It’s About The People
Why is it so easy to treat people like they are a “yes” or a “no”? Why is it so easy to judge? I think it is probably in our nature. We speak about care and love, but when it all faces us, it’s easier to cast a vote…for, or against. We are faced with a lot of decisions to make this election year, but this post isn’t about those decisions, it’s about the people. Sometimes we need to stop thinking about what we feel is best for everyone and just start thinking about everyone’s best. There are people in our area, and around the country, doing just that.
Everyday, our communities deal with teen pregnancy. Here are some stats…
-One million teens in the USA will become pregnant over the next twelve months. 95% of those pregnancies are unintended. Roughly one third will end in abortion; one third will end in miscarriage; and one third will continue their pregnancy to term and keep the baby.
-More than half of them are 17 years old or younger when they have their first pregnancy.
-Approximately 40% of young women become pregnant before they reach 20 years old.*
Our political system attempts to legislate it’s control. People around town declare their opinions. Our education system is trying to figure out how to manage it. While all this is going on, there are groups of people that are focusing on those caught in the midst of this storm. The immediate care and attention of a young woman going through one of the most amazing and beautiful opportunities a woman has to go through, while dealing with the life changing experience that is taking place at such a young age and the huge decisions that could unfold around them.
The Rogue Valley Teen Pregnancy Center is “a Christian-based organization, focused on promoting the values of the sanctity of human life, premarital abstinence, and marital fidelity to the community”. They encourage and support abstinence education in schools and churches. They also provide parenting, adoption and post-abortion counseling, including crisis counseling.
Here is some of their mission statement:
-Sanctity of Human Life Ethic: This ethic and view of life is a cornerstone of traditional Western civilization-“the reverence for and sacredness of each and every human life based upon its intrinsic worth and equal value regardless of its stage or condition from conception to natural death.”
-Abstinence: The resting place of your sexual activity until marriage.
-Fidelity: A commitment to emotional and physical faithfulness to one’s spouse in the covenant of marriage.
-Crisis Pregnancy: An unplanned, untimely or unwanted pregnancy which results in emotional, financial, relation or physical stress in the lives of the birth-mother or her significant others.
What amazes me about the pregnancy center is their boldness to champion life. They are not a political organization they are a personal organization. They don’t fight at the polls, they fight in the trenches. This impresses me. I know that I am one that can get lost in the process and forget the people.
Also, the center does this all for free. No strings attached, no bills, no expectations. Genuine care, attention and love.
Today, as I fast, I pray for those who work in the Rogue Valley Teen Pregnancy Center. I pray for their wisdom. I pray for there strength. I pray for their own families, who I am sure often feel the affects of what they deal with everyday. I also pray that they will continue to stay focused on caring for and loving these young women.
Great cause. My prayers will be with you today. Keep pressing on!
pollyh’s last blog post…Strong will or Strong won’t?
polly, it is an honor to be praying with you!
awesome brent. thanks for sharing about this.
Tyler’s last blog post…Announcement
RVTPC is awesome. My friend Kristina has volunteered with them for years, and I think they’re great.
seven’s last blog post…Verdict: Eat More Ice Cream, Naked.
man… what crazy stats! emotions and hormones run amok and these kid’s worlds take a sharp turn that rocks their world!
it’s awesome to hear of organizations like RVTPC helping and championing life in their local community!
praying for you, the staff @ RVTPC and the kids that undergo this life-altering event.
transitionpete’s last blog post…40 Day Fast | day 20
Tyler, my pleasure
Seven, that is cool! please tell your friend thank you!
Pete, the stats blew me away and those are just a small portion of the stats I found. Thanks for praying and doing your part on your post today!
Awesome cause! As someone who went through the whole crisis pregnancy thing in college (age 21), I know firsthand how much positive impact centers like these make.
Sarah Chia’s last blog post…Ear Candy
i wonder if i would have changed my mind and not had my abortions as a teenager if there was a place like this around?
you KNOW i’ll be praying along with you and am so proud of you for committing to this!
i love you
tam’s last blog post…Fill-In-Friday
Aww, Tam made me choke up.
Brandy’s last blog post…Memory Lane
They don’t fight at the polls, they fight in the trenches.
THAT says it all….it’s about the people with need.
They get right to it….
I am just now hopping online to read a few of my fav blogs…
This is the kind of stuff worth reading.
I will be praying.
Storie
Storie’s last blog post…Love For a Perfect Stranger
I will be joining you in prayer Brent…
Praying for you and for this cause from Kentucky… Well played Brent.
If you haven’t seen it yet Rick at Give Me Jesus, his daughter is blogging. Here is a post she wrote http://luvnstuffblogger.blogspot.com/2008/07/abortion.html … From a 13 year old it tells it straight and she pulls no punches.
The country needs more teens to step up like this.
ckroboth’s last blog post…Friday Verses #1
Judgement is always wrong, compassion and love is the way to go.
not always easy. Reminds me of the Todd Agnew lyric:
“my Jesus would never be accepted in my church, the blood and dirt on his feet might stain the carpet”
Awesome cause and reason to pray.
scott’s last blog post…Leaving Left (or the left is right)
gf
ckroboth’s last blog post…Friday Verses #1
(Whoops delete this and ^^^ That)
ckroboth’s last blog post…Friday Verses #1
Thanks for being part of the 40 Day Fast. May God bless the Rogue Valley Teen Pregnancy Center.
truevyne’s last blog post…40 Day Fast
awesome post, and I’ve been meaning to tell you, LOVE the new theme and header. As you know, Joy and I are big CareNet supporters (big in heart, not in contribution, though I guess it’s all relative). Thanks for praying for and supporting those who are serving this incredible need in our culture.
