To read the introductory post to this series, please click here.
It happened twice today. I was visiting websites, still trying to get my mind around this whole idea of human trafficking and feeling very overwhelmed by what I was seeing and reading, and I found myself ready to click to sign up. Not sure what for, but I was ready to go, do, give, fight.
Here's the thing: as I realize and begin to grasp the complexity of this issue, I begin to realize that my prayers have got to change, become more sophisticated. Not because God demands it, but because the situation does. For example, I was praying for Vietnamese women who are trafficked out of the country at an alarming rate each year. And I was praying mostly for the situation in Vietnam (the police and government, for the country's attitude about life and women, etc.), then I read that the majority of them are smuggled to China to meet the demands for arranged marriages with Chinese men. So, I then had a whole other set of things to pray for concerning the Chinese side of this coin!
The layers and complexities come like waves, and it's hard to know how to keep up, but then I'm reminded that I'm praying about this to a God who understands all the interworkings of every one of the situations to the ultimate degree. He knows and is intimately associated with every person, every situation, every connection. And I'm thankful that I have a God like that to pray to about these kinds of things.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Happy Medium: Metaphors
Yesterday, the sermon at church was from Luke 14:16-24. It's the parable of a man who gave a great banquet, but none of the people he invited would come, so he sent his servant out to "compel" people to come.
There are a lot of layers to this sermon, which I may get into later, but the one thing that struck me yesterday was the fact that Jesus, in telling this story, uses the metaphor of a banquet, a huge, lavish party to describe the Christian life. A joyous celebration with food, wine, laughing, eating, music, and lots and lots of fun! And I was amazed at just how much this fit into what I've been thinking about in terms of a more balanced Christian life recently.
See, here's the thing: the Bible gives a lot of metaphors for describing the Christian life (e.g. a race, a battle, a pilgrimage, a journey, a marriage), and it's definitely right and good to think of the life of a believer in those terms. But, the degree to which I gravitate to one or the other of those metaphors says something about my view of the Gospel at any given moment. The convicting thing is, most of the time, I have no trouble thinking of the Christian life as a race or a battle. I mean, it's hard, it's exhausting, and it's a fight that I have to constantly be alert in. Rarely, though. . . maybe never, do I think of the Christian life as a banquet. I don't taste the good food and wine, I don't hear the music, I don't laugh at the jokes, or get blessedly lost in the din of the noise of all the conversations.
I need balance in my life. I need to live in the reality that all the metaphors the Bible offers to help me understand this life I've been called to are true, and yet, I can't help thinking today that I might need to, just for a while, live more on the side of the banquet, the party. The feast that I don't deserve to be at, but the one that guy sitting at the head of the table with that enormous smile on his face, laughing at the jokes and encouraging us all to have seconds and thirds, our host, was so gracious to bring me to!
There are a lot of layers to this sermon, which I may get into later, but the one thing that struck me yesterday was the fact that Jesus, in telling this story, uses the metaphor of a banquet, a huge, lavish party to describe the Christian life. A joyous celebration with food, wine, laughing, eating, music, and lots and lots of fun! And I was amazed at just how much this fit into what I've been thinking about in terms of a more balanced Christian life recently.
See, here's the thing: the Bible gives a lot of metaphors for describing the Christian life (e.g. a race, a battle, a pilgrimage, a journey, a marriage), and it's definitely right and good to think of the life of a believer in those terms. But, the degree to which I gravitate to one or the other of those metaphors says something about my view of the Gospel at any given moment. The convicting thing is, most of the time, I have no trouble thinking of the Christian life as a race or a battle. I mean, it's hard, it's exhausting, and it's a fight that I have to constantly be alert in. Rarely, though. . . maybe never, do I think of the Christian life as a banquet. I don't taste the good food and wine, I don't hear the music, I don't laugh at the jokes, or get blessedly lost in the din of the noise of all the conversations.
I need balance in my life. I need to live in the reality that all the metaphors the Bible offers to help me understand this life I've been called to are true, and yet, I can't help thinking today that I might need to, just for a while, live more on the side of the banquet, the party. The feast that I don't deserve to be at, but the one that guy sitting at the head of the table with that enormous smile on his face, laughing at the jokes and encouraging us all to have seconds and thirds, our host, was so gracious to bring me to!
Week One: Intro. and Numbers
To read the introductory post to this series, please click here.
