For Such A Time As This

For Such a Time as This

Introduction

I was planning to continue our sermon series today on the “Tools of the trade” We have been going through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sign gifts but I am sure many of you are aware of the 5 videos that have been released regarding Planned Parenthood selling baby parts from the aborted babies. This is so overwhelming and almost too hard to believe. Feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to take some time today to talk about this situation and what should we do about it as Christians.

I will move do sermon on the Tools of the Trade next week.

VIDEO: “It is time to choose”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ_nONDkcSw

Guy calling people to act 4:26 could cut off at 4:15

Planned Parenthood

A. I know that many of you heard about the videos that were released that show how Planned Parenthood is selling the baby parts of the aborted babies. If you are not aware of what is going on, you should be ashamed of yourself! This is one of those times pleading ignorance is clearly unacceptable. Which by the way our President said that the young man that made these videos is nothing but a right wing extremist and that he fully supports what Planned Parenthood is doing. Of course Planned Parenthood is denying all of it. They are claiming that they are only selling baby body parts that are donated with the mothers consent. Sure it is in the fine print of all the forms they sign. These mothers have no idea of what is going on.

B. Planned Parenthood is making about $22 million a year selling baby parts! This is so terrible, it is almost too hard to comprehend. It is just another level of evil. They are selling harvested baby body parts and what is being done about this? Absolutely nothing! Incredible. We just go on our ways, shake our head, and hope that somebody does something. Most of this is caused because we feel helpless. Like, “What can I do?’ Or ‘Will it make any difference?’” Well it might or it might not, but at least you tried. Doing nothing is unacceptable.

C. Well, here are a six suggestions. I am sure there are many more but at least this will get you started.

1. Contact your congressman, (slide with senator) as well as your Senators and let them know you want to stop giving tax money to Planned Parenthood. The services which they claim they provide are being provided for free by local community health centers which outnumber Planned Parenthood clinics more than ten to one. There are about 700 Planned Parenthood centers. There are over 9,000 community health centers sites in the US. These community health centers provide everything Planned Parenthood does, and more, but without doing abortions, and most of these centers offer their services for free as opposed to Planned Parenthood which charges for all of its services. There is no need for these Planned Parenthood clinics. Instead of offering a simply negative message of defunding Planned Parenthood, ask our government to redirect the five hundred million dollars per year to these nonviolent community health centers.

2. Find out who is donating money to Planned Parenthood. Coca Cola has stopped funding Planned Parenthood and Ford and Xerox, Kohl’s, Toys R US, Cisco, American Cancer Society, American Express and Mrs. Fields have since joined Coca-Cola and are no longer funding Planned Parenthood. Darden which owns Reb Lobster and Olive Gardens was mistaking put on the list that supported Planned Parenthood, but Darden Restaurants has issued a statement that they have never donated to Planned Parenthood. But there are still many companies listed as sponsors of Planned Parenthood, including Bath and Body works, Clorox, Levi, March of Dimes, Pepsi, Starbucks, Progressive Ins, Wells Fargo, Verizon, Bank of America, and Nike. You could contact these companies to let them know your thoughts. We talked about this at our staff meeting and thought we could make a bigger impact if we would all contact one of these two companies: Bath and Body Works, and Starbucks. (slide w/numbers)

3. Educate yourself and bring this up in conversations with your friends and family. They are thinking about it, help them out, and give them some direction. I sent out 40 emails to pastors encouraging them to bring it up in their church’s I am sad to say that only two pastors even responded. I have brought it up with my family, I have posted in my social media several times. I have brought this up with our staff and with my men’s group. I encourage you to bring this topic up in conversation. It is on people’s minds.

4. Make sure when you vote this November, that you do not vote for anyone who supports abortion and wants to continue to fund Planned Parenthood.