The Virgin Birth of Jesus – Did it Really Happen?

December 26th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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In two of the four New Testament gospels we read that Jesus is born of a virgin (Mary) who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew does not give us many details how this happened and just mentions the basic facts: “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).

In Luke’s gospel many more details about the background of Mary, her encounter with an angel and her relationship with Joseph are revealed. Luke explicitly mentions that Mary was a virgin (Luke 1:34: “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”), that she was engaged to be married (Luke 1:27: “a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.”) and that the child was not conceived by a man but by God through the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35: “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”).

That Jesus was to be born from a virgin through the Holy Spirit is with our 20/20 perfect hindsight completely understandable and considered a great miracle. Jesus can only be (the Son of) God if He was not just human. By having a divine Father and a human mother we can intuitively understand that He is both God and man at the same time.

And we now know that through the virgin birth the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” was to the letter fulfilled. Not only because Mary was His virgin mother. Jesus’ divinity also explains the name “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” Since Jesus is God, that part of Isaiah’s prophecy was literally fulfilled.

But how do we know that the virgin birth account was not just added to the gospels to embellish Jesus’ birth as fulfilled prophecy and a supernatural event? It is obviously not possible for us 2000 years after this event to study any medical or other scientific evidence to support this claim. However through logical analysis combined with our knowledge of life and the culture of those days the case for the virgin birth seems surprisingly strong.

Have you ever wondered why the miracle of the virgin birth of Jesus only received limited attention in the New Testament? Yes, both Matthew and Luke briefly mention it at the beginning of their gospels, but it is not brought up again by them or any of the other New Testament books as an evidence for the Divinity of Jesus anywhere. Actually the Bible is remarkably quiet about this. Why was this great and important miracle not mentioned again and again?

For us to understand this, we need to go back to the culture at the time of Jesus. In those days a girl’s greatest asset was considered to be her sexual purity. Only a young woman who retained her virginity could expect to secure a good man for a husband. Mothers kept their daughters out of the public eye as much as possible to not expose them to temptation. A pregnant unmarried woman was considered a grave insult to the honor of her family. As still seen today in many Arab countries (whose citizens still live under the Islamic laws and culture as it was in the ancient Middle East) such pregnancies would often lead to honor killings. The father and/or her brothers, lamenting her inability to marry, could kill her to avoid the disgrace.

Against this background Jesus’ virgin birth was not heralded as a miracle. Especially for Matthew, writing about Jesus’ birth must have presented a real dilemma. As a devout Jew, Matthew’s decision to record that Joseph, representing the royal bloodline of Jesus, was not Jesus’ natural father, could open up a potential flood of compromising criticisms that Jesus was born out of wedlock. This account in Matthew’s gospel shows his unconditional commitment to writing the truth without altering any of it.

Therefore the most logical conclusion is that the mere mentioning of the conception and birth of Jesus from a young woman who was not married and still a virgin IS the compelling evidence that it really happened. If the gospels were not factual, mere legends and embellished stories, the account of the virgin birth would not have been included.

By: Rob VandeWeghe

About the Author:

Rob VandeWeghe is a skeptic turned Christian. Rob’s book ‘Prepared to Answer’ and many more evidences for Christianity are available at <a href=“>http://www.windmillministries.org> www.WindmillMinistries.org.

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The Ecstasy of Birth

December 24th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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Quote: “There’s just no reason to do it any other way.” Said by many a new mother sitting in a hospital bed, following the virtually pain-free birth of her baby, thanks to the wonders of modern medicine. Years ago, when my sister-in-law and I had this conversation, I found myself at a loss. Having just delivered my own daughter without medication or other intervention, I felt conflicted. I disagreed with her logic, but could not seem to come up with an articulable counter argument, and that frustrated me.

