Thursday, September 26, 2013

Sex Trade 101: Part 1

For the next five months my monthly blog for The Exodus Road I will be presenting information so you can get a better understanding of the Sex Trade around the world, how people are working to rescue victims and what you can do as well to help people who are victims of the sex trade.

Here are some statistics on trafficking around the world.




Now watch and see how the FBI rescued a girl from child sex trafficking.







Here is one more article on how trafficking can occur right in your own neighborhood. Yes, right in your own neighborhood. It just does not happen in urban areas. Suburban America is very much affected as well. Click on the title of the article below and read about trafficking in Ohio.


WARNING: Disturbing content!


Friday, September 6, 2013

I still have hope

 
 
 
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
 
 
 

 
 
August 28, 2013 marked the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech. I had intentions on going that day and participating in the celebrations but I had to wait to head up to our Capital till Labor Day. But nevertheless it was a wonderful day and I plan to go back next year to see more sites. What made this day so wonderful was not the beautiful architecture or the company of my friend Sarah, but the diversity of people that I saw as we walked along the National Mall. As a country, in a relatively short time have come a long way in terms of equality for American but will still have a long way to go.
 
 

 
 
 
We have witnessed the abolishment of slavery that stained our countries history. Women and the black community have earned the right to vote. I have to remember these things when I see evidence still of racism, sexism and homophobia. We are an amazing and unique country. What we have in this democracy is very special and it gives me hope that we can achieve that goal of equality for all.
 
 
 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that
 
 
"one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain
will be made low. The rough places will be made plain,
and the crooked places 'will be made straight, and the
glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see
it together. This is our hope.....
This will be the day when all of God's children will be
able to sing with new meaning. "My country, 'tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of the I sing."
 

 
I still have hope in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream
 
(These are pictures I took during my trip to DC on Monday, September 1, 2013)

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Can I get a Good Samaritan?


Luke 10:25-37, NIV

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
 
I am no expert when it comes to international relations, specifically as it pertains to the governments around the world. So as I ventured to share my opinion on the crisis in Syria I ask that you read this knowing it comes from the eyes of a Christian minister.
 
I do not like war, never have never will. I believe that:
 
 
Hate begets Hate
 
 
Violence begets Violence
 
 
and
 
 
Love begets Love
 
 
I am among those Americans who are in disagreement that America should intervene in Syria with Violence; missile strikes BUT I am not one who feels we should do nothing. When I look at Syria I see the man in Luke's parable who is left half dead on the side of the rode. I see our country and others around the world as the Priest and the Levite. I long to see America as the Good Samaritan. I long to see the humanity of God's world cry out at the atrocities and do what we can to rescue those in need, those who are dying. I am very uncomfortable with us doing nothing. Luke tells us that Jesus calls us to care for the one in need. Our neighbor is one who is in need and Syria is in need.

Can I get a Good Samaritan?