March 19, 2009
I have a special invitation for you today.
I'm here at the airport after visiting the St. Louis,
Missouri 40 Days for Life campaign and the one in
Granite City, Illinois yesterday. I fly out in less
than an hour to North Dakota, then on to Michigan,
then home for a few days before heading to Texas.
As Shawn Carney and I travel all across North America
during each 40 Days for Life campaign, we get asked:
"What's it like visiting all those 40 Days for Life
locations?"
In a word: AMAZING.
But it's nearly impossible to express in words the
exhilaration of seeing God's people doing His will all
across our land...
...So I decided to invite you to come along on one of
these trips with me.
(Not literally, of course, but by video. :-)
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=213
This past weekend, I made a whirlwind 36-hour tour of
nine 40 Days for Life sites in Southern California.
At the last minute before heading out on that trip, I
slipped a tiny "Flip" video camcorder into my pocket
and decided to film whatever happened on that trip so
you could experience it with me.
Kind of like a "pro-life reality show."
The resulting footage was beyond anything I could have
hoped for, and after trimming down 36 hours to a
concise, fast-moving 39-minute video, I think you will
be able to see the staggering impact that 40 Days for
Life is having at different locations.
You'll hear about lives saved, hearts healed, and
you'll even see the "for sale" real estate sign that
went up outside one abortion facility during 40 Days
for Life.
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=213
Please keep in mind this was all shot with a tiny
handheld camcorder with no image stabilization, on
location, with absolutely no rehearsal or scripting.
It is raw, barely edited footage.
But that's what makes it so REAL.
If you are looking for a slick, polished, rehearsed
production -- this probably isn't for you.
There are times when the camera shakes a bit. At times
the road and wind noise make it a little hard to hear.
At one stop, the crowd of 300+ enthusiastic people is
very loud. The 40 Days for Life volunteers and several
national leaders speak straight from the heart with
absolutely no preparation. And you even have to endure
my sense of humor and taste in music (trust me, you'll
understand by around minute 36 of the video.)
But if you want to see the sheer excitement of 40 Days
for Life in a way we've never been able to show you
before -- then you are in for a great experience.
Watch it online now at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=213
Once you click "play" on that page, there may be a
several second pause before the video starts. Hang in
there -- it'll be worth your wait!
Today's devotional was prepared for you by Rev. J.
Kirk van der Swaagh of the Conservative Congregational
Christian Conference...
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 23 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------
For the medical community, that the truth they know
about the human body may become awe and wonder at the
God who made it.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in
Your book they all were written, the days fashioned
for me, when as yet there were none of them.
--Psalm 139:16
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
------------------------------------------------------
Human beings -- God's tapestries.
Psalm 139 is a psalm that reveals the enormity and
otherness of God. His divine attributes are on
display: omniscience (2-4), omnipresence (7-12),
loving-kindness (17-18), justice (19-20),
righteousness (23-24), and omnipotence.
Yet, when it came to express this last attribute, what
example did the psalmist use -- God's creation of
mountains, seas, or far-flung galaxies? No, he used
none of these.
To express the wonder of God's unparalleled creative
power the writer mentions the fashioning of the human
in the womb (14-16).
The Hebrew word used to express God's forming of us in
the womb, raqam, is the same term for needlework or
embroidery.
In other words, we are a tapestry that displays God's
artistic mastery.
And, like the artist who knows his creation down to
the last detail, God intimately knows us. This reality
provokes the writer to awe and wonder. He proclaims,
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
What is true for this psalmist is true for each human
being.
Each is fashioned by God and known by him and we can
proclaim on behalf of each, "I am fearfully and
wonderfully made."
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------
Gracious God, help us to appreciate the wonder and
beauty of Your creation.
Help us proclaim on behalf of every one of our fellow
human beings, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
May the knowledge that we are intimately known by You
shape our lives and actions. Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2009day23print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------
Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
P.S.- If you like the video -- or if you don't -- I'd
love to hear your comments. Post them as a reply at
the bottom of today's blog posting at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=213