Gang Baby

It’s hard to raise kids these days. Just ask Joseph Manzanares and his former girlfriend.

Manzanares was arrested this weekend after a fight at the local video store. According to reports, he knocked over a computer, a magazine stand and was yelling obscenities at the girlfriend.

When the police arrived, they found out that the couple had been together for four years and have a child. The police asked why the couple were no longer together. The mother responded that they have “different ideas about how the baby should be raised.”

The officer asked what she meant by that. She responded that the two of them belong to different street gangs and “they could not agree on which gang the baby would claim.”

And I thought I had problems. My wife and I have disagreed many times during the twenty-six years we have been raising children but this is a new one.

Life is a surprise and some people are beyond dumb. This couple should be on Jerry Springer.

Here is the story.

Philip

Liar

I lied to my wife last week. She asked me if I had done something and I denied it. The thing at hand wasn’t a big deal but I thought an admission would lead to a conflict.

She was satisfied with my response but immediately I knew I couldn’t let a blatant lie sit. So what do I do? I tell another half-truth (lie). I admitted I did what she asked me about but coupled it with another thing that made it look better.

A day passes and I know I can’t let these lies go on. I write a note telling her the complete truth and let her know I am open to any questions she may have. She was gracious in accepting the belated truth telling.

I came across a book on telling the truth. One of the things it brought out is that sometimes lying makes things easier, or at least we think so. I lied to my wife because I thought the truth would bring conflict. Maybe it would have but it could have been worked through or maybe wouldn’t have at all.

Lying breaks down trust, especially when you are caught. It raises the question, “So what else have you lied about?” I know it makes me feel that way when I think someone isn’t telling me the truth.

I don’t want to lie and I don’t want to be a liar. I also don’t want to be someone who lies by telling part of the truth. As the saying goes, “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

Philip

Father Kills Daughter

I read this post today. I thought it worthwhile to add a link here as it seems this story needs to get out. The main story of a father killing his disabled daughter is from 1993. What makes it current now is that out on parole, the father who is celebrated by many as a hero, is trying to get a new trial. He wants to be exonerated of murder by claiming that killing his daughter was the right thing to do.

Read the following post and then follow the links in it. It will be worth your time. Then consider what you can do to shine some light in the darkness.

LTI Blog: Undisputed Fact: Robert Latimer is a Murderer

Philip

Fair in Everything

From my morning reading.

The Lord is fair in everything He does, and full of kindness. He is close to all who call on Him sincerely. Psalm 145:17, 18

Are you afraid to trust the Lord? I find that many people who have had unfortunate experiences in their youth with their parents, especially their fathers, have a reluctance to trust God.

In my talks with thousands of students, I have found a number of young people who have such an attitude problem.

Even the best of earthly parents, at times, are unfair and fail to demonstrate kindness. Yet how wonderful it is to know that our Lord is fair in everything He does and is full of kindness, and He is always close to all who call upon Him sincerely.

Notice that the Scripture promise quoted above is a categorical statement. The psalmist permits no exceptions, even when we are sure we deserved better than we received. Thus we need to claim the promise in God's Word by faith and live by it. Some day we will see events from God's side and recognize the fairness we could not see here.

We often see "as in a glass darkly," but God has perfect 20/20 vision. That's why the attitude of trust alone will help us overcome our feelings that God or the world, is unfair. Only then can we live a supernatural life of daily acceptance of what God sends our way.

Bible Reading:

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Psalms 145:8-12

From: Promises
A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living
by Bill Bright

These are encouraging words. I had a good Dad who reflected the nature of God. I learned a lot from him. I probably view my heavenly father in a positive way because of that. But even if not, I see the character of God in His word and my experiences in following Him have proved to me that He is good and I can trust completely in Him.

Philip