Friday, January 21, 2011

Gruesome Abortion Practices are Still Alive in America

I truly DETEST abortion...  How is it that we, in America, still allow things like this to happen?


Gruesome details in report on Philadelphia abortion doctor

By Marie McCullough

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

West Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell routinely delivered live babies in the third trimester of pregnancy, then murdered them by "sticking scissors into the back of the baby's neck and cutting the spinal cord," according to the Philadelphia District Attorney.

One newborn who weighed almost six pounds was so big "the doctor joked . . . this baby 'could walk me to the bus stop.'"

Those are among the jaw-dropping details - complete with photographs - in a 260-page Grand Jury report released Wednesday that charges Gosnell, 69, with the murder of a patient and seven live infants.

The report culminates a massive, year-long investigation of Gosnell and his Lancaster Avene clinic, which was shut down after a raid last February.

But the report is sure to be just the beginning of finger-pointing and soul-searching as city and state health officials, legislators, and those on both sides of the bitter abortion debate seek to understand how the clinic operated for 32 years, apparently with little oversight.

"The inaction of public agencies is exposed," DA Seth Williams said Wednesday at a press conference.

In addition to Gosnell, his wife, Pearl, and eight employees - none of whom had medical credentials - were arrested Wednesday morning. Four of the workers are also facing murder charges.

Williams said the prosecution is not about the morality of abortion.

"I am aware that abortion is a hot-button topic," he said. "But as district attorney, my job is to carry out the law. A doctor who knowingly and systematically mistreats female patients, to the point that one of them dies in his so-called care, commits murder under the law."

Philadelphia lawyer William Brennan, who represented Gosnell before Wednesday's arrest, said he hadn't read the report, and hasn't been formally retained as Gosnell's attorney.

"I would say simply that it's important to remember that Dr. Gosnell is presumed to be innocent," Brennan said.

The investigation began last February, after federal and state drug agents and Philadelphia police raided the clinic at 3801 Lancaster Ave. on suspicion that Gosnell was illegally dispensing narcotic painkillers. (The federal drug-trafficking investigation is ongoing.)

What they found, according to the report, was "filthy, deplorable, and disgusting": Blood on the floor. The stench of urine. Cat feces on the stairs. Semi-conscious women moaning in the waiting or revovery rooms, covered with blood-stained blankets. Broken equipment. Blocked or locked exits.

The investigators also learned that, in November 2009, an abortion patient had died.

Gosnell is now charged with 3rd degree murder of that woman, Karnamaya Mongar, 41, who had travelled from Woodbridge, Va., for an abortion. A native of the nation of Bhutan who had arrived in the U.S. only five months earlier, Mongar was 19 weeks of pregnancy. She developed a fatal heart arrythmia after being overdosed with anesthetics by an unlicensed caregiver, the report says.

The grand jury also alleges that Gosnell and his staff delayed in calling 911, attempted to deceive paramedics when they arrived - and then took couldn't find the key for the emergency exit lock, which responders finally cut open.

That February raid was the beginning, Williams said, of ever more shocking discoveries that revealed Gosnell had been flouting Pennsylvania's abortion law - and other laws - for many years.

Gosnell, who graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1966, received Pennsylvania Department of Health approval to do abortions at his clinic in 1979, after an on-site inspection.

Even before then, in 1972, he made headlines for using an experimental abortion-inducing device on 15 women, nine of whom developed serious complications.

From the start, he was well-known for being willing do abortions beyond 12 weeks - the limit set by most clinics - and for treating poor and minority women.

Pennsylvania, which has one of the nation's most restrictive abortion laws, requires that the woman be counselled about the risks and wait 24 hours before the procedure.

The state also requires that fetal tissue from abortions after 20 weeks be sent to a pathologist for review.

Abortions after 24 weeks - when the fetus can usually survive outside the womb - are outlawed unless the doctor determines, and reports to authorities, that the abortion "is necessary to preserve maternal life or health."

If the chosen abortion method might enable a live birth, the law says a second physician must be "in the same room" and provide medical care to the newborn.

Gosnell not only flouted these requirements, he falsified ultrasound and state reports to cover his post-24 week abortions.

"Gosnell's approach, whenever possible, was to force full labor and delivery of premature infants on ill-informed women," the report says. "When you perform late-term 'abortions' by inducing labor, you get babies. Live, breathing, squirming babies. . . . Gosnell had a simple solution: he killed them. . . . by sticking scissors into the back of the baby's neck and cutting the spinal cord."

