The Paraclete

An E-mail Update for Life Advocates

December2010

Renewal For life’s NEW site is live! To register on the new site, go to and click the “Request Login” link, you will receive password and confirmation information via email to get you logged in!

Some Devotional Thoughts

[Feel free to share these thoughts. Offer them to be used for devotions for meetings or in other settings. Print them out and make them available to others. Include them in your church newsletter or on your church web site. They are yours for the using!]

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.

“Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!”

(How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss)

I admit it. My wife, RoxAnne, and I watched this Christmas special without any children present, just the two of us. I like it. Plus, it fit well with my study of Mary’s Song in Luke 1:46-55 for an Advent sermon. Her song expresses the essence of Advent and getting ready for Christmas that perhaps “means a little bit more.” As you will undoubtedly know even without reading it, Mary’s song says nothing about light-stringing or gift-buying or party-going. It says nothing about Santa Claus or stockings hung by the chimney. It says nothing about hams or geese or Who-pudding or Who-roast beast!

Mary’s Song expresses the essence of Advent because her song is not about her at all. It’s about Him, the Lord, God our Savior (1:47). I counted fifteen clauses or sentences in her song. God is the subject of twelve of them! Advent and getting ready for Christmas is not about us. It’s not about families or friends or feasts. It’s about Him.

Mary’s Song express the essence of Advent because even when she does speak in the first person, she does so only to acknowledge her “humble estate” (48). This is a “Why me?” moment for Mary. “Why me? Why should I be so blessed? Why should I be the one that future generations will call blessed?” The answer, of course, has nothing to do with Mary but with Him, the Lord, God our Savior and His mercy.

We have “Why me?” moments, don’t we? Although most are in a negative context. “Why is this happening to me, Lord? Why this illness? Why this family problem? Why this financial burden? Why this death in my family? Why me?”

I would suggest that Advent is a good time to practice “Why me?” as Mary did. “Why me? Why am I so blessed?” As we look at our decorated trees and the trinkets and toys already gathering under them—“Why me? Why am I so blessed?” As we look at our cash and cars and cupboards—“Why me? Why am I so blessed?” As we look at our family and friends and feasts—“Why me? Why am I so blessed?” As we look at our baptism and our faith—“Why me? Why am I so blessed?” As we look at the fellowship of believers into which we have been called, as we receive Christ’s body and blood, as we hear Him speak in His Word of love, mercy, forgiveness, and the certain hope of eternal life—“Why me? Why am I so blessed?”The answer, of course, has nothing to do with us but with Him, the Lord, God our Savior and His mercy.

Yes, the essence of Advent and getting ready for Christmas is not about us. We deserve nothing and have nothing to offer. It’s about Him. And yet … Here we see one of those great Scriptural ironies. Advent is not about us, and yet it is about us! “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (50). That’s us! Advent is about what God did because He loved generation after generation of sinful rebellious people. God is the subject of the actions in Mary’s song because we are the object of His love! God did what He did because He loved us and did not want to abandon us in our sinful condition. Through faith in His actions, we are not seen as poor, miserable sinners but as rich, happy saints!

That’s why we can join Mary’s song, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon the humble estate of his servant” (46-47). This is why we decorate our trees and celebrate with friends and family. This is why we give gifts and hang stockings. This is why we carve the Who-roast beast and feast, feast, feast!

And this is why LFL continues to connect the message of a God who “invaded” our world through a womb and who touches lives through the Gospel of His Son to the life issues. It changes things. For example, I recently received an email from a woman with an abortion in her past. Through an LFL presentation, she heard the Gospel of Jesus applied to her sin for the first time. It made a difference in her life and encouraged her to continue to trust in a forgiving Savior. She wrote, “I feel a lightness to my heart that has been gone for many years.” The next day I received a call from a pastor thankful for assistance we gave in an end-of-life issue he was dealing with. We had equipped him with what he needed to minister effectively in a difficult situation.

God uses you and your efforts to share His message of life in your congregation to help touch and change lives like this. My continued thanks for your dedication to making dealing with the life issues an ongoing part of your congregation’s Gospel ministry.

On behalf of the Life Team here at the Life Center—Amy, George, Jeri, Katie, Kay, Kim, Lowell, and Trisha—I pray that your “feasting” will be joyous as you celebrate what God our Savior has done in and through the gift of His Son, Jesus.

