Q&A on Teens and Chastity
QUESTION: My two children are approaching their teen years. I want to talk with them about chastity, but I made some mistakes when I was their age. Am I being hypocritical if I tell them to wait until marriage to…
Whose Pain Is It Anyway? – A Look at Pain Management
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources A while back I attended an ethics seminar in which the speaker said that 50% of pain medication requests come from family members, not the patient. In another survey, nurses estimate that…
CLR’s Official Positions and Thoughts to Ponder on Life and Family Issues
Abortion Human life exists already at conception. It is a gift from God. He also reserves for himself the authority to take human life. Aborting an unborn child for any reason, other than to preserve a human life, is a…
The Holy Grail of Medicine – A Look at Ethical Stem Cell Research
By Dr. Robert Balza Jr., Associate Professor of Biology, Wisconsin Lutheran College No one believed him. No one thought Dr. Shinya Yamanaka had managed to do the impossible. The 44-year-old physician/scientist from Japan had been encouraged to enter medicine by…
Caregiving: Christian Helping and Coping
When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set…
Retransforming Transgender Views
By APH “We would pay for her breast removal surgery as a graduation present, she could take testosterone over the summer, and she could go to college as a boy. –Parents of a 17-year-old transboy.”[1] “He may refer to himself as a…
Medical Decisions and the Heart
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources No, this is not an article about heart surgery and transplants. Rather, this article addresses the attitude of the heart when making medical decisions. Heart = Motive When difficult medical decisions have…
Trained to Live Forever: End-of-Life Resuscitation Orders
People don’t want to talk about dying. In 2015, according to the Funeral and Memorial Information Council, 69% of adults over the age of 40 indicated they would prefer to pre-arrange their funeral but only 17% actually did so. Conversely,…
Who Assists with Suicide
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources The exhausting effort to legalize assisted suicide is like so many other ill-conceived notions of our times. The persuasive forces of video and social media advocates for “aid in dying”…
Fatal Flaw
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources The tenets of evolution and creation conflict on many points but none as significantly as on the reality of original sin. The Lutheran Catechism defines original sin as: “The guilt…
A Primer on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
QUESTION: What’s the difference between voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia? ANSWER: Voluntary euthanasia involves a competent and stated desire of someone to terminate his or her life. Non-voluntary euthanasia pertains to the termination of someone’s life by another without the patient’s…
Q&A on Life Support
QUESTION: My father had respiratory arrest. The doctors asked if my siblings and I wanted the doctors to put my dad on life support. My father is a very ill man. He already had cancer and suffers from extreme pain. Is it…
Faith and Planned Parenthood
By Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources In 2015 The Center for Medical Progress secretly video recorded conversations with executives from Planned Parenthood. The topic was the gruesome practice of selling fetal body parts to researchers. The expose made national…
Looking Down the Road
In the Old Testament, Adam and Eve demonstrated shortsightedness when they ate the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). When Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4), he failed to consider the consequence of his action. Lot never considered…
Q&A on Treatment Options and Medical Directives
QUESTION: It’s been years since the death of Terri Schiavo. Shouldn’t we just leave this in the past? ANSWER: Few cases created more emotional response than the Terri Schiavo story. It seemed that everyone placed themselves in Terri’s situation and shared…
When Working with Human DNA, It’s Best to Be As Accurate As Possible
By Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources This headline was actually a sentence buried in a July 28, 2017 article on gene editing of human embryos in the United States. For those of you who are new to…
Pro-Life Bible References
God is the creator of life Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.” Job 33:4 – “The Spirit of God has made me;…
It Depends How You Say It
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When the United States legalized abortion on January 22, 1973, the language changed. No longer was a little one growing and kicking in the womb referred to as a “baby.” Rather, the…
A Tiny Step – A Look at Quality of Life Arguments
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director C. Everett Koop served as the U.S. Surgeon general from 1982-1989. He also served as a main speaker at an early Christian Life Resources convention. It was a tumultuous time in the…
My Body, My Choice – Really?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director The idol of “my rights” continues to wreak havoc on our lives, our families, and our society. The sexual revolution of the sixties decimated social sanctions that rightly reflected the place of sexual relations…
Q&A on Abortion, Euthanasia Position Terminology
QUESTION: I’ve heard many different terms describing the positions of those who either oppose or favor abortion and euthanasia (pro-life, pro-choice, anti-abortion, death with dignity, etc.). What is CLR’s position on all of these terms? ANSWER: The position of CLR…
G. U. L. A. G. – A Look at Ethnic Cleansing and Abortion
Rev. Fred Toppe Do you know these initials? They stand for Glavnoe upravlenie ispravitel’no-trudovykh lagerei, the Russian words for Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps. The GULAG was in operation in the former Soviet Union from the early 1920s until…
How Can I Say I Care?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The feisty side of me hates the phrase, “I care.” Don’t misunderstand. I am not against saying it. But I object to its use without meaning. It sounds more like a catchy…
Q&A on the Overturn of ‘Roe v. Wade’
Question: What’s next now that Roe v. Wade is overturned? Answer: Roe v. Wade was the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling which legalized abortion across the nation. On June 24, 2022 the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Constitution of…
Inconvenient People and the Quality of Life
Rev. Thomas Trapp An interview with Kenneth Schleef, a Christian with cerebral palsy. Q: Your appearance at a Life Chain told me you’re concerned about life issues. I also know you have cerebral palsy. Tell me about your cerebral palsy…
I Am Personally Opposed, But…
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I am sure you have heard it too. “I am personally opposed to abortion, but I don’t think I can or should force my convictions on others.” Get real! It’s time we…
On Assisted Suicide Laws – What You Can Do to Be Pro-Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it did not find a constitutional right to assisted suicide. This ruling sharply contrasted the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion. In 1973 the Court…
When Life Seems to Have No Meaning
Pastor Bruce Wietzke Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? We know such a question is not uncommon in our world. We live among a people who not only may ask such…
Q&A on Abstinence/Teaching Teens about Birth Control
QUESTION: I’ve heard that teen pregnancy rates have increased. Is it time to teach our kids about birth control? ANSWER: The teen birth rate has been on a steep decline since the early 1990s. Yet, teaching about birth control is…
Is An Objection on Religious Grounds Enough?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources “The path of least resistance is the path of the loser.” [attributed to H.G. Wells, 1866-1946] We have done it before, and it appears we are poised to do it again….
