First Friday Fast and Pray - It’s the first Friday of the month, and I skipped breakfast. I’m not in pain yet. I’m not regretting this choice. To recap, about six weeks ago, I got an email from another pastor about a local Catholic diocese encouraging people to fast and pray for the end of abortion in Colorado on the first Friday of the month.
I blogged about it here.
Today’s the first first-Friday since then. On a related note:
Piper’s Greatest Hits:
I used to listen to John Piper a lot more than I do now. Why? Well, he doesn’t preach as often as he used to since he retired; that’s the main reason. But an old sermon of his popped up somewhere (twitter, iTunes, somewhere?), and the topic intrigued me. Forty years ago, he encouraged Christians to fast to end abortion. Did that have anything to do with the Dobbs decision years later? Hard to say, but I thought this obscure bit of related history was worth sharing. The link below goes to the Apple podcast page, but if you search any of the words below the link on desiringgod.org, it’ll take you to a transcript of the sermon if you prefer that:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/john-pipers-scripture-sermons/id1683243226?i=1000660679006
Sanctity of Life Sunday Scripture: Ezra 8:21–23 Topics: Fasting Date: JANUARY 22, 1995
More Fasting for Social Justice
The following is from a recent email from Life Network[1] President Rich Bennett: “Recently, Governor Polis signed a bill into law creating a backup plan for Planned Parenthood: If the federal courts uphold the national defunding effort, Colorado taxpayers will fill the gap with nearly $4.5 million in funds annually. This action shows just how determined our pro-abortion state’s leaders are to support abortion — even up to birth.
In the face of this, your support provides hope, compassion, and life-affirming alternatives for women facing unexpected pregnancies. Thank you for standing for life with us in the midst of these challenges.”
I won’t comment a ton on this news because I’m not well-versed in the details beyond what I’ve quoted above. I will note that Life Network’s care for women is not limited to ultrasounds. They also provide parenting classes for men and women (great opportunities for God’s people to serve, evangelize, mentor, and more) and have several benevolent efforts to support parents holistically, as well.
The stakes are high in our state, and there are great opportunities to serve the unborn and their parents in the hopes of providing a more just and more compassionate life for many. (Lastly, one thing I love about Life Network is that they also take appropriate opportunities to evangelize those they’re in contact with, proclaiming the life more abundant and free.)
Christian Hardship in our Backyard:
I cannot comment meaningfully on immigration, refugees, and a number of other topics, but I’d like to draw your attention and awareness to a recent article by Rev. Matthew Capone, Senior Pastor of Cheyenne Mountain PCA in Colorado Springs. Their church is a stone’s throw from Ft. Carson, and I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Matthew since he came to Cheyenne Mountain PCA 7-8 years ago. His article is not written in a vacuum; he is describing the plight of a member of his church, an Iranian Christian and refugee who has suffered violent persecution in her home country at the hands of her own family, who is currently being detained by ICE. Please read, and please pray for Shabnam Maleki. (I believe we shared this prayer request with the church when she was first detained several weeks ago.)
Note: First Things is a Catholic website; Orthodox Presbyterian Church minister Carl Trueman is a frequent contributor, as well.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Friday's hodgepodge of links to other resources. Lord willing, I’ll have more to say next Friday; until then, I have an elementary school PTO meeting to attend, laundry to wash, and food to not eat.
-Pastor Matt 09-05-25
[1] Forestgate supports Life Network through our Benevolence Fund. We also have several members who regularly raise money for them through the annual Walk for Life, and several members, past and present, volunteer for them, as well.