Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer Movie

An unforgettable, controversial 2004 movie, The Passion of the Christ, was widely viewed.  It was controversial in its R rating of the life and death of Jesus.  The Passion earned director Mel Gibson kudos and death threats.  I still remember averting my face during the bloody, lengthy scourging scene.  I left the theater with a deep sense of gratitude to my Lord Jesus for what He went through to secure my salvation and future destination after I leave this earth. The Passion movie was a wake-up call to the Christian community in their evangelical outreach to non-Christians.

A couple of days ago, we watched a true-life story unfold on the screen - Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer rated PG-13. Visceral and shocking were a few of my reactions to this movie.

The synopsis from the movie website:

“The film is the shocking true story of the investigation and trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell - his 30 year killing spree and the political and media establishment that tried to cover it up. Originally investigated for illegal prescription drug sales, a raid by DEA, FBI & local law enforcement revealed crimes they could not have expected within the clinic.

Based on the NY Times Bestseller — Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer.”

What is omitted from the synopsis is that Dr. Gosnell ran an abortion clinic in the poorer sections of Philadelphia.  His victims were late term, live birth babies that he killed. He was found guilty of murdering babies and convicted to a life sentence.  He avoided the death penalty by not appealing his verdict.

The film exhibited solid acting and was horrifically engaging as the story unfolds. I had to keep reminding myself that this was not fictional drama but a TRUE story.  I witnessed high level evil and downright wickedness along with faith, compassion and tenacity to end Gosnell’s evil.  

The movie ended in silence with sounds of soft crying.  One gentleman viewer down the row from us stood, faced the small crowd and prayed.  This appropriate action touched me as much as the movie.  Other’s offered information on 40 Days for Life https://40daysforlife.com  

What am I left with now?  Removing my head from the sand of social and political ignorance and indifference.  Where was I in 1973 when Roe vs Wade was passed, abortion legalized?  I was having my first child.  Where was I in 2009 as that monster’s abortion clinic was uncovered and a book was written?  Living my life.

As The Passion renewed an emphasis on sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, the movie Gosnell should shock Christians out of any complacency over the Pro-Life movement.  As difficult as it was to sit through this movie, I am grateful to the people who wrote the book and made the movie. I will not soon forget. 

Click on this link for movie information and go see this film. http://www.gosnellmovie.com  

The Five H’s of Relationships

Have you heard of the five W’s of story telling? Who, What, When, Where and How? Okay, so it’s four W’s and an H. In relationship with God and others, consider the following five H’s; hopeful, helpful, happening, healthy and holy.

Hopeful vs hopeless

Hopelessness is a two sided coin; either loss of motivation or taking control. A downward spiral of hopelessness leads to inaction and negativity. We can become increasingly subject to a victim mentality. My friend has endured tragedy and loss, yet I have not seen her fall into hopelessness.  Month by month, she has taken her loss and pain to God and received hope. His promises to her will not fail because God is loving, through and through. 

The other side of the hopeless coin is to take control to make something happen in our own power. Because hopelessness is marked by distrust of God’s sovereign love, we take control. When there are no positive changes in a relationship through years of ups and downs, I lose hope, then try to lower my expectations and finally give into hopelessness. Then I remember God’s faithfulness, and refocus my attention on Him instead of the hopeless circumstances. This scripture says it all for me. “…and hope does not put us(me) to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our(my) hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us(me).” Romans 5:5 ESV (italics mine). God doesn’t give us measured drips and drops of love but it pours out like a deluge on a cracked, dry ground. Don’t give up hope or give up on God’s love for you and the people you love. Aside: try taking a scripture that is meaningful to you and personalize it.

Helpful vs helpless

It’s difficult for me to ask others for help. Like most people, I would rather be the helper than the helpee. When I suffered from acute back pain, it was difficult to complete simple household tasks. On a morning when I was feeling depressively helpless and in pain, a friend called ‘out of the blue’ and offered to help. By the way, it was the same friend that had experienced loss and remained hopeful.  Instead of being stubborn and refusing her help, I accepted. What a blessing she was as she served God and helped me with housework!

As Paul is wrapping up his constitutional theology of the Christian faith in his letter to the Roman church, he sends greetings to many beloved friends along with instructions for the Roman church.  “…welcome her (Phoebe) in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.” Romans 16:2 ESV (italics mine). The helper became the recipient of help. 

As much as I am indebted to those that have helped me through the years, my Helper is the Holy Spirit. One of his Greek names is Paraclete; One who comes alongside you to help, comfort, teach, guide and lead. In John 14:16 Jesus prays, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,…”. Also, John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”   The Holy Spirit is our powerful helper in times of helplessness.

Happening vs happenstance

I looked up the old fashioned word happenstance, a late 19th century pairing of happen + circumstance. It is synonymous with coincidence; something that happens by chance, fate or luck. “…what has happened to me (Paul) has really served to advance the gospel.” Phillippians 1:12 ESV (italics mine)

God’s happening has divine purpose and direction. What happens to us, both good and bad, is not random and thoughtless. There is a plan and purpose to our lives directed by the Lord. If you have received the Sinless Son of God in your heart and believe He died and came back to full life for the forgiveness of your sin, then be assured that God has a happening plan for you. Take courage and fulfill the happenings that He orchestrates in your life. 

Healthy vs Unhealthy

Considering our mental and emotional health is multifaceted and can never be separated from the physical and spiritual dimensions of who we are. It’s a package deal.  Thousands of books and articles have been written on possessing good mental/emotional health. Good mental health begins with a secure identity; who you are, not what you do. We get it backwards by looking at what we do and how much we have to establish our identity.

