Jesus and Satan have an argument as to
who is the better programmer, which lasts for an hour until they end up in an
agreement to hold a contest, with God being the judge.
While
on their respective PCs, they type feverishly, lines of code streaming up the
screen, for a number of hours. Before the end of the competition, a bolt of
lightning strikes, taking out the electricity. In a while , the power is
restored, and God announces that the contest is finished.
He
asks Satan to show what he has cropped up with. Satan is evidently displeased,
and whined, "I have nothing. I lost everything when the power shuts
down."
"Very
well, then, let us see if Jesus managed satisfactorily," God says.
Jesus
types a command, and the screen comes to life in vibrant display, the voices of
angelic choir gush forth from the speakers. Satan is knocked for six.
He
falters, "B-b-but how? I lost everything but Jesus' program is
uncorrupted. How did it happen?"
God
beams all-knowingly, "Jesus saves."
Funny? But let’s
see how far have we transgressed God through politics and society’s raison
d'ĂȘtre. It should be clear to us that any misdemeanor are pre-determined
as human’s limitation which is defined in God’s precepts as a safety net, which
we have trespassed resulting us to be in disarray:
Asia: Japan
Japan's
sex industry[1] is worth an estimated ¥2.5 trillion (US$30
billion),
second only to the country's automobile industry.
What’s
the effect of sex trade which defies, “You shall not commit adultery” (Deuteronomy
5:6)? There are "health, social, psychological and physical
effects" linked to this trend. The sex trade also contributes terribly to
the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. There are 1.6
million people[2] reportedly living with the HIV virus in Southeast Asia alone. Of those, 580,000 live in Thailand.
Likewise,
the sex-slave trade promotes social breakdown by stimulating organized crime.
Physical abuse is another risk to victims of the sex-slave trade.
Philippines: Corruption
Three senators were jailed for involvement in the
Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)[3]
anomaly. Previously,[4] the two presidents were also jailed [5] for plunder
charges.
What’s
the effect
of rampant corruption in the Philippines? This has been a severe impediment to
the social and economic growth of the country[6].
The biggest losers are the Filipino people, who in effect, pay for overpriced
merchandise and services or are made to deal with inferior or substandard
commodities or services.
Africa: Lust
According
to report, Sodoma has always been a "sin
city" where prostitution has
thrived for many decades.[7] Back in the 1960s, it was already a prominent
community and a haven for sex workers.
What’s
the effect? In developing countries, it has been
projected that 70% of female barreness is caused by sexually transmitted
diseases that can be traced back to their husbands or partners. Among women in
rural Africa, female sterility is prevalent from husbands or partners who
migrate to urban areas, buy commercial sex, and bring home infection and
sexually transmitted diseases.[8] Women in prostitution industries have been
blamed for this outbreak of STDs, but in reality, studies confirm that it is
men who buy sex in the process of migration who transmit the disease from one
prostituted woman to another and eventually back to their wives and
girlfriends. As it turns to be a vicious cycle, barrenness leads to split up
and, in some cases, the ex-wife who is tossed aside resorts to prostitution to
live on. The movement of dumped infertile women to urban prostitution has been
accounted in Niger, Uganda, and the Central African Republic. Several
researches in Africa and Asia by the World Bank and a number of international
research groups have ascertained that divorced or separated women cover the
great majority of prostitutes or ‘semi’ prostitutes’. Consequently, a major
health effect of the mass male consumption of commercial sex and the growth of
sex industries in developing countries is not only a widespread increase in
sexually transmitted diseases but an exponential increase in sterility.
Europe: Neo-Colonialism
Multinational
companies[9] of the West use
cheap labor in the majority world – Europe’s coffee
is made in Ghana, toys in China, clothes in Bangladesh, etc.
There
are innumerable instances of how laborers in the supply chains for these
corporations endure horrible
working terrible conditions, minimal wage, forced labor, long working days, health
risks and environmental devastation, and instances of child labor and
slavery. Ironically, these practices are illegal in Europe but it’s completely
legal to sell merchandise that has been fashioned from these malpractices.
Moreover,
even in the presence of decent whole system of employing cheap labor while
reaping big revenues is an implication that Western country advocates
unfairness.
European
multinational companies that invest in the majority world rarely pay taxes by
putting their money in tax havens through complex transactions. As a result, poor countries lose
more money than they acquire in international aid. The European Union has
addressed the issue of capital flight and tax havens in several occasions, but
then the objective is to stop the stealing within Europe, not between the majority
world and Europe.
European
companies (as well as American, Chinese, Indian etc.) acquire cheap land in
poor countries and harvest enormous revenue[10] that the local population won’t
benefit from. Oxfam exclaims that the
advent of rich corporations that invest in agricultural land of poor countries
is not really a problem but when families are booted out of the land or
produce lesser yield as a consequence.
In
many instances, land sold as “unused” or “undeveloped” has been a source of
livelihood by poor families through farming. These families are often forcibly
kicked off the land. Promises of compensation are broken. Often people are
violently evicted by hired thugs.” The European Union has done next to nothing
to stop colonial land grabbing which worsens in the long run.
