REDLIGHT Trailer from jillian selsky on Vimeo.

I read Somaly Man’s book and blogged it here.

I hope to see this – going to do a search now to see if it’s playing here – or when available on DVD.

Not your typical summer movie blockbuster is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Have you noticed? Social justice is a popular topic for the online church.

I spend a lot of time online reading blogs, surfing social media and listening to the chatter of the connected, Internet church. And it seems a lot of online Christians are into social justice.

Social justice is all over Sojourners. Blogs, blogs, blogs. So many blogs. (I wish I had more of these examples to share, as I’ve read a lot about this subject from various Christian bloggers, but I never bookmarked them.)

Of course there are books. Justice in the Burbs and The Irresistible Revolution, and there are more I’ve never read. And now Simple Compassion by Keri Wyatt Kent (I received a free copy from the publisher.) There is even a Social Justice Reading Challenge.

I’m not against helping people in need; I know what the Bible says. I’m not immune to feeling the pull toward social justice issues. Heck, I even have a social justice category here on this blog.

Still I’m concerned.

Is all of this a fad, the latest trend in our Christian-online clique? Or is this a true, Holy Spirit inspired move of God? In my flesh-and-blood church, I hear little about sex trafficking, clean water, or poverty, all popular issues within the online church.  That strikes me as odd.

Christians, we mustn’t forget it’s a grace salvation, not a works salvation.  Give to the poor, support organizations like Compassion International, commit to helping those in need. These issues of social justice are important, and must not be ignored, but let’s not forget the command by Jesus in Matthew 28.

.  .  . go and make disciples of all nations.

The social justice fad? is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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It’s been several weeks since I posted about human/sex trafficking and those trapped in poverty. Life has been busy. Homeschooing. Traveling. The weather is warm, I’ve less time on the computer, so less time to find links.

Stand by me

As I listened to this rendition of Stand by Me, I couldn’t help but think of those victimized by the horrid sins of others.

Yes, the Voiceless are still in my heart. I won’t forget them.

Stand by me.

I will. I’ll keep doing what I can, a blog post here, a tweet there…

“Will you stand by me?”

I will.

Will you?

Video HT: HighCalling Blogs

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Heartbreaking

I won’t forget to stand by you is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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I didn’t get a lot of extra time to find worthy links this week. The weather turned fine Thursday and Friday, we were on the go with co-op activities, so this is all I have. Plus, my arm is still bothering me.

Have a good weekend, everyone. Moms, I wish you a lovely Mother’s Day!

No frills links: Twitter in church, tough moms and more human trafficking is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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She can’t be much older than my four year old is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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What about in horrific poverty, in an Indian city famous for it’s slums and suffering?

Bloggers traveling with Compassion International will describe those living conditions when they travel to Kolkata, (formally Calcutta) this week. It’s my job to tell you how you can follow their journey, to learn about the ministry of Compassion International.

1. A snippet of every post, every picture and video will be uploaded to this page: http://www.compassionbloggers.com/india (I’ll also have this link on my sidebar.)

2. A Facebook group has been created not only to generate prayer and encouragement for the bloggers, but also to share links to posts, pictures and videos: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53591862382&ref=ts

3. A few of the team will be attempting to use Twitter while in India. The addresses are:

http://www.twitter.com/theshaungroves

http://www.twitter.com/spencesmith

http://www.twitter.com/flowerdust

The hashtag #CompassionIndia will be used to mark every tweet. Searching for that on Twitter (or Tweetgrid and Tweetdeck) should bring up all of the tweets.

4. This is the link to the trip’s RSS feed. Subscribing to the feed will send a snippet of every post from every blogger to your RSS reader: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/compassionbloggers

5. If you’d prefer to follow the trip by visiting each blog here are their addresses:

Bloggers:
Pete Wilson – http://www.withoutwax.tv
Melissa Fitzpatrick – http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com
Angela Smith – http://www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com
Robin Dance – http://www.pensieve.typepad.com

Photography:
Keely Scott – http://www.keelymariescott.com

Videography:
Anne Jackson – http://www.flowerdust.net

Leaders:
Spence Smith – http://www.spencesmith.com
Patricia Jones – http://jonesbones5.com
Shaun Groves – http://www.shaungroves.com/shlog

Sorry for the lack of hyperlinks. I just can’t do it all! (Shocking, I know.) Copy and paste, baby.

