Freedom for the Sex Slave by Eileen Rife

She could be your daughter, your sister, or your niece. She is one of 3000-5000 children sold or lured into forced prostitution every day. She is raped repeatedly, beaten, drugged, and left for dead. Traded as a commodity on the black market, she is a victim of the sex industry, the second largest area of organized crime in the world.

            Four years ago when I was brainstorming characters and plot for my third novel, Chosen Ones, in the Born for India trilogy, my youngest daughter and her husband awakened me to the horrific crime of human trafficking. Up until that time I had no awareness that 27 million slaves existed in our world, generating $32 billion in revenue each year. I did not know that there are about two million women in prostitution in Asia and half of them children. I did not know that every minute, two people are trafficked across international borders, nor did I know that every year 200,000 American girls are at risk for sex trafficking.

            My grown children’s passion quickly became my own, and I knew exactly who Chosen Ones would profile: a sex trafficked girl.

            Punita, a young poverty-stricken Nepali girl, is sold by her father to a strange woman who claims she will employ the child as a maid with a wealthy family in the city. For two years, the family would care for the girl and provide a good education. Then, Punita would return home to marry Omar.

            All lies. Instead, the woman delivers Punita into the hands of Vladimir Hochek, a ruthless kingpin who runs a multi-million dollar business. Her new and better way of life becomes forced sex, turning 20 tricks a day.

            Unaware of Punita’s plight, a missionary couple dealing with their own crisis in Chennai, India, ministers daily to orphans at The Oasis Compound. Their world is about to change when they unexpectedly meet Punita and attempt a daring rescue.

            My prayer in writing Chosen Ones is that eyes will be opened to see the severity and prevalence of human trafficking and be moved to action. My own burden led me beyond writing a novel to sponsoring an abused girl who has been rescued and placed in a Safe House for rehabilitation, education, and training so that she can become self-supporting.

            Barbara Everett, Director of Destiny Rescue USA notes: “Human trafficking may be the worst human rights violation in the 21^st century.” God has not allowed this tragedy to go unnoticed. David says it well in Psalm 10:17-18: “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”

            The Lord calls His Body to be the voice, the hands, and the feet of Jesus to reach out to these precious women and children who are being terrorized by traffickers. He tells His people to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs 31:8). Together, let’s work toward freedom for the sex slave!

• Trafficking statistics provided by Destiny Rescue USA, Inc. www.destinyrescue.org

  Eileen Rife’s newly released novel, Chosen Ones, profiles a young girl taken captive by traffickers. She and her husband, Chuck, conduct marriage seminars in the States and overseas. All three of her grown children serve the Lord around the world. www.eileenrife.com, www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com

Freedom in Christ by Judi Ehresman

When I was asked to write a post for this blog about Freedom, my mind went immediately to political freedom and freedom of choice and all the various freedoms we have in this country and in this life.  But the more I pondered the concept, I realized that there is actually only one true freedom, and that is the freedom that we can only have in Christ.

Now, I realize that many people that hear me say that will immediately assume I’m talking of religion.  I’m not.  Religions tend to bind us, not free us.  I’m talking about…well…belonging.  Being accepted for exactly who I was created to be; about being the best at it that I can be--only by the help of the very One who created me!

When I was growing up, I was told about Christ and I was taken to church on a regular basis—indeed, on a religiously regular basis.  But that’s about all it was: religion.  As an adult, when I actually met my Creator and began to know Him also as my Savior and Friend, I began to understand true freedom.  And with true freedom also comes joy and peace and hope!  Such wonderful gifts they are!

The religion I knew as a child was filled with rules, and most of them were rules about things I could NOT do.  I couldn’t dance.  I couldn’t play games with cards.  I could never drink wine or any drink with alcohol in it.  I couldn’t even crochet or sew on Sunday!  I must go to church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and even Wednesday evening!  And if the church decided to have more meetings sometimes, well, I was expected to be there.  It was such a lot of rules, and Biblically I could find no support for those ‘rules’ at all!

It was a religion of rules, and I could see no benefits at all.  Oh, I was told that when I died if I obeyed all these rules I’d go to heaven, but I had no plans to die for years and years and it was not an encouraging thing to think of living all those years trying to obey all the rules.

Now there was something down inside me that knew for a fact that there was a God.  I’d heard at school about how the world evolved out of basically nothing and none of that made any sense at all to me.  How could this ordered universe just ‘happen’ into being?  How could this amazing body have just mutated into being from cells dividing?  Where did the breath of life come from?  No, I was no dummy.  I knew there was a God.  My big question was what did God want from me?  Why was I here?  Was there a purpose for my life?

When I was 19 or 20 I heard a minister talk about giving my life to Christ.  I honestly thought I had done that.  My life was nothing but a bunch of rules that took most of the fun out of living.  What more did he want?

