There is a song out by Plumb called "Need You Now". I love this song! It's a great song for when you are hurting, anxious, or feel far from God. She sings it in a way that you can feel the desperation for God to make himself known. I highly recommend everyone listen to it.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Inconsistent
I have been horrible at writing on this consistently. Most of the time, I either have too much in my head to write down or what is going on is not something I should broadcast across the cyberspace waves.
I will have to be creative on thinking about things to write. Any suggestions on topics people would be interested in having a dialogue about?
I will have to be creative on thinking about things to write. Any suggestions on topics people would be interested in having a dialogue about?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Lovely Day
Today, is my birthday. It has been a lovely day. It's been laid back. My sis made me a yummy supper and apple pie. She also made me treats to take to work (Remember when we took treats to school for our birthdays? That was so great!). I got a lovely bottle of wine for my birthday that I had a bit too much to drink before falling asleep on my bed for a bit. I opened a few presents and now it is the first official snowfall for the season. The rooftops are covered. Ahhh...simplicity is a beautiful, beautiful thing. I am at peace.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Persecution
Please pray for this woman and her family. She is a professing Christian in a dominately Muslim country. They have condemned her to die because of her faith in Jesus. May God deliver her to safety and may she have strength, faith, and patience to endure this horrific trial. I know you don't know me, Asia, but Jesus is with you and will continue to be with you through all things.
Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan 'for blasphemy'
A Christian woman has been sentenced to hang in Pakistan after being convicted of defaming the Prophet Mohammed.
By Rob Crilly in Islamabad and Aoun Sahi in Lahore 5:36PM GMT 09 Nov 2010
Asia Bibi, a 45-year-old mother-of-five, denies blasphemy and told investigators that she was being persecuted for her faith in a country where Christians face routine harassment and discrimination.
Asia Bibi has been sentenced to death 'for blasphemy' Christian groups and human rights campaigners condemned the verdict and called for the blasphemy laws to be repealed.
Her supporters say she will now appeal against the sentence handed down in a local court in the town of Sheikhupura, near Lahore, Pakistan.
Post found at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8120142/Christian-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-Pakistan-for-blasphemy.html
Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan 'for blasphemy'
A Christian woman has been sentenced to hang in Pakistan after being convicted of defaming the Prophet Mohammed.
By Rob Crilly in Islamabad and Aoun Sahi in Lahore 5:36PM GMT 09 Nov 2010
Asia Bibi, a 45-year-old mother-of-five, denies blasphemy and told investigators that she was being persecuted for her faith in a country where Christians face routine harassment and discrimination.
Asia Bibi has been sentenced to death 'for blasphemy' Christian groups and human rights campaigners condemned the verdict and called for the blasphemy laws to be repealed.
Her supporters say she will now appeal against the sentence handed down in a local court in the town of Sheikhupura, near Lahore, Pakistan.
Post found at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8120142/Christian-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-Pakistan-for-blasphemy.html
Monday, November 08, 2010
Issue of Concern
My church is very active in working to fight human traffiking. We often think of this as something that happens overseas. However, this story shows just how close to home this may occur. Pray for these young girls!!!
Indictment: Somali gangs trafficked girls for sex
By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS – Twenty-nine people have been indicted in a sex trafficking ring in which Somali gangs in Minneapolis and St. Paul allegedly forced girls under age 14 into prostitution in Minnesota, Tennessee and Ohio, according to an indictment unsealed Monday.
The 24-count indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Tennessee, said one of the gangs' goals was recruiting females under age 18, including some under age 14, and forcing them into prostitution so the defendants could get money, marijuana or liquor.
The indictment details several instances in which young Somali or African American girls were taken from place to place and forced to engage in sex acts with multiple people. One girl was under 13 when she was first prostituted. Another girl was 18 when she was raped by multiple men in a hotel room, the indictment said.
John Morton, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the case is significant because the girls were repeatedly victimized over several years and transported to many places. The indictment lists incidents involving four victims.
