Mary's Revolution

The Gospel is controversial

Jesus came as a baby not an adult who rose to the throne, the head of a government. His birth was told to the lowest of society: Shepherds would were shunned and to the foreigner – Wise Men. Jesus was found with the lowest of society rather than inside the synagogue preaching. Jesus did not judge either. He called out the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and did not wage war but preached and practiced grace, forgiveness, and love of both neighbor and enemy.

Today I believe Jesus would be found with the homeless, the orphaned, the immigrant, the poor, the minority, the imprisoned, the refugee, the tortured, persecuted and killed.

I am skeptical that he would be found in the church and among those with great power, those blessed with great wealth and those who pass laws to oppress and discriminate against those in the minority.

In the gospel of Luke Mary gives us a description of who the God of all creation is.

Luke 1:46 - 55

And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

When Mary says, "...he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts," she speaks of a moral revolution. 

The proud will be made humble. 

The story of a young woman named Mikah shows us what humbleness looks like, the opposite of pride and conceit.

When Mikah's mother came down with chicken pox when she was carrying Mikah. As a result Mikah was born with multiple birth defects. Despite that her spirit and cognitive capabilities were not affected. She constantly thought about others and how she could help them have a better life. Age, gender, color, ability or disability did not matter to her. If they were in need she wanted to help. Before dying at the age of 21 she continued to pray that her grandmother would come to know the Lord.

People like Mikah remind us that we are here on earth to serve and help others, not help ourselves

When Mary says, " He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.," she speaks of a social revolution.

Hundreds of years ago a wandering scholar named Muretus lived. He was very educated but also very poor. He became very sick, and he was taken to the place where the destitute were kept. The people who cared for him did not know that he was a scholar and that he understood the scholar’s Latin. One day the doctors were discussing his case in Latin and they were saying that he was a poor creature of value to no one and that it was hopeless and unnecessary to expend care and money on attention to such a worthless human. Muretus looked up and answered in their own Latin, “Call no man worthless for whom Christ died.

In America homicide is in the top 3 causes of death among people between the ages of 10 – 24.

• The rate for Caucasian males is 1.5 per 100,000
• The rate for Hispanic males is  7% higher than Caucasians
• And the rate for Black males is 30% higher than Caucasians

• In America 1 in 5 adults has a disability according to the US 2010 census. That is 19% of the population. Adults with disabilities face discrimination all the time because of their lack of ability by those who feel superior to them and all they can do for themselves.

In America dependency tends to be seen as an evil word. 

• Lastly, but possibly most important, 686,000 victims of abuse were documented in 2012 in America. 

All these children and adults have worth because Christ died for them and when we discard, neglect, abuse, mistreat and kill we have done these things to the Christ child.

When Mary says, "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty," she speaks of a economic revolution

Consider these statistics: 

• Homelessness: 610,042 per night in January 2013
• Poverty: 15.9 % unchanged from 2011-2013
• Unemployment: 5.8% Currently – 18,517,022 without work

But for you who have been held down, held back, oppressed and mistreated I have a word of favor from your Lord and Creator: 

Isaiah 61: 1 – 3 says (NIV), 

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Because my God and Christ stand with the least of these I stand with:

• Young males of color who fear leaving their homes for fear they will be killed because of the color of their skin.
• I stand with all children who have been abused and lost all trust in adults
• I stand with children who have been neglected and abandoned
• I stand with all those who are disabled and want the respect they deserve
• I stand with the homeless who want a roof over their head and a pillow to lay their head on.
• I stand with those who do not know where there next meal is coming from.
• I stand with adults who work full time and still can't make ends meet
• I stand with the innocent who are in prison
• I also stand with the guilty who are in prison for Christ died for them as well.
• I stand with children who want an education around the world only to be shot and killed by grown men who are intimidated.
• I stand with teachers in America and around the world who sacrifice their own lives to protect their students when madmen arm themselves with assault rifles.
• I stand with those who are oppressed by laws that deny them the equal rights simply because someone doesn't like their lifestyle.

Because my God and Christ stand with the least of these I stand AGAINST:

• Modern day Herods who have no conscience and will kill any and all children who are a threat to their power.
• I stand against governments who continue to oppress the poor and praise the wealthy and powerful, for they are oppressing the Christ child and supporting the government that wanted him dead.

Do you the church believe in God and your Savior Jesus Christ? If you do you must stand with the least of these and work to bring down all those with power who seek to oppress the voiceless. Will you be a voice to the voiceless and stand with the least of these?

