Faultless Religion

Seeing Through God's Eyes

2010-05-06T09:36:00.004-05:00

I've been praying lately that God would help me to see the world the way He sees it. Well, He is answering that prayer. The basis of it begins with the understanding that God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. Now put that together with His great compassion and His heart for justice.

When I boldly dare to approach the majestic throne of God in prayer to know Him better and lay my cares upon Him, I must stop and think, what has He seen that day, and what IS He seeing as we commune. He, no doubt, is seeing all the beauty of those broken ones coming to Him to be restored, but He is also seeing the oppression and abuse of His little ones. While giving me peaceful sleep He has watched a nine year old girl abducted from her home, taken across a border and placed in a brothel and made to sleep with 40 men per day (true, I've read her story and still see her face). My great and compassionate God has watched a little one beaten after a 14 hour work day for not producing enough pogs (he was sold to a job recruiter to help provide for his poor family). and on, and on, and on...

I cannot fathom the depths of His love, nor the depths of his pain in seeing all He sees...and he looks at the Church...

Do we squander the gifts we have? Are we so self-centered that we won't reach out?

The enemy has built gates around evil people, businesses and cities, and the Church is either scared, confused, blind, or unable...but make no mistake, we are NOT unable in Christ. He tells us that the gates of hell will not prevail! It's time to break down some some gates! Don't know how? Pray! He is faithful and is certainly willing that we go.

God, I want to be moved by what moves you.

Trafficking Resources

2010-04-21T22:21:00.001-05:00

Here are some great resources/info from a group in Houston fighting sex trafficking.

Coalition Against Human Trafficking

How do we define trafficking?

2010-04-19T22:41:00.002-05:00

Here are the UN and US definitions of trafficking:

United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, Supplemental Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children

'“Trafficking in persons” shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs;

The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purpose
of exploitation shall be considered “trafficking in persons” even if this does not involve any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) [see above] of this article;'

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Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, [United States federal law; the definition below is of 'severe forms of trafficking in persons', for which there are criminal penalties in the United States]

1) Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion or in which the person induced to perform such an act is under 18, or

2) The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of subjecting that person to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Time to get rolling

2010-04-19T22:34:00.003-05:00

Ok folks, how do we combat sex trafficking? Here are some great resources to start learning what the problem is and how to get involved to rescue the oppressed. Take it on in your city!

Polaris Project (secular non-profit focused on the U.S.)

International Justice Mission (Christ centered non-profit focused overseas)

A Passion for the Bride of Christ

2010-04-05T17:34:00.003-05:00

I'm not critical, I'm passionate for the bride of Christ, the Church!

We need to “Go Big” for Christ but using an Ozzy Osborne song during your Christmas program is too big in the wrong direction. Do we seriously need to add worldly stuff to make the Gospel more appealing? I believe that it ends up cheapening it. The Gospel is POWERFUL without all the fluff. I’m afraid these practices of using the world's ways to draw unbeliever's into a church service results in false conversions, ultimately vaccinating people with a weakened strain of the Gospel so they never get the real thing.

People need to be confronted with the majesty of God and the wretchedness of their sin; Spurgeon, Wesley, and Edwards style. The Church needs to be strengthened in understanding scripture and prepared for persecution and trials. Maybe a shift from feeding goats to feeding the sheep.
So much concentration on drawing in goats while the sheep suffer on a constant diet of skim milk. It is time to move on to the greater things of the Word.

There is a lot of hurt in this world. When I’m reading about 9-year-old sex slaves in Guatemala and indigenous missionaries in India being hacked with machetes (both of which I’ve read about today) and then I see the “Church” in America dancing around to Ozzy Osborne music and giving ourselves new cars and big screens…I just think we can do a lot better.

I have a general disgust of American “Christianity” and the impotent gospel being preached too often with man at the center (i.e. get free heaven, your “Best Life Now”, etc). I don’t see any anguish. Anguish for my sin, anguish for the lost, anguish for the oppressed, anguish that makes bloody knees.