Here's the thing about deciding to do something like take a week to pray for the issue of human trafficking: I like to pray intelligently, and to do I have to do some research, which means I have to read about the issue, which means I'm subjecting myself to learning about the realities of things I'd much rather pretend don't happen. But they do, and so I've been trying to pull together some basic introductory stuff today so I can pray.
The United Nations defines human trafficking as the "recuitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abductio, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability for the purpose of exploitation." (http://www.ungift.org/)
Here are the three statistics that I found today that shocked me the most:
http://www.ungift.org/
http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Executive_summary_english.pdf
http://www.humantrafficking.org/links/95
I will make some comments about this during the week, but for today, I just want to let these sites and numbers speak for themselves.
Here's the thing about deciding to do something like take a week to pray for the issue of human trafficking: I like to pray intelligently, and to do I have to do some research, which means I have to read about the issue, which means I'm subjecting myself to learning about the realities of things I'd much rather pretend don't happen. But they do, and so I've been trying to pull together some basic introductory stuff today so I can pray.
The United Nations defines human trafficking as the "recuitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abductio, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability for the purpose of exploitation." (http://www.ungift.org/)
Here are the three statistics that I found today that shocked me the most:
- 2.45 million people are estimated to be in conditions of forced labor as a result of trafficking.
- 18% of trafficked persons have at least a middle-level education.
- About 66% of all humans trafficked are women; however, 46 countries reported that women play a key role as perpetrators of human trafficking!
http://www.ungift.org/
http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Executive_summary_english.pdf
http://www.humantrafficking.org/links/95
I will make some comments about this during the week, but for today, I just want to let these sites and numbers speak for themselves.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Happy Medium: The Balancing Act
As you know, I've been listening to Chris Rice's CD What a Heart Is Beating For, and I'm just blown away that God in his merciful Providence sent this CD my way at this particular time. I've read the liner notes in the CD booklet, and Rice doesn't really say what the album as a whole is supposed to be about, so I'm going to take that as liberty to come up with my own theory. What I'm learning from the songs is that there is a lot of joy in the Christian life, and it's okay to enjoy it and be happy.
See, for most of my life, I've bounced between two extremes. One is that the Christian is supposed to "rejoice in all circumstances," no matter what those circumstances are, and that your lack of joy or rejoicing is somehow a lack of faith in Christ and therefore sinful. The other is that suffering is real, this world is sinful, the Christian life is a race, and believing in God's sovereignty almost becomes fatalistic so that you start to shut down all emotion. . .just in case the other shoe drops. Both of these are wrong.
Over the past few months, there's seemingly been little in my life to rejoice about, and yet, Chris' songs have reminded me that there is much to be thankful for and even happy about, even in the midst of suffering, trials, and the storms of this life. The first track is titled, "So Much for My Sad Song," and it's about a guy who decides before he ever gets out of bed to write a sad song. . .in other words, no matter what, he's gonna be in a bad mood! And so often I find myself feeling this way. Here's the thing: I am very good at living in the first half of the "Lament Psalms," you know, all the "woe is me," "My God, why have you forsaken me," parts. And while there's nothing unbiblical or sinful about this attitude, I have to be balanced enough to make it to the end of those same psalms where David (or one of the other authors) chooses praise and finds his heart inclined to singing and praising before the Lord.
The singing and praising comes, not from denial about the circumstances we find ourselves, and it's certainly not out of a feeling that if we try hard enough to be happy and joyful, we will be. Instead, like Chris' song says, "Let's make this a love song, instead, 'cause I'm so in love with you." The praising comes from this deep, passionate love affair that's going on, through the good times and bad, with our God who is in control.
See, for most of my life, I've bounced between two extremes. One is that the Christian is supposed to "rejoice in all circumstances," no matter what those circumstances are, and that your lack of joy or rejoicing is somehow a lack of faith in Christ and therefore sinful. The other is that suffering is real, this world is sinful, the Christian life is a race, and believing in God's sovereignty almost becomes fatalistic so that you start to shut down all emotion. . .just in case the other shoe drops. Both of these are wrong.
Over the past few months, there's seemingly been little in my life to rejoice about, and yet, Chris' songs have reminded me that there is much to be thankful for and even happy about, even in the midst of suffering, trials, and the storms of this life. The first track is titled, "So Much for My Sad Song," and it's about a guy who decides before he ever gets out of bed to write a sad song. . .in other words, no matter what, he's gonna be in a bad mood! And so often I find myself feeling this way. Here's the thing: I am very good at living in the first half of the "Lament Psalms," you know, all the "woe is me," "My God, why have you forsaken me," parts. And while there's nothing unbiblical or sinful about this attitude, I have to be balanced enough to make it to the end of those same psalms where David (or one of the other authors) chooses praise and finds his heart inclined to singing and praising before the Lord.
