Social Justice
-
Vulnerable Post #1
I am in the middle of a study called “Economy of Love.” It is an excellent study done by Relational Tithe and Shane Claiborne. It is a movement to act counter-cultural and to decide to have enough. To live in a community where today we have enough. Not always everything we want, not always new clothes, cars, toys, or gadgets, but a community where everyone has enough. I am going to keep posting questions and quotes from the book because they cause you to think.
“The model of incarnation is that Jesus moved into the neighborhood. Jesus entered into the struggle, was born in the middle of a genocide (Matthew 2:16-18), and struggled through poverty and pain even up to the point of the cross. And that’s the model we are called to follow.”
Not sure you are rich? Go to www.globalrichlist.com and see where you are located in terms of world wealth. It might surprise you.
-
A Voice for the Voiceless
Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”I was able to listen to a webinar this morning put on by the Christian Alliance for Orphans and Tom Davis, CEO of Children’s HopeChest. The topic: Sex Trafficking.Granted, probably not what most people want to wake up and spend an hour listening to, but something that is heavy on my heart because I believe it is something that is heavy on God’s heart. I think it breaks His heart in ways we cannot imagine. And it is something that breaks my heart in ways I never thought possible. For me, it is not a bandwagon I am jumping on. It is a passion to see justice served and lives restored. It is something I am fully prepared to devote my life to in one capacity or another. And right now, that looks like spreading awareness.I normally hate statistics because I don’t think they convince people of anything, but perhaps they can paint a clearer picture of the seriousness and scope of this horrible industry.-Sex Trafficking is the 2nd largest global crime raking in over 32 billion in “profits” each year.-Predications state that it will surpass drugs to become #1 sometime in 2011 because, unfortunately, humans can be sold multiple times.
-Only 1 to 2% of girls are ever rescued from sex trafficking.
-Only 1 in 100,000 Europeans are every convicted of sex crimes.
-Every two minutes another child is captured and enslaved in this “life”.
We live in a world that has amazing technological advances, health care advances, and wealth beyond imagination. And yet we also live in a world where slavery is the highest it has ever been at any point in history, people are dying from starvation and lack of clean water, and children are being lost, sold, killed, and infected with deadly diseases. And the problem is hitting closer and closer to home. Dan Rather did a very in-depth study on the problem of sex trafficking in Portland, Oregon.-you can check it out here. It is not something we can ignore anymore.It’s a huge problem. It is very easy to get overwhelmed. To think, “I am just one person.” But that’s all it takes..one person. One person to start a movement. And if everyone stopped thinking, “I’m just one person,” imagine what we could do!
So, what can you do? What can just one person do?
*Educate yourself. Find out more about the issue. Check out Children’s HopeChest, World Orphans, or the Christian Alliance for Orphans.
*Educate others.
*Network. If you want to get involved, see if there is a local Human Trafficking Task Force in your city. Find out who is involved in the fight and how you can get involved.
*Keep up with the news. This blog was just posted today- 2,000 Haitian Orphans Sold as Sex Slaves
*Give. When girls are rescued it can cost over $1000 a month to rehabilitate them and educate them and give them a better life. Give towards the rehab side or sponsor a child to keep them in school and clothed and fed.
*Buy products made by rescued girls. Check out fashionABLE, Stop Traffick Fashion, or Made by Survivors
*Pray. Pray for the girls. Pray for justice. Pray for the workers and the organizations. Pray for leaders to rise up and say enough is enough.
Ultimately, do something. Whatever it is. Take a step. Pray. And follow God’s leading. I believe this is an issue we should all care about. And awareness is the first step. -
The Story of Stuff
This is kinda long for a YouTube video, but totally worth the time to watch it. I think it is time we started calling for real change and taking responsibility for being the richest and often, most wasteful country in the world. Check out the website; there are some pretty cool links and information on there too. -
Pondering This
Among us English-speaking peoples especially do the praises of poverty need once more to be boldly sung. We have grown literally afraid to be poor. We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save his inner life. If he does not join the general scramble, we deem him spiritless and lacking in ambition. We have lost the power even of imagining what the ancient realization of poverty could have meant; the liberation from material attachments, the unbribed soul, the manlier indifference, the paying our way by what we are and not by what we have, the right to fling away our life at any moment irresponsibly–the more athletic trim, in short, the fighting shape.-William JamesIf each morning I need an Americano from my local coffee shop, I’m not necessarily greedy; I’m just less free to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, to live responsibly toward my fellow human beings.-Shane Claiborne -
If You Had Unlimited Resources, What Would You Give This Christmas?
If You Had Unlimited Resources,What Would You Give This Christmas?I posed this question to my 6th-8th grade computer classes and thought I would post their answers as well as ask for yours.-Toys for kids that can’t afford them-Money to a person in Saipan whose house just burned down-Houses and food for homeless people-Money for moneyless-Peace for North and South Korea-Money to the poor in Saipan-Snow for N. Africa-Food for Africa-Ice to the North Pole-Water to Africa-World Peace-Joy-I will start green factories-A mansion-To everyone who doesn’t have a house, a big house-A new car for my grandpa-Houses, cars, and money for all the poor people-Food for the poor people-Clothes to the poor-Supplies to the US Army-1 billion to Make A Wish Foundation-Have businesses come to Saipan-Food and Clothes for the homeless-Help strays-Buy all the kids in the hospital everything they have ever wanted-Help Haiti-Buy a car for William-Give a tennis racket to all my friends-Help SCS make any renovation it needs-Help any kid learn music that want to, but can’t afford it-Clean water for all people on earth-Food and water to the poor-I would buy everyone presents-Feed South Africa-Give Yesul (his girlfriend) a pretty necklace-Send water and food to places that are poor*I would provide micro-finance loans to credible groups around the world to help them lift themselves out of poverty and make sure my parents never had to work again.What would you give? -
It’s That Time of Year
Everyone is gearing up for Christmas. Even on my small little island, the hotels are decorated with Christmas trees and the stores are getting ready for the madness that is Christmas. A few are even advertising Black Friday sales. My Twitter feed, Facebook wall, and e-mail inbox are filling up with ads and articles on Christmas.
