Welcome to
A R C-N e w s, Sep. 21, 2024
Fortnightly Report on Christian Agape-Care
in Secular Societies, by Dr. Robert D. Hosken
The right to believe and the right to life are inseparable:
Right belief in a loving God enables us to love our neighbor!
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STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS
The Apostle Peter, in his first letter, wrote to the Jewish believers in Yeshua as their Messiah who were scattered abroad in "the Dispersion" – in foreign lands –
"Beloved, I beg you as strangers and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. having good behavior among the nations, so in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well. For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. (1 Peter 2:11-20)
As "resident aliens" we must obey the laws of our host country. We have dual loyalties, to the Kingdom of Heaven and to the earthly rulers. Some Christians take the verse "we ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29) to mean they are free to disregard civil authorities whenever they feel like it. But that's not what St. Peter meant, as we see here in his first letter. We are foreigners and strangers on this earth (but some of us are stranger than others!), our highest loyalty is in Heaven.
Think of how the Virgin Mary was maligned and whispered about when she became pregnant outside of marriage: even Joseph, her fiance, wanted to send her away somewhere to have the baby, but then the Angel told him to take her as his betrothed. And when the baby Jesus became a grown man, the "respectable people" maligned Him as being an illegitimate child, also impugning Mary: the Pharisees said to Him "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God" (John 8:41). Are we willing to suffer reproach for His sake?
Read the whole article on our ARC-News blog at blogspot.com.
Here's our next free online course: (click →) Course 100 - Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities (← click). So enroll today, before you forget!
2. FACT CHECK: DID GEORGIA'S PRO-LIFE LAW KILL A SECOND WOMAN AFTER SHE TOOK THE ABORTION PILL?
from: LiveAction
SYNOPSIS: Just days after publishing an article claiming that a young mother in Georgia died because of a state law protecting preborn children from abortion, ProPublica published another story of the death of a second Georgia woman who it claims to have died for the same reason. The woman didn’t die because of Georgia’s laws, but that didn’t stop ProPublica from publishing the stories of women who died after taking the abortion pill, instead blaming the state's laws. Peer-reviewed studies have found that women are at risk of severe side effects after chemical abortions, including hemorrhage, sepsis, and death. Mifepristone has a black box warning for various potential side effects, including sepsis.
Pray against the lies and deceptions by pro-death news media to justify this ghastly practice, and pray for the truth that an unborn baby is not a woman's own body to be widely proclaimed.
3. NO, 'CHILDLESS CAT LADIES' ARE NOT TO BLAME FOR AMERICA'S DECLINE
from: Mercator
SYNOPSIS: In a recent article published on Mercator, the author expressed his deep concern about the aging populations in Western democracies and their low birth-rates resulting in falling populations. He wrote that our societies’ problems were due to what a politician called “childless cat ladies” who prefer cats to babies. A respondent wrote – "I have been told of men who have divorced three consecutive wives on the ground they were infertile, that is, in all three cases the woman was blamed for the infertility: it is unthinkable in many cultures that a man would be infertile. Having a pet may prevent a person committing suicide, because they worry who would look after it if they were dead. I had a student with quadriplegia who brought his black Labrador assistance dog to my medical law and ethics class. The other students loved to pet it, and felt calmed by its presence. Upon graduation, the dog was awarded an honorary law degree."
Pray that pro-life and pro-family people will focus on the upcoming demographic disaster of low birth rates. See also WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM ISRAEL’S EXCEPTIONAL FERTILITY?
4. HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES – WHY IT MATTERS
from: The Arc.org
SYNOPSIS: People with disabilities face significant barriers to affordable, accessible housing, often leading to institutionalization or homelessness. Many rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which provides incomes too low to afford housing nationwide. As caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) age, their dependents risk institutionalization. Accessible homes with features like widened doorways or no-step entrances are scarce and expensive. Despite the Fair Housing Act prohibiting discrimination, housing options remain inadequate, contributing to a crisis for many.
Pray with us for Christians to obey Christ's teachings, examples, and command to "bring in the poor, the maimed, the blind, and the lame," instead of abdicating our job as Christians, letting the government and secular agencies do it.
