As I was leaving our Hope Center celebration, the moon was full behind a high palm tree and someone was blasting a Spanish version of "I Just Called to Say I Love You".  It had been one of those perfect moments you can't plan:  smiling community leaders, weeping volunteers, chocolate faced kids, a full moon, and pretend Stevie Wonder.  These are the moments I live for.  If I believed in the stars aligning it would be the alignment of stars.  But I don't.  I believe in grace.  I believe in power.  I believe in the power of the grace of Christ to align the hearts of a Newport Beach debutante, an Oregon country girl, an ex-Mexican political campaigner, a handful of housewives, and college students and cocky teenage Mexican Americans.  Only Jesus could bring this group together.  And He did.  There we were crammed into an apartment, glowing in the joy of having achieved a dream, of having opened this community center.  As I walked toward home to the oompah of the Mexican Stevie Wonder, I reflected on the evening- there was Eric, the professional tutor who shows up twice a week to tutor Freddy, Juliet, the MissionYear graduate, who shared her cake with me.  Then Andy, the faithful volunteer read a note from his student and looked up with tears in his eyes saying, "That's the best thing anyone could have given me."  Juana bragged about her healthy salad and Claudia fretted if there would be enough food.  Then there was America.  America, the beautiful, the woman of grace who links us between languages and cultures.  America, who confidently introduces herself and graciously thanks all who participate.  She represents our hope.  All our hope- the moms want a daughter like her, the tutors want a student like her, the leaders want a disciple like her.  She is who we want other kids to grow up to be- one who loves Jesus, who loves the community, who graduated from college and works hard.  She is our hope.  She is also undocumented.

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I’m done with numbers. Numbers are too black and white and just don’t seem good enough when dealing with human trafficking. Numbers are just numbers.  They are only words spoken and lack any attachment or feeling and understanding. It’s just not that easy when it comes to buying and selling humans. And that is why. They are humans; not cattle. You can’t number them and move them along. We are complicated beings and require much more out of life and from each other than a number.

It’s important to hear survival stories of the rescued. Stories are bridge builders. They bring humanity together and open the door with an invitation to stay for dinner, serving a fine dish of common ground. Moms and dads are compassionate towards the world’s hungry children because they can’t imagine their own children being hungry. Women are moved by the Eastern Congo conflict where women are repeatedly raped and sexually mutilated by rebels and child soldiers because they know someone who has been sexually assaulted.

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When asked what Americans can do to help lessen the demand for slavery abroad, IJM staffer Lauren Johnson talked about Americans considering what they are purchasing. In case you missed it, you can read more of what she had to say here.  

Trade As One is an organization that works alongside churches in hopes that entire congregations of people will understand the global impact of their purchases. 

The market today truly is a global one. We buy produce, coffee, chocolate, clothing, jewelry, etc. and most of it comes from another part of the world. But how often do we consider the hands that have sewn our clothing, made our jewelry or farm the food and drink we are consuming today? We buy chocolate but aren’t told that the majority of the world’s chocolate is from Sierra Leone. There are over 800,000 children enslaved to the coca farms in Sierra Leone. I’m a sucker for chocolate but I don’t need it so bad that it would ever justify a child enslaved and deprived of his/her childhood so that I can eat a chocolate bar.

Check out this video that Trade As One released. Fair trade is not a perfect system but it is headed in the right direction. What are your thoughts on buying fair trade versus non-fair trade products? What are some other ways you know of that American consumers might help lessen the demand for slaves abroad based on what they purchase?  

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I don't really think the latest Glen Beck quote needs much editorial from me - but I am concerned about the implications, given Beck's popularity with evangelical Christians.

"I'm begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as you want to read them and as your church wants to preach them . . . are going to come under the ropes in the next year. If it lasts that long it will be the next year. I beg you, look for the words 'social justice' or 'economic justice' on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!"

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The Hold Out is over!  After spending 262 hours in front of Senator Coburn’s office, we have received word that Senator Coburn has released his hold on the bill.

The long nights in freezing weather, the excess of pizza, and the shortage of showers have paid off.

This means the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act is going to the Senate Floor where it already has 62 co-sponsors. We don’t foresee any more obstacles to its passing.

