REAL HEAVEN

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Make her believe in heaven, and she will follow you to hell” Pimpology

Now I know that is a little different kind of quote to start the OFH today.  But during a presentation on Human Trafficking and Opiate addiction last night in GROVE CITY, the esteemed Judge Herbert of Columbus shared this quote on a slide and it struck me.

As many of you know we are hopeful to gain the opportunity and funding to better educate the “CHURCH” regarding this challenge of HUMAN TRAFFICKING.  HUMAN TRAFFICKING is happening all around us and the CHURCH CAN BE effective help-mates in not only the recognition of it, but in providing opportunities for hope and healing for the trafficked.  We need to get in the game!

You see what struck me about that quote is that it is the just the antithesis of what WE are to be doing each day as followers of CHRIST. 

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN.” (Matthew 6:10 NIV) 

We are to be leading people AWAY from hell by offering a little TRUE HEAVEN here on EARTH.

Make sense?

See the difference?  I am sure you do.

The pimp/trafficker uses isolation to contain his trafficked. 

The CHURCH should become their COMMUNITY offering FREEDOM.

The pimp/trafficker uses intimidation to advance loyalty.

The CHURCH has the chance to use love to foster the same toward JESUS and others. 

Are you following me yet?

Folks we are surrounded by a culture of folks seeking to take full advantage of people; to play on their fears, to deceive and run roughshod over them.  There is an entire billion-dollar enterprise dedicated to having others SERVE them as sex and labor slaves.

Yet we THE CHURCH have an amazing opportunity to demonstrate a completely different paradigm. 

Jesus demonstrated that we were to SERVE and not be SERVED (Mark 10:45), that we are TO FREE rather than ENSLAVE, that we are to offer GENUINE HEAVEN on EARTH rather than using the façade of HEAVEN as a means to a desired end, as a pathway of manipulation and destruction.

I know this OFH is a little different.  

But I hope it causes you to pause.  Today an innocent, likely broken and scared little girl or boy will be lured by the prospects of a better life that is no more than a lie cloaked in pretty packaging.

It is truly time that we THE CHURCH remove our head from the sand and realize that a mission field of folks surrounds us that is desperate for REAL HEAVEN; its hope, its possibilities, its love, its acceptance, and its freedom.

The question is will we engage it?

“FOR TOO LONG THE CHURCH has played defense in the battle for souls. We hear of what some cult or political party is planning to do, and we react by creating strategies to counter the enemies’ plans. Committees are formed, boards discuss, and pastors preach against whatever it is the devil is doing or about to do. This may come as a surprise, but I don’t care what the devil plans to do. The Great Commission puts me on the offensive. I’ve got the ball. And if I carry the ball effectively, his plans won’t matter.” ― Bill Johnson

Have a blessed WEEKEND.

I love you all!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE