We wanted to do some writing every month. Yet here we are past August and into September already. How has your summer been? It seems to have gone very fast. We had the privilege to lead the ‘Birthright of Freedom‘ class at a church here in New Britain during the months of May through July. We also had the opportunity to visit our eldest, Naomi, out in California. God provided airline tickets through our son in law. He also had some divine appointments for us there as well as the return trip, where we stopped in Minnesota for a class reunion. We met a man in California, who shared some about the evil sex slave issue. When we arrived back in Connecticut, we learned that several churches are also trying to address this evil practice right here in our backyards.

Let’s turn our thoughts to some items that have been in the regular news and make a connection to the slavery issue. The shooting in Florida of a young man, and the school shootings in Newtown are two we can look at. The papers and regular news outlets have an agenda and report stories like this to stir up emotions. Yet they didn’t report much on the college student, from Australia, who was shot. I would like to stir us up to think beyond what the papers do or don’t report. One of the ways to do this is by asking questions. One question might be very general: How did we get to this point where people will do such things? Another would be: What in our society creates an atmosphere that allows violence as an answer? Is it just a personal problem or is it embedded in our social structure? What are the real causes of deviant behavior? My interest is in the deeper questions, not the superficial ones like gun control. What is the cause and effect relationship behind behavior? Let’s look at more personal examples. These are closer to home. Most shopping places have racks in the parking lots for carts when people finish using them. How often have you seen someone leave their cart right next to their car and drive away? I’ve noticed people right next to the return rack and they fail to return the cart. We used to walk the block and pray over the neighborhood where we lived. After a few times around the block we began to take five gallon pails with us in order to pick up trash as we went. It was amazing to see folks open their car doors and push trash right out onto the ground. Now you might be wondering what this has to do with shooting someone. Or what does all this have to do with the sex slave trade. The Bible says the heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it? It also says out of the heart the mouth speaks. In the New Testament we are told we will be accountable for every word that proceeds from our mouths. We are told to think on things that are pure, holy etc. All behavior is connected because it comes from the heart. Whether it is sex trafficking or leaving a shopping cart for some one else to deal with, it all comes back to a heart issue. Some folks have said of elected officials that it doesn’t matter what they do in private, that they can still do a good job. But I would submit, for your consideration, that out of what is pondered in the heart choices are made. Character does matter. We do become what we think about. The question that we all must ask, no matter the situation, is; will what I am going to do or say bring about life and freedom for those around me as well as myself? Take this question from the personal to our society. What is missing that we are no longer teaching, and creating an atmosphere that bring life and freedom?