I love Christmas. It is by far my favorite time of the year. I love Christmas music, movies, decorations, and all that is Christmas. I love the sights, sounds, and smells. The lights, trees-all of it. I have so many fond memories of Christmas as a kid. Of our traditions, trees, ornaments, presents etc. My parents did all they could to make sure that Christmas in our home was celebrated and was the best it could be. And for that I am so thankful. But as I get older, I find that my views and ideas on Christmas are changing.Being so far away from home during this time of year has given me a new perspective on Christmas and is shaping some of my ideas of Christmas. I have also been immersing myself in as much social justice literature as I can find and becoming an avid reader of blogs and articles relating to poverty, sex trafficking, global health, and what is being done in those areas to eradicate and solve the problems. It has made me realize how much good can be done with a simple shift in focus.I don’t know what Christmas will look like this year. For the first time in my life, I will not be spending it with my biological family. I will not wake up to snow or cold, but to sunshine and the ocean. There will be no trees or decorations and only a few presents. I just realized I didn’t need anything. I have starting making lists and notes and thinking about how I want Christmas to look in the future. My thoughts are still being shaped and will probably somewhat depend on where I am living at that time, but I know that I want to do things differently. I want to shape my Christmas around others and what I can do for them-how I can use my resources to make a difference.My thoughts are a work in progress…but then again, we are all still works in progress. -
Christmas is coming..
..it’s never too early to start thinking about gifts.
I have decided that other than a few things I am going to bring back from Bali, I am buying gifts from Food for the Hungry.http://www.fh.org/give/catalogYou can purchase things that will drastically change people’s lives and give them hope and a future.What a better way to spend your Christmas budget! -
Walk in their shoes..
This is the 9th week I have been in Saipan and it was an awful week. One of those where you step back and question, “Why am I here?” But today is Friday and one of my favorite song’s is playing right now…
“and I will live to carry your compassionTo love a world that’s brokento be your hands and feetand I will givewith the life that I have been givenand go beyond religion to see the world be changedby the power of your name”and it sorta puts things into perspective. Because today I am breathing. and I still have a job. Which on my small island is something 1,400 can’t say today. Our government is shut down until a balanced budget is passed. Scary. So I will focus on the fact that I am here because God has called me here and because I can be the hands and feet of Jesus here. So while my week was less than great, it is over and tomorrow is a new day and a new week will start and provide a fresh slate for teaching, life, and all of the things that it consists of! -
Dangerous Territory
so I found a puppy. She was sitting in a ditch and I was walking home from the store. Now first of all, I am not allowed to have pets in my apartment or on the school grounds. Secondly, I live on an island with an overabundance of dogs so unfortunately this puppy is sort of out of luck. But I love her. I put her in a very safe spot and checked on her this morning. Still alive. Tonight I brought her some water-she drank three small cups. She is covered in fleas and probably not going to live much longer. But I have been reading Irresistible Revolution and it hit me. Life is about stepping into dangerous territory. Like getting attached to a puppy that I can’t keep. But here’s the thing..it’s not even about that. It’s about loving and giving. And it’s about so much more than a puppy. It’s about loving the people around us..even when it’s messy. Even when it means we may get our hearts broke. Or they may run away. Or be covered in “fleas.” Or that we may end up looking like a fool. It’s about giving away so much of ourselves that there is nothing left. Because after all, isn’t that what Christ did? He sacrificed His own life for ours. So while I am not naming the puppy, I am going to love it. And I am going to love my students with everything in me. Because life is dangerous-but that is also when life is the most rewarding. -
Environment
So I am slowly turning into a hippie. Well, in a sense.. I have been reading a lot about the environment and global warming and the “doom” we are facing according to scientists and have decided that there is not enough Christian influence on this issue. We of all people should be the first to take care of the environment. It is God’s creation and our duty to take care of it. (Genesis 1:1) I believe that if change does not happen, life as we know it will never be the same. The creatures that point so powerfully to God’s handiwork are slowly going extinct and the rainforests and lakes and oceans are becoming polluted and being torn down for man’s selfish pleasures. So I think Christians need to be the ones to bring about the change. No, I’m not saying we all turn into tree-huggers, but I am saying that each of us should take a deep look into our lives and see where we could make changes. Can you start recycling? How about purchasing some environmentally friendly grocery bags to avoid using the plastic ones? (see www.envirosax.com ) Or ride your bike or walk? (my one requirement for grad school location it that I can ride my bike instead of drive). Or how about encouraging our youth to explore science and the environment? How awesome would it be for Christians to bring about a Green Revolution because we starting caring more about God’s creation? What kind of testimony would that be to the rest of the world?
There is plenty of talk about evolution and how bad things will get without change. It’s time for us to become part of the talk and part of the change.