Before we go any further, let me be clear: I count women who have chosen  medical birth among my dearest family and friends. I have no wish to offend them or anyone else. And for a minority of mothers, medically-oriented labor and delivery is the best option. But natural-birthing mothers have been silent too long, and it’s time we respond, “Yes, there absolutely is a reason to do it another way.” To more accurate, there are several reasons, and the evidence on the sheer physical benefit of physiologically normal birth is compelling. But let’s forget about the science for a moment and talk about one specific, albeit abstract, reason: Elective childbirth without medication just may be – no, will probably be – one of the greatest sensations of your life.

Is childbirth painful? You bet. It’s probably some of the most extreme discomfort many women will experience in their lives. Childbirth educators like myself often shy away from the word “pain,” because we don’t want to scare anyone. But let’s face it: “Discomfort” does not begin to describe the sensation of transition contractions. Birth hurts.

But that’s only half the story, and if that’s all you’ve heard, you’ve missed the best part. Yes, birth hurts. But birth also heals. Childbirth is not only one of the most physically painful things many women will experience; it is also one of the most physically and emotionally ecstatic.

I’m convinced that many mothers shy away from discussing this aspect of birth for two reasons: 1) It is highly personal, and 2) It is extremely difficult to articulate.

Describing to anyone your feelings at the birth of your child is to let them in on one of the most intimate experiences of your life. It requires a level of intimacy that most of us share with very few people. Even more challenging, the ecstasy of childbirth is nearly impossible to put into words. But its inarticulable nature does not mean it doesn’t exist. By way of contrast, consider some of the more intense experiences of your own life – moments that enveloped you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And then ask yourself: Could anyone possibly put that experience into words? Poetry might be able to come close, but prose? Could a random, double-blind, controlled scientific study even begin to touch it?

For most people, the answer is no. There are experiences that cannot be put into words. Science may reflect the hormonal surges that lead to the feelings we experience, but science cannot describe the feeling itself. Now ask yourself: How do you normally respond to an experience that is “too good for words”? Doesn’t its inarticulable nature only make you want to try it more?

So here’s my suggestion: If you are expecting a baby and find yourself on the fence about natural childbirth, put down the research books. Instead, talk to a mother who chose to deliver her child without medical intervention.  Ask her about her experience. (Don’t be shy – most mothers love to tell their birth stories!) Notice her enthusiasm, her attitude towards labor pain, her level of confidence. Ask her if she would have chosen a different approach to her baby’s birth. I’ll wager that she’ll tell you: “There’s just no reason to do it any other way.”



By: Jenny Everett King

About the Author:

The coordinator of Healing Hands Chiropractic’s Body-Mind Wellness program, Jenny Everett King believes strongly in the value of holistic health practices. Her faith in the power of the mind-body connection is the core of her approach to both yoga and childbirth classes.

Jenny is an ExpertRating Certified Yoga Teacher at the Expert level, and continues to study various hatha yoga styles and practices. She is a member of the International Yoga Association, as well as the Manchester Young Professionals Network and the Southern New Hampshire Women’s Business Network.

Jenny and her husband have two young children, both born naturally with midwives attending. Jenny has used her twin passions for yoga and holistic family wellness to develop Healing Hands Chiropractic’s childbirth education series, Empowered Birth. Her childbirth educator certification through the Cambridge, MA-based ALACE organization is pending.



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Birth Injuries are Hazardous

December 24th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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What is birth injury? It means the injury caused to the baby in the womb of the mother or during the delivery or later after the delivery. These injuries can be minor or fatal. If the baby sustains brain injury then it will prove to be fatal as the whole life of the baby will be affected. Due to the injury a bay may develop cerebral palsy or become mentally retarded. This type of major birth injury not only affects the child but also affects the family members as they have to bear the burden of the child throughout their life. Sometimes the injury may be caused due to the negligence of the hospital staff. In this kind of situation there is a provision in law where the parents can sue the hospital for compensation.

