via Freedom Sunday 2011 | Not For Sale on Vimeo.
This video is fantastic and absolutely sums up the call of the abolitionist from the children of God.
Be a part of it: Freedom Sunday, March 13th, 2011
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Bread for All Time – Bonhoeffer
I’ve had this book, A Year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, for a while, and pick it up when I have a mind to. It contains letters and writings of Bonhoeffer stretched out across a full calendar year. It’s really interesting and whenever I do pick it up, I learn something good. He was a great man of God.
Saturday, I picked it up and read the entry for February 5th. Here it is:
“Almost all of us have grown up with the idea that the Scripture reading is solely a matter of hearing the Word of God for today. That is why for many the Scripture reading consists only of a few brief selected verses that are to form the central idea of the day. There can be no doubt that the daily Bible passages published by the Moravian Brethren, for example, are a real blessing to all who have ever used them. Many people have realized that to their great amazement and have been grateful for the daily Bible readings particularly during the time of the church struggle. But equally there can be little doubt that brief passages cannot and must not tak the place of reading the Scripture as a whole. The verse for the day is not yet the Holy Scriptures that will remain throughout all time until the Day of Judgement. Te Holy Scriptures are more than selected Bible passages It is also more than “Bread for Today.” It is God’ revealed Word for all peoples, for all times. The Holy Scriptures do not consist of individual sayings, but are a whole and can be used most effectively as such…The ful witness to Jesus Christ the Lord can be clearly heard only in its immeasurable inner relationships, in the connection of Old and New Testaments, of promise and fulfillment, sacrifice and law, Law and Gospel, cross and resurrection, faith and obedience, having and hoping.”
– from Life Together 58-60
I’m guilty as charged. I’ve not even respected the Scriptures enough to read the “couple verses” or passage each day. God’s Word is precious and I’m not neglecting It out of ignorance to the strength, comfort, joy that comes from reading It. I’m not reading it because of this lie in my mind that tells me I don’t have the time or that I know enough of it already. That’s far from the truth, and I definitely know it. I’m always learning something new through reading my Bible. So, there you have it…a conviction and resolution of sorts.
Check out the martyr Bonhoeffer’s life here.
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Poem: Tick Tock
January 30, 2011
All this praying, counting,
Hoping, waiting:Tick tock.
Tick tock.Another glance and a half spin ’round.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.Of patience and courage
And fears squelched from disruptive thoughts.
How much longer, Lord?Tick tock.
Tick tock.Sarah ><>
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Interlude
Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I’m still alive and kicking, but have had to take an involuntary step back from the blog. Boo! I know. Well, maybe I’m the only one disappointed about this. The reason? I woke up on Saturday morning to a strange sound coming from my computer (we have a monster of a desk-top called the XPS…it’s ridiculously big, which would make you think it would be ridiculously amazing. Alas, it is not.) and when I restarted it, the noise continued and nothing else. I was depressed, but glad to have my phone and the Australian Open (woo! go Djokovic!) to keep me company on TV. I’ve also done quite a bit of exercising, and read through two books in lightning speed. I’m also going to try out doing some crewel embroidery. So, there you have it. The big guy’s at the shop right now, probably to stay and be chopped up into whatever valuable parts may be there (hopefully giving me enough to buy a laptop!) Yes! I will come into the 21st Century!! Until then, I still check my Facebook pretty regularly and, of course, there’s Twitter! Until then, hasta!