"Human traffickers abuse innocent people, undermine our public safety, and often use their illicit proceeds to fund sophisticated criminal organizations," Morton said. "ICE is committed to bringing these criminals to justice and rescuing their victims from a life in the shadows."
Van Vincent, the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, wouldn't comment on the status of the girls, other than to say they were safe.
The indictment claims the ring involved three Minneapolis-based gangs — the Somali Outlaws, the Somali Mafia and the Lady Outlaws — and that all three gangs are connected. The men and women charged were either gang members or associates of the gangs, the indictment said. They range in age from 19 to 38.
The indictment says the sex trafficking ring operated for 10 years, with the defendants recruiting young girls to engage in sex acts.
One girl was just 13 when, in 2005, she was taken from the Minneapolis area to an apartment in Nashville to engage in prostitution, it said. The girl was also taken to Columbus, Ohio, and other locations for prostitution.
In another case, a girl was under age 13 when she was first forced to engage in sex acts in November 2006. Two defendants had sex with her the next month at an apartment in St. Paul, and then other males arrived and were charged money to do the same, the indictment said. That scenario happened on many occasions.
The indictment refers to the girl as Jane Doe Two. The Associated Press does not identify victims of sex crimes.
"Jane Doe Two was informed ... that selling Jane Doe Two for sex would be called a 'Mission.' It was a rule that members of the (gangs) would not be charged for sex with Jane Doe Two as they were fellow gang members," the indictment said.
One defendant, Haji Osman Salad, nicknamed "Hollywood," later made Jane Doe Two "his girl," picking her up from school, engaging in sex acts with her, and then instructing her to engage in sex acts with other men, the indictment said.
Over the course of two-day period in April 2009, the girl was forced to engage in sex acts at least 10 times with nine different men, it said. Then, she was driven to Nashville. On the way there, Salad made a cell phone video of her engaging in sex acts with some of the occupants of the vehicle, the indictment said.
Seventeen people were arrested in Minnesota, nine were arrested in Tennessee and three were at large Monday evening, St. Paul Police Chief Tom Smith said.
Elders in St. Paul's Somali community began approaching law enforcement officers in 2007 and 2008 with concerns that young girls were being trafficked, Smith said.
Those eventually charged traveled easily between Nashville and St. Paul, and some may have been related, said Jerry Martin, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Both cities, as well as Columbus, have large Somali refugee populations.
Along with sex trafficking, the indictment charges some of the defendants with conspiring to obstruct the investigation by lying to a federal grand jury. It also alleges some stole a motor vehicle, committed burglaries, and engaged in credit card fraud — causing one credit card company to lose $231,000 over a one-year period.
Omar Jamal, an advocate for Somalis in Minnesota, said the allegations shocked the Somali community, whose members pointed out Islam forbids such activity.
"Collectively, they might have been in denial that such grave sex minor trade could ever be going on in the community," he said. "It's a kind of crime that a community can never think of their kids as being capable of doing this. ... People are saying, 'How could this be? How could such a thing happen?'"
Actual Post may be found at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101108/ap_on_re_us/us_somali_sex_trafficking
Indictment: Somali gangs trafficked girls for sex
By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS – Twenty-nine people have been indicted in a sex trafficking ring in which Somali gangs in Minneapolis and St. Paul allegedly forced girls under age 14 into prostitution in Minnesota, Tennessee and Ohio, according to an indictment unsealed Monday.
The 24-count indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Tennessee, said one of the gangs' goals was recruiting females under age 18, including some under age 14, and forcing them into prostitution so the defendants could get money, marijuana or liquor.
The indictment details several instances in which young Somali or African American girls were taken from place to place and forced to engage in sex acts with multiple people. One girl was under 13 when she was first prostituted. Another girl was 18 when she was raped by multiple men in a hotel room, the indictment said.
John Morton, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the case is significant because the girls were repeatedly victimized over several years and transported to many places. The indictment lists incidents involving four victims.
"Human traffickers abuse innocent people, undermine our public safety, and often use their illicit proceeds to fund sophisticated criminal organizations," Morton said. "ICE is committed to bringing these criminals to justice and rescuing their victims from a life in the shadows."
