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In Defense of Life – A Rebuttal

This is a guest post from Renee Thompson.

Where have the intellects gone? -those that require fact to come with proof, search out primary sources, and hold those dispensing information accountable. In today’s world, many have fallen victim to false proclamations. If you say something enough times and loud enough, some people begin to believe it as fact. This is dangerous on a good day, it is downright treacherous in days like today where the internet and airwaves give stage to anyone wishing to share most anything…truth and proof not required.

My household holds life as precious, and not something to be dealt with lightly. This rebuttal may be political in nature, but not at its source. My concern today is life-based and is not related to the recent campaign loss we experienced. We went up against a strong party line, and lost against that party line. The incumbent won fair and square. This household will now move back into the constituent roll, one many in our nation and state need to accept their own personal responsibility for. Let your representatives know where their constituency stands, send them letters and call them with messages laced with kindness and packed full of facts backed with proof and primary sources – not with agitated emotionalism and angry name-calling. Please read this information, pass it along, make use of your God-given right and responsibility to petition your Government for a redress of grievances… and please refrain from personal attack and name-calling against those being petitioned.

As we look toward a new legislative year, important bills to retain and regain Idaho’s best way of life will be considered. I have great concern that a radio ad set to blast the airwaves the few days before our recent November election is a source of false information, causing confusion. That confusion can lead to life-endangering votes by representatives who are either uninformed due to lack of primary source study or are caught up in a drive to weaken the respect of life itself under the guise of greater knowledge. At the end of the day, I cannot know the motives of our representatives. However, I do know a half-truth, a twisted truth, or a pressed-down truth….all are falsehoods, and all dangerous to life in Idaho – those tiny little defenseless lives of our neighbors still in the womb; those seasoned, well-worn lives of those whose feet have trod the earth many years; and all of those Christ-image-bearer lives in between.

I challenge you to put in the work to read the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act, listen to Mr. Clow’s campaign ad, and then put in still more work to digest and fully understand the situation. 

A little background of import:

During a radio interview in late September, I was stunned to hear Representative Clow state that Paul felt a woman who experiences the loss of her child to an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy should be challenged and face punishment under the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act. Below are a couple of problems with this statement, beyond the plain fact that it is simply untrue.

  • First, an ectopic pregnancy has nothing to do with the abortion industry. There may be medical terms that overlap from the triage-situation the mother finds herself in and the money-driven abortion industry, but that verbiage would be the extent of their connection. Please take a look at what the Mayo Clinic says about ectopic pregnancies: “Pregnancy begins with a fertilized egg. Normally, the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside the main cavity of the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy most often occurs in a fallopian tube, which carries eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. This type of ectopic pregnancy is called a tubal pregnancy. Sometimes, an ectopic pregnancy occurs in other areas of the body, such as the ovary, abdominal cavity or the lower part of the uterus (cervix), which connects to the vagina. An ectopic pregnancy can’t proceed normally. The fertilized egg can’t survive, and the growing tissue may cause life-threatening bleeding, if left untreated.”  (Emphasis mine) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20372088   

A mother who has an ectopic pregnancy, or any other life or health-threatening condition, never goes to an abortion provider like Planned Parenthood or another abortion center in Idaho. She presents herself to a legitimate physician at an urgent care center, a hospital emergency room, or a doctor’s office where the standard of care is to first do no harm and is to preserve life and health. No legitimate life-saving care in these circumstances could ever be held unlawful under the language of HB 361.

  • Second, Representative Clow hangs on the statement that Paul told him this was his stance in a meeting in February 2020. This is not true, it is not even a “change of mind” situation, this is either a complete misunderstanding and lack of knowledge for Mr. Clow, or it is a lame spin of half-truths in a desperate bid for votes. Paul, in his role as a pastor, has over the years sat with multiple broken mothers and fathers before and after the heartbreaking procedure of removing a fertilized egg that did not find its way to the life-giving uterus. Paul has not, and would not stand behind a bill that targeted mothers in the crisis of an ectopic pregnancy.

Representative Clow was made aware of the misinformation he shared. Immediately after the September interview, a family member contacted Mr. Clow and gave him clear information on ectopic pregnancies. The following website was provided to Mr. Clow in the lengthy email thread from September 2020, it is an excellent read full of good information: https://thelifeinstitute.net/learning-centre/women/medical-matters/ectopic-pregnancy# 

Ectopic pregnancies and the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act came up again in an October debate. Either this clear information was still not understood, was forgotten, or was simply ignored – for within the month, the same incorrect facts and false accusations were the center of a last-days radio campaign ad push. My goal now is to get the word out as best as I can in order to undo the damage false information has the propensity to cause. If other representatives choose to listen to this false information it could change their approach to important votes, and cause the continued loss of life of Idaho babies.

