Verse Of The Day 10-30-09

If a fellow Israelite from one of your villages in the land that the Lord your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition.

Deuteronomy 15:7

Verse Of The Day 10-29-09

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

James 2:5

Verse Of The Day 10-28-09

Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.
“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Luke 6:20 - 21

Verse Of The Day 10-27-09

Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and the regaining of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.”

Luke 4:16 - 21

Telling The Truth To Bring Justice

This story is from the book Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of our Daily Choices by Julie Clawson

Alexa was a typical high-school student, but during her senior year, she became a modern-day abolitionist as well.

During a student government class, a friend brought up the issue of modern-day slavery. Having learned about it in her church youth group, Alexa's friend wanted to spread this knowledge to her classmates. Alexa was shocked to discover the extent of modern-day slavery and that her hometown of Seattle was a major port for human trafficking. She thought about what it would be like if she or one of her friends were forced into slavery, and she knew she had to take action.

With her classmates, Alexa helped organize an information campaign. They invited twenty other local schools to attend events that helped raised awareness about modern-day slavery. But Alexa decided to do even more. For her senior project she organized a benefit dinner to help fight slavery. The purpose of the dinner was twofold: to educate people about modern-day slavery and to raise funds for the International Justice Mission (IJM), which works to free slaves worldwide.

Alexa poured herself into this event, recruiting her friends and family to help out. Her mother's restaurant catered the event, and her brother created a registration and information website (www. endhumanslavery.com) She invited speakers from IJM and the Seattle police department to talk about the magnitude of slavery.

The dinner proved to be a great success, as Alexa raise nearly $5,000 to help end slavery. She also raised awareness in her community and had numerous people tell her that they had no idea slavery was still such a major issue. Alexa worked within her everyday world to seek justice for those in slavery. Even as a high school student she knew that she could make a difference. Reflecting on her experience, Alexa expressed her hope "that by raising awareness about human trafficking people will realize that this isn't just a big issue in other countries, it's happening right here! And I hope that they know that there are so many things all of us can be doing, big or small, to make a difference."

Website of The Week

Another organization to be familiar with. They have lots of video on there site.

http://www.freetheslaves.net/

Verse Of The Day 10-26-09

"He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty."

Luke 1:52 - 53

Verse Of The Day 10-23-09

"But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!"

Amos 5:24

Prayer Disarms Injustice

It may seem a bit strange, but we must remember that God has compassion for the oppressed and also desires to correct the oppressor. Also, as you listen to the interview think about the injustice beyond the robbery that existed in the man's life. Watch this video. (Click Here)

Verse Of The Day 10-22-09

This is what the LORD says:

"Let not the wise man boast of this wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight," declares the LORD

Jeremiah 9:23 - 24

Verse Of The Day 10-21-09

"I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy."

Psalm 140:12

Verse Of The Day 10-20-09

"Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them."

Psalm 12:5

Miguel's Story

Below is the summary of the story. It and a full interview are published at FreeTheSlaves website

Miguel wanted to work in the United States because his young son had cancer and Miguel couldn’t afford the medicine on the salary he made in Mexico. He didn’t have the cash to pay for his journey to the United States so he accepted an offer to get a ride “now” and pay “later”. He soon found himself in a worse situation. He was enslaved in the orange groves of Florida. Every day Miguel was threatened with violence.

“Well, I felt like a slave from the moment that I arrived because we couldn’t pay for the ride and because we had to pay for that and then they started to threaten us.” Miguel said. “It was horrible.”

One day some people from an organization called Coalition for Immokalee Workers visited the workers at the site. They started asking questions about Miguel’s work. At first he didn’t trust them but his instincts told him to ask for their card. Later he decided to call them and after talking with them he started to trust them. He set up a time to meet and the CIW set up a rescue.

Now Miguel is working because he wants to. He has the freedom to take days off and work overtime if he wants to. He is able to send money back home to his family now. His son is healthy.

You can see and hear ‘Miguel’s’ story and the work of the Coalition of Immokalee workers in ‘Dreams Die Hard’. The documentary tells the heartbreaking stories of four slaves in the United States and the inspiring ways they live in freedom today.

Website of The Week

Another simple idea of a way to raise awareness and money to help end slavery AND it was started by a teenager.

http://www.myspace.com/lc2lc

Verse Of The Day 10-19-09

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6 - 7

Verse Of The Day 10-16-09

Psalm 9

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.

4 For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

6 Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

7 The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.

8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.

12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

13 O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

14 that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

16 The LORD is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked return to the grave,
all the nations that forget God.

18 But the needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

19 Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.

20 Strike them with terror, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men.
Selah

Verse Of The Day 10-15-09

Psalm 73

1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.

5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.

11 They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"

12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.

13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.

15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.

16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me

17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.

19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!

20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,

22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

Verse Of The Day 10-14-09

Matthew 12:9 - 21

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
"Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope."

War Crimes

Here is another story that is in the news now. You may know that Israel has been in constant conflict with the Palestinians, who also live in that small region of the world. Recently, the United Nations filled a report wanting to charge some Israeli soldiers with war crimes that were supposedly committed last spring. The Prime Minister of Israel is blocking those from being tried, however. This is an example of cover of authority, one of the weapons of oppression we mentioned on Sunday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091012/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians

By they way, prior to the creation of the nation of Israel in 1948, Palestine was mostly Christian, not Muslim. In the 51 years many of the Palestinians killed by the Israeli army were peaceful, Christian citizens.

Verse Of The Day 10-13-09

Psalm 146

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2 I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.

4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,

8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD.

