How to Keep From Getting Desensitized to Abortion

WEBVTT100:00:00.600 --> 00:00:06.400I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours and me. Lord,200:00:07.389 --> 00:00:10.669Welcome to the Gospel Center pro livepodcast and this episode we're going to300:00:10.710 --> 00:00:14.750talk about biblically, how to keepfrom being desensitized to the issue of abortion.400:00:15.070 --> 00:00:19.030It's easy to do, specially whenwe're facing something as horrific as abortion.500:00:19.149 --> 00:00:27.620So join us as we talked thisthrough. I felt show passish touch600:00:28.059 --> 00:00:38.250your welcome to the Gospel Center prolife podcast. This episode we want to700:00:38.289 --> 00:00:43.929talk about how to keep from becomingdesensitized to the issue of abortion. And800:00:44.170 --> 00:00:47.969that can happen, especially for usbeing on the sidewalks in front of the900:00:48.009 --> 00:00:53.119abortion clinic, seeing women go in, seeing massive amounts of lives destroyed the1000:00:53.320 --> 00:00:56.359abortion. It can happen for people, you know, in a pregnancy center1100:00:56.439 --> 00:01:00.920context where they're dealing with abortion mindedwomen. It can happen just in general1200:01:00.960 --> 00:01:04.510as a society becoming desensitized. Weget the sensitized all kinds of stuff,1300:01:06.150 --> 00:01:10.230and we want to talk in particularabout the issue of abortion because, you1400:01:10.269 --> 00:01:15.989know, we're dealing with an issueof mass violence, really right, and1500:01:17.109 --> 00:01:22.180it's easy for us to lose,I don't know, just lose sensitivity to1600:01:22.340 --> 00:01:26.060what's actually going on. I thinkit's some sense. It's almost like a1700:01:26.140 --> 00:01:30.659human mechanism where are or sensitivity shutdown. I share with you, before1800:01:30.659 --> 00:01:34.609we started this podcast, as wewere talking through the article that you rode1900:01:34.650 --> 00:01:38.489and some of the things that youwrote down, that my pastor, some2000:01:38.569 --> 00:01:42.450weeks ago, had he was preachingin particular about empathy and just how we2100:01:42.489 --> 00:01:45.090can be empathetic toward people and howwe, as a congregation need to be2200:01:45.530 --> 00:01:49.079more empathetic, entering into people's sufferingsituations and that sort of thing, and2300:01:49.159 --> 00:01:53.560he said we have to guard ourselvesagainst a compassion fatigue. Right, we2400:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.000just get worn out and just beingcompassionate because we love Jesus and we love2500:01:57.079 --> 00:02:00.909people, and so that can happen. So how do we keep from that2600:02:01.069 --> 00:02:05.829happening to us? And if itdoes happen to us, how do we2700:02:06.069 --> 00:02:08.629will that thing back? Yeah,and yeah, be what God wants us2800:02:08.629 --> 00:02:13.229to be for these babies, forthese women that we minister to, in2900:02:13.389 --> 00:02:15.180the context that God has called us. Right. Not. And not only3000:02:15.300 --> 00:02:21.780that, but how do you keepfrom being if you're so overflowing with compassion,3100:02:22.419 --> 00:02:25.659how do you keep from destroying yourself? Yeah, with just continual despair.3200:02:27.020 --> 00:02:30.810And how can you endure in aministry for very long if if there's3300:02:30.810 --> 00:02:35.530all this yes, sorrow, yeah, yeah, you know. This ties3400:02:35.569 --> 00:02:38.289in, I guess, in onesense. But you know, how do3500:02:38.370 --> 00:02:42.129you keep from being taken advantage of, to which you we won't talk much3600:02:42.169 --> 00:02:46.560about that, and this podcast weactually talked about that some weeks ago.3700:02:46.960 --> 00:02:51.280We talked about enabledly able and versusand power, powering. There's two episodes3800:02:51.319 --> 00:02:53.800there you guys need to listen to. So how do you keep from getting3900:02:53.840 --> 00:02:57.240taken advantage of? Because, youknow, we're compassionate people by our nature.4000:02:57.280 --> 00:02:59.949The Bible tells us that the loveof God has been shed abroad in4100:02:59.990 --> 00:03:02.069our heart, you know, farfrom Christ we could care less, you4200:03:02.150 --> 00:03:06.270know, if we were still inour sins and still unregenerate people, we4300:03:06.949 --> 00:03:08.830could care less about what's going on. You know, when I was not4400:03:08.990 --> 00:03:12.590born again, I could care lessabout the issue of abortion. I could4500:03:12.629 --> 00:03:15.819care less, you know, focusedon myself. When you become a Christian,4600:03:16.060 --> 00:03:20.699your heart is toward those you know, hopefully we're become a more and4700:03:20.740 --> 00:03:23.259more like Jesus and our heart istoward those who's God's God's hardest, toward4800:03:23.819 --> 00:03:27.650so yeah, how do we keepfrom becoming the sense as how do we4900:03:27.729 --> 00:03:30.610keep from being taken advantage of?How do we keep, you know,5000:03:30.689 --> 00:03:36.689out of this pit of despair whenwe realize the truth of what abortion really5100:03:36.810 --> 00:03:39.689is and and in the implications ofthat? Yeah, yeah, when I5200:03:39.810 --> 00:03:43.919Bible have anything to say, itdoes, of course it. You know,5300:03:44.039 --> 00:03:47.439the Bible has the answer to everyproblem in life if you dig very5400:03:47.560 --> 00:03:51.319far. But you know, I'vebeen doing this, you've been doing this5500:03:51.439 --> 00:03:53.520even longer than I have, beingon the front lines of an abortion center5600:03:53.599 --> 00:03:57.590on the sidewalk, and I've beenout there about six and a half years5700:03:57.750 --> 00:04:01.030now. Really I've seen it all, I'm sure, as you have,5800:04:01.270 --> 00:04:06.069we've seen some really terrible situation.Yes, over and over again, we're5900:04:06.110 --> 00:04:12.180out there often, many, manytimes during the week for many hours and6000:04:12.340 --> 00:04:17.860and you know, you do startto kind of just lose some of that6100:04:19.259 --> 00:04:24.449immediate sense of horror, yea,of what's happening. I don't I don't6200:04:24.529 --> 00:04:28.449focus on that. I personally focuson more of the positives. What's that6300:04:28.610 --> 00:04:30.529going to do today? How manysaves? That kind of stuff. But6400:04:31.930 --> 00:04:38.759but I would say that it's probablyvery natural to lose the truly abject horror.6500:04:39.040 --> 00:04:41.920Yeah, of what you're facing,not not to lose it totally,6600:04:42.560 --> 00:04:46.959but to be become somewhat de sensea test to it. Well, I'm6700:04:46.079 --> 00:04:50.040I know you'll share. You knowyou've shared your testimony. Yeah, some6800:04:50.240 --> 00:04:54.389podcast to go in our first coupleof podcast I shared mine. You know,6900:04:54.430 --> 00:04:57.110the first time I was standing infront of an abortion clinic. You7000:04:57.189 --> 00:05:00.670know, I just began to weepright right and you know, I'm just7100:05:00.790 --> 00:05:03.750thinking about it. It's been awhile since standing in front of that abortion7200:05:03.829 --> 00:05:06.899clinic that I've she had tears rightunderstanding what's going on side of here,7300:05:08.259 --> 00:05:12.100and I think there is a certain, I guess, for lack of a7400:05:12.180 --> 00:05:15.860better word, maturity that we comeinto because, you know, we can't,7500:05:15.819 --> 00:05:18.180we can't be useful in that roundif we're going to sit out there7600:05:18.220 --> 00:05:21.930and ball the whole time. No, we can't write what. It's understandable.7700:05:21.930 --> 00:05:26.569I mean we've had people on thesidewalk who, rightly so, their7800:05:26.569 --> 00:05:29.170first time out there. They can'tdo anything but ball the whole time.7900:05:29.170 --> 00:05:31.050Yeah, kind of happened. That'swhat happened to me for that whole hour8000:05:31.129 --> 00:05:34.089after I left, and I'm soglad that that you mentioned that because I8100:05:34.170 --> 00:05:39.879actually think that that will enter intothe discussion as a as a way of8200:05:40.279 --> 00:05:45.959preventing becoming desensitized. Because when yousaid you can't remember the last time that8300:05:46.040 --> 00:05:48.720you actually bawled in front of theabortion center, I can