Fred McKinnon’s last blog post…FreePlay Friday (FaceBook, The Shack)
Thank you for this Brent…what a worthy cause…I will be praying for and with you today.
Debs’s last blog post…Make a difference Monday
As Sarah mentioned above, this cause is near and dear to our hearts. Our daughter came out of a crisis pregnancy and God does amazing things through groups like The Rogue Valley Teen Pregnancy Center.
Billy Chia’s last blog post…A Little Alone Time Does Wonders
Sarah, have you and Billy written about your experience? I’d love to know more.
Tam, I love you.
Brandy, we love to make you smile.
Iman, Storie, Deb and Truevyne, thanks for joining in prayer today.
Fred, thanks re: the site. and thanks for praying today. I remember when you wrote a post about CareNet. Good stuff.
Carl, I will check our Rick’s daughters post. I am sure she has some great things to say.
Scott, agreed! It is hard to be compassionate. Especially when it is with younger people. we so often want to enforce or rule something over them and they need honest ears to hear and love ot care.
Great post! You and Pete are giving us some really good thoughts for Saturday! I’ll be praying with you today.
euphrony’s last blog post…Dentistry of a different kind
Nor, glad I made you smile
euphrony, Thanks for praying with us today!
Thank you for this post and for your participation in the 40 Day Fast. praying along with you today.
Amy’s last blog post…Wiser Than Serpents by Susan May Warren and Special Message
Thanks for praying along with us today Amy!
Praying for you. Thanks for sharing.
nancy’s last blog post…That’s My Girl
In honor of your fast…I will not post dinner pictures tonight. =)
It’s awesome to bring these types of organization to people’s hearts. Great job.
Nancy, thanks for joining us!
Mandy, your so kind
Thanks for the reminder! Although I can’t speak to my own crisis pregnancy, I can speak to how greatful I am to whomever it was that kept my own mom & dad from abortion, in my case…and with my husband having been adopted (and his 3 siblings)certainly it is near and dear to our own hearts. We have many friends that have gone through something and wished they were more knowledgable and had someone that reached out to them. I really appreciate that you touched on “getting in the trenches” and loving these girls (and guys) right where they are at…and staying out of the political realm. While it is important, I think we should focus less changing people’s mind through “talking points” and political rally’s and more on meeting people’s needs, whatever they are…and in turn being a vessel for God to change their hearts. (Sorry so long.)
Hip Mama’s last blog post…HomeBoy Scraps
OK, you’re just a cool dude. Not sure if it’s ok to call a pastor a dude, but I did and hope you receive it as a blessing. Thanks for doing this. Litterally just stopped and prayed for you. You and your Mrs. are lovely people. Glad to have met you via the blog-o-shere (I’m Nancy Shaw’s friend in the Seattle area – we spoke via one of your “live” chats a while ago). Just curious, while I know the fast has a very all important spiritual aspect, have you thought at all of what meal you will break the fast with? Healthy? Junk food? Doughnuts? :0)
Blessings,
Roxx
http://www.sharingnotes.blogspot.com
PS: Adding you to link list. Let me know if problem.
Roxanne Kristinaq’s last blog post…Besides the Buns…
Note: I made a typo in my name in the above comment I just made. There is no “q” at the end of my name. It’s: Roxanne Kristina. Sorry.
Roxanne Kristina’s last blog post…Besides the Buns…
Hip Mama, “While it is important, I think we should focus less changing people’s mind through “talking points” and political rally’s and more on meeting people’s needs, whatever they are…and in turn being a vessel for God to change their hearts.”
That is right on! Thanks you so much for commenting and praying today. And, you weren’t long at all. Comment all you want
Roxanne, you are welcome to call me a dude. Pastor or not, I am just like you. I do remember you from the video chat. Thanks for stopping by and praying with us today. it really means a lot!
“They don’t fight at the polls, they fight in the trenches”
I know other people have said it, but this is such a great line…
kat, agreed! I just pray that people don’t just say it…but do it.
Brent, I am glad to have read your post as it is also very near and dear to my heart. God took me as I am and gave me a future and hope. I can only pray to be His instrument and love…just love Him and people. Thank you for posting this and thanks to God for touching and loving those claimed untouchable and unlovable such as myself. I have only Him to thank for the very breath I have now and praise Him for hearts such as those from The Rogue Valley Teen Pregnancy Center who are reaching out and touching lives one by one by choosing to be His feet, hands,…God bless you and family!
Luke 7
[45] You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.
[46] You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
[47] Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
Kelly’s last blog post…My Treasure…
I love what crisis Pregnancy centers do for these girls!
This is a really great topic and post.
Thanks for being a part of the 40 day fast!
Hi B, just wondering how yesterday went, and what the Lord showed you…
Debs’s last blog post…Make a difference Monday
Kelly, thank you for commenting and praying. It sounds like you may be able toc are for others in these situations. Keep it up.
Kristin, thanks for coming by and helping out!
Deb, The first thing I did yesterday was go outside, grab a chair and just stop. I found myself talking a lot to God as I sat there and the overwhelming thought that came to me was that I talk too much (insert jokes here). But, seriously, I need to better listen and allow distractions to disappear. It’s easy to keep thinking and sometimes God is waiting for me to be finished, so that He can begin.
this is one of many places and many more that need to start…I believe if a person wants to experience Jesus on a level where HE works..this is the kind of place to be.
It breaks my heart reading the stats…and at the same time I know that they are true and probably low.
darla’s last blog post…Questions
#41 B what you said to Deb..that is profound, and applies to all of us. thanks for the honesty
darla’s last blog post…Questions
Darla I agree. There are teen pregnancy centers all over the country waiting to care for anyone in these situations.
Thanks for the informative post.. and thanks for adding our comment to the blog. I am subscribing to your feed so I don