We were saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Scot Chrisman last week at his home in Knoxville.  Doc — that’s what we called him, “Doc” — was a great friend to all of us at CBR Southeast.

He led an interesting life, to say the least.  As a younger man, he was a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry.  He later ran a construction company.  By the time we knew him, he had morphed into a marketing guru/consultant.  That’s quite a transformation!  He created 4 Aces Web Consulting and he loved to get his websites into the top positions on Google.

Doc had a tremendous influence on our work at CBR that will live on for many years.  He created the Pro Life on Campus theme that is featured in our website, fundraising programs, and printed materials.

Based on extensive study of our work, he suggested that our “unique selling proposition” is that our projects are winning hearts, changing minds, and saving lives.  He showed us how to structure our website to not only say it, but also prove it.

We had been talking about what to name our website.  We thought about CBRSoutheast, ProLifeSoutheast, ProLifeSE, and a host of other ideas, none of which we liked very much.  But then one morning I walked into his office (a table at the Panera Bread on North Peters Road) and immediately noted the gleam in his eye.  He told me he had solved our problem.  ProLifeOnCampus.com had come to him at about 2 o’clock in the morning, so he went online and just bought it for us.  It was perfect.

He also helped us conceptualize what we do and talk about it in ways that would resonate with a larger percentage of the general public. You can see his fingerprints all over our latest promotional video.  He told me that if he could help us market the controversial work we do at CBR, he could help anybody market anything!

This very blog was his idea.

Doc was a man of ideas.  Every week or two, he had a new idea that would make us all rich.  A week later, that can’t-miss idea was forgotten and he was furiously working on the next one.  One day he was figuring out a way to sell movies; a week later, he was marketing emu oil.  I fully expected that eventually he would hit on that big break-through that would make our Doc rich and famous.  I’m sorry he didn’t have more time to pursue that dream.

Doc loved God and country; you can be sure of that.  When we weren’t talking business, we were talking religion and politics.  Those were his two favorite topics.  And mine.  It was always a lot of fun, never boring.  We didn’t always agree on theological matters, but I could always count on hearing a unique perspective that was worth considering.

This is a sad time for all of us left behind, but I know that Doc is enjoying his eternal reward.  I look forward to seeing him again.  That is our promise:

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26)

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:7)

For more on our assurance of eternal life in Jesus Messiah, go to www.thebiblepost.com/bible-scriptures-on-eternal-life.

Hey Doc, if they have a Panera Bread in Heaven, save me a table next to yours!

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John Kerry voted for it before he voted against it.  Anthony Weiner lied before he told the truth (but only because he had to).  And now Planned Parenthood told the truth in private while lying in public.

What?  PP told the truth?  Say it ain’t so, Joe!  That’s stunning news.  But if they’re lying and truthing at the same time, do they really deserve partial credit?

Earlier today, Live Action released a video in which callers to Planned Parenthood clinics in Indiana actually told the truth.  YIKES!  PP admitted, truthfully, that patients on Medicare need not depend on PP, but can obtain the services they need from other health care providers in their communities.  This during an ongoing national campaign in which PP falsely claims that  poor women in Indiana will lose access to vital health care services if they cannot go to Planned Parenthood.

From the Live Action website:

In an official press release, Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards claimed that Indiana’s defunding of Planned Parenthood would “take away health care from thousands of women in Indiana.” Last week, Live Action’s undercover investigators called 16 of the 28 Indiana Planned Parenthood clinics posing as women on Medicaid concerned about where they could receive services if Planned Parenthood’s funding was not restored.

Planned Parenthood staffers at all 16 locations admitted that Medicaid women would still have access to medical care after the defunding. Staffers suggested local health clinics or state-assigned primary care physicians for Medicaid patients: “Your primary care doctor should be able to do [a Well Woman exam,] I mean, that’s what they’re there for,” said a Planned Parenthood in Michigan City, while the Merrillville Planned Parenthood said of a local community health center, “They have the same services we have.”

“According to Planned Parenthood’s own statistics, their 28 clinics serve less than 1% of Indiana Medicaid patients, yet they do more than 50% of Indiana abortions,” notes Rose. There are over 800 other Medicaid providers available to these women in the counties with Planned Parenthood clinics alone.”