We could not be more ecstatic. Thank you to our friends at Resolve Uganda who made this happen. And thank you to everyone who has supported the demonstration in person, in spirit, or in $$.

We did it!!!!

From Resolve Uganda: IN THEIR WORDS....

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Last month I visited the International Justice Mission headquarters, not far from the Pentagon and just outside our nation’s capitol.  It was a beautiful day. The air was crisp and cool and the ground layered with the remnants of the recent snow storm.

Inside IJM, you’ll find a quant, but inspirational photo gallery. The walls are lined with telling photographs of beautiful people who are part of IJM’s work abroad. Each face on each photo has a story to tell of survival, of redemption and of justice at work.

An IJM church mobilizer, Lauren Johnson met me in the gallery. Upon meeting Lauren, it was clear that God has orchestrated her life’s path perfectly by placing her at IJM during this time. She was a terrific host. After a tour of the floor offices, Lauren and I sat down and we had a conversation about human trafficking.

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Fast Company recently reported on the work of Samasource, a company that trains Sudanese and Somalian refugees that are currently residing in Kenya. The refugees are taught basic computer skills and are employed at a local computer center managed by CARE. Businesses from the US, then contract with the organization to complete computer tasks and in doing so pay them a wage ($2 a day) that is four times what they would be paid breaking rocks in a nearby quarry. $2 a day may not sound like much to us, but for these refugees it's changing their lives.

And this is an amazing thing. We've all read plenty about the damage that outsourcing can do, both to a domestic econcomy and when the outsourcing companies are unscrupulous with the way that they treat workers. In countries where worker protections are few, we can't overstate this concern. However, like with so many things, we have to be careful to not throw out the good with the bad. If we can better someone's life by training them with new skills, hiring them to perform productive work, and allow them to provide for themselves in ways that they previously thought were impossible, then shouldn't that be something that we celebrate? And shouldn't that be something that we actively seek to do?

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One of the things that pisses me off more than anything is unsolicited advice. Take that a step further, unwanted unwelcome theology. For many years I lived in a simple “Christian” bubble. I prayed, things worked out. I fasted, I got an answer. I went to church; I was made to feel accepted. Things were neat…they were hard at times, but the hard made sense, and the difficult was approachable and “doable.” My life’s theology had a lot of pavement on it. The exits were clearly marked, the signage was obvious, and the lanes were evident and orderly. Life was good.

But life always tends to take mysterious turns and now I find myself at a place in life where that theological highway has long run out, but the road to life is still continuing with all its fury. There are no lanes, no clear exits, and what signs are left all look the same. Am I making the right choice? How does God fit into all of this? Where is the “help” when I need it? I’ve continually found myself in new journeys with God; the funny thing is, I’ve grown exponentially over the last 8 years, but I have very little “material” goods to show for it.

Let me explain further. I’ll just keep it real. I don’t own a home, no where near it. My 401K is a joke and took a serious hit over the last 2 years. We drive 15 year old cars. We have no health insurance— the health insurance plan we have is a joke, we pay $400 a month for a $7000 deductible. My $4800 a year is subsidizing those with Cadillac plans. I work 5-7 part time jobs at a time—never seemingly “good enough” for that full time position. The things most of us have been brought up on to believe in as “secure” are not there for us (savings, assets, investments). Moreover, I’m in the admirals club in student loans—I’ll leave it to your imagination as to what that number is.

Do I want people to feel sorry for me? Hell no! Do I want society’s pity? Hell no! Do we live like a “victim?” Hell mo-fo no! The reality is that we made some decisions: going to grad school; working in the urban non-profit world; marrying someone from the urban non-profit world; and living a life that we feel pleases God, which at times got us into “trouble.” I own all of that. No regrets on that end.

The point of this is…the story. The narrative. Our story is one of the millions in this country right now. Our story seems to be gaining in numbers, unfortunately, almost every day. Our story is America right now…so I’m no different. I’m just writing about it.