Below is my quick transcription of the ad; as I don’t have access to the script, I have no way to know punctuation intentions, so please listen to the actual ad right here.

[archiveorg lance-clow-radio-h-361-2020 width=640 height=30 frameborder=0 webkitallowfullscreen=true mozallowfullscreen=true]

“This is Lance Clow, Republican candidate for representative to Twin Falls, District 24. 
My opponent from the other party has made dishonest claims about my pro-life record. I am proud of my 100% pro-life voting record, and the endorsement of Idaho Chooses Life, the leading pro-life voice for Idaho.
I oppose the unconstitutional bill advocated by my opponent that made it a felony, punishable with prison were a woman and her doctor to end a life-threatenin pregnancy, one with absolutely no chance for a live birth.
Sacrificing a mother’s life is not pro-life. It’s reckless and cruel. 
Do not fall victim to my opponent’s cynical deception. Read House Bill 361 for yourself on the Idaho Legislature’s website. Ask yourself, do you want reckless irresponsibility from this other party?
Vote for Lance Clow, your responsible, republican, pro-life representtive.”

Yes, please do as requested in the ad, and read House Bill 361 (Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act), unlike many convoluted bills I have run across – this one is straightforward and succinct. Take a look at Section 3: (6), lines 19-21 specifically. Here is a link to the full bill text in a pdf from the legislature’s website so you can get the full context: https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2020/legislation/H0361.pdf

Section 3: (6) “Any medical practitioner attempting to save the life of a pregnant patient, which attempt results in the unintended death of an unborn human being, shall not be found guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter.”

By the time the mother presents with symptoms and the ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed, in almost all cases the embryo has already died. The Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act (HB 361) carefully defines abortion not to mean the ending of a pregnancy but rather abortion is defined as the intentional killing of a preborn human being. HB 361 is an anti-murder bill and has authority only when a preborn human being is intentionally killed. The bill specifically points out in its text that a legitimate medical procedure in which the objective is to save life will never be unlawful by the text of the bill. Any unintentional death of a preborn person caused by legitimate medical procedures is never held to be unlawful under the plain text of the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act.

Therefore, a woman walking through the painful process of losing a child to an ectopic pregnancy is not being targeted by HB 361… though this is being used as a spin argument to take the eyes off of the horrors of the abortion industry in Idaho. This I count as truly reckless and irresponsible. 

Let your legislators know where you stand on the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act (last year’s HB 361), know the facts, protect the defenseless.

-Renee Thompson


Covenant Keepers for 30 Years (and counting)

Location: First Baptist Church, Clovis, NM
Date: December 20, 1986
Occasion: Marriage of Paul Robert Thompson to Teresa Renee Culberth

This annual celebration of our marriage grows sweeter as the days fly by.

December 20, 2016 makes December 20, 1986 seem like decades ago (3 to be exact). I am pleased that God would give me this kind of grace in my life.

Following is an attempt to express myself with rhyming words…

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(engagement photo)

Of all the sons of men, how could I be him?
Look! is what I do when she walks in!

Neither of us would have mapped out this path like ours.
But how could this journey be better than ours?

My pulse races when she looks at me.
How can this still be?

A third decade of wedded years.
I can hardly write a poem without tears.

Do you see me with that grin?
I would do it all again and again!

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Backyard Buffet and Some Autumn Solitude

At meal time in my house we are blessed to have guests. Sometimes those guests are birds of a feather or even this frequent visitor that inspired Renee’s entry into the annual Art & Soul of the Magic Valley art contest.

Feel free to share this and encourage others in the area to vote for the Backyard Buffet on display at God Inspired Clothing and Special thanks to Phil and Linda Brugger for sponsoring Renee’s entry in the Art & Soul of the Magic Valley art contest.

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Backyard Buffet – #6-135; Renee Thompson

The piece Renee entered is in the ceramic category. The official ceramic page is HERE. When I vote I will vote category # 6-135

Feel free to share this and encourage others in the area to vote for the Autumn Solitude on display at Rudy’s, A Cooks Paradise and Special thanks to C.Loren Butler for sponsoring Silas’ entry in the Art & Soul of the Magic Valley art contest.

Autumn Solitude
Autumn Solitude #6-035; Silas Thompson

The piece Silas entered is in the painting category. The official painting page is HERE. When I vote, I’ll be including #6-035.

The contest is largely decided by popular vote. Winners are selected by art critics like you and me. The process is rather complicated and requires more voter security than a presidential election process. So let me help you navigate the process. Full instructions for online voting is HERE.

Step one: Register in person at the Twin Falls Center for the Arts headquarters (195 River Vista Place, Twin Falls, Idaho). Voting headquarters is open Monday – Thursday noon – 6 pm and Friday/Saturday noon – 8 pm. At the registration you will be given your individual voter ID and password, voting instructions are online after you get your voter ID and password.

