Babies, Through a Glass Dimly: Meditations from a Maternity Ward

Note from A Ready Writer: I did not write the following article, but I did get permission from the author to post it here. It is written by Weston Hank Balch, aka "Brother Hank".

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"For now we see through a glass, dimly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." - 1 Corinthians 13:12

Tomorrow will be the end of my second week at the new job at hospital. Since I mainly work with surgical instruments, I don't get to see a lot of patients. But tonight, I made my way up to the third floor after my shift was over and found the "baby window" (also known as the maternity ward). That's where all the wee ones go to sleep the night away while mommy recovers a few doors down.


I'd been looking forward to going up there ever since my first day on the job, and it was no disappointment. As one who is burdened for the unborn, it does my heart well to see a room full of newborns tightly "swaddled" in various shades of pink and blue, with their last names neatly written above their little heads. "Baby Doe" and "Baby Smith" tells a story far more complex than I could ever understand. But one thing it tells for certain is these babies are "wanted".

One little boy in particular seemed to catch my movements behind the glass, and turned to face my way, with his little eyes all aglow with newness of life. His small hands and fingers attempted to reach out of his blanket for anything worth grabbing. It was amazing to think this little vessel had 'life' and a soul and had, from the moment of his conception, taken his place among the rest of humanity as one that would face eternity. Little "Baby Smith" will one day soon stand before the God of all the universe, who just months before began intricately knitting him in his mother's womb. He went from nothing, to existence, solely because of the sovereign prerogative of God. I believe I could have stood there pondering the incalculable 'miracles' of life for hours on end.

But tonight in particular, I came away with one thing worth thinking on. Having just this morning spent half an hour on the phone with a coordinator of an orphanage in El Salvador, listening of the horrible conditions and situations that orphans in that country find themselves in; and having talked with a brother here at Southern about the spiritual & biological fact that "children are not promised and not to be presumed upon" -- the starkness of the young lives I saw tonight shook me.

I was reminded once again that their "wantedness" was not based on any thing or any way their parents feel or felt about them. There very well may have been newborns in that room tonight that were quite the little "surprises" to their parents. There may have been one or two who were given up for adoption before they were even born. And there might have even been some who were still not 'wanted', but instead were going to be 'withstood' for their entire lives. But what struck me and left me feeling the mighty presence of God at that maternity window tonight was not found in the whims of these's newborn's parents. While most of these children were loved and wanted by their parents in a way that far outweighs explanation, the scriptural truth that God Himself wanted and wants those children was enough to send shudders down my spine.

What every child in that room tonight had in common (as well as every child ever born in the history of the world) was that they were 'wanted' by God. Not only were they wanted by Him, but they were willed into existence by His sovereign power, and intimately formed by His holy design. Scripture says that He had numbered their days when there was not even one of them (Psalm 139:16), and even that He was the One who timed their conception and birth (Isaiah 66:9)! Long before their parents ever fathomed coming together to have children, their heavenly Father had fashioned a perfect plan for their lives. These babies were breathing air made by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were hearing sounds through an ear that was created by the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and sent tongues of fire on the disciples at Pentecost. These were babies of whom the Lord looked upon and said, "Very good."

As you go on about your day (or night), I want to plead with you to take a few moments and consider this love that God has for the least of these among us. Ponder how intimate God's love is for these children, and how intimate His love is for you -- even amidst your rebellion and unbelief. He seeks us out like the perfect, loving Father -- One which we can know for certain ALWAYS wants us, and has wanted us from the very beginning. Because God is the author of Life, we can be sure that He wants every life that comes into existence for Himself. In the eyes of God, His family can never have too many -- "whosoever will, may come." I pray that in our families, we can say the same. We're not called, as Planned Parenthood would have us to think, to "make every child a 'wanted' child". We are called to realize that they are already wanted. God wants them, and so should we.

Because Christ is Lord of the womb,
Brother Hank

Perry is praiseworthy

I have always been 'proud' to be a Texan. But I am even more so now, after hearing a couple of speeches from our Texas Gov. Rick Perry last week.

In his speech on Tuesday, April 7th, Gov. Perry addressed and encouraged home school families in Texas and proclaimed April 5th-11th as Home School Week. My favorite part of his speech was his remark that, "Every child is entitled to a public education, but public education is not entitled to every child." What a blessing it is to have someone in authority recognize that home education is a viable option for schooling children, and that the responsibility and freedom of that choice resides with a child's parents.