remember the last8400:05:48.720 --> 00:05:57.110time and it was when I sawa man pulling a woman out of his8500:05:57.350 --> 00:05:59.629truck. Yeah, and she wasscreaming no, no, no, I8600:05:59.750 --> 00:06:03.300don't want to do this, andhe was pulling her out and the policemen8700:06:03.339 --> 00:06:09.139were standing right there and doing nothing. Yeah, and I was so outraged8800:06:09.180 --> 00:06:13.500and so upset by why what Iwas watching that I started crying. Yeah,8900:06:14.220 --> 00:06:16.139and that was the last time,and that wasn't that long ago.9000:06:16.180 --> 00:06:20.170That was a few months ago.But something happened just a couple days ago.9100:06:20.290 --> 00:06:25.129Not In front of the abortion center, but I was actually actually out9200:06:25.170 --> 00:06:30.850of town and I was scrolling throughfacebook and I saw a video of my9300:06:30.610 --> 00:06:35.920news feat is filled with pro lifestuff, pro life groups, videos and9400:06:36.360 --> 00:06:43.399of babies and baby saved, peoplearguing about different pro life issues, but9500:06:43.560 --> 00:06:46.910this one was of a video ofa cute little baby in the womb,9600:06:47.029 --> 00:06:50.589bouncing him around and looking like hewas just having so much fun, and9700:06:50.670 --> 00:06:55.029I paused and I wanted to watchit. I wanted to see this this9800:06:55.310 --> 00:07:00.310adorable little baby in the womb.And as I'm watching with horror, I9900:07:00.589 --> 00:07:04.899see the baby's leg ripped off andthen he's gone. Yeah, he's ripped10000:07:05.060 --> 00:07:10.660in, he's just sucked away inin a vacuum abortion. Yeah, and10100:07:10.899 --> 00:07:14.459I had no idea that that waswhat I was going to be watching.10200:07:14.540 --> 00:07:17.290I certainly probably wouldn't have watched it, right. Yeah, I'm very visual10300:07:17.490 --> 00:07:21.329and I carry those images in myhead for a long time. So and10400:07:21.449 --> 00:07:28.610I sat there and just out loudI started crying and out loud said Oh10500:07:28.689 --> 00:07:33.560my father, forgive us, andfelt the guilt of humanity, just oppressive10600:07:33.879 --> 00:07:38.519guilt of humanity, what we havedone, yeah, as a nation,10700:07:39.519 --> 00:07:44.350just overwhelming and I thought, okay, well, what God was telling me10800:07:44.470 --> 00:07:50.509at that moment was that one ofthe best an adults to desensitized, becoming10900:07:50.589 --> 00:07:58.470desensitized to horror, is to lookat the destructive aftermath of evil. Yeah,11000:07:58.699 --> 00:08:03.939and none of us want to,but just as when I was watching11100:08:03.980 --> 00:08:07.420that man pulling the woman against herwill out of the truck to try and11200:08:07.500 --> 00:08:11.300abort again, it was watching evilin action, right. Yeah, and11300:08:11.540 --> 00:08:16.649and seeing it. So much ofwe're visual of what's actually going on.11400:08:18.370 --> 00:08:20.930Right, we alway to rent seewhen we're when we're standing in from the11500:08:22.050 --> 00:08:26.930building. Yeah, see them walkingin, but we're not truly seeing what11600:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.360happens to that baby, right.Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know,11700:08:31.399 --> 00:08:33.159there's a point. This was,you know, couple of years ago,11800:08:33.840 --> 00:08:39.120where I realized what I just confessto you now, that it's been11900:08:39.159 --> 00:08:41.549a while since I've wept, youknow, over what's going on inside of12000:08:41.590 --> 00:08:45.149that abortion clinic. And I wasat my house. My family actually was12100:08:45.190 --> 00:08:50.029out of town. My wife beentaking the kids to on a trip with12200:08:50.190 --> 00:08:52.230my mom. Anyway, they're outof the house. I was I was12300:08:52.269 --> 00:08:54.549at home alone and and I,you know, I was just taking some12400:08:54.669 --> 00:08:56.460time to pray and the seek theLord and I realized it, Lord,12500:08:56.500 --> 00:09:01.700I haven't wept over this thing ina while. I'm becoming desensitized. Lord,12600:09:01.779 --> 00:09:05.179soften my heart. And then Irealize, you know, when my12700:09:05.779 --> 00:09:07.379my kids had went out of town, my wife and kids, they had12800:09:07.419 --> 00:09:11.929taken we had an abortion victim imagesign in the vehicle and they'd said it12900:09:13.009 --> 00:09:15.929in the house to pack all thebags and stuff and there was a victim13000:09:15.929 --> 00:09:18.809image over there and I was likeI need to look at this thing a13100:09:18.929 --> 00:09:20.409fresh you know, I hold upof you know held up those signs and13200:09:20.970 --> 00:09:24.639show those signs, but sometimes youjust I don't know, you just kind13300:09:24.639 --> 00:09:28.600of glaze over it or glance overit. And I was like I need13400:09:28.720 --> 00:09:31.919it, I need to look atthat sign a fresh I need to take13500:09:31.960 --> 00:09:33.559a hard look at it. Andit was the baby Malachi sign. The13600:09:33.600 --> 00:09:37.120baby twenty one weeks it has beenmurdered through abortion. The looked at that13700:09:37.240 --> 00:09:43.230side and wept again. Yeah,and and I think seeing you getting the13800:09:43.230 --> 00:09:46.830visual understanding, also asking the Lord. You know, I think it's a13900:09:46.950 --> 00:09:54.740mercy sometimes from God that we don'tsee all of the right the depths of14000:09:54.940 --> 00:09:58.539evil that humanity is giving itself to. God, Merciful, I guess,14100:09:58.899 --> 00:10:01.419mercifully blinds our eyes to that,but sometimes he gives us a glance.14200:10:01.500 --> 00:10:05.940Man, can you imagine what Godsees? You know, the I have14300:10:05.019 --> 00:10:09.490the Lord is in every place.Can Imagine that? The grief and the14400:10:09.570 --> 00:10:11.090heart of God? You see itall through the Old Testament. Is God14500:10:11.409 --> 00:10:15.169grieves over his people. Turn ina way, yeah, it's like you14600:10:15.210 --> 00:10:18.649think he gives us a little bitof his heart and a little bit of14700:10:18.690 --> 00:10:22.120the grief and let's a share insome of that. I think sometimes asking14800:10:22.200 --> 00:10:24.759him to God help, just giveme a glimpse of what you see.14900:10:24.799 --> 00:10:28.519Don't give me the whole thing,because I would die, yeah, under15000:10:28.519 --> 00:10:31.000the weight of it. Yes,give me a glimpse of what you see15100:10:31.320 --> 00:10:35.639in the issue abortion. That canbe a way to really keep us from15200:10:35.639 --> 00:10:39.149being desens atized. Yeah, itcan. And the other side of that15300:10:39.389 --> 00:10:43.429is thinking that not only does hesee all of that horror that we have15400:10:43.590 --> 00:10:48.389perpetrated on each other, but hestill loves us. Yeah, he's still15500:10:48.549 --> 00:10:52.019died for us. I mean that'sincomprehensible and that we're going to get into15600:10:52.139 --> 00:10:56.379that. I think, as you'regoing to be talking about some things that15700:10:56.500 --> 00:11:00.980you worked through, as how youkind of do, there's some key point15800:11:01.500 --> 00:11:03.330and so keep in the back ofour minds because we are going to get15900:11:03.529 --> 00:11:07.769into that. But the love ofGod is critical. Yeah, I think16000:11:07.889 --> 00:11:11.129absolutely. That's you know, asI was brainstorm and through like some of16100:11:11.210 --> 00:11:13.490the you know, the Lord isreally helped me because, listen, I've16200:11:13.529 --> 00:11:18.559seen people in you know, prolife or anti abortion, you know,16300:11:20.200 --> 00:11:22.480abolitionist roalms. I've seen people gooff the rails, right, and I've16400:11:22.519 --> 00:11:26.559seen people, you know, disconnectfrom family and from the almost go into16500:11:26.600 --> 00:11:31.000like a cult sort of state ofmind. We're abortions all they think about.16600:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.149Yeah, it's all they talk about, all they can involve themselves in.16700:11:33.309 --> 00:11:37.230I'm like, the Lord is graciouslyhelped me, I think, in16800:11:37.309 --> 00:11:39.590my family, to guard ourselves againstgoing off the rails in this thing,16900:11:39.629 --> 00:11:43.870because when you're involved than in