Step two: Everyone voting is required to vote for your top 13 choices. (that’s a lot of choices.) There are 13 categories of art to choose from but you’re not required to vote in each category. You are not required to vote in each category but my suggestion is that you only vote for one in the ceramic category and one in the oil category (but that is only my suggestion, you should do what ever you want to do.)

Step three: Submit your vote before the deadline on April 30.

Step four: Enjoy the great art pieces throughout the city for the next few weeks.

If traveling here from out of town to vote consider a few other things: Shoshone Falls, Chick-fil-A for lunch, Happy Hour with Paul at Sonic from 2pm-4pm everyday of the week and visit us at Eastside Baptist on Sunday if your visit from out of town requires you stay the night on Saturday night.

For the curious: here is the dinner guest that inspired the Backyard Buffet.

 

 

Do Not Think This Strange

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“You must never forget those past days when you had received the light and went through such a great and painful struggle. It was partly because everyone’s eye was on you as you endured harsh words and hard experiences, partly because you threw in your lot with those who suffered much the same. You [sympathized] with those who were put in prison and you were cheerful when your own goods were confiscated, for you knew that you had a much more solid and lasting treasure in Heaven. ” (Hebrews 10:32-36 Phillips)

Sometimes, when I think about those God ordained days I weep as I consider the weakness of my mind. I think about those moments I would rise in the middle of the night, nearly overcome with the consuming thought of what people must be saying and thinking about me? what must Renee be enduring? what will become of Silas? what will become of the Thompson name? how is my church doing during these days?JailToilet

I think about those moments at night when I would make way to the bathroom in near complete darkness stepping around and over other inmates and be consumed with the reality that the Lord’s faithful around the world endure much worse than even this.

Nothing, in what I have come to call – my American Christian experience – had prepared me for this. I was, in many respects, learning how to deal with this experience without any practical preparation.

PaulI would find a sliver of light through an outside source and open that lamp of Scripture to preach to my weaning heart (that selfish, praise-of-men craving heart) and became immediately aware that I had adopted an unbiblical belief of how strange it is that this was happening (1 Peter 4:12-13).

When I consider those God ordained days, I consider them with joy, and it does not seem strange at all to look at them as such.

“…do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing,
as though some strange thing were happening to you…”
1 Peter 4:12 (NASB)

Silas Thompson, Haiti, circa February, 2010

 

 

An Open Letter to Everyone Who Gave to New Horizon Home Last Year

Dear generous friends,

I have just returned from a visit at New Horizon Home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and I wanted to express appreciation to each of you who are so kind to give toward the ministry of Eastside Baptist Church and one of her international ministry outposts.

Your one time or ongoing contributions are carefully distributed and gratefully appreciated by Eastside Baptist Church and 33 girls at New Horizon Home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

You have been kind to give, you have been quick to respond, you are partners in an eternal weight of gospel work among these beautiful girls. For this I say “thank you.”

Enjoy some pictures of the new home, the faithful workers and the life-long impact you are making on these 33 girls. Thank you and may the Lord be blessed as you respond to his call upon your life.

For the Glory to God Alone!

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Ready for school

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On the way to the medical clinic for check ups

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lunch time

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Friends

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New Horizon Home Staff

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Getting ready for morning devotions

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An afternoon snack

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braid crafts

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Alex and three sons

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New mosquito netting on bedroom windows

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New Horizon Home: 33 girls, 3 boys, 5 workers, and 7 recent visitors

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Recent ministry team with Alex and wife Johanne

 

Because they are Necessary, Use Words

This past week I’ve been back at New Horizon Home with our 33 girls. By the grace of God, I traveled with 7 other people from Twin Falls, and Boise, Idaho and Amarillo, Texas.

Jesus warns that once a follower puts his hand to the plow he must keep his eyes on the prize, not looking back with regret or doubt (“No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62). Oh that God would find us fit for harvest work.

In addition to taking supplies to teach the girls to knit and weave, clothing, school supplies, medical supplies and nutritional items; we both took printed word (New Testament in Haitian Creole)  and spoke of the Gospel multiple times a day.

Following are a few pictures of the sojourners using words to speak of the glory of God and the necessary proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Speaking to the girls on Saturday night during their daily evening devotion.

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Sporting a new look. 

Phillip, this is gonna be good!
this is gonna be good!

Never missing a moment.
Never missing a moment.

 

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On the ride to the medical clinic

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Our very own bearded gospel man. Always ready to give an answer for the joy given.

 

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Smiling from start to finish

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Able and willing to speak of her joy in Jesus at any moment

 

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Published and skilled knitter by day…

Josiah
gospel herald always…

 

telling of the glory of God
telling of the glory of God

giving comfort and care
giving comfort and care

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