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Through out the whole experience with the Pro- life Day of Silent Solidarity I have been asked a lot of questions regarding "situational abortion". What if the girl was raped? What if she was poor and the baby was going to have a hard life? The problem with these questions is that they are looking at situations rather than the core of the issue, personhood. These are arguments for the procedure of abortion that ignore the personhood of the child.

While all of these situations can be heart wrenching and seem logical, they have to be weighed against the core truth of personhood. Every single child from the moment of fertilization is a full human person. We cannot take the life of an innocent human person and, therefore, those situations are not valid arguments for the procedure of abortion.

I especially wonder how so many Christians can support these situational arguments. We have the ultimate truth in the Word of God to guide us in questions like these. The Bible clearly states, "thou shalt not commit murder". There are no exceptions written next to that commandment, no footnotes that claim in highly emotional cases it is ok. It is a command.

We also have scripture that tells us about the life and the begriming of life. I am sure you have all heard the most popular verse for pro-lifers about God forming us in the womb. Have you read Psalm 51:5? Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. From the moment of conception you have sin. What does sin stain? It stains your soul, not your flesh. You have a soul at the moment of conception.

Lets look at Luke chapter 1: 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist and was about 6 months along in her pregnancy. Mary was only a few days pregnant with Jesus when John the Baptist recognized the personhood of Christ and leapt in the womb. It cannot be any clearer when life begins.

When we talk about abortion we must always bring it back to the core issue, personhood. If the child in the womb was not a human person abortion would not matter. The child is, however, a human person and therefore must be afforded all rights as a human person. If we say that in certain circumstances that abortion is ok, then we are saying that there are times when the child is not a human person: that is simply not the case.

For Christ I stand,

Bryan Kemper bryankemper@standtrue.com

Last Saturday I went to Aurora, IL to speak at a rally and pray at the new Planned Parenthood "super center" that was opened there recently. Aurora used to be known as the town from Wayne's World, I know that is how I had heard of it. These days it is much more known for the battle between Planned Parenthood and the citizens of Aurora. Planned Parenthood came into town in a very stealth manner as they broke zoning laws and hid what they were from the community until it was to late for anyone to stop them. Or so they thought.

The community is in an uproar over this new "super center" abortion mill. I know super center is a term you probably are more familiar with when talking about a Wal-Mart, but that is exactly what you think when you pull up to this new killing center. I had heard it was big, but when I drove up to it I was in shock: this place was enormous.

I was invited to speak to the community that had been praying there for over two months trying to keep the Planned Parenthood center from opening in their town. The community was successful for two weeks after the original opening date, until the mayor stepped in and ignored all the violations and allowed them to start killing precious little babies there.

When I got there I took some time to walk around the neighborhood and see all the amazing people taking a stand for life. It was amazing to see hundreds, maybe a thousand people peacefully protesting Planned Parenthood. The ally way into the entrance was lined with people praying and counseling with the women going in. The sidewalk in front of the shopping center, away from the entrance was lined with hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds praying and holding signs that read "Planned Parenthood is bad for Aurora" There were teenagers lined up and down the street with pictures of precious little babies, showing the beauty of life. There were clergy from many of the local churches standing in the cold with their congregations as they voiced their concern for their community.

I walked down the side of the building where a group of women were praying as their children sat on the sidewalk with chalk. I started to read what the children were writing and it warmed my heart. The kids were writing prayers and messages to people walking by. They were writing about how Jesus loved the little babies that were going to die and wanted them to live. I walked down the road and noticed one little girl who had proclaimed in pink chalk. "God will close this place".

I sat and watched her as I realized that in her heart she believed this 100%. There was no question about it, she knew that God was bigger than Planned Parenthood and He was going to close this killing center down. She had faith like I wish I could have some times. She did not despair, she just knew that through Christ we would win this battle.

I began to think about what I was going to share with everyone at the rally and I remembered something from my childhood. I remember sitting down to watch the mini-series on television called Roots. It was a mini-series about the times of slavery in the United States. I remembered wondering to myself, if I had been alive in a time when my fellow human persons were treated like a piece of property, would I stand up?

We don't have to wonder what we would have down, we do live in a time like that. This time instead of the color of your skin making you a non-person, it is the your age for the first nine months of your life. We have lived for the last thirty five years in a time when our fellow human person is treated as nothing more than a parasite and can be discarded for any reason whatsoever.

While I am so excited to see the amazing reaction by and dedication of the citizens and churches of Aurora, IL. I am saddened by the non-action of the citizens and churches of so many other cities where 4,000 babies are losing their lives each day. I am heartbroken as people have given up and think it is a losing battle. I truly can't understand how we have lost that faith and trust in our God as we have grown up and become "sensible" adults that live in reality.

The reality is, our God is bigger than the abortion industry and through Him we can win this battle. Our God is more powerful than the nine judges who sit on the court that claims to be supreme. Our God has promised us that we "can do all things through Christ who strengthens us." Philippines 4:13

I believe that if the Church of Jesus Christ would stand up, peacefully, lovingly, compassionately and boldly, we will see an end to child killing in America. I believe if we take our faith to the streets and in front of the places where they need the Gospel of Christ, we will see God move in a powerful way. I believe what that beautiful little girl chalked on the sidewalk in Aurora, IL-God will close this place..

Do you believe?

For Christ I stand,

Bryan Kemper bryankemper@standtrue.com

My office is in my home, which is great in some ways. One of the best parts of having my office at home is the amount of time I get to see my family: my kids love coming into the office to show me their home school work or art projects. Of course they also come to me when one of their siblings upsets them, which in a family of five kids can add up some times.

Lately my 3 year old son has been coming in with the cutest look on his face to tell me how much he loves me. "Hi Daddy, I love you," is enough to melt the toughest man's heart. But once I look down at him to give him love he proceeds with the next line, "Daddy, I'm hungry".

