Staying Safe in the Battle

WEBVTT100:00:00.040 --> 00:00:05.960Their swords clanging against shields and andall of this battle stuff going on right.200:00:06.360 --> 00:00:09.279And what does the Lord do?He sets a table right there on300:00:09.320 --> 00:00:16.000the battlefield. I'm yours, I'myours, I'm yours, and me,400:00:16.280 --> 00:00:22.519Lord, I'm yours, I'm yours. I'm welcome to the Gospel centered pro500:00:22.640 --> 00:00:28.000life podcast, a podcast designed toequip, encourage and challenge you in pro600:00:28.079 --> 00:00:31.920life ministry, and always with afocus on the Gospel. Stay tuned.700:00:33.920 --> 00:00:46.200I felt your past touch your heartywelcome to the Gospel centered pro life podcast.800:00:46.240 --> 00:00:49.960Appreciate you guys joining us and weappreciate if you guys would share this900:00:50.039 --> 00:00:53.640podcast episode with others, if youwould leave us a review. Also want1000:00:53.640 --> 00:00:57.000to keep you guys in on thefact that we revamped our website. That1100:00:57.000 --> 00:01:00.960has to do with this podcast.It's called Gospel centered pro life dot Com.1200:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.000So you get a gospel centered prolife dot Com. We made a1300:01:03.000 --> 00:01:07.799website. Created a website some monthsago. It just wasn't as good as1400:01:07.840 --> 00:01:12.239it could be, so I revampedthat and it should be easily um accessible1500:01:12.280 --> 00:01:19.000to you guys. Should easily excessepisodes with certain subjects and certain keywords in1600:01:19.079 --> 00:01:21.680them, so you know if youwanted to see what we had done,1700:01:22.120 --> 00:01:25.840maybe episodes we've done about adoption orsomething like that. You can put that1800:01:25.920 --> 00:01:30.120keyword in there and or shave theepisodes. Our previous website didn't really do1900:01:30.159 --> 00:01:33.599that very well, so this onedoes. There's also some other cool features2000:01:33.599 --> 00:01:36.040on there. Just so I encourageyou, guys, take take a look2100:01:36.079 --> 00:01:40.000at that website, Gospel Center ProLife Dot Com, and share the episode2200:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.239from there. Yeah, that's great, because we put these out to equip2300:01:42.280 --> 00:01:47.319and encourage sidewalk counters. That's allwe do. That's what the every one2400:01:47.319 --> 00:01:52.040of those articles and podcasts that weput out are are to help you,2500:01:53.120 --> 00:01:56.760and so they're very they're really helpful, I think. I think so.2600:01:57.040 --> 00:02:00.079Yeah, that's why we do it. So wait, take advantage of that2700:02:00.680 --> 00:02:02.799and again leave us a review.I think you can actually leave a review2800:02:02.879 --> 00:02:06.959on that website. Oh, thatwould be good, because I've heard leaving2900:02:07.000 --> 00:02:10.520reviews it's not super easy. Yeah, so I do that, guys.3000:02:10.680 --> 00:02:16.080We appreciate it. So let's jumpinto our episode. We know that we're3100:02:16.080 --> 00:02:21.840doing this after Roe v Wade hasbeen overturned. So we're in the post3200:02:22.039 --> 00:02:27.159row America, as many folks havecalled it and we just did an episode3300:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.800about where we were kind of rejoicingin what the Lord has done, of3400:02:31.080 --> 00:02:36.000like remembering the day that Roe vWade was overturned and that impact that had3500:02:36.000 --> 00:02:38.120on us. Many of you guysremember that too. We want to remember3600:02:38.159 --> 00:02:44.840that for generations to come. I'msure it's amazing, really unprecedented and miraculous3700:02:44.840 --> 00:02:49.080what the Lord did, Um.But because of that there's certainly been an3800:02:49.240 --> 00:02:53.080escalation of threats from pro abortion people. There have been one group in particular3900:02:53.159 --> 00:03:00.400that said that they were going tobegin to vandalize churches pregnancy centers. Um,4000:03:00.479 --> 00:03:05.159they've been spray painting on the sideof buildings and pregnancy centers and churches.4100:03:05.280 --> 00:03:07.759If abortions aren't safe, then neitherare you, and so they want4200:03:07.759 --> 00:03:12.439to instill fear and a lot ofit's just empty threats. We know that,4300:03:13.039 --> 00:03:15.000um, but there are some derangedpeople out there. I mean these4400:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.280are the people that support the murderof children inside the womb. So there's4500:03:19.319 --> 00:03:23.360obviously things that are darkened in theirhearts and they need Jesus. And so4600:03:23.400 --> 00:03:28.759we thought that we would do anepisode about staying safe, in particular on4700:03:28.800 --> 00:03:31.439the sidewalk. What are some thingsthat you can do to stay safe.4800:03:31.479 --> 00:03:35.960Now, first and foremost, startout with the fact that we do not4900:03:36.120 --> 00:03:39.080operate in a spirit of fear.The Bible says God has not given us5000:03:39.080 --> 00:03:43.840a spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind. Right,5100:03:44.520 --> 00:03:46.840so we're not to operate in fear, but we are to operate in5200:03:46.960 --> 00:03:52.240wisdom. The Bible says that weshould not be ignorant of Satan's devices.5300:03:52.840 --> 00:03:58.080The devil uses people. Bible saysthat the spirit, the spirit that's at5400:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.000work