Saturday, January 31, 2009

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Faith Alliance Against Sex Trafficking

Had a great three days at the first of four nation wide training sessions for caregivers of trafficking survivors.
Some amazing teachers (Rohida Khan and Lisa Thompson) with special efforts from Jenny Stanger (samaritan house in Sydney) and Wilma Gallet... a great time with folks who are not only concerned but willing to get prepared and engaged in the issue. It was an amazing time really. A heavy topic with some strategic outworkings... if you are in Adelaide, Brisbane or Sydney in the next few days get in touch with your DHQ and sign up - you won't regret it!!
We are praying for a very strategic advance in this area. Pray with us... join up for Freedom Fridays at justsalvos.com

Monday, January 26, 2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

the Slave Chain Walk...


The Prayer we prayed together on our knees in the centre of Melbourne (650 of us):

For the abolition of slavery, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord hear our prayer.

For governments and leaders of the world to uphold just laws, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord hear our prayer.

For the victims of trafficking that their voice may be heard, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the energy, efforts and effectiveness of those willing to fight slavery, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the prosectution of perpetrators, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the protection of vulnerable peoples, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the provision of trafficked survivors, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the prevention of this evil trade, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the urgent necessity of tireless work and effective strategies, we pray:
STOP THE TRAFFIK
Lord, hear our prayer.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

best bits of Obama's inauguration...


To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it...

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends _ hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism _ these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility _ a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence _ the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed _ why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Chocolate Fondue sm

here was the video promo

Australia's largest fairtrade fondue party

Well today saw over 2000 folks from Melbourne (along with the INSANE youth from all over Aus.) party hard at Fed Square and celebrate the good news of justice with some guilt free fairly traded liquid chocolate!! Perri Winter is a force as the coordinator of the event and overall amazing justice chic! A few things were amazing about the event:
1. unity. It's much easy to be together on issues of justice... it's a unifying place for all kinds of people to work together. the partners gathered under the stopthetraffik banner are all incredibly diverse and yet together on making a change. amazing
2. fun. Justice is GOOD NEWS... we need to celebrate more.
3. people STILL don't know about human trafficking and how much it affects us everyday... how we participate in the evil trade by choosing not to see or act or smell injustice all around us everyday.... we've got to pay attention.
4. how easy it is to PARTICIPATE in stopthetraffik - throw a fondue party yourself... send in the petition... start buying FAIRTRADE products... start asking why things are so cheap etc... it's not hard to begin!
5. the effort people are willing to put in to help the justice agenda. I had many friends show up to help... and it always keeps me thankful and full of awe at people who are willing to spend their energy and efforts for others. I'm honored.

there is much more that amazed me about the day - suffice to say the spirit of the Lord was on us to proclaim good news to the poor today. Here's hoping some industry types will take note and see that's it's in their best interest to stop the traffik!!
stay tuned for pictures...

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Boundless Salvation


Was just thinking about William Booth's vision of boundless salvation today as part of a team of folks breaking down the social inclusion framework and how it applies to The Salvation Army... without commenting too much about the particulars I would say this: William caught what Jesus embodied... the good news of the Kingdom is that it's FREE and for EVERYONE... everyone is included in the opportunity to experience the love of God... it's infectious and permeating - it's amazing, free, true and happening right now. This boundless salvation is able to/in process of redeeming the whole world... do we see it? can we taste it? can we envision what that means for our lives, families, communities and the whole world...? is it possible that it's true enough in the here and now... can we yearn for God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

I've lost my mind.

It's been a whirlwind tour so far with my friends Steve Chalke and Ruth Dearnley - both champions of stopthetraffik - founder and CEO respectively.
They are forces for justice in the world - beyond the role of UN special advisor for community action against human traffiking - they actually do something... not just talkers but walkers.
Steve eloquently explained the difference between dreamers and visionaries today as action... not just thoughts of justice but a life of justice... I'm into the later. And on that note he also suggested that the prayer Jesus taught us coupled with the Paul's advice to pray without ceasing are really about living out the prayer - being the prayer... being driven and caught and embodied with the vision of God's Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven... top that off with losing my mind at INSANE (and this is just the first night!)... we did a little chant that I just might adopt in the future as well - here's a taste:
If being INSANE means standing up for the rights of the poor then:
I"VE LOST MY MIND
If being INSANE means paying more for a fairly traded t-shirt to challenge a depraved industry then:
I"VE LOST MY MIND
If being INSANE means walking in solidarity with the oppressed and exploited then:
I"VE LOST MY MIND
If being INSANE means spending hours late a night dreaming and scheming to change the world and loose the chains of injustice then:
I"VE LOST MY MIND...
If being INSANE means giving up my favourite chocolate until the cocoa slaves are free then:
I"VE LOST MY MIND...

you get the picture. I've always had a hunch I was a few fries short of a happy meal - tonight has confirmed it.
Anyone care to join me?

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Partnership


I was running today (a long one) with my running partner and I was thinking about how much longer and farther and more adventurous I am when we run together... this is true of many things. One is the loneliest number... accountability, friendship, risk, follow-through.. it's all easier when we do things together. Independance, although celebrated in culture as something everything should have more of... I'm not so sure. I've been on a journey of celebrating community for many years - and it seems it takes that long to get rugged individualism out of me... I'm convinced that we are better together. I wonder how I can celebrate more of the shedding of culture...
another friend of mine decided to shed something new every month last year... it turned out to be a great year of freedom... more ideas for the new year.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

holyblog

Blogging is an interesting thing. A postmodern mixture of ego and connection, truth and fluff, nuggets of gold or a complete waste of time. I used to make fun of my husband for being so committed to blogging... back in the day before I realized it's power. It's a tool for reflection and for truth. It's a chore and a discipline and a love. There's a great book called Netocracy which suggests that blogging (and the internet) is the new power - connection is the new currency of a global generation... the power base is shifting from title (pre-printing press), money/knowledge (post-printing press), to networking (internet revolution). Today I heard a sermon about Romans 10:17 - that hearing comes from the word of God - the preacher suggested that we spend a lot of time listening to the world... and challenged us to hear from God instead. A great challenge... so, I'm blogging what I've heard God say - be holy. I've been reading some classics on holiness - most likely I'll share a few quotes with you soon... but what God has been reminding me this whole year (four days now) is to be holy. Be holy. So connect with this. Wrestle with this - what does holiness look like in a blog?

Thursday, January 1, 2009

New year's resolutions


So, I've been contemplating last year and thinking about this one - as you do on New Years. Highlights are many... big events, small occasions of ordinary radical kindness and grace - new friends, family visits and the opportunity to head home... around the world it seems - Africa, UK, Nashville, Vancouver, Toronto, Thailand, New Zealand and around Aus... phew! Between all the events there hasn't been much time - that said one of my favourite moments in Australia has been on my own balcony overlooking the city while the sun is rising with my Bible, ipod and hot air balloons floating through the sky - it's quite a beautiful spot. I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day - there is a long list of things I'd like to do... not sure if I can fit them into next year but I'd like to try... but when it comes to what really matters in the end - it isn't projects or places I'll remember and cherish. It's people. Hanging with my family, loving my son, growing with my husband, deepening new friendships and recalling the blessing of many old ones... those are the things that colour my world. I wonder if this year I can spend more time and attention to people instead of just trying to get another project out of the way. I want to be present. I want to live a full life like Jesus came to give us. Those are a few of my own resolutions. To be holy really. Not the pious, religious spirit that substitutes for true spiritual life but the full, joy-filled deep presence of Christ in my life and the world. For without holiness, no-one can see the Lord. I'd like the world to see God through my life infused example. Sound like a resolution worth trying?