ArtPeace 2012 coming soon!

To all who participated or will be participating in the ArtPeace Project:


After displaying the ArtPeace Project since Oct 4, 2011 in 6 storefront windows on Fulton Ave, in Grand Rapids, the ArtPeace Project has been taken down.


pictures and videos are on the web
www.facebook.com/40daysGR
www.artsignup.weebly.com


The K of C will be auctioning off the art very soon with the proceeds to go to charity.
If you have any art pieces to submit (or wood to return) please do so soon! Email or call.


Some that I have spoken to plan to participate in this fund-raising, with no renumeration, however, if you do want a percentage, could you let us know? Please choose 10%, 30% or 50%. Which leads me to the next question, can you send a short paragraph about your art piece with your name, city, email, tel. Some of you are professional artists, would you please tell us what to start the pricing at? Also, if you need more than a paragraph to describe your art, please take as much as you need. TEACHERS: Please tell your students we need this. If we do not hear from you, we will wing it.



We are planning for ArtPeace 2012, and are discussing an upright square "temple" with the Heart Sail in the middle, to give the look and feel of Solomon's Temple with the Heart Sail being the "holy of holies" inside the square enclosure. Displaying the art vertically is definitely better. We will need about 5000 art pieces, and will be needing a venue, structure design and the materials to make the structure, which we will handle. We plan to obtain more cedar wood tiles. Please participate again!


Please share any ideas. Please feel free to comment, send suggestions, etc.


Please feel free to call/text me anytime 980-6031


Patrick Keeley
Publicity Coordinator, Fall Campaign 2011
Grand Rapids 40 Days for Life
www.40daysforlife.com/grandrapids/
www.artsignup.weebly.com

Also, Member K of C #7761, life events coordinator for the ArtPeace Project

from David Bereit

“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

These words spoken more than 2,000 years ago by the angel of the Lord to the shepherds tending their flocks remind us that when God chose to come to Earth in human flesh, He did so through the womb of a mother.

During this Christmas season, we give thanks for the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ … and we count the many blessings God has showered on 40 Days for Life through your prayers and efforts:

• 1,633 individual campaigns have taken place in 422 cities across all 50 American states and 13 countries
• More than 500,000 people have joined together in an historic display of unity to pray and fast for an end to abortion
• More than 14,000 church congregations have participated in the 40 Days for Life campaigns
• More than 1,800 news stories have been featured in newspapers, magazines, radio shows and TV programs
• Reports document 5,045 lives spared from abortion — and those are just the ones we know about
• Thousands of women and men have been spared from the tragic effects of abortion, and many have stepped forward to begin post-abortion healing and recovery
• 61 abortion workers have quit their jobs and walked away from the abortion industry
• 19 abortion facilities have shut down following local 40 Days for Life campaigns outside their doors

Has the tide turned?

Jen Fulwiler thinks so:


As you’ve probably heard by now, the Duggar family lost their precious daughter Jubilee Shalom on December 8th at 20 weeks gestation. They held a memorial service for her last Wednesday, which has generated even more discussion than the original announcement that they were expecting their 20th child. At the service, the Duggars chose to display some professional photographs of the baby’s hands and feet.

Someone leaked the pictures to the media, and the blog world has exploded with conversations about it.
As I made my usual rounds on the internet this weekend, it seemed that I everywhere I clicked there was someone writing about this. The secular blog world seemed particularly interested in the issue: TMZ posted the leaked pictures, and was flooded with hundreds of comments. Posts at Babble, the Stir, the Daily Beast and Jezebel also generated a ton of responses. [Note: Click through at your own risk, since some of those posts and comments have not-safe-for-work language]. At first I moved on from these posts with nothing more than a glance; I didn’t want to dampen the Christmas spirit by reading the inevitable vitriol about those wacky pro-lifers and their obsession with “fetuses.” But then I noticed something shocking:

Wait a sec…nobody is denying that this is a baby!

I went back and read each of the posts, then scanned through comment after comment, hardly able to believe my eyes. The debate that all of these people were having was whether or not the Duggars had disrespected their child by showing pictures of her deceased body at the funeral. Of the hundreds of comments I read, nobody suggested that this was not a full-fledged child. The cause of contention was the issue of whether they had respected their daughter’s dignity, not whether she had dignity in the first place. Her worthiness of respect was taken for granted.

I have been reading sites like this since I first got online. I have been following this kind of subject for years, both when I was pro-choice and now that I’m pro-life. And I can say with certainty: This would not have been the tenor of the conversation 10 years ago—or even five. Even as recently as 2006, there would have been a flood of “it’s just a fetus, who cares?” remarks, and the debate would have centered around whether the child was even worthy of a funeral.

The old myth about unborn life being “just a clump of tissue” has been under attack since the advent of the ultrasound machine, and now it would seem that it’s finally been relegated to the dustbin of history. And, after reading all of these internet discussions, I know that more than a few people are going to be thinking hard about the fact that abortions at this point of gestation are all too common. (As for the myth that abortions at this age are extremely rare: Here’s a video in which an abortion doctor casually mentions women having abortions at 20 weeks because their boyfriends left, or at 24 weeks because it took them a while to collect the money. Also, a quick Google search of second trimester abortion certainly doesn’t seem to indicate that this is a rare or inaccessible procedure. And, if my math is correct, according to this Guttmacher data, over 60,000 babies were killed after 16 weeks gestation in 2008.)

