Legalize Prostitution?

WARNING! While this video may not have offensive language some may find the topic uncomfortable and the reporters position on the topic nauseating. If you feel you may throw up and/or want to throw something at your computer screen, I completely understand and empathize.

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So why do I share this video clip with you when I completely disagree with this man? Most of you know I am a blogger for The Exodus Road that supports efforts to rescue victims of human trafficking in SE Asia. I want to take this opportunity to use my voice to highlight the atrocity of human trafficking in the US. But some may ask, what does Prostitution and human trafficking have to do with each other? Well, a lot. Some statistics for you:

 

Child/Human Trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. Child/ human trafficking is the world’s second largest criminal enterprise, after drugs. U.S. State Department

The global market of child trafficking at over $12 billion a year with over 1.2 million child victims. UNICEF

As many as 2.8 million children run away each year in the US. Within 48 hours of hitting the streets, one-third of these children are lured or recruited into the underground world of prostitution and pornography. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The average age of entry for children victimized by the sex trade industry is 12 years. U.S. Department of Justice

Approximately 80% of human trafficking victims are women and girls and up to 50% are minors.  U.S. State Department

The average number of victims for non-incestuous pedophiles who molest girls is 20, for pedophiles who prefer boys 100! The Association For the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)

300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk every year for commercial sexual exploitation. U.S. Department of Justice

600,000 – 800,000 people are bought and sold across international borders each year; 50% are children, most are female. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade.  U.S. Department of State, 2004, Trafficking in Persons Report, Washington, D.C.

An estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States each year. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. U.S. Department of Justice Report to Congress from Attorney General John Ashcroft on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons

An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime. Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Study

Child pornography is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States right now.  Nationally, there has been a 2500% increase in arrests in 10 years. FBI

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which helps to identify and locate children in pornography photos and videos, says it’s staff reviewed more than 10.5 million images in 2009 alone.

Reports of exploited children grow every year, in 2009, the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children received more than 120,000 reports on its cyber tip line. In 2010, the number grew to over 160,000 with the vast majority being from child pornography.

This information was found at www.sctnow.org


If prostitution is legalized in this country we will only fuel and empower the pimps/traffickers and give a free license to every John in this country to exploit our children and women. The idea that prostitution is a matter between consenting adults is very ignorant of the culture we live in. Slavery is a greater problem today then it was in the days when the US was being settled and developed. To know more on how you can help fight human trafficking click on any of the following links below.


The Exodus Road


Polaris Project
National Hot line # 1 - 888 - 373 - 7888

Eastern NC Stop Human Trafficking Now
Here is a recent article they profiled in their recent newsletter: Westminster woman arrested on Human Trafficking charge

Not My Life

Want to rescue a person from Slavery? Here's how!

 

Enter the SEARCH AND RESCUE PROGRAM


Last week The Exodus Road launched a program that they think will effectively answer the question of how you can personally fuel and empower literal rescue. Essentially, they’re inviting us onto a real-life investigative team. 


From their experience, it takes about $35 for a night for one of our investigators to engage in local surveillance. Since we already have teams on the ground and since most of our teams are volunteers, we are able to fund investigations with a fairly lean financial model. If you’d like to join a team, you will be “hiring” one of our investigators to go literally look for children and victims on your behalf in some of the darkest corners of the globe. Investigators will then take that intel to local police partners and will develop cases and raids from that initial intelligence.


The search fuels the rescue. And by investing in our teams, you would be putting boots on the ground, sending eyes to look for the enslaved. 


Currently, we have four designated teams that we’d like to empower. Each team has a code name (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta) and a brief description of their area of focus. You can find the team names and descriptions here. When you choose a team to sponsor for $35/monthly, you’ll have access to their field intelligence (though, as always, for safety, some details may be changed). You’ll get live updates as to the ways your team, specifically, is engaging in investigations, raids, and rescue. We’ll be sending you newsletters, incentives and even ways for you to connect and support your field team on a more personal level.


It’s the closest thing to the front lines we can get you. And it’s the most direct way we can find to give everyone the opportunity to fight for rescue.

Interested in Joining the Rescue Movement?

Stop by our new Search and Rescue Program landing page. You might want to check out our Search and Rescue FAQ page, as well. Read over the teams available for sponsorship and see which connects most to you. Follow the links to adopt your team, and we’ll be mailing you a welcome packet with information about your investigators and several small thank you items from our home office here in Colorado.


And then moving forward, every time you see a rescue shared or an update given from the field connected with your team name, you’ll know that you were a valuable part of that success.
We had a field investigator say to us the other day,

“Tell me how many kids you want to rescue, and if I have the resources, I think our team could make that happen.” – Exodus Road Coalition Partner

And this statement from a team that has rescued 150 victims of sex slavery in the last month alone because of their commitment to justice and the funding we were able to provide them. (This is our Bravo Team, actually.)


