Making Sense out of Suffering 

  The topic of assisted suicide and euthanasia is topic now and sadly becoming legal in many states. In fact even elective abortion is in the same category. How many times is abortion (the killing of an innocent child) justified by the suffering the child or the mother may endure? This article isn't about those issues mentioned, but about the issue of suffering which underlines them. In every case suffering is the issue and the reason why people justify their support and use of these murder services. Understanding suffering can help us to understand why we should oppose these things. That is the focus of this post. If you would like to read my stuff on life issues please go to my other blog unbornhumanrights.blogspot.com

Why would people vote for these forms of legal murder?

Because they don't understand suffering correctly and they don't know that suffering has value! They see suffering as a bad thing only. To the world suffering is something to avoid instead of embrace.

But suffering when joined to Christ's suffering death has infinite value. Christ embraced suffering! Sure in his humanity he felt anguish over his impending suffering, "saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. ( Luke 22:42-44 ESV) 

Christ received in himself all of the suffering due to sin of the entire human race. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor 5:21 ESV) 

But instead of allowing fear to overcome him he accepted God's Will for him. He knew that suffering, his suffering infinite value, and it was God's Will that mattered. Likewise our suffering has value precisely because Christ's did and still does. He teaches us that it's not our will that matters, but God's!

Rejoicing in Suffering

I know it's hard to "rejoice in suffering" and in fact that statement goes over the heads of most people. This is a message not easily understood by the world. But, once we realize that suffering equals sanctification and being closer to Christ we can begin to rejoice in it. Who on earth suffered more than Christ and his martyrs and Saints?

As Christians especially suffering Christians we must ask ourselves, "do I love Jesus enough to suffer for him?" That's really the question! Think of it this way not even the Son of God was spared suffering, and the most agonizing suffering to say the least! So what makes us think, or why should we be spared suffering? This is why suffering is a great honor. It is one way we can become like Christ imitating his passion. This is how suffering can be sanctioning to our souls.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:1-5 ESV) 

For non-Christians

Sadly for those who aren't Christian suffering is only seen as a horrible thing to be avoided. It's the issue of being of the world rather than God! Many people even reject God altogether because of their lack of the true understanding of suffering in a suffering world. To those people reading this I say that Jesus/Christianity is the only way to truly make sense of suffering.

For Christians

If you identify as a Christian and still support abortion, assisted suicide, or euthanasia, I strongly urge you to rethink your stance! As I said before "do I/we love Jesus enough to suffer for him?" And I will add, "do we love our neighbor enough to suffer with them?" Or, do we just cast them aside, end their life, because we don't want to be bothered with their suffering? If we truly "love our neighbor as ourselves" we can no longer justify murder of any kind!

Until next time God bless! Thanks for reading. I hope you like it, and can make sense of it. :)

Sincerely Joanne Utke

Here are some resources to help you make sense of Suffering. I want to urge all of you to be open to a culture of life instead of surrendering to this culture of death that plagues this world.

This is 1 of 2 parts that will be posted by Catholic Spiritual Direction, look out for part 2 when it's published.
Responding to Assisted Suicide Issues

Why does God allow suffering? St. Paul Explains the Meaning of Suffering

A Catholic Reflection on the Meaning of Suffering

Flu Shot

The Truth about the Flu Shot

1. What’s in the regular flu shot?
　
　Egg protein and avian contaminant viruses
　
　Thimerosal (mercury): in multi-dose vials
　
　Polysorbate 80:allergen; infertility in mice
　　
Formaldehyde: carcinogen
　
　Triton X100: detergent
　
　Sucrose: table sugar
　
　Resin: known allergen
　
　Gentamycin: antibiotic
　
　Gelatin: known allergen

2. Do flu shots work?

Not in healthy babies: A review of 51 studies involving more than 294,000 children it was found there was "no evidence that injecting children 6-24 months of age with a flu shot was any more effective than placebo. In children over 2 yrs, it was only effective 33% of the time in preventing the flu. Reference: "Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children." The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2 (2008).

Not in children with asthma: A study 800 children with asthma, half were vaccinated and the other half did not receive the influenza vaccine. The two groups were compared with respect to clinic visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations for asthma. CONCLUSION: This study failed to provide evidence that the influenza vaccine prevents pediatric asthma exacerbations. Reference: "Effectiveness of influenza vaccine for the prevention of asthma exacerbations." Christly, C. et al. Arch Dis Child. 2004 Aug;89(8):734-5.
　
Not in children with asthma (2): "The inactivated flu vaccine does not prevent influenza-related hospitalizations in children, especially the ones with asthma…In fact, children who get the flu vaccine are three times more at risk for hospitalization than children who do not get the vaccine." Reference: The American Thoracic Society’s 105th International Conference, May 15-20, 2009, San Diego.
　
Not in adults: In a review of 48 reports (more than 66,000 adults), "Vaccination of healthy adults only reduced risk of influenza by 6% and reduced the number of missed work days by less than one day (0.16) days. It did not change the number of people needing to go to hospital or take time off work." Reference: "Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults." The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 1 (2006).
　
Not in the Elderly: In a review of 64 studies over 98 flu seasons of elderly living in nursing homes, flu shots were non-significant for preventing the flu. For elderly living in the community, vaccines were not (significantly) effective against influenza, ILI or pneumonia. Reference: "Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly." The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 3(2006).