Tell the Truth
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources Why Are We Here? Christian Life Resources (CLR) was never a ministry about convincing pro-life people to be pro-life. Though we serve all people, we are doctrinally aligned with the…
Defending Traditional Marriage Is an Act of Love
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources [The following is an adaptation of a bulletin insert created by Christian Life Resources for use by congregations everywhere. The insert can be downloaded here.] I offer the following arguments in defense…
Depression That Leads to Death
True or False? 1) Most people trying to cope with depression simply don’t have strong enough faith. FALSE. People in the church may jump to this conclusion because many depressed people push God away. They really suffer from a treatable…
Gay Marriage Commentary
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Gay marriage is the moral issue “flavor of the month.” We have had a few: abortion, assisted suicide (euthanasia), promiscuity, divorce, embryo destruction, cloning, gay rights, drug abuse, etc. For the most…
Reserving Sex for Marriage
Pastor Fredric Piepenbrink God’s precious gift of sex is only for those who publicly promise faithfulness to one another for life. Since the sexual revolution of the 1960s, the idea of reserving sexual relations for married couples has become utterly…
Decent Sex [5-Part Series]
Part 1: Man’s Word on Sex The words people use to describe sex and sexual activity already betray much about the way they feel. On the one hand are words that reveal ignorance, confusion and hurt. We hear words like…
Saved Sex Is the Only Safe Sex
Ryan MacPherson As a teenager, I hear the media telling my peers and me about sex more than any other topic. I have to ask myself two questions: What are they telling us? And, are we listening? Overwhelmingly, they are…
Human Sexuality
Rev. Wayne Mueller What do the words crime, innuendo, molestation, bias, misconduct, discrimination, overtones, violence, and perversion have in common? They all follow the adjective “sexual” in today’s news reports. There is something especially repulsive about sexual sins. St. Paul…
Saying ‘Yes’ to Sex
Pastor Rolfe Westendorf Society has always had trouble with the subject of sex. Some societies like the Victorian have hidden the topic in a closet as if it did not exist. Sex went on as usual, including its rankest forms…
Sharing the Facts of Life
Pastor James A. Aderman I trusted him when he told me, “I love you.” He trusted me when I said the same. We trusted our emotions when they said, “It’s OK. Show each other how much you care.” When our…
Gay Marriage and the Christian Response
Pastor Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Homosexual Practices Condemned Within the Jewish and Christian teachings, there have been strong judgments against homosexual activity. In the Old Testament, we have the account of Sodom and Gomorrah. Of pertinence to…
Myths and Wisdom About End-of-Life Decisions
Sue Fink, Bereavement and Volunteer Coordinator for HFM Hospice, Manitowoc, WI Have you discussed your end-of-life preferences with your loved ones yet? A blessing that came from the Terri Schiavo tragedy is that end-of-life issues have led to better planning…
Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNR Orders)
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources A number of years ago a woman for whom I was a legal guardian was placed in a nursing home. Among the many questions I was asked, one caught me unprepared. Specifically,…
Q&A on a Christian’s Concern about the End of Life
QUESTION: What is the God-pleasing attitude I should have as I approach the final days of my life or that of a loved one? ANSWER: You have asked the right question when you ask about attitude. Even though God reveals…
Stem Cell Research: Is There a Benefit?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Upon fertilization, life begins an amazing journey of cell division, differentiation, and finally maturation. Between fertilization and differentiation, life is in its embryonic stage. The cells that divide are “generic” in nature…
God’s Life and Death Principle
Rev. Wayne D. Mueller May a Christian couple consider in vitro fertilization a God-pleasing way to relieve their childlessness? Is it ever ethical to pull the plug on respiratory equipment attached to a lifetime faithful spouse? To what lengths must…
How Small Is Too Small? – Issues Surrounding the Low-Birth-Weight Infant
Linda L. Bellig, RN, BSN My first job as a new RN in 1969 was in the special care nursery at Babies Hospital in New York City. The environment was cutting-edge. We rigged adult ventilators for babies, grappled with the…
A Peace the World Cannot Give
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be…
The Right Time – The Right Place
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but…
Q&A on Caregiving and Diminished Quality of Life
QUESTION: My dad was recently diagnosed with ALS. We are all pretty devastated. He knows that his quality of life will diminish, and he will become totally reliant on us kids. The other night he asked, “Why is God doing…
A Christian Approach to Feeding Tube
A feeding tube generally comes in two varieties: a gastrostomy tube installed directly into the abdomen and a nasogastric tube which is installed through the nasal cavity and into the stomach. There are other types of tube-feeding, but these are…
The Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Conclusion
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann X. Conclusion End-of-life issues are complex in that they often call for the application of many different biblical principles complicated by the addition of strong and sentimental emotions….
