Forcing Girls Into Marriage Links to Poverty and Death

This is an abuse of human rights!

Click on the statement above for an important informative video....

Domestic Violence and Poverty

“I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.”  (Psalm 140:12)

On October 30^th I will speak at a conference entitled: “Partnership for the Elimination of Poverty.” This conference will promote the end of world poverty through a shift of global funding. My talk will address the relationship between domestic violence and poverty. Did you know that domestic violence is the second leading cause of homelessness among women? Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness. Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence.

It is outrageous in our civilized modern society that this epidemic of domestic violence is allowed to carry on. How can we expect women to have the courage to report domestic violence if there is no solid safety net helping them deal with the “fall out” in their lives which also gravely affects their children when they report this crime of violence?

Violence against women occurs in epidemic proportions! The National Violence Against Women Survey found in a 12 month period: 302,091 women experienced rape, and 1,913,243 experienced physical assault, for a total of over 2 million women experiencing violence per year. Throughout their lifetime 1 in 6 women in the US experienced an attempted or completed rape, and 1 in 2 (52%) experienced a physical assault.

Many assaults against women are committed by an intimate partner: 25 percent of surveyed women said they were raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, a co-habitating partner, or a date at some point in their life.

Prevalence of intimate partner violence is much higher among welfare recipients: estimates range from 63 to 75 percent reporting serious physical abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetimes.

Why is the disease of domestic violence allowed to remain so prevalent? Churches must step up and publicly address this crime in our communities and world. Never should a family regret reporting the abuse they suffered behind the closed doors of their homes. Yet, many find their living standard spirals down to poverty level due to: the loss of income, job interruptions, loss of healthcare benefits, and possibly loss of housing due to losing the financial support from the abuser after making a report. A system of community advocacy and support that connects available resources with the families who are suffering due to domestic violence upheaval is gravely needed. Coordination of services for the survival of these families is vital to their healing and recovery.

Jesus commands us all to: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” including your neighbor who is being abused behind closed doors. Advocate for them. No longer turn a blind eye to the epidemic around us. Prevent dating abuse by teaching our teens to stand against violence. Print out and distribute this helpful guide from Jersey Battered Women Services: http://www.jbws.org/documents/InformationforTeens_001.pdf

If you are being abused, remember:

• You are not to blame for being battered or mistreated.
• You are not the cause of your partner’s abusive behavior.
• You deserve to be treated with respect.
• You deserve a safe and happy life.
• Your children deserve a safe and happy life.
• You are not alone. There are people waiting to help.

(See: www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_help_treatment_prevention.htm)

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1 U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey 2007 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, Microdata, calculation conducted by the Mid-America Institute on Poverty of Heartland Alliance.

2 Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N. (1998, November). Prevalence, incidence and consequences of violence against women: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. National Institute of Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research in Brief. Washington, DC:U.S. Department of Justice.

Autumn poems warm my soul....

Autumn

The autumn winds are moaning round 

And through the branches sighing, 

And autumn leaves upon the ground 

All seared and dead are lying. 

The summer flowers have ceased to bloom 

For autumn frosts have blighted, 

And laid them in a cheerless tomb 

By summer sun unlighted. 

Thus all our 'fondest hopes decay' 

Beneath the chill of sorrow, 

The joys that brightest seem to-day 

Are withered by the morrow. 

But there are flowers that bloom enshrin'd 

In hearts by love united, 

Unscathed by the autumn wind, 

By autumn frost unblighted. 

And there are hearts that ever thrill 

With friendship warm and glowing, 

And joys unseared by sorrow's chill 

With hallowed truth o'erflowing.

William James Jones

Sustain Me in the Coming Then

O God, empty me of angry judgments,

and aching disappointments,

and anxious trying,

and breathe into me

something like quietness

and confidence,

that the lion and the lamb in me

may lie down together

and be led by a trust

as straightforward as a little child.

Catch my pride and doubt off guard

that, at least for the moment,

I may sense your presence

and your caring,

and be surprised

by a sudden joy

rising in me now

to sustain me in the coming then.

[from Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Loder]

(Helpful in the busy hectic days of September!)



Falling Leaves, a death scene or a musical dance?

“Glory be to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:21)

As we enter into the Fall season it is tempting to feel somewhat depressed as the sunlight lessens and the air becomes cooler. Recently I have discovered that I am susceptible to seasonal mood changes. Doubt tends to creep in along with the chill. We may doubt God’s presence in the midst of struggles we face, especially in times when we feel too busy to spend time praying. It may seem hard to believe that God can be present when we are confused, tense, or frustrated. At times such as these it is good to pause and just breathe in the Holy Spirit, allowing our minds and hearts to focus on the hope that results when we turn to God’s strength and goodness. It is all about perspective. As I watch the leaves begin to fall I can see this as a sad death dance or a joyful precursor to renewal. Joyce Rupp in her poem, The Falling Leaves, there is a stanza that goes:

“this gigantic death scene of leaves

does not smell of sorrow and sadness,

rather, the earth is colored with joy

and the leaves make music in the wind.”