Van Vincent, the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, wouldn't comment on the status of the girls, other than to say they were safe.
The indictment claims the ring involved three Minneapolis-based gangs — the Somali Outlaws, the Somali Mafia and the Lady Outlaws — and that all three gangs are connected. The men and women charged were either gang members or associates of the gangs, the indictment said. They range in age from 19 to 38.
The indictment says the sex trafficking ring operated for 10 years, with the defendants recruiting young girls to engage in sex acts.
One girl was just 13 when, in 2005, she was taken from the Minneapolis area to an apartment in Nashville to engage in prostitution, it said. The girl was also taken to Columbus, Ohio, and other locations for prostitution.
In another case, a girl was under age 13 when she was first forced to engage in sex acts in November 2006. Two defendants had sex with her the next month at an apartment in St. Paul, and then other males arrived and were charged money to do the same, the indictment said. That scenario happened on many occasions.
The indictment refers to the girl as Jane Doe Two. The Associated Press does not identify victims of sex crimes.
"Jane Doe Two was informed ... that selling Jane Doe Two for sex would be called a 'Mission.' It was a rule that members of the (gangs) would not be charged for sex with Jane Doe Two as they were fellow gang members," the indictment said.
One defendant, Haji Osman Salad, nicknamed "Hollywood," later made Jane Doe Two "his girl," picking her up from school, engaging in sex acts with her, and then instructing her to engage in sex acts with other men, the indictment said.
Over the course of two-day period in April 2009, the girl was forced to engage in sex acts at least 10 times with nine different men, it said. Then, she was driven to Nashville. On the way there, Salad made a cell phone video of her engaging in sex acts with some of the occupants of the vehicle, the indictment said.
Seventeen people were arrested in Minnesota, nine were arrested in Tennessee and three were at large Monday evening, St. Paul Police Chief Tom Smith said.
Elders in St. Paul's Somali community began approaching law enforcement officers in 2007 and 2008 with concerns that young girls were being trafficked, Smith said.
Those eventually charged traveled easily between Nashville and St. Paul, and some may have been related, said Jerry Martin, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Both cities, as well as Columbus, have large Somali refugee populations.
Along with sex trafficking, the indictment charges some of the defendants with conspiring to obstruct the investigation by lying to a federal grand jury. It also alleges some stole a motor vehicle, committed burglaries, and engaged in credit card fraud — causing one credit card company to lose $231,000 over a one-year period.
Omar Jamal, an advocate for Somalis in Minnesota, said the allegations shocked the Somali community, whose members pointed out Islam forbids such activity.
"Collectively, they might have been in denial that such grave sex minor trade could ever be going on in the community," he said. "It's a kind of crime that a community can never think of their kids as being capable of doing this. ... People are saying, 'How could this be? How could such a thing happen?'"
Actual Post may be found at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101108/ap_on_re_us/us_somali_sex_trafficking
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
BarlowGirl
BarlowGirl
Hooray! Barlow Girl has a new album coming out on 9/14. It's a collection album. They also have some new clothing merch that is very cool. These ladies ROCK! Click the Link above to see their new album.
Hooray! Barlow Girl has a new album coming out on 9/14. It's a collection album. They also have some new clothing merch that is very cool. These ladies ROCK! Click the Link above to see their new album.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Norman
I just listened to an incredibly beautiful story. It is also a convicting one. If you get a chance, listen to "A Man Called Norman". You may find it on Focus on the Family's daily broadcast for July 22nd and July 23rd. It is a story of God leading one man to look beyond his prejudices and love what the rest of the world calls unlovable. This story is in two parts. You may go to www.listen.family.org/daily and then look for a box on the right hand side labeled "learn more about" and click on recent daily broadcast. Scroll down a bit and you will see the story. Part 1 is on the 22nd and part 2 on the 23rd.
Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone and reach out to those the world calls strange, weird, and untouchable? Am I?
Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone and reach out to those the world calls strange, weird, and untouchable? Am I?
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