Also – and I wanted to leave this last because it’s the most important – don’t forget to pray for the safety of the travelers and that many children will be sponsored as a result of their journey.

Follow Compassion Bloggers in India is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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The other day on Twitter, there was chatter regarding companies that understand how to communicate with bloggers (#getit). Add Stop and Shop supermarket to the list, because they definitely Get It.

Today Stop and Shop hosted a luncheon at The Frog and the Peach restaurant in New Brunswick (which was lovely; how nice to be served at a table with white table cloths) for a bunch of us bloggers. I mainly attended because I wanted to see my New Jersey Mom Blog friends, and I love any gathering that involves food, but after the PR reps from Stop and Shop launched into their pitch, I realized I was at my first official Corporation-Wooing-the-Blogger event.

I’m not much for product reviews. Book reviews and tours, that’s more me. Food, recipes, and frugal living, not so much. I’ve had fleeting thoughts of starting a product review blog, but I can’t see it happening, not unless I put the kiddos in school and I was totally bored with nothing to do during the day. No time for a product review blog right now.

You know me: I’d much rather talk about human trafficking and poverty. I’m all about letting you know that Stop and Shop donated $209 to the Community Food Band of New Jersey, presenting a check to blogger Liz Thompson, of This Full House. Remember the Blogging Out Hunger campaign last year? That’s where my heart is, and I’m going to be dragging as many bloggers as I can to participate with me. The next one is in September, by the way. Let me know if you want to participate! *wink*

Oh, one more thing: I want to give a special shout out the great ladies with 360 Public Relations. They obviously know their stuff and they spoke our language. Most impressive was the gal (Angela?) who kept referring to the fact that I’m a home schooler. 360 Public Relations gets it too. My kids had a blast eating pizza, decorating cookies and crafts while I played with the grown-ups.

Thanks, Stop and Shop – and Peapod – for introducing me to the PR pitch. Woot!

Does this mean I’ve finally arrived as a (mommy) blogger?

Stop and Shop speaks with bloggers is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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So I want to do something a bit different for the blog party this year.

Instead of bookmarking this blog, please follow the below links, just for a quick click. Add one, two, (or all!) to your bookmarks, StumbleUpon page, Delicious collection, or whatever it is you use to keep track of stuff you want to read later. Then when all the craziness of the party is over, when you have a quiet moment, go back to those sites. Please. All are deserving your time and attention.

These all represent issues people close to my heart. I hope they burn into your conscience too:

International Justice Mission

Red Envelope Day

Save Darfur

Stop Demand

Compassion International

Be strong and courageous,

Monica

A different type of party post is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Unless you want to mess with your head and heart and have your nice comfy worldview twisted around, shaken like a spiritual heartquake.

I’m telling you – don’t get involved with Compassion International because these little ones suck you in and you start loving people you’ve never met, caring about what happens to children with distended bellies and haunted eyes.

You chew on verses like “let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth,” and “Lord, when did we see you hungry… and did not help you?”, while you eat your nice London Broil and broccoli. When you scrape uneaten food into the garbage, you see the faces of children that search landfills searching for anything to eat.

Don’t love, don’t care and sure as heck don’t get angry at the apathy around you, because not everyone will be affected like you (lots of hard hearts surfing blogs too.)

Whatever you do – don’t pray for passion or for something to do with your little blog. Don’t ask to see folks like Jesus does.

Don’t give in to that desire to be part of hope. That’s what Global Food Crisis Day is all about, after all. Hope.

—-

Do you have hope? I do. Together we can rescue the hungry from what the UN World Food Programme calls “a silent tsunami.”