Causes of Birth Injuries

There are various causes of birth injuries. If the baby is overweight during birth then problem may arise during delivery due to which the baby may suffer from shortage of oxygen which may affect his brain tissues. If a baby is born premature he may sustain birth injury as the body of a baby who is born within thirty seven weeks is very fragile the baby may be injured during birth. The pelvis shape and size of the mother is defective due to which normal delivery is not possible and the baby sustains injury. The mother suffers from prolong labor pain which may cut off the supply of oxygen to the undelivered baby and cause damage to his delicate brain tissues. Abnormal position of the child during birth that is the leg comes out first and then the head which is also known as breach position.

Types of Birth Injuries

Caput is the injury caused when there is difficulty in delivery. This injury mostly occurs in babies who are delivered with the help of the vacuum extraction. The soft tissues of the babies scalp is bruised which heals within few days. A baby may show signs of bruising due to the use of forceps during the delivery. Hemorrhage in the small blood vessels of the eyes, this is very common and does not cause any damage. Temporary or permanent facial paralysis may occur due to the breakage of the facial nerve. Fracture of the collar bone during delivery is a very common occurrence. Healing occurs quickly. The group of nerves that supply blood to the arms and the hands may be injured if there is difficulty in delivering the baby’s shoulders. Some the injuries are minor and the baby recovers within a short period but some of the injuries are fatal which may have a permanent impact for life.



By: April Kerr

About the Author:

April Kerr often writes for blog Illinois Birth Injury Lawyer which has details of Cerebral Palsy and Fractures of the Clavical.



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What’s in Your Birth Plan? – Planning Your Home Birth

December 19th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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What’s in Your Birth Plan? – Planning Your Home Birth



What To Consider for Natural Home Births



 Why do you need a birth plan?

There are many options available to support your home birth experience ranging from a water birth to hypnotherapy in birthing. The idea of a birth plan is to choose your preferred method of giving birth, and also to specify your views on interventions that will be offered to you. While many women do not have the birth that they planned, preparing a birth plan gives you and your partner a starting point when labour kicks in. Also creating a birth plan enables you to discuss all the options with your partner and midwife and confirm what your preferences are. This is important, as your partner may need to speak for you while you are focussed on your labour. Also if your midwife is aware of your birth plan she will also be able to ensure there is a midwife available to support a homebirth and adequately trained if you need assistance with a water birth. 

What to put in your birth plan?

This will be different for every person, and you will gain ideas about your ideal birth from antenatal classes and talking to mothers who have been through the process, or even your own experience if this is not your first child. Below is a template for a birth plan that covers the main areas to consider when planning your home birth.

How to put your birth plan together – try this template

The sections below are the common areas to consider when planning your home birth; you may come up with more requirements or may have no preferences on some of the sections below. You can use this as a guide to start your birth plan.

People present



You may only want your midwife and your birth partner present, or you may be happy for close relatives and friends to support you. If you specify this then your partner or midwife can tactfully ask people to give you some privacy if required during the birth.

Also consider any other children that you have and whether you would like them present and if they would like to witness the birth. Make a contingency plan if you think that it may not be a good idea for them to attend the birth. 

You may consider it helpful to have a friend or your mother present to help out, especially if you have a birth pool that needs to be filled.

A doula, acupuncturist or a hypnotist are also popular for home births.

Have the names and numbers of anyone that you would like at the birth available in case someone else needs to call them for you.



 

 Pain relief

If you have a home birth you can only use natural pain relief methods. Options to help you with your home birth may involve, the use of movement, massage, relaxation, acupuncture, hypnosis, aromatherapy, a TENS machine, or a birth pool. Your midwife may also make gas and air available for you, but remember that she may not arrive until the end of the first stage of labour or the start of the second stage of labour.

Immediately after birth



You want to keep your baby with you / Can take the baby away for examination

You want to keep the umbilical chord attached until it stops pulsating / Can cut the umbilical chord straight away

Partner wants to cut the umbilical chord

You want to breastfeed straight away



 

Third Stage – Placenta Delivery

You would like to deliver the placenta naturally / you would like an injection to help speed up the delivery of the placenta.