The singing and praising comes, not from denial about the circumstances we find ourselves, and it's certainly not out of a feeling that if we try hard enough to be happy and joyful, we will be. Instead, like Chris' song says, "Let's make this a love song, instead, 'cause I'm so in love with you." The praising comes from this deep, passionate love affair that's going on, through the good times and bad, with our God who is in control.
It's About Time
This year, in the Western calendar, Easter falls in the month of April. My heart has been gripped recently by the fact that there are things going on in the world that I care very little about, because they seem so far away from where I live. I might catch an occasional news story and shake my head, but ultimately I go on with my life. So, here's the thing: I've decided to take the five weeks in April (a few days fall during the last week in March) and pray for five things that are going on around the world that I don't care about but, as a follower of Christ, should. When you start looking at the numbers, you realize that far from being isolated and remote as I would like to believe they are, these things involve and affect millions of people and happen regularly and frequently. The fact that the Holy Spirit has impressed this on my heart to do during April doesn't make me super-spiritual or in line for sainthood. I'm actually broken over my lack of concern for so much of these things, and I can't think of a better way to engage my heart than to begin praying about them.
1. Human Trafficking -- Each year an estimated 600-800,000 people, human beings, created in the image of God, are trafficked across international borders, in some form of slavery. 70% of these are female and 50% of these are children. Most will end up in the international sex trade industry, which generates $4 billion (42% of all trafficking money) each year. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ncvrw/2005/pg5l.html
2. Starving People -- Every day, EVERY DAY, 16,000 children under the age of five die from hunger. 840 million people in the world are malnourished. Right now, there are 54 nations in the world that can't produce enough food to feed their citizens and can't afford to import food from other countries. http://www.care.org/campaigns/world-hunger/facts.asp
3. Ethic Cleansing in Sudan -- Since 2003, at least 400,000 people have been killed as a result of the ethnic cleansing going on in this country, and 2.5 million have been displaced due to threat of death or their homes being destroyed. http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/sudan_genocide_genocide_in_sudan.php
4. AIDS -- As of the end of 2007, there were 33 million people living with AIDS worldwide. In Africa, there are an estimated 11.6 million AIDS orphans. There are about 9.7 million people who need immediate medical treatment for AIDS or AIDS-related illness. Only about 2.9 million will get the treatments they need. http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm
5. Mental Health Issues -- As of 2002, there were an estimated 154 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and there were 25 million who suffered from schizophrenia. Few countries have a legal framework to protect people with mental illnesses from human rights abuses. http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm
The promise of the death and resurrection of Christ is hope. Ultimate hope that our souls can be reconciled to God and that one day, all evil will be cast into the Lake of Fire, but also hope for today that all things truly can be made new. What a better time of year to be thinking about the heavier and sadder things of this life?
1. Human Trafficking -- Each year an estimated 600-800,000 people, human beings, created in the image of God, are trafficked across international borders, in some form of slavery. 70% of these are female and 50% of these are children. Most will end up in the international sex trade industry, which generates $4 billion (42% of all trafficking money) each year. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ncvrw/2005/pg5l.html
2. Starving People -- Every day, EVERY DAY, 16,000 children under the age of five die from hunger. 840 million people in the world are malnourished. Right now, there are 54 nations in the world that can't produce enough food to feed their citizens and can't afford to import food from other countries. http://www.care.org/campaigns/world-hunger/facts.asp
3. Ethic Cleansing in Sudan -- Since 2003, at least 400,000 people have been killed as a result of the ethnic cleansing going on in this country, and 2.5 million have been displaced due to threat of death or their homes being destroyed. http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/sudan_genocide_genocide_in_sudan.php
4. AIDS -- As of the end of 2007, there were 33 million people living with AIDS worldwide. In Africa, there are an estimated 11.6 million AIDS orphans. There are about 9.7 million people who need immediate medical treatment for AIDS or AIDS-related illness. Only about 2.9 million will get the treatments they need. http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm
5. Mental Health Issues -- As of 2002, there were an estimated 154 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and there were 25 million who suffered from schizophrenia. Few countries have a legal framework to protect people with mental illnesses from human rights abuses. http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm
The promise of the death and resurrection of Christ is hope. Ultimate hope that our souls can be reconciled to God and that one day, all evil will be cast into the Lake of Fire, but also hope for today that all things truly can be made new. What a better time of year to be thinking about the heavier and sadder things of this life?
