Justice Not Mercy

There are crimes so horrific
My heart cries out for justice, not mercy

There are people so evil
The fires of hell don’t seem hot enough

There are hearts are so hardened and calloused
Eternity in hell doesn’t seem long enough

If Abel’s blood cried out to God
How much more so the blood of innocent babies slaughtered in the womb

Lord, I plead for justice
Both here and now and for eternity


By Susan Bunts Wachtel
February 12, 2011


The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. – Genesis 4:10

After listening to Focus on the Family’s broadcast on 2/11/11, “The Value of Standing for Life”, I wanted to read the grand jury indictment for myself.  Focus shared facts from the case in Pennsylvania in which an abortion doctor had been charged with murder.  Babies from late term pregnancies were aborted, yet born alive, and they were then killed by severing their spinal cord. 

Shows like “The Value of Standing for Life” are difficult to hear.  Reading the grand jury transcript was graphic and horrific.  My mind could not begin to grasp how one doctor and his associates could commit such evil acts at a Pennsylvania abortion clinic over a period of many years.

Our liberal society twists the taking of an innocent human life and calls it “a choice”.

That’s why I was amazed to read that this doctor had actually been charged with multiple counts of murder of aborted babies who were killed outside the womb.

I am so grateful for the grand jury and their dedication to wading through the facts of this case and having wherewithal to bring criminal charges against the doctor and his associates.  I’m grateful that law enforcement and the legal system were able to shut down this abortion clinic. 

I pray that police and the legal system will be able to shut down more clinics.  I pray that this doctor and his staff will be judged by a jury of their peers and if found guilty be sentenced as severely as the law allows.

I know as a Christian I should be concerned for this man’s soul and pray for his salvation.  After reading about the crimes he committed, the best I can do is committing him to the Lord’s will. God alone is holy, righteous and just.  He alone can bring true justice both here and now and in eternity.

While I’m grateful for law enforcement and the court system in our nation, the true victory in abortion will only come by changing the hearts and mind of men and women through salvation in Christ Jesus. 

The Jury Is In…Abortion = Murder

Below are some of the charges against Dr. Kermit Gosnell who ran an abortion clinic in Philadelphia.  In reality it should be called an abortion house of horrors.  Even Hollywood would be hard pressed to come up with a story like what took place there.

If you are like me and the thought of reading such awful, gruesome facts is more than you can take…I ask you to please read it anyways.   Please click on the link to read the transcript of the indictments against Dr. Kermit Gosnell and his staff members. 

http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/PDFs/GrandJuryWomensMedical.pdf

• We recommend that Kermit Gosnell be charged with murder for killing Baby Boy A.

• We recommend a murder charge against Kermit Gosnell in the death of “Baby Boy B,”

• We recommend murder and conspiracy charges against Kermit Gosnell and Lynda Williams for the murder committed by Lynda Williams in 2006 or 2007 of “Baby C.”

• There is sufficient evidence to charge Adrienne Moton and Kermit Gosnell with murder and conspiracy in the death of “Baby D.”

• We recommend that a murder charge be filed against Kermit Gosnell for the murder of “Baby E,”

• We recommend murder and conspiracy charges against Kermit Gosnell and Steven Massof for killing “Baby F.”

• The evidence supports charges of murder and conspiracy against Kermit Gosnell and Steven Massof for the killing of Baby G.

"The abortion ruling is a very clear one. The abortion ruling, of course, is also a natural result of this other world view because with this other world view, human life -- your individual life -- has no intrinsic value." Francis Schaeffer

What can you do?  How do you process all this or put it in perspective?

http://www.birthchoiceclinic.org/

http://www.citizenlink.com/planned-parenthood/

http://www.peopleforlife.org/francis.html

Love & Hate

There are times I feel like I have a love/hate affair with Christian radio talk show host Frank Pastore.  Some days he has a wonderful show, very Christ centered, shares the Gospel message and builds up the body of Christ.

Other times, his topics, guest and callers seem to be more befitting an outrageous secular TV show in which you hear the sorted and sinful details of people’s lives.  Those are the days I turn off Frank’s show. 

Today was one of those days.  During the first hour the topic was “what did your parents expose you to that you wished you’d never heard, saw or did.”  You can well imagine in the world we live in today what some of the callers were saying. 

I don’t need to listen to garbage like that and quickly turned off Frank’s radio show.  I wondered just how a topic like that fulfills Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:8? 

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." – Philippians 4:8

Playing Hooky

Recently my husband Chris and I took a break from our normal weekend routine.  Instead of cleaning and yard work, we got a picnic lunch and went to the park.  Of course, my camera was in hand as we walked through Carbon Canyon Park.

It was a beautiful sunny day in late January.

Dakota’s Nature Photos Giveaway

Are you a photography lover?  Whether its photos I’ve snapped or someone else, I can’t resist looking. 

When I first visited Dakota’s Nature Photos I was oohing and ahhing at the beautiful scenery and animals he has captured.  I quickly marked his website as a favorite.  Dakota has a free giveaway for all who participate, so head on over view Dakota’s work.  The only problem you may have is choosing which photography you like best. 