Adaptation

          Two weeks ago I was on vacation on the North Carolina coast. On one of those days my friend and I took a ferry ride from Harkers Island to Cape Lookout on the Core Banks. On our ride over the ferry captain slowed down so we could see one of the many wild horses that roam and graze on Shackleford Banks.

          He shared with us that prior to 1954 Core Banks and Shackleford Banks were one island. No water separated them. But in October of 1954 Hurricane Hazel came barreling into North Carolina and changed the one island, among other things. It pushed water from the Atlantic Ocean so far in the one island became two. The wild horses home was split into two islands. What the captain said next was very fascinating. The wild horses can be found every night on Core Banks, home of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Yet that picture above and below is of a horse on Shackleford Bank.

          Since Hurricane Hazel the horses began, and still do swim across the water from Core Banks; in the am, to Shackleford Banks to graze, and return every evening to sleep on Core Banks. Despite a very devastating hurricane they adapted to their environment and continue to thrive.

          It got me thinking that if wild horses can adapt to a new environment after a storm then we, human beings, can too. The question is will we? In my 42 years of living I have observed two types of personalities when it comes to change. There are those who go with the flow and others who dig their heels in and refuse to change/adjust. I find that the latter group is angry, bitter and down right miserable. We face storms, big and small everyday of our lives, and if we allow ourselves to be flexible and nimble then we will survive the storm and THRIVE just as the Wild horses do today.

Things to remember when deciding how you will let storms shape you:

1 - Happiness and Joy never killed anyone but anger and bitterness surely can.

2 - God can't do anything with you if you are not willing to move and bend to his will.

Making a choice: Life or Death

              As I have begun Brian McLaren's latest book, We Make the Road by Walking, each chapter so far has focused on how we have a choice to make. The choice is whether we will eat from the tree of life or from the tree of good and evil, knowledge. We all know what happened after Adam and Eve eat from the tree of good and evil but do we consider daily what tree we will eat from. If we choose the tree of good and evil then the result will be death but if we eat from the tree of life then we have life. We are alive in this world and in line with the Will of God.

When we eat from the tree of good and evil we position ourselves in the place of God, judge of all things good and bad, and if we look at the world closely it can and does lead to us killing those we deem to be evil and bad.

Is this the world we really want to live in? Do you like what has become of humanity today?

We can do better! We can! Philippians 2:1 - 11 says:

            Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father

Allow me to leave you some words of wisdom from Kid President.

May we LIVE and not be lame.

A Discovered Gem

Moving is a chore, a burdensome chore but you can find little gems you have collected along they way as you clean out and pack up. I want share with you a gem I found. I left two bibles unpacked to bring to my work to use while several other bibles and books are packed up till I move November 1. In college I learned a new song at a United Methodist retreat. I must have really liked it because I wrote the words to it in a bible. The words are below along with a YouTube video of a young lady singing the song. I hope this little gem I found blesses you this day.

Bread for the Journey

Give us bread for the journey, give us bread.

Give us bread for the journey, give us bread.

When our legs are getting heavy,

and we're hanging down our heads.

give us bread for the journey, give us bread.

Guide our way as we travel, guide our way.

Guide our way as we travel, guide our way.

There's so many roads before us,

where to go is hard to say,

guide out way as we travel, guide our way.

Make us one with each other, make us one.

Make us one with each other, make us one.

All the walls we built around us,

may we learn to tear them down,

make us one with each other, make us one.

Lead us home to the garden, lead us home.

Lead us home to the garden, lead us home.

Where we'll live with all creation,

find our place and never roam,

lead us home to the garden, lead us home.

Give us bread for the journey, give us bread.

Give us bread for the journey, give us bread.

When our legs are getting heavy,

and we're hanging down our heads,

give us bread for the journey, give us bread.

                              

10 Things Sophie Taught Me

#10 - The Need for Companionship

See, I don't trust people (rarely if I do) and if I have your trust it can be broken easily. Sophie changed that by teaching me what companionship means and why it is necessary to have to live in this world. Thank you Sophie. I love you.

#9 - How to relax

Prior to getting her I did not know how to relax. My life always revolved around drama, I didn't know how to live without drama. But when she wanted to rest rather than play I rested with her. Thank you Sophie for teaching me how to relax.