Williams said the grand jury heard testimony that Gosnell performed what he called "snippings" hundreds of times, but most cannot be prosecuted because the evidence is gone.

Still, investigators found fetal bodies and body parts in garbage bags, plastic bozes and bottles at the clinic.

One of the seven cases of infanticide that have been documented is "Baby boy A" - the one about whom Gosnell made the bus stop joke, according to report.

"His 17-year-old mother was almost 30 weeks pregnant - seven and a half months - when labor was induced," the report says.

________________________________________

Contact staff writer Marie McCullough at 215-854-2720 or mmccullough@phillynews.com.

Follow the Inquirer at www.Twitter.com/PhillyInquirer and www.Facebook.com/PhillyInquirer





http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/01/21/gruesome-allegations-surrounding-philly-abortion-doc-spur-washington-debate-0



http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20110119_Gruesome_details_in_report_on_Philadelphia_abortion_doctor.html

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Who/What Are You Advertising (w/ Some Football Talk for the Men)

I observed an interesting phenomenon today… My husband and I went grocery shopping this morning, and as usual, he was covered with cap and pullover for his favorite NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers! As we walked around the store, I watched as random men – complete strangers – approached him with exciting conversation about football.

“Hey man… we’re going to the Super Bowl! How about them Steelers!” Yes, random people that we’ve never seen before. One man even stopped us from shopping for at least five minutes to discuss how he was actually a Washington Redskins fan, but had so much respect for the Steelers.

Even after the numerous discussions on football, as we began to finish up shopping, my husband picked up a few bottles of his favorite soft drink – Dr. Pepper. No sooner than the first bottle hit the cart, I heard a voice say, “Are you sure you want to drink that poison?” As I looked to my left, there was the Pepsi delivery man with a smile on his face. My husband smiled back at him and started to explain that he used to work at Pepsi, so he had to stop drinking it. “It was overkill,” he said. They laughed and exchanged a few more words, smiled and walked away. Really? Willing to approach a complete stranger to compel him to drink Pepsi when most saints don’t have enough courage to share Christ with a stranger…

God began to speak to me right in the grocery store. No matter what we do on a daily basis, we are always advertising something or someone. What if the Church was as bold about standing for Christ as we are about representing our favorite sports teams, soft drinks or fashion designers?
Think about the place where you work… Your email bares your job title and the company name with every piece of correspondence you send. You may even have a computer bag, a bumper sticker, or a shirt that boldly proclaims your loyalty to the corporation to which you belong. When you answer the phone or even apply for a car loan, you proudly provide the name of your employer. Why? Because the people and things for which we advertise give us a sense of pride and purpose. We want others to know to whom and what we belong.

Think about it… Most people have more pride in wearing a pair of Nike or Jimmy Choo shoes than they do a pair of Mabelle’s or Skaters. Why? …Because no one recognizes Mabelle or Skater. It’s not a sign of sacrifice, therefore it is devalued. Even in the Greek letter organizations, which we know to be a trick of the enemy, people proudly wear the letters and colors for their fraternity or sorority, knowing good and well they know nothing about ancient Greece, much less about the Greek language. Yet, they have pride in it, because it required sacrifice on their part.

So, what about Jesus? Have we sacrificed enough for the sake of the Gospel to wear it with pride? What if we wore His name on hats and jerseys? What if we dared to place his name on the credit applications as a reference or a provider?

One thing I’ve NEVER seen is a man back down on a conversation about his favorite NFL team. Even if they have a losing season, when a stranger approaches and makes a comment about the hat or sweater, they are quick to defend the team to whom they are loyal. They will laugh and joke, but show no embarrassment about who they endorse. They will spend hundreds of dollars on jerseys and hats and proclaim, “There’s always next year!” with the highest level of confidence.

Just a little something to think about… Our lifestyles always reflect Christ if we are truly serving Him. So, how bold are we to talk about Him? How willing are we to share the Gospel, whether others agree on our choice of allegiance or not? How much money are we willing to spend to visibly represent Him and the Body of Christ? Are you willing to spend $200 for a jersey or $30 for a hat, but struggle to support the local church with more than $20? We won’t even mention the cost of season tickets… Our pride rests where our sacrifices have been planted.

