MEMORIAL DAY THOUGHT: HEROES

What would you be up to if you're 91? 

Me? I'd incessantly be crying out to God, "Take me home, pretty please!" 

91? That may not even be an issue with Commander Vern Jumper. He's fit as a fiddle! And he seems to enjoy his role now as a volunteer at the Midway aircraft carrier-turned museum—precious reminder that America, no matter how severely criticized for it's entanglement in Vietnam, cares about nations' right to exist. 

Cdr Jumper is flesh and blood hero. And charming and sharp at 91! Move over Superman; you're a mere  fantasy. 

In our recent visit to the Midway, hubby Jack and I learned how he and his colleagues evacuated thousands of Vietnamese and Americans from Saigon as the country started to fall apart. Here's one of his amazing stories: 

He was then the carrier's air traffic controller. An errant South Vietnamese plane attempted to land on the carrier. First and second attempts to land proved unsuccessful. There were just too many planes on the flight deck !

Could have been a total disaster if the pilot hit the runway right off. Solution? 

Those planes were ordered off the deck. Pronto! Safe landing! Whew! 

That oncoming plane was piloted by a South Vietnamese carrying his entire family to safety. His first attempts to land could have razed the carrier itself. 

Cdr Jumper was certain God heard his cry. 

As the country observes memorial day, let's remember Cdr Jumper—as well as all the other veterans and active members of the military—in our prayers.

2 Corinthians 1:10 "He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again."

Photo notes: Jack with Cdr Jumper. Jack imagining Cdr Jumper's exploits with as he surveys our Vietnam hero's plane. 

ABORTION: RIGHT OR DEATH OR LIFE

Abortion has become one of the hottest topics today in the US.

A leaked draft of the US Supreme Court's ruling to strike down the right to abortion—currently enshrined in the Constitution due to a 1973 ruling based on the Roe v. Wade case—has raised a ruckus from pro-choice supporters.

And why not? That law, once overturned, will make abortion illegal nationwide, leaving individual states to deal with their own abortions issues—and their laws vary. Many speculate that those seeking abortion just need to flee to other states like California with it's very liberal abortion laws.

I recently watched the documentary, The Matter of Life, with church-mates; thanks, Precy and Caloy.

Some thoughts on the abortion divide:

Abortion proponents have consistently harped on a woman's right to her body. "My body. My right.  My choice."

What about the unborn's right? Unless we realize that fetuses are living, breathing, thriving human beings—and not just clumps of tissues—then we would be guilty of denying their right to exist; with their mothers' rights being treated as more important.

Babies, unborn or born, have a right to live as much as you and I.  Just because they could not fight or defend themselves does not mean that they should be denied that right.

So, from the outset, the unborn should, must, be treated as persons! That's what pro-life proponents argue. Babies grow from one stage to the next but they are definitely distinct individuals—already! even in the womb!

They may have started as fertilized eggs, initially unrecognizable as humans, yet designed and destined to mature—just like seeds growing to full blown trees, afterwards producing fruits.

God is the author of life! David tells us so in Psalms 139:13-16 "For you formed my inward parts... I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret... Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, everyone of them, the days that we're formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

Abortion proponents argue that religion should not be used to slap and deny women their rights. So let science inform us: At two months in the womb, a baby's heart starts beating. But at that stage when the egg and sperm join, life has started!

Alright, let's remove religion out of it. The 14th amendment of the US Constitution's Bill of Rights states "... nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within it's jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws..."

The unborn has life! Why should they be denied their rights? Just because no one is lawyering for them? Just because they're unable to shout or scream? And just because women's rights advocates shout louder and bolder and angier?

Using graphic images, a doctor interviewed for "The Matter of Life" documentary explained how a fetus gets violated in the abortion process. Heart-wrenching is the only way to describe it. Each of the baby's body parts gets torn apart. Bloody murder, to put it bluntly.

Those images remained with me for quite some time. Unsettling! Isn't that your reaction too when confronted with news about gruesome killings? But why do liberal government leaders and extreme women's rights advocates—turn their backs on this holocaust-like decimation of infants.

According to Fox, 63 million abortions have taken place in the US since Roe v. Wade in 1973.

What woman would want to be in this predicament—find herself one day in an abortion clinic?

She may have erred, yes; but she doesn't need to spiral down into a deeper and murkier hole by committing another mistake. Compassion, not condemnation. That's what she needs. Information too—that there are alternatives and people she could turn to for help.

This is where believers can make a difference. Church should be a family anyone can run to for love, healing and restoration.

A case in point: Mina (not her real name) got pregnant and sought abortion. Yet she met Lucy (not her real name), a faithful follower of Jesus. She listened, spent precious time and resources, and prayed with Mina. She recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Mina could not have done it without the support of Lucy and her new spiritual family.

An unwanted pregnancy need not end in someone's— the mother's or an innocent baby's—tragedy. Both of them can thrive and have a happy life, together or apart. 

Babies are precious in God's eyes. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these," Matthew 19:14.

Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."