Is Our God is so weak we have to draw people in with material things and crazy antics?! Some of these "pastors" are presenting a god to the world that needs help saving people. Where is the POWER of GOD in this imputant plan. Jesus, the Son of God, died a horrifying death for you, so that you could experience His love, forgiveness and be reconciled to Him.

This life is all about glorifying God. How is it glorifying God to sing ungodly songs during church? How does it glorify Him to dance (worldly style) during the offering and turn His house into a party house?? How is it glorifying God to bring all kinds of material things into the church for raffle, resorting to feeding people’s greed just to get them to walk in the doors?

International Justice Mission

2010-03-27T20:17:00.003-05:00

The Church has figured out evangelism, feeding the hungry, and sheltering the homeless, but we are just starting to get our minds around how to rescue the oppressed. Check out International Justice Mission.

Some good things happening in Cambodia

2010-03-22T14:42:00.003-05:00

Some folks doing a good work with kids in Cambodia.

Jesus Is Worth It

2009-12-15T17:58:00.002-06:00

Here is a MUST SEE! From To Every Tribe ministry.

http://www.jesusisworthit.com/

Is Jesus Everything to you?

2009-11-25T14:27:00.003-06:00

God is Working

2009-09-13T21:50:00.017-05:00

God is doing something in me. I'm waking up from a long slumber of mediocrity. His urgency is becoming burned in my soul. My calling is coming into view. As Paul Washer has said "We were not called to play video games...we were not called to watch TV...we were not called to trifles...we were called to ADVANCE A KINGDOM!" and "the weapons of our warfare are mighty...intercessory prayer, the proclamation of the Gospel, and sacrificial love."

The wrath of God is coming into focus...judgement and justice from a perfect God. Are you ready...am I ready? Have you produced fruit or are you at risk of being cut off and thrown into the fire. Many are deceived and think they are ready. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt 7:22,23 (KJV) How much have I prophesied? How many devils have I cast out? How many wonderful works? And I think I'm secure...based on what? It's time to "give diligence to make your calling and election sure..." 2 Peter 1:10 (KJV)

He is circumcising my heart. Cutting away all those things that pull away my devotion. All those weeds that threaten (and have) choked out the word of God, to the point of not producing fruit. It's time to cut some weeds, stretch toward the Son and bear fruit.

As we continue to build big buildings and spend money on ourselves there are millions still out there that have not heard the name of Christ. As K.P. Yohanan says "if hell is real then I must do something more than what I'm doing with my life...we need to realize that we are headed toward eternity. And that is not a thousand miles from now, it is next minute! Jesus lived like that!"

We "christians" in America are in danger of hell fire. What did Jesus say? 23 "...verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Matt 19:23-24 (KJV) Make no mistake, we (in the USA) are rich. There are so many things here in America to choke out the word of God. So many still struggle with sin, still struggle with a thought life that is not pleasing to God, and still seek the approval of men rather than God; these are basics...milk. We don't want to give up our ease of living. But we must! I must pick up the cross of Christ...which is self-denial. I MUST...GIVE...ALL...to touch a dying world!

I need a passion for what God has a passion for! I need to be a praying man...not only at the dinner table, at bedtime with the kids, and in crisis. NO! I need to be drinking from the fountain of living water, because I THIRST... Oh God do I thirst. To labor in prayer before God...to weep before God for His church. I'm not talking about a mere concern, I'm talking about a PASSION that drives me to my knees, that brings me into anguish. "Where are the Sunday school teachers that weep over kids they know are not hearing and are going to hell?" (David Wilkerson)

God I need your heart...I need your burden. God, that is what I desire.

What is your purpose?

2009-09-11T13:56:00.000-05:00

Soul Stirring Sermon

2009-09-10T22:04:00.002-05:00

Houston Sex Trafficking Ring

2009-08-26T22:07:00.004-05:00

Base Information On Trafficking

2009-08-17T16:34:00.002-05:00

Here are some good reports to read for a solid background in human trafficking. We must understand the problem to generate solutions.