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Anxious for Death
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann VIII. Anxious for Death We live in a time where society seems almost anxious to terminate the life of anyone who does not seem valuable or needed. In…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Facing the Challenge of Suffering
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann VII. Facing the Challenge of Suffering Suffering, or the fear of suffering, is one important reason people have advocated the early termination of life. When I speak of…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Facing the Fear of Death
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann VI. Facing the Fear of Death It is a reality that as death near, fear increases for many people. When Barbara Walters hosted that edition of Nightline I…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Understanding the Purpose of Life
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann V. Understanding the Purpose of Life When counseling a family at a time of crisis a certain amount of spiritual building takes place. A challenge I face in…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Facing the Changed Quality of Life
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann IV. Facing the Changed Quality of Life Perhaps the most challenging issue to face when counseling on end-of-life issues is the changed quality of life. It seems characteristic…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Establish God’s Authority Over Life and Death
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann III. Establish God’s Authority Over Life and Death In Deuteronomy 32:39 God says this about himself: “See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: The Christian Foundation for Life Decision-Making
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann I. The Christian Foundation for Life Decision-Making When we pastors are called upon to guide a family in making critical medical decisions, we must not desert our own…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Introduction
Presented by Rev. Robert F. Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In the early 1980s, I ran across an editorial cartoon depicting a minister standing in the pulpit of the Church of the Lukewarm. The caption read, “There is no the Christian position,…
When God Is Calling
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Margaret entered the intensive care unit by way of the hospital’s emergency room. For over two decades, Margaret, or “Maggie” as her friends call her, wrestled with cancer. It began as…
Nothing to Fear
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” (Philippians 1:23) The Apostle Paul struggles with two desires when writing the…
Not So Fast!
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In 1993, a Wisconsin state senator introduced assisted suicide legislation, designed to give terminally-ill patients the right to ask a doctor’s assistance in ending their own life. It was a new…
Let Us Not Love With Words or Speech but with Actions and in Truth
By Pastor James Hein, Lead Pastor at St. Marcus Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1 John 3:11-18 11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered…
What Should I Do?
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources As life and family issues continue to expand, it’s often difficult to sort them out. Even church bodies differ on a particular issue though they claim to have the same Bible….
Q&A on Witnessing
QUESTION: I have a friend who is a member of a WELS church, but is pretty liberal on the subject of transgender and other subjects. I would like to speak to her but I don’t want to start an argument….
And So It Goes
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Pro-life Christians were appalled when Governor Cuomo signed New York’s liberal abortion law on January 22, 2019, the 46th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade abortion ruling….
Don’t Just Sit There!
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The legalized killing of unborn children through abortion has been a part of the American landscape since January 22, 1973. The death toll has surpassed 62 million babies. Now you know….
Q&A on Euthanasia
QUESTION: What’s the difference between voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia? ANSWER: Voluntary euthanasia involves a competent and stated desire for someone to have his or her life terminated. Non-voluntary euthanasia pertains to the termination of someone’s life by another without…
Q&A on DNR and Feeding Tube
QUESTION: My husband has had Parkinson’s for 25 years, severe Alzheimer’s, and other issues. He has taken a severe setback with a recent hospitalization. He is presently very weak, minimally mobile, with very low function cognition. He is now in…
Transformed
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “I sure miss kindergarten.” I know you have heard or read these words from me before. The older I get the more I miss the simplicity of life that I enjoyed…
Tips to Prevent Elder Financial Abuse
Here are several important tips to help avoid becoming a victim of financial abuse: Involve people you trust in making important financial decisions. Use direct deposit for Social Security and other payments to prevent mail theft. Sign all of your…
A Pro-Life Future?
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court at the end of July 2018. Kennedy was appointed to the Court by President Ronald Reagan and began serving in…
Shepherding Your Teens to Adulthood
Mark Clifford Brunner Teen dating? Perhaps, it’s time to assign these words to the dustbin of outmoded phrases. At least, if most 15 year-olds had their way, they would be happy never to hear these words again. We “get together”…
Would You Like to Go to a Movie?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Solomon Wrote (Ecclesiastes 1:9): “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” I think of this passage often as…
AI on Our Side
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources When I speak about artificial intelligence (AI), I suspect I sound alarmist. Some of what I read about AI development is concerning. Yet, I have long felt that technological advancements…
Q&A on Genetic Testing of Preborn Children
QUESTION: Is genetic testing of preborn children acceptable for Christians? ANSWER: The answer to your question requires some clarification, because there are many variables that come into consideration. Some parents are concerned about a genetic disease that could be passed…
God’s Life-Giving Love Is Active at Conception
Prof. Ryan MacPherson, Bioethics Professor at Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN When does human life begin? This question has perplexed our generation and divided our nation. The stakes are quite high. If a human embryo is a person, then abortion…
Charlie Gard Has Died
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On July 28, 2017, one week before his first birthday, Charlie Gard died. Charlie was at the center of a controversy that resonated throughout the world when the British High Court…
Carrying Burdens and Euthanasia // Bible Study
Rock of Ages Lutheran Branch, Madison, TN Importance of This Bible Study 1) Life issues are broadening or shifting to each end of the life spectrum: beginning of life through end of life. 2) Personally we are not victims of…