What if your birth does not go according to your birth plan?

Midwife Does Not Arrive on Time

In the vast majority of cases the midwife will arrive on time. If you feel that she will not make it then call 999. Ambulances can get through traffic a lot faster than a normal car and the paramedics are trained to assist childbirth.

What If There Are Complications

The midwife will only support your home birth if there have been no complications with your pregnancy and your baby is in the expected position and expected size for his age, so the risk of having complications in childbirth are minimised. The midwife will continually monitor your progress, and if concerned she will transfer you to hospital before any issues arise. This is something you will discuss with her when going through your birth plan. Many planned home births result in a transfer to hospital as the midwife will always err on the side of caution to ensure the safety of you and your baby.



By: Lucy Pickering

About the Author:

Lucy Pickering is co-founder of the company Hello Baby. She has been providing services and products to aid childbirth since 2006 and actively promotes women’s choice in childbirth for both hospital births and home births.



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Fun Ideas For Mother’s Day Gifts From Kids

December 16th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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‘A Mother Understands What A Child Does Not Say’ – old Jewish proverb.

I find this proverb so apt in its meaning I’ve pasted a copy on my door to remind me each morning of the love that mother and child share. The mother understands every need of yours without you ever having to say anything right from the minute of your birth. mother’s day gifts from kids is one sure-shot way of telling her you care for her as much, despite all the turbulence of your relationship.

Homemade mother’s day gifts from kids like jewelry or cards are bound to be a sure hit with the doting mothers. Rather than hunt high and low for that perfect ornament, get your creative juices running and make a beaded necklace or bracelet for her. Don’t worry if the final product is not up to market expectations; she would be more than pleased with the love and effort that went into it.

Personalized photo collages also make great Mother’s day gifts from kids and would make her smile every time she takes a look at it.

There are many stores and online shopping sites that specialize in Mother’s day gifts from kids. Carnations and roses , or any combination of flowers are a great idea which can never go wrong, especially when you gift her favorite flowers.

Fathers too can contribute in a big way to this special day, though most of them tend to be just pocket money providers. Ask your father to take over the household chores and give his wife a day off. They could even team up with the kids and cook a special dinner for her and enjoy some quality family time.

Other Mother’s day gifts from kids that always work wonders are a spa day, a movie out with the family or a well thought of gift hamper. If you are grown up kids and live far away from home, make plans to go over to your mother for Mother’s day and a special family get together.

Every mother appreciates Mother’s day gifts from kids and no matter what the material gift, the important thing is to make her feel loved on this day.



By: Jasnav

About the Author:

Jasnav is an expert relationship advisor who gives extremely practical advice on making relationships last a lifetime. Click here to gift your mother a bouquet of roses and make the day very special for her.



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Paxil Birth Defects Facts

December 12th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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Paxil is a common antidepressant that was heavily pushed through the media to the general public to help alleviate symptoms of depression in men and women. Depression is a difficult and taxing clinical disorder to overcome, and Paxil shone through the darkness as a beacon of hope to countless individuals undergoing treatment for depression.

Doctors and the media are now urging women who are or may become pregnant to switch to a different medication as a result of an onslaught of Paxil birth defects. Paxil has been shown to increase the risk of birth defects by at least 50%. Paxil birth defects tend to affect a baby’s heart more than any other organ. The risk of Paxil birth defects was not commonly advertised or even well known at the time Paxil was introduced to the market.

Paxil was introduced to the market under a Category C pregnancy risk, which simply means that Paxil was not known to cause birth defects. It has since been upgraded to a Category D, which states there is a high risk of Paxil birth defects, although the effects of passing the medication through the mother’s breast milk are known, the benefits carry a higher percentage factor than the risk factor. Any doctor prescribing Paxil to a nursing mother should outline the risks very clearly.

Paxil birth defects created an outrage and naturally the pharmaceutical company was held accountable, although the Paxil birth defects that are still being tallied have the option to file a lawsuit against the Paxil pharmacy company. Any qualified Paxil attorney can assist a woman or parents in understanding their legal rights.

