Teachers Saving Children® Inc. - National
Newsletter
Volume 19, Number 3
February 2009
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“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witnes, the rule of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold not hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Recently I received a copy of Chuck Colsen’s Breakpoint dated November 5, 2008. It was written one day after the election. In analyzing how America has come to this point – politically, morally, economically, culturally – Colsen reflected on what Alexander Solzhenitsyn said about the catastrophic consequences of the Russian revolution. Solzhenitsyn stated “I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.” Solzhenitsyn was right.
And unfortunately the same is true of America. We have forgotten God. We have also forgotten the Biblical principles upon which this nation was founded. And unless Christians in America get serious about God and Biblical principles, our nation will continue to decline. We must take responsibility for what has happened in America, seek forgiveness, and press on. It is time for the Church and Christians to hunger for God and His righteousness. We must become “hot” again – because as long as we remain “lukewarm” – the Lord will spit us out of His mouth.
Only when our hearts change and we begin focusing on the Lord, and as we exemplify Christ, will other lives be touched and changed. We can take a stand for Christ – for the Sanctity of Life – we can make a difference! The question is, will we? Or will we allow our nation to continue in its decline?
In these weeks ahead, may we get on our knees before God, humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. Only then will the Lord from heaven hear and forgive our sin. Only then will He heal our land (II Chronicles 7:14 paraphrased).
Please, we of Teachers Saving Children® ask our readers to join the hundreds of thousands across our nation who are in daily prayer for our country and who are being obedient to what the Lord has called us to do “for such as time as this.”
We can not forget, either, to take the time to pray for our Christian political leaders who are serving in the midst of much corruption and evil. They need our prayers and support!
Before each Teachers Saving Children® newsletter has been completed and delivered to the printer, the debate on the life issue in Washington DC has already changed. For that reason, we are adding a link to our website so that our members and other website visitors can stay updated on a daily basis. At the same time, it is necessary to also highlight items of extreme importance in our newsletter so our efforts are reinforced and so we can effectively be a voice for life – not only in education, but also in informing our Representatives and Senators about the life issue.
During a 2007 presentation in the Cincinnati area, the father of the pro-life movement, Dr. J.C. Willke, shared how America was informed/educated about partial birth abortion during the Clinton administration – because President Clinton had vetoed the bill not once, but twice. Today, Americans will again be educated during the Obama years as his administration, in “collaborating” with the Congress, brings the abortion issue to light every time it is mentioned in, or attached to, a bill or Executive Order. As Americans continue to learn about abortion and hearts are changed, we can make a difference in educating friends and co-workers. In order to be reliable sources of information, however, we need to be careful that our facts are accurate. Teachers Saving Children®’s new website link to daily news updates will boost us farther toward that goal.
MEXICO CITY POLICY. The President of the United States can accomplish a lot through Executive Orders, which do NOT require Congressional approval to take effect, but have the same legal weight as laws passed by Congress. Already, on Friday, January 23, 2009, one day after hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers marched through Washington DC, President Obama rescinded the Mexico City Policy, a Bush protection that prevented taxpayers from being forced to finance groups that promote or perform abortions overseas. On Saturday, January 24th, President Obama issued the statement that accompanied the Executive Order. In part, Obama stated, “It is clear that the provisions of the Mexico City Policy are unnecessarily broad and unwarranted under current law, and for the past eight years, they have undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing countries.” President Obama also cast his decision to fund international abortions and abortion efforts as a way to find common ground in the abortion debate. “For too long, international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back and forth debate that has served only to divide us. I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate.” [Source: LifeNews.com, January 27, 2009] By rescinding the Mexico City Policy, over $450 million in federal tax money will now go to groups that promote or perform abortions overseas. [Source: LifeNews.com, January 28, 2009]
UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND. In addition, through possible Executive Order, President Obama is laying out additional pro-abortion plans. In his statement that accompanied his Executive Order, Obama plans to restore funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which condones forced abortion and sterilization policies in countries like China. “I look forward to working with Congress to restore US financial support for the UN Population Fund,” Obama said on Saturday [January 24, 2090]. UNFPA has long been a controversial topic and President Bush had annually withheld the $40 million in taxpayer dollars the UN group had typically received. [Source: LifeNews.com, January 27, 2009]
PREVENTION FIRST ACT. Besides Executive Orders, liberal members of Congress area also working diligently to move the abortion agenda forward. On the first day of the 111th Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced S 21, “The Prevention First Act.” This bill would direct hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry. In addition to funding Plan B (the “morning after pill”), the bill would also subsidize birth control for college and low-income women; expand Title X; expand Planned Parenthood’s targeting of low-income women through Medicaid; target teens with “comprehensive” sex education; and spread emergency contraception. [Source: Family Research Council, January 8, 2009].
ABORTION INDUSTRY FUNDING. Currently in Congress, Congressional Democrats put abortion industry funding in the Economic Stimulus Bill. This funding would send taxpayer funds to domestic abortion groups, specifically Planned Parenthood, to fund contraception and birth control. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi boldly defended the move to add the funding for the abortion business in this economic package. “Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children’s health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs,” she said. [Source: LifeNews.com, January 27, 2009]. Ironically, President Obama has urged Democratic leaders to remove abortion industry funding from the Economic Stimulus Bill. He is concerned that this provision in the bill could jeopardize its potential for passage. “While [Obama] agrees that greater access to family planning is good policy, the president believes that the funding for it does not belong in the economic recovery and reinvestment plan,” stated White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. [Source: LifeNews.com, January 28, 2009].
FOCA. Now for the latest information on the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which was introduced in the 110th Congress, but has not yet been introduced in the 111th Congress. Efforts to fight FOCA are beginning to bear fruit. President Obama and pro-abortion leaders in Congress are having second thoughts about moving forward with FOCA in its entirety. Their alternate plan is even more dangerous by being more difficult to counter. FOCA would remove any legislation passed on federal, state, and local levels, that would protect the pre-born; it is being seen as too radical by far too many Americans. So, the alternate plan is to pass FOCA, piece-by-piece, by attaching those pieces to other bills. This could be devastating for it would make it easier for these “pieces” to get lost/unnoticed in a larger bill. The following analogy was shared in a recent Life Issues Institute letter: “It [piece by piece] would have the same effect of gradually warming the pot of water with the frog inside. FOCA in its entirety would be too hot to handle and the frog would immediately jump out. But if the legislation was passed little by little, the temperature in the pot would gradually warm up until it was too late for the frog to realize his dilemma and he would die.” Pro-abortion leaders in Congress plan to attach their deadly piecemeal legislation as riders to the appropriation bills which will be drafted in April. In the meantime, we must continue to make our voices heard. [Source: Life Issues Institute, January 27, 2009 Letter]
GOOD NEWS. As the vast pro-abortion agenda pushes forward in Washington DC, some good news remains. President Bush’s pro-life influence left its mark during his last days in office. On December 18, 2008, President Bush issued an Executive Order that reinforced the rights of pro-life doctors, pharmacists, technicians, and even receptionists. This was a huge victory for religious freedom and the First Amendment. Protecting the right of all health care providers to make professional judgments based on their moral convictions is foundational to federal law. [Source: Family Research Council, December 18, 2008]. In addition, during his last week in office, President Bush issued the proclamation for January 18, 2009, to be Sanctity of Life Sunday.
ULTRASOUND INFORMED CONSENT ACT. And finally, pro-life members of Congress are introducing a bill, the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act HR 649, which would empower women with information, and it would provide them the opportunity to make a truly informed decision. [Source: Washington Times article by Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH), January 22, 2009].
To stay informed, please visit our Teachers Saving Children® website or any of the following sites: Family Research Council, Life Issues Institute, or LifeNewscom.
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Picture (L to R): NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, Catherine Jacobs (NY), Erika Smith (OH), Connie Bancroft (OH), and Charlie Mann (MD).
On a regular basis, Teachers Saving Children® receives reports from reputable organizations. In mid-January, we received a report from two different organizations stating that the National Education Association (NEA) had given $5000 to Planned Parenthood. These reports referenced NEA’s financial disclosure report for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which is a report required by federal law. While in Washington DC, six individuals visited the NEA building and met with NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. One of these individuals, Erika Smith, Cleveland, a relatively new NEA member, asked President Van Roekel about the $5000 given to Planned Parenthood. His response was that a check was sent to Planned Parenthood, but the check was returned to NEA. He also stated that monies given to different advocacy groups, charities, and advisors are designated toward a particular project that has led NEA into a collaboration with these groups. So, the question is, what kind of project led NEA into a collaboration with Planned Parenthood?
Remember, Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the world – serving under the guise of “family planning services to help men and women in crisis.”
Once again we have the opportunity to reach thousands of educators with the pro-life message. The NEA Expo 2009 will be held July 1-3 in San Diego, California, prior to the NEA RA. The purpose of the exhibit will be to promote and provide educational classroom materials especially for science and health teachers.
The application fee for the exhibit space increased this year. Praise God for His provision, however, as we received the monies needed for the application fee early this past fall. The application, along with a $1400 check, was mailed on November 3, 2008. A special thanks to all of you who participatied in this ministry opportunity.
During those years that we need to go across the country to California for the NEA Expo, we are faced with the challenges of travel and of shipping our display items to the West Coast. During trips to Los Angeles in 2001 and in 2005, the Lord provided – in unique ways – for Teachers Saving Children® items to be shipped as wisely and frugally as possible.
This year we are facing an unusual challenge. Due to the airlines changing their regulations and fees regarding baggage and extra items, the costs to take Teachers Saving Children® display items with us will be expensive. As an aside, any items that we purchase from publishing companies are shipped directly to California. It is only the large display case along with 2 pieces of luggage which hold our fetal models and other display materials, that need to be transported to San Diego for the 2009 NEA Expo. We are currently comparing the costs (and time) of driving to California from Ohio to the costs of flying to California.
There is a praise in the midst of all of these decisions. The Lord has already provided a retired couple, both educators and both members of Teachers Saving Children®, who are willing to assist us during June and July. Specific details have not yet been decided, but we are grateful for the California contact.
In addition to these travel and shipping challenges, each year we purchase pro-life brochures, books, and videos to distribute free-of-charge to individuals who visit our exhibit. Also, each year we exhaust our supply of these materials and need to replenish them before the next Expo. Only as funds are available, are materials purchased for distribution. Since these items will be shipped directly to California, we need to process orders in April and May.
Each year we rely on the goodness of God and His people to raise the money for this effective pro-life education ministry. We have never been disappointed with His provision through you, our members and benefactors. Please prayerfully consider being a part of this special endeavor by sending in your contribution today.
Note: Please make checks payable to “TSC Inc. – National”. We ask that you carefully note how the amount given is to be designated (“NEA Exhibit”) so that the contribution will be appropriately allocated.
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