The Great Physician at My Bed // Devotions
Devotions: The Great Physician at My Bed On Entry “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) We go to doctors because we need help. Our bodies hurt. In our…
Hospital Devotions
HOSPITAL DEVOTIONS: A compilation of 27 devotions for use in the hospital or related setting from the Health and Wellness Committee, WELS Commission on Special Ministries. Devotion #1 Luke 2:29-31 – Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss…
Q&A on Suffering
QUESTION: My mother has multiple sclerosis and has been given only a few years to live. Our family is concerned about Mom spending the last few years of her life suffering. What can we do? ANSWER: The fear of…
Life Worth Living
By Ben Berger On June 22, 2015, Simona De Moor of Belgium was euthanized. She was a healthy 85 year old who saw her death as her only reprieve from the grief of losing her daughter several months before.[i] On…
Vote! You’ve Got to Be Counted!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On more than one occasion when I was growing up, in my youthful folly I questioned and challenged the wisdom of maturity and the authority of parenthood. Speaking for my three younger…
Q&A on Pro-Life Activism
QUESTION: For years I’ve been rather quietly pro-life, but now I am more concerned about the abuse of human life. What can I do to help make a difference? ANSWER: You are not alone in your feelings. Here are some…
Listening to Voices Unheard – How To Be A Part of the Pro-Life Solution
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It is easy to identify errors and wait for other people to do something. By God‘s blessing, however, we can be part of the solution. Prayer Prayer acknowledges Him from whom all…
Christian Citizenship
Mr. Tim Snyder cit•i•zen•ship: the quality of an individual’s response to membership in a community (The Merriam-Webster Dictionary) What is your response to membership in the nation you call home? Are you a good citizen? Are you raising good citizens?…
Christian Life Resources’ Euthanasia Position Statement
This Christian Life Resources Position Statement on Euthanasia was adopted by the organization’s National Congress to state its position on issues that are addressed by CLR, in this case, on the subject of euthanasia. Christian Life Resources Position Statement on Euthanasia PREAMBLE…
Burdens and Christian Optimism
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director Despairing elders may come to the conclusion to terminate their own lives. Their acts of self-killing are often shrouded in euphemisms about wishing to “die with dignity” and “ceasing to be a burden” on…
Leading Cause of Death?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources We tend to think biologically when it comes to death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the top five leading causes of death in the United States are: Heart disease: 647,457…
At What Cost? – A Look at Medical Progress and Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I live today because of medical progress. I was born prematurely in 1956 with a condition called “atrial septal defect.” That means I had a hole in the heart. Not just any…
Embryonic Stem Cells Present Ethical Limits
David A. Kaufmann, Ph.D. What is stem cell research, and what is the Biblical Christian view of it? What is Stem Cell Research? Stem cells are living units that can grow and differentiate into multiple, different types of advanced, mature…
Mary Ann’s Story: A Journey of Faith (An Adult Stem Cell Success Story)
Mrs. Amy Schultz Editor’s Note: Much debate today about stem cell research should really be divided between (1) embryonic stem cell research and (2) adult or cord blood stem cell research. CLR has condemned embryonic stem cell research because in…
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: People’s Arguments and A Christian’s Response
When People Say: “Embryonic stem cell research is necessary to further the work toward a cure for deadly diseases or injuries.” All of us likely fear that one of those “deadly diseases” may strike someone we love or ourselves. We…
What the Bible Says About Organ Transplants
Bobby A. Howard, RN, BSN, MDiv In this era of rapidly advancing health care technology, on a daily basis Christian nurses are confronted with critical issues that result in questions and doubt concerning the relationship between Christian ethics and modern…
Cloning: Where Will It All End?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On February 24, 1997, it rocked the scientific community and stimulated the exaggerated imaginations of sci-fi enthusiasts. Scottish scientists cloned a sheep and named it “Dolly.” Fantasies fostered in fiction and played…
Marriage and Family Under God
Pastor Lyle J. Lindloff Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). Which key unlocks the door? To find the key that unlocks the door of Ephesians 5:21 we must go to the beginning of the chapter….
The Value of Human Life
Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It is becoming more difficult to know what to do in life and death situations. Advancements in medicine, challenges in the court, and changing opinions have raised questions about when life…
God’s Word on Life
The Bible teaches that life is a gift from God, our Creator. For example, Job says to God, “Your hands shaped me and made me…Remember that you molded me…Did you not…clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together…
God Alone Has the Right to Initiate and Terminate Life // Bible Study
Read the Following Passages: Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver…
Love by Proxy is Not Enough Anymore!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I suppose well-meaning Christians can differ with this title by arguing “love by proxy” is never enough. Be that as it may, the reality is that our society has steadily migrated to…
Christian Life Resources Abortion Position Statement
Preamble Abstract Background Terminology The Issues Section 1: What the Scriptures Say About Human Life Human Beings are Unique and Prized in All God’s Creation Human Beings Consist of Body and Soul Human Beings Exist in the Womb Protecting the…
Where Do You Cast? – A Look at Anxiety and Worries
Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). I dont know if you have ever been fly-fishing or maybe you have seen it on TV. When you go fly…
When Someone Says, I’m Homosexual
Rev. Thomas H. Trapp To witness to the truth, we must love unconditionally while we share God’s Word. How do you respond to a close friend or family member who is struggling with homosexuality? Or how do you answer a…
Sodom: Inhospitality?
Rev. Thomas H. Trapp Many mainline Christian churches are defending the homosexual lifestyle, but God’s Word clearly calls homosexuality a sin. Never in the history of the Christian Church have avowed Christian congregations affirmed homosexuality as a God-pleasing lifestyle –…
Homosexuality: Sin or Orientation?
Pastor Thomas H. Trapp Our lifestyle is not judged on the basis of some genetic connection, but we are judged on the basis of God’s commandments. In Letters to the Editor of a large university student newspaper, a man wrote,…
Homosexuality
Rev. Wayne D. Mueller It was a painful silence. Judy and her parents sat motionless, speechless. How could this happen in their family? Judy and her brother had gone to church together, attended Sunday school and taught vacation Bible school….