Sarah ><>
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Moses Forgets
This week, at one of my ESL classes, we read the story about the people of Israel complaining of their thirst in the wilderness. This happened at least twice because it’s recorded twice that they complained enough for Moses to ask God to give them some water. The first time, Moses asks and God says to hit a rock with his staff. Moses does so and water comes out of the rock to quench the people’s thirst. The second time, the people complain and Moses asks God for help. God says to him to take the staff and tell the rock to produce water. But when Moses goes before the people, he ridicules them and then hits the rock with the staff twice. Water still comes out, but at a dear price – Aaron and Moses will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land, because they did not believe God and take Him at His Word.This is one of those stories that I have usually just skipped over. I love reading about Moses, but this one, for some reason, seems to just register and then I go on to the next thing. But my student did not. She had some questions, like:
If Moses had done it once before, then why didn’t he believe it would happen again the way God said it would?*
and
If Moses believed God, then why did He test him again?*
These are great questions! I love watching a non-believer respond to the Holy Spirit, even if they are just questions, because asking questions are a sign that God is working on them. I love the promise that God’s Word is living and active – It always does a work when spoken or heard.
The first question, well, how often do we forget what God has done in our lives before? Moses was the advocate for the people of Israel and he came to God many times to petition for forgiveness for their forgetfulness of God’s love and provision…but he was not exempt himself from forgetting. I cannot imagine what it would be like to lead people who constantly griped and complained about everything, but that one single action – that one burst of anger and pride – led to him not being able to enter the promised land. Look at the wording:
“Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”
– Numbers 20:10, ESV
It wasn’t, “Shall God bring out water for you?” but “Shall we…” God says that because Moses and Aaron did not uphold Him as holy before the people, they will not bring those people into Canaan. A little later in the chapter, Aaron’s death is recorded and his robe and office of high priest are given to his son, Eleazar.
The second question speaks to God’s nature and not Moses’. Why does God test those who have, thus far, proven that they follow Him? Why did God ask Moses to just talk to the rock this time instead of striking it again? Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac after he had waited for 100 years to have him?
We’ve been talking in church the last couple of Sundays about Great Stories in the Bible and this last week the story was Abraham and this sacrifice. My pastor spoke about how God did not throw a challenge like that on Abraham right off the bat. Yes, asking him to leave his family and home to go to some land that he had never heard of was a big challenge, but it was a test comparable to his level of faith. And it’s not like Abraham never failed at a test that God gave him. God promised him a son in his old age and beyond his wife’s physical ability, and rather than believe the fullness of God’s promise, Abraham cut a corner by sleeping with Sarah’s handmaiden.
God tests us; it continues throughout our lives as believers. He will give us challenges at various times, but praise God, that He takes into account the level of faith we have at that time. We may not pass them, but it is not because God has given us a challenge greater than we can handle, but because we are doubting ourselves, doubting Him, or believing a lie (or all of the above).
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:13, ESVSo, back to the second question, why does God continue to test us? It’s to grow us and to make us more like His son. We will not be perfect until He makes us so, and that won’t happen until heaven. But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t want to start us on that road now. And the successes in our life, our conquering those tests and moving on, serve as testimony to the lost that our God is a great and mighty God. That He is concerned with our lives and with our hearts. That He can change a person from being selfish and in despair to being selfless, a servant, and filled with hope.
And that verse above gives me hope that when I face a challenge to my faith and in my life, God has already gifted me with the strength I need to endure it. What I have faced before now has only added to, not taken away from, the arsenal in my will to resist the devil and move forward in maturity in Christ.
*paraphrased into English
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Nat’l Human Trafficking Awareness Day
Today, January 11th, is the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. If I had been better prepared, I would have had this post ready to publish first thing in the morning, but I did not, so here it is.
You can call 1.888.373.7888 any time, day or night, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year to report a case of human trafficking. Human trafficking can take the form of slave labor (including domestic servitude) or forced sex labor and can involve adults and children alike. The average age of a trafficked child is 12 years old. Victims of trafficking find themselves there by methods of force, fraud, or coercion. They might be paying off “debts” with enormous amount of interest. They may be threatened with violence or abused as well as their families. They can often be taken across national borders to a country where they don’t speak the language – their paperwork could be forged or missing entirely and they often fear the police as much as their captors. This fear is usually justified as when the crime is found, they are lumped in with the criminals instead of treated as a victim – many times they are sent back to their own country to live in their shame and risk being trafficked again.