in the sons of disobeing.It's this demonic spirit. Um, I5500:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.039can't quote the scripture exactly because Idon't remembered exactly, but basically, this5600:04:04.120 --> 00:04:10.039demonic spirit does all kinds of demonicthings and this spirit is at work in5700:04:10.400 --> 00:04:15.719those who don't know God. Sothe devil demons, they work through people.5800:04:15.120 --> 00:04:18.839And so these people are not ourenemy. We don't war against flesh5900:04:18.839 --> 00:04:21.480and blood, right, we haveto remember that. But we do need6000:04:21.519 --> 00:04:27.000to be aware of their capabilities andwe do need to be aware of their6100:04:27.040 --> 00:04:30.040tactics and we do need to beaware of our surroundings so that we can6200:04:30.319 --> 00:04:34.160not fall prey to any of theirtactics. If they their tactics turn violent.6300:04:34.319 --> 00:04:38.279Yeah, I think if I couldsummarize in one word, be be6400:04:38.399 --> 00:04:45.240vigilant, be vigilant with because theythere have been obviously threats throughout the nation6500:04:45.399 --> 00:04:50.040and we are in a very exposedplace and we're right on the front lines.6600:04:50.839 --> 00:04:56.160So so we wrote this article andwe're doing this podcast to kind of6700:04:56.199 --> 00:05:00.920outline just some basic, major thingsthat we thought were useful for people to6800:05:01.000 --> 00:05:10.040know in trying to Um, keepthe environment peaceful, b peace makers and6900:05:10.319 --> 00:05:14.879Um and safe. Yeah, yeah, I want to define what it means7000:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.360to be vigilant for you guys.What does that mean? To be vigilant,7100:05:17.360 --> 00:05:20.319because we've talked about that. Youmentioned it before. Be Vigilant,7200:05:21.120 --> 00:05:24.560in essence, what it means?It's it's kind of a battle term.7300:05:24.639 --> 00:05:30.120Actually, it means to have youreyes wide open, peering across the horizon,7400:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.800being ready, right, not beingin fear, but being aware.7500:05:34.240 --> 00:05:42.160It's it's this battle readiness, thisbattle awareness that if something's coming at you,7600:05:42.160 --> 00:05:45.480you need to be vigilant, youneed to have your eyes wide open7700:05:45.480 --> 00:05:48.160and aware so that you can respondappropriately. So that's kind of what we're7800:05:48.160 --> 00:05:53.600talking about. We're talking about beingvigilant and all of these points sort of7900:05:53.639 --> 00:05:56.519have to do with that, withbeing vigilant. Yeah, they do.8000:05:57.199 --> 00:06:00.680Uh. And one of the firstpoints, I think, is that we8100:06:00.759 --> 00:06:02.959don't want to be the problem,in other words, do not be the8200:06:03.000 --> 00:06:09.959source of escalating emotions. Emotions areheightened out there right now. I actually8300:06:09.959 --> 00:06:15.720have not seen it so much,which is very surprising and actually raises my8400:06:15.839 --> 00:06:18.839radar a bit because I'm not seeingit and I definitely expected it. But8500:06:19.120 --> 00:06:24.560Um, but we should not be. We've talked another podcast. We should8600:06:24.560 --> 00:06:30.319not be gloating. We certainly shouldnot be responding to their despair, anger8700:06:30.439 --> 00:06:34.600whatever, with matching them with anger. Yeah, yeah, and so de8800:06:34.920 --> 00:06:41.639escalating as much as possible. Becausethe atmosphere and because of this kind of8900:06:41.720 --> 00:06:46.560heightened angst and anger against pro lifepeople, all the more we're gonna see9000:06:46.920 --> 00:06:49.959dads that come to the abortion centerand yell at us you want to take9100:06:49.959 --> 00:06:55.040away my girlfriends or my wife's rightto choose or whatever, and get in9200:06:55.079 --> 00:06:58.720your face. Do the best youcan just to de Escalate, and the9300:06:58.759 --> 00:07:02.160way that we deescalate is we're notgoing to respond to anger with anger.9400:07:03.199 --> 00:07:06.439Normally I'll put my hands up andjust say, man, I'm not your9500:07:06.519 --> 00:07:10.399enemy. That's probably my most commonphrase. I'm not your enemy. I'm9600:07:10.439 --> 00:07:14.120just here to offer help and alsounderstand. You don't always have to respond.9700:07:15.120 --> 00:07:17.079You know, if someone comes atyou angry, maybe they're angry.9800:07:17.720 --> 00:07:21.560Sometimes it's anger because we're trying totake away their their right to choose.9900:07:21.800 --> 00:07:27.480A lot of times the anger doescome from the boyfriend or a friend or10000:07:27.519 --> 00:07:30.680a parent. It's not always,as a matter of fact, it's almost10100:07:30.720 --> 00:07:33.600never the woman that's having the abortion. She's already broken, she's already you10200:07:33.600 --> 00:07:36.040know, there's a lot of confusionthere. Sometimes it is, but for10300:07:36.079 --> 00:07:40.639the most part it's it's other peopleor it's pro abortion people. You know,10400:07:41.120 --> 00:07:45.639quote counterprotesters or whatever. But ifsomeone comes at you and they're angry10500:07:45.680 --> 00:07:49.240because we're trying to take away theiryou know, somebody their cousins right to10600:07:49.319 --> 00:07:55.319choose or whatever, and their cousinis going through a very difficult situation,10700:07:55.319 --> 00:07:59.079we want to respond with compassion.I'm sorry that she's going through