Donating to the Global Food Crisis Fund:

- Provides food vouchers to children and families needing immediate relief.
- Provides seeds and agricultural tools so that families can grow their own food as well as earn extra income.
- Provides supplemental nutrition services at Compassion-assisted centers around the world.

If you are reading this in RSS, you can follow the links above to donate or come over to Paper Bridges to use the little widget in the sidebar. It’s a very pretty widget, you may want one for your own blog too.

Let’s not lose hope in what we can do or turn away to ignore those Jesus wants us to serve in love.

So the poor have hope,

and injustice shuts its mouth.

Job 5:16

Don’t blog about Global Food Crisis Day is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Because tonight I am – discouraged, frustrated and jaded.

Worn out.

Worn down.

Like this yellow paint.

I’m weary, and work still needs doing.

This is what I found on Flickr when I looked for an image of WEARY is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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No related posts.

Please visit the Compassion International sponsor page for another act of daring love. Or make a gift to the Global Food Crisis Fund.

On behalf of the forgotten children of the world – thank you.

I dare you to look is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Hence this video.

This is the link to sponsor a child through Compassion International. Or if Compassion International with it’s passionate Christian message isn’t your thing, I suspect there are plenty of other organizations helping Indonesia. Go find them and do something.

If you are wondering, “Why Indonesia?”, you can read about my connection to the country here and here.

Indonesian children: surviving on the street is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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I’m reading The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne.

CauseWired by Tom Watson too.

And writing my Ultimate Blog Party post, with the purpose to introduce new folks to what this little blog is about.

Wow. Deep thoughts.

These two books coming together in my head, plus thinking about the WHY of what I do – I feel like my lump of wet clay, in the form of this blog, is being shaped and reformed by the Lord.

Stay turned. I can’t wait to see how the Lord directs me.

Reading, writing, thinking is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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The statewide Community FoodBank of New Jersey is not a bank we can afford to let fail those that need its assistance. I’m going to get out of the way and let the numbers speak for themselves:

One out of every five New Jersey families does not earn enough to afford the basic necessities – housing, food and child care – although 85 percent of these households have at least one family member who is working.

In New Jersey alone, an estimated 250,000 new clients will be seeking sustenance this year from the state’s food banks

At the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) requests for food have gone up 30 percent, but donations are down by 25 percent.

Warehouse shelves that are typically stocked with food are bare and supplies have gotten so low that, for the first time in its 25 year history, the food bank is developing a rationing mechanism.

Today over 100 New Jersey bloggers pledged to write about the need of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. For more information, or to make a donation, follow this link here. For a list of other blogs participating go here. (All statistics from CFBNJ.)

Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison… ?

How will the Lord reply to you?

Don’t let this bank fail: New Jersey food bank hungry for help is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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When I lived in Indonesia, I witnessed quite a few people, especially little kids, going barefoot. That’s not such a big deal if you have nice soft grass to walk in, but this was the city, with it’s dirt, garbage, open sewers and all-around grime. I mean, big rats were on those streets at night, people. Would you let your children run barefoot in those conditions?

Friends, today kicks off an exciting grassroots effort to help others.

It’s called Soles for Souls and it’s simple: get 50,000 pairs of shoes on the feet of those who need them in only 50 days. A five dollar donation buys two pairs of shoes.

I was going to donate $5, then realized I could easily double that amount. It’s not too often I can double the pledge amount when I give to a charity. So I’m in for $10.

Four pairs of shoes for $10. You can’t beat that with a stick.

Wanna help? You don’t have to be a shoe diva (or dude) to donate, just a fan of helping others. Follow the link above in the lovely graphic to do that. And to make this more interesting: if 50 of my readers donate $5 each (or more), I’ll kick in another ten bucks. Just let us know in the comments when you donate. Let’s spur each other on to make a difference in the world.

Five bucks equals two pairs of shoes and it goes to the least of these. If you still need incentive to give, check this out: Soles for Souls is going to select one donor to hand deliver shoes in Mexico. How cool is that? You could be like a Shoe Santa Claus, giving shoes to someone who has never had a pair before.