Consumerism
is caused by the economic envy of Europe which perceives endless economic
development as the major political objective. It triggers neo-colonialism
where Europe yokes poor workers in Asia and Africa and destroys the
environment. It is through this that the world’s climate, water, forests, air,
flora, fauna and more get polluted and destroyed.
Man-made
climate change is a fact which it is caused by inequity. It is mostly rich
countries that have caused climate change brought by their industrial
pollutions while it is the poor countries that suffer the most from climate
change’s upshot. This is not just one of the biggest market failures, but also
one of the biggest neo-colonial strikes against the global south. Europe bags
money through pollution and allow the poor countries to pay the cost.
Yang
Ailun of Greenpeace China says that West exports a great slice of its
carbon footprint to China to turn the latter to be the world’s factory. This is
favorable for the Western powers on two considerations: 1) To effortlessly
conceal the true environmental costs of their battle for never-ending growth
and consumerism, and 2) To put China on blame for being a hazard to the global
climate and assertion not to cut their emissions unless China does.
According
to Concord Europe, the member countries of the European Union give around 50
billion Euros annually to foreign aid. At a glance, this is a gigantic provision
to address scarcity of the less fortunate. However, this is only minimal
compared to its total GDP which 16 trillion euros. Many European countries and
other rich countries pledged in 1970 to give at least 0.7 % of their GDP, but
40 years later only a few respect the word of honor.
Even
countries like Sweden that gives 1 % of their GDP aren’t generous compared to
the large extent they have collected through exploitation of poor countries and
neo-colonialism.
Compared
America, Europe often depicts itself as more peaceful and friendly part of the
world. However, it has been an extremely violent country, with hundreds of wars
that have changed the borders of European countries over and over again, aside
from being the main playgrounds for the two of the most bloody world wars in
history.
According
to the European
Network Against Arms Trade,[11] European weapons are often exported to dictatorships/countries at war, which
were used against civil populations in the Middle East and North Africa during
the uprisings from 2011, turned up civil wars in Africa, used in Sri
Lanka, Columbia, Libya and Georgia. During the Arab spring, European armies
intervened in Libya to assist the rebels to remove the ruthless dictator
Muammar Gaddafi from power, who killed his own population. Gadaffi used
European weapons as well. Andrew
Smith from the Campaign Against
Arms Trade discloses that in 2010 alone EU states licensed $484 million worth
of arms exports to Libya, including ‘weapon firing equipment’, ‘ammunition’ and
‘explosive devices’. This policy remained until the Arab Spring, when Qadafi
used European exports against pro-democracy campaigners. Following Qadafi’s
fall, transaction to Libya pursued, with almost $30 million of military export
licenses having since been approved.”
America: War Globalization & negligent stewardship on nature
and its people
Per capita the US remains the world's worst no.
1 CO2 polluter, China approx. 3.5 tonnes of CO2 each per year,[12] UK is nearly 10 tonnes and North Americans 20 tonnes, G8 which is world's
richest nations (France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United
States, Canada, and Russia) are also responsible for over 80 percent of the
climate change that the globe endures today, and still emit over 40 percent of
all global emissions.
According to Census Bureau,[13]
one out of every five American children lives in impoverishment, while one out
of every three for blacks
and Hispanics.
UNICEF[14] accounted
that the U.S.
has a higher child poverty rate than
every industrialized country except Romania. The country is approaching
the bottom in all measures of imbalance that affect its children, including
material well-being, health, and education.
The
U.S. poverty rate grew from 11.3% , a 33% jump, in just 11 years, which
impact was felt primarily by minorities and women. The median wealth for
single black and Hispanic women is terribly low, at just over $100 (compared to
$41,500 for single white women).
One-quarter
of America's workers are now making less than $22,000 a year, the poverty
line for a family of four.
Dole’s
bananas and Del Monte pineapple plantations in Bukidnon, Philippines which are American
companies were pointed as the major factor in the killer
floods of Typhoon Sendong. The current
plantation area in Mt Kitanglad is estimated at 80,000 hectares. The del Monte
pineapple plantation has been occupying the area since 1926. The Stanfilco Dole bananas are more recent but also extends over a considerable area (more
than 21,000 has.), aggressively expanding further into the Bukidnon watershed.
It's
interesting to note that, as much as a thousand gallons, depending on the
size and kind, trees and forests are still the best solution to floods which
the forest could not be played yet as this has been turned into pineapple plantation.
With
the vision of big revenue and the government support, more plantations have
been developed into the stripped landscape of Bukidnon.
Located
on plateaus with elevations ranging from 1,600 to 2,200 feet, the del Monte
pineapple plantation covers an area of 23,000 hectares that includes at least
four municipalities in Bukidnon Province of Mindanao. Harvested fruits are sent
to Del Monte plant in Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City for processing and canning.