I’ve thought for a long time that the pro-life position will be the default position in the future. I fully believe that 100 years from now, the vast majority of people will consider abortion morally wrong—modern technology has made it too hard to deny the dignity of human life within the womb. The only question was when the shift would finally happen, when society would finally stop clinging to the antiquated, unscientific ideas about unborn children. Survey data has been looking promising for a while, but the internet reaction to the Duggar photos seals it. There is no question that our society has far more respect for unborn human life than it used to.


Ten years ago, the average person would have felt uncomfortable admitting it if she thought abortion were wrong; in the future, I think that public opinion will have shifted to the extent that it will not be socially acceptable to be in favor of abortion. And I believe that history will point to 2011 as the year the balance of public opinion tipped, and the momentum began moving in a pro-life direction.

I believe that we have just witnessed the tide turn.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jennifer-fulwiler/pro-lifers-the-tide-just-turned/#ixzz1h6EOQGuF

Revealing

excerpt from this article at LiveAction:

Here are some examples of actual texts people have sent containing this word:

“So I decided to start saving money for my abortion in a tomato sauce jar because it says ‘Prego.’ I know I thought it was f-ing genius!”

“they had a keg party to fund her abortion.”

“Just paid for that girls abortion on my dad’s black card. I feel like P-Diddy.”

“Only mom could turn an abortion day into a shopping day”

What does this tell us about the attitudes some young people have about abortion?

Granted, these few texts are not necessarily representative of an entire generation. But this is just a sampling. There are four pages of texts containing the word, and they’re all along the same lines as these. And these are just the few random kids who know about the site, decide to submit a text, and have theirs chosen. Each one of these text messages could represent the attitude of thousands of kids.

A lot of “pro-choice” people like to say, “Look, I think women should have a choice, but I don’t think it should be used as a form of birth control.” How many times have you heard that? Personally, at least a hundred.

If it’s not a form of birth control, then what is it exactly?

To the young person living in the age of the hook-up and embracing casual sex as a way of life, abortion is a matter of course. It has to be, in order for them to continue with the lifestyle they enjoy. These values are probably passed down from their parents in a lot of cases. Note two examples above: the young lady whose mom takes her shopping after an abortion, and the young man whose dad lends his credit card to pay for a girl’s abortion.

from our allies at Stand True

So it begins – this January 22 will mark the beginning of the 40th year of government sanctioned, protected and funded child killing in America.

I know it is Christmas season (yes, I refuse to call it “the holiday season”). I know we are mostly thinking about joyous and happy things this time of year, and I really don’t want to spoil that for you.

But as much as I enjoy Christmastime, it also brings another season along with it for me to begin preparations. Every year at this time I kick into full gear with my planning and for the annual March for Life in Washington, DC.

This year is probably one of the most significant I have ever planned for as we are entering the 40th year of the decriminalization of abortion in America. I was 4 years old when the Supreme Court once again decided to strip the personhood from a group of people, as they did back in 1857 with the Dred Scott decision. I don’t have much memory of life at 4 years old, so in my lifetime I have never really known a time when babies were not being slaughtered.

Anyone who knows me knows I can be a very emotional person and I am honestly fighting back the tears right now as I am typing these words. 40 years! It is so hard for me to grasp the fact that we as a society are still justifying the systematic slaughter of sector of society as some even fight for it existence as a human rights issue.

I have noticed over the years while doing outreach at abortion clinics that the pro-abortion volunteers get most angry with me while I am praying or reading my Bible. They hate it when people gather and pray a rosary or the Psalms. They hate when preachers will just read out loud the word of God; it simply drives them insane.

The spiritual battle does not just exist outside of the abortion clinics; the war is raging inside the churches as those who call themselves followers of Christ continue to ignore this battle. The spirit of apathy is alive and well inside of churches and it is winning. 

Can you imagine if those of us who called ourselves Christian and claimed to be pro-life actually stood up and said, "No More"? What if the pastors and priests led their congregations to the gates of hell, the killing centers, and got on their faces before God to cry out about this blood being spilled in the streets? What if every singleperson in each city where these death camps existed marched to the front doors and said, "No More"? 

Maybe you are one of those who think that this is just too big of a hill to climb, just as some thought that William Wilberforce could not climb the hill to abolish slavery? Maybe you are one who thinks that we must just accept the way things are because they will never change, just like those who thought Martin Luther King, Jr. would never change things? 

I know how big God is. I know he is bigger than abortion. I have seen God take a scumbag like myself and allow me to go out and help lead a generation of the most amazing young people to take a stand against the killing of their generation. I still believe God is bigger than abortion and that we will win this battle. 

This generation also believes that and that is why this is the generation who will end abortion. This will be the next William Wilberforce generation; they will take action and be the generation to usher in the abolition of the worst human rights tragedy in history, abortion. 