Talk About It, Week 2

What ways do you know your parent's generation has fought oppression?

Also, what obstacles do you see your generation facing to overcome oppression?

(Leave comments with your answers)

Website of The Week

The website of the week is called "Not For Sale."

It is one of the larger organizations fighting trafficking and slavery. There are good resources for how a group like ours could take action, too.

Here is the main website Not For Sale

Here is the resources for high school students I am a High School Student

Forced Labor Through Coercion

This story is found on the Slavery Map. You can find it here

Gloria Eugenia Leon-Aldana was a part of an alien smuggling operation recruiting aliens from Mexico, smuggling aliens into the United States to San Diego, and forcing labor through a series of threats including calls to Border Patrol. Her co-defendants Andres-Santos and Alonso-Terrero also threatened with physical harm to the victims and their families. Her husband, Mario Antonio Antunez Sotelo is wanted on forced-labor charges in addition to bringing in and harboring aliens for financial gain. He was arrested in December with his wife, and two others. The others are in custody, but Antunez, who was released after his arrest, is now believed to be on the run, possibly hiding in Tijuana or in the Acapulco area.

Among other things, Antunez and his wife are accused of holding at least 10 immigrants in two San Diego homes. Federal agents searching one of those properties found a small bedroom crammed with six beds, and living quarters for others carved into a crawl space beneath the home with mattresses on a dirt floor. Aliens held in those homes were repeatedly threatened and the couple took their identity documents to keep them from fleeing. They were also forced to pay rent, which kept them under debt bondage.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which learned of the case through the local Mexican consulate, is working with the Mexican government in the search. Immigration and Customs spokeswoman Lauren Mack said some victims were held as long as eight months.

On January 17, 2008 Gloria Eugenia Leon-Aldana plead guilty in San Diego, CA to charges including bringing in aliens for financial gain (3 counts) and forced labor (1 count). In the previous week, co-defendants Juan Andres-Santos and Agustin Alonso-Terrero pleaded guilty to bringing in aliens for financial gain. Andres-Santos was sentenced to time served (13 months) and three years of supervised release with Alonso-Terrero’s sentencing pending.

Co-defendant Alonso Terrero is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Lorenz on April 1, 2008. Leon-Aldana is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Lorenz on April 7, 2008. Defendant Antunez-Sotelo remains at large, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. He has been charged with threatening the aliens and their families with physical harm and brandishing a shotgun at one of the residences.

The victims are now working and safely continuing with their lives thanks to the local Non Government Organizations in San Diego.

The case is still open, so each person I talked to said that they could not share any information regarding the victims and limited information about the case.

Verse Of The Day 10-12-09

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 14:31

Talk About It, Week 1

Share your thoughts by leaving comments.

Where have you gotten your ideas about oppression? What has changed over the years?

Website Of The Week

A very simple idea. Very cool website too.

http://whatsyourreponse.com/main

Slavery In The OC

This story is from the OC Register and can be found at this link.
click here

A former husband and wife admitted Thursday to forcing a 10-year-old Egyptian girl to work as a domestic servant in Irvine in one of the highest-profile human-trafficking cases in Orange County.
Abdelnasser Eid Youssef Ibrahim, 45, and Amal Ahmed Ewis-abd Motelib, 43, admitted bringing the girl, now 16, from Egypt in 2000, then making her work as a servant to their family of seven from August 2000 to April 2002.
They each pleaded guilty to four felonies: conspiracy, holding a person in involuntary servitude through force or coercion, obtaining labor through unlawful force or coercion, and harboring an illegal immigrant.
They were scheduled to go to trial today in federal court. Instead, they will be sentenced Oct. 23. They expect up to three-year sentences, but a judge could send each of them to prison for up to 50 years.
In 1999, the girl's older sister was working for Ibrahim and Motelib. The pair told the girl's parents that they caught the sister stealing and threatened to report her unless her younger sister worked for them.
So the parents decided to allow their younger daughter to work as a domestic servant. The parents agreed to pay 100 Egyptian pounds – about $30 – monthly to Ibrahim and Motelib for 10 years.
Once here, the girl's passport was taken. She didn't receive any money and had to work as a nanny and housekeeper.
The girl is not being identified because she is a minor. She was not in court and declined to comment through authorities.
On Thursday, the Egyptian nationals told a judge that they threatened the girl by saying they would send her back to Egypt. They said they didn't let her go to school, slapped her and called her names.
An Arabic translator relayed the proceedings to Ibrahim and Motelib.
"I told her, if you go back home, they won't let you back at all," Motelib said via a translator.
Ibrahim, who faces a warrant in Egypt in a fraud case, echoed his ex-wife's statements and said he had threatened to take the girl back to Egypt.
The pair is out on bond but shackled with electronic-monitoring devices.
The girl is one of 53 human-trafficking victims in Orange County, according to Bob Jones, with St. Anselm's Cross-Cultural Community Center, a member of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force. Most of the female victims who can apply for green cards choose to stay in this country.
The girl has decided to stay. She is a ward of Orange County Superior Court and is living in foster care locally. She is taking summer school classes and aspires to attend college, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Keenan said.
She has not been back to Egypt and doesn't want to return, he added.

Verse Of The Day 10-9-09

"I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you."

Psalm 140:12 - 13

Verse Of The Day 10-8-09

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

John 1:12-13

Verse Of The Day 10-7-09

"Can he who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
Is he not the One who says to kings,
'You are worthless,'
and to nobles, "You are wicked,'
who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?

Job 34:16-19

Verse Of The Day 10-6-09

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:16 - 17