Now that I have your attention, I’ll say, well, sort of . . .

Today, from the very same podium on the very same stage in the very same room where in January I called the nation to pray for an end to abortion in America, President Obama called lawmakers to pass a health care bill that will be a huge financial stimulus for the abortion industry.

The President spoke to Democrat members of Congress in the Congressional Auditorium this afternoon. It’s the same venue we used this past January 22 and last year for our annual US Capitol pro-life event. We plan to use it again next year and every year until our nation finally recognizes the value of every human life and protects them under law. It was sad to see that same podium used to advance an agenda that will place the resources of the federal government in the hands of abortion business owners. (See yesterday’s post for an explanation.)

Today wasn’t all bad news, though. While I was at the Capitol earlier today, I learned that a church service will be held inside the Capitol tomorrow morning–the first such service in more than 150 years–so members of congress can pray before casting their votes on health care. The members that organized this extraordinary prayer and worship service were concerned that because the vote is being held on Sunday, they wouldn’t be able to pray at their own churches. They’ve asked all Americans who care about this enormously consequential vote to pray with them beginning 11:00 AM EST tomorrow, Sunday, March 21, 2010.

More to follow . . .

Rob +

If the current health care reform bill passes in the House of Representatives on Sunday, the US Government will officially enter into the business of abortion.

Let me explain how:

The bill creates a separate fund into which citizens will pay private monies if they elect an insurance plan that offers abortion coverage. That fund will be set up, managed, monitored and dispersed by federal government employees. Voila! Your tax dollars used to administer money for abortion businesses.

And there’s more: The pressure is on now–the US Government will be fully engaged in all aspects of health care. Insurers will comply with strong-arm tactics because they won’t want any more of the camel in their tent. All the US Government needs to say, with a wink and a nod, is, “You don’t have to offer abortion coverage, but, you better!” Voila! Abortion coverage.

No matter how you cut it, the new health care scheme will provide millions and millions of dollars to abortionists, compliments of the US Government. I’m sure Planned Parenthood, the world’s biggest abortion business, is licking its chops, working feverishly to exploit the new arrangement and open lots of “community health centers.” Voila! More abortions.

It’s amazing how much can get done very fast when billions of dollars are flowing.

Watching and praying . . .

Rob +

If you’re not already reading WORLD Magazine, I recommend highly that you do. I’ve known WORLD for over ten years. I’ve found it to be consistently the best, most professional source of news and commentary I get from an Evangelical Christian perspective. This week’s issue (online and in print) has a good cover story on alternatives to the health care reform proposals offered by President Obama and Democrat congressional leaders. Check it out: WORLD Magazine (www.worldmag.com)

Rob +

Or is it intractable flexibility?

I started out leading prayer this morning outside Blair House, the site of today’s bi-partisian summit on health care reform convened by President Obama. Call me a blithe optimist or simply naive, but I monitored nearly every minute of it thinking, “Well, let’s give the two parties a chance. Let’s give the president a chance.” 6 hours and 22 minutes later, it seemed it ended like it began.

I will give the President high points for taking the time to let the two parties speak. He did hear them out–and he gave his opponents ample time to speak–and they spoke effectively. Of course, there’s a difference between “hearing” and “listening.” “Listen” means you accept, appreciate and heed what is said. The President and the leaders of Congress heard a lot today, but they don’t appear to have listened.

Both sides predictably had everything well well scripted and rehearsed–including the ending.That’s not cynical, it’s necessary. I’m glad the public conversation about health care has been re-ignited, but it seems the current proposals are still securely in place. That means should any of the present bills pass, there will be more abortion, this time made possible by tax dollars. There will also be government management of health insurance. I’m definitely not optimistic about that.

God told the prophet Ezekiel, “the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.” (Ezekiel 3:7) Even though the people would not listen to Ezekiel, he was no less responsible to deliver the message!

There’s still time for you to weigh in. Pray–then make calls to your representative and your two senators. Pastors: Tell your congressional delegation how many are in your congregation and what you hear them saying.

More to follow . . .

Rob +

Last night I read the entirety of four proposals on health care reform: The most current one put forth by President Obama, the two being considered in the House and Senate respectively, and an outline of the one that will be presented by the Republican opposition today. The idea of extending health care to those who can’t afford it is a nobel one, but it must be done with the highest moral and ethical principles to guide it. So far, what is being seriously considered falls down on both points. It is neither moral or ethical to place literal life and death decisions into the hands of an impersonal, uncaring and unaccountable government bureaucracy. The history on that in our own country and in nations around the world is appalling. (Think of the cruel forced sterilization of the poor in Oklahoma and the gruesome Tuskeegee syphilis experiments on black airmen.)

Ask yourself if you trust “the government” to care for a newborn with birth defects, a severely brain-injured loved one or an elderly parent or grandparent. I know, many private insurers are no better, but if they aren’t, you have legal or at least public relations options for punishing them. Not so with the government. In fact, their involvement with health care caries the coercive power of the law. So, the question becomes, Who will make decisions about which health care insurers and which specific packages will be included in the menu of choices available to people? That will be delegated to a nameless group of career bureaucrats responding to political pressure from the top. That can’t be any better than the structure in place now–and my be far worse.

Your prayers and your voice need to be heard TODAY. Please take time to pray and take time to call your member of Congress and US senators. If you fail to act now, you can’t complain about what you get in the future. God help us and have mercy on our nation!

More to follow.