that,10800:07:59.800 --> 00:08:03.079but we're here to all for help. We're not here to protests. We're10900:08:03.160 --> 00:08:07.680just here to a soft answer.Turns Away Round, it does, it's11000:08:07.759 --> 00:08:11.560and and it's unexpected. I thinkthey do expect us to just be like11100:08:11.720 --> 00:08:16.120them and the more that we aremore like Christ and uh, you know,11200:08:16.240 --> 00:08:18.920and I think the more likely itis it's going to throw them off11300:08:18.959 --> 00:08:24.160their game and reduce, uh,the desire for violence. But one of11400:08:24.160 --> 00:08:28.079them that I wrote, Um,that I brought up that I don't think11500:08:28.079 --> 00:08:31.399I've heard you mentioned, Daniel,so maybe you don't agree with it.11600:08:31.440 --> 00:08:35.879But, Um, I think thatit's important that we re we remind them11700:08:35.879 --> 00:08:41.799in some way that we're human beingsjust like them. So I I phrase11800:08:41.919 --> 00:08:46.600that as remind those in opposition ofour joint humanity. We're both groups of11900:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.799humanity and we may have opposing pointsof views, but there's a lot that12000:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.759we hold in common. We're bothmade in the image of a holy God.12100:08:56.440 --> 00:09:00.440We all have struggles, Um,and we all hold a world view12200:09:00.519 --> 00:09:03.759of viewpoint that, Um, itmay be in stark contrast, but it12300:09:03.799 --> 00:09:09.600doesn't mean that we should devalue themor that they should devalue us as fellow12400:09:09.679 --> 00:09:15.200human beings. And I think ifthere's way, like just very simple ways12500:09:15.279 --> 00:09:18.919to do that, um, saygood morning when when you see them.12600:09:18.039 --> 00:09:22.000I sometimes I think I should justignore them, but I I and I12700:09:22.039 --> 00:09:26.159do for the most part, becausethey're trained to distract us. But I12800:09:26.159 --> 00:09:31.799think I've I've maybe aired too muchon the side of that Um that just12900:09:31.840 --> 00:09:37.639saying good morning is acknowledging there you'rea fellow human being and you know,13000:09:37.279 --> 00:09:41.799and I'll often say lately I'll saynice to see you. Not Nice to13100:09:41.840 --> 00:09:46.399see you here, not nice tosee what you're doing, but it's nice13200:09:46.399 --> 00:09:50.039to see you. You don't wantto agree with what they're doing. Right,13300:09:50.240 --> 00:09:54.679right, right, yeah, Imean, I think reminding them by13400:09:54.080 --> 00:09:58.759being kind as much as you're ableto, yeah, but also reminding ourselves13500:10:00.039 --> 00:10:03.519that they're also human beings exactly,even as misguided and as misdirected and as13600:10:05.559 --> 00:10:09.039full of demons as they might be, they're still human beings made in the13700:10:09.080 --> 00:10:11.159image of God, and if theywould repent and turn to Jesus, he13800:10:11.159 --> 00:10:16.039would save them in an instant.Right we at one time we're dead in13900:10:16.080 --> 00:10:20.519our trespasses and sins. Our mindsare the Bible says. Our our minds14000:10:20.519 --> 00:10:24.159were darkened and so we were captiveto our sin, just like they are.14100:10:24.519 --> 00:10:28.279We're no better than them, apartfrom Christ. And again, if14200:10:28.320 --> 00:10:30.480they would come to the Lord,he would save them an instant. So14300:10:30.679 --> 00:10:33.799we need remind them of our humanity, but also we need to remind ourselves14400:10:33.840 --> 00:10:37.440in each other, of their humanity, I think exactly. The next one14500:10:37.559 --> 00:10:41.559is a really important one. reportany aggression, however minor, to the14600:10:41.600 --> 00:10:46.919police. If there is any aggressionagainst a sidewalk team, it needs to14700:10:46.000 --> 00:10:50.360be reported. Yeah, yeah,absolutely. Yeah. And that's like threats14800:10:50.399 --> 00:10:54.799against you, like direct threats.I'M gonna come over there and beat you14900:10:54.200 --> 00:10:56.519down, or I'm gonna I gota gun, I wanna shoot you,15000:10:58.039 --> 00:11:01.840anything like that. Um, ofcourse, any physical aggression, if they15100:11:01.879 --> 00:11:05.080push, if they take a signout of your hand, whatever, you15200:11:05.120 --> 00:11:09.039need to report it. You needto call the police. Now there are15300:11:09.039 --> 00:11:11.720situations, many of these situations,of the police either won't or can't do15400:11:11.759 --> 00:11:16.879anything because they didn't see it,um or because it was not maybe a15500:11:16.879 --> 00:11:22.159direct threat. Communicating threats can bea little that can be some gray area15600:11:22.200 --> 00:11:24.440there and so, but it's stillgood to hold them accountable. It's still15700:11:24.480 --> 00:11:30.240good if there's something that's over thetop aggression, it's good to call the15800:11:30.240 --> 00:11:33.519police. The worst that could happenis the police come out and do nothing.15900:11:33.840 --> 00:11:37.080At least it's been documented and they'vebeen at least held accountable for that16000:11:37.159 --> 00:11:41.600moment. Right. And then thenext thing that we wrote is press charges,16100:11:41.039 --> 00:11:45.840because the police sometimes won't do anything, but it is within your rights16200:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.080to say I would like to presscharges. Yeah, yeah, and you16300:11:48.120 --> 00:11:52.440should. You