WORTHWORTH

From the Washington Post July 19, 2008

Last week, it was revealed that an Environmental Protection Agency office had lowered its official estimate of life's value, from about $8.04 million to about $7.22 million. That decision has put a spotlight on the concept of the "Value of a Statistical Life," in which the Washington bureaucracy takes on a question usually left to preachers and poets.

Genesis 1:1, 26-27Genesis 1:1, 26-27

In the beginning God created the heavens In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.and the earth.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule image, in our likeness, and let them rule

over the fish of the sea and the birds of the over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and

over all the creatures that move along the over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own ground.” So God created man in his own

image, in the image of God he created him; image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.male and female he created them.

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ He has created us anew in Christ

Jesus, so we can do the good Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10Ephesians 2:10

Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I knew you, before you were born I

set you apart; I appointed you as a set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.prophet to the nations.

We should protect We should protect the weak & the weak & defenselessdefenseless

Matthew 25:40, 45Matthew 25:40, 45

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’least of these, you did not do for me.’

Psalm 82:3-4 Psalm 82:3-4

Defend the cause of the weak and Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the fatherless; maintain the rights of the

poor and oppressed. Rescue the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from weak and needy; deliver them from

the hand of the wicked.the hand of the wicked.

2 Samuel 9:13 2 Samuel 9:13

And Mephibosheth lived in And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate Jerusalem, because he always ate

at the king’s table, and he was at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet.crippled in both feet.

Proverbs 31:8-9 Proverbs 31:8-9

Speak up for those who cannot Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights and judge fairly; defend the rights

of the poor and needy.of the poor and needy.

John 10:10 John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to they may have life, and have it to

the full.the full.

Acts 20:35Acts 20:35

In everything I did, I showed you In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we that by this kind of hard work we

must help the weak, must help the weak, remembering the words Jesus remembering the words Jesus

himself said: “It is more blessed himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”to give than to receive.”

Romans 13:9-10 Romans 13:9-10

The commandments, “Do not commit The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,”

“Do not covet,” and whatever other “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as

yourself.” yourself.”

Love does no harm to its neighbor. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

All humans have equal All humans have equal valuevalue

Galatians 3:28 Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for slave nor free, male nor female, for

you are all one in Christ Jesus.you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Peace and forgiveness Peace and forgiveness can be found in can be found in

Jesus ChristJesus Christ

Romans 6:23 Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in the gift of God is eternal life in

Christ Jesus our Lord.Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Micah 7:18 Micah 7:18

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the and forgives the transgression of the

remnant of his inheritance? You do not remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show stay angry forever but delight to show

mercy.mercy.

Psalm 103:11-12 Psalm 103:11-12

For as high as the heavens are For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love above the earth, so great is his love

for those who fear him; as far as for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has the east is from the west, so far has

he removed our transgressions he removed our transgressions from us.from us.

Love: A commitment of the Love: A commitment of the will to someone’s true goodwill to someone’s true good

It’s all about love

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Matthew 7:12 Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others So in everything, do to others what you would have them do what you would have them do

to you, for this sums up the Law to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.and the Prophets.

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1 Corinthians 131 Corinthians 13If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong but have not love, I am only a resounding gong

or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing . . . mountains, but have not love, I am nothing . . . Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not

delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. And delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.But the greatest of these is love.