for the week of 11-29-2009
By dale d. hastie
I want to start this Watchman on duty by saying that I know there are good young people out there. Also, good parents who have raised and nurtured wonderful kids and teens. With that said. I ask that you’d stand with me in prayer for the families who DO struggle with their children, and who DO need the hand of the LORD to move over their lives. These are trying times for many families dealing with children who seem to be out of control. Trying times, for parents (or a single parent) who’s faced with a son or daughter who commited a crime or just plain made a bad decision. My prayers are with you and the LORD cares.
the WATCHMAN-
Every time I watch or read the local news and I see scores of children and teenagers involved in various crimes, my heart gets heavy. They’re making terrible decisions, life altering mistakes and my heart feels so heavy. I am reminded in my spirit of how important Godly wisdom is for our youth. For example, presently 3 young men are on trial for the murder (and conspiracy to commit robbery) of a young woman who worked at a local restaurant in Lathrup Village, Michigan. Two of the young men were 20 years old, the other only 16.
Here’s wisdom from the book of Proverbs regarding this very thing…
(Proverbs 1;10) My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
I’ve heard people say that, the bible is an old book that doesn’t apply for today. REALLY?!? Here, Solomon warns his son about being in contact with evil people, who plot to rob and murder the innocent for their own gain. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE. But for them, this is wisdom too late. And, unfortunately for the young woman who was slain… it’s too late.
Godly wisdom is meant to go before our daily steps, to guide us in our paths. Learning wisdom is like planting seeds in our hearts and minds. They’re like nuggets of understanding, and when choices come before us, the roots of wisdom (being fully grown in our hearts and minds) help us to make better decisions for ourselves. Notice, I said they’re like SEEDS. They have to be planted, and to plant them in our children’s minds, we have to know them for ourselves to sow.
Our kids are so smart today. They seem so much smarter than even we were growing up. They operate computers and games that at times confound our adult understanding. Elementary classes seem to be so much more advanced than the ones we took. So, maybe we forget these impressionable minds still need Godly direction to navigate through everyday life. Daily, moral choices are before them. For that matter ALL OF US. But as we see, our children need help and instruction.
Solomon, (writer of the proverbs) knew the many pitfalls and snares our children had to face in this world. Solomon had the same concerns we face dealing with our kids today. Solomon explains in the following text the purpose of proverbs and having God’s wisdom within our hearts.
(Proverbs 1:2) To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 to give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
At times, it seems like the devil is after our children. Trying to steal and capture their very minds and hearts. As parents, we’re not omni-present. We just can’t detect every little harmful thing on television or on the Internet. It’s down right hard. It takes Godly discernment on our parts for every aspect of raising our children today. This is even more difficult in single parent homes. The number of children living in single-parent households has increased dramatically since the 1960s. Approximately 9% of children under 18 lived with a single parent in 1960; by 2007 this rate increased to nearly 32%.
Nevertheless, we can never forget that God is able.
There’s absolutely no question about it… it’s difficult but prayer and godly instruction are always tools for us. To help us in EVERY situation. These are our children but we must never forget that these are Gods children too and who cares more than HE?
In fact, that’s one of the precious things I love about our savior. He loved our children.
(Matt 19:13) Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
There, we see Jesus took time out for children and most of all prayed for them. I truly believe with all my heart and soul that our knees should be sore from praying for the kids in this world.
Learn how to read and understand the book of Proverbs for yourself and then share that understanding with your child or children. The younger, the better. Help them recognize the appearance of evil. So they can rightly discern for themselves. Watch over them like your carefully teaching them how to ride a bike with no training wheels. Guiding them, threw life situations. Looking over them with a watchful eye. Allowing space to reason within themselves in wisdom. Praying, always that the Lord will see them through.
I will leave you with more text from Proverbs as Solomon instructs his son. I encourage you to Read, the book of Proverbs and please be encouraged. We are not alone in Christ.
(Proverbs 3:1) My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
The WATCHMAN-
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Protesters at Rib Rack band together against ’senseless killings’
Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News
Lathrup Village — About 20 people gathered outside the Rib Rack restaurant Monday to call attention to national and local gun violence.
The rally was part of the National Day of Outrage, an initiative sponsored by the National Action Network, which hosted similar events Monday afternoon at more than 20 locations nationwide. The group’s leader, the Rev. Al Sharpton, was scheduled to be in Atlanta to bring attention to the shooting a 19-year-old Spelman College sophomore. She was recently hit by a stray bullet while walking on the Clark Atlanta University campus.
The gathering in Metro Detroit was outside the Rib Rack, where employee Catherine Solinski-Blain, 21, of Waterford Township was shot in the head in a parking lot last year.
The rally drew Oak Park resident Jennifer Johnson, who is still upset over the shooting.
“I don’t live too far from here,” Johnson said. “When I saw what happened on the news here, I couldn’t believe it. I’m just sick of it.”
National Action Network’s local president, Caree Eason, said the protest called attention to not only Solinski-Blain’s death but “senseless killings in the community.” She also pointed to recent shootings in Flint and last week’s shooting death of Jamar Pinkney Jr., 15.
The Highland Park teen’s funeral was Monday at Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit. His father, Jamar Pinkney Sr., is accused of shooting him in the head at point-blank range after learning his son confessed to inappropriate contact with a young relative. Doctors found no sign of abuse.
“We’re not going to take it anymore. It’s everywhere,” Eason said. “It’s time for us to come together as one. We have not been successful in take care of the problems by ourselves. We can be a strong coalition if we come together for this issue. That’s the core mission (ending) the violence that’s going on in the community.”
The rally coincided with the start of deliberations for one of Solinski-Blain’s accused killers, Jerome Hamilton, 16, of Southfield. He’s accused of pulling the trigger. His first trial was declared a mistrial after five days of deliberations in August.
Lisa Howze, a former candidate for Detroit City Council who is campaigning for state representative, said many residents attribute violence to under-employment or lack of education.
“Many answers are given, but where are the solutions? We need to solutions to today’s problems,” Howze said. “It is not enough to say we need to end the violence. Where are the solutions?”
dnichols@detnews.com (313) 222-2359
Posted by The WATCHMAN 
