The Greatest Silence

I stumbled across this today and it grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go... and I struggled with whether or not to share this....I'm still struggling now as I watch a video clip of a young woman who described being raped as her brother was forced to watch and then in turn had to watch him be stabbed to death because he refused to rape her.

Words fail me right now...but I have to share this. The pain in the eyes of the women is palpable. 60 Minutes also ran a segment about this as well earlier this year, and the video can viewed here. A doctor interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper said the women there "have stopped living".

A documentary by Lisa Jackson was release last year about these atrocities and the film has been screened internationally and in select locations in the United States and also aired on HBO on April 8, 2008.

I couldn't help but wonder while watching the trailers and reading the articles on this.... where is the Christian Church in all of this? I don't believe I have heard of any prominent ministers mentioning this in thier please for money. I have a deep respect for pastor Rd Parsley who was instrumental in calling attention to the atrocities in Darfur long before this?

... as I'm typing this, I just recalled that Todd Bentley may have mentioned something similar to this in one of his messages online. There is a message called "Releasing the Virtue of Jesus" where he gives the testimony of Simon a man who was kidnapped as a child in the midst of war in Uganda and forced to be a child soldier. You can download and listen to the message here.

I can't see this and not do something . . . This website is dedicated to just that -- a chance to help and speak out for these women and children who have had these brutal and savage acts committed against them. I burn with the longing of wanting to help with more than just my finances...
Do these women and children meet someone who demonstrates the love of God through Christ? Will they ever find emotional healing for the damage done to their souls? But I have to appease myself by staying its a start... reaching out and helping those who can't speak for themselves or help themselves... its a part of the kingdom...

Context Does Matter!

OK...making my opinions known about politic issues is something I don't usually do....and even while writing this I am still a little hesitant ..but since its in our faces constantly with this being an election year, and a historic one at that,...I'm going to go ahead and bite the bullet.

Like you, I've seen the clips played over and over on FOX, CNN, MSNBC of Senator Obama's pastor, Jeremiah Wright, being played over and over, but the diplomat in me, who likes to be fair, found myself wondering . . . what was said in the rest of the sermon? After all, we were only seeing 30, 45 and 60 second sound-bites. I will admit I've never heard of "Black Liberation Theology" before all of this became news. I'm also hesitant to post this because I don't want to appear totally in support for any political candidate because I haven't fully made a decision yet. To be frank, I've gotten a little annoyed at emails supporting Senator Obama forwarded to me by friends because of the implied assumption. BUT, fair is fair!

In the comment section of an article on ABC news, someone posted a link to a video on YouTube that has a clip of one of Pastor Wright's sermons that has gotten so many people riled up...in its FULL CONTEXT. See here for your self:



Also, Roland Martin, a journalist who also appears on CNN as a political commentator has an article that appears on the blog of fellow CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper and on his own blog which again, presents this part of the sermon in full context:

I wonder and I ask you . . . why this isn't making the rounds on the broadcast and cable news networks?