As we enter the 40th year of decriminalized child killing in America it is time for Christians to break off the chains of 40 years of apathy and rise up, stand true and cry out for the abolition of abortion. 

Are you with us? 

For Christ I Stand,

Bryan Kemper

from our allies in Southfield

After the 40 Days for life campaign ended, I took a few weeks off to take a mental and physical break from it. Sometimes when you take a break from something, it can be hard to get back into the groove again. 

 

So yesterday I went out around 10:00 a.m., just planning to say a rosary and then leave.  The clinic had a few cars there when I arrived, but it was not busy.  I saw a few familiar faces, who were happy to seem back.  As I was about to finish my Rosary,  I noticed a group of 4 cars lined up to turn into Womancare.  I first thought this was strange,  and then it hit me.   Our Veritas member Claudia had invited her students to come and pray.   I had forgotten about it, and left my phone at my home.  It was so great to see Claudia and about 10 of her students praying together while walking around the abortion center.  What

 

You never know the suprises (gifts) that God presents to you when you least expect it.   The even better news was that there was a possible turn earlier in the morning (the woman decides to keep her baby).   

 

The Christmas season can be so busy on all of us.  Work, life in general can take it's toll.   I know speaking for myself, when we get free time, we just want to take a break.  Do something fun, rest,  watch football (ok atleast me), be with friends and family.   Those are all great things and we need them in our life.  

 

Our group would not be the same without your support.  Everyone reading this is apart of what we are trying to do.  To save lives and hearts. 

 

For me, it's easy to be caught up in everything you need to do, and you can get comfortable in that cycle.  When you're not at the abortion clinic, it can lose a little meaning of exactly what is going on there, and the emotional hurt taking place.  

 

We need to rejoice this advent in preperartion for Christmas.   But during reflection please think of the women, and men struggling with these decisions they face.  People who may be leading a lifestyle that will bring them more hurt and less fullfillment in life.  We never know who  the people we are in contact with at work, in our churches, at the grocery store, at a family christmas party could be going through.  

 

Thanks you as always for reading this.  May everyone have a truly wonderful Christmas.   

 

James

Please pray!

After praying for an end to abortion with 40 DFL in Ann Arbor, Southfield, and Grand Rapids, I have moved to a city where abortions don't take place: Alpena, MI.

My heart grieves, however, because Planned Parenthood is targeting my hometown of Auburn Hills, MI, where I was born and raised. They intend to build a flagship facility on the border of Pontiac, halfway between the economically depressed African American population in that city and the college coeds at Oakland University. If they succeed, it will be the largest abortion mill in the state.

They are trying to target the two customers they prefer most: minority women and college students. Ask yourself why those two groups would be a crucial demographic for PP?

Monica Miller, of Citizens for a ProLife Society, has led the charge against PP. There is currently a deed restriction in effect that may prevent this facility from being built. But prayer warriors are needed, all over the state of Michigan!

If PP wins, it will affect Grand Rapids and Lansing and all of us. Please pray for Monica Miller and the campaign in Auburn Hills. They have a long road ahead of them, and it will last longer than 40 days.

The results show

Dear Faithful 40 DFL Pray-ers,

Yesterday we concluded our 40 Days for Life campaign.

Thank you to all of you who prayed, fasted and kept vigil during these
days.  You provided a powerful witness on the sidewalk and we know we
can claim victory in the name of the Lord!

During this, the fifth and largest 40DFL campaign in Grand Rapids, 36
churches, several Knights of Columbus Councils and various area youth
groups, enlisted 100's of pray-ers to participate.  There were babies
saved from abortion (at least 4 that we know of, and probably more),
the clinic was unexpectedly closed on an abortion day, and on a
miraculous morning, an ultrasound tech showed up unexpectedly just
when she was needed - Praise God!

For those who are moved to continue praying, the clinic does abortions
on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 8 am to 1 pm.  You are
always welcome to come to the sidewalk during this time - and this
witness offers special encouragement to the sidewalk counselors who
continue onsite every week throughout the year.

Once again, thank you!

God bless you for your commitment to life,
Lisa Peters
Adminstrative Coordinator
Fall 2011 Grand Rapids Campaign

Victory day

 40 days ago ...
... there were children scheduled to be aborted who
are alive today -- 508 that we know of!

40 days ago ...
... women were making abortion appointments -- but now,
they're preparing their lives to welcome a new baby boy
or baby girl.

40 days ago ...
... cold hearts that were annoyed at your peaceful
presence at the abortion facility are now open to
joining you in prayer.

40 days ago ...
... you may have doubted what God could accomplish; and
yet through your prayer, fasting and vigil ... YOU have
been spiritually blessed.

Babies ... women ... workers ... hearts ... minds --
these are all impacted when we pray and bring light
into the darkness!


Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and
the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all
that is in heaven and in the earth is Yours.

We pray for your continued guidance and protection
throughout the remainder of this 40 day campaign. May
we be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in Your
work, knowing that our labor will not be in vain. We
pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.