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By Ó Elisabeth K. Corcoran , 2009 (www.elisabethcorcoran.blogspot.com)
I just saw a photograph of a menu. It listed five items along with the prices. No big deal, right?
Wrong. The items listed are as follows: China girl, Hong Kong girl, Malay girl, Philippine girl, Russian girl. And for a price, you can have one for the night.
Imagine a few things with me:
You are buying a plane ticket to a foreign country so you can steal a child’s virginity.
You are a little girl who’s been told she needs to go away for a few weeks only to be sold into slavery.
You are the mother of a child who has debts she cannot pay, more children to feed than there is food, and you’re told that your precious daughter will be taken very good care of if only you let her go away into the city for awhile.
Moms, we must do something about this. I’ve been talking about AIDS and Africa and clean water for awhile now. And I’m not getting off that soapbox until either I a) die or b) God tells me to quiet down. But this is just another facet in the Pandora’s box that is social justice.
But what can you and I do about this issue, about any issue that seems so far removed?
First of all, pray. God wants justice for every person, so to pray to this end, well, you already know you’re praying in His will.
Secondly, get informed. Read anything you can. Search websites. Pick up a book. Get information.
Third, realize that the other side of the world is not so far away, as Rich Mullins sang. For instance, our very own Toledo, Ohio is well known as a hub of human trafficking. (By the way, the definition of human trafficking is simply this: It involves an act of recruiting, transporting, or receiving a person through a use of force or coercion for the purpose of exploiting them, and every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers.)
Next, inform others. Tell your friends what you’re learning. Figure out a way your church can get involved.
And finally, give. Any amount helps to bring freedom and aftercare to victims of modern day slavery. Go to www.ijm.org to find out more.
You wouldn’t want anyone taking your child away…you wouldn’t want to be in the situation where you felt you had no choice but to let them go…let’s do some good, let’s fight some evil…for our kids’ sake, and the children of those who can’t fight for their own.
Ó Elisabeth K. Corcoran, 2009
Elisabeth lives her with husband and children in Illinois. She is the author of the devotionals, In Search of Calm: Renewal for a Mother’s Heart (Xulon), Calm in My Chaos: Encouragement for a Mom’s Weary Soul (Kregel), and is excited to announce the fall release of He Is Just That Into You: Stories of a Faithful God who Pursues, Engages, and Has No Fear of Commitment (WinePress). After ten years of leading Women’s Ministry and four years on staff at Christ Community Church – Blackberry Creek Campus over Adult Ministry and Community & International Impact, she is now devoting her time to speaking and writing. Her passion is to encourage women and the Church, and applying her gifts to eradicating local and global AIDS. You can learn more about Elisabeth at www.elisabethcorcoran.com or at http://elisabethcorcoran.blogspot.com/, and you can follow her on Twitter at ekcorcoran.
By Mélanie (from Keeping it Simple, June 24/09)
Today’s post is going to be rather different then you’d normally find on my blog… I’m taking part in the BTG synchroblog along with over 50 other bloggers… check out the BTG blog to see the full list and read posts from many different perspectives on how we can “bridge the gap”.
A few months ago, our small group from church worked through the pilot study called “Bridging the Gap: Conversations on befriending our gay neighbours” (The executive producer being Wendy Gritter who wrote in the June/July issue of our Deeper Newsletter). I must say with all honesty that going in, I was a bit reluctant, not quite sure of what I was getting into… particularly feeling responsible for having brought a co-worker and friend to the group, unsure of how the topic would be broached…
My attitude changed quickly as I looked over the DVD cover and saw the names of some of the speakers involved… Tony Campolo, Bruxy Cavey, Greg Paul… And I liked the approach they were proposing: this study was not about debating whether homosexuality is right or wrong, rather, we would put all that aside to examine how it is that we as Christians, can love like Jesus, regardless of how different our convictions may be from those around us.
I appreciated the fact that different points of view were represented… There were those who believed that despite being gay, God wanted them to remain celibate, while others believed that God blessed gay marriage but not promiscuity… it’s quite the hot topic when faith and sexuality collide… Listening to those sharing their thoughts on the DVD, one could not deny that each person loved God and was dedicated to following Christ, though somehow, they had arrived to different conclusions in their study of the same Bible.