Products such as sliced pineapple and pineapple juice carrying the brand Del
Monte are exported to the United States, Japan and European and Middle Eastern
Countries. In 2008, Del Monte announced a net profit of P$39.8 million, in
exchange of damages brought by typhoon Sendong as presented below:
Luke 12:15 Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be
rich, one's life does not consist of possessions.
This is neither a hate speech nor
stimulate anger to U.S. leadership as my advocacy is about proclaiming God's
love, but I was alarmed reading this article whose advocacy is for humanitarian
projects and whose website was established on the 9th of September 2001 two
days before the tragic events of September 11. The write up says that
since the Clinton regime, Washington has been acting against Russian interests
re-echoing Prof. Michel
Chossudovsky forthcoming book entitled "The
Globalization of War: America's Long War Against Humanity" which says:
This may not be far from the reality
because historically
the U.S. terrorizes millions all over the planet including most grievous offenses, those of military and economic
warfare against the rest of the world. Again, this write up is made not to
kindle resentment but to rebuke everyone’s hearts, conscience and mind because
I know in my heart, mind and conscience as well that these are not the type of
values that you’ve learned from your parents, school and church.
Arab Countries:
Wars
Wars in Arab Countries have been unstoppable since the
Old Testament era up to this
generation. War is one of the manifestations of a Dragon/Satanic
dispositions depicted in (Revelation 22:13; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 13:4; Revelation 3:4-5).
The long-term impact of regional
developments on the Arab-Israeli conflict and peace process is still
incomprehensible.[15] The rise of the Islamic State (ISIL), a Sunni jihadist group, is generating
some unusual coalition between Israel and conventionally antagonistic Arab
neighbors. Conversely, the rise of extremism in the region may further solidify
Palestinian and Israeli positions, making compromise and peace more complex.
Israel and its neighbors are cautiously examining the speedily changing
condition and some are specifically working on to absorb the many refugees
coming to their borders.
Australia:
Domestic Violence & Gluttony
Domestic
violence is the most common assault
experienced by women in Australia.[16]
James Cook University's social
demographer Dr.
Sue Bandaranaike discloses that
Australia along with the US, Canada are the most
obese countries in the world.
In
2005 survey, half
a million Australian women reported[17] that they had experienced physical or sexual violence or sexual assault in
the past 12 months. I
hope this has dramatically changed a lot since these are 2010 and 2005 studies, so
anyone who has the freshest statistics may violently/friendly react on this.
Wrapping
it up, allow me to ask these questions, are we not exhausted of these, people
of the world? Do you think Jesus could relaxingly smile at this transition that
has been in the globe’s system for more than 2000 years now?
The Season of Advent reminds us always
to be prepared for the Coming of Jesus Christ and it's everyone's common knowledge
that a preparation is coupled by an excitement. How could we excitingly face
Jesus with this filthiness?
How could we joyfully and grandly welcome when every sunrise and sunset, we’re confronted by these apprehensive reports in different media?
Can we blame Jesus if He expects His Way to be freed from obstruction of transgressions? No! Why? He gives us an individual 30, 40, 50 up to 100 years of life's existence to deal with our individual assignment, a task that needs response from a mature individual not from a child whose disposition but a playful act but from a child with an unsoiled heart. He gave us all the necessities and ample time for the preparation to avoid the rush which will be just natural for Him to be disappointed when He found us unprepared.
When Jesus arrives, He will not ask how much is the world’s wealth and how huge is its profits. He is concerned about everyone’s character, on how well we have related with others, how mature we’ve been influencing others towards holiness, responsive to the needs of others, compassionate we were to serve justice, how fruitful were we multiply through the grace of His precepts.
So the challenge is clear. Every day is a must to assess ourselves by asking, "Do I look good? Am I groomed with a clear conscience, pure heart and coherent mind? Does my hand toil productively for the good of others? Do my hands free from impurities and injustice? How do I love my enemies?
Number of people living with HIV: 440,000 |
Adult HIV prevalence: 1.1%
[3]
Christina Mendez, Jailed
senators can’t touch funds, The Philippine
Star) | Updated October 8, 2014 - 12:00am, http://www.philstar.com
Philippines arrests Gloria Arroyo on plunder
charges
[5]
Non Alquitran, Jose Rodel Clapano and Jaime
Laude, Estrada jailed for plunder, http://www.philstar.com, Updated
April 26, 2001
[7] Hassan Mutuhe, Will Sodoma shed its ‘sin city’ tag?, http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women,
February 1999
Donna M. Hughes and Claire M. Roche,
Editors, http://www.uri.edu
[9]
Micael from Sweden, A Charismatic Jesus
Hippie, Seven Deadly Sins of Europe, https://holyspiritactivism.wordpress.com
20 June, 2007
[13] Paul Bucheit, 7
Deadly Sins America Commits Against Its Own People, http://www.alternet.org, October
1, 2012
[14] http://www.alternet.org, 7 Deadly Sins
America Commits Against Its Own People by Paul Bucheit October 1, 2012
Source: Department of Families, Housing and
Community Affairs Fact Sheet 2 Women's Safety
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