. 2 college students from USD & SD State were there, holding signs on the corner. We prayed and shared, then they left, hoping to return with a group on Sunday (probably after 3:00). I stayed by myself, hoping someone would show up, and God provided. Misael from St Pat's came, a very prayerful young man, and the last rosary we did together, he tried to teach me how to pray it in Spanish. Then as he left, Annette from St. Pat's came, and we shared a joyful time. When again no one showed up, we walked to G's and she was just arriving home!!!! She's amazing. She shared a story of the 1st day, which was Padre Pio's feast day, how she went all through the building with a relic of Padre Pio, discretely and unnoticed. Upon returning to our cars, more people showed up - a couple from St Thomas More, who brought their own placards with abortion statistics. Then Misael returned and 5 Calvary gals. We felt comfortable leaving, since there seemed to be adequate coverage during the evening.

This information is just to affirm you in your work and to know that people are showing up, though not necessarily committed on the schedule. By the grace of God. Praise Him!!!

And this morning at St Francis, I lifted up the 40 Days aloud during petitions, and also at rosary afterwards. 6 people there will also be showing up, though they do not have computers to register.

-Joanne

The Fetus ....woven of coloured threads

2009-09-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

Story:

I am reading through the Bible chronologically and in Exodus 28 the word 'curious' girdle (mentioned three times) kept jumping out at me. So I went to Blue Letter Bible (Internet resource) and looked up this word.....wanting to know why God used the word curious.

Hebrew is machashebheth, periergos = thought, device, design. It then referenced Psalm 139:15 saying - "is used figuratively of a child in the womb, the body of the fetus is described as woven together of so many different coloured threads, like a cunning and beautiful network of tapestry".

My spirit was so moved and God placed the image in my mind and with much impetus to paint it which I did.

-Josephine Coyle

Matthew 6:5 & Rhonda's Response

2009-09-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men....."

WHY are we praying on the street corner~? Why is each of us~? It's all about the motives of the heart. Only God knows the intentions of the heart. God alone is the judge~! If prayer is done on the street, we each are challenged to remain humble~!

We are a witness, at this place and time, for several reasons.

Praying for the conversion of Dr. Kung's and his staff's hearts to God.
Being present for the women and their families to see we are praying for them (which can bring a change of decision).
Making people aware of the presence of an abortion clinic in this Medical Building.
Raising the awareness of all who walk by, or drive by, and they can begin to question themselves, why are there people on a street corner with signs "Respect Life", and hopefully bring them to discernment of their own beliefs.

Interestingly, especially at this location, there is NOT any immediate gratification for all our praying. All our prayers are lifted up with the eyes of faith. We may never know how our prayers have helped others in their faith in God and to choose life, and how many baby's lives have been saved from the atrocities of abortion; that "respect life" embodies the dignity of all men and women and children.

We do NOT need to ever know....that is the Faith we believe in, that is the Faith I believe in. I know our presence aids many lives that are on a thin line, teetering...seeds are planted and we are called to witnesss to this horror~! Hopefully soon, this child sacrifice will be in our past.

God ALONE changes hearts~! None of us can do that and ALL is done for the Glory of God~! Amen.

May the Peace of Christ be present in each of us. May we continue to go forward with love and forgiveness.

God bless.......Rhonda

Night & Day Scene across from the Vigil

2009-09-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

The scene at night across from the abortion mill. Our 'host' apartment where we store our supplies has a lighted image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Catholic Patroness of the Americas.
(I should explain the 'lights' at the bottom, they are Christmas tree lights on the railing. They are 'squiggly' because I couldn't hold the camera still enough for the 40 power zoom.)

This is the image as it appears during the day.........

Close of the First of 40 Days

2009-09-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

It was about 11:45P.M. Wednesday, Gerardo had brought his guitar and was walking the perimeter of the premises singing very softly. He stopped where Joanne & I were standing at the entrance to the parking lot and was singing his prayer. Joanne would 'answer' his prayer in harmony, it was a wonderful moment.