Watching the Iowa legislature via livestream

Tonight was a first for me. I watched the Iowa Senate debate and vote on legislation via livestream. It was pretty interesting. (Turns out you can watch the legislature live anytime they're in session via their website - https://www.legis.iowa.gov)

They passed SF2281 (AKA "the Heartbeat Bill") that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Since the human heart starts beating 21-22 days after conception, this would effectively ban most Iowa abortions. The law would charge any physician performing an abortion* after fetal heartbeat is detected with a felony. (*There is an exception for physical medical emergencies in the current bill.) 

The bill passed with a 30-20 vote. I know there are many more hurdles to overcome before this piece of legislation could/would become Iowa law, but tonight's victory is a big step forward.

Especially interesting is the fact that I watched part of the debate via a Planned Parenthood facebook livestream. So everyone's reactions and comments were opposite mine. I so hope the women who were booing this bill experience a change of heart and mind. Many of them have likely experienced an abortion (or several) first hand and may be hurting from that experience. Let's pray for them to experience a change of heart and mind on the issue of abortion. Let's pray their eyes are opened to the truth, and that they begin to advocate for the rights of ALL women, including the unborn.

Washington, DC this summer

It's official: I'm going to Washington, DC this summer for the National Right to Life's Summer Academy! The program kicks off Thursday, June 27 in Dallas, Texas at the National Right to Life Convention. Then our class will fly together to DC for five weeks of coursework and practicum. We'll be staying at a local university. (I can't remember if it's George Mason or George Washington University.) I also received one of the Blessed John Paul II Life and Leadership scholarships, and it covers half of ($1,800) the program tuition. Woohoo!

Who You Are

JJ Heller's new song "Who You Are"
I love the truth - "Sometimes I don't know what You're doing, but I know who You are."

This reminds me of a song I used to sing as a teenager called "Trust His Heart."
God is too wise to be mistaken. 
God is too good to be unkind. 
So when you don't understand, 
When you don't see His plan, 
When you can't trace His hand, 
Trust His heart. 

We often (always?) ask "Why?" when faced with difficulty, loss, pain, and chaos - myself included. I love that I have a Father God that I can trust. I do trust His heart. In those moments when I'm sick of this broken world, I can remember who He is.

The Bible Mini-Series: Genesis - The Red Sea

Some friends and I got together Sunday night to watch The Bible mini-series on the History channel. I love watching stuff like this because it usually makes me dig in deeper to the Bible to see what parts are true, to discover things I might have missed, and to determine which pieces are simply speculation.

Overall, I thought The Bible (parts 1 & 2) were well done.

Our journey begins on Noah's ark during the rain storm (emphasis on storm) with Noah telling some of his family the story of creation, how evil entered the world, and how God was now cleansing the world and starting over with humanity.

It was really interesting to see what story lines the directors/producers chose to highlight and which they skimmed over. They paid special attention to Abraham and Lot's relationship (including Abraham's rescue of Lot when he was captured, which I didn't even remember ever reading) and to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

They failed to cover Joseph and his brothers, which I think it important as it sets up the 12 tribes of Israel and explains how the Israelites ended up living in Egypt.

They also didn't get into Moses' argument/questioning with God when told to return to Egypt. The show portrayed the conversation as more of a "Go, do this" and "Okay, God" than the truth of the matter that Moses didn't want to go and certainly didn't want to speak. They didn't show how God raised up Aaron to be Moses' partner in speaking to Pharaoh.

Several parts made me rethink the timeline of the events: Was that person really so old when this happened? How much time past between these two events? etc.

I've been digging back in Genesis this week and searching the Scriptures. I like how media portray God's Word in a new way and spur interest. I hope the series will spur many other people to read His Word, too.

on driving directions & destination

I like to pride myself on being able to navigate places. Since arriving in D.C., I've gotten turned around almost every time I've gotten in my rental car.

Influencing factors: I'm not familiar with the area. I don't have an actual map (until now - just bought a downtown one). I have no visual map in my mind of where I'm going, and that's a biggie for me because I'm a very visual person.

Then, of course, there's also the issue of clarifying your destination. This morning, the directions seemed simple. I wrote them out and had on my phone. But things didn't seem quite right. I didn't turn off at the Metro sign (where I was headed) because my directions didn't say to. I passed the Metro station twice on the highway before taking control. I realized that my directions (and the annoying GPS lady I turned to for help) were confused. They thought I just wanted to SEE the train station, when what I really wanted was to reach the parking lot and GET ON the train.

Clarifying the destination really is key - in finding the Metro station and in life.

Washington, D.C.

Today was the first day of my new adventure.

I worked as an improptu chaperone/escort helper for a recent refugee from Myanmar/Burma who had just arrived in the country and was flying to live in texas with his brother and brother's wife.

I enjoyed meeting "L" on my first flight. I ended up talking with her about a loved one who'd chosen abortion and now wasn't the same. I was able to point her to a couple good resources, and I got her email to follow up.

I rented a car for the first time in my life.

I met my host family and they are great.

Father God, Thank you for such a beautiful day.

martyr stories for kids

I just discovered that Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) has produced a line of 9 kids videos that features the stories of Christ followers who've been persecuted (and many, maybe all killed) for their faith.

The series includes (and I don't know all these people):

• Perpetua
• Richard Wurmbrand
• Eric Liddell
• Jim Elliot
• Gladys Aylward
• William Tyndale
• John Bunyan
• William Booth
• Amy Carmichael

Sounds awesome. I'd really like to check these out!