Waking up

This morning, waking up...


... I couldn't help but to think about the children in the brothels.  A few stories I heard from last prayer meeting for Cambodia trickled in my head. 

Somewhere, on the other side of the world, is night time.

And somewhere, on the other side of the world, a kid is being sold for a few dollars.

And somewhere, on the other side of the world, injustice is being perpetuated.

Repost: Eat Pig Slop

A repost from Hagar International.

My parents used to make me eat pig slop. You might wonder what pig slop tastes like, but it's not as bad as it sounds. To be honest, I got used to it. But what was worse was when my parents would yell at me. Or they'd hit me. Or they would dip my clothes in pig manure because I wanted to take a school exam. That hurt a lot. Because eating pig slop is nothing really, lots of people eat worse things. What's worse is my parents treated me like a pig - like an animal - for years.

I pray that Thi will realize that there is heavenly Father that cares for her, treats her as one of His own and will never abandon her.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. 

      "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

Luke 15:15-20

Repost: Lets not stay comfortably away

Took this video from a sister in my church.

She posted on her blog....a testimonial from Holly Burkhalter.  When God speaks...it feels like a ton of brick coming down.  Heart is shattered.

09.20.09 The Silver Lining - Finding God in Unexpected Places from Quest Church on Vimeo.

An enemy of Injustice

Found this on the internet...

A 10 min video from Sharon Cohn Wu (from International Justice Mission) spoke at Intervarsity 2006.  It is on Facebook and you might need to login to view it.

...it is such truth that there is massive trauma injustice in the world that is contrary to the purpose of God imagine for us..but imagine what God might want you to do about it...one person rescue from police brutality that he is studying law so injustice can have a new enemy...

...the great news is that the world does not revolve around you...but you matter immensely not just to God...but to millions to others who cries out for justice...

The fire that was kept quiet...

...is burning again.

Five Weeks for Freedom

Stop Injustice: 5 Weeks For Freedom from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

I know I am taking this out of context.  It's good to see someone fighting the good fight.

Repost: Light and Darkness

Taken from Lisa at Ratanak.

You can read the rest of the post here.

P's son who is now 10 years old was so badly abused by some foreign pedophiles that the doctors needed 6 hours to stitch him up. Today, he was overjoyed to see his mother. His sister who is 8 years old was sold like many of the kids here. I mentioned them as just outside the Sanctuary where they were playing was a well known brothel owner who was sitting in a nearby tuk-tuk while Pastor Chantha was like the 'Shepherd' sitting outside looking at His sheep. She happens to be friends with the children's mother. If you were to see her, you would think she is someone's grandmother chatting with the kids. She looks non-threatening but don't be fooled by her appearance. Her presence is a reminder that the darkness is always close by, how easily it seeks to encroach, encircle and consume the light. As the bible tells us, Satan is like a roaring lion looking to steal, kill and destroy. My reaction to her presence was to walk nearby and pray against all that she represents for the battle for the preservation of innocent young lives in this community is not against the flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Hagar Aftercare

A quick 9 min video on Hagar's Aftercare.

I am most touch when the girl said in the end that when she grow up she wanted to stop slavery in her country...

"I think children need warmth. Most children lack education and in our society we haven't eleminated trafficking so I really worry about them."

Tears of Outcry, Joy and Hope

I was watching this video last night.  It brought tears to my eyes.  They were not tears of sadness.  No.  These are tears of outcry, tears of joy and tears of Hope.  These are tears of seeing the God whom I've been reading in the Bible at work.  The living God. The God who is with us.  Who is close to us.  Whose Glory is reveal among the lost and the broken.

The video is about a 12 year old boy who has to collect water and beg for money because his dad is blind.  He is now in Hagar's Children's Recovery Shelter.  I pray to God that he will see God worked in his life and be used mightily by Him.

What's Hagar International?  This 3 min video explains what they do.

I love their motto:

whatever it takes for as long as it takes to restore a broken life is our motto. But it takes a community of passionate and dedicated individuals to walk the journey of healing and transformation with survivors of abuse. 

Used

I sat there with a cup of coffee in my hand.  The coffee wasn't the greatest.  There wasn't any sugar available.  It was bitter and it was stale. There were many sweets and cakes.  I wasn't too hungry.  Nor do I want too much sugar going in my system.

I sat at the corner watching.  For once a week, I go to a food bank and to drop off grocery. It was my friend's initiative.   We wanted to do a grocery run.  To get to know those in Mississauga in need and also to share the gospel and pray for them.  My friend was on call and couldn't make it.  So I went by myself.

Monday night is usually quiet.

Volunteers were sitting around.  Chatting away. They know me as the driver.  I kept to myself.  Over a cup of stale coffee.

I thought about the lists of things I have to do.  Need to set up a schedule for ushering, plan a mission trip, book a hotel when I go to Boston, clean up my room, what I need to read...need to pray....on and on.

For a brief moment, I thought why I am here.  I am here all by myself.  I have far more things I need to do.

I stopped.

=====

Cliff, you asked for this last year.  You asked God to use you.  Your wish was to go out everyday and go after the lost of the lost in Mississauga.  This is why you are here.  This is why you are tired and you still come out.  Yes, you have many things to do.  This is what you asked for.  And God answered you.  Do you remember?

=====

As I looked at the few that dropped by to pick up food.  An elderly Asian couple.  Holding plastic bags and carrying a little luggage to carry as much food as they can.  A mother with a twelve year old and holding a baby in her hands. They were picking a box of cereal.  A volunteer asking a gentleman that he could only pick five cans of soup and asked him what flavours he want.  I realized there isn't anywhere else I should be.  Despite my so busy to do list.  Life with all its priorities.  That can wait.