This modern-day slavery is more heinous and comprehensive than the form of slavery fought over in the Civil War. It is the fastest growing organized crime and second only to drug-trafficking (which is estimated to be surpassed very soon). If you think that the United States is exempt from this, you are sorely mistaken. Cases of human trafficking have been reported in every state. The US has been found to be a source, transit, and destination country for trafficked individuals.
I’m going to list quite a few organizations/people/businesses I follow, either on Twitter or Facebook or whatever. I would really recommend checking them out. This is something that burns in my heart – as children of God we are called to loose the bonds of those who are held captive. Educate yourself and then take up the banner – become an abolitionist.
*and really, these are just a few of the newly blossomed organizations ready to fight human trafficking. If I’ve left out anyone note-worthy, let me know and I’ll see about adding them! Thanks!
Organizations
Beauty From Ashes
(Fort Myers, FL)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: BeautyFrmAshesCincinnati Union Bethel
Social service agency: early childhood education; the Anna Louise Inn (housing for women) and Off the Steets (services for prostituted women. (Cincinnati, OH) ***Not only for trafficked individuals, but they deal with it enough to be included***
website · facebook · twitter: cinunionbethelDACS United
Designers Against Child Slavery
website · facebook · twitter: dacsunitedDNA Foundation
founded by Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher – to eliminate sex slavery worldwide. “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls”
website · facebook · twitter: dnafoundationFAIR Fund
Preventing human trafficking of youth worldwide (Washington, DC)
website · twitter: FAIRFundFree Generation International
committed to eradicating human trafficking in Africa (Africa/US)
website · facebook · twitter: FreeGenerationForsaken Generation
leading a national movement to end youth homelessness and child sex trafficking in the US. (New York)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: forsakengenHagar International
organization restoring exploited women and children’s lives in Cambodia, Vietnam & Afghanistan
website · blog · facebook · twitter: HagarIntlHookers for Jesus
Destiny Houses are a SAFE haven for ladies in sex slavery (Las Vegas, NV)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: hookersforjesusInternational Justice Mission
Head Quarters (Washington, DC)
website · facebook · twitter: IJMHQJustice Campaigns
website · twitter: IJMcampaignsInternational Sanctuary
website · facebook · twitter: isanctuary
Love 146
end child sex slavery and exploitation
website · blog · facebook · twitter: OfficialLove146Rob Morris – President and Co-founder
website · twitter: ROBLOVE146Adam Young – of the Dayton Ohio Love 146 Taskforce
blog · twitter: youngadamcMade By Survivors
fights human trafficking and slavery with empowerment & education
website · blogs · facebook · twitter: madebysurvivorsNational Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Not only are they concerned with Cincy’s history in the fight against slavery, they are seeking to build up modern-day abolitionists (Cincinnati, OH)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: FreedomCenterNot For Sale
campaign for all justice seekers, united to fight human trafficking
website · facebook · twitter: Not_For_SalePolaris Project
a leading non-profit organization committed to combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery. (Washington, DC) **They even have an office in Japan now!**
website · blog · facebook · twitter: Polaris_ProjectRedLight Children
website · facebook · twitter: RedLightCC
Restavek Freedom
ending child slavery in Haiti
website · facebook · twitter: RestavekFreedomShe Shall Go Free
To break all these sufferings, all these fetters of slavery.
blog · facebook · twitter: sheshallgofreeStop Child Trafficking
(New York, NY)
website · facebook · twitter: SCTNowStop Modern Slavery
Washington, DC
website · blog · twitter: DCSMSSurvivors Connect
website · facebook · twitter: survivorconnect
Unbound Movement
A Modern Day Movement to end Modern day Slavery – in all it’s forms! (Cincinnati, OH)
website · facebook · twitter: unboundmovementVision Abolition
dedication to prevention, rescue, and restoration (Arizona)
website · blog · twitter: VisionAbolitionShopping
*Made by Survivors, mentioned above
Night Light Bangkok
business as a mission offering employment to women formerly in the sex industry.