#8 - Taking Responsibility

I am a single woman with no children, and I am fine with that. I never saw myself with children because I did not want to take on that responsibility. The curious thing is dog's need their owners to take responsibility for their well-being. Sophie made that really easy. I loved to take care of her. In her last 2 and a half months of life she really needed me to be responsible. By me ensuring she had her medicine at the right time she remained pain free as the tumor continued to grow within her nose.

#7 - Facing your Fears

Sophie taught me that you are never to old to overcome your fears. Sophie hated water when I adopted her and in 2012 I learned she hated any type of bridge that went over or was near water. When we took our trip to Martha's Vineyard I had to carry her onto the Ferry and off of it. In 2013 me and her were walking on the Roanoke green way which runs beside the Roanoke river. That day she crossed not only 1 bridge over the water but 2 for a total of 4 when you count going and coming back. She overcame her fear. I can too. Thank you Sophie.

#6 - How to play

No matter how old Sophie got she loved to play. When ever I was doing things on the computer, work related or more recently school assignments, she would nudge her head up against the computer. That was her way of saying, "Mom, it's play time"

 

#5 - Live life Now

I always hear people say they are working hard now so they can play hard when they retire. I have always thought that was strange because I had friends who would never make it to retirement, they were dead. While I had Sophie we traveled and moved a lot. Here is a list of the places we have been:

Beaufort, NC

Atlantic Beach, NC

Pennsylvania

Newark, Delaware

Wickford, Rhode Island

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Peaks of Otter, VA

Salem, VA

Roanoke, VA

Greenville, NC

Tarboro, NC

Martha's Vineyard

Salem, VA

Peaks of Otter

Beaufort, NC

#4 - The Importance of Trust

When I first adopted Sophie she would not let my father come near her. He fed her and gave her water everyday for two weeks before she would allow him to pet her. She had trust issues, no doubt. Over the years she was on this earth she would come to befriend 4 men. That may not seem a lot but it is a lot further along from where she came from. While I am still learning I have found people that are worthy of trust.

#3 - Be flexible

Since I adopted Sophie in 2007 we have moved 5 times. Every place we moved she made it home. Moving can typically create turmoil within a family pet but Sophie always went with the flow. All these moves represent change in my life and if anyone knows me I HATE change. This is a valuable lesson she has taught me. When you are flexible things seem to be a lot easier.

#2 - Loyalty

I think because she knew I loved her she was always loyal, always protecting me from unknown people who came to our homes. Our world lacks in this area. We all need to know we have a loyal friend so that is what I strive to be to all who I know. Loyal.

The #1 thing Sophie taught me is:

ENDURANCE

The picture below was taken the day before she died.

At this point she could no longer breath through her nose and her sleep was constantly being interrupted because dog's are not designed to breath through their mouth, though that is what she did. What this picture does not show you is the locksmith who is replacing a deadbolt on my door. Here she is in the midst of struggling to breath watching this man and her normal stance of protection over me. All I can deduce from this is that she not only knew I loved her but she felt it. My love is what compelled her to protect and remain loyal to me, resulting in her to endure what I can only imagine was a difficult and unbearable decline thanks to cancer. 

What I realize is that I can endure anything because I not only know that God loves me but I feel the love of God.

Who's looking for me?

R.I.P.

Sophie Henderson

April 1, 2004 - July 30, 2014

My Best Friend

To easy

Romans 7: 14 - 20

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am nonspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

It is too hard to love

and to easy to kill.

Malaysia Flight MH17 debris

I can't give up

       Many times I come close to giving up hope for humanity but I just can't. I can't because the Lord resides in me and God just won't let me give up hope. But oh as I get older the harder it becomes. When adults hurt or exploit children or when adults become uncivil with one another I get just a  little more bitter and a little more pessimistic. That's when I pray. I am afraid that if I give up hope I will become one of those uncivil adults or worse and my desire to love people who desperately need it comes back full force. As much as society angers me I remember the phrase:

"HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE"

Hurt people are the ones that need the most love and I chose to love rather than hurt.

If you find yourself in this place of hopelessness listen to the song below. May it give you renewed hope as it has for me lately.

Do you love me?

Do you love me? - Jesus

Matthew 25: 31 - 46

 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

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

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

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

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Do you love me? - Honduran immigrant child

Leviticus 19: 34

The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

If you  love, feed and house the immigrant child in the US then you are loving Jesus.

If you refuse to love, feed and house the immigrant child in the US then don't claim to love Jesus.

The Burn

One month ago this was the opening for my daily devotional for one week.

Life’s pathways are not always clearly marked. Trails wind into the wilderness and disappear, leaving no end in sight. And often you may wonder which way to go.