Then, just two days later, Gov. Perry gave another speech where he offered his unwavering support of a resolution (HCR 50) to reaffirm Texas' sovereignty. As the federal government continues to erode states' rights, nationwide support for Tenth Amendment legislation is growing, and I'm 'proud' of Gov. Perry for standing up for Texas.

Red Envelope Day

Have you heard of Red Envelope Day? It's coming up very soon on March 31, 2009.

Here's what to do:

Get a red envelope.

On the front, address it to

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back of the envelope, write the following message.

"This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world. Responsibility begins with conception."

We will mail the envelopes out March 31, 2009.

Forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died [in the U.S.] before having a chance to live.


Barack Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do."

The Freedom of Choice Act will essentially “undo” every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. (i.e., parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.).

An empty red envelope will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear.

Quote of a lifetime

“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.”

~ Author Uncertain, but credit has been given to Alexander Tyler, 1787

Obama on abortion, in his own words

Can a Christian vote for Barack Obama?

An open letter to self-professing Christians and Catholics who also support Obama for President.


Dear Christian,

Let me iterate at the beginning that I am NOT seeking contention with you. However, I do not think it strange or out of line for someone (such as myself) to question a fellow Christian’s decision about something, particularly when that decision contradicts our Lord's teachings. Rather, in fact, I believe it to be obedience to Christ, for a follower of His (such as myself) to admonish other brothers and sisters in the faith when they are in error on any moral matter. I do not attempt this lightheartedly but with humility and sincerity. Furthermore, I realize that tones and feelings can often be misunderstood through written communication, so I assure you from the onset that the following letter is written out of genuine benevolence and concern.


Few would dispute that one of the greatest needs in our world today is good leaders. The successes of our businesses, churches, schools, governments, etc. all hang upon solid leadership, because no organization or institution will rise above the deficiencies in its leadership. This is true in every facet of society. So too, THE MORALITY OF A NATION WILL NOT RISE ABOVE THE MORALITY OF ITS LEADERSHIP.

If our nation and its leaders seem confused about some of the very basic issues of life and morality, it is because, sadly, the Church herself is confused about these very same issues. Nowhere is this more evident than in our current election. Issues that Christians, without hesitation, were once united on, have now become issues of contention and great confusion.

How can this be?

A Christian, by definition, is a person who follows Christ and His teachings (i.e., His Word). So it only goes to follow that when we (Christ-followers) make ANY decision—-even the choosing of a political candidate—-we should do so IN THE LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD. To lean instead upon our own intellect or reason, no matter how convincing or logical it may seem, is both disobedient to Christ and foolish, particularly when our reason is in contradiction to God’s Word.

Take the issue of life for instance. Numerous passages in God’s Word make it emphatically clear that God is the Author of life; and it also readily affirms that murder is wrong and forbidden. This is very elementary.

In spite of this, Barack Obama ardently supports the most liberal and indefensible positions on abortion, including the vilest form of all, partial-birth abortion. Even the American Medical Association has determined that this barbaric procedure, which is nothing short of infanticide, is never necessary under any circumstances. And though Obama’s support of this horrific practice makes his stance on abortion radical enough, his strong opposition to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (BAIPA) places him on the furthest fringe of pro-abortion extremes. [In case you are unaware, the BAIPA simply requires that when a baby survives an attempted abortion (i.e., she is “born alive”), any further attempts to kill her must immediately stop, and medical treatment and nutrition must be administered to ensure her health.]

The single fact that Obama passionately endorses the murder of pre-born & even newborn infants, is reason alone for a Christ-follower to NOT support him!! To give Obama your support is to blatantly disregard our Lord Jesus and His clear teachings on this very fundamental issue.

Take a look at another foundational issue in God’s Word: marriage. Though our society has become confused about this institution, thankfully our Lord Jesus does not leave us in the dark. He makes it unmistakably clear in His Word that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman, for life. Divorce, polygamy, and homosexuality are all unnatural and forbidden.

Where does Barack Obama stand on the issue of marriage? He, along with the entire Democratic Party, proudly stands with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community; and Obama has promised to place the weight of his administration behind the LGBT agenda.