website · blog · facebook · twitter: NightLightBKKNomi Network
leveraging the marketplace, fashion, and film to eradicate sexual slavery (New York)
website · facebook · twitter: nominetworkStop Traffick Fashion
a boutique about restoration and change for survivors of human trafficking. (Cincinnati, OH)
website · blog · facebook · twitter: stoptrffckfashIndividuals
Amanda Kloer
– writer on Change.org
twitter: endhumantraffic -
Boys Books List
I tutor a 5th grade boy and the main thing we focus on is reading and comprehension. There are a ton of really great books out there for boys – full of adventure, courage, and honor. We started off reading the Chronicles of Narnia and are currently somewhere in the middle of Voyage of the Dawn Treader. That means we have two more to go and then we’re done. We’ll probably finish them by the end of the school year. The books I see him come in with from school are fluff and nonsense, and the reading level is much lower than I know he’s capable of. So, I pillaged a few summer reading/school lists online and came up with my own list.
I would love your input if you can think of any other really great books for boys. I have read more than half the books on this particular list. The others have a strong reputation. I’m leaving off the Harry Potter series on purpose, not because I don’t like it, but because the whole idea gives him nightmares. I promised him I wouldn’t make him read them.
Here goes!
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by Robert Louis Stevenson
by Eoin Colfer
by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl
by Deborah Howe
by Gary Paulsen
The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)
and the rest of the seriesby Lemony Snicket
by Lynne Reid Banks
The Redwall series
by Brian Jacques
(this series in itself could keep us busy until he’s in high school. There are upwards of 14 books, if my memory serves me!
by Sid Fleischman
by Johann D Wyss
(if I remember correctly, this has a lot of really descriptive paragraphs that could get boring quick for a boy with a short attention span)
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What else have you got for me?
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Review: Virgils Café – Bellevue, KY
..
710 Fairfield Ave
Bellevue, KY 41073
859.491.3287.
Per Cincinnati Magazine:
Virgils feels too fancy to qualify as a burger joint. Clean and crisp black linen tablecloths covered with butcher paper and overly polite waiters just don’t scream out “Burger time!” But don’t let that fool you: the modestly named “beef hamburger” – grilled, succulent beef topped with sautéed mushrooms and caramalized onions on a multigrain kaiser roll – equals hamburger heaven. And do not miss out on their sweet potato fries with a side of ancho-mayo.
Why not hit two birds with one stone? Christmas Eve Eve, I got to hang out with my bff, the lady half of Bearded Lady Pics, AND check out another restaurant in the greater Cincinnati area. We snagged my Burger Edition of Cincinnati Magazine and flipped through until we settled on Virgils. Being on the Kentucky-side of the Ohio River, it was one that I was looking forward to visiting and meeting up with Lans was a perfect excuse. We called the restaurant around 6:15 to make our reservation, arrived at 6:30 and were seated immediately. I understand that it was a Thursday night and Christmas Eve Eve, so I’m not sure if that makes a difference in the speediness of their reservations/seatings. I was majorly pleased. FYI: Parking is on the street, but it’s in historic Bellevue which is just about the cutest place on earth.
I cannot vouch for the hamburger that is mentioned above, but I will say that the descriptions match the dishes we ordered to a T. Our starter was, in fact, the sweet potato fries with ancho chile mayonnaise. I was never a fan of sweet potato until living in Japan (they have a way with potato and squashes) and I have only seen sweet potato fries in the last two years. I LOVE them and these were no disappointment. I do not usually eat mayo, but the ancho was irresistible.As CM’s review says, the restaurant does feel fancy but it’s still comfortable and intimate. The lights are dimmed and there are so many nooks and crannies that you feel you can be off by yourself. We were seated to the right of the entrance, on a platform featuring the bar and the entrance to the kitchen – where the magic takes place. There was a lot of activity around us, being so close to the kitchen, but we didn’t mind it at all. I’m sure that the other end of the restaurant is more subdued, but we enjoyed being close to the action. Our waiter was Ben, who I found out later (through Twitter) was tending the bar for the first time that night. He did a great job of keeping tabs on us and the one other table as well as holding his post behind the counter. His back-up/co-waiter was Darius and between the two of them, our glasses were kept full of drink, our plates full of food and our mouths with laughter. (This isn’t a hard thing for me and Lans, but it helps to have really fun waiters) The other thing I’d like to note is that there is a whole hip-vibe in the place, but it’s not so trendy as to exclude a princess coloring book on the counter next to our table. We enjoyed that touch.
