Filed under: Art, I'm thinking, Music I Listen To, charity, faith, music, the word, traveling, writing
Sorry I haven’t updated much. I made it back safely in the states on Sunday from my Peru trip and have just been running wild trying to get myself back into my normal American system. The Peru trip went absolutely amazing!! I will be forever grateful for getting the chance to go. I hope to update more this weekend with stories and pictures but I can’t right now because I don’t have the pictures with me and I don’t have much time. I just wanted to say hello and draw your attention to this cool thing I found. It’s called Brite Revolution and it’s a group of artist who have come together to bring awareness to a wide array of different issues and organizations. For $5 a month, you get exclusive music from these artist as well as part of all proceeds go to support the organizations listed on the site (and you get to choose which one specifically you want to support and that can be changed at any time). Check it out here.
Filed under: I'm thinking, charity, faith, music, readings, the word, traveling, writing
If you have read one of my latest blogs, you know that I am heading on a mission trip to Peru soon. Well, we leave in the morning. I am so honored and blessed to be going on this trip with nine other students who I am privileged to called really wonderful friends. God has done so many wonderful things even before we even began the process of starting this endeavor and I just hope that he continues to do many wonderful things. My biggest hope in this journey, as a more personal sojourn, that I can discover God in the streets of Peru. Please pray for all of us as we travel. Will have pictures when I return.
*edit*
I just listened to C.S. Lewis Song by Brooke Fraser and these lyrics really resonated with me in relation to my trip. I have written them down in my journal to remember as well as this statement:
“It’s the feeling of something bigger than me that gives me courage.”
For those of you unfamiliar with the song (shame on you 
) here are the lyrics:
If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy I can only conclude that I was not made for here. If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary, then of course I’ll feel nude when to where I’m destined I’m compared.
Am I lost or just less found, on the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way? Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive? ‘Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb and avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become.
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan
As I wait for hope to come for me
For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath
So we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live
I was made to love
I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Filed under: Art, I'm thinking, charity, faith, the word, traveling, writing
… I’m still alive and here. Things have been crazy here in school and I really haven’t had time to write.
This one will be a short & sweet hello for I am on my iPod touch trying to type. But there will come a time (hopefully soon) where I can fill you all in on the exciting thiings that are going on. Here’s a clue…Peru!!!
Have a good day!
I didn’t know anything about them until very recently. Dalits (doll-leets) are considered the lowest of low (less than human) in the Indian caste system. For the brief historical reference, for over 3,000 years there has been a caste system (ranking in society). They have their priest, then their soldiers, then their business type people, and then the servants. The Dalits aren’t even considered in the rankings. It is believed to be bad to even walk across a dalit’s shadow. The scary thing is that dalits make up 25% of India’s population and the Brahmins (priest caste; dominating group) is less than 5% of the population.
These people need hope and love. To learn more about them and what we can do to help, visit the Dalit Freedom Network. This is an organization who helps dalits finally realize freedom and justice.
Filed under: I'm thinking, charity, faith, movies, readings, the word, traveling
I just found this. Back when I first saw Amazing Grace in May 2007 I went straight home and wrote this. These were too strong and piercing of an understanding not to write down and be lost in my mind…
I just got back in from watching the movie Amazing Grace. It was an incredible movie and I believe everyone should go see it. It has opened my eyes to many troubles in this world that we just tend to paint over with our fears. And as I just walked into my house I noticed something. I noticed my computer, my game boy, my cell phone and I realized how much I have really worshiped them. I spend most of my time on some of the most nonsence of things when the time, effort, and profit given into this could have gone to much better things, like that little boy I read about while campaining for the Amazing Change. His name was James and I will never forget reading the line of how, after he was abducted and kept as a slave, he had to kill his own brother. JAMES WAS ONLY 11. I know things like this aren’t pretty but they are happening right under our noses. And most of the time, where don’t want to get involved because we don’t want to get our hands dirty (I’m just as guitly of that as anybody else). We spend so much time in our own little worlds more concerned with having the latest gadget or trend that we forget how blessed we really are.
As I was observing my metal-idols, I also noticed a roof and walls and a counter covered with photos of me and my family. I have totaly ignored the fact that I am blessed beyond my wildest imaginations. Not because I have money or that I am wearing the latest fashion trend, but that I am loved. I have been blessed with a family that loves me and a roof over my head and a bed to sleep on. Not many people are that fortunate. I just want to take it all back but I fear that I am already in too deep. My mind, heart, and soul has been poisioned by the world with my own two hands and eyes. Life can be complicated, I know that. And in today’s society has become we need all these advancements and gizmos to succeed and trive. But I read something about someone who went on a trip to Zimbabwe (sorry if I misspelled it) and was blown away by the fact that they are suffering and dying by diseases and govermental turmoil, but they are some of the most joyful people you will ever meet. They don’t know what it really means to upgrade or have the latest “thing”, all they know is that life is more about living and loving what you have than always wanting more. They desire mostly what they “need”, we have become a society of “want”. We have overlooked love and replaced it with a measily brick of gold that feeds off of our inner beast that if nothing can be done it will destroy us. Life is just more valuable than a car, I just wish one day people can recognize that.
James
and here is his story…
An abducted child kept as a slave in the Lord’s Resistance Army, James was forced to brutally kill his own brother who had been abducted with him. He was rescued from captivity, but demonstrates the fragile psyche of a child victim forced to kill or be killed.