this, it's a it's a big deal.17000:11:43.950 --> 00:11:48.620I mean they're actually murdering kids,and so it's easy to lose your mind17100:11:48.860 --> 00:11:52.700over this and I know people thathave. So what is the Lord,17200:11:52.940 --> 00:11:54.379as I was brainstorm and through,what is the Lord, by His grace,17300:11:56.179 --> 00:11:58.299put in place in my life andhelp me to put in place my17400:11:58.299 --> 00:12:01.009life to guard against that? Andone of those things is keeping the main17500:12:01.090 --> 00:12:05.889thing, the main thing, yes, and that means that, first and17600:12:07.049 --> 00:12:09.730foremost, I am out there forthe Lord. Right, I'm not.17700:12:11.289 --> 00:12:13.490You know, and I might saythis often, guys, you've heard me17800:12:13.529 --> 00:12:16.679on the podcast maybe say this often. They were not out here even just17900:12:16.840 --> 00:12:20.600for the babies. Now I wantto minimize that. I want to minimize18000:12:20.600 --> 00:12:22.200I don't want it all, tominimize the murder of children. So I'm18100:12:22.200 --> 00:12:26.360not trying to do that. Butthe babies are not even our motivation,18200:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.679not even our first motivation. Ourfirst motivation is a love for God,18300:12:30.070 --> 00:12:33.269because we can't love those babies properly, in the women that we minister to,18400:12:33.350 --> 00:12:35.190in the men that we minister to, unless we love God first.18500:12:35.269 --> 00:12:39.549You know, the commands, thegreatest commands, are love the Lord,18600:12:39.629 --> 00:12:43.230your God, and then love yourneighbor. Right. So keeping the main18700:12:43.309 --> 00:12:46.899thing then, the main thing understandingthe we're out there for God first.18800:12:46.139 --> 00:12:48.820You know, I told you before, I've said this to other folks.18900:12:48.860 --> 00:12:54.860You don't even really view myself asa prolifeer anymore. I don't. I19000:12:56.019 --> 00:13:01.450view myself as a person that lovesJesus, that loves people, that just19100:13:01.570 --> 00:13:05.049so happens to love Jesus and peoplein front of an abortion clinic by bringing19200:13:05.049 --> 00:13:07.090the Gospel to that pains. I'ma I'm a Proclaimer, Preacher of the19300:13:07.169 --> 00:13:11.370Gospel that this so happens to dothat in front of an abortion clinic.19400:13:11.450 --> 00:13:15.039That's where God has called me.That's where I am again. Not Minimize.19500:13:15.039 --> 00:13:18.440I'm not trying to be tried aboutit. Not Minimizing what's going on.19600:13:18.879 --> 00:13:22.279Yeah, but but just understand puttingthings in perspective. Yeah, yeah,19700:13:22.480 --> 00:13:26.960and you know, I think thatthe Bible would support you in in19800:13:26.269 --> 00:13:31.070that. Putting God first get validated. I think so. I did.19900:13:31.470 --> 00:13:35.590I think so. You know,wonders will never cease, will be yeah,20000:13:35.590 --> 00:13:41.269that's right. But so let's startwith with one of those verses.20100:13:41.429 --> 00:13:45.980Okay, all right. That soyou've gone into really and I like how20200:13:45.980 --> 00:13:48.899you use this passage, but you'regoing into the revelation and you really talking20300:13:50.019 --> 00:13:54.419from the perspective Jesus talking to theChurch in ephesis. And if you has20400:13:54.539 --> 00:13:58.850read through the revelation, I'm sureyou have, Jesus talks to seven churches20500:14:00.210 --> 00:14:03.929in the revelation. These are Jesusletters, hey, to the church in20600:14:03.169 --> 00:14:07.370Ephesus here, in particular Philippi Layato see, and some of the other20700:14:07.409 --> 00:14:11.759ones Africa. Right, but youwrite these letters, and here's Jesus telling20800:14:11.799 --> 00:14:16.000John Write this letter to the churchat Ephesis, and this is the church20900:14:16.639 --> 00:14:20.399that has left its first love.So right, so it's talking about becoming21000:14:20.519 --> 00:14:26.789desensitized. Yeah, becoming desensitized reallyto the love that they had for the21100:14:26.909 --> 00:14:30.230Lord. Okay, yeah, butbut you know, before I start that,21200:14:30.669 --> 00:14:33.909let me read you the definition.Let's start with definitions. It's always21300:14:33.950 --> 00:14:37.149good, right. Yeah, it'sgood to define our terms of it,21400:14:37.269 --> 00:14:41.019in our terms desensitization. Okay,because that's really what we're talking to.21500:14:41.220 --> 00:14:43.460Make me repeat that word. Iwon't, I won't, no, I'll21600:14:43.500 --> 00:14:48.340be I will say that we're desensitization. Okay, here's the definition. The21700:14:48.539 --> 00:14:56.929process which diminishes emotional responsiveness to anegative a verse of stimulus after repeated exposure21800:14:58.090 --> 00:15:01.889to it. Okay, so Ithink that is very right on for what21900:15:01.929 --> 00:15:05.289we're talking about. We are beingthose of us, especially on the front22000:15:05.289 --> 00:15:09.240lines of an abortion center, butin the pro life movement, have repeated22100:15:09.240 --> 00:15:13.559exposure to the horror of abortion overand over and over again. Like I22200:15:13.679 --> 00:15:18.639said, it's all most of myinteractions are on facebook are about the issue22300:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.909of abortion. My Mode my workis, you know, and from so22400:15:22.149 --> 00:15:24.470it's always weird, right, alwaysyou, you pretty much the same.22500:15:24.549 --> 00:15:33.110So, but, but that thatcan decrease our responsiveness because it's a negative22600:15:33.149 --> 00:15:37.259adverse of stimuli and we're repeatedly exposedto it. Right, and there are22700:15:37.740 --> 00:15:46.179desensitization techniques that are used in psychologyto help people who are paralyzed by by22800:15:46.340 --> 00:15:52.690fear or that a verse Stimuli.Okay, so they're looking at desensitization in22900:15:52.850 --> 00:15:56.769a positive they're looking at it asnegative, saying exactly we're saying. But23000:15:58.009 --> 00:16:03.929becoming desensitized to adverse stimuli sometimes isa negative thing, right. Yeah,23100:16:03.970 --> 00:16:08.120this case it's a negative thing.Now, if if we were overwhelmed by23200:16:08.200 --> 00:16:14.720grief and crying all day long becausewe can't get our mind off of the23300:16:14.840 --> 00:16:18.350horror of abortion, that's a problem. Yeah, then a little bit more23400:16:18.470 --> 00:16:22.950desensitization maybe is necessary. Yeah,but that's not what we're talking about.23500:16:22.950 --> 00:16:30.429It Rus podcast. So, sohere is the verse from revelation to be23600:16:30.509 --> 00:16:37.580that's a few verses and I thinkit's the first three. It's it starts,23700:16:37.620 --> 00:16:40.460I'm sorry, it starts in revolation, revelation to and I think it's23800:16:40.460 --> 00:16:45.220versus one, twenty three. Okay, so it's to the angel of the23900:16:45.340 --> 00:16:49.450Church in Ephesus, right the wordsof him who holds the seven stars in24000:16:49.570 --> 00:16:55.049his right hand, who walks amongthe seven golden lamp stands. I know24100:16:55.169 --> 00:17:00.090your works, your toil and yourpatient endurance and how you cannot bear with24200:17:00.250 --> 00:17:04.480those who are evil, but iftested those who call themselves apostles and are24300:17:04.599 --> 00:17:08.759not, and found them to befalse. I know you are enduring patiently24400:17:10.200 --> 00:17:14.519and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary,24500:17:15.519 --> 00:17:21.150but I have this against you,that you have abandoned the love you had24600:17:21.309 --> 00:17:25.190at first. Remember, therefore,from where you have fallen. Repent and24700:17:25.829 --> 00:17:29.269do the works. You did itfirst. If not, I will come24800:17:29.390 --> 00:17:33.500to you and remove your lamp standfrom its place unless you repent. Yeah,24900:17:34.099 --> 00:17:40.900okay, so that's the first passageand an accompanying passage that again talks25000:17:40.940 --> 00:17:45.289about people's love growing cold, becausethat's what's being held against right the Church25100:17:45.369 --> 00:17:51.210of Ephesus, is that their loveis growing cold. They've abandoned the love25200:17:51.289 --> 00:17:55.609that they had at first. Okay, so in Matthew Twenty four verses,25300:17:55.690 --> 00:18:02.640twelve to thirteen, because lawlessness isincreased, most people's love will grow cold,25400:18:03.359 --> 00:18:07.160but the one who endures to theend, he will be saved.25500:18:07.200 --> 00:18:12.430Yeah, so in both those passagesGod's warning his people that there is a25600:18:12.470 --> 00:18:18.309danger in standing against unbearable evil fora long time. Yeah, our love25700:18:18.630 --> 00:18:22.950can grow yeah, absolutely, andyou know, of course, there's a25800:18:22.069 --> 00:18:26.670there's an immediate context to this passage, and I think we would all agree25900:18:26.750 --> 00:18:29.900this. This is speaking of ourlove for God. But remember, as26000:18:29.940 --> 00:18:33.220I said in the beginning, welove those babies because love of God has26100:18:33.259 --> 00:18:36.140been shed Abroad Saxony. So ifI love grows cold, I mean a26200:18:36.220 --> 00:18:38.940lot of times we get the sensitizedto know, not just speaking you generally26300:18:40.140 --> 00:18:44.650to Christians who maybe not involved inthe abortion battle. Yep, every Christian26400:18:44.690 --> 00:18:48.490should be in some measure, Ithink, but just involving you sharing the26500:18:48.529 --> 00:18:52.650Gospel with people. Yeah, thatwe become desensitized to the lostness of humanity26600:18:52.769 --> 00:18:56.799and the fact that the majority ofhumanity is going to hell. How do26700:18:56.920 --> 00:19:00.759we? You know, in weget the sense that to the reality of26800:19:00.880 --> 00:19:03.920hell, that this is a placeof eternal separation from God, and not26900:19:03.039 --> 00:19:07.160just that, it's a place ofeternal fire and judgment of God. We27000:19:07.279 --> 00:19:11.109get sent the sense ties to thatand I think sometimes it's because our love27100:19:11.190 --> 00:19:15.670for God grows cold. Right,you know, we get used to life27200:19:15.750 --> 00:19:18.990the way that it is. WeI don't know, we get I don't27300:19:18.029 --> 00:19:21.549know. We need neglect being inthe word of God, we neglect prayer27400:19:22.150 --> 00:19:25.059and those kind of things keep getus Dis insanitize through the Lord, and27500:19:25.140 --> 00:19:27.779then natural outflow that we get thisinsanties through the world low syest of people,27600:19:27.900 --> 00:19:30.619we get the sensitized to things likeabortion. Yeah, yeah, and27700:19:30.740 --> 00:19:36.259so the immediate context here is ourlove for God growing cold. That will27800:19:36.259 --> 00:19:38.769flow our love for our neighbors.Right, growing cold. Right, and27900:19:40.009 --> 00:19:44.049and God commends the effesions for somegood things. They tryal they worked,28000:19:44.329 --> 00:19:48.569they endured and they didn't grow wearyin the work. And that passage he28100:19:48.650 --> 00:19:52.960also notes that they stood up forthe name of Jesus. However, the28200:19:53.160 --> 00:19:59.440love that ignited them at first hashas grown cold. So their motivation that28300:19:59.680 --> 00:20:07.150started all of this wonderful work isno longer the motivation of a passionate love28400:20:07.509 --> 00:20:11.029for God. It has grown cold, and that's of concern. Yeah,28500:20:11.069 --> 00:20:18.269absolutely. So. Well, whatwhat love is is the scripture referring to.28600:20:18.390 --> 00:20:25.660They're they're standing for Christ's name,they're continuing his work, but the28700:20:25.779 --> 00:20:30.819motivation is no longer the proper motivation. Yeah, and that's what we've talked28800:20:30.859 --> 00:20:37.329about, what we warn our ourvolunteers about. The motivation can't be anger,28900:20:37.730 --> 00:20:41.250yeah, at the sin that they'reconfronting in the world or the false29000:20:41.410 --> 00:20:45.049prophets that they're confronting in your churchor whatever. Yeah, I mean we29100:20:45.890 --> 00:20:49.000do warn against that when we trainour volunteers. You know, on our29200:20:49.160 --> 00:20:56.079sidewalks for life website we wrote,I actually wrote an article about the proper29300:20:56.119 --> 00:20:59.839philosophy of ministry and I talked aboutthis, how we have to be motivated29400:20:59.880 --> 00:21:03.309for a love for God. Wecan't be motivated by hatred. And it's29500:21:03.390 --> 00:21:07.309easy to be motivated by hatred whenyou're dealing with something like abortion, because29600:21:07.750 --> 00:21:11.589it's easy to hate, and weshould hate abortion, no doubt about it.29700:21:11.670 --> 00:21:15.710It is a wicked thing. Itkills children, you know, but29800:21:17.029 --> 00:21:21.460it can't be our primary motivation andwe can't hate the people that are involved29900:21:21.500 --> 00:21:23.700in it like you know. Iknow there are people that make arguments for,30000:21:25.220 --> 00:21:29.380you know, the fact that Godhates wickedness and God hates wicked people.30100:21:29.380 --> 00:21:32.970Okay, but we're never commanded inthe scriptures. Matter of fact,30200:21:32.970 --> 00:21:36.210the Bible tells us that hatred isa work of the flesh. We're not30300:21:36.329 --> 00:21:40.369supposed to hate people. So wecan't be motivated by a hatred for abortion.30400:21:40.569 --> 00:21:44.849We can't be motivated by hatred forthe abortion industry or plan parenthood or30500:21:45.170 --> 00:21:48.319abortionist or anything like that cannot beour motivations. Matter of fact, we30600:21:48.440 --> 00:21:52.720have to shun that sort of thingand we have to love these people.30700:21:52.279 --> 00:21:56.759Now love is not just being allflower, being nice to him. We30800:21:56.880 --> 00:22:00.519need to tell them the truth.You know, the abortion industry, abortion30900:22:00.599 --> 00:22:03.710workers and all that. A lovefor them. One of the most hateful31000:22:03.750 --> 00:22:06.750things you could do is with wholethe truth from them that unless they repent,31100:22:06.789 --> 00:22:08.869they're going to end up under thejudgment of God. But we have31200:22:10.029 --> 00:22:11.309to do that out of the loveof Christ. It's been she had a31300:22:11.349 --> 00:22:15.230broad in our heart, not outof hatred for what they're doing right,31400:22:15.309 --> 00:22:18.259for them, right and and soI think you're raising a really good point.31500:22:18.299 --> 00:22:23.539I think that you're pointing out thatthere is really a symptom that emerges31600:22:23.619 --> 00:22:30.809from us that we are becoming desensitizedto our mission and to the horror of31700:22:30.849 --> 00:22:36.849abortion. We're becoming callous even too. It if, rather than the love31800:22:36.930 --> 00:22:41.210of the Lord being the motivator forus, the look that that motivation has31900:22:41.250 --> 00:22:45.519shifted. Yeah, to hatred,hatred of the evil, which we should32000:22:45.519 --> 00:22:52.079have, but it shouldn't be themotivation for our ministry and or hatred for32100:22:52.519 --> 00:22:56.640the people who are perpetrating this right, this evil. That's a demonstration that32200:22:57.869 --> 00:23:02.269our love for the Lord is growingcold. Yes, that should be the32300:23:02.390 --> 00:23:06.230motivation. Yeah, behind listen,you know, there's there's an acknowledge when32400:23:06.269 --> 00:23:10.190you have to acknowledge that that hatredcan be a motivator for people. I32500:23:10.309 --> 00:23:14.500mean, you see, there's alot of movements that maybe even might do32600:23:14.660 --> 00:23:18.779some good things, that are stilljust the motivation is hatred. And you32700:23:18.819 --> 00:23:21.500know, as believers we can pickup on that stuff and say that's just32800:23:21.700 --> 00:23:25.579a stench in the nostrils of oddyeah, what we should what we do32900:23:26.180 --> 00:23:29.490as those who are ministers of theGospel should be done out of a love33000:23:29.569 --> 00:23:32.490for God, and out of thatwill flow a love for people. You33100:23:32.569 --> 00:23:34.490know, the other morning, andI think just like the Lord put this33200:23:34.609 --> 00:23:37.809in my heart. I don't know, but I think it was the Lord.33300:23:37.890 --> 00:23:41.720Howe, probably that's certainly wouldn't formy friends, but we were praying33400:23:41.279 --> 00:23:45.960Saturday morning before we