Now this is where many of us Christians might struggle… but as Bruxy challenged us, instead of jumping to conclusions and questioning how people come to hold their convictions, we should give all the benefit of the doubt and get to know them instead of labelling, stereotyping and judging… It’s really about individuals, and should not be about an “issue” which dictates an automatic response to every gay person that crosses our path…
I truly feel that the BTG study should be done by so many more as it challenges those of us who are Christians to truly reach out like Jesus did, beyond our comfortable “Christian bubbles”. And this in no way means that you need to compromise your own convictions, it’s more about examining your responses to others.
The beauty of this study is that it extends well beyond how we interact with the gay people in our lives. It is really about how we can love through deep disagreements, whatever those may be, when it otherwise would be easier to cut people off instead of working through it, accepting that in the end, we may still arrive to different conclusions.
Though I’ve heard these two words get confused, I do believe that there is a clear difference between tolerance and acceptance. Tolerance has no love. It’s cold, indifferent and says: “You stay over there and do your thing, and I’ll stay over here and do mine… just don’t bug me and we’ll be fine…” Whereas acceptance says: “I love you, care about you, and want you to be a part of my life.” Acceptance doesn’t mean that you need to be like-minded – no two people are completely – so there must be room to disagree and still accept, love and respect one another.
Speaking as a Christian, I must admit that the church (collectively) traditionally has not been good at tolerating or accepting people in the gay community (or anyone who might have different thoughts then us or appear rough around the edges for that matter)…
I was just reading my Bible in Acts 10 and was reminded of how the apostle Peter was challenged in a vision with the fact that God shows no favouritism. Peter assumed that the message of Jesus was for the Jews alone, but he learned that God had sent Jesus for ALL. I recently read this version of Acts 10:34-35 which I loved:
“Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from – if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.” (The Message)
Jesus thankfully doesn’t tell us to come to Him when we are perfectly like Him… He’d be left alone… rather, He invites us all to come as we are… Jesus made time for the marginalized and outcasts of the day: the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the lepers… whatever their issues and struggles, He accepted and loved people even when no one else did. If we are to be the body of Christ, His hands and feet, aren’t we to love like Him in order to represent Him well in the world instead of building up more walls and cutting more people off who many not look, dress or believe exactly like us??
So what does loving like Jesus mean? Perhaps less judging, less jumping to conclusions, less making people feel terrible about themselves… and more loving unconditionally, more investing in the lives of others, meeting them where they are, even when it’s not easy… Once someone has come to the place where they have accepted Jesus as their Saviour, then we can trust God to be at work in their lives, through the Holy Spirit just as He is in ours… He’s in the business of changing hearts and lives… and often times, when we’re so stuck on what others need to change in their lives, God is trying to show us what we need to change in our own…
Tony Campolo reminded us of this as he discussed the pat answer so many of us Christians use… “Love the sinner, hate the sin”… But really Jesus taught that we are to examine our own lives first and not always be so quick to point the finger!! None of us have life all figured out… More transparency is good… Why is it that we Christians are often afraid for people (in and outside the church) to see our imperfections? We are all a work in progress!
To wrap things up, I strongly recommend getting friends together to work through the 4 week BTG study. It’s well worth the time… and you can be sure that you will be stretched by it. The study truly broke the ice for our group, taking us from surface level discussions about faith, to real, honest and deep conversations. It has been tough to transition into a new study as most don’t seem to foster such great discussions that get us thinking and talking about various applications in our lives throughout the week!
Visit New Direction for more information or to purchase the BTG study. Also check out who else is blogging in today’s BTG synchroblog and see what perspective they bring to the discussion!
By Valerie Cressman (as a follow-up to her article “Can Kids Be Missionaries Too?” in the June/July 2009 issue of Deeper)
After being home from our family mission trip to Nicaragua for quite some time now, I have looked back on our past year and have wondered how we can make these same experiences relevant and attainable for all families despite their stage or circumstances. Here are a few basic foundations that this trip was based upon. I think all involved strongly believe that whether in Nicaragua or Ontario, the same principles and life lessons can be taught and experienced.
Prayer: consistent and constant
This was our life blood to all the preparations and expectations on everyone! Listening to our kids get more comfortable praying out loud to Jesus was something I will never forget! Towards the end of the trip we saw the kids drop everything in a stressful situation and present their requests to God.