2009 State Dept Report
Sex Trafficking Of Women In TheUnited States
Forced Labor and Human Trafficking: Estimating the Profits

10,000 Women Victimized Every Year by Mexican Sex Traffickers

2009-08-14T17:06:00.003-05:00

A new study just released by University of Nuevo Leon and funded by the National Science and Technology Council revealed that criminal rings in Mexico abduct or entrap approximately 10,000 women every year. These women are taken from the southern and central states of Mexico and sexually exploited in the northern states.

The study confirms what typically happens in these abductions, i.e. young ladies being lured in by the promise of work and income in the big city. Once in the big city their identification and resources are taken, they are locked away and brought "clients".

Once they realize they have been sold into prostitution in a brothel they attempt to leave and go home. At this time they are repeatedly gang raped for days on end until they have no will to fight back. They are then used by these pimps and traded among brothels so they can keep fresh girls for their "clients".

This is the third largest industry worldwide behind trafficking drugs and arms bringing in about $6 billion dollars per year. Women in eastern Europe have talked about being forced to take more than 50 "clients" per day and a dozen being a very slow day! Pause and let that soak in for a minute.

The study found that monterrey is one of the most frequented areas of sexual tourism, primarily due to it's proximity to the U.S. Additionally, almost 5,000 are trafficked to the U.S. every year.

Folks, we've got to break down these gates!

Read the article by the Latin American Herald Tribune

Gates of Hell

2009-08-13T13:51:00.003-05:00

There is a very common, well known scripture that says "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt 16:18 (KJV) I want you to key in on the bold part, "the gates of hell shall not prevail".

For some reason (maybe the deception of the evil one) the Church has largely thought wrong about this verse. I, and many others, have understood it to mean that evil will not be able, ultimately, to prevail against the Church. Although this is true, it is not taught with this scripture. This says that "the gates of HELL shall not prevail". Are gates an offensive or defensive weapon? They are clearly defensive. So what this is saying is that the gates of hell will not be able to withstand the attack of the Church.

Reading through a few missionary biographies gives us a good picture of how those who have loved the Lord have gone boldly into the abode of the wicked and the gates of hell did not prevail. It takes bold action, led by God's Spirit, to defeat the evil in this world. My friends it is time to stop being content in our defensive posture and get on the offensive with the good news of Jesus Christ and start knocking down some gates.

Where is the abode of the wicked...look around and take your choice. Whether it's the watered down feel good gospel often preached in the U.S., the murder of millions of babies through abortion, or the trafficking of children into the sex trade industry, we have to get involved and boldly go to the gates with a battering ram!

Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) Compliance

2009-08-08T19:20:00.006-05:00

One of the primary obstacles to stopping Human Trafficking activities is tracking violators cross international borders. The very nature of the "business" involves taking victims across borders where they are unfamiliar and unknown. In an effort to get these countries on the same page in persuing traffickers the TVPA (Trafficking Victims Protection Act) was formed.

The US Department of State explains it this way: "The United States’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), as amended, guides efforts to combat human trafficking. The most recent amendments to the TVPA were enacted in December 2008. The purpose of the law is to punish traffickers, protect victims, and prevent trafficking from occurring. Freeing victims from this form of modern-day slavery is the ultimate goal of this report—and of the U.S. Government’s anti-human trafficking policy."
This map show compliance with the TVPA

TIER 1: Countries whose governments fully comply with the (TVPA) minimum standards

TIER 2: Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards

TIER 2 WATCH LIST: Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards AND:a) The absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or issignificantly increasing; orb) There is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; orc) The determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year

TIER 3: Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.

Also, here is a link to the Department of State's annual report on human trafficking: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/index.htm.

New Movie Release: Trade

2009-08-06T14:51:00.004-05:00

Just got an update from World Vision, Australia about a new movie about to hit limited theaters this month. Here is the trailer with information on theaters and how to get involved: http://www.tradethemovie.com/#. The movie is based on a true story of a young girl that is abducted in Mexico City and sold into the sex trade industry. Her brother desperately searches for her with the help of a Texas cop (Kevin Kline).

I pray this wakes people up to the reality of human trafficking. One of the biggest obstacles in stopping these traffickers is their cross-border/international movements as well as corrupt governments, particularly in Latin America.