I know, I know, some of you reading this right now want to offer up what we “should” be doing and where we “can” go in life. I know, hell, 14 years ago I would’ve been trying to do the same thing. But stop yourself right there. Just sit in this tension for a minute or two. Trust me we’ve tried just about everything: saving, paying off the little credit card to pay off the big credit card; paying off the big credit card to pay off the little credit card; cutting cable; cutting cell phone usage; negotiating lower APR’s on our credit cards; driving cars until they run down into the ground; savings; asking for help; filing unemployment; getting a smaller place to live; moving; saving; stop eating out; saving; storing up little checks for “rainy days;” having folks move in to subsidize the rent; filling out over 300 applications in a year for employment around the country; saving; asking parents for help; cutting even more frills in our budget; consolidation; saving; filing taxes separately; manse allowances; taking all the deductions humanly possible; driving 15 year old cars and did I mention saving? (Trust me the list goes on, but I’m not going to bore you).

The reality is that we, as a country, are in a tough spot right now. What I have a hard time getting my head around is that I am the “American Dream.” Came out of the ‘hood; changed my life; served my community; got legit jobs; went to college; got 4 degrees; got the PhD and at the end of the day; have worked my ass off over the last 17 years to stay out of jail; but, we’re still  in a real messed up spot. What do I tell the next generation of college students that enter my classroom everyday? What do I tell Black/ Latino students who see me as an “example” of what to do? What do I tell my little girl? At times I feel as though I should have just stayed in the ‘hood. I was making $5-$8000 a week. I had brand new cars, and I had “respect.” Sure I had to watch my back, sure I would probably be in jail, but at least that was familiar…right? I don’t know. But one things for sure, things aren’t that much prettier on the “other side”—especially these days.

I mean, what is the “American Dream” anyways right? Does God even care about that? That’s where it gets interesting for me. God, for our family, has taken away all the securities we have socially constructed as safety nets. God has shown us the power of faith, prayer, and the journey of discipleship—all of which look completely different when you’re on the “bottom side” of the American Dream. You say, “Dan, c’mon, God isn’t about the American Dream, church isn’t’ about that!” Well my friend, you’re right, on a tangible level, God is not about that American Dream, however the reality is that we, as a church, have equated success, fame, money, wealth, securities, and living the good life with being “blessed.” We tend to see God as this cosmic ATM when rubbed just the right way, “He’ll bless you!” I’ve moved beyond that image of God and into a mysterious God who says, “Wow, things are as messed up as they seem…man, let me just walk with you!” I see a God who feels the same pain as me and the other millions who have the same story. I see a God who is there even when you don’t make headlines. But here is the deal, that don’t make newsletters! When people win awards they don’t get up and thank God for all the pain, unhappiness, and misery they have in their life. We want success stories to make us feel the sense of ease we all really want to feel. Moreover, we don’t realize that they call them miracles for a reason.

Bottom line is this, we’re going to make it. Will we be rich and own that home and drive that new Audi? Probably not. But at the end of the day we’re still connected to God. You ask, “are those who drive that Audi not connected to God then?” No, of course not, it’s just a different connection. Material goods and the “American Dream” can blind true faith; at the end of the day, when you’ve done everything the “right way” and have tried your best…and things are still failing/ coming apart, you’ve just gotta let it fail and let God do the rest….

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The January 2010 edition of Imprimis from Hillsdale college featured some surprising facts. In a speech given at the college, Adam Meyerson, president of the Philanthropy Roundtable, reported American gave over $300 billion to charity last year. Meyerson goes on to share the magnitude of this figure as it is twice what we spent on consumer electronics, three times the amount that's spent on gambling, and ten times the amount spent on professional sports. Truly what it comes to charity, Americans repeatedly and generously open their wallets.

And that's a good thing. It's significant to be a nation that can be counted of not only to give in times of despair but in "normal" times as well. In fact, it's good to be a nation that can be depended upon to open their wallets when disaster strikes.  However, while it's a good thing, it's not the only thing. Ask people what's harder - writing a check or investing in lives and most people will quickly agree it's the former. Sure, there are times when money is tight and giving up some of our hard-earned income seems monumental, but compare that with the cost of giving of ourselves and it's a no-brainer. Going the distance, literally or figuratively, and giving of our time, abilities, skills and experience is the true measure of our generosity. After all, our Savior's generosity is not only revealed in the gifts He gives, but also in the way He actively participates in our lives, and in the way He gave up His. 

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