Congregational Versus Institutional Parish Nurses
An ever-increasing number of hospitals are hiring RNs to serve as institution-based parish nurses. These programs usually offer quality services that provide wonderful benefits to the community through local congregations. Since this is a growing trend in our country, why…
CDACP – Ways to Care for Others
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources How equipped are you to help care for Mom or Dad as they age or when one or the other dies? Caring is more than emotion and good intentions. Careful forethought greatly…
A Consistent Ethic
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The way in which people conduct their lives is often framed by their ethical standards — whether in business, medicine, the justice system, and even their Christian living. The problem is people…
Hospitals – A Historical Perspective
Caregiving is rooted in a desire to enhance the well-being of our fellow man. Whether it is through our own need to be cared for or a loved one’s need, at some point in each of our lives we can…
Q&A on the Modern Eugenics Movement
QUESTION: I’ve heard about the eugenics movement, but I thought that essentially ended with the atrocities of the Nazi regime. Does the eugenics movement still exist today? ANSWER: The eugenics movement is more comprehensive than most people realize. A review of…
Eugenics Revisited
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw an emergence of the eugenics movement in which eugenic sterilization, anti-immigrant advocacy, and anti-mixed race marriage activism all played crucial roles in the goal of advancing social control by a small elite. This…
Eugenics and the Quality of Life
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without…
Defending the ‘Defective’
In 1915 Dr. Harry Haiselden, the chief of staff at German-American Hospital on Chicago’s near north side, made national headlines for his contribution to the eugenics movement. Haiselden gained front-page notoriety on the issue of eugenic euthanasia. In November of…
Cherish the Quality of Life
Rev. Paul Prange When I was a boy, my parents took me more than once to visit Bethesda Lutheran Home (located in Watertown, Wisconsin). When it was still operating, it was a home for the developmentally disabled. I recall being…
Wretched Refuse
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! (Excerpted from The New Colossus…
Evolution: A Fatal Equalizer
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, CLR National Director I have had the opportunity to visit the Creation Museum in Kentucky (www.creationmuseum.org) several times. If you have not seen it – go! It is an incredibly professional testimony to the creation account and…
You Can Change the World! – A Look at Ways to Show Christian Concern for Others
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When I turned 40, a friend of mine told me that a person reaches middle age when realizing he or she can no longer change the world. If that were true I…
What’s So New About Love? A Look at Christian Caregiving and Burden Sharing
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you…
The Acquiescence of Sin
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, Christian Life Resources National Director ac•qui•es•cence – [ak-wee-esuhns] – the act or condition of acquiescing or giving tacit assent; agreement or consent by silence or without objection; compliance. sin – transgression of divine law [Source: www.dictionary.com] In…
Violence in Wichita: What’s a Person to Do?
Pastor Robert Fleischmann, National Director, CLR Over two thousand protesters arrested outside an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas, have been charged with illegally blocking the clinic’s entrance. Pro-abortion advocates accuse the protestors of violating constitutional freedoms. The protesters claim they…
Bible Study: The Christian and Governing Authorities
Bible Study: The Christian and Governing Authorities (Student’s Guide) There is an inseparable yet distinct relationship between Christians (the church) and the governing authorities (the state). The relationship demands recognition and respect for their particular responsibilities. This Bible Study examines…
The Christian Responsibility of Obedience and Action
GOD-PLEASING OBEDIENCE IT BEGINS WITH MOTIVE Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins…
Respect for Life: It Begins and Ends With You!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources With every issue of Beginnings we wrestle with what is worthy to serve as the lead story. Often it is some dramatic development that hits the media regarding life issues. The subjects…
Abortion Clinic Killings Distort Issue
John Salvi, a 22-year-old hairdresser, from Hampton, New Hampshire, is the latest so-called “anti-abortion zealot” to be accused of committing murder at an abortion clinic. Salvi faces two murder charges in a shooting attack at two abortion clinics in suburban…
The Christian and Civil Disobedience
“Non-Violent Direct Action Rescue” (NDA) I. Human Government is a Blessing of God Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been…
Is There a Right to Life?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I never gave the phrase “right to life” much thought until I heard talk about a “right to die.” For years I have considered myself to be “pro-life” and in the “right-to-life”…
Biblical References Regarding Civil Disobedience
Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against…
Q&A on Tube Feeding Removal
QUESTION: I’ve heard that Christian Life Resources states a feeding tube should never be removed. Why is that? ANSWER: Christian Life Resources does not state that feeding tubes should never be removed. We do state that it is critical that…
Protection Coming for the Unborn
It appears that piece by piece the U.S. Supreme Court is dismantling its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The most recent dismantling dealt with restrictions for agencies receiving Title X funding. Title X is the designation for federal money provided…
Our Role in Government
There are three realms of activity in government: the judicial, legislation and political. Christians enjoy various degrees of influence in each realm. In the judicial realm all you can hope for is to express your opinion and hope the judge…
Suicide and Matters of the Heart
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources More and more people are using compassion for others as the basis for their own sinning. The poor will squander meager possessions on lottery tickets arguing that, if they win, the earnings…
The Legislator and Pro-Life Issues
What is the civic responsibility a Christian who lives under a non-Christian form of government? What role is a Christian civil servant to play in the shaping and molding of the country’s policies and legislation? Mr. Allen Quist, retired psychology…
How Does a Christian Vote?
Mark Clifford Brunner Does God want me to vote? Is it ever proper to vote for a non-Christian candidate? How can I be sure that my vote is pleasing to God? Does the Bible give instruction on how to choose…
The Christian and Government (6 Parts)
The Christian and Government Series: Part 1 – Understanding the Christian By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It seems that every 100 years or so the relationship between Christians and their government becomes strained. In the middle…
What Actually is Pro-Life?
Cindi Sampe Squeak, squeak is the sound the park swing makes as children — my children — “fly high to the sky.” As I listen to their squeals of delight and observe their exuberance, I can’t help but reflect on…
Election Time: Shouldn’t My Congregation Be Doing More?