Watch the older movie, Man on Fire, with Denzel Washington and Trade when it comes out; get involved! And just for fun take the human trafficking quiz here: http://trans.worldvision.com.au/dtl/takeaction/quiz.aspx

Human Trafficking and the Economic Downturn

2009-07-07T18:11:00.004-05:00

World Vision (WV) Australia just ran a news piece that clued me in on a couple issues regarding the state of human trafficking. One issue is how the current economic downturn has bolstered human trafficking. And the other is that with everyone focused on providing for own families we may be dropping the ball on caring for orphans and widows.

First, current economics bolstering human trafficking. Many times traffickers seek to exploit those who are looking for work. There is the promise of a better paying job usually near or just across a border or in the big city. Once the person accepts and is taken to the new place they are wisped across the border and/or locked away in some awful room downtown. The person is afraid in an unfamiliar place with mean people all around. They are then threatened, and many times given drugs to start their addiction, given their captors more power over them.

It's easy to see how the economic downturn has helped provide many people looking for work in unfamiliar places. WV points out that in the Philippines alone more than 42,000 have recently lost their jobs. In a place like that job recruiters abound...which ones are honest and which ones are going to sell their victims to human traffickers? It's hard to tell.

The second issue of being so distracted by our own problems that we forget about those less fortunate sickens me. Don't get me wrong, I've got to provide for my family first. But we cannot forget about the orphans and widows. It is in times like these that we need to be active in pressuring governments, being an advocate and getting our hands dirty. I've noticed when I get too wrapped up in my self and things that directly affect me that something big is missing. God created us to help ONE ANOTHER; to love and serve our neighbor.

So find a outlet for giving; and give till it hurts!

Putting feet to caring for "orphans and widows in their distress"

2009-05-22T21:59:00.004-05:00

You have got to check out the Machine Gun Preacher; http://www.machinegunpreacher.com/ . Sam is putting some SERIOUS feet to caring for the orphans of the Sudan. What an incredible inspiration!

Also, a practical toolkit provided by World Vision for would-be community mobilizers for the care of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS. A great resource.
Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (5.4 MB)

Abortion in Mexico

2008-08-29T11:48:00.004-05:00

News Flash:

Mexico's supreme court recently upheld abortion rights with a vote of 8-3. Abortion is legal without restriction during the first trimester. Elsewhere in Mexico abortion is ONLY for cases of rape, mother's health, or deformities, however, it is feared that the rest of Mexico will follow suit. Conservative President Felipe Calderon is the one who appealed abortion rights to the supreme court, and has vowed to continue fighting efforts to expand abortion rights. Nicaragua is one of the only Latin American countries currently taking a strong stance against abortion as they officially banned it in 2006.

It seems so obvious that under NO circumstances should mankind be in the position to take an innocent life. This is a fight that has not had enough press lately as everyday children are being killed for convenience. We must "look after orphans...in their distress...".

Evil and Suffering

2008-08-29T11:36:00.005-05:00

I'm reading "The Case for Faith" right now as I recently finished "The Case for Christ" and came across a great exert from Lee Strobel's interview of Dr. William Lane Craig. While discussing the argument that there must not be a loving God with so much evil and suffering in the world Dr Craig comments that he would never ask God why he allows so much evil and suffering when he could do something about it because he's afraid God would turn it around and ask him the same question. I think that is a great way to look at issue. God in his wisdom has chosen to use us to be his hands, feet and mouth, let us use them wisely for that is faultless religion.

Outrage

2008-08-23T04:01:00.003-05:00

After writing the previous posting I sit here growing more and more outraged with the evils in this world and my seeming willingness to let them be. What is it that causes evil? God's word says that "each one is tempted when, by HIS OWN evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:14,15 It's all about people. So it would appear that all evil in the world can be combated by evangelism. If people are changed by God, desire to do right, have self-control and battle evil at the root i.e. our desires, then we would not have to read the statistics below.

