If you read my previous post, you know that a few weeks ago I had the amazing experience of arguing a case before the Ohio Supreme Court. Many kind souls who either witnessed the event firsthand or watched the video have showered me with encouragement and remarked at my "calmness" and "poise." Now I'd like to share with you "the rest of the story..."
Since January, I have battled repeated sinus infections. Of course, January and February were THE months of my intense preparations for the case. There was no doubt in my mind: this was not just a sinus thing, this was a spiritual thing and a mental thing. And so I did what I had to do. I stocked up on lotion-infused tissues, settled into my bed to read the 6,344 pages of transcripts, and took more rounds of antibiotics, probiotics, and nasal steroids than I care to recount. Then, two days before "the" day, I dropped my sweet kids off at school and headed to Columbus. And cried.
Those of you who know me well know that it is a real struggle for me to leave my kids for any length of time, and especially to go any significant distance from them. (Yes, I definitely have issues!) What if something happens to me? What if something happens to them? Will they feel neglected? Lonely? Will their father remember to pick them up from school and feed them? (I'm just joking about that last part...sort of).
As the tears flowed (or, more accurately, made it even less possible for me to breathe), I asked the Lord to help me do what needed to be done. I told Him that where He called me to go, I would go. I begged for His help, and I laid my fears, worries and doubts at His feet.
The day before oral argument, I got myself ready and made my way to the Court to watch the oral arguments scheduled for that morning. I wanted to get a feel for the justices' personalities, the layout of the courtroom, the location of the ladies' room. I walked many, many blocks to get there, in the pouring rain, and impossibly high heels that kept slipping off my feet. I attributed this to the fact that the extremely cold temperature had caused my feet to contract. I recalled savvy New Yorkers I had seen on television making their morning treks to Fifth Avenue in sneakers...and I finally understood that there really are some situations in which looking fashionable is absurd.
After passing through security and getting my bearings, I took my place in the second row of the ornate courtroom. I was overwhelmed by the sheer mass of tapestry, drapery and gold brocade. But then the first case was called.
Not long after the Appellee took his place at the lectern, the unthinkable happened. The gentleman become unresponsive to the Justices' questions, apparently grew faint (I could only see the back of his head), and was ordered by Chief Justice O'Connor to take his seat. Security guards ran forward to slide the nearest chair behind him as he appeared to stumble backwards. An ambulance was called, and he was removed from the courtroom in a wheelchair.
So much for getting the butterflies out of the stomach!
Those butterflies continued in full force, right up until the following morning, when it was time for me to do my thing. (No, I did not sleep the night before, and yes, I spent plenty of time in prayer!). I became teary-eyed when Cameron and Lori Pike, two friends of John Freshwater who had served as a support team throughout the case, prayed with me before we entered the coutroom. Could I really do this?
But when my time came to approach the lectern, I experienced absolute, total peace. Peace that passes understanding. The peace of the soul, that I believe we experience most fully when we commit--perhaps against our own will--to doing His.
I wasn't the only one in the courtroom that day seeking the Lord's favor. Seated behind me in the courtroom were John Freshwater and his wife, Nancy, and about a dozen faithful Freshwater friends who have followed the case for years, prayed for it, even stepped in to do paralegal-type work when it was needed. Their prayers filled the courtroom the day, and I was a beneficiary of their behind-the-scenes faithfulness.
After the oral arguments ended, these friends (many of whom I had not met before that moment!) filed out of the courtroom with me. We found an empty conference room, and we prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. Of course, we don't know what the outcome of the case will ultimately be. But the truth of the injustice that had been done to John Freshwater, much of which had been shrouded, convoluted, or misreported for years, seemed to take center stage that morning. And that was cause for much rejoicing.
As we left the conference room, a reporter approached--the same one who has followed the case from the beginning, always with a decided bias against Freshwater. His last question to me was, "Have you done this much?" I replied simply, "No, not much." He said, "You seemed so calm."
