Welcome to
A R C-N e w s, Nov. 16, 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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TWO LOADS OF ROCKS
(Click the photos to watch the two videos!) In the two weeks since our last newsletter, 
Vision Complex's ARC (Agape Restoration Community) project in Tanzania has bought 16 hens and 4 roosters, so they'll not only have more eggs to sell, but also more chicks. They've already sold enough eggs to buy two loads of rocks for the foundation. Now they need $200 to feed the workers to carry the rocks and gravel to the trenches they've dug for the foundation, and mix and pour the cement... all by hand. And of course, the chickens need to be fed as well! 
We need your help! Can you donate for some people-food and chickenfeed? Please go to https://Agape-Restoration-Society.org/Vision-Complex and do what you can!
Sub-Saharan Africa is the only part of the world with sufficient human population to rely on manual labor. Why? It may be precisely because it is the "non-industrialized world." Did you notice the phrase "all by hand"? Think of all the back-breaking work involved: manually digging trenches for the foundation, carrying gravel and huge rocks by hand, mixing cement by hand, and making bricks by stomping in mud and putting it into forms: these people also grow their own food – they are in touch with nature, the real world. This all requires human strength and hard effort, whereas in the "industrialized world" of North America, Europe, and Asia we rely on machines and technology to do the hard physical labor so we can enjoy a "modern life" of ease and comfort. But this has led population decline by worshipping the things and careers that industrialization has produced and requires, rather than caring for people, especially for one's own family and neighbors.
As you will read in our newsletter articles below, the result of chasing after things instead of caring for people, namely raising our own families in the right way, is leading us to a demographic implosion: not enough babies are being born, so that within 20 years if not sooner, there won't be enough workers to support the ever-expanding proportion of elderly people. Thus, abortion and childlessness will inevitably lead to an unspoken policy of euthanasia of the elderly.
We have swallowed the line of (pseudo-)science and technology – "knowledge so-called" as in the KJV. We've bitten the bait, believed a false report, gone along with the crowd, and now we're hooked on a life of ease and comfort... and extinction:
1 "You shall not spread a false report. Do not join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.
2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; neither shall you testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice;
3 neither shall you favor a poor man in his cause.
4 If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
5 If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, do not leave him, you shall surely help him with it.
6 You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.
7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous: for I will not justify the wicked.
8 You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the words of the righteous.
9 You shall not oppress an alien, for you know the heart of an alien, seeing you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
10 For six years you shall sow your land, and shall gather in its increase,
11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the animal of the field shall eat. In like manner you shall deal with your vineyard and with your olive grove.
12 Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the alien may be refreshed.
13 Be careful to do all things that I have said to you; and do not invoke the name of other gods, neither let them be heard out of your mouth." (Exodus 23:1-13)
Get this article on our ARC-News blog at blogspot.com and share it!
A Personal Note: My wife Cheryl had me take her to the ER on Nov. 6 because of excruciating back pain that had been coming on for the past 6-8 weeks: she could barely walk due to the pain. They did a CT scan and an MRI: the diagnosis was a fractured L4 vertebra and bulging disks between L3, L4, and L5 vertebrae. She's using a rollator or a cane almost all the time now. Pray that we will discover what the Lord is cooking up for us, and that she will recover safely from her back surgery on Dec. 10 to resolve this problem: see "Buttermilk Biscuits."
Here's our next free online course: (click →) Course 300, "A Biblical Theology of Ministry," - deadline to enroll: 05 January 2025 (← click). So enroll today, before you forget!
2. MEDICAL GROUPS ARE THE NEW 'SCIENCE DENIERS' IN ATTEMPT TO WHITEWASH ABORTION
from: LiveAction
SYNOPSIS: It takes years of propaganda to convince women that they need to intentionally kill their preborn children in order to be equal members of society. It takes even more lies to convince them their babies aren't even human beings, don’t have heartbeats, and are not alive. Recently, the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound met to discuss a "first-trimester US lexicon" that it claimed would be "based on scientific evidence, societal guidelines, and expert consensus." Seven weeks and two days after fertilization (well within the first trimester), the "arteries and veins. of the heart are complete, and during that same week, the heart establishes an EKG pattern that is 'similar to an adult.' Don't say an embryo is 'alive'… because then it will be sadder if she/he dies. The ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) also noted that it would cease using the terms "live," "living," and "viable" to refer to any embryo with a heartbeat, saying, "We recommend against the use of all these terms in the first trimester." ACOG’s goal is to remove the humanity of the preborn child and the emotion of an abortion to make it more acceptable.