Thanks Dakota for sharing your beautiful work.  Every time I see it, it reminds me of the scripture from Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

Chris’ Prayer

Oh Lord, You have burdened my heart for the lost
My heart breaks at the thought
Of their eternal separation from Your presence

Sin has a tight and powerful grip
Apart from you gracious work of salvation in us
Our eternal destination is sealed

I pray for stony hearts to be turned to flesh
For You to open their eyes so they will see their own sin
Cause them to cry out to You in repentance

A love so great that it moved You
To send Your own Son to die in our stead
A love so powerful sin loses its grip and we are set free


By Susan Bunts Wachtel
February 6, 2011

Dedicated to those who continue to pray for the lost, family, friends, associates, our nation’s leaders and even our enemies. 

Let’s Call It What It Is…Sin!

Each day during the week, when I’m able to slip out from work and go get some lunch I’ll turn on the radio and listen to whatever ministry program is on at that time.

About a week ago, a Pastor was talking about marriage and sin.  He used the powerful testimony on how God has transformed his life after he repented from sin and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

In telling his story he told about how he and his girlfriend, who later became his wife, engaged in sex outside of marriage which resulted in her getting pregnant.  As he continue, my mouth was agape as he said, “My wife committed fornication.”  Was that true…absolutely.  Was it accurate?  He left out the little detail that he and his wife had committed fornication together.

I was annoyed and found myself talking back to the radio.  But it reminded me on how hard it is for us to call sin, sin.  It’s so easy to downplay sin.  Instead of saying I sinned, I may say I made a mistake, or I missed the mark, or I was disobedient.  When in fact the more accurate statement is, “I willfully sinned against holy God.”

That trend had made its way into the church.  We don’t want to offend unbelievers or seekers by telling them that they need to repent of their sin.  Instead we water down the gospel message and tell them that God loves them, that He has a wonderful plan for their lives and came to save them and all they have to do is say, “Jesus come into my heart.”

Whatever happened to repentance?  Whatever happened to sin?  If I don’t recognize that I’m a sinner and the ultimate consequences of my sin why would I see the need to repent?  Why would I see my need for a Savior?  Or to have my sins covered by the precious blood of the Lamb and have my sins removed as far as the east is from the west? 

In a world where sin and its ugliness are downplayed, I believe that God and His holiness and righteousness are not fully comprehended.  Is God a God of love?  Absolutely!  But He is also a God of wrath. 

Praise God that He is patient, not willing that any would perish, and that He desires that all would come to repentance.  Yet there a day coming, there is a point, when God’s patience will have run its full course, both in our personal lives and in this world.  There is a day coming in which we will have to give an account before God for our lives.  Either I can choose to stand before God in my own righteousness, which is like the emperors’ new clothes.  Or I can stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

What about you?  Whose righteousness are you clothed in? 

Just a thought…isn’t God’s intolerance for sin part of what makes heaven, heaven?  What would heaven be like with liars, gossips, adulterers and murders continuing on in their sin?  Praise God that when we are saved through Jesus Christ that we can put off the old man and put on the new man.  Praise God that He continues to sanctify us and transform us until that day in which He calls us home.  

11 Year-Old Reveals Jesus Throughout the Entire Bible!

The Obstacle

In Community Bible Study this year we are going through the book of Revelation.  It is a marvelous study.  I think I’ve learned more about the book of Revelation than I ever have before.  It’s fascinating especially in light of current events.  The day when Christ will call His church home to heaven and the beginning of the tribulation seems so very near.

This week’s study was from Revelation 14:1-13 about the 144,000 men, 12,000 from each of Israel’s 12 tribes, who stand on Mount Zion with Jesus Christ.   They have been redeemed and sealed by God to go forth and share the Gospel throughout the world.  They are preaching a message of repentance to a world gone mad.  Even though the wrath of God is being poured out upon sinful man, God continues to reach out to the lost with the message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.  Yet most will continue to harden their hearts and go headlong to their eternal destruction as they embrace Satan and reject Christ.   

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.  And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.  They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.  These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. – Revelation 14:1-5

The description of the 144,000 men is amazing.  They are chaste virgins, not defiled with women, there is no deceit in their mouth and they are without fault before the throne of God.  That is not to say that these men are sinless.  But they have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and their sin debt has been paid in full by the precious blood of the Lamb.  They are walking in obedience out of love for their Savior whom they worship. 

What is said of these men and their character should be said of Christians.  Can you imagine how much more effective our witness would be if we were chaste, honest and blameless?  One of the most striking descriptions was, “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” 

In our study we had a question about what obstacle might keep us from following their example.  To answer that question truthfully, I knew it wouldn’t be pretty as I examined myself in mirror of God’s word. 

My biggest obstacle in following their example is me…my own sinful self.  All too often I’m self-focused.  I take my eyes of the prize of my high calling and get distracted.  I can be undisciplined, lazy and disobedient.  I’m prideful and think more highly of myself than I ought to.  Worse yet, I fail to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. 

Lest I get discouraged as I see my many faults and failures…I need get my eyes back on the Lord.  The same Father, who chose these men before the foundation of the world, chose me.  The same Savior, who died for their sins, poured out His precious blood on the cross to pay the penalty in full for my sin.  The same Holy Spirit who seals the 144,000 has sealed me and indwells me. 

It’s not about me and how big or numerous my sins are…it’s about my God and His magnificent plan to redeem those who are lost.  It’s about His Son, Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who alone is worthy to be praised.  It’s about the Holy Spirit who dwells within me and is sanctifying me day by day. 

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
Jude 1:24-25

Ron DiCianni: Painting the Resurrection - CBN.com