Rob +

For the 16th year in a row, I was humbled to open the annual prayer service we hold in the US Capitol focused on ending the terrible blight of abortion. Each year hundreds of the most dedicated pro-life activists in our country attend this two-hour  gathering. While most of the program is given to prayer and scripture reading, we do hear from from distinguished leaders on the sacredness of  human life. This year they included our great friend of so many years, Fr. Frank Pavone, president of the National Pro-Life Religious Council, the primary sponsor of the event. Joining him was Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and the firey Bishop Harry Jackson, an outstanding voice in the African-American pro-life community.

This is the only uncompromosing prayer and preaching event of its kind ever held INSIDE the US Capitol complex. It doesn’t happen without a herculean struggle, though. Every year we get right up to start time and we’re still threatened with expulsion, even though we go through all the proper channels for approval. This year we were rescued by Virginia congressman Randy Forbes, a fine Christianwho navigated treacherous political waters to ensure we could hold our event. Even so, as we sang–accapella as directed–an emissary was sent to shut us down.  Notwithstanding the opposition, we had “church” today in the US Capitol, with Christians of every tradition praying together and listening to the Word being powerfully proclaimed!

Hope you can join us next year–always on or about Januray 22. Mark your calendar now!!

Rob +

Yesterday’s election of Scott Brown to the US Senate is rocking Washington, DC. It’s as if everyone here is dazed–Democrats and Republicans alike. Brown is an interesting study. Pro-abortion voices decry him as anti-choice and pro-life voices decry him as not pro-life enough, while gay groups denounce him as “homophobic” for not supporting same-sex marriage and pro-family groups thump him for advocating “civil unions.”

I’ve gotten a lot of E-mails on Senator-Elect Brown, including from a top sitting US Senator and top Christian leaders in Massachusetts and elsewhere. He is an interesting study. As far as I can tell, Sen. Brown is what 18th Century founder of the Methodist Church John Wesley called a “Bible Christian.” The best information I have is that the Brown family’s home church is New England Chapel in Franklin, MA. It’s in the network of new Christian Reformed Churches. That is, the congregation is contemporary in its culture and style, “Evangelical” in its ethos, and soft in its delivery of its message. At its core ,though, it’s old-time Calvinistic Reformed Christianity, which can be strict and severe. (See Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin.) Still, Brown seems to define himself religiously. Among other things, he has a serious relationship to a community of Catholic nuns; definitely not typical of Christian Reformed.

Senator Brown’s pastor, Chris Mitchell , a graduate of the evangelically renowned Gordon-Conwell Seminary, where Billy Graham once chaired the board, seems like the kind of minister I generally keep company with and the church is very familiar in the way in conducts its ministries. (We posted a video of one of their recent baptismal services–check it out on our Faith and Action homepage.)

I’ll post more on Scott Brown and his faith. For now, I encourage you to pray for the senator-elect from the Bay State. He’ll need it–badly.

Rob +

Early this morning I went over to the US Capitol to pray and witness Truth to senators as they cast their Christmas Eve surprise on first-ever tax-payer funded abortion in so-called “health care.” I was as heartsick as you probably are, but leading pro-life senator and outstanding Christian brother, Sam Brownback of Kansas, had a hopeful message for you and me. I captured it on my cell phone and share it with you below as my CHRISTmas gift to you. Watch the Senator’s comments, then pray and work and work and pray! CHRISTmas is all about hope in the face of catastrophe. As children were slaughtered throughout the Holy Land by a blood-thirsty tyrant, God saved the world through an infant born in a manger.

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger . . .” (Luke 2:9 – 12)

The US Senate can no more take away this great sign of hope than Herod could so long ago. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.”

Watch my conversation with Sen. Brownback here.

Merry CHRISTmas to you and all yours!

Rob +

We received no word from Senator Harry Reid on what he may or may not have offered to potentially bribe fellow Democrat senators who are holding out on voting for a pro-abortion health care reform bill, so we proceeded with delivering his “30 Pieces of Silver Disgrace” plaque. Watch video report here.

After 15 years on Capitol Hill, my greatest challenge is guarding my heart against cynicism. Political machinations wear on me like nothing else. During my years of front line ministry, I’ve been cursed at, spit on, punched, slapped, put in handcuffs, had my life threatened, been repeatedly insulted, even been urinated on, but by the grace of God, I’ve kept my joy and even–sometimes beyond my own belief–maintained a love and even compassion for my tormentors. However, when it comes to cynical, power-grubbing, vulgar, bald-faced, self-aggrandizing and self-serving politics, I start to lose my “fruits.” (That is, the Galatians 5:22-23 “Fruit of the Spirit” kind, i.e., “love, joy, peace,” etc.)

And so, yesterday, when I got an early morning report that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may be offering hundreds of millions of your hard-earned tax dollars as bribes to his fellow Democrats that are holding off on voting for a tax-payer funded abortion health care reform bill, it put me over the edge. I hope you saw my video on this. If you didn’t, please take a moment and view it here, then pass it along to your family, friends and fellow church members.

Today I’m seeking clarification from Senator Reid on exactly what he has offered and to whom. I also want to know whether he will unequivocally repudiate the threat against pro-life Democrat senators to close Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, which would result in hundreds of job losses for hard-working families there. Apparently it was an idea hatched at the White House as a way to teach a lesson to Nebraska senator Ben Nelson, the leading pro-life Democrat.

This is all so ugly I hate even dealing with it, but it’s reality. A few people think my “30 Pieces of Silver Disgrace” presentation to Senator Reid is over-the-top, but most applauded it. What do you think? The Bible says there’s safety in the multitude of counselors. I haven’t succeeded in getting an appointment with the Senator to make the presentation yet, so there’s still time to withdraw it. What do you think I should do? Please let me know in your comments on this blog.

I’ll keep you informed.

Rob +

PS The Los Angeles Times has a nice summation of the stages left for ratification of the heath care bill: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-health-box17-2009dec17,0,1786799.story