Don’t think your $5 doesn’t matter, because it does. 50,000 is a lot of people, but if many of us give, we can do it!

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

Soles for Souls: a little giving goes a long way is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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You know – this whole NaBloPoMo thingy. This is Day 2 and already I’m ready to quit.

Thankfully, Compassion International will save me from my lack of blog posting organizational skills.

Here’s the facts: a handful of bloggers are right NOW in the Dominican Republic witnessing children in poverty. They’ll be blog reporting all week about what they experience. Follow this link to hear what they have to say, or you can click on the pretty blue button in the side bar. And if you are so moved to action, and I pray you are, go HERE to sponsor a child.

Thank you. I will now return to my mad blog crafting. Come back tomorrow to see what it is…

Compassion bloggers in Dominican Rebublic Nov. 2 – 7 is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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Now you may be thinking: Okay, I get it. There is suffering and children are starving and dying. I had no idea there were so many scriptures that talk about poverty and what our response should be. What can I do? I’m just one person in the world.

Excellent question! Here are some ideas to help us in the war against poverty:

Six things you can do today to help fight poverty:

Pray. I believe in an all-powerful, loving God who listens to the cry of His people. I pray for them, especially the littlest ones that seem to suffer the worst. I also pray that the Lord would use me to help and to give me opportunities.

Give. Yes, money helps, but it’s not the only thing to do. Throwing money at a problem is a typical knee-jerk reaction for us Americans. How much can I donate to make the guilt go away? We need to give out of love, not because it’s easy and fast to write out a check. Giving your time may be a bigger sacrifice to make – I sure know it can be for me. Let’s give our time and energy to organizations that seek to help those in poverty.

Teach. If you are a parent, then teach your children about poverty around the world. Don’t be afraid to give them the honest truth. You may be surprised at the compassion and understanding from your children. Give them the chance to help out.

Love. Our motivation for everything we do.  Without love we are… just a loud, ugly noise. If I give everything I own to the poor, but have not have love, it’s a waste (I Corinthians 13: 1-3).

Go. The natural response of love. A soup kitchen in your city. A building project. There are many opportunities if you just look. Before I was married, I witnessed horrible living conditions in my travels to South America and Asia. My church denomination offers women’s mission trips to work with the poor.

You can also go to compassion.com right now to sponsor a child trapped in poverty. My family has sponsored an Indonesian girl for several years and I know our monthly support and letters are changing her life.

As for Number Six? I’m leaving that one up to you.

What can we do to fight poverty? Leave your suggestion in the comments, or write your own post, and I’ll link to it here.

Let’s inspire each other!

***

photo credit: angela7dreams

Six things you can do today to help fight poverty is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Psalm 140:12

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honor God. Proverbs 14:11

He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 19:17

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Proverbs 29:7

He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Proverbs 28:27

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Galatians 2:10

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:17-18

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

Blog Action Day 2008: the Lord speaks on behalf of the poor is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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2.8 billion people live on less than $2 per day.

More than 1 billion live on less than $1 per day.

More than 800 million people go hungry daily.

100 million children around the world are homeless.

I don’t like numbers. Too easily dismissed, no emotional impact. Tell me you have X number of children, I understand the number.

But show me their photograph, and I’ll smile, thinking of my own. I’m emotionally involved when I see a face.

I understand the severe problem of poverty by reading the numbers, but it’s not until I see pictures that it begins to get down into my gut.

People, many of them children, are dying as a result of living in poverty.

Normally when I post a video, I tell you to enjoy it. You will not enjoy this video, I want you to see it because it serves a purpose: to show what numbers – 30,000, 800 million, 2.8 billion – can’t accomplish.

You can’t comprehend death and suffering only with a number.

—

All numbers provided by Compassion International.

Blog Action Day: The facts and faces of poverty is a post from: Paper Bridges, © 2005-2010 Monica Brand

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