3. What about the new Swine Flu vaccine?

Some of the new H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines are going to be made by Novartis. These shots will probably be made in PER.C6 cells (human retina cells) and contain MF59, a potentially debilitating adjuvant. MF-59 is an oil-based adjuvant primarily composed of squalene.
All rats injected with squalene (oil) adjuvants developed a disease that left them crippled, dragging their paralyzed hindquarters across their cages. Injected squalene can cause severe arthritis (3 on scale of 4) and severe immune responses, such as autoimmune arthritis and lupus.
Reference (1): Kenney, RT. Edleman, R. "Survey of human-use adjuvants." Expert Review of Vaccines. 2 (2003) p171. Reference (2): Matsumoto, Gary. Vaccine A: The Covert Government Experiment That’s Killing Our Soldiers and Why GI’s Are Only the First Victims of this Vaccine. New York: Basic Books. p54.

Federal health officials are starting to recommend that most Americans get three flu shots this fall: one regular flu shot and two doses of the vaccine made against the new swine flu strain. School children who have never had a flu shot are targeted for four shots in the fall - twice for seasonal flu, twice for pandemic swine flu. (July 15, 2009 news)
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has been talking to school superintendents around the country, urging them to make plans to use buildings for mass vaccinations and for vaccinating kids first. (CBS News, June 12, 2009.)


4. What can you do?

You can't do it all, but you can do something!
Give this information to everyone you know and love, especially church members, social groups, school teachers and administrators, and first responders (EMTs, Paramedics, Firemen, etc). Contact your local police, sheriff, city council members, county commissioners and chamber of commerce. Discuss your concerns about forced vaccinations. Their support is important to maintain your right to refuse.
Email or fax this information to local TV and radio stations. Call or fax to your State and National political representatives.
Connect with other activist organizations – those who support 2nd amendment issues, the environment and animal rights. Help spread the word about their passion and get them involved with yours.

Write a small article for LOCAL, community newspapers.
Watch for samples on http://www.pandemicfluonline.com/

Check out http://www.oathkeepers.org/ .
Share this with your local law and military folks. A pdf for easy printing is available on http://www.drtenpenny.com/

Have at least 3 weeks of food and water on hand; be prepared to voluntarily self-quarantine.
Stock up on Vitamin D3 (3000 IU per person), Vitamin A, Vitamin C, fish oil, and zinc.

As stated years ago by Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

For more daily updates and information

http://www.vaclib.org/ http://www.pandemicfluonline.com/ http://www.drtenpenny.com/

Download the PDF

Swine Flu Vaccine

Swine Flu Vaccine Information

SHOCKING! Circus Animal Cruelty

For Fathers day we went to a circus that was in our town not really thinking to much about it just going to take the kids they had never been to one. Some animal rights people were there protesting it and handing out pamphlets I took them, I have always been concerned about life issues even ones concerning animals. We talked with them a little and they were very nice, we did go in to the show and it was nice the kids liked it I mostly like the rope acrobats I have always wanted to do that lol!

When we got home we read the information and went to the site circuses.com and learned more about the animals, how they are in many cases they are scared to death and hooked and beaten! The elephants in many cases have TB and are denied medical treatment the TB can be spread to humans who touch or ride elephants.

We learned that there are many animal free circuses to go to and from now I on I am going to educate before we go to entertainment that use animals. For me it is not cool to mistreat the animals we must respect there life as a creature of God.

Our eyes have been opened to this issue thanks to the people who were there to educate us on the issue.

We should all get more informed on all life issues, animals and people!

While this in going on in the circus we also have another life issue to be educated about where 3,000-4,000 unborn babies are mutilated everyday and labeled as toxic waste! If we did abortions on animal mothers and there unborn fetuses the animal rights supporters would be outraged and up in arms to say the least! Yet many of them are pro-choice when it comes to the abortion choice for humans!

Please educate on both issues!

Do your part!

Vote against abortion for the unborn humans!

Vote animal rights for the animals!

We simply cannot tolerate this type of mistreatment of the humans or animals!

To learn more about voting against abortion choice nrlc.org

For more info on abortion lifedynamics.com abortionfacts.com

For info on animal free circuses and the treatment of animals in the circus circuses.com

Thanks! Comments appreciated...

Abortion: Join Me and Thousands of Others RED ENVELOPE PROJECT!

What: Get red envelopes or postcards and mail them on March 31st to the White House

When: March 31st, 2009 Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinko's, or at party supply stores.

On the front, address it to President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington , D.C.20500 On the back, write the following message.

This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.

We will mail the envelopes out March 31st, 2009.

Put it in the mail on March 31st, 2009, and send it.

Then forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died [in the U.S.] before having a chance to live.

I know this is off topic but I am very passionate about this and would like to get as many people involved as possible.

Please Help!

Let us Be a Voice for those who do not have one!