Our identity, who we belong to, establishes what we do and have. The Bible phrase ‘in Christ’ is critical to our identity. Romans is full of ‘in Christ’ scriptures revealing our identity in Christ. 3:24 (redeemed), 6:11 (spiritually alive), 6:23 (eternal life), 8:1 (no condemnation), 8:2 (free), 8:39 (inseparable from God), 9:1 (true), 16:3 (fellow workers), 16:10 (approved) And that is simply a start to discovering your identity in Christ leading to solid mental/emotional health.

Holy vs Unholy

Qa-dosh or kadosh is someone or something that has, or has been given the quality of specialness, and has been separated from the rest for a special purpose. Strong's Hebrew #: h.6918.

Set apart by God for His purposes reveals the unique quality of holiness. Purity, special, without blemish, unblameable, beloved, harmless, undefiled, and separate are some of the companion adjectives for holy. Don’t make the mistake of thinking of holiness and piety, an outward form of godliness or religion, as the same. Holiness is an attitude of belonging to God in every aspect of our life, not only on Sunday morning for an hour of worship.

In marriage, we set ourselves apart for our spouses and no other. It is an exclusive relationship. My spouse and I often say to each other, “I’m for you.” In that statement is a promise to remain exclusive to my spouse, set apart for them; holy in body, mind, soul and spirit. Is it possible? Yes, by the grace of God. Only by His grace; He does something for me that I cannot do for myself. 

When you think on the five H’s of relationships, remember this; you may be fully for another person and fully for God. As much as you are for God, He is ultimately and completely for you before you were conceived. Psalm 139:16 is only one of many verses that speak of God’s care for you before you were born. “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” ESV

He. Is. FOR. You.  Believe it!

In God’s matchless grace for hopeful, helpful, happening, healthy and holy relationships,

Nancy

Seeking Out the Truth

I love mysteries; particularly ones set in the 19th Century England.  Staying one step ahead of the author's story is challenging.  Sometimes I figure it out but most times I am riveted as the clues are dropped like Hansel and Gretel crumbs and the mystery unfolds.

I left you with this question in my Oct 8th blog.  How do I form a godly worldview as opposed to being tossed about by man's doctrines and Satan's deceptions? (and my own gullibility)
Simply yet profoundly; the Word of God...the Bible.  His story and ours unfolds like a mystery.  The clues are many and the crumbs become full on sumptuous meals for our souls!

" Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them." Psalm 111:2 ESV
Studied means to seek out.  Sometimes I read the Bible just to be washed by the Word - Ephesians 5:26.  Seeking out involves more of my commitment and deliberate attention.  I put away media, background music, distractions in my house and study alone.  As a 'person of the book', I do two critical things. I delight in my God and seek out the works of the Lord.

There is no other God who wants us to be in relationship with Him.  There is no other God, the Lord Most High, that paid the ultimate price in the life, death and life-again man Jesus, God most beloved Son.  If I had given my son for you even when you didn't know me and even hated me, then I would want you to be delighted in my works and seek them out...to seek out Jesus.

Studying God's works is not the same as studying the Bible to get answers or as fuel for an argument.  James MacDonald says the wrong question in seeking God is why. "We don't have to know every 'why' when we know the 'Who' that knows them all."  Think about this with me for a minute.

Tragedy, heartache, loss strikes us all in a moment.  It's logical and human to ask 'why'?  To move us forward day by day, as we navigate the effects of loss, is to move us away from the unanswerable 'whys?' into seeking out the works of God.  They show His multifaceted character; love, faithfulness, kindness, justice, gentleness, forgiveness...and down the road, a return to joy.  And then you will discover the mystery of the WHYS in the Lord God, His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit teacher/comforter.

I don't know what you are going through at this moment.  You may be in the middle of the struggle of your life and for your life.  The Bible holds the answers because it reveals the character of God through the works of God we seek after.  As you read, ask Him to give you a mind and heart that goes beyond why and to WHO.  He is the ultimate mystery.

God's grace abound to you today!

#2 Ruminations on a song: Karma Chameleon

Karma Chameleon by Culture Club
I'm a man without conviction
I'm a man who doesn't know
How to sale a contradiction?
You come and go, you come and go

TWO disclaimers before I write about this chorus from the 80's.  I am so sorry this song is stuck in your head but deal with it.  In the 80s, my music was intentionally Christian artists; i.e., Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, Twila Paris, Michael Card, Michael W. Smith, to name a few top 20 Christian recording artists.  And of course, Hillsong Music with Darlene Zschech.

THIS song floated through my mind recently as I fight the ongoing battle against my compliant nature that constantly wants to make peace and look good before my friends and family.
                   chameleon
                         people pleaser
                                wishy-washy
                                       naive
                                           door mat
                                                 nice lady (this one I hate being called the most because if you only knew!)
                                                       uninformed
                                                            apathetic
                                                                  stupid
Many of the names above I've called myself or been labeled with.  Many of them are excuses to avoid conflict and come out looking good. The following scriptures are how I fight my battle.  I pray they are useful to all my peacemaking, compliant twins. (italics mine with NASB version)
               
                  Who am I pleasing?
-Romans 8:8 "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."          
-Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."        
-Colossians 1:10. "...so as to walk in manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him..."

                 Who has my heart?
-1 Thessalonians 2:4 "...but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."
                 Faith or unbelief; Do I really believe God says?
-Hebrews 11:6 " and without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
                  Conviction! over idolatry
James 4:4 "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?"  OUCH

I'm going to leave you with this question, How do I form a godly worldview as opposed to being tossed about by man's doctrines and lies?  (Hint: the Word of God) That sounds like another blog post.

God's unbounded grace to you!