Mexico City has 1,900,000 underprivileged and street children. 240,000 of these are abandoned children. (Action International Ministries)
In the central area of Mexico City there are 11,172 street children. 1,020 live in the street and 10,152 work there. (City of Mexico/Fideicomiso, Report, 1991)
In 1996, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNICEF estimated there were 40 million children living or working on the streets of Latin America--out of an estimated total population of 500 million.
Begging - Some 20% of the children survive by begging, 24% by selling goods, and others by doing subcontracting work. ("Over 5 Million Child Laborers in Mexico", Xinhua: Comtex, 14 September 2000, citing National System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF), "Prevention, Attention, Discouragement and Eradication of Childhood Labor")
8-11 million children under the age of 15 years are working in Mexico. (US Dept of Labor, Sweat and Toil of Children, 1994, citing US Dept of State, Human Rights Report, 1993)

Evangelism is good religion.

Kidnapping in Mexico City

2008-08-23T02:58:00.006-05:00

Here is the synopsis of a few different news stories related to Mexico this week.

Kidnapping in Mexico and in particular Mexico City, with 8.7 million inhabitants, has been big business for years. According to Reuters, kidnappings climbed 40% between 2004 and 2007, ranking Mexico with conflict zones such as Iraq and Colombia. Officially, 751 kidnappings took place last year however since many abductions go unreported, the crime research institute ICESI estimates it could have been well over 7,000.

The recent kidnapping and murder of Fernando Marti, 14, the son of a well-known businessman, has sparked a widespread outcry and promises of change.

The Mayor of Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrard, has created a new police investigative agency to completely replace the old corrupt detective force that is believe to have been involved in the abduction of Fernando Marti. He also wants to enlist 300,000 citizens as neighborhood law-enforcement representatives who would evaluate local law-enforcement efforts. The federal government has vowed to start five national anti-kidnapping centers along with Interior Secretary Juan Camilo Mourino offering to help clean-up local and state police forces.

This very old problem with it's recent increase has compelled the wealthy and middle-class to begin to purchase crystal-encased chips that are injected usually in the arm between the skin and the muscle. This chip has a GPS locating beacon that the kidnap victim can turn on with the press of a panic button on an external device.

President Felipe Calderon is coming under a great deal of pressure to do something about the violent crime in Mexico, especially in Mexico City. These kidnapping rings with police involvement have run rampant for far too long at the cost of thousands of lives, nearly all children. This is a good outrage that the citizens of Mexico have.

Why does it take us so long to get outraged against evil whether in our own lives or in the world we live in. Let us be OUTRAGED and not lulled to sleep by the beat of the world's ways.

Humility

2008-08-02T01:42:00.003-05:00

I work primarily with non-believers. They know that I'm a Christian and I know that they are Agnostics or Aethists. I like it this way because we can openly talk about our differing views on the world and particular issues. I believe the problem arises when people don't know what they are. I got into a conversation yesterday about individuals that we all seem to know that claim to be a "Christian" but look no different than the world except that they find it necessary to point out the failings of those around them that are doing similar things. Someone that, upon returning from the brothel, feels compelled to point out to his drunk buddies how they are really bad "Christians". I hate to say that I see this a lot. And especially when they point out how someone is being a bad Christian when that person isn't even claiming to be one.

Seriously, can one be a "good" or "bad" Christian. How are we judging? In order to judge accurately we need a guideline or measuring stick. I believe (through observation) that society would rather have a static list of rules (man made religion) to measure by rather than have to measure ourselves against a HOLY and PERFECT God. After all, none of us actually expect anyone to live up to all the "rules" all the time so we just have to forgive each other for not living up to all the man made rules ("religion"); and since none of us can really do it, forgiveness is readily available and easy to obtain. However, if our measuring stick is a HOLY and PERFECT God when I miss the mark and find myself not measuring up I have to HUMBLY come before a HOLY and PERFECT God, someone who has lived a PERFECT and HOLY life with all the same temptations we have, and ask forgiveness.

Religion has gotten a bad name because it is seen as synonymous with the various flavors of static man-made rule sets used to judge each other. I'd much rather have a dynamic relationship with the living God, all it costs me is humility. My .02