5. DISABILITY REPRESENTATION IN TOP MOVIES REMAINS 'STUBBORNLY' LOW
from: Disability Scoop
SYNOPSIS: Despite efforts to promote inclusion in Hollywood, a new report finds that representation of people with disabilities on screen has changed little since 2015. Just 2.2% of speaking characters in top movies released last year were portrayed as having a disability, according to a report looking at the 100 highest-grossing films for 2023. That's actually fewer than the 2.4% seen in 2015. More than half were white, the findings show. "When it comes to the representation of... people with disabilities there is one question for the entertainment industry. What will it take to increase inclusion on screen and to diversify portrayals so they reflect the breadth and vitality of people who... live with a disability?" said Stacy L. Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
This is an example of "ableism" – most of us have a subconscious bias against people who have a disability because it reminds us of our own mortality. Pray that we all become more aware of our biases, and become "anti-ableists" – working against this bias in society.
6. AGEISM UNMASKED - EXPLORING AGE BIAS AND HOW TO END IT
from: Agape-Biblia.org
SYNOPSIS: Why do we still tolerate stereotypes and discrimination based on age? This bold account of the history and present-day realities of ageism by Dr. Gendron, a nationally recognized gerontologist and speaker, uncovers ageism's roots, impact, and how each of us can create a new reality of elderhood. Ageism Unmasked shifts the lens, enabling us to see that we tolerate, and sometimes actively promote, attitudes and behaviors toward differently aged people that we would reject and condemn if applied to any other group.
Pray for Christians to break free from "ageism" – it's a real thing, a subconscious "cognitive bias"s we absorb from our youth-oriented culture. Take a look at this book and a few others about ageism on our literature page.
7. AUTISTIC ADULTS SHARE STRUGGLES WITH MISDIAGNOSIS OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
from: Disabled World
SYNOPSIS: This study examines the lived experiences of autistic adults misdiagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It highlights challenges in differentiating between autism and BPD, especially among women. Misdiagnosis leads to harmful treatments and stigma, with BPD implying individuals are broken and potentially dangerous. Participants reported that receiving an accurate autism diagnosis was transformative, improving mental health. The study calls for better autism training for healthcare professionals to prevent future misdiagnoses and promote more inclusive mental health services.
Thank the Lord that there's a movement to stop misdiagnosing autism as Borderline Personality Disorder. People with autism are not mentally ill, their brains are just wired differently: many are intellectually gifted, others are mentally retarded, but not mentally ill.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Perhaps you've read this before and are wondering, "Why am I seeing this again?" But millions of other Christians haven't seen it! So please use the "share" buttons above to share it with your social media friends. Thanks!!
Who Are We?
(← click) We set up 
"Agape Restoration Society" in 1998 as a nonprofit organization that demonstrates the love of Christ in practical, charitable actions, namely by training people to work with and rehabilitate disabled people, to provide medicines, wheelchairs, other equipment, and Build the ARC - Agape Restoration Communities.
How did this idea of creating such a caring community come about? Check out our previous slide – "We Who Are Strong." I committed my life to serve Christ as my Lord and Savior in 1957, and about a year later, I received a vision as I stood on the balcony of a U-shaped apartment complex. A voice said, "Remember this plan: you will build it many years from now, when you're an old man." I asked, "Why do I have to wait so long?"
Then I saw a map or outline of the USSR in the sky, and also was given the clear impression that there was something very special about the stairways, but I didn't understand what. Immediately after receiving this vision I began studying Russian history, language, and politics, and my wife and I eventually served there as missionaries for 17 years. Over the years I drew these plans several times, even built our own passive solar house incorporating some of these ideas, but there was always that nagging question about the stairways. What's the big deal about the stairways
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Now you've reached the end of our slides so...
→ What are you going to do about it? ←
"More is lost by indecision than by wrong decision." - Cicero
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Don't put off making a decision about your future home. You have to make a decision: "not to decide is to decide." You can choose to sit, looking out the window at those two above quotations until you fall asleep or fall over, or you can choose to do something about it. Don't wait for the "perfect situation" - it will never appear. Delaying a decision until you're almost dead is too late... [read more...]
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If just 5% of the people who see this would give $5 per month (just 17¢ per day!) – coffee with your favorite friend at your favorite coffee shop – we could cover our operating expenses and do much more in spreading the word, supporting orphans, and providing accessible housing for the disabled. My wife and I left our careers over 30 years ago to serve in Russia as missionaries: we're now "semi-retired" – we've put on a new set of semi tires and keep on trucking! We live on our retirement income and volunteer our time: we receive no financial support from Agape Restoration Society. Our websites and ministry are funded by us and just a few friends. ...thanks!
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