Here is just a recap of some things going on in the USA and around the world.
USA
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Researchers are now being permitted to use embryos for stem cell research. These were embryos “created” by in-vitro fertilization. In-vitro fertilization often produces more embryos than a mother’s womb can carry. Extra ones are frozen and saved. Only embryos that would be discarded can be used for research, and only embryos that have been donated for research can be used for research.
The NIH is saying that it is more ethical to use these embryos for medical research than to discard them. Is it more ethical to destroy them for a good purpose than it is to destroy them for a bad or "neutral" purpose. No, it is never right to do wrong in order to do right. What should be done with the embryos? I don’t know. But if people had not tried to play God by “creating” a baby, this difficult situation would not happen.
God says, “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (Psalm 127:3) God makes a womb barren and God opens a womb and blesses with children. This does not mean it is never right to get medical intervention to help a pregnancy be carried successfully to term or to restore normal hormone function to a body or to prevent the death of a baby in the womb. But “creating” embryos (the terminology used in the news report) and playing with the body to try to bring about results that God never intended can never result in anything good.
I remember reading the testimony of one Christian woman who could not have a baby. Finally, in desperation, she tried in-vitro fertilization. She was able to have several children through this method, but she shared the effects it had on her and the family. It produced more embryos than she could possibly carry to safety in her womb. The extra embryos had to be discarded or frozen for “future use." The alternative would be that she could try to have all the babies. This would have been impossible. And most likely this would have resulted in the death of all of the babies and possibly the mother as well.
This in itself should indicate that there is an ethical problem with in-vitro fertilization. It can force a Christian parent or Christian parents to choose between destroying a few embryos (which are each a real human being) or waiting to see if all the embryos and possibly the mother will die.
Sinful actions often create a situation in which right choices are very difficult to make. Any choice will have a negative effect, even the better of the two choices. May God help us to seek His will and to be very careful in every choice that we make.
For more information on this topic and to better understand the thought processes of those who think this practice is acceptable, go here - http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091203/nih-approves-first-new-wave-of-stem-cell-lines/index.html
Here is an interesting fact mentioned in the same article linked to above - “Embryonic stem cell research has yielded no cures to date.” On the other hand, “Adult stem cells and neonatal stem cells" {which do not require the destruction of any human life}, "meanwhile, have been used in successfully treating over 100 diseases without controversies and have been hailed by some as having many superior qualities to embryonic stem cells.”
Same-Sex Marriage
In New York “a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York failed by a surprisingly wide margin Wednesday.”
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091203/n-y-gay-marriage-bill-defeated-by-wide-margin/index.html
A Homeschool Child Ordered to go to Public School
Last year, a judge ordered that a young girl must be removed from homeschooling and sent to a government school. This was part of a court battle between a couple. The husband, who had formerly been in favor of homeschooling, had fallen into sin. As part of the divorce settlement, he demanded that she be taken out of homeschooling and placed in a government school. The judge ruled in the man's favor.
This ruling caused a big stir among Christians. It is important to note that this had nothing to do with a custody battle. The girl, Amanda, was to remain in her mother’s custody. However, the court judge agreed with her father when he ruled that “it would be in the best interest of the student to explore and examine new things, other than Christianity.”
This ruling was considered necessary because “the Guardian ad Litem – who acts as a fact finder for the court – reported that Amanda was found to ‘lack some youthful characteristics,’ partly because ‘she appeared to reflect her mother's rigidity on questions of faith.’" {Is that a bad thing?}
“Ms. Voydatch insisted that she does not push religion on Amanda and said her daughter's choice to share her religious beliefs is a free choice.
“The court, however, determined that ‘Amanda's vigorous defense of her religious beliefs to the counselor suggests strongly that she has not had the opportunity to seriously consider any other point of view’ and that enrolling her in a public school would expose her to a variety of points of view.”
“Simmons {attorney} filed a motion to reconsider and stay the order. But the judge denied the motions and stated that the girl ‘is at an age when it can be expected that she would benefit from the social interaction and problem solving she will find in public school, and granting a stay would result in a lost opportunity for her.’"
The New Hampshire Supreme Court has agreed to take this girl’s case, as an attempt is being made at this time to overturn the judge’s ruling.
Alliance Defense Fund- allied attorney John Anthony Simmons of Hampton stated, “’Courts can settle disputes, but they cannot legitimately order a child into a government-run school on the basis that her religious views need to be mixed with other views.’”
Please pray as this case returns to court.
For more details, go here - http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091125/n-h-high-court-to-hear-case-of-girl-ordered-out-of-homeschooling/index.html
Around the World
Iran
Two young Iranian Christian ladies have been in a prison known for its brutality. They were released Wednesday, but please be in prayer for them as they may still face more court hearings in the future. They refused to deny Christ at their last hearing and were sent back to prison to “think about” their decision. Now they have been released. Thank the Lord. The judge was sympathetic to them and dismissed charges that they were involved in anti-state activities. This rarely happens. Could it have had something to do with the prayers of God’s people?
To read more, check out this link - http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091118/iran-frees-two-women-converts-from-prison/index.html
Belgium
Brain dead man not so brain-dead
To read the story of a Belgian man who was in a coma for 23 years and thought to be brain dead, go here - http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091201/bioethicist-coma-recovery-case-offers-ethical-lesson/index.html
Houben is doing much better now and says, “I want to read, talk with my friends via the computer and enjoy my life now that people know I am not dead.” “Houben, who is still unable to move most of his body, now communicates with the help of a speech therapist who helps him move his hand to type out messages on a touch screen. He plans to write a book.”
Papua New Guinea
It has been fun to read news about PNG. There are some troubling news reports as there would be for any country. But there was also a story about a farewell celebration for a man who had spent 37 years teaching school in the Eastern Highlands Province. He was a hard worker and a willing worker and was considered a good teacher. Thus he was honored as a good example to the people.
Then there was the story of new technology being used there. Papua New Guineans can now purchase a solar kit which will provide power to their homes. They can take out a special loan and take 3 years to pay the loan back. After 3 years, they will own the solar kit, and their power will be free. The government hopes this will cut down on the use of kerosene which they see as dangerous and potentially expensive. Kerosene can be dangerous. We have seen that it can cause severe burns in an accident. Also, one man got very ill after accidentally swallowing it. The government hopes these solar kits will bring benefits in the long run. Sounds like a clever idea.
This news came from the online PNG newspaper, “The National.”