should if there's especiallyif there's any touch, any physical aggression.16400:11:52.519 --> 00:11:56.320Yeah, if there's physical altercation,if there's something they did, you16500:11:56.399 --> 00:12:00.960push, you hit you. Wedid have an end in it in California16600:12:00.960 --> 00:12:03.480a couple of weeks ago the younglady hit one of the sidewalk counselors out16700:12:03.480 --> 00:12:07.360there. Thank God, the teamreacted pretty quickly. One of the team16800:12:07.399 --> 00:12:11.559members actually got in his car andfollowed the lady who got in her car16900:12:11.600 --> 00:12:15.120and left. Followed her and wason the phone with the police from understanding,17000:12:15.120 --> 00:12:18.720and ended up finding her and presscharges against her and she's been held17100:12:18.720 --> 00:12:22.200accountable. Good, and you haveto do that, if not for yourself,17200:12:22.240 --> 00:12:24.840I you know, we we've talkedabout this many times, if not17300:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.840for yourself, for your team members. Yeah, yeah, absolutely, because17400:12:26.840 --> 00:12:30.720there can be this tendency. Ofcourse we want to be forgiving. You17500:12:30.759 --> 00:12:33.360can forgive in your heart. Youcan say I forgive you for what you17600:12:33.399 --> 00:12:35.679did and not hold it against him, and you should. You should have17700:12:35.720 --> 00:12:39.639a posture of forgiveness toward anyone thatdoes anything to you. Um, but17800:12:39.720 --> 00:12:43.799that doesn't mean that you don't holdthem accountable and you don't let the law17900:12:43.120 --> 00:12:48.320do its job hold the evil doersaccountable. Romans Chapter Thirteen tells us that18000:12:48.320 --> 00:12:52.320it holds evil doers accountable. Andalso, again, it's not for your18100:12:52.360 --> 00:12:54.159sake only, it's for the sakeof those because you let that person get18200:12:54.200 --> 00:12:58.679away with hitting you or smacking asign out of your hand or whatever.18300:12:58.440 --> 00:13:01.879Um, then the next time theycome around, maybe it's a passer by,18400:13:01.960 --> 00:13:03.960maybe it's somebody going into the clinic, but either way, the next18500:13:03.960 --> 00:13:07.519time they come around they might dosomething even more violent to someone else who's18600:13:07.559 --> 00:13:11.679not able to bear with him.Maybe it wasn't a big deal for you,18700:13:11.159 --> 00:13:13.559but it might be a big dealfor someone else. So yeah,18800:13:13.759 --> 00:13:18.919it is. It's an accountability thingand it's also kind of a team morale18900:13:18.000 --> 00:13:22.279thing. Like your team, especiallyif you're in leadership, your team knows19000:13:22.360 --> 00:13:26.120that you got their back when youpress charges rather than just letting that stuff19100:13:26.159 --> 00:13:28.879go. That's right, and oneof the things that we did here in19200:13:28.039 --> 00:13:37.919Charlotte, our city director did contactthe police department proactively regarding our concerns because19300:13:37.960 --> 00:13:41.240there had been nationwide threats of violence. We asked, could there be a19400:13:41.240 --> 00:13:45.919patrol? Could they could at leastan officer do a drive by every now19500:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.200and then, because we are concernedthat there is going to be that there19600:13:48.240 --> 00:13:52.519could be violence? And I've noticedthat they have been doing that. It's19700:13:52.600 --> 00:13:56.799it's not constant, but I'll seeusually once a day I'll see them drive19800:13:56.799 --> 00:14:01.279by and that presence, I thinkis important and that any any city could,19900:14:01.440 --> 00:14:03.080could do that, anyone with asidewalk team, and I think it's20000:14:03.080 --> 00:14:05.759probably a good idea. Yeah,yeah, it's good just to reach out20100:14:05.799 --> 00:14:09.639to the local precinct and ask them. All they can do is say no,20200:14:09.159 --> 00:14:13.879Hey, can you have an officerout here these hours? We're out20300:14:13.879 --> 00:14:16.159there from nine to twelve. Couldyou have an officer? At least have20400:14:16.159 --> 00:14:20.080an officer job by, because there'ssome heightened tensions because of the Rovie Wade20500:14:20.120 --> 00:14:24.240being overturned decision and so Um,yeah, you have not, because you20600:14:24.279 --> 00:14:28.679asked not. Worst they can doto say no, that's right, and20700:14:28.759 --> 00:14:31.039praying and fasting. Right. It'sthe next one. We wrote, and20800:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.519that's so important. I really believethat. First of all, that is20900:14:35.679 --> 00:14:39.639a big part of why Roevie Wadewas overturned, but I also believe why21000:14:39.879 --> 00:14:43.480things have been, at least here, relatively calm. I know there is21100:14:43.559 --> 00:14:50.639a huge number of people that arepraying and fasting for peace and our protection.21200:14:50.919 --> 00:14:54.159Yeah, yeah, absolutely, againremembering this is a spiritual battle.21300:14:54.799 --> 00:15:00.759We need to be in prayer.I encourage you guys like on your way21400:15:00.799 --> 00:15:03.480to the abortion center. I sayyou don't need to be listening to country21500:15:03.600 --> 00:15:07.200music, you don't need to belistening to talk radio, you need to21600:15:07.200 --> 00:15:11.000be in prayer and fasting. Maybehave some worship music on, worshiping the21700:15:11.039 --> 