Every year at election time some people complain that their congregation doesn’t take a more active role in making them aware of political candidates’ views. There are some important facts to keep in mind: The work of your congregation is…
Abortion and the Law
Former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Victor Manian On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court, in a decision by seven of the nine justices, held that state statutes prohibiting abortion were unconstitutional. The decision has divided the nation,…
An Overview of Scriptural Principles as They Apply to Selected Current Life Issues
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In the course of human history, various issues rise to the surface of public consciousness. Oftentimes those are life-threatening maladies that victimize a population, such as war, famine, and pestilence. In recent…
Money vs. Life in Light of Life Issues
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources There is often a correlation between prosperity and immorality. That does not mean all who are prosperous are immoral or that all who are impoverished are moral. Rather, it appears that prosperity…
The Christian and Government
Have you ever tried to walk two big dogs at one time? It’s alright as long as both animals want to go in the same direction. But as soon as one dog sees a cat running east and the other…
Life Exists at Conception
Human Life Alliance of MN Education Fund, Inc. Dr. Jerome LeJeune, M.D., Ph. D., explains much about the beginning of human life. Unlike the popular view that a baby becomes more developed and thus “more human” as the weeks of…
Born This Way!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Are deviant sexual interests products of the will or organically programmed into people? In other words, are some “born that way”? I have read my share of medical papers to believe that…
The State, The Church, and Me
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources (Originally published in Lightsource, Vol. 29, Issue 2) “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of…
Is the Decision Not to Vote Really an Option?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In every modern political campaign, the hot-button issue invariably involves moral values. Issues such as abortion and assisted suicide confront every candidate. These are critical issues in which God’s Word, taken literally…
Speak Up!
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8,9)…
Life and Politics
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources The American political structure forms public policy and, as such, moral issues often become political issues. For that reason, it is necessary, at times, for CLR to comment on political issues. In…
A Culture of Caring | A Look at Teaching Children to Care for Others
Tim Snyder, Media Services Coordinator, Wisconsin Lutheran College It’s been more than one year since “Mrs. Marge” sold her home and moved in with her son. “Mrs. Marge,” an elderly widow who lived alone, used to be our next-door neighbor….
Q&A on Homosexuality
QUESTION: What is God’s view of homosexuality? Hasn’t research shown that homosexuality is a genetic predisposition and that as people cannot choose to be a certain race or gender, so also they cannot choose their sexual predisposition? ANSWER: God’s view…
How Are Your Priorities?
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at…
Institutional Devotions
DEVOTION #1: “They’ve Taken Away My Identity!” John 13:23 – One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Jesus nicknamed John the apostle, along with his brother James, “Sons of Thunder,” and for good reason….
Burden Sharing // Bible Study (6-Part Series)
Bible Study: Burden Sharing – Part 1 (Student’s Guide) This is the first of a 6-part Bible Study on Burden Sharing. The first 3 parts will define the critical terms of burden, sharing, and love. Read the Following Passages: Numbers 11:14 – I…
Bible Study: Biblical Directives, Examples, and Applications of Burden Sharing
1. Understanding the Terms Burden: Something perceived to be beyond the ability to cope, not related to a desire to carry. Sharing: To willingly and happily assist others by giving from God’s blessings or helping them lighten their load. Love:…
A Time of Testing
Dr. Mark Braun, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI Some [seed] fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. . . . Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word…
Q&A on Salvation and Heaven
QUESTION: My 93-year-old mother has been strong and healthy her entire life. I am afraid that she has a false confidence about going to heaven. She says that God must be happy with her, because he has given her a…
The Compassionate Father
Mr. Tim Snyder A widower struggles to raise two young children in a small southern town during the 1930s. The town’s racist attitudes come to light as this man, who is a lawyer, faces the daunting challenge of defending a…
Bible Study: Compassion
Pastor Aaron Mueller My wife and I just wanted to get home. Being gone for several days, suitcases, then a delayed flight on our already-late return made us long for our normal surroundings again. But the drive home was anything…
Subtle Verbal Splicing
Pastor Robert Fleischmann Did you see the July 4, 2016 issue of Time magazine? In her lead story on the potentials and pitfalls of CRISPR (the process for DNA splicing) Alice Park overlooks the first ethical problem with her own…
Are You Ready? – A Look at Preparing for Death
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources A seminary professor once told his students, “Sometimes I can hardly wait to die, and sometimes I am scared to death to die.” This tension between the old and new man…
Q&A on Medical Technology
QUESTION: If medical technology gives us cures derived from taking lives, should Christians refuse that treatment even if it means possibly a shortening of our own life? ANSWER: Underlying your question is the suggestion that using such medical technology may…
The Whole Picture Needs the Full Gospel
By Rev. Forrest Bivens In early 2007 I was in Rio de Janeiro during a visit to our son and his family, while he served as a WELS missionary in Brazil. The view from Sugarloaf Mountain gave me a panorama…
Boys, Girls, and Everything In-Between
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It can be dangerous to express an opinion on the state of sexuality in today’s world. Once it is known, such expression on this contentious subject can result in dissension among loved…
A Dark Passing Cloud
By Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources In 1973 when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the infamous Roe v. Wade case, pro-life forces warned that this decision placed us on a “slippery slope.” It…
Does the Right to Life Include the Right to Die?