It took me a couple of times to figure out that he knew exactly what he was doing. He had figured out that I like to keep a jar of peanuts on my desk and he loves peanuts. He knows that if he butters me up I will be much more sympathetic to his request for some peanuts.

Even though I know exactly what he is up to, I always give him a handful of peanuts. He may think he has somehow tricked me into giving him the peanuts, but I do it because I love him and I want him to be happy.

Isn't it funny how we sometimes do this with our Father in heaven? I have noticed that sometimes when I am praying for something I seem to be extra repentant or lay it on thick as if that was going to make God more sympathetic to my prayers.

At church we have communion every Sunday, which I love so much. But, I find it funny that on Saturday night and Sunday morning I am more aware of my thoughts, words and actions because of communion. Somehow I think because it is so close to communion time I need to watch myself more. I always question myself and ask why I don't have the same sense of urgency and reverence on Monday morning.

I have always held the belief that I will not lie to my children for any reason. I will not tell them there is a Santa Claus so they better behave or they won't get any gifts. I will not tell them that a certain food is something else to get them to eat it. I just want to be honest with them.

I want to instill in them that they should be totally honest with me. I want them to know they never need to manipulate me in any way: they can just come to me with whatever is on their minds. I don't want them to try to be extra good just because they want or need something. I want them to be good because it is the right thing to do. I want them to tell me they love me just because they do, not to get something.

(As I am writing this my son just came in to get some peanuts. This time he sat on my lap and asked me questions about stuff on my desk and then pointed to the peanuts.)

So my question to myself and all of you is simple. Do you change the way you talk to God when you are wanting something from Him? Do you suddenly act more contrite in your prayers? Do you pour on the "Christian buzz words" to make your prayers seem more sincere?

I will be honest, sometimes I do. Just like my son wanting some peanuts, I sometimes think I have to butter Him up to show how much I really want or need something.

God knows our hearts and He sees right through all of that garbage. I do not believe He wants us to clean up our acts just because something special is coming up: He wants us to clean up our acts because He loves us and wants the best for us. He wants us to talk to Him with straight forward honesty. He wants the real us.

I don't give my son peanuts just because he sits on my lap and warms my heart. I give my son peanuts because he likes them and I love him. I still want him to come and sit on my lap and tell me he loves me. I still want him to warm my heart. I just want him to do that because he loves me, not just to get some peanuts.

In the same way, God wants us to come into His presence and praise Him not just when we need something, but because we love Him.

For Christ I stand,

Bryan Kemper bryankemper@standtrue.com

A few years ago while I drove to church with my family, we were looking at all the churches we passed on the way. We were noticing which churches were holding worship and which ones were not. This is something that is not unusual if there is a bad storm and it is too icy or snowy. However, the weather that Sunday was not  bad; just a little rainy, yet there were several churches that remained empty and dark that Sunday morning.

This particular Sunday just happened to also be Christmas Day and I was excited to have Sunday worship on Christmas. I was surprised, however, that so many churches decided to cancel worship on Christmas Day.

I enjoy spending the day with my family, watching my kids open presents and all the fun stuff we do on Christmas. My wife will tell you I am worse than the kids on Christmas morning, I have never in my life been able to sleep past 6:00 AM on Christmas. I love all the fun traditions as much as anyone else but that is all they are -- traditions -- and they should never come before worshiping God. The whole reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place is to celebrate the birth of our Saviour. How can we put presents and stockings ahead of worshiping God?

I have 5 children; ages 8, 7, 5, 3 and 1 and I sat them down a couple of weeks before that Christmas to ask them a question. I told them that  Christmas was going to be on a Sunday that year and asked them what was more important: church or presents? They told me church was always more important. They did not throw any fits or get upset in the morning as we left for church and all the presents still sat unopened under the tree.

I guess this boils down to what is most important in our lives, what do we truly live for? It is obvious that the business world looks at Christmas as a gold mine with consumer frenzy for the latest gadgets. They see dollar signs and profits and have no problem having Christmas sales, they just won't say the words "Merry Christmas."

When you see Christmas on TV they try to make it more of a "do good" holiday. Get the Christmas spirit, do good deeds and you will feel better about yourself. The TV programs show all the traditions like shopping, caroling, presents and big feasts. You might even see a family go to a Christmas Eve service once in a while, but don't expect to hear a true Christmas message unless you are watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas". I think that it is just about the only Christmas show on TV that understands the true meaning of Christmas.

So with the rest of the world completely in the dark about Christmas and what it should mean, you would think that Christians and churches would be able to remain that one sane voice during the Christmas season. I guess I should not have been surprised when I had friends and family tell me that their churches decided to "close for Christmas." I know I should not be surprised by this with the direction modern churches have taken lately. I should almost expect it with churches trading in the gospel for warm fuzzy stories. Pastors are so worried about offending people with the truth that they have hidden it behind feel-good services that don't have anything to do with the Word of God. So why be shocked if the world is afraid to say Merry Christmas, when the church is afraid to proclaim the gospel of Christ?

As we approach Christmas this year, I hope and pray that I can instill the true meaning to my children. Of course I am going to buy them some presents and have a blast opening them on Christmas morning. If you live in Ohio you should drive by our house and see all the lights we have up, we love decorating for Christmas. But beyond all of the fun stuff we do for Christmas, it is most important that I teach my children why we are even able to have any fun at all.

I will leave you with these words from the book of Luke. This is how Linus told the story of Christmas in "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and he nailed it.

Listen to Linus explain Christmas here: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/Xmas/sounds/linus.wav

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

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

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

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

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

For Christ I stand,

  Bryan Kemper bryankemper@standtrue.com