started ministry.We try to be intentional. That's one33500:23:45.960 --> 00:23:48.480of the ways we can we canjust yield our day to the Lord.33600:23:48.559 --> 00:23:51.240Before we start ministering on the sidewalk, we pray together as a group.33700:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.240Yeah, and it's like this droppedin my heart. Lord, love these33800:23:53.400 --> 00:23:57.990babies in these women, through us. We're just vessels. So put your33900:23:59.029 --> 00:24:02.150love in us. You Love Them. You love them enough to tell them34000:24:02.230 --> 00:24:03.950the truth. You love them enoughfor the babies to save them. Yeah,34100:24:04.150 --> 00:24:07.549so love them through us, andthat should be, I think,34200:24:07.589 --> 00:24:11.539our modus operandie right. Yeah,our mode of operation, that God's love34300:24:11.619 --> 00:24:15.140has been ched abroad in our heartand we are yielding ourselves for him to34400:24:15.299 --> 00:24:21.059love through us. Yeah, andyou know that can sound kind of you34500:24:21.099 --> 00:24:23.730know, I guess, Pansy,I guess man were love through us.34600:24:23.809 --> 00:24:29.250But know, yeah, Jesus Christis and on it. In de Earthly34700:24:29.329 --> 00:24:32.849Ministry, was one of the mostloving people you ever meet. He was34800:24:32.890 --> 00:24:36.450truthful, right, right, forthright. Yeah, didn't hold back the truth,34900:24:36.970 --> 00:24:38.960but loving in the way they heldhimself, the way he carried himself35000:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.960and the way he ministered to otherpeople. Yeah, we want to be35100:24:42.039 --> 00:24:47.279like Jesus Right. Yeah, exactly. You know, even the language used35200:24:47.519 --> 00:24:51.119can desensitize us, and even thelanguage we use, Pec particular lead the35300:24:51.119 --> 00:24:55.309language of the abortion industry. Yeah, you know, they don't call the35400:24:55.349 --> 00:24:57.990baby a baby, right, theycall the baby a product of conception,35500:24:59.150 --> 00:25:03.670or the one that I read onthe website recently was gestation, and that's35600:25:03.710 --> 00:25:07.660the word pregnant baby, the pregnantbaby as a pregnancy. YEA, and35700:25:07.900 --> 00:25:14.619those are desensitizing words which and they'repurposeful. Their purposeful by the abortion industry.35800:25:14.700 --> 00:25:18.819So the women feel that it isperfectly justified and they're perfectly justified in35900:25:18.900 --> 00:25:22.490going in there. They make iteasier for them to justify that. So36000:25:22.609 --> 00:25:27.369so, even in the use ofour language, I think can be a36100:25:27.529 --> 00:25:33.410key, a tip off to usand whether we are becoming desensitized if we36200:25:33.529 --> 00:25:41.319start adopting the language of the abortionindustry. Maybe we've lost sight, yeah,36300:25:41.440 --> 00:25:44.559of the horror of a yeah,and I know, you know,36400:25:44.640 --> 00:25:48.720my wife works in, has workedin, and doesn't even now work in36500:25:48.799 --> 00:25:52.470pregnancy centers. And I know thisis a temptation for a lot of pregnancy36600:25:52.509 --> 00:25:56.029centers because they want to appear tobe neutral and not appear to be overtly36700:25:56.069 --> 00:26:00.789Christian, right whatever, soften themessage. So they might refer to the36800:26:00.910 --> 00:26:06.019baby as a pregnancy or or,you know, maybe even shot away from36900:26:06.019 --> 00:26:08.579sharing the Gospel whatever. And I'msay, man, that's such a trap37000:26:08.700 --> 00:26:12.299that we can't fall into. Wedon't need to use the world's language,37100:26:12.299 --> 00:26:18.539right, and let the world defineterms for us, like it's I'm sorry,37200:26:18.569 --> 00:26:22.529sorry, it's not a pregnancy.Pregnancy is not a thing, it's37300:26:22.569 --> 00:26:25.690a process. That's right. Babyin the womb is not a pregnancy.37400:26:26.170 --> 00:26:30.609It's your fetis. Technically it's anembryo. Yeah, it's a living entity37500:26:30.809 --> 00:26:33.160and we need to refer to it. You know, embryo, fetus,37600:26:33.440 --> 00:26:36.519infant, these are all, youknow, toddler, at lescent, teenager,37700:26:36.720 --> 00:26:41.240all there's our terms of levels ofdevelopment. Right, and of course37800:26:41.319 --> 00:26:45.880we all know, right, whena woman is pregnant and she's excited about,37900:26:45.119 --> 00:26:49.069you know, her pregnancy, thatprocess, she knows she's going to38000:26:49.109 --> 00:26:52.390tell everybody I'm having a baby.I don't carry a pregnancy, I'm having38100:26:52.390 --> 00:26:56.029a baby. I'm not having aJotation, an amaze station, I'm not38200:26:56.109 --> 00:27:00.150caring a Blob of tissue. Yeah, you know, she's having a baby.38300:27:00.190 --> 00:27:02.740So, yeah, our language andwe could it can help us in38400:27:02.819 --> 00:27:06.819our minds that are we fallen intothe Trab of desensitization because we're using the38500:27:06.900 --> 00:27:11.059world's terms, yeah, to referto yeah, to these babies or whatever.38600:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.539Yeah, well, I think I'vementioned this on a podcast before,38700:27:12.579 --> 00:27:18.569but it bears mentioning here again thatI had shied away from the word murder,38800:27:18.970 --> 00:27:21.769not because I didn't believe it wasmurder. I did, Ye do38900:27:22.210 --> 00:27:26.289believe that that abortion is murder,but it's such a shocking word. Yeah,39000:27:26.369 --> 00:27:32.559and and I didn't really want toshock women into not speaking to me.39100:27:33.079 --> 00:27:37.920Sure, however, now I'm startingto kind of throw that out there.39200:27:37.079 --> 00:27:41.359Sometimes I try to do it ina tone of kindness, compassion and39300:27:41.519 --> 00:27:45.789gentleness, but I you know,I'll say please, no mother was ever39400:27:45.910 --> 00:27:52.230called to murder her own child.Yeah, and that even saying that is,39500:27:52.430 --> 00:27:56.750for me, an an adopte tobecoming desensitized, because then I remind39600:27:56.910 --> 00:28:02.900myself this isn't just harming. Ihave said that before. Please don't harm39700:28:02.940 --> 00:28:07.579your child. Yeah, this isnot harming for a child. It is39800:28:07.740 --> 00:28:11.059so much more than harming a child. That is murdering a child in a39900:28:11.180 --> 00:28:15.690very horrific way. So when Iuse that word even that kind of shocks40000:28:15.849 --> 00:28:21.970me back into the seriousness. Yeah, absolutely, face and you know,40100:28:21.970 --> 00:28:26.730I know there's a temptation and thereis a sort of a balance and we40200:28:26.849 --> 00:28:29.599need to, you know, ofcourse, be before the Lord. But40300:28:30.000 --> 00:28:33.720you know, I don't I don'tthink that personally, that could be wrong.40400:28:33.920 --> 00:28:37.039CRECT ME IF I'm wrong, butI don't think that you don't murder40500:28:37.079 --> 00:28:40.599your baby should be the first thingthat a woman hears when she gets out40600:28:40.599 --> 00:28:42.710of her car and she's walking todoor of an abortion and I think there's40700:28:42.710 --> 00:28:45.470other things that would be more fittingfor to here. We you know,40800:28:45.549 --> 00:28:49.069we're not in it just for theshock value, but you know, we40900:28:49.190 --> 00:28:52.349do need to use the language thatthe Bible uses and I think when it41000:28:52.430 --> 00:28:56.900comes through the issue of abortion,you know, I've probably said it myself,41100:28:56.940 --> 00:28:59.099I've heard others say it. Youknow, don't go in there,41200:28:59.140 --> 00:29:02.900this is a terrible mistake, whichis true right on its face. But41300:29:03.019 --> 00:29:06.180yeah, it's more than just amistake, right, right. Abortion is41400:29:06.299 --> 00:29:08.579more than just a mistake, right, it's a grievous sin against your baby,41500:29:08.700 --> 00:29:12.490against God. Yeah, I thinkit is possible to soften the message41600:29:12.650 --> 00:29:18.970so much in the desire to begentle and compassionate that the message is lost.41700:29:18.170 --> 00:29:22.289Yeah, and and I think that'ssubject might be a subject for a41800:29:22.329 --> 00:29:26.160whole other podcast really, because it'sthe message. It's not an easy