I recently saw Ted Koppel on a Nightline program dedicated to the subject of assisted suicide. The program included an interview with Noel Earley who was dying and was going to take his own life. Many newspaper articles also have…
Bible Passages Regarding Assisted Suicide
Acts 17:25: “…[He) himself [God] gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Deuteronomy 32:39: “There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life…” 1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has seized you except…
Q&A on Views Regarding Suicide
QUESTION: It seems that an increasing number of people, especially the young, see nothing wrong with suicide. What can we tell them? ANSWER: Before telling the person you’re talking to anything, try to figure out, or just ask, why this…
Suicide Warning Signs
What To Watch For: A major change in sleep or eating patterns Increased alcohol or drug use Major personality changes – becomes impulsive, rebellious or violent Violent or rebellious actions Withdrawal from family and friends Less interest in school –…
Standing Between Life and Death
John C. Johnson, Ph.D. A Gospel-Law-Gospel Approach to Helping Christians Who Are Suicidal Introduction (1 Cor. 13) If I speak in the tongues of man and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a…
May A Person Who Commits Suicide Receive Christian Burial?
Rev. Armin Schuetze A reader asks: Why is it we so completely condemn a Christian when he has committed suicide? Doesn’t Matthew 7:1 say: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged”? The Significance of Christian Burial What is…
A Dignified Death for the Suicide Agenda?
Richard M. Doerflinger The image of physician-assisted suicide providing a “humane and dignified death” has suffered major setbacks lately. New revelations show that the so-called “right to die” movement has misrepresented the facts and suppressed the truth to promote its…
When Assisted Suicide Becomes Legal
Mr. Brian Johnston It will be a day just like today. It will seem like many should notice, but most will not. There will be a sort of conspiracy of silence and suddenly those lives that we were compelled to…
Publicity’s Role in Promoting Assisted Suicide
Experts on suicide have long known about the “copycat” phenomenon: One widely publicized suicide may touch off similar acts among other impressionable people. Recently four researchers at the University of California tried to answer the question: Does the same phenomenon…
Key Points for Debating Assisted Suicide
A request for assisted suicide is typically a cry for help. It is in reality a call for counseling, assistance, and positive alternatives as solutions for very real problems. Suicidal intent is typically transient. Of those who attempt suicide but…
How To Help Those Who May Contemplate Suicide
Sally Armstrong If someone confides in you that he or she is thinking of committing suicide or shows other signs of being suicidal, talk about it. Your interest may give your friend hope at a time when that is exactly…
They Shoot Horses… – A Look at Compassion at the End of Life
Rev. Mark Braun True Confessions: Forty years ago I took a first date to see the movie, “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” Based on a 1930s novel, the movie was technically well done and received nine Academy Award nominations, but…
Suicide Facts and Statistics
Most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization to compile the following list of suicide facts: General Statistics (USA) Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US for all ages. (CDC)…
Q&A on Assisted Suicide and Quality of Life
QUESTION: Why are you so worked up about assisted suicide? If I don’t want to live when my quality of life is gone, why should you have the right to tell me I don’t have options? ANSWER: Your question indicates…
Charlie Gard Is Us
By Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources, July 18, 2017 Charles (Charlie) Gard was born on August 4, 2016. He was diagnosed with infantile-onset encephalomyopathic mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (also known as MDDS). Simply stated, Charlie’s brain is…
Americans Support Patient Choice for Life Over ‘Quality of Life’ Ethic
A February Wirthlin Worldwide notion that patients who have a so-called low “quality of life” should be denied life-saving medical care. By clear majorities — 79 percent to 19 percent — of Americans feel that patients or their families should…
Terri Schiavo and Us
Pastor Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Background: On February 25, 1990, Terri Schiavo collapsed in her home. Doctors believe a potassium imbalance caused her heart to stop and restricted oxygen flow to her brain. She suffered serious brain…
‘With Friends Like These’ – A Look at Comforting Others in Crisis
Pastor Jon D. Buchholz When you are called upon to touch someone’s life with comfort, share the genuine comfort of the cross. “When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the…
Who Will Take Care of Mother?
Rev., Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources In 1907 Anna Jarvis began a nationwide campaign for the observance of Mother’s Day. In 1908 it began with a service at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, honoring the…
Nutrition and Hydration (Food and Water)
Intravenous Feeding How feeding is provided Needle is inserted into a vein, usually in the hand or forearm, allowing the person to be nourished through the circulatory system. General use of this type of feeding Generally used to provide fluid…
My Life: Not My Own But God’s
Rev. Michael Plagenz Physician-assisted suicide is a controversial topic. As confessional Lutheran Christians, we know that any kind of suicide or mercy killing is against God’s will. Yet all the controversy prompts us to ask this question: “Whose life is…
End of Life Terminology
Christian ethics: The only value system in which motive rooted in the Christian faith is the first determinant of right and wrong. Christian medical/ethical decision making: A way of approaching tough decisions with the question: is God still holding out…
Q&A on Medical Decision-Making
QUESTION: I am nervous about people making medical decisions for me. What are your thoughts? ANSWER: The need for medical directives is greater than many people realize in managing your health and making healthcare decisions. To answer your question, you…
Living Choices: Alternatives to Euthanasia
Life is full of choices that range from the trivial to the critical. Every day one must choose such things as what clothes to wear; or whether to buy the 87 octane or the super-charged gasoline. Is tartar control toothpaste…
Living Wills vs. Medical Directive Statements: There Is A Difference
A great emphasis has been recently placed on the need for medical directive statements. Yet, there is also a great deal of confusion regarding these legal documents. Here is a short summary to explain the roles of these documents and…
Suffering at the End of Life
Many fear the unknown, especially at the end of life. We do not know when the end will come. We will not know what loved ones will do without us. We do not know if we will suffer or not….