Jim Lamb

Executive Director of LFL

Life Advocate Team Training – Power Points

This month we start a series on the power points available on RFLOnline.org. These teaching tools are an effective and easy way to share a particular For Life message.

General Guidelines

  1. You can do this! Even if you have no experience with Power Point presentations, you will learn how easy it can be.
  2. Equipment needed:
  1. Laptop Computer
  2. Microsoft Office Power Point software installed on the laptop. If you do not have this software, you can download Microsoft Power Point Viewer for free at This will allow you to view the Power Point presentation and project it for an audience. However, you will not be able to edit the presentation to personalize it, add your own graphics, church logo, etc. But it is free and a great way to get started.
  3. A projector or large screen TV. Projectors are becoming very common place and are not extremely expensive. Many churches are set up for such presentations. With the proper cables, your computer may also be hooked to a large screen TV that many churches have for viewing videos. If you use the projector you will also need a screen, white board, or white wall to project upon.
  4. A 7th or 8th grade confirmation student! I say this partially in jest, but if there is no audio/visual person on your church staff, and you need someone to help you set up and get the laptop hooked up to the projector or TV, chances are there is some young person who knows all about it! Just ask around. Plus, it will give them a way to be involved. Make them your “Technology Assistant”!
  1. Where to Find the Presentation Power Point. Power Points are classified as “Teaching Tools” on the RFLonline website. This month we will be talking about the “God’s View of Life” Power Point. You will find such Teaching Tools in two places. They will be under “Teaching Tools” in the topic to which they relate. “God’s View of Life” relates to abortion so it will be found clicking on “Abortion” and then “Teaching Tools.” Also, you will find it by clicking the “Teaching Tools” tab in the “Life Advocate Training” section. We eventually want to get all teaching tools under this tab to make it easier for you to see what is available.
  2. Opening the Presentation Power Point. Once you have located “God’s View of Life,” simply click on the Power Point icon and it will download to you computer. It will take a little time to download, especially if it contains graphics and photos. You will be given the option to “Save” or to “Open.” Save the file to an appropriate place on your hard drive. Then you will have it with you. (Remember your “Technology Assistant”? Feel free to call upon him/her at this point also!) Once the file is saved, double click to open it in either Microsoft Power Point or Power Point Viewer on your lap top.
  3. Preparing to Present. You will notice that each slide has a script beneath the slide. This is what you will say while this slide is being viewed. To get the script, open the printer dialog box on your computer (Use Technology Assistant if necessary!). Towards the bottom, there should be a box that asks “Print What?” Click the little arrow and select, “Notes Pages.” [Printing notes pages is not possible if you are using Microsoft Power Point Viewer. But if you want the notes to this presentation, give us call and we will email them to you.
  4. Practice! Practice! Practice! With your note pages in hand, begin the Power Point Slide Show. The easiest way to do this is to press the F5 key on your laptop. Press Esc to exit the slide show. Go through the slides using the down arrow on your key board. The up arrow will take you back to the previous slide. Read through the script, advancing the slides as noted. Practice until you are comfortable reading the script and keeping appropriate eye contact with your pretend audience.
  5. Practice! Practice! Practice! Again! If possible, practice in the setting of your presentation. Practicing hooking up the projector or TV. Go through the slides several times. If at all possible, you should stand to the right of the screen. People are used to reading from left to right. So they look at you and then their eyes move to the right as you advance the slides. Some systems have a remote that you can use to advance the slides so you do not need to worry about being close to your laptop. Wireless presentation remotes are available for around $40.
  6. Practice!

Comments on the Power Point

God’s View of Lifeis designed for a younger audience N-8. However, it can also be used effectively with adults and is ideal for a mix group. It is short and sets the stage for discussion on the value that God gives to life.

The presentation contrasts the humanistic worldview that life has value because of what that life is able to do or not do with the Biblical worldview that life has value because of what God has done. A good discussion question would be to ask the audience to expand on some of those things that the world sees as giving value to life. The presentation listed good looking, popular, young, physically fit, and healthy. Others answers might be productive, able to contribute, able to interact, ability to speak, see, think, and whatever else may come up. It is easy for all of us to rate our value using such parameters.