Click here for more on this story.  Check out the video here:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLL-v0JpY0

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Abortion Warning Label

You may have heard about the new regulations on tobacco packaging that have been promulgated by the US Department of Health & Human Services.  They are saying what we have said all along.  Pictures work!

Here are some points and counterpoints.  Please comment.

Frequency.  21% of Americans smoke.

• 43% of women have abortions.

Deaths.  Smoking and other tobacco use is the “number one cause of preventable death” in America, claiming more than 440,000 lives a year, according to HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius.

• Actually, abortion is the number one cause of preventable death in America, claiming more than 1.2 million lives every year.

Verbal warnings not effective.  HHS believes current verbal warning labels are not as effective as they need to be, because they are ignored.

• Debates and speeches will not end abortion, because they are ignored.

Knowledge.  “With these warnings, every person who picks up a pack of cigarettes is going to know exactly what risk they’re taking.” (HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius)

• When people see abortion photos, they will know exactly what they are doing.

Gross factor.  “They are [really gross].  We want kids to understand smoking is gross, not cool.” (HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius)

• We want kids to understand killing preborn children is gross, not cool.

Immunity.  People have become immune to the old labels and really didn’t see them anymore. (Thomas Glynn, American Cancer Soc.)

• People don’t think about abortion in any kind of analytical way. Even “pro-life” Christians have become complacent about abortion and really don’t pay any attention to it.

Reminder that smoking kills.  “For smokers, it’s a new and very visible reminder that smoking can harm them, harm people around them, including children.” (Thomas Glynn, American Cancer Soc.)

• For abortion-vulnerable parents, abortion images are a very visible reminder that abortion kills their children.

Images are for everyone.  “For nonsmokers, it’s a reminder that smokers need their help and concern as far as quitting. The labels are not just for smokers, the labels are for anyone interested in public health.” (Thomas Glynn, American Cancer Soc.)

• For people not personally at risk of abortion, graphic images are a reminder that women and families need their help in choosing life. The images aren’t just for mothers, the images are for everyone interested in any mother’s wellbeing and that of her children.

People responding.  The American Lung Association says that calls to their stop-smoking hotline have spiked since the publicity over the new images.

• The first time abortion images appeared at the University of Tennessee, 9 women chose life (that we know about).

Staring them in the face.  “For decades, Big Tobacco got away with slick marketing campaigns that fooled the public into thinking smoking was glamorous – and now we’re turning the tables on them. Each time a smoker reaches for a pack of cigarettes, the deadly truth will be staring them in the face.” (US Sen. Frank Lautenberg)

• For decades, Big Abortion got away with slick marketing campaigns that fooled the public into thinking that abortion was not a horrific act of violence, and now we’re turning the tables on them. Each time an abortion-vulnerable person sees one of our signs, the deadly truth will be staring them in the face.

New Georgia Right to Life (GRTL) billboards will be seen by hundreds of thousands of Atlanta-area commuters daily.

LifeNews.com quoted a statement from GRTL:

Women across Georgia viewed these ads and understood that they needed information and that they had options they may not have considered. Phone calls to pregnancy centers across the state increased through Option Line, which then connected the caller to their local center.  Option Line, (800) 395-HELP, has operators available 7 days per week/24 hours per day.  To date, Georgia continues to lead the nation in Option Line calls.

More here.

CBR Southeast Project Director Nicole Cooley

The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR), Southeast Region Operations, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole Cooley as our newest Project Director, responsible primarily for Virginia projects.

Nicole has been active in pro-life ministry for more than 10 years.  In fact, we first met Nicole when doing our Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) at the University of Louisville in April 2002.  She has publicly shared her story of rape and abortion in both Christian and secular venues, including in the video Choice of a Lifetime, produced by Focus on the Family.  Most recently, her story was featured on the 700 Club, which you can see here.

In her new role, Lord willing, Nicole will be (1) arranging GAPs at the major universities in Virginia, (2) organizing and assisting pro-life campus groups, and (3) working cooperatively with student groups and other pro-lifers in Virginia.

The mother of three boys and one girl on this side of eternity, plus another three in Heaven, Nicole is also a home educator and avid Longaberger Basket collector.  She currently lives with her husband Patrick and family in Churchville, Virginia.  Learn more about her book Into the Light: Rape, Abortion and the Truth that Set Me Free at www.NicoleWCooley.com.