As you journey through life, there is One you can trust to be your guide—the One who has already walked the path for you and who walks beside you even now.

In these quiet moments, be still and listen for the One who is calling you home.

and this was the song I listened to everyday of that week as well:

This week was also the beginning of my first counseling class.

Since August of 2013 I have questioned God repeatedly on why he was sending me to Liberty University. See I and the University have differing opinions when it comes to scripture and women in ministry and I could not for the life of me understand why God would send me to a school that believes women cannot be ordained. I went through my normal routine when I can't figure out God's plan by repeatedly asking, "God, have you lost your mind?" yes I do this often and it may be heretical or blasphemous but I still trust and believe in God even when I question. (Side note: I don't see questioning as a bad thing or as a sign of doubt. The psalms are full of questions to God and doubt, it is a human thing and God still loves us through it all.)

That 2nd week in May, the first week of my counseling course was rough. I found myself yelling at the computer when I read students introductions. (There is a lot I disagree with in this world and at times I can lose my cool, but mostly in the privacy of my home) I also learned that I was placed in the wrong major and had to correct that and my thought they had accepted some of my previous grad work was dismantle. By Thursday of that week I was ready to quit. What most people do not know about me is that I am a quitter. Now I can commit myself to things and have done so but only to things I like and enjoy. When anything gets tough and difficult I have bailed in the past. I have been a quitter. Not a very good attribute. But if we are all to admit it none of us like difficulty. We can commit to the things we love but committing to struggle is what I imagine most of us don't want to do. 

I decided on that Thursday to talk with a fellow co-worker so I could give voice to someone what was going on inside of me. She asked me how confident I was that God was leading me on this path of a new degree and without hesitation I said, "I have no doubts." I still don't. She suggested that maybe God wanted to teach me something and part of that was trusting him. That is when the devotion came to mind. When I got home that evening I needed to relax and filled my tub with water. While relaxing the tears started to flow. They flowed because God was revealing the less and desirable qualities I posses even as a minister. Being humbled by God is not a pleasant experience but for God to make us into who we need to be can be difficult at times. What God revealed to me was:

My narrowed mindedness (When I disagree with others)
My predisposition to judging others (Who believe differently than me)
My habit of withholding grace (Again from those with differing beliefs)
And my inner feelings of hate (Towards those who hate others)

See the pattern: I am no different than those who I disagree with and dislike. I am those that I hate. THAT IS THE BURN, THAT IS THE BURN.

God is sending me to Liberty to chisel all those characteristics that separate me from him. What will happen in the next three years will be one of two things: The quitter will emerge when things get difficult (which they undoubtedly will) or the faith of a six year old will emerge.

I accepted Christ at the age of six and I remember being fully affirmed by my pastor and church when I made my profession of faith. I committed my life to Christ without reservation.

My prayer and hope is that 6 year old girl will emerge and I will be closer to the person God wants me to be in three years.

I covet your prayers as I walk this unknown path.

A Slow Death

          Dedicated to Joel Rhodes, Ellyn Marie Woodburn and Jenny Delorenzo

and to anyone who has lost a fury family member

          On January 1, 1997 I woke up to sirens at my grandmothers house. What we were to find out later was she was and had suffered a massive stroke. This stroke left her with the inability to speak but not without life. For three months she lingered, unable to talk to us, at times tears streaming down her face, reaching for something at other times. To what she was reaching for, we did not know. Those three months were hell for me. My parents and I had moved in with grandma in 1992 and she was no longer a distant relative. We had a very special relationship I knew would not have existed had I not shared a home with her. That is what made the three months hell. I hated seeing her suffer, to not be able to communicate with her was torture and I imagine it was for her too. I think that is where the occasional tear came from. A slow death is painful when it is someone you love.

Why do I share this after almost two decades?

2 Reasons

          Last week at my conference, Faith Forward, in Nashville, TN the Wednesday morning speaker wanted to teach us how to create sacred space with children and youth. He did this by asking us to recall a sacred moment. My sacred moment was with my grandmother. As I stated above, she lost her ability to speak after her stroke. But the last Sunday in March was different. I was sitting by her bed visiting before I would head back to Greensboro, it was my final semester at UNCG. I started singing hymns I knew that she would know. The last song I sang was "Amazing Grace". When I got to the third verse.......

Through many dangers toils and snares, I have already come.

Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home"

SHE SPOKE THEM!