But then…he started talking about having freedom in Christ; about the joy and peace that comes with knowing Christ intimately and trusting Him with my future.  And in my heart I prayed that night.  I prayed that God would find me and would help me to get to know Him intimately, and that I would know the peace and joy this minister was talking about.

And do you know what?  He did that!  He drew me to Himself and brought people into my life to direct and guide me in knowing Him.  My own husband helped me to know how to not only read the Bible, but how to apply it to my own life and how to talk with God and get to know Him in a very personal way.

Now you may ask, “What about the 10 commandments and all the laws in Leviticus?  Aren’t those binding?  Are those to be obeyed?”  And I answer:  “Yes!  They are!  But those laws, when lived as a lifestyle actually teach us respect for one another and they free us from entrapment.  If you think them through, they aren’t there to restrict us, but to free us!  Such as:  Don’t lie.  Have you ever lied?  I have.  Talk about entrapment!  Don’t murder.  Well duh!  How is that showing respect?  How selfish is that?  Or adultery, or stealing…all those things not only infringe on someone else’s freedom, they entrap us and squelch our own freedoms.  Honor God above all others?  Well…that’s wisdom above all wisdom.  Don’t you see?  Those ‘rules’ are there to give us guidance and wisdom and inevitably to free us further.

Through the years God has drawn me close to Himself and allowed me to see how truly free I am in Him.  Oh, how very much I enjoy walking through life in the light of His ways!  Oh, how I have grown to love Him!  I am no longer restricted by a bunch of rules; instead I am free to enjoy all the good things He has given, while at the same time not becoming enslaved by any of it!  Now that’s freedom!  And I’m enjoying every minute of it!

Today's guest blogger is wife, mother, grandmother, gardening enthusiast, and Christian author Judi Ehresman.  Judi is the author of "The Hand of God" series.  To learn more about her, please visit her blog at http://judiannehresman.wordpress.com/

Only in Freedom

An Atlanta Entrepreneur recently told me that in his Diamond business that they have discovered a new way to make diamonds even more radiant and valuable.   They have learned if they put the diamond under more pressure and heat (the same way they were originally created) and then use a special liquid to polish the stone further, it will increase their value and his sales.

He said that’s just what the Lord does with us.  The word says in James, consider it all joy when you face trials.  “Its what God does to us to develop our Character.  We are put under greater pressure to test us and our faithfulness.“  Too often people think when they experience great trials, they aren’t capable of overcoming them, or they are being punished or abandoned by God.  Actually God is ready and waiting to answer their prayers and use the experience to prepare them for bigger and better things.

The greater the trial and testing, the greater the calling.  Jesus was tested and faced the greatest trial of all in a humiliating death.   So how do your trials and testing measure up to Jesus’ experiences?

Only in nations and cultures of Freedom do people have the opportunity to be all God has called them to be.  Freedom offers the opportunity to succeed and fail, if Government and culture do not limit their choices.  God has placed in us a special talent and gifting to do something extraordinary.   God is working to move the world forward and he needs leaders who are willing to be open to his leading and calling... people with courage and perseverance. 

This is why America is such a great nation and leader of the world.  We live in an atmosphere where individuals are free to exercise their gifts and talents, to succeed or fail, and to learn and grow from our interactions with one another.

So I asked my business friend, “How do you cut a Diamond?”  He said, “Only by using another diamond, it’s the only substance that is hard enough.” 

I believe that everyone who is called by His name is a Diamond.  The only obstacle to achieving our potential is ourselves and the “insecure” programming we have heard or inherited. But even this can be overcome through God’s leading, as we persevere through the pressure and trimming.   The word “character” in Greek means to chisel.  God will continue to chisel and refine us through trials, but that is how our character is built.  God wants us to be more beautiful and more valuable in His eyes and toughen us to pursue His greatest calling for our lives.  Trust Him because He knows where and how He will radiate the Diamond in you.

Authored by John Beehner, author of "The Freedom Revolution... Rocking our World" and founder of Ask Wise Counsel, dedicated to the spiritual and economic growth of companies and individuals.

Spiritual Freedom by Jackie Burgess

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

In order for us to have freedom in Christ we must understand and know the one who sets us free.

John 8:31-32--- So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

For many years I sat in my church searching for freedom and  I looked to  my church family (man) to help me find that freedom but freedom didn't come. Freedom came one afternoon in my living room when I heard God speak to me and I knew that He was calling me to seek Him for freedom and not man. I remember falling to my knees and crying out to be free from the chains that held me hostage to a person I didn't want to be anymore. I knew that I couldn't go on another day without His redeeming love and  saving grace. My heart was touched by the great healer. As Paul experienced scales being removed from his eyes I was having scales removed from my cold angry bitter heart. I knew on that day my life would not be the same. The chains that once held me prisoner were no more and for the first time I was able to see what God was showing me. I was able to live, breath and be who God had called me to be. 