Are we modeling that consistent and constant prayer life that is vital to our day to day life? Our children often repeat what they are seeing.
Sharpened Weapons: fresh and applicable
Don’t worry, I am only speaking of the Word of God! We specifically chose verses that dealt with all of our weaknesses and used them whenever we needed them. We even came up with a code word to use when one of us needed the extra encouragement before it got ugly.
How is our Scripture Memory? Do our own swords need sharpening? Are we sharing our “battle victories” with our families?
Focused Living: intentional decision making
I think we’d all agree that having a young family means that you are extremely busy! Marriage, children, and activities demand our time, energy & attention. Putting together a family mission statement that clearly states your family’s passions, priorities and purpose is a great filter when so much vies for your commitment.
Realistic Expectations: letting kids be kids!
While I am a firm believer in the saying “Expect much, receive much, expect little, receive little,” I feel that having realistic expectations is vital to the overall health and vitality of a child’s life. They don’t have the years of experience or maturity that we have, or the reasoning skills. And when planning ministry opportunities like helping out at a soup kitchen or traveling to a foreign country, it is really good to understand that kids will still be kids. They might spill a tray of food or carelessly flip over in a hammock and crack their head open…(true story). Plan activities that are geared to your own child’s uniqueness or gifting areas. Success in these types of things will lead to wanting to do more like it!
Are we looking for ways for our families to serve? Are we considering our own families’ uniqueness and gifts when we try to plan these service projects?
If you are interested in learning more about our trip to Nicaragua, we kept a blog that you are free to check out! www.bluewaterbaptist.ca/nicaragua/Welcome.html
Do you have other questions about this trip or how we went about planning it? Post a comment and ask away!
By Melanie (posted Februray 2nd, 2009 on Keeping it Simple)
The past year, my senses have truly been heightened to those hurting all around me… close by and abroad… Friends living far from family, unable to return to their home country where they would be persecuted for their faith in Christ… friends with struggling marriages… some facing nasty custody battles and endless legal proceedings and false accusations… too many walking with loved ones through their fight with cancer… friends struck suddenly with inexplicable illnesses that have momentarily and at times permanently rocked their worlds… others struggling with infertility… husbands working far from home… then news of a baby girl (seemingly barely 1 from the photos) battling with stage 4 cancer… and reading the stories of some of the children members of my church’s mission trip to Cambodia are encountering…
I have also recently been introduced to the International Justice Mission and have just read a book called “Terrify No More” which tells of their work in Cambodia and around the world to free and seek justice for victims of sex-trafficking and of bonded labour, etc. I’m also finishing a book called “One – A face behind the numbers” where Vaden Earle from Absolute Leadership Development brings to light the injustice that so many in the world face and our need for us to step up, become aware and take action!
All of this has led me to one main response… Why am I so blessed Lord? I have a loving and faithful husband, healthy beautiful children, a lovely spacious home, a tight-knit loving extended family, caring friends and a wonderful church community. We are blessed beyond belief. As I sat the other night praying for those hurting around me and wondering why we are continually blessed, the answer that came was this…
We are blessed so that we may bless others.
We can’t respond to others’ stories with the fear of illness, injury or accidents striking our family. That response keeps my eyes on me. It’s selfish and a useless waste of energy and emotion – though I sometimes have to remind myself. No, I really believe that we are blessed so that we can bless others with our time, our resources, our friendships and our prayers.
I wrote about my desire to teach my kids about compassion back in October… getting their eyes off their own little lives and desires and to recognize the needs of others around them. I think I am the one who has been learning the lesson more than anyone. It’s so easy to get consumed by my own busy life and family, with my only worries being paying the bills at the end of the month, getting my kids through their colds and flus and preparing my 3-year old for school in September.
I have been feeling a new and increasing burden to pray for those who cross my path the past while. You know, it’s a funny thing to pray more for others. It takes my eyes off me and my troubles as they arise which seem SO BIG when they’re my main focus. But as I look to God and trust Him to act in the lives of others, lifting them up in prayer, it builds my faith to remember that God is a powerful God who will take care of my worries which seem to be nothing at all regardless of how bad my day seems!
I am blessed. As John Waller talks about in his song “The Blessing”, I can and will choose to be a blessing!