line41900:29:26.839 --> 00:29:32.480to travel no, it's it's it'smuch harder than you would think. So42000:29:32.640 --> 00:29:34.839you know the you always rely onthe yeah, because they are there is42100:29:34.880 --> 00:29:37.440a trap, not rabbit trailing toomuch, but it is a trap and42200:29:37.559 --> 00:29:41.750just not even caring about the language, not even caring about the tone and42300:29:41.910 --> 00:29:44.950not even caring about how you comeacross to the woman going into the abortion42400:29:45.029 --> 00:29:48.269clinic. And then there's a trapof caring too much, like so much42500:29:48.269 --> 00:29:51.950so that I won't use the wordmurder. I want use word San won't42600:29:51.990 --> 00:29:53.779you? Scripture, and you know, we want to fall into that trap.42700:29:53.859 --> 00:29:56.380So it's like, you know,the spirit of God helps keep us42800:29:56.420 --> 00:30:02.980on this tightrope wall of Truth andgrace. Yeah, that's hard thing that.42900:30:03.099 --> 00:30:04.980That'll probably be a subject for anotherpart. Yeah, but it ties43000:30:06.019 --> 00:30:08.769into exactly what we're talking it does. You know, the the whole stuff43100:30:08.769 --> 00:30:12.730with the delayden tapes. That yea, that happened. What was the twenty43200:30:12.730 --> 00:30:15.930five parents and selling baby parts,right, the Bait Plan parenthood was selling43300:30:17.049 --> 00:30:19.250baby parts and David de Layden wentin with, I think, a team43400:30:19.490 --> 00:30:25.880and exposed it through hidden, hiddenvideos. And when those videos I read43500:30:25.920 --> 00:30:30.720an article which, it is kindof does relate to this because the title43600:30:30.960 --> 00:30:36.910is how abortion has desensitized people,by Charles Kraut Hammer, and he wrote43700:30:36.910 --> 00:30:40.710that in two thousand and fifteen.But he talked about how, when,43800:30:40.750 --> 00:30:47.549when people full saw on these videos, Dr Deborah Nuckatola, I don't know43900:30:47.589 --> 00:30:49.660if I'm saying her name correctly,but she was the planned parenthood press,44000:30:51.220 --> 00:30:53.180not not the president, but shewas one of the doctors a plan parenthood,44100:30:53.460 --> 00:30:57.539and she is sipping, I thinkwine or at least water, and44200:30:57.700 --> 00:31:04.569eating salad. Yeah, talking tothe David de Layden and and discussing casually44300:31:04.609 --> 00:31:10.849about how the fetal body can becrushed with forceps in a way that leaves44400:31:10.890 --> 00:31:15.769valuable organs intact. Yeah, forsale. And she's laughing and eating the44500:31:15.930 --> 00:31:18.279salad, and I feel I'm I'mfeeling ready to vomit. Well, I44600:31:18.480 --> 00:31:26.440think a lot of people were likesnapped out of this lethargy surrounding abortion,44700:31:26.680 --> 00:31:33.789because that even they when they recognizedwow, this is someone who has been44800:31:33.029 --> 00:31:38.230desensitized to the point where she's laughingabout what she is describing, that is44900:31:38.430 --> 00:31:44.150barbed barrack, while eating salad,while we all want a bar fish.45000:31:44.190 --> 00:31:47.420She's right, you know, talkingabout this and even people who you know,45100:31:47.460 --> 00:31:49.099there are those who just wrote itoff and said this was just some45200:31:49.299 --> 00:31:53.779conspiracy or something against Plant parenthood.But there were those even in the pro45300:31:53.940 --> 00:32:00.140choice camp that were genuinely like disturbedover that, that lady's behavior, in45400:32:00.220 --> 00:32:05.569the behavior just in General Plant parenthood. And so you know, those videos45500:32:05.609 --> 00:32:08.730did do, I think, alot to write tear off that Alice,45600:32:08.809 --> 00:32:12.369I guess. Yeah, a side. Yeah, and I've heard many abortion45700:32:12.410 --> 00:32:15.400workers who have left. Again.Those are people that they have to become45800:32:15.480 --> 00:32:21.039desensitized. Yeah, they can't dowhat they're doing. That grewsome work and45900:32:21.920 --> 00:32:25.400one in particular, I'm remembering hersaying that she saw, as she's putting46000:32:25.400 --> 00:32:30.000the baby back together again to countthe parts, when she saw the an46100:32:30.109 --> 00:32:34.789eyeball, a fully intact eyeball,visiting an abortion work before. grouportion work46200:32:34.829 --> 00:32:38.029her in Winston Salem, okay,and she was a manager in fact,46300:32:38.150 --> 00:32:43.309and and she said when she sawthat that eyeball floating in the dish that46400:32:43.470 --> 00:32:46.660was like the tipping point for her. That was what again slammed her back46500:32:47.259 --> 00:32:53.140into this is barbaric, right,this is gruesome and and I think that's46600:32:53.140 --> 00:33:00.609kind of the point that we're tryingto make throughout is is there are points46700:33:00.930 --> 00:33:08.250in where you're facing this this adverse, I'm sorry, losing my voice circumstances,46800:33:08.609 --> 00:33:13.200circumstances, situations over and over andover again that you begin to lose46900:33:13.240 --> 00:33:16.119the horror of it, and oneof the things that is good to bring47000:33:16.160 --> 00:33:22.160us back are these shocking visibles.Yeah, absolutely, as as she saw47100:33:22.279 --> 00:33:24.799what I saw in the video,right, yeah, and like what I47200:33:25.559 --> 00:33:29.829kind of describe, and looking atthat picture of the baby malick, right,47300:33:29.869 --> 00:33:34.829he's murdering through abortion. You thethe silent screen video is one that47400:33:35.109 --> 00:33:38.589I think everybody should watch and maybeeven make yourself. It's hard to watch47500:33:38.630 --> 00:33:42.619because there's a baby at tell usabout that, because maybe everyone yeah,47600:33:42.700 --> 00:33:45.059so that's a baby. I mean, listen, this was made back in47700:33:45.420 --> 00:33:47.700I want to say mid S,I think. Yeah, and it was47800:33:47.819 --> 00:33:54.180by Bernard Nathanson, who's now wenton has died and from all indications he's47900:33:54.259 --> 00:33:58.849with the Lord. He repented andstopped doing abortions. He did abortions at48000:33:58.890 --> 00:34:01.769one time, but he did andultrasound guide an abortion. This is a48100:34:01.809 --> 00:34:06.450baby at twelve weeks and you cansee, and this is the ultrasound,48200:34:06.529 --> 00:34:08.250like the video of the ultrasound andhe goes through and describes it. You48300:34:08.289 --> 00:34:12.159can look on Youtube. Just lookup silent scream. Probably have to put48400:34:12.159 --> 00:34:15.840abortion in there. Something right inthe in the search. But you can48500:34:15.880 --> 00:34:19.280see this baby moving around, liveand well. And then you can see48600:34:19.280 --> 00:34:22.559the instrument come into the uterus andyou know it's a suction tube, and48700:34:22.559 --> 00:34:25.389then you see the baby trying toget away from the instrument. Yeah,48800:34:25.630 --> 00:34:29.349and then the heart rate goes way, way up and you can see that.48900:34:29.590 --> 00:34:31.789Then you see the baby such asgone and it's like yeah, Oh,49000:34:31.949 --> 00:34:35.750this is really what we're doing.Like, you know, we were49100:34:35.869 --> 00:34:38.619visual creature. God made us visual. That's why, when you look in49200:34:38.659 --> 00:34:43.059the prophets, and you know theydo visual things, often times show that49300:34:43.300 --> 00:34:45.179the people of Israel in particular,they're saying and all of that, God49400:34:45.260 --> 00:34:50.500knows where visual creatures, and sometimeswe need a visual in order to remind49500:34:50.539 --> 00:34:53.210ourselves of what. You know,there's a lot in the scriptures of visual49600:34:53.250 --> 00:34:59.929imagery to remind us of the sinand rebellion of humanity. Visual image will49700:34:59.929 --> 00:35:04.130help us to remind us what abortionlike, the horror of this thing.49800:35:04.210 --> 00:35:08.239Yeah, to help rip the callousoff. Yeah, like one I'm thinking49900:35:08.320 --> 00:35:12.760of as the book of Josiah.Okay, and Joseiah, the Prophet,50000:35:12.840 --> 00:35:15.920is told to go Mary Gomer,the prostitute. Yeah, and and then50100:35:16.000 --> 00:35:22.469he's he's got a she leaves andgoes and, you know, is