If you’ve been asking the question, “What Can I Do?” Perhaps this could be your answer. Check out the Search and Rescue program, please tell your friends, and consider joining the (literal) rescue movement. 



In the Middle



Many of you are probably familiar with the show "Malcolm in the Middle" it is about a boy labeled a genius growing up in a dysfunctional family.

Right now I feel like Malcolm living in a dysfunctional country. It doesn't feel good. I am beginning to feel the weight of this war on women, because I am a woman.

As a female minister I have known and heard the words of disdain because I dare to preach the gospel while being a woman. It should be no surprise that among the religious conservative Christians I am seen as living outside the teachings of scripture when I preach and teach men. I have known this but have sought company with like minded Christians who support my call to Christian ministry and supported me by giving me opportunities to preach and employ me to minister and live out my call to Christian ministry. But last night I felt something I never felt before, disdain as a woman of faith, from the opposite side of religious conservatives.

I learned that groups who claim to support women and advocate for gender equality in this country don't like me either. They don't like me because I am a woman of faith. If I believe in a God then I am a victim of the oppression and tyranny of religion (there words) and I lack intelligence because I do not refute these beliefs and label them as false.

So here I am in the Middle

 

Feeling Oppressed.

 

 

It is not easy being a woman in Ministry and there are days, like yesterday, when I cry out to God as the Psalmist did asking for the destruction of my enemy.

 

I am tired. I am tired of being demeaned. I am tired of being dismissed. I am tired of being judged. I am simply tired of being oppressed because of my gender. For Christ sake, Paul said that no longer was there male or female, I am a new creation in Christ, one without gender, race or socioeconomic status. Why must we as a country fixate ourselves on distinction and labels? Why must we insist on judging and vilify people for what makes them different from ourselves?

 

I JUST DON'T GET IT!

 

Can we stop? Will you stop it?

 

 

I am Adele Henderson

 

 

I love God

 

 

I live my life in response to Jesus Christ

 

 

I am tired of being oppressed for the fact that I am these three things inside a female body.

 

 

I just want it to end.

 

 

 

If it will not end I take comfort in the following words from Jesus:

 

 

"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me." "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great ; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  Matthew 5: 11 - 12   

My Last Words

 

A week ago I finished a bible study series, with my youth, on the Seven Deadly Sins. Each week we met there was a confession time. Week to week the response to the confession time changed but was always centered around the forgiveness that comes from God. We have since started an accountability group where we meet weekly, confess our sins, then say; "In the name of Jesus Christ I forgive you."

 

 

My post today is a personal confession to you and a commitment.

 

 

First follow me on an exercise:

 

 

Thank about the political party you identify with: Democrat, Republican or Independent

(Stay with me here okay)

What issues are important to you?

Who on the opposite side of the political spectrum makes you angry, that doesn't understand you, that you feel threatens what is important to you.

(We all have at least one. We live in a politically divided country)

 

 

I know who one of my opposites of the political system is. He has angered me, made me feel less than and I have felt he does not understand me. And yet last night he challenged me, convicted me and gave me hope in less than 10 minutes. Below is a video I watched last night of Glenn Beck's Monologue in his studio. See, I have felled miserably when it comes to loving my neighbor, especially my Republican neighbor. All I can see is the difference and all I focus on is the difference. I have contributed to the political divide in this country and I don't like it. I am sorry for that and I want to change.

 

 

Before you scroll down to see the video you should know something. Glen Beck is unable to speak. He has learned that his vocal cords are paralyzed. But that did not stop him from revealing himself and his changed heart. He has opened his mind and heart to see things in a new. To see things from his opposite in the political system and it has endeared me to him. This video will challenge everyone who watches it, and that is good. When ever we become confident and secure in what we believe we need to be shaken up, and God is good at doing that. God did that to me last night with this video. so without delay, take the next 10 minutes to watch this video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



If Glenn Beck can change, then so can I, and you can too if you want to.

 

 

 

If I was to lose my voice tomorrow my last words would be:

 

 

 

 

"I Love You"

 

 

 

 

Why those words?

 

One, because I do. When I dig down deep I do love my neighbor, I just need to move past the political divide to uncover it.

 

 

Second, this world needs a lot more love. So no more good byes or see you later. If you work with me, you will hear me say, "I love you" Because if I lose my voice tomorrow that is what I want people to know.

 

 

 



The Good Old Fashioned Phone Call. What ever happened to it?