I slipped out of my impossibly high heels and into the non-descript, black walking shoes I had tucked into my bag. Thank you, Lord.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
A Battle
For the past several weeks, I have been in intense preparations for oral argument at the Ohio Supreme Court. The Rutherford Institute represents John Freshwater, the 21-year science teacher who was fired for discussing the gaps in evolutionary theory with his students and for having a Bible on his desk.
This is a case about censorship and religious hostility: two things that have no place in an American classroom.
If you're so inclined, you can watch the proceeding at the Ohio Supreme Court by clicking here.
I'm still in the recovery process, but I'll post more on this soon.
This is a case about censorship and religious hostility: two things that have no place in an American classroom.
If you're so inclined, you can watch the proceeding at the Ohio Supreme Court by clicking here.
I'm still in the recovery process, but I'll post more on this soon.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
An Arrow
Sunday night as I was praying for Nathan and tucking him into bed, it struck me that there is an unresolvable tension between living for this world and living for the Kingdom. My realization may have been triggered by Pastor O'Dowd's sermon Sunday morning, which focused, in part, on living out Kingdom values.
My nightly prayer for my kids always involves asking God to use them to build His Kingdom. Whenever I pray this, there is always a nagging thought in the back of my mind: What if God wants to "use" them in a way that is...well...dangerous?
And that brings the issue to the fore. Am I living more for my comfort, pleasure and peace in this world, or am I living as a disciple of One whose end was the cross?
It is so easy, so natural to get caught up in our daily to-do lists that we simply lose a heavenly perspective. I believe that unless we consciously battle this tendency, our focus will become fixed upon what we will make for dinner, how we will earn the next promotion, what kind of car we will buy, which sports our children will play, what we will wear to the next social engagement, where we will go for our next vacation, and on and on. This stuff becomes our life, and God's Kingdom remains a very nice, yet abstract idea that enjoys our full mental assent but commands none of our actual energy or time.
If we really believe what we say we believe, wouldn't a life lived out to the end in this way be something of a failure?
The sheer verbalization of this thought frightens me. I do want a peaceful, comfortable life. But I pray that it will be my desire to be an arrow that is not simply carried about safely in a quiver, but is shot into the battle by a worthy and loving Master.
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith’s discerning eye.
When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.
--Isaac Watts
My nightly prayer for my kids always involves asking God to use them to build His Kingdom. Whenever I pray this, there is always a nagging thought in the back of my mind: What if God wants to "use" them in a way that is...well...dangerous?
And that brings the issue to the fore. Am I living more for my comfort, pleasure and peace in this world, or am I living as a disciple of One whose end was the cross?
It is so easy, so natural to get caught up in our daily to-do lists that we simply lose a heavenly perspective. I believe that unless we consciously battle this tendency, our focus will become fixed upon what we will make for dinner, how we will earn the next promotion, what kind of car we will buy, which sports our children will play, what we will wear to the next social engagement, where we will go for our next vacation, and on and on. This stuff becomes our life, and God's Kingdom remains a very nice, yet abstract idea that enjoys our full mental assent but commands none of our actual energy or time.
If we really believe what we say we believe, wouldn't a life lived out to the end in this way be something of a failure?
The sheer verbalization of this thought frightens me. I do want a peaceful, comfortable life. But I pray that it will be my desire to be an arrow that is not simply carried about safely in a quiver, but is shot into the battle by a worthy and loving Master.
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith’s discerning eye.
When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.
--Isaac Watts
Friday, February 1, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 13
Day 13 - February 1 - Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli
Thank you, again, for coming with me on this "5 Minutes a Day" Campaign. As promised, today is our last e-mail. But I hope and pray that it will not be the last day of your allowing God to use you in carrying His banner of Truth and Justice into the public square.
Did you notice that you didn't hear much about pro-life legislation in Virginia this year? Unfortunately, that was no accident. While two pro-life bills were presented this year (both of which died in Committee), the sad fact is that there was some "agreement" in Richmond that this session was a time to back off and "play defense." House Bill 1, of course, remained buried in the Committee from last year. My hope is that our efforts will remind key legislators that Virginians who care deeply about the cause of life have not gone away. I hope that this will figure into their plans for legislation next session.
