As we have begun "Respect Life" month, I pray that our prayers and actions this month and every month, will reflect a growing reverence for the gift of human life from conception until natural death.

This month we have numerous ways to give witness to the sanctity of human life.  We can give public witness this Sunday (October 5) from 2:00 to 3.30 p.m. by spending some time in downtown Hot Springs holding a Respect Life sign and silently praying for a greater respect for all human life.  We can go to Little Rock to pray in front of an abortion clinic and potentially save lives by our witness.  Finally, we can (and I hope everyone will) take a bably bottle and fill it with money through-out this month as we seek to support the efforts of organizations that help women decide to carry their babies to full term and welcome these gifts from God into their lives.

With the November elections looming, we need to inform ourselves of the candidates for public office and all their positions and records, especially on Pro-Life issues.  I pray we will be ready to vote for those who best follow and promote the values of the Gospel.