00:15:13.840Lord, but you need to bein prayer, putting on the armor of21800:15:13.879 --> 00:15:16.279God, understanding that this is aspiritual battle. This is not just an21900:15:16.320 --> 00:15:20.840ideological battle, this is not justa Democrat Republican battle, this is not22000:15:22.039 --> 00:15:26.120a pro life pro abortion battle,this is a light in darkness battle and22100:15:26.120 --> 00:15:28.639because of that we need to bein prayer. We need to employ the22200:15:28.639 --> 00:15:33.720tools that God has given us tofight this spiritual battle. Prayer and fasting22300:15:33.799 --> 00:15:39.799are key. Worship, proclamation ofthe word, those are other keys to22400:15:39.000 --> 00:15:43.759really waging this warfare. And so, Um, yeah, be in prayer22500:15:43.799 --> 00:15:46.519and fasting. God can do whatyou cannot. God can see what you22600:15:46.559 --> 00:15:50.080can't. There may be some proabortion person on their way to the abortion22700:15:50.120 --> 00:15:54.039center planning some kind of evil,some kind of you know, whatever evil22800:15:54.080 --> 00:15:58.480they might plan against you, andsomehow, because you've been in prayer,22900:15:58.679 --> 00:16:02.600prayer and fasting, God's supernaturally behindthe scenes made it where their car wouldn't23000:16:02.600 --> 00:16:06.799start or whatever. Who knows?But God can work behind the scenes.23100:16:06.840 --> 00:16:10.039We just need to be in prayerand fasting and kind of giving it over23200:16:10.080 --> 00:16:14.679to him and put it in hishands and let him cover US and protecting.23300:16:14.840 --> 00:16:18.639Yeah, and I've been very specificin my prayers, praying for protection23400:16:18.679 --> 00:16:22.039for our teams, which is somethingI probably had not done a lot prior23500:16:22.120 --> 00:16:26.600to Roe v Wade, but butnow I'm I'm very intentional about praying that23600:16:26.639 --> 00:16:30.559our teams would be protected. Nextone is a pretty common sense one.23700:16:30.679 --> 00:16:33.759Have a camera going all the time? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, we23800:16:33.879 --> 00:16:37.720have cameras that we use pretty muchnationally. All of our teams use these23900:16:37.720 --> 00:16:41.360cameras that we get off Amazon.There kind of expensive, about a hundred24000:16:41.360 --> 00:16:45.240and fifty hundred sixty bucks. Butthey have a battery inside of it,24100:16:45.320 --> 00:16:48.720so you charge it overnight, youget it out and the battery last probably24200:16:48.799 --> 00:16:55.799three four and you can have shift. Yep, you can have it continuously24300:16:56.440 --> 00:16:59.759recording and recording on a loop,so it kind of records over the previous24400:16:59.840 --> 00:17:03.480thing if you haven't stopped the camera. Um, I won't get into all24500:17:03.519 --> 00:17:07.240the kind of ways that you usethat and as far as all the ways24600:17:07.279 --> 00:17:11.559that it works, I'm sure itcomes with an instruction booklet Um, but24700:17:11.599 --> 00:17:15.680it's a very useful tool. Ifan incident does take place, you can24800:17:15.799 --> 00:17:18.519stop record on that. You cancall the police, show it to them24900:17:18.599 --> 00:17:22.960and, Um, they can theperson that did whatever they did that you25000:17:23.079 --> 00:17:26.359recorded can be held accountable, right, and it can be a deterrentent and25100:17:26.440 --> 00:17:30.160of itself if they see the cameragoing. And if you don't have one25200:17:30.200 --> 00:17:34.400of those, always at least haveyour own phone camera ready to record if25300:17:34.440 --> 00:17:37.839you're seeing something that looks like itcould, you know, boil over.25400:17:38.240 --> 00:17:41.799Yeah, absolutely, and I do. Just as a little side note on25500:17:41.839 --> 00:17:47.559the camera, always encourage people notto have it on your body because it25600:17:47.599 --> 00:17:51.079can be a deterrent from people goinginto the abortion center actually coming and talking25700:17:51.119 --> 00:17:52.279to you. You know, thesewomen want to hide their scent. They25800:17:52.279 --> 00:17:56.000don't want to be recorded doing it. So if you have a camera in25900:17:56.079 --> 00:18:00.000your chest or a camera on yourwhatever, yeah, and it's right there,26000:18:00.000 --> 00:18:03.279are clearly visible, they're gonna beless likely to approach you. But26100:18:03.359 --> 00:18:06.079you have to weigh that out.Maybe maybe that's how you need to do26200:18:06.119 --> 00:18:08.920it. I always encourage you toput it maybe kind of back, maybe26300:18:08.920 --> 00:18:12.319even across the road, like herelatrobe we have it across the road on26400:18:12.319 --> 00:18:18.440the vehicle, oftentimes kind of takinga view of the driveway. That's where26500:18:18.440 --> 00:18:21.279most of the engagement takes place andthese things have a pretty wide angle on26600:18:21.319 --> 00:18:23.920them. So you know, youfigure that out. I do think it26700:18:25.000 --> 00:18:29.119is good to have it away alittle bit um so that it doesn't mess26800:18:29.160 --> 00:18:32.799up the engagements that you would otherwisehave, but also pointed toward the area26900:18:32.799 --> 00:18:34.720whether it's going to be the mostengagement. You can never have a camera27000:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.279pointed in every direction right. Youcan have fifteen cameras out there and still27100:18:38.319 --> 00:18:41.559you could miss some things, Um, and so you