Second Thoughts – The 27 Million

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I will end the day with thoughts that are important to get out.  Usually I just write them and put them in my journal folder.  I have chosen that on occasion I will share them with you Dear Reader.

A week ago I put a red X on my hand to remind others of the curse of human slavery on our world.  I do not know if my doing that made a difference.  I was able to explain it to over a hundred people.  I was able to honor my Daughter Christmas who as a victim of human trafficking.

I was honored to see that it mattered to my friend Robert.  He has a noble heart and took a stand with me.  No matter how much I do enough will not be done until all human trafficking is stopped.  Until the world sees that humans are not a commodity to be bought and sold this blight is a shame on us all.

It is not enough to wear the t-shirt of carry the sign.  We must demand that even the most “innocent” forms of human bondage be stopped.  A dear friend taught me to use the word “evil” sparingly.  Any form of human trafficking is evil.

Here are some raw facts from End It, the organization dedicated to eradicating slavery worldwide:

There are currently 27,000,000 people in slavery in the world (the population of Texas)

The three main categories are Bonded Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking

Human Slavery and Trafficking generates 152 Billion dollars a year in revenue

Slavery Exists in 167 countries

60,000 people serve in slavery and trafficking in the United States

An incident of sexual exploitation of minors occurs every 3 minutes

55% of forced labor victims are women and children

The average age of a child being forced into sexual slavery is 12-14 years old

The average price of a human being today is $90

It is clear there is a problem.  It may only be solved by every individual refusing to participate in anything that is connected to human slavery.  It is my responsibility.  It is yours Dear Reader.  We cannot ignore it and hope to be bloodless.

Don’t Tell Them Jesus Loves Them – Steve Camp

Oh suffering soul, crying out for love

In a world that seldom cares

See the hungry heart longing to be filled

Much more than our prayers

And a young girl sells herself on Seventh Avenue

And you hear her crying out for help,

"My God, what will we do?"

Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too

Till your heart breaks from the sorrow and the pain they're going through

With a life full of compassion may we do what we must do

Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too

Oh, the desperate man

Are we reaching for the souls that are sinking down in sin?

Oh, cry for the child

We've lost our passion for the lost and there are billions left to win

And another forty thousand children starved to death today

Would we risk all we have to see what of them say?

Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too

Till your heart breaks from the sorrow and the pain they're going through

With a life full of compassion may we do what we must do

Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too

Why have we waited so long to show them Jesus lives

To share salvation's song

Why have our hearts become so proud that we fail to see

To love them is to love God

And a young girl sells herself on Seventh Avenue

Hear her crying out for help,

"What will we do?"

Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too

Till your heart breaks from the sorrow and the pain they're going through

With a life full of compassion may we do what we must do

Don't tell them Jesus loves them till you're ready to love them too

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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