There is of course the risk of developing a Paxil addiction, which has only complicated matters in getting pregnant women off Paxil for the health of their fetus. Most notably at risk in the first trimester, Paxil addiction can grab hold of a pregnant woman prior to her knowledge of pregnancy. This two fold medical situation has destroyed countless families as they have struggled to put the pieces back together again. Keeping in mind that Paxil is an antidepressant, those taking Paxil were struggling to begin with, and now they have a Paxil addiction and run the risk of giving birth to a baby with Paxil birth defects.

There are naturally legal remedies for a family devastated by the use of Paxil. A Paxil attorney can advise of the full legal rights, but most people will find they have a window of time to sue the pharmaceutical company and in some cases the prescribing physician, for compensation. Financial compensation does not remove the struggle of a Paxil addiction or ease the intense pain of having a child with a Paxil birth defect, but it does allow for the resources necessary to provide medical care both for the mother and the baby.

Any Paxil attorney will tell you, the only thing these families desire is a happy healthy mother and a strong and healthy infant. Paxil addictions and Paxil birth defects are very serious consequences for those who simply went searching for help.

By: Nick Johnson

About the Author:

Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Fen-Phen and PPH, Paxil, Mesothelioma and Nursing Home Abuse. Call 1-888-311-5522 today or visit http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com for a free case evaluation.

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How To Take Care Of Yourself As A New Mother

December 11th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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All new mothers know that as soon as their baby comes home from the hospital, their lives will get busier. With so much going on, the one thing that they let slip is taking care of themselves.

It takes time for your body to heal after giving birth. It is hard to get your body back in shape through exercise and special diets, and don’t forget that you shouldn’t exercise right after giving birth. Plus, if you’re breast feeding, your daily menu should be rich and nutritious, and you should take time to relax. So how can you take care of yourself and simplify your daily routine with your baby?

 Here are some tips:

 When a new baby arrives, all the attention turns to them. You will barely have time for yourself. Don’t be shy about asking for and accepting help from your partner, family or friends. Let them help with the housekeeping or taking care of the baby. Make sure you have time for yourself every day-set aside an hour or more and don’t feel guilty about needing your space.

You are not a superhuman-it’s okay to say “no” when someone wants to visit and you feel tired or want to be alone.   Sleep is indispensable to the recuperation of a new mother’s energy. Even if it’s not possible to go to sleep every chance you get, remember that sleep is very important to your body’s healing process.  Don’t carry heavy things, such as toy boxes. Use a toy box with wheels or buy a lightweight cart. Comforting your crying baby by holding him or her in your hands can harm your back and stability. Try to get your baby used to being held in a different way. During the day you’ll spend a lot of time playing with your baby. The safest place in the house to play with your baby is on the floor. Use a back-support pillow. If the floor is cold, protect yourself in the same way that you protect your baby-sit on the play mat.   Follow a simple stretching program for new mothers in the morning and evening. Stretching helps your body become stronger and prepares you for active exercise. Spoil yourself with a long shower, a good massage, a cosmetic treatment or anything else that makes you happy.

 Give your body enough time to heal, simplify your daily routine and get enough sleep to “recharge” your body and mind.  Also, don’t forget to prepare your body for active sports by doing daily stretches.

Learn more about new mother care by entering new-mothers-support.com



By: adi

About the Author:



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Get Healthy Delivery Through Water Birth

December 11th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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Water birth is a process of giving birth to a baby in a tub or pool of warm water. It is considered to be a safe and healthy way of giving birth to a child. Child water birth method was first opted in United States through couples giving birth at homes, but later was accepted by the medical environment. It is believed that because baby has been in the amniotic sac for 9 months and therefore, birthing in the same environment will not only be healthy for the baby but also less stressful for the mother.