Please continue to check back in with the blog periodically. I don't post every day, but will try to do so a few times each week.
Attorney General Cuccinelli has been a great friend to the cause of life. When Governor McDonnell chose to shy away from House Bill 1 because it became the center of media scoffing, Cuccinelli stood firm, publicly appearing at two separate events to dispel the doubts the Governor had raised about the measure's constitutionality. Let's take a moment to thank and encourage our Attorney General:
Dear Attorney General Cuccinelli:
Thank you for your willingness to use your office to stand for the sanctity of human life in our Commonwealth. It is important to me and my family that the laws of Virginia recognize that human life begins at conception, and that every human being—from conception until natural death—has basic human rights. I am aware that there are many Republican politicians who would prefer to ignore this issue, but because it is a human rights issue, it cannot be ignored. I am praying specifically for you today, that God would continue to give you great courage to stand for the cause of life. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[your name]
To send your message, please "copy" it, then click here, complete the required information, and paste your message into the "message" box.
Please pray for Ken Cuccinelli.
Thank you, again, for coming with me on this "5 Minutes a Day" Campaign. As promised, today is our last e-mail. But I hope and pray that it will not be the last day of your allowing God to use you in carrying His banner of Truth and Justice into the public square.
Did you notice that you didn't hear much about pro-life legislation in Virginia this year? Unfortunately, that was no accident. While two pro-life bills were presented this year (both of which died in Committee), the sad fact is that there was some "agreement" in Richmond that this session was a time to back off and "play defense." House Bill 1, of course, remained buried in the Committee from last year. My hope is that our efforts will remind key legislators that Virginians who care deeply about the cause of life have not gone away. I hope that this will figure into their plans for legislation next session.
Please continue to check back in with the blog periodically. I don't post every day, but will try to do so a few times each week.
Attorney General Cuccinelli has been a great friend to the cause of life. When Governor McDonnell chose to shy away from House Bill 1 because it became the center of media scoffing, Cuccinelli stood firm, publicly appearing at two separate events to dispel the doubts the Governor had raised about the measure's constitutionality. Let's take a moment to thank and encourage our Attorney General:
Dear Attorney General Cuccinelli:
Thank you for your willingness to use your office to stand for the sanctity of human life in our Commonwealth. It is important to me and my family that the laws of Virginia recognize that human life begins at conception, and that every human being—from conception until natural death—has basic human rights. I am aware that there are many Republican politicians who would prefer to ignore this issue, but because it is a human rights issue, it cannot be ignored. I am praying specifically for you today, that God would continue to give you great courage to stand for the cause of life. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[your name]
To send your message, please "copy" it, then click here, complete the required information, and paste your message into the "message" box.
Please pray for Ken Cuccinelli.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 12
Day 12 - January 31, 2013 - Senators Ruff, Stosch, Wagner & Watkins
Thank you, friends, for joining me in this "5 Minutes a Day" campaign. Tomorrow will be our last day of sending e-mails. Hang in there!
Senators Ruff, Stosch, Wagner & Watkins are the other four Republicans who voted to "re-commit" HB1 to the Senate Education and Health Committee. Apart from that, I don't know much about them. I do know, however, that the Republican Party professes a commitment to the protection of human life. For that reason, I think we should contact them with the same message that we sent to Senator Norment yesterday.
Dear Senator,
I was deeply disappointed to learn of your vote last session to "re-commit" House Bill 1--the quintessential "life at conception" bill--to the Senate Education and Health Committee. As you know, that Committee held a full and lengthy hearing on the bill in which both sides had ample opportunity to present their arguments. I was told that every "question" raised about the bill was, in fact, answered during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, the Committee voted (8-7) to report the bill to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
Under these circumstances, it appears that your vote to send the bill back to the Committee was nothing less than a manipulation of the legislative process. This bill was vetted through all the proper channels, and it therefore should have received a full, recorded vote on its substance (not just on the motion to send it back to the Committee).
