Challenges of the #ALSICEBUCKETCHALLENGE

It's been all over the place. Everyone you know knows someone who has done it. Thousands of pounds of ice and thousands of gallons of water have cascaded over heads and shoulders world wide. My facebook newsfeed has #icebucketchallenge trending in it's upper right side. It has become cold water mania in the name of ALS.

It has taken center stage in the media lately. From ice bucket challenge fails...

...to our former President and Mrs. Bush...



...to heart wrenching personal responses (warning: language!)


The outpouring of support and donations have been overwhelming. I am awed by the speed that news spread and monies raised. There was an overnight success. 

However, I had many issues with it when I viewed my first challenge. I swung on a pendulum between insanity and compassion before landing on a few thoughts. I don't have all the answers but wanted to voice my opinion.

First issue: what is ALS?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or, Lou Gherig's Disease is a horrific attack on the nerve cells in the brain controlling voluntary muscle movement. Over time the ability to move or speak is limited and eventually impaired all together. Ultimately ALS take's a persons swallowing and breathing capacities. ALS takes lives. It is brutal and nasty.

To date ALS has no treatment or cure. The diagnosis of ALS is a death sentence. Thus the ice bucket challenge. Researchers have been working to provide a cure or treatment or something. Anything to offer hope to someone struggling with ALS. But, research requires funding. Funding that has to be raised. So people across the nation and globe are dousing their do's in some H2O and donating $10 or keeping their curls in tact and donating $100. Or so that is the plan. 

This is a great idea and plan. One that would be great except for one glitch. 

ALSA, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, and your dollars are speedily being pulled into an operation taking the value of life to an unimaginable and difficult to swallow level. From the ALSA website we find this excerpt:

The discovery that human embryonic stem cells can be isolated and propagated in the lab with the potential of developing into all tissues of the body is a major medical breakthrough.

... Available options to be explored, together with the challenges to making stem cell therapy a reality for ALS, are pushing this field forward rapidly, with continued commitment of funds and expertise.

Human embryonic stem cells is white coat speak for, babies. Babies! Fertilized, conceived, humans waiting to be cared for a nurtured to viable age outside of the womb. We are exchanging one life for another in the name of research and hiding the evidence under code words like "stem cells." This should be disturbing. This should make us shutter. But it doesn't.


I decided a while back that I wouldn't participate in the challenge. Dave Ramsey's #icebucketchallenge included that his funding couldn't go to any research done with embryonic stem cells but that wasn't sure enough for me. I had to make this decision based on what I feel God has lead me to through His Word.

I firmly believe that life begins at conception.

I firmly believe that embryonic stem cell research is abortion at the least.

I firmly believe that to be a good steward of my money I cannot peacefully fund abortion. 

I know that I sound heartless. I don't mean to. I really struggled with this decision. If I was facing my end and that end had a name, ALS, I would seek every option available. I would fight and come up with something, anything. I would love to honestly say that being faced with this decision without a doubt that this would be my choice.    

John 15:13 (ESV)  
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

But I am not there. I can't say it. My heart is burdened for the thousands of men, women, and children plagued with ALS. But no more than it is for the millions of babies being murdered. Saint John Paul II said in best in 2003 when he said this.

Any treatment which claims to save human lives, yet is based upon the destruction of human life in its embryonic state, is logically and morally contradictory, as is any production of human embryos for the direct or indirect purpose of experimentation or eventual destruction.

That doesn't mean there isn't anything you can do. Here are some thoughts on that.

#1 - There are places to donate that don't fund or participate in embryonic stem cell use or research. Here are a few.

Cell Therapy Foundation 
You can specify where you would like for your donation to go. ALS is an option. 

Compassionate Care ALS 
Supports and provides care for those suffering from ALS and their families. CCALS has an ice bucket challenge themselves and the money you donate there goes directly to the families. No research involved at all. 

ALS Therepy Developement Institute
ALSTDI issues research only on adult stem cells. 

#2 - Pray. Pray for those with ALS, the researchers and their hearts, those taking the challenge, those hoping for a cure. Pray.

#3 - Gain as much information as possible. Research, research, research. Read up and all about. Here is a good article with several links and lots of info. 

I do not judge those who have participated, nor do I believe in anyway, shape, or form that those who have participated are intentionally taking part in something they know to be wrong. My purpose is education. I want others to know what is going on behind the bucket. I am so glad that so many want and desire to help and contribute.