Our meals were the Fresh Pasta – with seasonal veggies, beurre blanc, and chicken and the Étouffée – chicken, homemade andouille sausage, dirty rice and garlic bread.
I know my étouffée looks awful, just blame it on my you-, I mean, camera.
This was my first time eating étouffée and I loved it. The sauce was a mix of sweet and spicy and the sausage had a lot of kick to it. Rice is always a winner for me and the chicken broke apart when I began to cut into it. The only negative I have about this dish was the overly-crunchy garlic bread. I managed two bites into the center of it and then had to discard the rest, but I’m chalking this to personal preference.
There is no dessert menu and the options are sort of limited…but if you hear your server say the three most beautiful words – Chocolate Bourbon Torte – place your order right away. Lans and I shared a slice of it and, though I missed the proper “before” shot, I’m sure this one gives you an idea of the deliciousness.It was like a rich waterfall of burning ice and decadence cascading down your throat. (how’s that for descriptive?)
This is definitely on my list of top fave restaurants now. I think what I like the most about it is what I learned after eating there. On their website the owner, Matt Buschle, talks about how they seek out locally-grown ingredients and work to build relationships with local farmers. Most of their furniture, equipment and a plethora of other items are reclaimed from other places and forgotten warehouses.
The food: excellent
The help: awesome (in the words of our waiter)
The parking: on the street, but there’s a ton that you can find. It’s a really nice area.
The accommodations: I’m not sure I would go there with a group of more than 6. It’s intimate and cozy.
The price: Between the two of us, the meal was close to $50 (sans tip). That was with one starter, one dessert, and two entrées, oh, and one Coke.
Returnability: For special occasions – 100%. For casual “I’m hungry tonight” dining – maybe 35%.Find more reviews and promos by clicking on the links to the right. Go ‘head, you know you want to.
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Covenant House – Donation Opportunity
Well, with all my Pepsi Refreshing, one of the organizations I’ve been promoting asked if I would be willing to post a donation banner on my blog here. I am honored to have been asked and gladly said YES!
The banner is over to the right, just below the “Tabs” and “Subscribe To” widgets. If you want more info before you give, read below!
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Covenant House was founded 38 years ago with the mission to help homeless teens and young adults get off the street and into productive lives. Most of the kids Covenant House serves are running from abuse at home or they are thrown out by their parents. Many are kids who were abandoned or abused as young children and have bounced around in the foster care system until they reach 18. Regardless of the reasons why they are on the street, the fact is that they are and need help. A huge percentage of them have not finished high school, have some emotional problems, and have no idea how to get or keep a job. Basically they are fodder for pimps and drug dealers. Covenant House takes these kids in and kind of re-parents them. They offer shelter and meet immediate needs (like a safe place to sleep and medical care) and then they work with the kids on a long-term plan that involves getting a GED diploma, learning a job skill and getting counseling.
Kids who stick with the program are offered a transitional housing program where they are coached in life skills, learn to hold a job, pay rent and take care of themselves. They pay rent to Covenant House for their apartments, and after 12-18 months when they graduate from the program, they are given all of their rent back as a start-up stake in life — to allow them to put a deposit on an apartment and set up a household.