off50200:35:22.550 --> 00:35:25.429with many men and God tells Josiah, take her back, you have to50300:35:25.510 --> 00:35:29.269take her back, get her andbring her bad and I mean it is50400:35:29.389 --> 00:35:34.550such a picture of God's faithful callingus back out of sin that I think50500:35:34.550 --> 00:35:37.780all of us can relate to poorJoseiah. Yeah, how horrific that must50600:35:37.820 --> 00:35:43.940have been for him. So Goddoes use those visuals to shock us back50700:35:44.260 --> 00:35:49.940into the reality of the horror ofsin. Yeah, absolutely so. They50800:35:50.969 --> 00:35:54.210there is an answer, I think, a scriptural answer based on the scripture50900:35:54.210 --> 00:35:58.449that I read earlier. But beforeI we get into that, you said51000:35:58.449 --> 00:36:01.570that you had three other kind ofyeah, guiding you, and these are51100:36:01.690 --> 00:36:06.039he's a sort of practical principles thatI think the Lord has helped me with,51200:36:06.239 --> 00:36:09.599the keep me from being desensitis andjust going crazy and right and right,51300:36:10.440 --> 00:36:13.639because we do with this on aregular basis. So the first one51400:36:13.679 --> 00:36:15.280I mentioned already, to keep themain thing, the main thing. God51500:36:15.440 --> 00:36:19.110needs to be first. I lovefor him is first, not even just51600:36:19.190 --> 00:36:22.150our love for the babies. It'sgot to be God first. The second51700:36:22.349 --> 00:36:23.789was, and these are not inany kind of order, say, seem51800:36:23.789 --> 00:36:28.190a little out of word. Yeah, me, but make an effort to51900:36:28.230 --> 00:36:30.909talk about other things. What Imean by that is, you know,52000:36:30.949 --> 00:36:35.619if you're in pro life manage treeor if you're you know you're the person52100:36:35.739 --> 00:36:37.860who always talks about the issue ofabortion in your church and your circles,52200:36:38.179 --> 00:36:42.260they're going to see you as theabortion person, like you go to person52300:36:42.300 --> 00:36:45.059when they have a question about abortionor whatever. My family and friends do.52400:36:45.179 --> 00:36:47.170I don't mind it so much,but I do try to steer my52500:36:47.289 --> 00:36:52.409conversations on a regular basis away fromabortion and into other things, like Jesus52600:36:52.570 --> 00:36:55.809and how awesome he is. Youknow, I've even had we have people52700:36:55.809 --> 00:37:00.369over for for lunch or for dinneron Sundays in particular. I'm like,52800:37:00.449 --> 00:37:04.880on Sundays, we're not talking aboutabortion. On Sunday we're talking about Jesus52900:37:04.960 --> 00:37:07.679and how awesome he is. Andyou know, it might come up or53000:37:07.800 --> 00:37:09.559something, but I don't want totalk about what's going on at the clinic.53100:37:09.599 --> 00:37:12.639I don't want to talk about,you know, what we're dealing with53200:37:12.719 --> 00:37:15.269with the police, opposition to whatwe're doing at the probortion clinic. I53300:37:15.389 --> 00:37:17.909want to talk about Jesus, Iwant to talk about my family, I53400:37:17.949 --> 00:37:22.269want to you know, so whichmake it never your first point, because53500:37:22.389 --> 00:37:25.429you're let making the love of theLord. Yeah, absolutely, yeah,53600:37:25.429 --> 00:37:29.469yeah, and you know, I'veeven told my pastor because I've had opportunities53700:37:29.469 --> 00:37:31.739to speak and to share us aman, I'll share any time about abortion,53800:37:31.900 --> 00:37:35.460about what we do, and they'vegiven me a lot of opportunities to53900:37:35.500 --> 00:37:37.820do that and I'm so thankful.But also said Hey, man, if54000:37:37.860 --> 00:37:40.340there's any time you want me toshare other things, because actually, you54100:37:40.420 --> 00:37:45.690know, I'm sort of a theologtheology Geek and in Church History Geek and54200:37:45.769 --> 00:37:47.449I like some of that stuff.I'm not as knowledgeable as some, but54300:37:47.489 --> 00:37:53.570I'm maybe more knowledgeable than others andand I like God's word, and so54400:37:53.610 --> 00:37:57.489I preach. You give me anysubject, brother, I'll preach and they've54500:37:57.489 --> 00:38:00.920given me gracious opportunities to preach aboutother things. Do Anything, make an54600:38:00.960 --> 00:38:02.360effort to talk about other things.That's that's sort of a second thing.54700:38:02.599 --> 00:38:09.079And then the third thing is iswe need to be surrounded with encouragement and54800:38:09.159 --> 00:38:13.070accountability. You know, I mentionedearlier, I've seen people go off the54900:38:13.150 --> 00:38:16.070rails who are involved in, youknow, fighting the abortion battle. And55000:38:17.269 --> 00:38:22.670some folks I've seen have gone offthe rails because they've taken themselves out of55100:38:22.869 --> 00:38:24.909the local church. They're mad atthe local church for not doing something that55200:38:24.949 --> 00:38:29.300about abortion or or the apathy ofthe local church. And Listen, I55300:38:29.380 --> 00:38:30.980get it, we understand it.Yeah, well, yeah, but God55400:38:31.099 --> 00:38:37.420has designed the local church as acontext for us to have the accountability and55500:38:37.539 --> 00:38:40.019the encouragement that we need. Weall need to be accountable to godly leadership.55600:38:40.489 --> 00:38:44.610We all need the encouragement. Youencourage one another daily, as long55700:38:44.610 --> 00:38:49.090as it's called today, right.So we all need that encouragement and if55800:38:49.130 --> 00:38:52.289we don't have that, if wedon't have the encouragement you proverbs eighteen one.55900:38:52.809 --> 00:38:55.800A man that isolates himself rages againstsound judgment and he seeks his own56000:38:55.840 --> 00:39:00.079some of the people in my experience, which is one of the reasons why,56100:39:00.079 --> 00:39:01.360as a ministry, you can't volunteerwith us unless you're a part of56200:39:01.400 --> 00:39:05.320local church. Some of the peopleI've seen that cause the most problems have56300:39:05.480 --> 00:39:07.679been people that are not part ofa local church. Now, I'm not56400:39:07.800 --> 00:39:10.110tagging everybody with that. I don'tthink just because you're not part of local56500:39:10.150 --> 00:39:15.510church your horrible person. That's notwhat I think, but I have had56600:39:15.750 --> 00:39:17.750some pretty bad experiences with people whowho are not part of local church and56700:39:17.789 --> 00:39:21.869I think it's a biblical principle.Yeah, because you need that encouragement and56800:39:21.909 --> 00:39:24.539accountability. You need people in thecongregation, people that are close to you,56900:39:24.659 --> 00:39:27.780to say hey, man, Ithink you're getting off the rail.57000:39:27.940 --> 00:39:30.420Was a little bit. I thinkyou're getting either desensitized are you're getting over57100:39:30.820 --> 00:39:35.900you know, because you make thispodcast. Should be more about either being57200:39:36.019 --> 00:39:38.809desensitized or being overly obsessed. Yeah, because it can be a ditch on57300:39:38.889 --> 00:39:43.530either side. Yeah, I remembersomeone that came to visit the sidewalk once57400:39:43.530 --> 00:39:45.210and I said Hey, I didn'trecognize him at all. I said Hey,57500:39:45.369 --> 00:39:49.250how are you? My Name's Vicky. How you do and he said57600:39:49.650 --> 00:39:52.610terrible, I'm and I said,Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.57700:39:52.650 --> 00:39:54.320Why? And he said he justpointed at the abortions and yeah, I57800:39:54.440 --> 00:39:58.800thought, yeah, it is terrible, but I was just asking more kind57900:39:59.119 --> 00:40:02.679yeah, make a conversation. Yeah, well, and that could be because58000:40:02.719 --> 00:40:07.190you're desensitizer. Could it could bebecause he was obsessed. It's too much58100:40:07.190 --> 00:40:10.309obsessed. Exactly in the fourth pointthat I made, and it might even58200:40:10.309 --> 00:40:14.710tied into a podcast we made acouple of weeks ago, which is talking58300:40:14.710 --> 00:40:16.349about ministering in our mess, andwe talked a little bit about you know,58400:40:16.429 --> 00:40:20.309there could be times when we needneed to back away from the sidewalk.58500:40:20.349 --> 00:40:22.219If you're one of our volunteers withcities for life, we're not talking58600:40:22.260 --> 00:40:24.619to you right now. You cannotback away. Yeah, you can't,58700:40:24.619 --> 00:40:28.940because we need to now. Thereare times, you know, Jesus in58800:40:29.019 --> 00:40:32.460his earthly ministry, sometimes he slippedaway into the wilderness. There are times58900:40:32.659 --> 00:40:37.610maybe you need to take a weekoff and step away from ministry and let59000:40:37.650 --> 00:40:42.889it be fresh to you again.Yeah, and it's kind of a general59100:40:42.929 --> 00:40:45.530principle of just, you know,taking a break, shutting your mind off59200:40:45.530 --> 00:40:49.170from the stuff. You know,I had a pastor friend of mine a59300:40:49.210 --> 00:40:51.880couple of years ago when I firstcame on board with cities for life full59400:40:51.960 --> 00:40:53.920time, tell me, because Iwas coming out six days a week every59500:40:53.960 --> 00:40:57.880time the abord and clinic was openevery day, he actually told me.59600:40:58.239 --> 00:41:00.639And you need to take a dayto disconnect. You need to not be59700:41:00.760 --> 00:41:05.630involved, because that's just too muchfor the for the human heart that loves59800:41:05.670 --> 00:41:07.869God and loves people, to beinvolved in every day, six days a59900:41:07.949 --> 00:41:12.030week. You're going to go you'regoing to go insane. Yeah, and60000:41:12.230 --> 00:41:15.469that was wise, counsel. SoI take a day of the week off60100:41:15.550 --> 00:41:20.780and I don't come out. Yeah, that one day a week to disconnect.60200:41:20.980 --> 00:41:23.260Right, right, because it willmake you go crazy. So sometimes60300:41:23.260 --> 00:41:27.780it's not sended to take a breakand step away. Yeah, that's something60400:41:27.820 --> 00:41:30.300before the Lord. You need toseek him for wisdom for, because we60500:41:30.539 --> 00:41:36.409certainly don't want to justify because there'sso many they're not active that need to60600:41:36.449 --> 00:41:39.570be active. We shore don't wantto justify inactivity when it concerns a murder60700:41:39.650 --> 00:41:43.369of children, by just saying Ineed to take a break because Pai,60800:41:43.369 --> 00:41:45.369you are flesh. will use allkinds of excuses. Yeah, yeah,60900:41:45.409 --> 00:41:50.960but those are for those are good, those are good principles and in the61000:41:51.039 --> 00:41:53.960verse that I talked about her inthe passages that I talked about, God61100:41:54.079 --> 00:41:59.960tells us, gives us his Ithink I can interpret it as as his61200:42:00.280 --> 00:42:07.269antidote, okay, to to love, growing cold or desensitization to evil and61300:42:07.469 --> 00:42:12.789and desensitized really to the primary loveof God right should be motivating us.61400:42:13.190 --> 00:42:16.619So in in that line it,he says, remember, therefore, from61500:42:16.659 --> 00:42:21.659where you have fallen, repent anddo the works. You did it first.61600:42:22.099 --> 00:42:23.380So I want to break that downbecause I think that there are four61700:42:24.139 --> 00:42:31.570keys in and how to prevent desensitizationfrom right becoming an issue. First,61800:42:31.650 --> 00:42:36.369remember, so, remember what Godhas done for you. Remember who you61900:42:36.449 --> 00:42:40.969were without him. Remember those whoare lost there in that same terrible place.62000:42:42.090 --> 00:42:45.599Yeah, that you was were.Remember. The second thing he says62100:42:45.679 --> 00:42:51.400is repent, recognize as quickly aspossible the hatred or the callousness that's beginning62200:42:51.400 --> 00:42:53.599to enter your heart and ask Godto remove it. I think you talked62300:42:53.639 --> 00:42:59.789about that. That you you youpray to God to help you too to62400:42:59.949 --> 00:43:06.829return to that, that primary love, and and then return do the work62500:43:06.909 --> 00:43:09.510God called you to do, withpassionate love for him and what he accomplished62600:43:09.630 --> 00:43:15.340in your soul, as you didwhen you first knew the incredible moment of62700:43:15.420 --> 00:43:20.539salvation. And then the the finalone is that there is a reward for62800:43:21.019 --> 00:43:23.699for all of that. If weendure to the end, we don't give62900:43:23.780 --> 00:43:28.650up, we don't abandon the workthat God has given us and we and63000:43:28.849 --> 00:43:34.250we endure with that, that firstpassionate love for him that motivated us to63100:43:34.289 --> 00:43:37.610do that work in the first place, we will cross the finish line and63200:43:38.050 --> 00:43:42.840and hear those words. We pray, well done, good and faithful servant.63300:43:43.039 --> 00:43:52.039Yeah, so we it's remember,repent, return and reward. Yeah,63400:43:52.400 --> 00:43:57.150it's our clever. That is that'svery clever, very clever, and63500:43:57.949 --> 00:44:04.150it's wisdom, wisdom from from therevival. Yeah. So, I don't63600:44:04.150 --> 00:44:06.869know, are you ready to wrapthis thing? Yeah, I think we've63700:44:06.949 --> 00:44:09.699kind of note to end on.Yeah. Yeah, we hope this has63800:44:09.699 --> 00:44:14.940been an encouragement. Do you guys? We did do a podcast months ago.63900:44:15.260 --> 00:44:17.099I refer to our podcast because wedo a lot of subjects and I64000:44:17.179 --> 00:44:22.059think they're they're really helpful. Wedid one about fighting discouragement. Yeah,64100:44:22.139 --> 00:44:24.449and I think that podcast, alongwith this one, will be helpful.64200:44:24.690 --> 00:44:29.969I think so all of these podcastsare rising out of actual issues that we64300:44:30.130 --> 00:44:34.449faced to that others in in ourgroup have faced and we and we talked64400:44:34.449 --> 00:44:37.489about them. Yeah, we figuredif we're struggling with these issues. Probably64500:44:37.840 --> 00:44:40.119there are others. Yeah, yeah, and there are. We're getting some64600:44:40.199 --> 00:44:45.199feedback from people who are encouraged bythe PODCAST. Do us a favorite.64700:44:45.199 --> 00:44:46.880Guys, if you're listening and you'reencourage, you're blessed by this podcast,64800:44:47.159 --> 00:44:52.469share with other people, share onsocial media, leave us a review in64900:44:52.789 --> 00:44:57.469your podcast APP, wherever you getpodcast. We put, I think,65000:44:57.630 --> 00:45:00.710most of o our energy early oninto the apple podcast and that platform,65100:45:00.750 --> 00:45:05.670but other people are listening on otherplatforms, and so share whatever platform you're65200:45:05.710 --> 00:45:08.460listening on and and also get intouch with us. Let us know what65300:45:08.579 --> 00:45:12.820you think. Let us know youknow some ideas for podcasts that you have,65400:45:13.260 --> 00:45:15.420some things that we can tweak change, questions we can answer. Maybe65500:45:15.460 --> 00:45:19.659we'll do a QA at some point. We get some questions from some folks65600:45:19.659 --> 00:45:22.570who send us a send US emailsand it's Ay, I have this question65700:45:22.650 --> 00:45:23.929of that question. Maybe'll do aQA. That's me. Great, yeah,65800:45:24.050 --> 00:45:28.329be good. So send us somequestions then we will try to answer65900:45:28.369 --> 00:45:30.889those the best we can. Butif you need to reach out to me,66000:45:31.690 --> 00:45:37.360as we always mentioned, my emailaddresses d parks cities for lifecom.66100:45:37.639 --> 00:45:40.599She is V custy org at citiesfor lifecom, the website that we always66200:45:40.639 --> 00:45:45.639mentioned is www dot sidewalks and numberfour lifecom. It's a sidewall councling website.66300:45:45.880 --> 00:45:49.440And then locally, CHARLOTTE, dotcities for life, Dot Org is66400:45:49.440 --> 00:45:52.550our website here in Charlotte. Butwe hope you guys are blessed by this66500:45:52.630 --> 00:45:55.150podcast and hope you're blessed as youserve the Lord and and hope you keep66600:45:55.190 --> 00:45:59.349from getting callous to where the Lordhas called you, when he's called you66700:45:59.429 --> 00:46:06.619to do so. God bless youguys. Give me O love for love,66800:46:09.340 --> 00:46:17.809give me our love for gratitude.I know it will cost me my66900:46:19.170 --> 00:46:25.530life. Nothing's too precious in someyou.