 

I think with the age of the Internet the standard phone call is slowly disappearing. Why do I say this? Well simply, within 2 days last week I had two cousins, via facebook, ask me how my parents were and asked me to tell them hello. I replied back, "They would love to hear from you. Just give them a call." I also included their phone number, but not here. I am pretty sure my parents don't want calls from every person who reads my post. (But I could be wrong)

Even in our age of technology not everyone has a computer. "WHAT? You mean not everyone has a computer?" No, at least 2 people in this world don't and they would be my parents. I also know they enjoy phone calls from family and friends. How do I know this? Well, I call my parents almost daily and, without fail, if someone has called they tell me and I can hear the joy in their voice.

I get there is some convenience to Internet chatting but it does not compare, at least in my opinion, to hearing someone's voice on the other end of the line. Phone calls create a connection that just does not exist on the Internet and I can't for the life of me figure out why people would rather use Internet and me, to relay a message to my parents. I do know that these 2 cousins have phones.

Have you called someone lately? Have you asked someone via the Internet to tell another person hello? Pick up the phone and call someone. I am pretty confident it will brighten your day. I will continue to enjoy my phone calls to and from my parents because I know one day there will be no calls to make or receive from them.



Privacy vs Security

PRISM is a word that most of us have heard by now. It is the program that the NSA has used where all our email and phone calls are tracked. What is being debated since the leak of all this information is what is more important, being secure from terrorist attacks or our privacy. For me the privacy aspect takes be back to the 4th Amendment of the Constitution:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

On June 6, an article in the Huffington Post exposed the extent of how far reaching the PRISM program really is. Here is an excerpt:

In summer 2002, Klein was working in an office responsible for Internet equipment when an NSA representative arrived to interview a management-level technician for a special, secret job.

The job entailed building a "secret room" in another AT&T office 10 blocks away, he said. By coincidence, in October 2003, Klein was transferred to that office. He asked a technician about the secret room on the sixth floor, and the technician told him it was connected to the Internet room a floor above. The technician handed him wiring diagrams.

"That was my 'aha' moment," Klein said. "They're sending the entire Internet to the secret room."

The diagram showed splitters glass prisms that split signals from each network into two identical copies. One copy fed into the secret room. The other proceeded to its destination, he said.

"This splitter was sweeping up everything, vacuum-cleaner-style," he said. "The NSA is getting everything. These are major pipes that carry not just AT&T's customers, but everybody's."

It must be noted that this is prior to the launch of PRISM in 2007. It is one thing to tap lines and follow emails of known and suspected terrorist. It is another thing to retrieve everything that happens across the internet.

I am not naive to think there is such a thing as complete privacy when it comes to the internet but I also don't believe that complete security exists either. I support my government and law officials work to thwart crime but only within the bounds set by the constitution.

I prefer my privacy over my security. Yes, I prefer my privacy over my security. I have complete confidence in the CIA and the FBI but I do not believe (and I could be wrong) that the government needs to track all my calls and all my online activities to stop a terrorist.

I am a law abiding citizen and until the Constitution is amended I will stand by the 4th amendment and require that law officials must provide a warrant to track my online activities. If I was a convicted criminal, that would be different. If you chose to break the law then you have every right to expect to lose your rights but when millions of Americans follow the laws of the land the government has no right to look into people's private lives.

So how much do I value my privacy? When I first set up my Facebook account in 2009 I read through the entire privacy policy of Facebook then put my settings on the strictest privacy settings. So tight that you will not find me on Facebook unless we are already friends on Facebook. Accept if you are the NSA then apparently you can.

I recently watched a series on PBS titled, "Constitution USA with Peter Sagal"
(The series is over now but you can get it on DVD for $29.99. I highly recommend this) But that aside the series impressed upon me how unique our country is and what we have in the Constitution is a very groundbreaking document. With that my rights are very important to me and even when the first Patriot Act was passed I was very bothered by it. For me if laws are passed by Congress that start to chip away at our guaranteed rights under the Constitution then I fear this Democracy we have in America, what makes us unique compared to other countries, will slowly slip away.

Yes, the Patriot Act makes the PRISM program legal, but is it right? It stands on shaking ground when we ask if it is constitutional. It is on shaking ground because no warrant was ever issued to me or any other American citizen, as far as I know, before tracking our phone calls and following our email. That for me is a violation of my 4th Amendment right and causes me to distrust my government and wonder if they are really doing this for my best interest.

So what about you? Do you prefer your privacy or your security? And why?

An Addendum:

"Changing my Life"

 



I have no post for you this week but I want to share a post from a fellow blogger that I follow. He is a retired firefighter living in North Carolina. His post is about an author and  pastor that changed his life. Click here to read the post.

Regardless of how we grew up we do become a product of it. The challenge is allowing our faith in Christ to change us and learn to love our neighbor despite what we learned growing up.