Plead to God for people to overcome the indoctrination and lies that a "fetus" is just "a clump of cells" – not a real human baby that already has a fully-formed heart – the primary sign of life – in the first trimester, and can be killed right up to the time of birth.
3. IT'S ABOUT TIME – A PRO-NATALIST NGO
from: Mercator
SYNOPSIS: (Click the photo to watch this shocking video!) Pro-natalist Katalin Novak. as former President of Hungary, could have left public life, traded on government contacts and scored a cozy corporate sinecure. But instead, she co-founded the NGO X·Y Worldwide. If a "childless" life is portrayed as a "childfree" status with more career potential, freedom, and money; and family life as something problematic, full of resignation, compromise, sorrow, pain and worry; then why would young people find starting a family attractive? The idea that mothers are having smaller families in recent times is a myth: mothers in Japan today are having 2.2 children, the same as in 1970. The problem is "childlessness" – no family at all – more and more women never become mothers, have never had that first child. Once a woman has that first child, she experiences the immense joy of being a mother and wants another... or more.
Pray that people in industrialized countries who depend on modern comforts will finally comprehend that the impending population collapse due to abortion and career-seeking will destroy their societies and lead to euthanasia of the booming elderly population.
4. A SPOONFUL OF MURDER
from: American Life League
SYNOPSIS: If you recall Mary Poppins' lovely song "A Spoonful of Sugar," you know that it is wise advice to sweeten the taste buds when using sour medicine. A similar concept is used today but in a tragic manner. After all, since it is clear that abortion is an act of killing, one wonders how any honest person could be satisfied to embrace a position that permits the bloody act in the first place. One abortion equals one death of a person. This has created a run on the market for morning-after pills, which of course serve as abortion pills if a child has been created. So when the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision came down, that law was once again enacted. The spoonful of murder is the contrived right to privacy, a legal term that has been used to foster decriminalization of abortion for more than 50 years. So while nothing new is really happening, media fearmongering is instigating moral outrage and abortion zealotry in exactly the same way it always has.
Intercede for all those, both women and men, who have been indoctrinated by the lie that abortion is OK because an unborn child is simply a part of a woman's body, or something like a tadpole that magically metamorphosizes into a human baby when born.
5. LATINOS LOSE OUT ON STATE’S DISABILITY SERVICES; THESE INITIATIVES BRIDGE THE GAP
from: Disability Scoop
SYNOPSIS: Araceli Ramirez felt lost when her 5-year-old son Abraham was diagnosed with autism two years ago. It wasn't until Ramirez discovered a nonprofit called Escuchen Mi Voz, which means "Listen to My Voice," that she got the services her son needed. Rather, it is emblematic of Latinos' disproportionate access to disability services statewide. Nonprofits like Escuchen Mi Voz are among the dozens of state grant-funded initiatives that try to bridge these gaps, sometimes in inventive ways, like dispatching mobile offices to rural Central Valley communities to assess and enroll people who require services. Disability rights advocates say the initiatives, alone, don't address root causes of the inequitable access to services. "These families would have otherwise taken the whole day off and used a whole day’s wage to pay for transportation to and from Fresno for services," said Natasha Ambriz, a cultural diversity specialist with CVRC.
Thank the Lord that Latino agricultural workers and other newcomers to the U.S. are overcoming cultural barriers such as not being fluent in English and not knowing how to access services.
6. AGEISM IN HEALTH CARE IS COMMON AND IT CAN HARM OLDER PEOPLE
from: National Public Radio
SYNOPSIS: A recent study found that older people spend an average of 21 days a year on medical appointments. Ageism creeps in, even when the intent is benign, says Dr. Louise Aronson, a geriatrician who wrote the book Elderhood. Aronson says assumptions that older people are one big, frail, homogenous group can cause more serious issues. "You look at a person's age and say, 'Ah, you're too old for this,' instead of looking at their health, and function, and priorities, which is what a geriatrician does," says Aronson. Older people go from specialist to specialist, hoping for help with little things that keep cropping up. She says the problem is most doctors receive little education on older people's bodies and minds. "At my medical school we only get two weeks to teach about older people in a four-year curriculum," she says.
Ask the Lord that doctors and other healthcare professionals will learn to view each older adult as a unique person, not an age number that automatically includes that person in one big, frail homogenous group.