Water is always soothing, relaxing and comforting. There are many women who prefer to labor in water and move out of water for delivery. At the same time, there are women who choose to be in water for delivery too. There are many benefits of water birth which includes:

The body weight of the women lessens which allows free movement and positioning.

Warm water immersion lowers the high blood pressure.

Warm water makes the perineum elastic and relaxed. This reduces the chances of tearing and the need of episiotomy and stitches.

In water the pregnant women relaxes both mentally and physically. This enables her to concentrate on the birth procedure.

With buoyancy the mother experiences better blood circulation and efficient uterine contractions. This improves the oxygenation of uterine muscles. As a result, mother experiences less pain and the baby gets more oxygen.

Although there are no risks involved with water birth. Yet there are small chances of risk if the baby is raised to the surface and then re-immersed. But the midwives takes care that once the baby is born, he is directly placed on the woman’s breast for feeding and not re-immersed in the water.

There are conditions when this method of natural child birth is not possible which include:

Multiple Births: It is not considered suitable for multiple births. Although there are successful cases of twins yet it is recommended to take advice of your doctor before doing it. Usually doctors recommend for caesarean birth for multiple pregnancies.

In case any maternal infection is found.

If a premature baby is expected then pregnancy birth in water is not recommended.

If after diagnosis, excessive bleeding is expected doctors do not recommend this procedure.

If there is severe meconium found floating to the surface in tub. Meconium washes off the face of the baby and can also come out of the baby’s nose and mouth while the baby is still under water. If the water is stained and the birth is about to happen then the women can lift her pelvis out of water to give birth to the baby.

To conclude, labor in water is effective but it is important to seek advice with your health care provider whether water birth is suitable for you or not.



By: Apurva Shree

About the Author:

Water birth refers to giving birth in warm water. This is less painful and is less traumatic for the pregnant women. During child water birth, the baby gets more oxygen in comparison to other labor techniques. For more information visit pregnancyperiod



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The Virgin Birth of Jesus – Did it Really Happen?

December 9th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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In two of the four New Testament gospels we read that Jesus is born of a virgin (Mary) who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew does not give us many details how this happened and just mentions the basic facts: “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).

In Luke’s gospel many more details about the background of Mary, her encounter with an angel and her relationship with Joseph are revealed. Luke explicitly mentions that Mary was a virgin (Luke 1:34: “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”), that she was engaged to be married (Luke 1:27: “a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.”) and that the child was not conceived by a man but by God through the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35: “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”).

That Jesus was to be born from a virgin through the Holy Spirit is with our 20/20 perfect hindsight completely understandable and considered a great miracle. Jesus can only be (the Son of) God if He was not just human. By having a divine Father and a human mother we can intuitively understand that He is both God and man at the same time.

And we now know that through the virgin birth the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” was to the letter fulfilled. Not only because Mary was His virgin mother. Jesus’ divinity also explains the name “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” Since Jesus is God, that part of Isaiah’s prophecy was literally fulfilled.

But how do we know that the virgin birth account was not just added to the gospels to embellish Jesus’ birth as fulfilled prophecy and a supernatural event? It is obviously not possible for us 2000 years after this event to study any medical or other scientific evidence to support this claim. However through logical analysis combined with our knowledge of life and the culture of those days the case for the virgin birth seems surprisingly strong.

Have you ever wondered why the miracle of the virgin birth of Jesus only received limited attention in the New Testament? Yes, both Matthew and Luke briefly mention it at the beginning of their gospels, but it is not brought up again by them or any of the other New Testament books as an evidence for the Divinity of Jesus anywhere. Actually the Bible is remarkably quiet about this. Why was this great and important miracle not mentioned again and again?

For us to understand this, we need to go back to the culture at the time of Jesus. In those days a girl’s greatest asset was considered to be her sexual purity. Only a young woman who retained her virginity could expect to secure a good man for a husband. Mothers kept their daughters out of the public eye as much as possible to not expose them to temptation. A pregnant unmarried woman was considered a grave insult to the honor of her family. As still seen today in many Arab countries (whose citizens still live under the Islamic laws and culture as it was in the ancient Middle East) such pregnancies would often lead to honor killings. The father and/or her brothers, lamenting her inability to marry, could kill her to avoid the disgrace.

