Mid-Week Reflections
This is taken from this weeks “Traction” from The Journey Church.
Amazing message this week. Hits home because I continue to live like a slave instead of embracing the freedom that God offeres.
| Don’t Go Back
This past Sunday’s message, “Don’t Go Back” (click title to go to podcast) was the final installment of Fringe Benefits. God’s people had to be reminded to give back because they still struggled with a slavery mentality. Every day, we choose to either live like slaves (by holding) or express our freedom (by helping). Embrace your freedom today! Next Steps:
For more insight into what it looks like to express our freedom by partnering with God to see miracles in the lives of people around us, Pastor Mark recommends the book “You Were Born for This” by Bruce Wilkinson. Are you gathering, connecting, and serving? To sign up for the next Launch, click HERE. To find out more about Life Groups, click HERE. To volunteer, click HERE, or to sign up for Discover, HERE. And remember that you can give online anytime by going HERE. Don’t miss the first official Sunday of summer at The Journey this weekend – and remember, two gatherings: 9:30 and 11:00. Enjoy The Journey! |
Tell The Mountains To Move
Change Conflict Healthcare?
I love politics and I love to debate and argue about politics or anything for that matter. It really doesn’t even matter if I’m right because I want to convince you and we will both be wrong. I think I have always been that way. Even when I was on a jury I convinced all the other jurors to change their vote and vote not guilty because there was a conflict in the prosecutors case. Just enough so that he did not follow the law to a T. So I love to argue and debate. This blog post is not going to be that. Today I am simply making an observation about what I see.
They say that any decision a leader makes it will inevitably have supporters and haters. Perry Noble said, “If everybody likes you or your idea then you’ve spent way too much time kissing rear ends instead of being faithful to who God has called you to be and what He has called you to do!” I love that and the truth is everything rises and falls on leadership. At the end of the day the leader has to be able to make the decision and then stand behind that decision regardless of where the support or lack of support is coming.
As of today President Obama has been in office 451 days. For the last six months I have heard people complain about where is the change? That was the platform that he ran on, CHANGE…Yes we can. I have seen several changes that I think are important that people are either missing or don’t want to see. The fact that we have an African-American in office holding the most coveted position in the world is change. The fact that there is an African-American making decisions when 55 years ago Rosa Parks did not have a choice where she could even sit on a bus, shows that this is change. It gives me hope that in the years to come modern day slavery such as human trafficking and sex trafficking may come to and end as well. Sometimes change comes in the still small steps that lay the foundation for future change.
With health care changing there are some that are for it and some who are against it. Now change has occurred and the same people who complained the last 451 days about where is the change, have it and don’t like it. I would venture to guess these same people would have complained no matter what policy took effect. These were the same people who probably would have argued about the Emancipation Proclamation, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The truth is there are people who are never looking for resolve but rather are looking for a fight.
In any decision…there is Change, Conflict, Growth. The growth may mean that what you see now doesn’t work and needs to be tweaked, overhauled or dropped completely. It may mean that this was exactly what we needed. I love the fact that he made A decision. How this will work out we may not know for years. Perry Noble posted on his blog the other day ““Christians” will scream that God is “Jehovah Rafa,” (the God who heals) in our services…but then rely on our government for healing more than Him!” I believe God is bigger than Barack Obama and everyone who sits in a position of leadership in this country and that God is not surprised about the change. What that looks like I have no idea. But I know that nothing great has ever gotten done in this country by simply doing nothing.
The government of the United States has been around since July 4, 1776. That is 234 years. The church has been around for over 2,000 years. Spend your time investing in what matters and what will last instead of wasting it in things that won’t matter. Control what you can control and pray and leave the rest up to God. Change-Conflict-Growth.
Thoughts?
Dark History
I watched this on Outside The Lines this morning on ESPN and I was blown away. I had never heard of this before. I love history, I study history and I even taught history for two years and never have I seen this in a text book. I have no idea how I could have missed this but I am so glad I was able to watch this and know a little bit more about American history.
In 1942, in the midst of World War II, nearly 20,000 Japanese-Americans were taken to Santa Anita Park and held there as threats to American security because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The West Coast was thought to be a potential target or battle area.
It amazes me that this happened and it amazes me that throughout the world things like this still happen and products and freedoms of some are built on the backs of others. Awareness of Social Justice is crucial, but it is not enough to just know about something it is our responsibility to do something about them.
Human Trafficking Awareness Day
In case you didn’t know, January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. To be honest with you a year ago I had no clue this existed. I watched the movie Taken where Liam Neeson beat everyone down [I'm convinced he even took Jack Bauer over his knee in that movie] because his daughter was taken and sold into sex slavery in Europe. I watched and something happened in me where I wondered if that really went on. Over the last year I have heard more and more about it and God has really turned my heart towards these social justice causes. Really God has opened my eyes up to many social justice issues such as: poverty, homelessness, slavery, clean water, free/fair trade products, all things that I didn’t even know were issues a year ago.
Today I want to focus on this Human Trafficking and want you to check out a 3 minute video to simply make you aware of the issue and cause you to ask yourself the question, what can I do? The reality is this is a huge issue in the United States and affects so many woman and children.
Disclaimer: This video is edgy and may be offensive to some and this video does not reflect Fellowship Church and anybody affiliated with Fellowship Church. This is simply my attempt as an individual to get you thinking. This video is taken from the site Sexandmoneyfilm.com, which is one of several sites that brings to light the issues of Human Trafficking.
What are your thoughts? Did you know this was an issue? What are your thoughts on social justice issues?
Here is a link to a PDF, 11 Practical Ideas to Combat Slavery.
PDF was taken from Charles Lee blog that was promoted through Catalyst.