have to kind of27200:18:41.599 --> 00:18:47.160weigh out is all of the stuffthat has to do with buying the camera,27300:18:47.240 --> 00:18:49.359setting the camera up, Um,making sure it's charged. All that27400:18:49.400 --> 00:18:53.279stuff is the juice worth the squeeze, as I say often, and I27500:18:53.279 --> 00:18:56.680think it really is. But youhave to weigh out how strategically use that27600:18:56.720 --> 00:19:00.119camera. But it is important tohave a camera going the whole time you're27700:19:00.119 --> 00:19:04.240out there. I agree. Andanother thing that is often not possible because27800:19:04.440 --> 00:19:07.640men tend to work during the day. We have a lot of a lot27900:19:07.680 --> 00:19:11.319more women. There are, youknow, of course, many women that28000:19:11.359 --> 00:19:15.480work outside of the home, butwe have for sure our teams are mostly28100:19:15.480 --> 00:19:19.440women and there is really no doubtwhen there's a man who can keep the28200:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.519piece, who is calm, hecan't be someone given over to anger.28300:19:23.119 --> 00:19:26.319But if there's that type of manout on the sidewalk with us, it28400:19:26.400 --> 00:19:32.519does seem to reduce the likelihood ofaggression. Yeah, absolutely so, if28500:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.200possible, have men on your team. M Yeah, one that we have28600:19:36.400 --> 00:19:41.799here is if you see a gun, yeah, and we have people.28700:19:41.119 --> 00:19:45.480I don't I've never had a gunlike directly pointed at me at the abortion28800:19:45.480 --> 00:19:48.519center, but I have had acouple of times where someone brandishes a gun.28900:19:49.880 --> 00:19:52.920Had as he was pulling out ofthe driveway, he pulled it up29000:19:53.119 --> 00:19:56.559at the window and I had itlike the you can't see me because you're29100:19:56.559 --> 00:20:00.000listening to this podcast. We hadit kind of up against the window,29200:20:00.200 --> 00:20:03.519not pointing at me, but kindof pointing up, and I called the29300:20:03.519 --> 00:20:07.319police on that. I didn't feelthreatened by it necessarily, but he was29400:20:07.319 --> 00:20:11.480obviously brandishing the gun to let meknow he had a gun. And actually29500:20:11.680 --> 00:20:15.240the law here in North Carolina saysthat you can't have a gun if you29600:20:15.279 --> 00:20:19.160go to a protest at a medicalfacility. And so, you know,29700:20:19.559 --> 00:20:22.559maybe his little gray area there becauseit wasn't coming to a protest, but29800:20:23.039 --> 00:20:27.759we're supposedly protesting and he's involving himselfand that when he's engaging with us.29900:20:27.799 --> 00:20:30.440So anyway, I called the police. They didn't really do much, but30000:20:30.480 --> 00:20:34.079he did hold him accountable. Soif you ever see a gun, call30100:20:34.160 --> 00:20:37.160the police. Whether you feel threatenedor not, you still should call the30200:20:37.200 --> 00:20:41.960police to hold him accountable because youdon't want him ultimately using that gun.30300:20:41.079 --> 00:20:45.519Right. Yeah, yeah, neverminister alone. Yeah, for for so30400:20:45.559 --> 00:20:49.200many reasons. Say, it's Biblical. We were sent out, Jesus sent30500:20:49.480 --> 00:20:53.319but disciples out two by two.But you always have a witness with you,30600:20:53.400 --> 00:20:57.599then and and someone that can,you know, help you and if30700:20:57.599 --> 00:21:03.079there's an emergency. So I wouldsay in this day and age, all30800:21:03.119 --> 00:21:07.119the more like this, this shouldbe a hard and fast rule. Never30900:21:07.200 --> 00:21:11.799be out there by yourself. AndI know the temptation, if you don't31000:21:11.880 --> 00:21:15.400have someone with you, to beout there alone, because I'm often very31100:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.079tempted. I'm not really given tofear, strangely enough, when I'm out31200:21:19.079 --> 00:21:23.119on the sidewalk. But it isjust wisdom. Don't be alone. Don't31300:21:23.119 --> 00:21:29.319be alone. And then, ofcourse, if there are direct threats or31400:21:29.480 --> 00:21:34.400active violence, if you can,our suggestion is that you leave. Don't31500:21:34.400 --> 00:21:38.720try and fight it out. Inother words, if you feel a direct31600:21:38.880 --> 00:21:44.880threat and imminent danger to you orto your team, it's okay to leave31700:21:45.799 --> 00:21:48.640now. We don't want to,of course, pack up and leave just31800:21:48.720 --> 00:21:51.599on a whim, and you guyswould never do that. But if you31900:21:51.680 --> 00:21:55.480feel that there's an imminent threat,there's someone here that has a gun and32000:21:55.559 --> 00:22:00.039they look angry and violent or GodGod knows more we do. He can32100:22:00.039 --> 00:22:03.359speak to our hearts. If there'sseveral members of your team that kind of32200:22:03.359 --> 00:22:07.359test for like something's off here,something's not quite right. We need to32300:22:07.440 --> 00:22:11.720leave. I would say from themouth of two or three witnesses. If32400:22:11.759 --> 00:22:15.680your whole team is kind of inagreement that we need to leave because something's32500:22:15.720 --> 00:22:21.200off here, then probably should leave, probably should pack it up. Yeah,32600:22:21.240 --> 00:22:23.039we we don't want anyone to feellike they're not a hero or they're32700:22:23.160 --> 00:22:26.720less of a Christian if they're