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues
Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Introduction The Christian Foundation for Life Decision-Making Begin with Faith Establish God’s Authority Over Life and Death Facing the Changed Quality of Life Understanding the Purpose of Life Facing the Fear…
Bible Study: Issues of Life and Death
Issues of life and death are often consumed with discussions and decisions involved with making correct medical decisions near the end of life. Amidst the confusion of tube feeding, ventilators, dialysis and a host of other medical care mechanisms we…
Don’t Underestimate an Unpopular Idea
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Several years ago Derek Humphry was asked to comment on the anticipated failure of a proposed referendum to legalize assisted suicide. Humphry, of course, had a great interest in such legislation. He…
Dealing with a Euthanasia-Minded Friend
How do you deal with a euthanasia-minded friend or acquaintance? The issues are so emotional, and the arguments sound compassionate. Nevertheless, we are considering ending a person’s life. Obviously, it is critical that you know the issues and how to…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Begin with Faith
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann II. Begin with Faith The challenge of training fellow Christians in the way they should go is a life-long endeavor to create the Christian mindset. This mindset includes…
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues: Practical Matters in Counseling on Death
A Practical Approach to End-of-Life Issues Presented by Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann IX. Practical Matters In Counseling on Death I have outlined for you some of the basic principles that have helped me address death with fellow Christians. I believe…
Care, Not Suicide: Choosing a Medical Directive That Witnesses to Your Faith
You can choose a medical directive statement that will witness to your faith. Sooner or later you will face the question, “Do you have a medical directive statement?” Or more specifically, “Do you have a living will?” These are routine…
Q&A on ‘Pulling the Plug’
QUESTION: Do you really consider “pulling the plug” to be euthanasia? ANSWER: Deuteronomy 32:39 tells us that God alone has the right to begin or end life. Exodus 20:13 and Genesis 9:5-6 command that we preserve and protect human life….
Q&A on Terminal Sedation
Question: What is terminal sedation? Is it the same as physician-assisted suicide? Answer: Physician-assisted suicide is defined as a physician’s act that is meant to intentionally end the life of a patient. Terminal sedation is practiced when a patient is…
Lost in the Fog of ‘Rights’
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources To the frustration of the Clearly Caring editor I did not write this article on deadline – partially because I am particularly busy at the moment. Despite all the things on my…
Revisiting Terri Schiavo
Professor John D. Schuetze, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI The news has just been announced. After years of legal battles and power plays, the struggle between parents and husband has ended. Terri Schiavo has died. Some might argue that Michael…
Facing Eternity – Saying Good-Bye
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Clarence had been married 51 years when he lost his dear wife, Clarice. “It was cancer that took her,” he said, as he clenched his jaw and tears filled his eyes. Like…
Facing Eternity – Ready and Willing
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Ellen began to experience the slow passing of a generation. Her father died when all three of her children were in high school. It was sudden – a heart attack while he…
Learning to Face Death
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources We are victims of our culture. Despite knowing better from God’s Word, we find ourselves sucked into the thoughts and practices of the world. This is evident when discussing death. On the…
Facing Eternity
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Although a first impression is certainly important, it is the last impression that sticks! Without a doubt, the first impression is important –in this world. Mind you, I said, “in this world.”…
The Impression You Leave – A Look at Suffering and Burden Sharing
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources When abortion became legal in 1973, many called it the beginning of the slippery slope. In the middle 1980s then-U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop spoke at a Christian Life Resources convention…
Making the Most of Time in End-of-Life Matters
It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining, and the temperature is in the upper sixties. Spring in Wisconsin can be unpredictable. Today’s taste of summer might be followed by a reminder that winter is still visible in the rear…
A Teen’s Thoughts on Euthanasia
Sarah Klammer I met Beverly two years ago. She sat slumped in a wheelchair by a hallway window in the nursing home where my sisters and I volunteer. Beverly, a frail and motionless woman, just stared off into space as…
Deprived of the Chance – A Look at the Quality of Life and a ‘Duty to Die’
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources My travels throughout North America have given me countless opportunities to meet some rather incredible people. One of those people is Lisa Van Drese. Her attitude, optimism and unrelenting faith in…
When Life Holds No Dignity
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Advocates for assisted suicide have often marched under the “death with dignity” banner, but what does that word, “dignity,” mean? When did we get it, and how do we lose it? Some…
Questions and Answers on Euthanasia
QUESTION: What’s the difference between voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia? ANSWER: Voluntary euthanasia involves a competent and stated desire for someone to have his or her life terminated. Non-voluntary euthanasia pertains to the termination of someone’s life by another without…
Youth Corner: Dating
Cindy Ewings Dating. The words and images rush through everyone’s heads. The first date. The movie that you saw, and the restaurant that you went to together. The jokes that you shared and the special moments that you spent together….
The Truth About Sex Before Marriage
What Is the Purpose of a Sexual Relationship? Companionship Genesis 2:18 – ”The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ ” Children Genesis 1:28 – “God…
Talking to Your Kids About Chastity
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you…
Take the Pledge: Study Says Virginity Pledges Work
Programs like “True Love Waits” – in which teens pledge to abstain from sex until marriage – have long been touted by pro-family groups as effective countermeasures to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teen pregnancy. But critics have long argued…
Sex Is Like Eating Popcorn
I Am Caught! Did you ever notice that a bowl of popcorn rarely sits half empty? Once you start eating it you don’t stop until it’s gone. Someone once said that having sex is like eating popcorn. Once you have…
Premarital Relationships
Rev. Wayne Mueller In a bygone era, when people were still ashamed to talk about it (Ephesians 5:12), it was called cohabitation. Today’s terms are more unashamedly descriptive: living together, shacking up, living in. Still, these more picturesque terms are…
Chastity’s Contagious
Rev. Thomas H. Trapp Chastity’s contagious. Think of two people on a date. One insists on chastity; the other’s going to practice it too. It’s contagious! It’s also 100 percent safe (as well as God-pleasing). But not everyone practices chastity….