For me church would never be the same. The very people I looked to help me be free and didn't (couldn't) help I was now able to see them as Christ saw them. Over the years religion and a form of godliness had become their  identity. I looked for freedom in church from people who were just as bound as I was just in a different way, however, bondage is bondage. I couldn't understand how people who were in leadership or who had been in church for years were bound. I cried out and ask God to help me understand. He did several times until one day I said -Lord they do not seem to want to be free. Do they want freedom? This question opened my eyes to realize that we must want to be free. Free from that which has held us hostage for years. The debt has been paid and freedom is ours.

 My prayer is that this year 2012 you will join me and walk in the freedom for which Christ Jesus has set us free from. If you are not walking in freedom I pray that you will reach out to Jesus and ask Him to meet you where you are.

Galatians 5:1---It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery

John 1:14--- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:17--- For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 8:31-32--- So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 14:6-7--- Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 17:8--- For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. (Jesus speaking)

Today's guest author is Jackie Burgess, wife, mother of two, and Christian blogger.  To learn more about Jackie, visit the links below.

http://youtu.be/rzcuYGj3VQI

http://UpholdingTruth.net 

http://jackieburgess.christianblogsites.com/blog/

A Legacy of Freedom

The Founding Fathers of the USA believed that God had a special purpose for this land.  They believed America was the second Promised Land that God promised in Genesis to the Gentiles and all people.  Our founders paid a heavy price through their sacrifice, and laid the foundation for America's success through God's principles and the grace of Jesus Christ.

President Ronald Reagan said, "I believe this blessed land was set apart in a very special way, a country created by men and women who came here, not in search of gold, but in search of God.  They would be free people, living under the law with faith in their Maker and their future."

The Founding Fathers believed man's rights came from God, not a king.  The Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

James Madison once said, "We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of the Government, far from it.  We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

Benjamin Franklin reminded the delegates in the midst of their gridlock and major differences, that it was God who intervened in their daily prayers and allowed them to win the war for independence.  He urged the delegates to turn to prayer to find the guidance to reach agreement in framing the Constitution, reminding them of the scripture, "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."

The question is, will we get back to the basics our founders created?  Basics which allowed us to grow long term through self-initiative, risk, innovation, leadership, and underlying principles of repentance and finding our freedom in Christ.

Authored by John Beehner, author of "The Freedom Revolution... Rocking our World" and founder of Ask Wise Counsel, dedicated to the spiritual and economic growth of companies and individuals.

Bells of Freedom by Bryan Ridenour

Zuzu Bailey: “Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.”
George Bailey: “That's right, that's right. Attaboy, Clarence.”

I hear this dialogue every year as I lounge in front of the television, watching my favorite Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Yesterday, my family heard a bell ringing in the pediatric oncology clinic followed by raucous applause and cheering. My wife and son looked at each other, curious about the party-like happenings behind closed doors. I happened to know the reason for the celebration. 

Every time a pediatric patient completes his or her prescribed course of treatment, the cancer survivor rings the bell and general hoopla erupts!  

As the party winded down, a child-life specialist walked through the waiting room and looked at Noah. “That’s going to be you in a few months.” She smiled. I secretly wished for a time machine….

After a few minutes, a nurse pulled Noah's chart and called his name. There, beside the bell, stood the girl celebrating. The medical staff swarmed around her, family members flanking her on both sides. The girl pulled the rope and rang the bell once more. Everyone cheered again for good measure.

That bell signified a milestone.

That bell announced the finish line.

That bell celebrated life.

That bell proclaimed freedom...

Freedom from lab draws, intravenous chemotherapy, lumbar punctures, and neutropenia.  Freedom from medicine induced nausea and monthly clinic visits.  Freedom from unexpected and ofttimes   violent side effects stemming from varied treatments.

Freedom to return to a semblance of normalcy.  Freedom to participate in large group activities like AWANA, Upward Basketball and Sunday School.  Freedom to crawl around in germ laden plastic tubes at local fast food restaurants. 

Freedom to be a child.

In some ways, that young lady sprouted wings yesterday. I do not know her religious affiliation or background, but I do know this, if she knows Christ, a certain passage from the Bible speaks relevantly to her situation: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:30-31)

Yesterday a bell rang, and a young lady strapped on her wings.

Today, she soars....

This post was authored by guest blogger Bryan Ridenour, a Christian, a husband, a father of four, and a music/youth pastor.  To learn more about him, visit his blog at http://brvan.com/

Freedom Rocks Kick-Off!

Hello everyone, Happy New Year, and welcome to John Beehner's Blog Tour Event "Freedom Rocks!"  This event is a celebration of freedom in all of it's glorious forms, and a platform for Christian authors, bloggers, entrepreneurs, and spiritual leaders to discuss important issues related to freedom that are important to them and connect with others.
Five days a week we will be posting a new article written by John Beehner or one of our amazing guest bloggers, who come from a wide variety of spiritual and professional backgrounds.  We hope that as you read this content, you will be inspired to learn more about these issues and discover how you can be more involved in spreading the beautiful gift we call Freedom.