Whether in the U.S. or in countries such as Uganda, most fifth graders spent last summer escaping the rigors of school and enjoying the activities of a lazy summer vacation. Not James, an 11-year-old boy from northern Uganda. An abducted child kept as a slave in the Lord’s Resistance Army, he was forced to brutally kill his own brother who had been abducted with him. He was rescued from captivity, but demonstrates the fragile psyche of a child victim forced to kill or be killed.
James is now in a transit center in Lira, and the details of his abduction and captivity are just beginning to emerge from his silence. His deadened eyes and unwilling tongue betray the horror of recent months, when he was one of three brothers abducted by LRA rebels from their village.
When one of his younger brothers tried to escape, the rebels pronounced a sentence of death as punishment as an example to other abducted children who would consider escape. The rebel leaders designated James and the third brother to execute their sibling using means too horrific to detail here. Adding to the horror, sometime later when James picked up a piece of cassava to chew on without permission, his overseer cut off part of his ear as punishment.
James was rescued in an army raid, but he is traumatized by the abuse of his captors, and although now free he needs enormous emotional and spiritual help if he is to recover and lead a productive life. This is the kind of enduring and critical help ChildVoice is trying to offer children enslaved by war.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this movie before, but the movie Amazing Grace is one of my all time favorite movies. It’s message is truly powerful and I am not ashamed to admit that is was part of one of the many factors that were in play when I decided to pursue working strongly in Social Justice. For the past couple of years I have been contemplating and working on an art major in college, but after being involved in social justice work and learning about what all is happening, I have decided to pursue a major in communications that emphasizes in non-profits and a highly considering Seminary after that and work in the missions field. I knew that something had to change the night I couldn’t sleep because I had discovered that all I had been learning about modern day slavery and social justice in the world was true and happening as I just sat there on my bed.
One of my most favorite sense in the movie is close to the beginning when William Wilberforce is lying in the grass talking to God. It reminds me of the thoughts that were running through my head when I was considering following God and what that looked like for me.
Here are some quotes from that scene…
I have 10,000 engagements of state today but I would prefer to spend the day out here getting a wet arse, studying dandelions and marveling at bloody spiders’ webs.
Butler- You found God, sir?
Wilberforce- I think he found me. You have any idea how inconvenient that is? How idiotic it will sound? I have a political career glittering ahead of me and in my heart I wan spiders’ webs.
Here is the trailer to the movie
You really should see this movie!
Hello all wonderful and beautiful people of the world. I have been on a hiatus from blogging for a decent few months. There was a month gap between my last two and that is a long time for me. For the past while I basically had no real desire to do much of anything. These past couple of months have been really trying months emotionally, mentally, spiritually, any other-ally. I really didn’t want to blog because I really didn’t know what all to say. I am still kind of stuck in this rut but I have decided to try and pull myself out. I’ll reflect on this more on a later date, I really don’t know what to say now and I want to get on to other things.
Classes end in a couple of weeks! I’m freaking out! I have so much to do and so little time to do it! It’s exciting to end this year and start work on the newness of next semester (changing majors). I am also sad that me and my friends would go our separate ways home over the break because we have all grown so close, but we will see each other next semester.
“I need Africa more than Africa needs me.” This is the new campaign for a group called the Mocha Club. I have been really researching them over the past couple of months and have really liked what they do. They assist in different fields in Africa including education, HIV/AIDS, single mothers, ect. I heard of this new campaign and think it’s absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t help but think of all the reason why I wanted to go and ’save Africa’, but every time I researched and learned more about their culture, I’m really noticing how much Africa is saving me. To learn more, please visit there website here.
It’s hard to believe that the end of the year is upon us. As my little end of the year tradition, I always like to reflect on the past year. My likes, my dislikes. I have decided to share some on here in the coming months. Things like my top music albums/songs or movies or books (can’t do tv shows; don’t watch that much). Honestly, I really want to do it so I can share with you some really wonderful art that I have found. Keep an eye out for them in the coming weeks.
Well, I guess I gotta run. My left arm and toes are getting numb and I still got a lot of work to do.
Peace!
I don’t know if you have heard of this new movie, but it looks pretty awesome and has an amazing message. Call+Response is a ‘rockumentary’ including some of today’s top music artist bringing awareness and a response to the 27 million people in the world who are still under the bondages of slavery (yes, that is a real number and A LOT of people) Here is the official ‘about it’ from the website…
CALL+RESPONSE is a first of its kind feature documentary film that reveals the world’s 27 million dirtiest secrets: there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. CALL+RESPONSE goes deep undercover where slavery is thriving from the child brothels of Cambodia to the slave brick kilns of rural India to reveal that in 2007, Slave Traders made more money than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined.
Luminaries on the issue such as Cornel West, Madeleine Albright, Daryl Hannah, Julia Ormond, Ashley Judd, Nicholas Kristof, and many other prominent political and cultural figures offer first hand account of this 21st century trade. Performances from Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed artists including Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Imogen Heap, Talib Kweli, Five For Fighting, Switchfoot, members of Nickel Creek and Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, Rocco Deluca move this chilling information into inspiration for stopping it.
Music is part of the movement against human slavery. Dr. Cornel West connects the music of the American slave fields to the popular music we listen to today, and offers this connection as a rallying cry for the modern abolitionist movement currently brewing.
If this movie is coming to or close to your town I strongly urge you to go see this movie. Visit the Call+Response website to learn more