I understand that many politicians have determined that it is time to "move on" from divisive issues such as abortion. But please know that I and countless other Virginians recognize this as a human rights issue. We will not "move on" until the laws of our Commonwealth recognize that life begins at conception and provide basic legal protections for every member of the human family from conception until natural death. In our view, any legislator who is not willing to work to secure the unalienable right to life should not be entrusted with the incredible responsibility of lawmaking.
I hope that you will re-examine your position on this measure, and I am praying toward this end.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Ruff's e-mail address: district15@senate.virginia.gov.
Senator Stosch's e-mail address: district12@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Wagner's e-mail address: district07@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Watkins' e-mail address: district10@senate.virginia.gov
Please pray for these men.
Thank you, friends, for joining me in this "5 Minutes a Day" campaign. Tomorrow will be our last day of sending e-mails. Hang in there!
Senators Ruff, Stosch, Wagner & Watkins are the other four Republicans who voted to "re-commit" HB1 to the Senate Education and Health Committee. Apart from that, I don't know much about them. I do know, however, that the Republican Party professes a commitment to the protection of human life. For that reason, I think we should contact them with the same message that we sent to Senator Norment yesterday.
Dear Senator,
I was deeply disappointed to learn of your vote last session to "re-commit" House Bill 1--the quintessential "life at conception" bill--to the Senate Education and Health Committee. As you know, that Committee held a full and lengthy hearing on the bill in which both sides had ample opportunity to present their arguments. I was told that every "question" raised about the bill was, in fact, answered during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, the Committee voted (8-7) to report the bill to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
Under these circumstances, it appears that your vote to send the bill back to the Committee was nothing less than a manipulation of the legislative process. This bill was vetted through all the proper channels, and it therefore should have received a full, recorded vote on its substance (not just on the motion to send it back to the Committee).
I understand that many politicians have determined that it is time to "move on" from divisive issues such as abortion. But please know that I and countless other Virginians recognize this as a human rights issue. We will not "move on" until the laws of our Commonwealth recognize that life begins at conception and provide basic legal protections for every member of the human family from conception until natural death. In our view, any legislator who is not willing to work to secure the unalienable right to life should not be entrusted with the incredible responsibility of lawmaking.
I hope that you will re-examine your position on this measure, and I am praying toward this end.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Ruff's e-mail address: district15@senate.virginia.gov.
Senator Stosch's e-mail address: district12@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Wagner's e-mail address: district07@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Watkins' e-mail address: district10@senate.virginia.gov
Please pray for these men.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 11
Day 11 - January 30, 2013 - Speaking Truth to Power
Senator Tommy Norment (a Republican from the Williamsburg area) is the Senate Majority Leader. He led the charge in "re-committing" House Bill 1 back to the Education and Health Committee mere hours after a full hearing resulted in the Committee's reporting the bill for a recorded floor vote of the full Senate.
While Senator Norment told reporters that he thought there were "questions" about the bill that needed further consideration, the fact is that every "question" raised about the bill was definitively answered. Furthermore, Senator Norment has refused my offers to meet personally with him at a time and place of his choosing to answer any legal "questions" to his satisfaction.
If a man's heart is set against the recognition, for purposes of Virginia law, that human life begins at conception, there is probably little we can do to change that. But we know the One who can and does change hearts. And beyond that, I believe it is our duty, as Christians, to "speak truth to power" by letting Senator Norment know that we disapprove of his standing in the way of efforts to lay a foundation for the protection of human life in the womb.
Are you with me?
Dear Senator Norment,
I was deeply disappointed to learn of your vote last session to "re-commit" House Bill 1--the quintessential "life at conception" bill--to the Senate Education and Health Committee. As you know, that Committee held a full and lengthy hearing on the bill in which both sides had ample opportunity to present their arguments. I was told that every "question" raised about the bill was, in fact, answered during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, the Committee voted (8-7) to report the bill to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
Under these circumstances, it appears that your vote to send the bill back to the Committee was nothing less than a manipulation of the legislative process. This bill was vetted through all the proper channels, and it therefore should have received a full, recorded vote on its substance (not just on the motion to send it back to the Committee).
