KONY 2012

I have recently been apart of a series of documentary screenings in Winnipeg for the film Nefarious: Merchant of Souls. The film is a in-depth look at the horrors of the sex trade and prostitution within our world. My heart was truly moved as I was exposed to something that I previously had no clue existed to the degree portrayed.

After watching the film, my first thought was: "what can I do to help stop this injustice?"

There is an obvious disconnect between the prosperity of the western world and the injustices that occur overseas. This is not to say that the western world is free from injustice, but rather it is better suited to deal with such issues. I believe that through the KONY 2012 campaign, Invisible Children has made it simple (and possible, for that matter) for those in the western world to contribute to a cause taking place far out of eyesight.

These are the reasons that I am choosing to support Invisible Children and the KONY 2012 campaign...

1. The Simplicity - As highlighted throughout the video, law/policy makers will listen to their constituents. The main focus of this movement is to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves and there is something plainly HUMAN in standing up for another person.

The campaign simply asks you to use your Facebook/Twitter/letter writing abilities mixed with a little bit of your time to contact those who hold power in our nation. To communicate a point; that there is injustice in our world and it must be stopped.

Everything has been set out before you, now it is time for you to mobilize.

2. The Hope - Do you understand that if Kony is captured our world will change? - change would in fact be inevitable. From the way we see social media to the way the policy makers react to the concerns of their constituents. I hold out for a hope that Kony will be arrested and brought to face the charges laid before him. And that perhaps this campaign can save the life of 1 child.

Concerning the matter of US intervention in a foreign nation...

The role of US soldiers currently in Uganda is the role of advisors. Yesterday, in a conversation with Chris Hopkins, a former US advisor in Iraq, I was told of the realities of the position of an advisor. I was told of first hand accounts of what it means to train local soldiers in ways they could not train themselves. During this conversation I came to realize that those advisors are not malicious men, but rather real human beings with the genuine intention of seeing change in the world.

It is also important to note that the US is not in Uganda for the purpose of occupation or government overthrow, rather to help locals rid their nation of a man who has been committing atrocities, unpunished, for over twenty years.

Those are my thoughts and opinions, feel free to agree or disagree. However! In whatever you do, do it to make this world a little bit of a better place.

Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

Nefarious 1: Merchant of Souls

Today's post will not be about the Cost of Discipleship... But rather a documentary called Nefarious 1: Merchant of Souls. Start by watching this video...

It's like your ordering a pizza.

Is there not something seriously wrong with this?

I believe that a perfect world is impossible, the evil present in our world is simply too vast to ever be completely suppressed. However, as followers of Christ we are obliged to shine His light wherever we go. To advocate for the justice of the widow, orphan and those who are generally oppressed. If we are truly followers of Christ allowing something such as sex trafficking to go unnoticed would be a shame and direct disobedience of Christ's teachings.

I'm going to do some digging and in a future post I'll give you an established organization which concerns itself with sex trafficking that you can get in contact with, if you so desire.

Merry Christmas

Hello, my name is Jordan and I have a serious problem with Christmas.

On one hand I love Christmas, yet on the other, I despise it.

Near the start of this festive season I was talking with a co-worker who is a self proclaimed scrooge. On Christmas day he would rather play Mario Kart by himself than attend a family gathering. The religiosity, family gatherings and consumeristic nature of Christmas has led my friend to dispise the time that is branded as the happiest time of the year.

Now, I have always loved "the Christmas spirit." To me the Christmas spirit consists of eggnog, outdoor hockey and quality time with family and friends. However, as I have aged I have noticed that the real Christmas spirit is in fact nothing more that a hoax.

Christmas is simply about buying the gift that will in turn get you a pile of smiles, however, don't get the wrong gift, or your going to be hated for the rest of the year...

People, we are missing out on what Christmas is all about.

(If you have read this far, don't stop, please)

Christmas is not, I repeat, IS NOT, about buying gifts and therefore accumulating gifts in return.

Christmas is the time of year where we, as prosperous North American's, have the opportunity to give to those who are not as fortunate as we are. To pack and deliver hampers full essentials to someone living in Manitoba housing, to purchase 20 pizza's for a orphanage of kids in Indonesia and to give to a charity who is helping to improve lives in our city.

While I am not against gifting our loved ones or showing affection though gifts, I must proclaim that we as a culture have dreadfully and regrettably missed the mark concerning Christmas. As an irreligious follower of Jesus Christ I find no need to 'preach' to you and bombard you with scriptures concerning giving, simply because I believe that giving is something, whether religious, non-religious or irreligious, that is completely imperative in our world.

There will always be those who are less fortunate than ourselves, this fact is true. This fact also provides a glorious opportunity to show LOVE to those who happen to find themselves in a less than fortunate circumstance.

This Christmas - I CHALLENGE YOU - to spend your money and/or time on someone who is not as 'blessed' as you are. Find someone who is perhaps from a lower socio-economic class and be a blessing in their life. Find someone who is barely scraping by and help them back to their feet. YOU as a North American consumer have tremendous buying power, now get your priorities straight and use that buying power to help someone else. I am sick and tired of the "it's-all-about-me" attitude. Lets take it, stomp on it, cut it up, spit on it and throw it out. It is time for a serious overhaul of our priorities during the Christmas season...

I hope you take something from this.

Be blessed, and bless.