There was no denying that God was there in that moment. That God had been there through every speechless conversation, for every fallen tear. My God was greater than any illness that could rob my grandmother of the ability to speak. It WAS a holy moment and one that I will never forget. I am so thankful for that brief 5 minutes last week when I recalled this sacred moment. GOD IS GOOD!

Sophie is the 2nd reason I share this memory. My baby girl is dying. She has a nasal tumor that hemorrhaged on May 17. I actually thought she had died on the way to the animal hospital in Raleigh, NC. The goal is to keep her comfortable and pain free until either she dies peacefully or the pain is to much to bear. Since picking her up on Friday, May 23 we have done some extra outings and they have been fun. Sophie is my traveling buddy so I plan to make the most of what time I have left, which is unknown, with her. I know it won't be easy and there have been plenty of shed tears. But maybe there will be sacred moments during this time with her.

The value of a life

Genesis 1:26 - 31
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.

Here are 11 facts about Human Trafficking

1. Globally, the average cost of a slave is $90.

2. Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms, including: forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude and compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography.

3. According to some estimates, approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation.

4. There are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today.

5. According to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. More than 70% are female and half are children.

6. The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14-year-old. Many victims are runaway girls who were sexually abused as children.

7. California harbors 3 of the FBI’s 13 highest child sex trafficking areas on the nation: Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

8. The National Human Trafficking Hotline receives more calls from Texas than any other state in the US. 15% of those calls are from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

9. Between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year.

10. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking). It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries.

11. The International Labour Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims with 11.4 million trafficked victims (55%) compared to 9.5 million (45%) men.

Today's post is about Human trafficking and more specifically about the 270+ girls who have been kidnapped from their school in Nigeria and are about to be sold if they have not already been sold. 

Is the life of a woman and girls anywhere in the world worth $90? Is that all we are worth? That is the average cost to buy a slave today, either for labor or sex. Let that sink in. The going rate for a woman or a young girl is $90. That there still is this ideology that women are less than, are subservient, are property and are in need of a man's guidance is why this value exists. It may be 2014 but there still is the patriarchal system that is in every country. Though it may not be as extreme as the Middle East this Patriarchal system is here in the US.  Young girls, American girls are denied an education because a man sees her as a revenue source and sells her daily to men who only see her as a source for getting his needs met. Girls and women are forced to work within home, in salons and spas without pay, again because a man sees them only as a source of revenue.

It is reprehensible that what has happened in Nigeria is allowed to continue. Humanity allows it to continue when inequality between men and women is allowed to continued. I pray that this atrocity that has occurred in Nigeria will wake us up and we will begin to see ALL young girls and women as equals. That the female race will be seen as an image of God just as the male race is. In Genesis 1 we read that God created man (humankind in the Hebrew) in his image. That in God's image he created both male and female. This denotes a state of equality. Both male and female display, exude the image of God. Then towards the end of Genesis 1 we read that God saw all he had created and said that it was good. All of creation is good. That includes females here. If all of creation is good then why do we allow the good that God has created to be demeaned, abused, belittled, ostracized and seen simply as property. To be seen as a means to an end. I cannot, based on Genesis 1, believe that God intended for the world to be this way.

Was in not in the gospels that Jesus first appeared to the women. He entrusted them to proclaim the good news. He entrusted both his male and female disciples to proclaim his resurrection and to go into all the world. When God sees us women as good and Jesus has entrusted us with the good news I will not allow anyone to deny my humanity or that of any woman. As long as Human trafficking exits and the beatings of women occur in the name of God I will not be silent. Please do not be silent. We must work to end the atrocities that befall women all around the world by demanding justice and equality for all. I believe it is possible.  Philippians 4:13


“I believe in the death of injustice, in the life of hope, grace, mercy, and love. I believe in the impossible. I believe there can be healing where there is violence. I believe reconciliation is possible- hearts can be moved, minds can be changed, politics broken. I believe that justice can roll down like a river and we can all taste its sweetness. I believe in the impossible. I believe we can treat people- all people- with dignity; we can recognize their humanity; recognize the divine within. I believe we can do more. Create more jobs. Build more homes. Turn food deserts into promise land harvests. Subvert racial and gender hierarchies. Consider others more important than ourselves. Slay preferences that lead to exclusion. Set captives free. Welcome the stranger. I believe in impossible things. I believe in death because I believe in life. I believe in the death of -isms. I believe in the life of love. I believe humanity can change because I believe in the impossible.”    - Austin Channing Brown with The Impossible