goingto stick it out in the midst of32800:22:26.720 --> 00:22:33.000of escalating violence, and we wantyou to know it would be wise and32900:22:33.039 --> 00:22:36.480it would protect each other for you, for you to leave. Here's one33000:22:36.720 --> 00:22:40.880that you may or may not agreewith me. Um, using social media33100:22:40.920 --> 00:22:44.279to your advantage. In other words, what I mean by that is take33200:22:44.319 --> 00:22:51.839photos and videos. If you're seeing, UM, the opposition being aggressive in33300:22:51.880 --> 00:22:56.880a way that that you know isgoing to reflect poorly on them, I33400:22:56.039 --> 00:23:02.119think it might not be a badidea to bring so show pressure on them33500:23:02.160 --> 00:23:07.799not to behave that way. Nowyou can backfire because some people want that33600:23:07.920 --> 00:23:12.119attention. So when do you decideto do one or the other? I33700:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.519don't know. Yeah, yeah,maybe pray and seek the Lord. I33800:23:15.519 --> 00:23:21.200think it is good to expose thesepro abortion people, these angry people,33900:23:22.119 --> 00:23:26.480to the larger public to see whatthese folks that people can see what these34000:23:26.559 --> 00:23:30.960most people are horrified when when myfriends see what we endure, they cannot34100:23:30.960 --> 00:23:38.200believe it. They can't believe thatlike civilized human beings would act that way.34200:23:38.880 --> 00:23:42.160And so that helps, I think, to change the heart in the34300:23:42.200 --> 00:23:47.039mind of a nation. Yeah,it can so. I mean the Gospel34400:23:47.119 --> 00:23:51.279ultimately is what does that. ButI think seeing the face of evil and34500:23:51.359 --> 00:23:55.799what they do is really sometimes verypowerful. Yeah, yeah, I think34600:23:55.839 --> 00:23:59.200it can be. So definitely seekthe Lord for wisdom about that. Of34700:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.920course, if you put them onsocial media, they're likely to put you34800:24:00.960 --> 00:24:06.839on social media and there's been somethreats from pro abortion people to docs pro34900:24:07.000 --> 00:24:11.240life people, which means put outyour information for the public so that people35000:24:11.359 --> 00:24:14.319come to your house and all thisother stuff. You got to weigh those35100:24:14.359 --> 00:24:17.480things out. Um, I certainlywant to seek the Lord. Yeah,35200:24:17.519 --> 00:24:21.119and so just a little Um FY, I don't give personal information.35300:24:21.160 --> 00:24:23.160If at all possible, don't.Don't let anyone know your last name,35400:24:23.200 --> 00:24:26.680your address, your phone number,all of that stuff. Just really important.35500:24:27.039 --> 00:24:32.400Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Um, using scripture, we already talked35600:24:32.400 --> 00:24:34.759about that a little bit, tohelp any other pro life groups to escalate35700:24:34.799 --> 00:24:37.960and what I mean by that?Oh, actually, we didn't talk about35800:24:37.000 --> 00:24:41.960this. Sometimes the escalation is comingfrom someone who's not with your group but35900:24:42.039 --> 00:24:47.160they're pro life, and we actuallyhave seen that this this week and last36000:24:47.200 --> 00:24:52.240week, and it puts us indanger. And the MOMS and the abortion36100:24:52.400 --> 00:24:59.759proponents really don't care which pro lifegroup is being jerks are aggressive. They're36200:24:59.759 --> 00:25:04.240going to lump us all together andand so sometimes pulling those other pro life36300:25:04.240 --> 00:25:08.400groups aside and saying hey, man, you're you are actually putting us in36400:25:08.519 --> 00:25:11.599danger with this and and can canwe bring it down a notch, because36500:25:11.640 --> 00:25:15.680this is not helpful. Yeah,because, like we've said, oftentimes I'M36600:25:15.720 --> 00:25:21.079gonna keep beating this drum in ourministry at the abortion center. We're not36700:25:21.119 --> 00:25:25.000out there protesting, we're not outthere trying to appeal to the powers that36800:25:25.039 --> 00:25:27.160be. We're not out there togo back and forth with pro abortion people.36900:25:27.440 --> 00:25:32.960We're not out there to state ourcalls to the pro abortion you know,37000:25:33.039 --> 00:25:36.799contingency. We're out there to appealto those mothers. So getting in37100:25:36.839 --> 00:25:40.640a back and forth with some proaboord and just getting in a shouting match37200:25:40.720 --> 00:25:44.880and proving your points so that theirpoint is proven wrong. That's not helpful37300:25:44.960 --> 00:25:47.920there. It's just not the scenariofor it. If you want to do37400:25:47.960 --> 00:25:51.720that stuff, go to the courthouse. I think a lot of these pro37500:25:51.759 --> 00:25:55.200abortion groups are doing these. Yeah, you'll find them there. Yeah,37600:25:55.200 --> 00:25:59.240you'll, you'll find them. They'redoing these protests, you know, never37700:25:59.319 --> 00:26:03.400again turning back with the their signs, with the coat hanger on them,37800:26:03.440 --> 00:26:07.759not turning back to, you know, these so called dangerous abortions. Every37900:26:07.759 --> 00:26:10.319abortion is dangerous. What are thesepeople talking about? Anyway? If you38000:26:10.319 --> 00:26:12.599want to argue with those people,go and argue with him at the courthouse38100:26:12.680 --> 00:26:15.640or the city square, but notin front of the