Then ask what is it that God had done/does that gives value to life. Possible answers: He creates life (Ps. 139:13-14). He has redeemed life (John 3:16, 1 Cor. 6:19). He wants to call every life into His family (1 Tim. 2:4). He has a purpose for every life (Jer. 29:11). You can lead some discussion on each of these passages. Conclude by pointing out how each of these applies to every human being—embryos, unborn babies, people with disabilities, the frail elderly, and each and every one of us.!

Life Advocate Forum

I see some of you have joined the Life Advocate Group in the Forum. Great! This is a good place to ask questions about what others are doing or questions in general. It is a good place to post something your congregation has done regarding Life Ministry that was fruitful and productive. I especially look forward to hearing about Life Sunday observances as congregations participate in those. Speaking of Life Sunday . . .

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

We keep this before you because it is never too late to observe a Life Sunday. So the following is the same info you received last month.

The official date is January 16, 2011. But please note that it may be observed on any Sunday. Your congregation should have received a sample pack of materials. If not, or if it has been misplaced, just click the insert photo below to view and/or order.

Encourage your pastor and congregational leadership to participate in observing Life Sunday. Most pastors like to write their own sermons, but point out the ones available which can be used for ideas or a source for illustrations. There is no copyright on these so they can be used in whole or in part.

The same goes for the worship service. It is offered to use as is or to “cut and paste” as desired. Your organist, choir director or director of music may want to use this to get a sense of the theme and focus for the Sunday.

The Bible study is also written to carry the theme of the service. It comes with a leaders guide and reproducible student guides.

Brainstorm for ideas of what else you might do on this Sunday to elevate the importance of the sanctity of life. Have a display of LFL materials. Have special speakers in the afternoon. Have a local pregnancy center representative have a display and/or give a brief description of their ministry following the worship service. Perhaps you or someone on your team can share what you have been doing or are going to be doing. Look through “How You Can Speak” for many more ideas. Make a day of it!

[Life Sunday Bulletin link here]

Free Will Life Offering

If your Life Advocate Team is not in the church budget, Life Sunday is a good time to request that a free will offering be taken to support the Life Ministry in your congregation and various projects that you might have going or want to get going if you had some funds. I would also be so bold to suggest that a portion of such an offering could be sent to us here at the Life Center for the overall support of this vital For Life ministry.

(Life Quotes and Life Thoughts can also be found on the Home page in the Renewal For Life library.)

Life Quotes –January 2 - 30

January 2 “The first truth of life is that every life is the handiwork of God. The Psalmist says that God ‘knitted’ (Psalm 139:13) each of us together in our mother’s womb. Job and Isaiah talk about God shaping and forming us in the womb. Yes, the truth of life is, every life is the work of God’s hands.” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life – A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For Life -

January 9 “The second truth of life is that every life is bought with a price. Even though we are the handiwork of God, sin separated us from our Maker. He had every right to abandon us, to turn us over to ‘human cunning’ and ‘deceitful schemes’ (Ephesians 4:14). But the truth of life is, God loved what He made with His hands so much that He was willing to pay dearly to buy us back. On the cross, Jesus became our sin, suffered our punishment, and died our death. Paid in full!” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life – A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For Life –

January 16 “A third truth of life is that God desires a relationship, both now and forever, with those He created and redeemed. He wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of His truth (1 Timothy 2:4). He wants to adopt every human being, through faith in Christ Jesus, into His family, lead them, walk with them, and accomplish His purpose for each human life.” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life – A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For Life –

January 23 “Every human life has value. That value does not come from its usefulness or how it looks or how big or healthy or productive it is … The value of human life comes from the One who made it, who bought it back, and who desires to call every life for His eternal purpose. The embryo in the Petri dish, the baby in the womb, baby Sally in the neonatal intensive care unit, Uncle Ralph in the Alzheimer’s unit, grandma in the nursing home bed, you and me—we all have value because of what God has done.” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life – A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For Life –

January 30 “True disability is when a person forgets ‘God does not make junk.’ Every single day is an opportunity for each person to meet their full potential, and each person is a gift from God—braces, tubes, wheelchairs, trachs, catheters, or whatever may just be part of that package.” Janette Clausen, LBSW, Lutheran Family Services of Iowa – A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For Life –