Looking Towards the Future

Lately, I've been catching myself mourning sin more and more often. From day to day, I find that I am actively mourning not only my own sinfulness, but as I look upon the world that we live in I am repeatedly confronted with the pride, anger, bitterness, greed, envy and lust that seems to be ever present in the world. These principalities that are in direct conflict with God (Eph 6:12) are forces that cannot be avoided and must be reckoned with, but as the rest of this passage commands, we are to arm ourselves for battle with the divine everlasting armor of God. "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph 6:13-17 NIV).

Even in my interactions with others, the relational brokenness that is ever pervasive cannot be avoided. Whenever I begin new friendships, this brokenness glaringly reminds me of my own awkwardness and clumsiness and lack of social graces. The part of me that forgets how to walk and talk at the same time. But, once again I am comforted by Scripture that tells me that the Holy Spirit, who lives within me (Rom 5:5) is also continually cultivating His good and righteous fruit within me. "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23a NLT). It's when I forget to seek the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to help me overcome my own brokenness and the brokenness of others that I lose hope and walk around defeated and alone.

So, as this year comes to a close and we once again have before us the opportunity in the coming year to press more deeply into the passions that pulsate within us. Let us remember that through our enduring and intimate relationship with Jesus, we are empowered with what we need to persevere through the trails that lay before us as we pursue those God given yearnings within our hearts that call out to us and urge us to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-disciple" (2 Tim 1:7) and that those who overcome are given "the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (Rev 2:7).

Here are a series of videos from MTVExit.com on Human Trafficking

TRUTH

TRAIN

SUBWAY

CRIBS

PIMP
We all would like to think that this is a tragedy that happens far, far away from our doorstep. But, in reality it is happening closer than you would probably like to believe. There are strip clubs, escort services and massage parlors in every major city, not to mention street prostitution. To be fair, not all the women or men providing these services are the victims of human trafficking, but it is safe to say that a large majority of them have been coerced and forced into the sex trade industry. But, there are many, many, many children who are being trafficked into sex slavery.

Now not everyone frequents these places. But if we bring Internet pornography into the conversation than it is safe to say that everyone who has a computer has the potential to support those who traffic human beings into sex slavery. Every time a person visits an adult website, what they are essentially doing is supporting the sex industry as a whole which includes those who are being victimized through sex slavery.

If you are struggling with sexual addiction, get some help. Do whatever it takes to break free! As long as there is a demand, the sexual exploitation of men, women and children will continue. Be part of the solution and not the problem.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people (Ephesians 5:3).

Constance by Mr J. Medeiros with lyrics

1st verse:
An old man vacationing, he stands patiently
Under a hotel sign that blinks vacancy
He’s thinking maybe he’s too late to make the drop off
Til a truck coming his way brakes and stops short
And now he’s out of sorts and you can see he’s sorta nervous
Walking to the passenger door to meet his ordered service
This is someone’s daughter working, blames his conscience
When the driver says “she’s my youngest, her name is Constance”
He comments “and its only 6 dollars per visit
Just don’t leave any marks on her, it hurts business”
Thought for a minute and he confessed “that’s fair”
Since it was three dollars less then his cab fare
“How old are you honey?” she says “I’m thirteen”
Her nose was runny, its raining in the Philippines
He handed over the money in a chilling scene
The truck drives off and now he’s on the hunt to kill her dreams
The sign reads no vacancy, he leads Constance to a room
He has rented for taping see,
He’s about to turn six into six thousand
And all you have to do is click on your web browser
Its not illegal to use rapin’ as a cash crop
As long as it says she’s 18 on your laptop
The sound of rain is her backdrop laying there
Like she’s waiting for somebody to say they care
While the tears of God fall down the window pane
She feels unholy like her Father doesn’t know her name

Mary Magdalene and the Woman At The Well
He knows everything that happened and in His arms she fell.

In his arms she fell
Will you stay with me

2nd verse:
He’s 21 and all alone in his household
He’s tempted by the quiet he feels and the mouse he holds
The silence of his spouse is cold
So he’s about to help that man get his six thousand gold
One click and now she’s sold
Withholding his conscience scrolling through the comments
There she is looking confident a picture of Constance
In a series of video clips, “adult content”
The title blinks in bold letters like the vacancy sign
It’s his time to go get her
It’s like his mind doesn’t know better
Her soul is crying out “let me go” but he won't let her
He got her trapped inside his media player
Held captive by his need to replay her
Its a matter of he being here and she being there
That’s why he doesn’t feel the need to care
Guilt is in the seed he bears
Spilling his shares of the profit
On a 500 million dollar market
Where children are regarded as product
And traded like stock tips
And raped for the sake of our pockets
His laptop sits like a window into Constance room
Where he exits ’cause its almost noon
And he’s expecting his wife home soon
With new clothes for the baby
She’d be angry if she saw his new lady
A thirteen year old Filipino named Constance
Trust me girl God has not forgotten

He knew Mary Magdalene and the Woman at the Well
He knows everything that happened and in His arms she fell

In his arms she fell
Will you stay with me