abortions, because it38200:26:15.720 --> 00:26:19.640just it takes away from the actualreason we're there, to reach those moms38300:26:19.640 --> 00:26:26.160going into the abortion center right andwe've actually found that that mindset is true38400:26:26.960 --> 00:26:30.599reaching the women. If you're justargumentative, screaming at them for you know,38500:26:30.720 --> 00:26:34.880trying to prove your point in avery argumentative and loud way, it38600:26:36.079 --> 00:26:40.279usually doesn't end well and they rarelycome and talk with us. Yeah,38700:26:40.400 --> 00:26:45.480so I think our final point hereis we'll just talk from Psalm twenty three,38800:26:45.559 --> 00:26:48.920something we've talked about. It's sucha good one. In today's age38900:26:48.960 --> 00:26:52.680isn't it? That's always good.But Yeah, well, Psalm Twenty three,39000:26:52.720 --> 00:26:55.440you guys know. Yeah, though, I walk through the Valley of39100:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.960the shadow you know. You knowthe scripture. We know it in King39200:26:57.039 --> 00:27:02.960James English. But David's walking thereabout walking through the Valley of the shadow39300:27:03.039 --> 00:27:06.279of death. He's talking about this, this place of darkness, this place39400:27:06.319 --> 00:27:10.480of death, and I think youall would agree if you've ever been in39500:27:10.519 --> 00:27:15.240front of an abortion center, thereis no place it could be more um39600:27:15.279 --> 00:27:21.799readily identified as the Valley of theshadow of death, more clearly evident as39700:27:21.880 --> 00:27:25.799the Valley of the shadow of deaththan the abortion center and being in front39800:27:25.839 --> 00:27:29.119of the abortion center. And sowhat does that Psalm say, though?39900:27:29.200 --> 00:27:33.200We're there in that Valley of theshadow of death. The Lord is with40000:27:33.319 --> 00:27:37.079us, right, that's what itsays. It says I fear no evil,40100:27:37.079 --> 00:27:40.160though I walk through the Valley ofthe shadow of death. I fear40200:27:40.200 --> 00:27:44.000no evil. Why? Because youare with me, guys. Remember,40300:27:44.279 --> 00:27:47.640the Lord is with you. Wedon't walk in fear. Yeah, we40400:27:47.680 --> 00:27:51.319need to be wise, we needto be aware of Satan's devices. We40500:27:51.359 --> 00:27:52.759need to have a camera going,we need to not be out there at40600:27:52.799 --> 00:27:56.559the out there alone by ourselves.Right, we need to hold people accountable40700:27:56.799 --> 00:28:00.319all of that stuff, but atthe end of the day we walk in40800:28:00.440 --> 00:28:03.039faith. We walk by faith andnot by side. We don't walk in40900:28:03.119 --> 00:28:07.960fear, because it says I willfear no evil for your with with me,41000:28:07.559 --> 00:28:11.319your Rod and your staff, theycomfort me. You prepare a table41100:28:11.400 --> 00:28:18.599before me in the presence of MyEnemies. I love that. The picture41200:28:18.680 --> 00:28:23.079there is a battlefield where there's arrowswhizzing by, flaming arrows, and their41300:28:23.119 --> 00:28:29.880swords clanging against shields and and allof this battle stuff going on, right.41400:28:30.279 --> 00:28:33.160And what does the Lord do?He sets a table right there on41500:28:33.200 --> 00:28:37.519the battlefield. You and the Lordshare a meal together in the midst of41600:28:37.519 --> 00:28:41.599that battle. You can have peacein the midst of that battle. You41700:28:41.640 --> 00:28:47.799can have fellowship and union with Jesusin the midst of that very real spiritual41800:28:47.799 --> 00:28:51.119battle of the Erian on the sidewalk. So we don't need to be afraid.41900:28:51.720 --> 00:28:53.279We need to have communion with God, we need to be in fellowship42000:28:53.319 --> 00:28:56.440with the Lord. That's all.We need to be in prayer and fasting42100:28:56.160 --> 00:29:03.480and we need to walk in faithas we use God's wisdom to give a42200:29:03.559 --> 00:29:07.400voice to the voiceless. Amen.That's a that's a great way to end42300:29:07.720 --> 00:29:11.920this sort of scary, I guess, podcast. We don't want us all42400:29:11.000 --> 00:29:15.599to now be afraid. We wantto remind all of us God is with42500:29:15.680 --> 00:29:18.599us and, honestly, well,bad things happen, they might, but42600:29:18.880 --> 00:29:23.680he's still with us, even evenin those hard and bad things. He's42700:29:23.799 --> 00:29:29.200right there with us. Well,guys, we hope this was an encouragement.42800:29:29.200 --> 00:29:30.400Do you, and we hope thatyou, guys, will reach out42900:29:30.440 --> 00:29:34.759to us if you have any suggestionsfor other episodes, maybe any questions about43000:29:34.759 --> 00:29:37.960previous episodes or this episode in particular. We'd love to hear from you.43100:29:38.359 --> 00:29:41.039You can reach me Daniel at LoveLife Dot Org. You reach her,43200:29:41.160 --> 00:29:45.440Vicky, with a why, atLove Life Dot Org. Again, check43300:29:45.480 --> 00:29:48.960out our website, Gospel centered prolife dot Com. And Uh, you43400:29:49.000 --> 00:29:52.519can check out all of the episodes. All of our episodes are on that43500:29:52.640 --> 00:29:56.720website. And until next time,God, bless God, bless you all.43600:30:00.279 --> 00:30:10.079Give me out left for love,give me our lift for gratitude.43700:30:12.160 --> 00:30:21.960I know it will cost me mylife. Nothing's too precious. Since I43800:30:22.400 --> 00:30:32.119met you, M M M