Christian, do you realize what this means?? High on the LGBT agenda is the effort to pass federal hate-speech laws which would criminalize pastors (and anyone else for that matter) for speaking in accordance with the Bible that homosexuality is sin! Moreover, the noble-sounding “fully inclusive” Employment Non-Discrimination Act, if passed, will force employers (including churches!) to hire homosexuals. Here’s another appalling tidbit: Obama approves of pro-homosexual curriculum being introduced in public schools as early as the second grade!

Christian, WAKE! UP! You can NOT support Jesus’ teachings about life and marriage AND also support Obama for President. It’s impossible!

Perhaps you object, “Oh, I’m not disregarding Jesus’ teachings—-I believe abortion and homosexuality are wrong, but I support Obama on other issues.”

Christian, maybe you do not understand what happens through the voting process. When you vote for a particular candidate, you are not casting a casual opinion or expressing support on just a couple of issues. Rather, when you vote, you are actively promoting a particular form and morality of government, because government will take on and carry out its leader’s views.

In other words, a vote for Obama is the active promotion of a government that will murder its citizenry and profane the marriage union. No one can follow Jesus and follow Obama. It is an obvious contradiction.

Christian, may I submit to you that ABORTION AND HOMOSEXUALITY ARE NOT JUST POLITICAL ISSUES?! They are MORAL FAILURES!—-and while moral failures can certainly be forgiven on an individual level (for God in His grace forgives the repentant heart), moral failures must be judged on a national level. If America elects a leader like Obama, who embraces and encourages these evils (no matter his positions on other issues), America will not prosper or be "united" as many are hoping, but rather, She will be destroyed! God’s Word sternly warns us:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight!
...
Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble,
and the flame consumes the chaff,
so their root will be as rottenness,
and their blossom will ascend like dust;
Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts,
and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
...
He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar,
and will whistle to them from the end of the earth;
Surely they will come with speed, swiftly.
...
Their roaring will be like a lion, They will roar like young lions;
Yes, they will roar and lay hold of the prey;
They will carry it away safely, and no one will deliver.
(Isaiah 5:20-30)

May we all heed the warning!

Christian, I am praying for you...that you will humble yourself before God and listen to His Word. If you will, I am confident that He will open your eyes and heart to the Truth.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)

Sincerely,
A sister in Christ

Sources and other links:
1) Obamacide (Obama's radical stance on abortion)
2) Obama More Pro-Choice Than NARAL
3) Why Jesus would not vote for Barack Obama
4) Democrats Issue 2008 PRIDE Proclamation
5) Leading Democratic Contenders Approve Homosexual Fairy Tale for 7-Year-olds
6) Barack Obama's Open Letter to the LGBT Community
7) Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007
8) Gay Rights: A Summary of the Debate
9) God's Word on life and murder: Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 30:2; Genesis 30:22; Deuteronomy 32:39; Psalm 139:13-15; Exodus 20:13; and many other passages.
10) God's Word on marriage and homosexuality: Matthew 19:1-10; Romans 1:24-28; and many other passages.

Obama's Promise

"The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."


Obama made this promise in his July 17, 2007 speech to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. (Planned Parenthood is America's largest abortion provider.)

Christian author and teacher Randy Alcorn, in his article entitled "Not Cool: Obama's Pro-abortion Stance, and Christians enabling him", makes this point about Obama's promise:

Now, “first thing” means first thing, right? So before helping the poor and protecting the environment and addressing the economy and national defense, what is President Obama going do? He's going to assure that abortion stays legal and that the numbers are NOT reduced, by signing an act that will devastate decades of work at the state level by the prolife movement. Requirements of parental notification and informed consent and bans on partial birth abortions? History, if Obama has his way.

When Obama made this promise, he was either lying or telling the truth. If he was lying, he has a serious character problem. If we can’t trust him to do this, why trust him to follow through on any other promise, including those for which evangelicals are supporting him?

Ironically, however, if Obama was not lying, then he has a far worse character problem. Why? Because he is committing himself to oppose the rights of unborn children to live. I would rather he be a liar than that he be the defender of the killing of weak and vulnerable children, the orphans and fatherless.

...It is certainly a bad thing to promise something good, then not carry out your promise, as some Republican politicians have done in the prolife arena...But it is even worse to promise something bad, something that is in fact evil—-the furthering of the shedding of innocent blood—-and then keep your promise.

Skeptical about what Obama really said? Click on the 2-minute video below, or go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf0XIRZSTt8.



Now you've heard it straight from Obama, so don't be surprised if he keeps his promise.