Loud and Clear
This past Friday night, I helped out with Special Kids Night at my church. It's a once-a-month program where parents from all over the city who have children with special needs, can bring them to the church for up to four hours so they can have a night out or off. This was my first time to help with it, and I can't imagine a better way to spend the evening.
Before the kids got there, the lady who is in charge of the program gave us newbies a little orientation. It was pretty basic -- play with the kids, love them, and have fun. Not a bad deal. She also told us that many of the kids who come are non-communicative.
Here's the thing: she was wrong. After a hour of putting the ball in Kyle's lap and letting him push it on the floor and watching him quake and smile with excitement while sucking on his hand; after about forty-five minutes of walking around the gym, holding little Jacob and watching his head bob back-and-forth to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat;" after being doubled over because Paul was laughing so hard at me when I got accidentally hit with a ball while I was pushing him around the gym in his wheelchair; after Nathan spent about thirty minutes rubbing my hair (which I shave pretty short with clippers), I realized that actually the lady was wrong. They might be "non-communicative," but wow, I sure was hearing a lot.
Before the kids got there, the lady who is in charge of the program gave us newbies a little orientation. It was pretty basic -- play with the kids, love them, and have fun. Not a bad deal. She also told us that many of the kids who come are non-communicative.
Here's the thing: she was wrong. After a hour of putting the ball in Kyle's lap and letting him push it on the floor and watching him quake and smile with excitement while sucking on his hand; after about forty-five minutes of walking around the gym, holding little Jacob and watching his head bob back-and-forth to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat;" after being doubled over because Paul was laughing so hard at me when I got accidentally hit with a ball while I was pushing him around the gym in his wheelchair; after Nathan spent about thirty minutes rubbing my hair (which I shave pretty short with clippers), I realized that actually the lady was wrong. They might be "non-communicative," but wow, I sure was hearing a lot.
Monday, March 16, 2009
A Wee Lil' Reading
Here's the thing: in college I was an English major, and one semester I took a class on Irish Literature because I'd never read anything particularly Irish before, and I fell in love with the writing. Coincedentally, I took a class on Southern lit. during the same semester, and saw all kinds of connections between the two, but that's a seperate story.
At any rate, I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite novels in case you're wanting to get into the spirit of things for St. Patrick's Day. All of these are fiction, and they aren't in any particular order.
1. A Star Called Henry (by Roddy Doyle) -- I like this novel because it makes history accessible, and gives a really good look into the mindset of lower-class/poor Irish city dwellers around the turn of the 20th century.
2. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (by Roddy Doyle) -- Completely different feel from A Star Called Henry, but I think it brings out much of the humor in Irish lit.
3. Ireland (by Frank Delany) -- This is a long one, but you will never understand the Irish love affair with storytelling until you read this novel.
4. The Giant O'Brien (by Hilary Mantel) -- This one is a must to get the folklore and magic that is a big part of Irish literature, and it also symbolizes the contrast between Ireland as a land of arts and mystery, and England as the cold empire of science and reason trying to wipe out Ireland's culture.
All of these novels are at times raw and rough, and that in itself gives insight into the culture and perceptions of the people. So, pop open a Guiness and enjoy!
At any rate, I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite novels in case you're wanting to get into the spirit of things for St. Patrick's Day. All of these are fiction, and they aren't in any particular order.
1. A Star Called Henry (by Roddy Doyle) -- I like this novel because it makes history accessible, and gives a really good look into the mindset of lower-class/poor Irish city dwellers around the turn of the 20th century.
2. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha (by Roddy Doyle) -- Completely different feel from A Star Called Henry, but I think it brings out much of the humor in Irish lit.
3. Ireland (by Frank Delany) -- This is a long one, but you will never understand the Irish love affair with storytelling until you read this novel.
4. The Giant O'Brien (by Hilary Mantel) -- This one is a must to get the folklore and magic that is a big part of Irish literature, and it also symbolizes the contrast between Ireland as a land of arts and mystery, and England as the cold empire of science and reason trying to wipe out Ireland's culture.
All of these novels are at times raw and rough, and that in itself gives insight into the culture and perceptions of the people. So, pop open a Guiness and enjoy!
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