A US Army veteran with 9 years combined active and reserve forces service, Nicole resigned at the rank of Captain to devote herself to her family.  Her husband Patrick is a recently retired Lieutenant Colonel.  His twenty-years of service included two tours in Iraq.  Nicole is very proud of his service and is most grateful to have him home with the family full-time … a most wonderful blessing to all of them!

Welcome aboard, Nicole and all the Cooley’s!

Here’s the story.  First two were Indiana and Tennessee.  Only 47 more to go!

Notice that two of three (Tennessee and North Carolina) are the very closest states to Knoxville, the home of CBR Southeast.  You think there’s a connection?

Wait a minute.  Knoxville hero Peyton Manning plays football in Indiana.  There must be something to this!  Does this make Knoxville and CBR Southeast the center of the pro-life universe?

Apparently, Planned Parenthood has been stripped of its federal funding in Tennessee.  Click here for the story.

Statement by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey here.

This is a continuation of story here.

From LifeNews.com:

Tennessee Right to Life continues to press Governor Bill Haslam to take steps to yank the taxpayer funding the Planned Parenthood abortion business receives from the state.

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“As much as 55% of certain Planned Parenthood salaries are funded through contracts with the Tennessee Department of Health, said [Tennessee Right to Life President Brian] Harris. “These same employees  spend at least part of every work day promoting and/or participating in abortions at Planned Parenthood … no tax payer should be forced to subsidize the salary of any organization’s employees that participate in the harming of women and the killing of helpless unborn children.

Full story here.

Background story here.

Gov. Haslam’s statement here.

Apparently, the effort to keep Tennessee from funding the abortion industry is not yet complete.  I don’t really understand the details.  Last week, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Speaker of the House Beth Harwell issued this press release:

The confusion surrounding the language in the budget regarding Planned Parenthood has been unfortunate. The Office of Legal Services advised House and Senate leadership that it is unconstitutional to amend general law through the appropriations bill (Article II, Section 17), an interpretation which would have put the entire budget document in jeopardy. It was not our intent to allow funding for Planned Parenthood. Our majority in the General Assembly clearly meant to defund them. We are currently working with pro-life activists to resolve this issue with legislation and we will put it to rest immediately upon the legislature’s return in January.

Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey and Speaker Beth Harwell

CBR supporter Danny Bullington wrote Gov. Haslam and received this reply:

June 3, 2011

Dear Danny:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns about Planned Parenthood. Listening to and learning from Tennesseans is very important to me, and I am committed to better understanding your concerns.

I am pro-life. I believe in the sanctity of every human life from the moment of conception. I am committed to protecting our traditional values, especially the rights of the unborn, and as Governor I am working to protect those rights.

No state tax dollars go to Planned Parenthood in the budget passed by the legislature this year. The current issue surrounds federal money passing through the state. I do have a line-item veto to reduce or disapprove a sum of money, but removing legal language – which is at the heart of this matter – would require the budget to be re-approved by the legislature, which has already gone out of session.

I am against tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood, and I am disappointed that the circumstances surrounding the state budget do not allow us to prevent this from happening this year. But I am already working with Lt. Gov. Ramsey and Speaker Harwell to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not go to Planned Parenthood in future budgets.

Again, thank you for contacting my office with your concerns, I look forward to working with you and all Tennesseans to make our state an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Warmest regards,
Bill Haslam

So, that’s all I’ve got.  But if you need more, try Google; they’ve got a search motor that’s catching on real big.  (Seriously, I think they’re going to make a go of it!)

In Walter Hoye’s weekly column, he quotes from Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, in which President Lincoln talked about the cost of victory:

The Almighty has His own purposes. “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”

If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope–fervently do we pray–that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.”

(As an aside, notice that Lincoln was completely ignorant of “separation of church and state,” but that’s another topic for another day.)