The most interesting thing about Covenant House is that this is not a bureaucratic social services agency, the services are highly personalized for each kid, and they offer the kids parental care and love. Much of the program is about undoing the emotional damage to kids that their parental abandonment has left them with, helping them grow confident and happy with themselves.
Read this story about one of Covenant House’s “moms”:
Newark Woman Gives a Mother’s Love to Residents at Covenant House
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Check them out on:
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Pepsi Refresh – December *Hot Projects*
I showed you the projects I was supporting last month here.
Of those, three projects got their funding! Awesome! You can check which ones won by going to the link above.
Here are the projects that have my vote for this month. Again, you can vote each day for up to 10 projects!
Empowering DC teens to avoid & escape exploitation & human trafficking
by FAIR Fund, Inc. – $50k (top 10 get funding)FAIR Fund is a registered 501 (c) 3 nonprofit working to prevent human
trafficking of youth worldwide by building community leadership, providing education and empowerment programs, and offering compassionate intervention services. We have reached over 15,000 young people 11 countries since 2003.Goals
- Educate 1,000 at-risk teens to stay safe from trafficking
- Support teens in danger
- Provide access to shelter, medical services, and more for teens
- Build a community that can better assist exploited teens
Rebuild the lives of homeless, throwaway and trafficked youth
by Covenant House – $250k (top 2 get funding)Covenant House is the largest privately funded agency in America providing food, shelter, immediate crisis care and other important services to homeless, throwaway, and runaway kids. We strive to move each kid forward toward an independent adulthood free from the risk of future homelessness.
Goals
- To provide food to 1000 infants & toddlers in our Mother/Child program
- To help homeless mothers build a future for themselves & their babies
- To stay open 24/7/365 to any kid who comes to our door
Rehabilitate Victims of HUMAN TRAFFICKING
by International Sanctuary – $250k (top 2 get funding)International Sanctuary (iSanctuary) empowers survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. iSanctuary is working to ensure survivors receive all the elements necessary for restoration, including education, counseling, vocational training, and mental, emotional healing.Goals
- Provide survivors the means to self-sufficiency and reintegration
- Provide a place and opportunity for survivors to grow professionally
- The ability for survivors of human trafficking to earn an income
24 Hr Drop-In Center for Human Sex Trafficking Prostitution Victims
by Genesis Project – $250k (top 2 get funding)I am a Police Officer in Seatac Wa, with KCSO. I’ve been in Law Enforcement for 13 yrs and in the last 9 yrs I’ve contacted and or arrested over 500 prostitutes. Many of whom are juveniles between the ages of 12-17. These girls are modern-day slaves forced into the life. We are taking a stand!Goals
- Provide Shelter / Safety / Food / & Rehabilitation for these girls
Expose, Fight and End Child Sex Slavery and Exploitation
by Redlight Children – $50k (top 10 get funding)Redlight Children is a human rights based nonprofit organization aimed at generating conscious concern for, and ending the demand for child slavery and exploitation. We use mass media to promote awareness, and our efforts include the K11 project-3 films designed to expose the industry.Goals
- Expose the issue of child slavery and exploitation in the US
- Fight against perpetrators through advocating for stricter legislation
- Collaborate with other nonprofits, corporations, universities, etc
- Raise awareness and promote our films in communities nationwide
- Raise awareness and promote our cause on universities nationwide
Develop the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
by Center for Progressive Leadership – $250k (top 2 get funding)Construct an English Language Learning Center in Omaha, Nebraska
by Alee Forsythe – $250k (top 2 get funding)
*I like this because it can be used to help educate and acclimate victims who are trafficked into the US by teaching them the local language*Restore Outreach Services to the Homeless in Columbus, OH
by The Open Shelter, Inc. – $50k (top 10 get funding)Provide Suicide Prevention and Education to People in Cincinnati, OH
by Centerpoint Health – $50k (top 10 get funding)Provide Properly Fitting Shoes to Children in Desperate Need
by Shoes 4 the Shoeless – $50k (top 10 get funding)
Xapa to the World 