I understand that many politicians have determined that it is time to "move on" from divisive issues such as abortion. But please know that I and countless other Virginians recognize this as a human rights issue. We will not "move on" until the laws of our Commonwealth recognize that life begins at conception and provide basic legal protections for every member of the human family from conception until natural death. In our view, any legislator who is not willing to work to secure the unalienable right to life should not be entrusted with the incredible responsibility of lawmaking.
I hope that you will re-examine your position on this measure, and I am praying toward this end.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Norment's e-mail address: district03@senate.virginia.gov.
Please pray for Senator Norment.
Senator Tommy Norment (a Republican from the Williamsburg area) is the Senate Majority Leader. He led the charge in "re-committing" House Bill 1 back to the Education and Health Committee mere hours after a full hearing resulted in the Committee's reporting the bill for a recorded floor vote of the full Senate.
While Senator Norment told reporters that he thought there were "questions" about the bill that needed further consideration, the fact is that every "question" raised about the bill was definitively answered. Furthermore, Senator Norment has refused my offers to meet personally with him at a time and place of his choosing to answer any legal "questions" to his satisfaction.
If a man's heart is set against the recognition, for purposes of Virginia law, that human life begins at conception, there is probably little we can do to change that. But we know the One who can and does change hearts. And beyond that, I believe it is our duty, as Christians, to "speak truth to power" by letting Senator Norment know that we disapprove of his standing in the way of efforts to lay a foundation for the protection of human life in the womb.
Are you with me?
Dear Senator Norment,
I was deeply disappointed to learn of your vote last session to "re-commit" House Bill 1--the quintessential "life at conception" bill--to the Senate Education and Health Committee. As you know, that Committee held a full and lengthy hearing on the bill in which both sides had ample opportunity to present their arguments. I was told that every "question" raised about the bill was, in fact, answered during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, the Committee voted (8-7) to report the bill to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
Under these circumstances, it appears that your vote to send the bill back to the Committee was nothing less than a manipulation of the legislative process. This bill was vetted through all the proper channels, and it therefore should have received a full, recorded vote on its substance (not just on the motion to send it back to the Committee).
I understand that many politicians have determined that it is time to "move on" from divisive issues such as abortion. But please know that I and countless other Virginians recognize this as a human rights issue. We will not "move on" until the laws of our Commonwealth recognize that life begins at conception and provide basic legal protections for every member of the human family from conception until natural death. In our view, any legislator who is not willing to work to secure the unalienable right to life should not be entrusted with the incredible responsibility of lawmaking.
I hope that you will re-examine your position on this measure, and I am praying toward this end.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Norment's e-mail address: district03@senate.virginia.gov.
Please pray for Senator Norment.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 10
Day 10 - January 29, 2013 - Preparations...
Friends, so far we have been sending our notes to Senators who have, at some point or another, voted for the protection of human life. These have been easy, haven't they?
Today, let's ask God to prepare our hearts to "Speak Truth to Power." Tomorrow we will send a firm message to the Republicans who have teamed up with "pro-choice" legislators to defeat pro-life goals.
Let's also ask God to prepare their hearts to receive this message. And let's pray that any public official who would sacrifice the cause of life on the altar of political ambition would lose his or office.
Friends, so far we have been sending our notes to Senators who have, at some point or another, voted for the protection of human life. These have been easy, haven't they?
Today, let's ask God to prepare our hearts to "Speak Truth to Power." Tomorrow we will send a firm message to the Republicans who have teamed up with "pro-choice" legislators to defeat pro-life goals.
Let's also ask God to prepare their hearts to receive this message. And let's pray that any public official who would sacrifice the cause of life on the altar of political ambition would lose his or office.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)