(Blog entry by Stan Kellner, president of Image Clear Ultrasound National (www.icumobile.org). Our mobile fleet’s purpose: Revealing life…at the crossroads of decision.)
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Can’t you hear the haunting music now? In the middle part of the song, when the group of men are singing, I have no idea what they are saying but I have always felt that it sounded something like, “Walk…Wiggle”. Listen closely next time.
I’m amazed, not so much with the content of the movie, but with the fact that the title of the song has been added to our culture as what is called an “idiomatic expression”. Similar to phrases like, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water”. (Yikes!) Or “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. (Humph. What do they do?)
Just last week our worship pastor was sharing some thoughts between songs, songs related to sin and God’s marvelous forgiveness and in his explanation he said, “…and the good, bad and ugly of sin…” Everyone knew immediately what he meant.
Why do I bring this up? I haven’t the foggiest! Just kidding.
One of the slides of our ministry PowerPoint describes some details of the cultural mandate that explain why we are so motivated to see God grow our mobile ultrasound fleet – to reach more and more abortion-minded clients at their “crossroads of decision”.
•Since 1973 1.5 million babies aborted per year (in the U.S. alone).
That’s 45,000,000+ missing Americans!
•Recent debates surrounding such issues as the Tim Tebow Ad during 2010’s Super Bowl brought to light the true agenda of groups like NOW and Planned Parenthood.
•Increasing flow of legislation aimed at limiting or closing pregnancy centers, as in Washington, Virginia and Maryland, with more to follow
•A recent article in Weekly Standard Magazine “Mugged By Ultrasound “(01/25/10) emphasizes the change of heart of many who are pro-choice to pro-life when they see life on the screen.
•Many, if not most, of the Pregnancy Centers in America cannot afford the medical and legal costs of doing ultrasound.
God wants us, in the life-affirming movement, to utilize every creative and effective tool in order to promote a culture of life. This challenge will not go away tomorrow but we can thank God for increasing reports of victories, breakthroughs, turning points and changed hearts when it comes to life-affirming principles and practices.
I guess I could say that all the news that is reported – through electronic news media, blogs, political action groups, legislation, etc. remind us on a daily, no, minute-by-minute basis of the “good, bad and ugly” of the battle for life vs. death. If we’re not careful, we can tend to live life on a virtual roller-coaster every day.
ICU National prays for and is thankful for the various efforts taking place around the U.S. (and the globe) that are providing a light at the end of the tunnel. We are obviously in the thick of the whole issue ourselves, as our mobile units go to where culture hangs out so as to reach the abortion-minded client in their hood, at their crossroads of decision.
Our hope and goal is that each and every client says yes to life and yes to Jesus. While we know that may not always happen (although statistics tell us that 80%-90% of the time when life is viewed on an ultrasound screen, the client says YES to life) we are convinced that ultrasound is our greatest God-given medical tool to effect change in our culture!
So, when I ponder the “Good, Bad and Ugly” of the life vs. death issue in our land, I’m reminded of a key verse:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. (Ephesians 6:12, NASV)
Oh, I know. On any given day, the person that is opposing our views, our actions, our organization, etc. can feel pretty real, can feel very ”flesh and blood”, especially when they’re in our face! But, folks, let’s step back and be reminded that the person with which we are in debate or disagreement isn’t our enemy. Satan, the evil one, has blinded many “to the light of the gospel” (II Corinthians 4:4). Jesus said in John 8:32, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. (Boy, am I being spoken to as I write this. Oy Vey!)
The Good? That’s God. The Bad and Ugly? That’s Satan and his demonic powers. Let’s never forget that. Some closing thoughts:
- Let’s stay engaged with our culture (Acts 17:16-34)
- Let’s be like the sons of Issachar who discerned the times and knew what to do (I Chronicles 12:32)
- Let’s get on our knees and talk to Almighty God on behalf of His precious creation, unborn and born (Jeremiah 33:3)
- Let’s endeavor to hear the Shepherd’s voice more clearly in our various ministry efforts (John 10:4)
- Let’s put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11)
- Let’s stand in God’s strength, NOT ours, as in David and Goliath’s confrontation! (I Samuel 17:45)
- Let’s lighten up and laugh a little (Proverbs 17:22)
As crazy as it might sound, maybe next time you hear the 1960′s spaghetti western’s theme, it will remind you of Who you serve and Who is fighting the battle on our behalf. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly? I guess that sums it up.
What are your thoughts?