7. YOUNG INVENTOR SHARES HIS AUTISM STORY ON MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
from: Disabled World
SYNOPSIS: 12-year-old autistic entrepreneur discusses his sensory-friendly clothing line and shares insights on autism and ADHD, inspiring others with similar challenges. This is the inspiring story of Max Palfrey, a young entrepreneur with autism who created a clothing line to address sensory issues experienced by individuals with similar conditions. Max's appearance on the mental health platform "Jaaq Jnr" not only raises awareness about autism and related challenges but also demonstrates the importance of open discussions about mental health among young people. The article showcases how personal experiences can lead to innovative solutions, as Max's own diagnosis inspired him to create sensory-friendly clothing. Additionally, it emphasizes the positive impact of inclusive media representation and the potential for young individuals to make significant contributions to their communities. The success of Max's business and the platform's growing popularity underscore the demand for resources that support neurodiversity and mental health awareness among youth.
Thank the Lord for young people like Max Palfrey who have the courage and determination to make themselves heard and demonstrate the need for considerate attention to and care for the needs of persons with autism and ADHD.
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!!
CAN YOU HELP US?
In our previous e-newsletter, I told how at age 15, while taking care of lawns at an apartment complex, God gave me a vision: I saw a map of the Soviet Union in the sky and a voice said: "Remember this apartment complex plan - you'll build it when you're an old man." After serving behind the Iron Curtain and in Russia for 20 years, leading a small mission support agency for 20 years, and teaching online in Russian seminaries for 10 years, I'm now in my upper-70s, so I guess I'm old enough to start this new project!
I wrote earlier about our *free* 1-year, 6-course training program "Social Ministry of the Church" in English and Russian to train people how to care for the sick and disabled. The purpose of these courses is to prepare people for "Building the ARC" - an Agape Restoration Community - a Christian housing co-op with a built-in community room/chapel. Most of the units will be wheelchair-accessible because of the aging of the "Baby Boomer" generation: 76 million people born between 1946 and 1965 have reached or are reaching retirement age (10,000/day = 3,650,000/year!), at which time 45% of these people are already disabled.
And as they continue aging, 70% of them will become disabled and require accessible housing or home healthcare before they pass away. This is a huge social concern: 70% of 3,650,000 people = 2,550,000 disabled people per year for the next 20 years = over 50 million people! About 2/3 of all retirees depend on Social Security for over half of their income, and about 1/3 of retirees depend on it for 90% to 100% of their income. But can they continue depending on it? Medicare will be insolvent by 2026 and Social Security will reach insolvency by 2034, the trustees of these funds report, so they will have to cut 'way back: they won't be able to care for all these people at current levels. We need to "Think Forward" ... starting now!
Our basic problem, however, is that like most people, we don't want to think about such things until it's too late. Psychologists call this "the normalcy bias" - our brains work in terms of past experience, so we assume that everything will simply keep on going on "just like normal" as it has in the past. As King David wrote - "Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves. But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish" (Psalm 49:11-12). In everyday layman's language it's called "whistling past the graveyard." We don't want to think about unpleasant things such as growing old, disability, and death... so when it happens, we're unprepared and too feeble to respond adequately, thus we become a burden on the government. But some states are already passing laws allowing euthanasia and assisted suicide to conserve public finances. So it's imperative that we as Christians be proactive and retake our social ministry responsibilities!
Christ commanded His disciples to "Bring in the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind, go into the highways and the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that My house may be full" (Luke 14:21-23). This defines our ultimate target audience and our goal, but how can we "compel them to come in" unless they can come in? Why aren't the churches full? In many cases the "maimed, the lame and blind" can hardly get out of their homes, and getting transported to church is difficult or flat-out impossible.
Most homes, condo and townhouse communities in our greater Pittsburgh area, on the northern edge of the Allegheny Mountains, have at least 1/2 to 1 flight of stairs, often 2 or 3 flights, creating a nearly-insurmountable problem for people with disabilities. Our hearts go out to the 6% of children who are disabled! But 16% of working-age adults and 45% of seniors have disabilities too. 16% + 45% = 61% of disabled people are adults: only 1/10th as many (6%) are children, so shouldn't we pay a bit more attention to those ten-times-as-many disabled adults?
Also, many church buildings aren't very wheelchair-accessible. Solution: "Build the ARC": this is a 12-living-unit building that forms an accessible, affordable Christian housing co-op including a community room/chapel, with all of the living units being wheelchair-accessible by including a ramp from the entrance.... [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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