In the book, Good News about Injustice by Gary Haugen, he started off with living in North America where it is safe and free, we tend forget that the rest of the world lies in injustice.  Our home becomes our little lot of green garden. Sure we stress over work and life, we rarely worry about the injustice that occur outside of our plot.

I stared at the rows of canned goods, the food on the table, and the people who needed them. I thought about the little green plot that I live on.  If Jesus is in Mississauga, He would never sit comfortably at His home and read the Bible.  He will be going out after the broken and the needy.  He said it...

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because He anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor,
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.

(Luke 4:18-19)

I am reminded why I was there.

It was at this time a volunteer struck a conversation with the elderly Asian couple.  He asked them if they needed a drop off with the grocery.

I instantly leaped off my feet and with enthusiasm I said, "Yes, use me. Use my gas.  This is why I am here."

English was not their first language.  Through a heavy accent and a few broken words, we made out where they live. As we went upstairs and put the grocery in my car, I told them that normally I wasn't suppose to drive them.  Because of liability issues, we were only to drop off the grocery.  They would have to walk home.

I looked at them. They were very excited to see my family car and kept cheering it was nice.

I ignored the rules and told them to hop in.

As I drop them at their home, they thanked me for being so kind to them.

I went back to the food bank and thank the volunteer for taking the initiative. It is good to be use sometimes.

I didn't think I was kind.  I simply response to a promise Jesus fulfilled when He came on earth.  He is kind.  For even someone as broken and dirty as myself, I can still be used for His Glory.

Then I said, 
"Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."


....


Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?"
Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"  

(Isaiah 6:6,8)

Afterward, I had over to Open Door to see if they needed help.  Tomorrow they were giving away clothes.  They spent the night moving clothes from the storage to the store.  As I came in, they just finish.  We joked how great my timing was :D.  Hahaha.

.

..

...

It's good to be used sometimes.
Especially by the Holy One.

To Take Action

I was having bubble tea with a few brothers last week after Prayer Meeting...

One topic led to another and I started to talk about all that I witnessed at IJM Reception on Tuesday night. How we tend to forget those who are poor and how we spend our money...

We were about to talk about how how badly North America churches are at managing the resources that God bless them with...

...that's when I put my cup down and said..

"Look, we can talk about the church but unless we take individual responsibility and personal actions at how we spend our money, this whole talk is just a talk. We can pull facts and find out how badly the church is at, or find how many are suffering. The point ain't having a good talk or debate and go home..then repeat the same talk two weeks later. We have to live it out personally."

There was an awkward silence afterwards.

There is much luxury in discussion without action.  What surprise myself is the lack of response that I give...if I see injustice and do nothing about it...is that a life that bring Glory to the Lord?   I am much more sad by this than be scared of what God will do to me.  He has every rights to struck me down.  Yet I am still here.  I am sad because I told God I would seek Him first.  Because of what I value as Christian living.  To be living in two worlds, between the rich and the poor, with disparity so great, I stand doing nothing.

There are many discussions these days about whether Christian should go out and do more and not...and I love to talk. Love to show the other side is wrong.  Love to win over that argument.  Love to proof that I am right.  Love to talk and have nothing to show for...is that what a Christian is called for? To discuss worldly matters over a cup of drink while half of the world is bondage in suffering? Hmm...The parable of rich man and Lazarus comes to mind.

...

I am once reminded by a letter I read last year. This is written by John Wesley, one of the early church fathers, to William Wilberforce concerning abolishing the slave trade in 1800s. William Wilberforce petitioned against the slave trade act in the British Parliament for 26 years before he succeed in abolishing the act.

John Wesley wrote:

Dear Sir:

Unless the divine power has raised you us to be as Athanasius contra mundum, I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that execrable villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be fore you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.

Reading this morning a tract wrote by a poor African, I was particularly struck by that circumstance that a man who has a black skin, being wronged or outraged by a white man, can have no redress; it being a "law" in our colonies that the oath of a black against a white goes for nothing. What villainy is this?

That he who has guided you from youth up may continue to strengthen you in this and all things, is the prayer of, dear sir,

Your affectionate servant,

John Wesley

(Source: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/wilber.stm)

I am most encourage by this..that John Wesley...one of the most influential church leaders back in the day, applauded William Wilberforce for his perseverance against slavery...Even John Wesley saw the evil lurking in such vile industry...and such, it must be stop.

Tonight, I read the report from The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada entitled, Human Trafficking: A Report on Modern Day Slavery in Canada.

One glaring sentence stood out:

Although both men and women are victims of trafficking, from cases that have been reported, sexual exploitation appears to be the most highly represented form of exploitation, and the victims of this particular crime tend overwhelmingly to be women and children.

How often defend-less and voice-less are the victims...bring true to Isaiah 1:17:

Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

...

Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be fore you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it. 

International Justice Missions Reception

I attended the IJM Reception tonight.

It opened my eyes and my heart as to what's going on in the world.

For now I have little to say...other than.during the reception my heart just sank at the sight of the lostness of the world.

There is estimated more than 20 million slaves and human traffickers around the world. That's more than the past 400 years.

Stories were shocking and surreal. There is never so much injustice. Yet in some where it is a common place...

and that ain't right..

I need to pray....and just see where the Lord takes me....

This is what IJM does...a story from NBC News discussing IJM raiding child brothels in Cambodia

Note: this contains extreme graphic on child prostitution...

Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts

my soul hates.

They have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands in prayer,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even if you offer many prayers,

I will not listen.

Your hands are full of blood;

wash and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds

out of my sight!

Stop doing wrong,

learn to do right!

Seek justice,

encourage the oppressed.

Defend the cause of the fatherless,

plead the case of the widow.

(Isaiah 1:14-17)