The Bodies and Souls of Men: Part 2

Slavery Still Exists - SSE (Photo credit: Wolfram Burner)

     Did you know that slavery is alive in the world, including the United States, today? I know. You've talked to me recently, and you've heard my sermons. However, here are a few facts from a Baltimore Chronicle article from March 6, 2009. Iencourage you to read the whole article. http://baltimorechronicle.com/2009/030609Lendman.shtml

1.   Nearly half of all slaves are in the sex trade. (46%)
  
2.  This is followed by domestic slavery. (27%)
   
3.  Our world contains more slaves than at any other time. (27 million globally)
   
4. Ninety dollars is the average cost of a slave. During  the Civil War times, that cost was $40,000. With the cost of human beings so cheap, slave owners have no reason to conserve them. They are now disposable commodities.
  
5. Farmworkers are perhaps the poorest and most abused laborers in America. Around half of them earn less than $7500 annually, and their wages have been stagnant since the 1970s.

How much does your life impact enslavement? Here's a link to a survey that may give some surprising insight.  http://slaveryfootprint.org/

   

The Bodies and Souls of Men: Revelation 18

Human Rights Logo: Free as a Man

     Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!' 11 "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more— 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men. (Rev 18:10-13).


    Last week I explored the idea of Babylon the Great being an economic power house.This passage furthers the hypothesis. Today we concentrate our economies in one society, currently China. Overseas we find cheap labor and receive cheap goods--goods that cheapen our lives. And how do we do that? With the bodies and souls of men.
     Slavery exists, in the United States as well as overseas. Not only are girls and boys sold to the sex trade, we have enslaved migrants and servants and menial workers. But beyond the literal slavery, we enslave people in sweat shops. They toil long hours, away from family with no health benefits or vacation time or maternity leave. They work with no concern taken for their safety or comfort. And their toil for us is sanitized. We don't see it, so we waltz off to our box stores and buy more. And more. And more.
     Sadly, this disparity of basic human rights--or rather our God given rights--will last until the end of time. But that is not an excuse to allow it to continue. Be aware, we are allowing ourselves to become the "Great Whore of Babylon."

How To Please Your Man

Ideally, these should be in a heart shaped box

     Valentine's day. Ah, every woman wants a box of chocolates and a dozen long-stemmed roses. But we must remember there is another side to our love life. The man. How can we please him? I've got 5 fail-proof plans.

1. Men like to save money. They budget everything. Therefore, hit the sales. Often you can dove-tail a sale with a clearance item and really make him happy.
2. Men are visual beings. Therefore it is essential you look your best. Contact your Arbonne or Mary Kay representative and get a make-over.
3. And speaking of a make over, what good is the make-up and clothes with ragged nails. Manicure time.
4. If you're like me, hubby is your foot warmer at night. We do not want to scratch him with our jagged, winter-dried heels. Pedicures will cure that problem.
5. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Make your dinner reservations early.

     Do you have any ideas you'd like to share?

Who Is This Woman?

Image via Wikipedia

Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.  With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."  Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Rev 17:1-6

     As I don't understand much beyond the first three chapters of Revelation, it's not my preferred reading. However, we are currently immersed in a study of this book. This first jumped out at me though, and a lively discussion ensued about who the woman is.
     Most people believe it to be a church. Some believe this depicts a government. However, I see this as today's society because:
1. Society is obsessed with riches. Look at the stars. Our TV shows--from the ordinary to the reality ones on HGTV. Society loves its life glittering with gold.

2. Society is adulterous. How many people jump into live-in relationships? How long before one sleeps with one's date? Moves in?

3. And the filth of society's adulteries has morphed from the traditional heterosexual to homosexual and pedophilia.

4. Who is the only fair game to lambast? Christians. We cannot portray any other sub-group in an abominable manner. Muslims on their prayer mats are admired. Ethnic groups are celebrated. But let TV zoom in on a cross worn on a character and you know, that one is the evil one.

Any suggestions, with reasons for them, as to who is this end time whore ? I'd love to know. And if you have links, I'd love that, too.