Against this background Jesus’ virgin birth was not heralded as a miracle. Especially for Matthew, writing about Jesus’ birth must have presented a real dilemma. As a devout Jew, Matthew’s decision to record that Joseph, representing the royal bloodline of Jesus, was not Jesus’ natural father, could open up a potential flood of compromising criticisms that Jesus was born out of wedlock.  This account in Matthew’s gospel shows his unconditional commitment to writing the truth without altering any of it.

Therefore the most logical conclusion is that the mere mentioning of the conception and birth of Jesus from a young woman who was not married and still a virgin IS the compelling evidence that it really happened. If the gospels were not factual, mere legends and embellished stories, the account of the virgin birth would not have been included.

By: Rob VandeWeghe

About the Author:

Rob VandeWeghe is a skeptic turned Christian. Rob’s book ‘Prepared to Answer’ and many more evidences for Christianity are available at www.WindmillMinistries.org.

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Use Caution When Considering a Fully Open Adoption

December 7th, 2009 admin Posted in Adoption No Comments »

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A “fully open” adoption is one in which the birth mother has ongoing visits with the child after the child has been adopted and is being raised by their adoptive family. In the past fifteen years or so, fully open adoptions have become more common as a result of proponents of fully open adoptions pushing the idea on birth parents and adoptive parents. Some people believe that having the open relationship benefits the children.

Some adoptive parents-to-be are scared by the idea of a fully open adoption, and there are a number of birth mothers who have fears about ongoing contact, as well. There are no studies that prove that ongoing contact between birth parents and a child that has been adopted is really in the child’s best interest, and many adoption professionals actually don’t feel a fully open adoption is the best solution.

It is likely that an adopted child would benefit greatly from having information available to them, things like photographs, health histories and possibly letters from their birth parents. If an older child requests to meet his or her birth parent, every effort should be made to arrange the meeting – but to force a fully open adoption on a child who may not even desire to have ongoing contact with the birth parent(s) does not seem to be beneficial or in the best interest of the child. Adoption agreements are typically arranged before the child is even born – how can you know at that point if the child needs or wants to have ongoing visits with the birth parents in the years to come?

Some children may experience confusion and upset over ongoing visitation with the birth parent(s). It can be upsetting to have to say goodbye to your biological parent over and over again, and depending on the age of the child, he or she may not really understand why that happens.

The solution may be to provide semi open adoption. Semi open adoptions allow the adoptive parents to meet and get to know the birth mother before the baby is born. Photos, letters and updates can be exchanged on a regular basis, so that there is continued contact and the ability for the child to meet the biological parent(s) someday if that is what he or she chooses to do. In this situation, the child has access to the documents, photographs, family history, and letters from the birth parent(s) when he or she may want to look at it but the child would never be forced into spending time with the biological parent.

If you have been thinking about adopting a child, but the idea of a fully open adoption scares you, you do have options. Just be sure that the adoption professional you choose to work with and hire understands your preference and is willing to work with you under a semi open adoption arrangement. If you like the idea of a fully open adoption, perhaps work it out so the terms of the agreement always takes into consideration the child’s needs and wants. For example, you could agree to visits for the first three years of the child’s life, or until the child is old enough to understand, and leave it open to reevaluate based on the reaction and needs of the adopted child. It’s impossible to predict what the child will prefer beforehand, so having this type of adjustable agreement allows you to make a decision based on the child rather than on what the birth parent(s), adoption professional or adoptive family may think is the best decision.



By: Cindy Simonson

About the Author:
Cindy Simonson is a respected adoption professional and writes about child adoption at InfantAdoptionCoach.com. For the past thirteen years she has been helping people successfully adopt the child of their dreams.



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