When you walk out the door of your home, what’s the first thing people will notice about you? Will they know first that you’re a Steelers or Cowboys fan? Will they recognize first that you are fan of Versace, Gucci or Coash? Will they see that you pledged as a Delta or a Sigma? Will they notice whether you vote Democratic or Republican? Or will they first see that you are Kingdom citizen? Even after the first impression, are you confident in backing up your Savior with the “touch talk,” or do you back down and concede when the conversation gets difficult?

Selah.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Sound of War...

The Prophets understand what I mean when I say that I’ve been hearing war drums for the past week.  God is trying to warn His people, as He has been.  Spiritual warfare is heightened to a place where it has never been before.  This time, the enemy is going for blood.  The heat has been turned up, so we must be ready.  This is not a season for preparation, but a season for war!

In our local church, God has been speaking to us more and more about prayer and fasting.  Regardless of our religious, traditional backgrounds and teaching, Jesus proved even to His own disciples that demonic power can only be dealt with through vessels who are prayed up and fasted (Matt 17:21; Mark 9:29).

The pressure is being increased.  God does not warn us to breed fear, but He warns us to prepare us.  We are victorious if we will be obedient and READY.

"...Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong" (Joel 3:9-10).

People of God, this is the season to GET IN PLACE.  This is NOT the time to be religious.  It is NOT the time to focus on building our “own” ministries and being “promoted” to the next spiritual title.  We need the Apostles to set order.  We need the prophets to warn.  We need the evangelists to win souls.  We need the teachers to instruct in sound doctrine.  We need the shepherds to nurture disciples.  We need everyone IN place, not moving from place to place.

God has warned His people.  He has shown me that we are going to begin seeing the death of our religious idols, both spiritually and naturally.  Look around… Even today another massive earthquake shook the earth – this time in Pakistan.  Our God is not playing.  He is God and He will be exalted as such!  The last days are upon us, and His people must be in proper position.  The church cannot continue to steal God’s glory.

People are dealing with demonic activity on a whole new level.  I’m getting calls from BELIEVERS who are dealing with depression and possessed relatives… Incubus and succubus spirits in their homes… Yet, we have been warned.  Spiritual warfare is upon us.

This MUST be a season of soul winning, but we must also be sober.  Ministry will hurt in this season.  It will require sacrifice, and that looks different for different people.  For some, you may have to walk away from a job, a family member, or even a church.  So be it!  OBEY GOD!  Integrity is key and it is required.

My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war (Jeremiah 4:19).

Sound the alarm, Prophets!  Many of you have been holding back…  Warn the people.  Share what you see and proclaim the word of the Lord.  Now is the time to rise and GET IN PLACE.  Let the prophets be prophets!  Proclaim and declare!

Monday, January 03, 2011

I'm Delivered from YOU


Church, God is calling His people to be delivered from other people!  I’m not just talking about what others think of us, but I’m talking about the crutch that we develop from others.

In the Body of Christ, many of us feel better about ourselves because we always find it necessary to criticize someone else.  We are spending entirely too much time looking at the specs in the eyes of our brothers and sisters while neglecting the beams in our own!

Over the last week, I have been off work for the holidays.  During this time, I really paid attention to the sermons I heard, the posts on Facebook and the status updates on MySpace.  I listened to the messages on YouTube, and heard something very common and disturbing.  The Church has made a vocation out of putting down one another.  Criticism is everywhere, and people seem to think that it somehow makes them more anointed.

There will be occasions when rebuke and correction are necessary.  Still, slander is another thing.  Gossip is a different story.  Constant complaining is unfounded.  The church is full of people who are made righteous, in their own sight, only because they are able to rally up enough supporters to agree that someone else is wrong.

What happened to exhorting and teaching one another?  What happened to restoring our brothers and sisters?

As I observed, I began to do exactly what God intended for me to do – look inwardly.  I, too, have found myself rallying against others to “prove a point.”  I have had to repent, and must consistently be careful as I move forward.  I was taught, in many respects, that this is what prophets do.  The devil is a liar!  Yes, God has called us to show transgressors their ways, but He has not called us to broadcast their mistakes to others without ever making an attempt to correct them in person and in love.

It’s time for the body to unify.  We need to watch our mouths and our motives.  We are called to preach the GOSPEL, not the mistakes or opinions of those with whom we disagree.  We must declare to one another, “I am delivered from you!  Keeping my mind on you is causing me to miss God and think I’m okay.  I’ve made you an idol, but comparing myself to you rather than Christ.  Self-righteousness is dying in me today!”

Selah.

Vison of an Art Gallery...


