Life Issues^® Institute

Within a one week span, two people in the life of my family passed away - a neighbor's husband and my son's high school track coach both died of massive heart attacks.  Needless to say, the brevity and value of life is top of mind in our home these days.

The value of life is top of mind everyday to Brad Mattes, host of "Life Issues^®." A veteran of the pro-life cause, with over 37 years of educational, political and humanitarian experience, Brad stands at the ready to address daily life issues.

Harnessing the power of radio, Brad is ...

I'm having lunch today with a friend -- my first time being with her since she became a new mommy.  After 6 years of trying to conceive, she and her husband adopted a baby boy 4 months ago.

On Monday, late-term abortionist, Kermit Gosnell was found guilty on three counts of first-degree murder in three of the four babies' deaths.  He could get the death penalty in each case.

The tragic dichotomy in both these realties is palatable.

My friend has long wanted, prayed and waited for a baby.

Gosnell sits awaiting his sentence for murdering babies.

Brad Mattes, speaker ...

At the April 14^th passing of Mrs. Barbara Willke, a favorite poem seems befitting to honor this visionary and leader in the pro-life movement:

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

While the poem goes on, the significance of it in regards to ...

It's true.  Pictures are worth a thousand words.  As we welcomed Brad Mattes to the Ambassador offices last week, he shared pictures from his recent trip to Ethiopia where he was filming for his TV program, Facing Life Head-On. The faces of those he met spoke thousands of words. 

And yet, it was Brad's words about the elderly and destitute Ethiopians he met which linger most in my soul, "If you don't give them love, you give them nothing."

A heart for the lives of others . . . whether young or old, that's the passion and commitment Brad ...

With a mutual affection for "life" in Ethiopia, thrilled this month to share reflections from Brad Mattes and our Evelyn Gibson on a country and its people who left life-long imprints on their hearts . . .

Just mention Ethiopia and my heart is transported--joined in spirit with people whose names I know, faces that are familiar, smiles and greetings that have my name on them.

So when my friend Brad Mattes, Executive Director of Life Issues^® Institute said to me, "I may be filming segments of our TV program in Ethiopia, what do you think?"--I knew it would change him in ...

At Christmas time, our thoughts go quickly to love . . . it's the time of year when we think of those dearest to our hearts. 

Then there are those unexpected loves of our lives . . . the times when we have "A Choice to Love."

"When I look at him, I've never seen anything but the love of my life . . . this beautiful baby that I love so much." Liz Carl, who made an adoption plan after being raped at age 17.

"As a kid, I remember really struggling with this terrible thing that happened to my mom.  I wouldn't want ...