Anyway, Rev. Hoye went on to apply this principle to present-day abortion in America:

If a conclusion is the best explanation one can come up with at a given time to account for a collection of observations, events, and/or other kinds of data, then as I consider the abortion battle raging in our country, the “wealth piled” by the shed blood of the most vulnerable members of our country and that is to say our women and children, how over the last thirty-eight (38) years both the Democratic and Republican parties have repeatedly failed to end abortion, how “we the people” have failed to hold each other accountable for the lost lives of over 53 million babies by legally induced taxpayer funded abortion alone, how Christians have failed to stand boldly, unapologetically and without exceptions and/or compromises on clearly biblical values, I wrestle with the question asked by the “Angel of the LORD” (i.e., the Pre-Incarnate Christ.) in Judges 2:2 (AMP), “Why Have You Done This?” and physically shudder as I inevitably come to the following unavoidable conclusions …

1. Victory over abortion will come by the hands, feet and voices of those most devastated by abortion.
2. The Cost of ending abortion will not be less than the price paid by the victims of abortion.
3. The healing from the ravages of a rabid abortion industry will come by the heart of Christ in those most hurt by abortion.

Brothers, we really need to talk.

What do you think?  Is Rev. Hoye correct?  If so, how shall we respond?

Darius Hardwick speaking with a student at one of CBR's Genocide Awareness Projects (GAPs)

CBR is pleased to announce the appointment of Darius Hardwick as the Regional Director for its Midwest Operations, based in Columbus, Ohio.  Darius has been on the CBR staff for more than 6 years, having previously served as the Director of CBR’s Northwest Operations.

Darius and his wife Janet were first exposed to CBR’s abortion imagery 7 years ago.  They were both nominally pro-life but not actively participating in the struggle for life.

Then they saw the pictures.

They could not sleep.  Abortion pictures were all they thought of for weeks.  They became monthly financial supporters and began to volunteer at GAPs.

The more he volunteered, the more he knew that he must make saving babies his full-time profession.  The other side has made killing babies a full-time profession, but we have made saving them a part-time hobby.  This is a huge problem, and Darius knew he had to be part of the solution.

Darius had owned his own construction business in Oregon for 10 years.  He had a substantial client base and was always busy, regardless of economic conditions.  But he was not at peace laying beautiful wood flooring, while babies were being killed every day.  After serving in the Northwest for a time, he moved his family of to Columbus, Ohio, to serve as a Project Director in CBR’s Midwest Operations.

Having previously served as the Northwest Operations Director, Darius brings outstanding leadership skills to his new role in CBR.  He has directed CBR’s Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) at some of America’s largest and most influential universities.  

Darius and his family are dedicated to showing people the truth of abortion and are excited for the future and all that God has for them.  We are excited that Darius and his family are on our team.

The Hardwick Family

Got a call from Michael Homula yesterday.  He wanted me (and you) to know about their mobile pro-life ultrasound ministry.

Please comment:  Where would you take this ultrasound bus?  OK, the mall, but where else?  People going to a clinic usually have already made up their minds.  What about places where lots of newly pregnant young people are likely to be struggling with the decision to abort?  Where do you suggest?

ICU Mobile – The Pioneer and Leader of Mobile Ultrasound Ministry

Globally, one in five pregnancies will end in an induced abortion.

One ministry plans to GO change that.

ICU Mobile (pronounced I See You), the pioneer and leader of mobile ultrasound ministry, is a non-profit ministry sharing love, grace and truth to serve women all over the world. Founded in Akron, Ohio in 2003, the ICU Mobile mission is simple: reveal life at the crossroads of decision. The approach is equally simple: reveal truth via ultrasound at a time when a woman is in the decision making process. They provide women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy the free opportunity to confirm that pregnancy via a limited obstetrical ultrasound and see her unborn child in order to make an informed life-affirming decision and hear the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As part of their core values, ICU Mobile delivers this free service without judgment, hate, coercion or politics.

The ICU Mobile fleet, currently at 15 across the country and growing rapidly, is made up of passionate and dedicated people brought together by a common goal to serve women in the name of Christ. As the very first mobile ultrasound ministry, more than 8 years of experience has refined their approach and defined a series of best practices to reach out to women who are confused, scared and unsure with love, grace and a message of hope. Revealing life, life knit together in the womb and eternal life through Jesus, they see hearts and minds change every day. Sure, the free ultrasound draws women to an ICU Mobile, but it’s the love and compassion while revealing life that gives women hope for a better future.

But the why behind ICU Mobile will always be Jesus Christ…God. Because of the unfair trade Christ made for us, our sin for his righteousness, ICU Mobile follows His command to GO (Matthew 28:19a).

GO to abortion-minded women. GO save the unborn. GO make disciples of all nations.

