Just say NO to regulating murder!

Recently, it was reported that South Dakota is working on a new ban on the murder of preborn children. Great-but wait. The new “ban” allows for exceptions, and would allow the murder of some preborn children. Should Christian prolifers support this new bill? I say no!

A Christian’s duty is to stand for truth. We must first look at what “abortion” is. Abortion is the murder of an innocent child. Therefore, should we support a bill which upholds the murder of some children? No! We must continually stand and declare that EVERY child has the right to live-regardless of the circumstances of conception, alleged threat to the mothers health/life, or any other excuse which is raised as to why it is OK to kill children.
As the father of 6, I have witnessed the beauty, miracle, and joy of a newborn child. God says, in Psalm 139:13-16, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” When God has so beautifully formed each and every one of us, in His greatness, ought we to relegate these precious lives to political maneuvering and compromise? I say no! As a prolife activist, I have come to see, at least to some extent, the horror of what abortion is, through seeing and using the horrid pictures of dismembered babies to try and awaken our country to the sin which it is allowing to continue. I have heard the heartbreaking testimonies of mothers who have murdered their child. They live with it to this day, even though it has been repented of. I have also seen the hardness of people, men and women, who have fought for many years for the “right” to murder children. Should we be content to only stop some of this carnage? No!

We must fight to end the bloodshed in our land, but it won’t be ended by compromise and pandering. 34 years of compromise and regulation of murder has only been successful in prolonging the day when all children will be loved and protected. It has been said, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.” Christian prolifers must not get caught up in the snare of merely regulating murder. We must continually stand for the babies, and against any bill or effort which does not seek to protect EVERY PREBORN CHILD, without exception. Only then can we expect God to bless our efforts, for His glory!

James Niemela

Prolifers win BIG in Mississippi!

On December 13, 2006, I wrote about Michigan prolife missionary Cal Zastrow, and his conviction in court for "failure to obey a police officer." He appealed the case, and on Friday, February 23, won the appeal. Here are some details from Cal:

"Dear family and friends,

February 24, 2007

Holiness unto the Lord!

Thank you for praying. Our loving Father has shown mercy by granting us a victory in court yesterday. Ken Scott and I were acquitted of the charges of failure to obey a police officer. Judge McDaniel acquitted us of our criminal charge and we do not have to spend the next four months in the Rankin County jail in Mississippi.
We had a prayer meeting outside of the courthouse, and were immediately tested upon entering. A deputy and a lieutenant greeted us with scowls and by pointing to a sign that prohibited cel. phones, books, reading material, purses, food, drink, gum, sleeping, and children under the age of ten in the courthouse.
Ken went through the metal detector first. The Lt. pointed and ordered, "You can't take that Bible in there."
I smiled, looked at the boss, and asked him if this was a statute.
"It is the policy!"
"Excuse me Lieutenant. Could you please tell me which judge has made this policy?"
"All of them!"
"Excuse me Lieutenant. I am a defendant in a criminal case this morning and I have brought my two daughters. One of them is under ten and she won't make any noise or -"
"NO. Don't ask me no more questions!" he interrupted.
Ken was trying to persuade the deputy that the Bible was part of his defense in court and not simply reading material. We went outside to pray again. Eva, my eight-year-old daughter, was crestfallen. She had ridden over 1,000 miles in the car to see Daddy in court, and then was ordered to leave. At our homeschool, Zastrow's Missionary Training Academy, the class on how to stand up for Jesus against tyranny is "hands-on."
Steve Crampton, from the American Family Association Center for Law and Public Policy, arrived and went to talk to the judge to get special permission to allow Bibles and my daughter into court. While waiting outside, I prepared for the worst by saying goodbye to my girls in case this appeal was lost and I had to go directly to jail for four months. Steve came back out with good news. The judge consented. I happily brought my daughters and Bible into court. It was a blessing to have five local pro-life friends in attendance, and a delightful surprise when State Senator Richard White came from the State Capitol to stand with us. The trial began and the prosecution had the two policemen testify that we were holding signs on an overpass and wouldn't leave when ordered to. They felt that we were a "potential safety hazard." They said that we could have impeded traffic on the bridge by stepping into the lane of traffic. The prosecutor pointed out that the police have the power and authority to make such orders. The police testified that we did not actually impede anything, but that it was possible that we could have. Our attorney pointed out the necessity for such orders to be lawful, and that any pedestrian on a sidewalk near a road is a "potential safety hazard." The judge was thinking. He told the prosecution that an officer does have the power to make orders and arrests, but not always the lawful right. He even said that a police officer could order somebody to buy him a quart of milk at Kroger's, but that that wouldn't be lawful or right. The trial was looking real good at that point. After a break for lunch, Ken and I both testified. Steve did a great job at closing arguement while the prosecutor rehashed that the police have the "power" to make judgment calls, etc. The judge actually read the law and the intent of the Legislature for that law as he acquitted us of our criminal charges. In line at the restaurant for lunch, I started witnessing about Jesus to the car mechanic standing behind us. He had his work clothes on. D.L. Johnson was a nice guy who smiled big and told of being born-again just three years ago. The first of two patches on his shirt read, "Capitol Bodyshop." The second patch I received as a word from God for me: "Expect miracles." I asked for one. I got it! All glory to King Jesus.

Thanks again for praying. I am shouting GLORY all the way!

Cal Zastrow"


I talked with Cal Saturday afternoon. He was very encouraged by the victory. So many times when prolifers are arrested, they are the ones who are found guilty. So many times when there are assaults in front of abortion clinics, the prolifers are the ones hauled off to jail, even though it was the pro-aborts doing the slugging. Thank the Lord there is still at least one judge in Mississippi who reads the law and applies it as it is written, rather than ruling based on his own views. May this be an encouragement to other prolifers who are battling the murder of preborn children across our land!

James Niemela

Montana bill failed

I am sorry to report that the Personhood bill in Montana, HB403, was defeated on the House floor. Out of 100 representatives, only 46 sided with life. 5 Republicans joined with the pro-aborts to keep the killing going in Montana. So much for Republicans being "prolife"! We have an urgent need in America for principled, Christian Statesmen, who will stand for that which is right, no matter what. Is God calling you to "stand in the gap" and defend His principles and His preborn children?

James Niemela

Montana Update

The Montana bill I wrote of in a previous post, HB 403, which would define life as starting at fertilization, passed out of committee by a 10-7 vote, and is scheduled to go to the Montana House for a vote in the near future, possibly today, February 12. Please continue to keep this bill in prayer!!

Please pray for Montana!!

Montana State Rep Rick Jore, newly elected candidate of the Constitution Party of Montana, has sponsored House Bill 403, which would amend Montana's constitution to define life as commencing at fertilization, and restore protection to Montana's preborn citizens. Tomorrow, Febuary 2, the amendment will be debated in committee. Please pray that the legislators would side with protecting the right to life of all their citizens, including the preborn! Pray also for Dr. Patrick Johnston, the founder of the Association of Prolife Physicians, who is flying to Montana to testify on behalf of the legislation.

Note: The Constitution Party of Montana is not affiliated with the National Constitution Party, since the National CP has compromised on the 100% prolife issue, and is no longer 100% prolife in action. The Montana CP stood on principle, and severed ties with the national organization. For more info on this issue, please visit The American View.

James Niemela