Now that is the way to turn a negative falling leaves death scene into a joyful musical scene! I love Rupp’s way of reframing what could be perceived as depressing into beauty. It is a great honor to be invited into your lives in times of struggle and to pray for you when you are in need. Some people say it must be depressing to always be going to the hospital or to be hearing about people’s problems. But I say: "What a blessing it is to be given the opportunity to act as an agent for God’s tender loving care and as a messenger of God’s hope and comfort in times of distress!" I hope you will never hesitate to invite me to pray with you, for you, or for those you are concerned about. I know many pray for the staff here at PCM and we appreciate it so very much! Your prayers keep our PCM ship afloat in the rough and calm seas of church life. Blessings for a beautiful Fall!


(Falling Leaves image, Jeremy Montalvo)

How to Do Centering Prayer

www.readthespirit.com/explore/2011/8/22/join-in-a-911-prayer-i-hope-for-a-world-where.html

Let the Lord lead you to new depths of prayer. Let God give you fresh insights as you pray. Know that Jesus Christ is with you, now and always.

Centering prayer is a method of prayer designed to develop contemplative prayer. Contemplation is not meant to replace other forms of prayer. However, it can bring a new perspective to the other methods of prayer. Centering prayer gives you a fresh sensitivity to God's presence everywhere, all of the time.

God - Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit - lives in the center of your being. Centering prayer allows you to experience God's presence now, to be touched by the Lord where you need it the most, and to be transformed in your inner being by the God who loves you.

The Centering Prayer process:
1. Sit quietly and relax. Enjoy your own inner silence. Be calm. The Lord lives in the midst of your silence. Listen to hear whatever God wants to share with you. Savor God's presence and open your heart, allowing yourself to be touched by God in the deepest part of your heart.

2. Respond to God's presence with an act of faith. Do not allow your thoughts or feelings to get in the way. When thoughts come into your mind, gently let go of them and focus on a single word, such as - Jesus, Lord, Love - or a phrase that is meaningful to you, such as - Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me; Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. This sacred word or phrase is a symbol of your intention to allow God's presence and action within you.

3. Put your faith and love into the word or phrase. Whisper it softly. Repeat it slowly and effortlessly, letting it lead you more deeply within your being. God is in you and you are in God. Surrender to God's refreshment and re-creation.

4 Center your attention and desire on God. Leave your thoughts and feelings peacefully. Let Jesus draw you into His perfect prayer of adoration, love, and praise. Let it happen. Don't try to force it, simply go with God's leading. Whenever you become aware of any distracting thoughts or images, gently return to your word or phrase.

5. When you end this prayer time, move slowly to a silent awareness of God and then move to a conscious prayer such as The Lord's Prayer. Say it slowly. Savor the words. Listen to their meaning and make them your own.

6. Centering prayer may be used once or twice daily for 20 minutes. If you are faithful to pray, you will soon experience the fruits of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control. You will abide in God and God in you.

Reference: Bette J. Shellhorn, Ph.D., Spiritual Director
www.prayingchurch.org/centering.html

Building Resilience - 10 Ways

Some of my parishioners have asked for the list of suggestions about developing resilience that I gave in my sermon entitled: "Risk Getting Wet" on August 7th. 
Here they are: 

Studies show that those who survive failures and stressful times often become stronger as a result. Stress and failures can actually be good for us as they humble us while teaching us lessons that we can use to be stronger in the future.

Here are 10 ways to build resilience: 

(1) Create and maintain good relationships with family members, friends and co-workers.

(2) Avoid seeing stressful events as unbearable problems.

(3) Accept circumstances that cannot be changed.

(4) Develop realistic goals and move towards them.

(5) Be a forgiving person and ask for forgiveness.

(6) After a loss - take time for self-reflection.

(7) Practice your faith and get actively involved in a supportive network.

(8) Have a long-term perspective with an attitude such as: “this too will pass."

(9) Maintain a hopeful outlook, expecting good things in the future.

(10) Take care of one's mind and body, and spirit.
All of these ways can be found in guidance from the Bible. Our scriptures link to the development of resilience. Jesus came so that we may have life and have it abundantly. The ways of Christ are ways that build resilience. 

(To hear the whole sermon - go to the audio recordings of my sermons at: www.pcmorristown.org and listen to the sermon given on 8/7/11.)