We have aborted marriage with divorce, "shackin up", adultery, prostitution, and pornography. (I read that married couples are now a minority in our society.)

We have aborted experiencing God with religious routine, self-promoting preachers, and manipulative fund raising.

We have aborted moral decency with "adult" content.

We have aborted racial integration with economic segregation.

We have aborted peace with war.

We have aborted Christmas with consumerism.

We have aborted politics with character assassination and "negative advertising."

We have aborted the "war on poverty" with riches and greed.

We have aborted character and honesty with expediency and "group think".

We have aborted racial justice with a focus on "sexual orientation".

We have aborted our self-respect and happiness with alcohol and drugs.

And we have aborted human life itself with a "medical procedure".

Four of us prayer walked around the Salvation Army Magness Potter Center yesterday. As we started walking down Grace Street with the Salvation Army flag, a woman stopped her car and said with a big smile: "I just want to thank you all for praying with me a few months ago. Now God has blessed me with this car!"

A little later two men in a truck asked about the flag. We told them it stood for the blood of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit. The drivers name was Givings and he said he owns a liquor store and told us to keep up the good work.

A block later three men in a pick up asked about the flag. After we told them about what we were doing they said: "That's really good, but just don't walk on Second Street." We said: "We walk there every few weeks." One guys mouth dropped open and he said: "I'm even afraid to go on that street." Then the guys let us pray for them.

Yesterday I noticed a much better spirit in the neighborhood. It almost felt like walking in a park instead of what many consider one of Nashville's worst inner city neighborhoods.

They call it a "tissue issue" while they knife a human life.

IT AIN'T SAFE TO BE NO WOMB DWELLER

Today, I saw you on the ultra sound.
You sure ain't very big around.
Warning! Warning! Little Feller,
It ain't safe to be no womb dweller.

Since your Momma took the notion,
She can kill you without commotion.
And I ain't got no say about your life
Cause your Momma, she ain't my wife.

But how can they call it "prochoice"
When me and the Little Feller have no voice?
The Supreme Court says its a woman's right,
So Dear Son, good night.

(Maybe it will win a CMA Award for social comment and/or bad grammar.)

You may not can control the deposits into your memory bank, but you can control the withdrawals! Life is guaranteed to give you some unpleasant experiences. And because your mind is such an awesome and powerful instrument, it will automatically store those experiences in your memory.

For example, if you choose to do so, at this very moment you can conjure up the memory of the ten worst experiences of your life. You have the ability to re-live your painful memories in vivid detail, re-experiencing all the hurt, bitterness, and anxiety. (Ouch!) But why would anybody want to call to mind their most disturbing memories? What purpose does it serve to run sad memories through your head? It only causes needless pain!

Yet millions of people torture themselves with painful memories every day! Silly isn't it! People use their minds to make themselves miserable and then try to feel better by using alcohol, drugs, self-destructive lifestyles, and other diversions! But wouldn't it be better if they didn't depress themselves in the first place?

After all, everybody has pleasant memories as well as painful ones! And it is just as easy to remember something good as it is to remember something bad. It is a matter of free choice.

You (and no one else) pick the memories you bring to your mind. Are you being good to yourself by remembering your joys, your loving relationships, and your triumphs? Or are your tormenting yourself by dredging up your failures, your rejections, and your disappointments?

I like what Buck Rogers, a former vice president of IBM, said: "I have what I consider a selective memory. I pick and choose which memories I'll draw from my memory bank, and I have chosen those that make me feel good".

How about you? Do you make yourself feel good by recalling pleasant memories? Or do you make yourself feel bad by thinking about depressing memories? The choice is yours! Why not think about and visualize a wonderful memory through out the day today and see how it makes you feel? Come on, at least try it for one day. OK?