While in prayer this evening, God showed me a vision of a long, elegant hall.  The hall had dim lights, just like those in a typical art gallery or museum.  As I glanced down the hall, I saw the most beautiful portraits and sculptures.  To my surprise, all of them were figures of people in ministry, some of whom I personally know.  There were portraits of praise and worship teams, preachers and people lifting their hands to God.  I saw great and intricate sculptures of people laying hands on others and preaching the Gospel.  The pictures were so life-like and beautiful… more than any art I’d ever seen.



As I moved down the display hall, God asked me what I thought of the artwork.  I expressed how beautiful it was and explained that the beauty literally put me in tears.  I was impressed by what I saw and felt like the people portrayed in the art were so anointed.  As I asked God where we were, He explained to me that He sees something similar to this all the time.  I was expecting some great and glorious explanation of the place I was viewing. 

Unfortunately, God said that the gallery represents the Church and what many of us are offering as ministry.  “It’s absolutely beautiful to look upon,” He said, “but still has no life!”  He began to remind me that signs and wonders follow those that truly believe.  He reminded me that His power moves and operates in the midst of true ministry.  True worship is not always as beautiful as the picture-perfect display, but is has fruit.  It’s not rehearsed and dressed up.  It’s not mechanical and choreographed.  Yet, it results in deliverance through His power.

In this season, people of God, we have to stop putting so much emphasis on “being cute.”  The Church has presented an image, and taught many to do the same, without carrying any power.  We know how to look good and enticing.  Yet, when the maniac walks into the sanctuary, they leave with the same demon.  When a member is diagnosed with cancer, we are not able to pray a prayer of faith that truly heals.

God is pressing us.  He wants the oil from the olives.  The true power of God comes only through obedience and sacrifice.  Our worship must go to another level.  Accountability must be turned up a notch.

(Mal 1:6)  A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
(Mal 1:7)  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
(Mal 1:8)  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 1:9)  And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 1:10)  Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

In the book of Malachi, God begins by rebuking the priests for their failure to offer their best to Him.  Instead of giving God the best, they withheld it for themselves and gave Him the sacrifices with flaws.  Many of us today are still offering God less than our best.  We feel that as long as we do “something” ministry has gone forth.  God forbid.  It’s time to honor God with our best in all things, and that requires sacrifice!

Many of us need to sacrifice more in our giving, our service, our talents…everything.  We need to pray more, fast more, study the word of God more…  We need to be more obedient, serve more and support one another more.  Our sacrifices must be the very best.

We can no longer give a job our best 40 hours, and serve God with what’s left, through our tiredness and fatigue.  We can no longer give our talents to the world, then come into the house of God with a tip to appease our egos.  We must stop pouring our time into studying the politics of religion while neglecting the study of His word.  The time has ended for us to talk, bicker, complain and gossip all day long, just to end the day with 30 seconds of prayer.

(Mal 3:1)  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 3:2)  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
(Mal 3:3)  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Later in the book of Malachi, God promises that Jesus Christ will bring forth the PURGING required for a righteous sacrifice.  PURGING…  Purging is what we need.  It’s time to let go of the religion.  Let go of our agendas.  Release the politics and the empty appearances.

Be warned… purging hurts!   It means that we’ll be emptied from a lot of “knowledge” so that it can be replaced with understanding and anointing.  It means we may have to lay down some titles, positions and responsibilities.  It means we may have to apologize and fix some things we once thought were right.

God wants to purge everything that is carnal inside of His people, allowing the Spirit of God to fill us.  This is the only way we will remove ourselves from an appearance of godliness, while operating without the power.  REVIVAL is nigh, but comes with a price.

Selah.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To GOD be the glory!  2011 is here, and it's a new season!

As we begin this New Year, we must not neglect our personal relationships with God.  This year, ACCOUNTABILITY and HOLINESS are essential to the life of every believer.

James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

In this season, God is calling His people back to a lifestyle of prayer and fasting. This teleconference is designed to provide a prophetic atmosphere of prayer for those who desire to truly hear from God and see His signs and wonders manifested in the earth.

Believe it or not, PRAYER STILL WORKS! The church doesn't need another trick or gimmick, but true application of the Word of God. Jesus declared that whatsoever we ask IN PRAYER, believing, we shall receive (Matthew 21:22). We've "named it proclaimed it" long enough. It's effectual and fervent prayer that moves God. Selah.


The AVAILING PRAYER line will be open every Thursday evening at 9:00 PM EST.

Dial-in Number: 1-712-432-3100
Conference Code: 469797