ICU Mobile Effectiveness

Since 2003, the Lord has used the ICU Mobile fleet to serve thousands of women, save thousands of babies and bring thousands to faith in Jesus Christ. In 2010 alone, 87% of women who were considering or planning to have an abortion chose life in the fleet of ICU Mobile. Of the people who heard the Gospel and were invited to follow Christ, 43% made a decision to commit their lives to Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Go(ing) Mobile

ICU Mobile makes affiliation with their ministry simple, easy to access and provides a turnkey ready to deploy mobile solution for qualified pregnancy centers and ministries. As a non-profit ministry, the only goal is to deploy more mobiles to the mission so they have developed an affiliate plan that actually enables the deployment of the next mobile in the fleet. It is self-replicating.

While it may seem intuitive to park the mobile in front of abortion clinics, and ICU Mobile certainly does that, they have come to know it is better to be involved in the decision making process rather than trying to reverse a decision at the last minute. ICU Mobile credits their effectiveness to God and the fact they GO to where women are, where those who are likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy typically hang out. Leveraging their experience, research and neutral brand, they carefully place themselves where they can have the most effect on the decisions women make.

If you are a pregnancy center who would like to learn more about why mobile ultrasound ministry with ICU Mobile makes sense go to the Go Mobile page on their website.

If you would like to get involved with ICU Mobile please visit the Get Involved page.

To learn more general information about the pioneer and leader of mobile ultrasound ministry please visit http://www.icumobile.org/ or email info@icumobile.org.

I got this from Michael Silva of Imagi-Motive in Magnolia, Texas. And you thought only Disney had imagineers!

A Mobile Crisis Pregnancy Center

Society is ever-changing. What worked yesterday may not work today, especially when it involves ministry. Of course the message, the truth, remains the same, but the vehicle that we use to deliver the truth often needs a fresh face.

Imagi-Motive is a family-owned company that has a reputation for being innovative in the vehicles they design for extreme tailgaters or companies looking for a mobile marketing solution. However, the Mims family also has a heart for the unborn, and they have put their talents to work in the battle to save lives.

As you may know, Houston, Texas, unfortunately, houses the largest Planned Parenthood facility in the world. However, what may be news to you is how the Houston Coalition for Life is impacting Planned Parenthood‘s efforts. How are they making a difference? With a Mobile Crisis Pregnancy Vehicle!

In mid-January of this year, Imagi-Motive completed the mobile crisis unit, and the Houston Coalition for Life increased their presence in the community. They began seeing dramatic results right away. Within the first twenty-two outings, nearly seventy women had been ministered to, counseled, and given pregnancy tests. And, those who were contemplating an abortion were provided the opportunity to have an ultrasound. Most importantly, the lives of seven babies, who were already scheduled for abortion, were saved. Seven!

But, that is not all. One lady, scared for many reason and struggling with her decision to abort, got up from the abortion table, went back outside to the Mobile Crisis Pregnancy Vehicle, and chose life! All I can say is thank God for this ministry tool!

Imagi-Motive is on a mission to let every crisis pregnancy center in America know about these units and how they help save lives.

In Matthew 28:16-20, we are given The Great Commission by Christ. He instruct us to go—that’s right, go—and make disciples. There are many ways to impact the communities in which we live, and the Mobile Crisis Pregnancy Vehicle helps us achieve this directive.

Praise the Lord for lives saved!

For more information on this ministry tool, contact us at msilva@imagimotive.com.

Michael Silva
Imagi-Motive LLC
Magnolia, Texas

Debbie Picarello and Sandie Sendall staff the Deeper Still post-abortion healing table at the University of Delaware. We noted a lot of men visiting them. They were able to share the Gospel with one!

Last week, we had an awesome two days on campus at the University of Delaware (UDel).  We were hosted by the Pro-Life Vanguard, the student pro-life group at UDel.

This was our third trip to UDel.  We first went there in September 2003, and returned a year ago.  The students want us to return every year from now on.  Please comment: Should we return every year or every semester?

We were pleased to be working with Kurt and Samantha Linnemann of our new CBR Maryland outpost.  One of the most important aspects of our work is to help others do effective pro-life projects all over the country, and the Mid-Atlantic region is a critical one.  We look forward to a long and productive partnership.  Maybe not so long; we will work to make the killing stop sooner rather than later.