What had become to our children?

My children would often told me story as if they are real, giving me names of character as if they just live next door. Then, I get frustrated to know later that they are video game characters. Well, at this point, I have to ask them ; Can you introduce them to me again? 

   Last night GMA News flash a report about a 3 years old girl raped by a 12 years old boy. Just the other day, 13 yrs. old shoot his 17 yrs. old friend inside a mall.  There is a propose bill at The House of Representatives to re-write the "Youth Offenders" Act. .Click this link for Child & Welfare Code of the Philippines. 

   This proposal was triggered by the recent offenses particularly by young boys and girls against  motorist on major streets in Metro Manila either committing direct robbery or just for thrills. These young boys and girls are protected by the constitutions that states they should not be incarcerated. The most we could do to them is turn them to Department of Social Welfare either for reprimand or counseling and then later release to repeat the same offense again. There are some who believe syndicates are taking these opportunities to use these children to commit crime. Like what I saw again on the News where two little girls about 5-7 yrs old became partners with an adult for shoplifting as recorded in CCTV Camera. When they were caught the owner simply releases them because she said to Police “she’s just a child”.
   I found a particular blog that Promote protection of Youth Offenders, but the last post shed a different reality...here is part of the blog:

Compassion in Juvenile Sentencing

(I Have to go, but make yourself at home)

http://compassioninjuvenilesentencing.wordpress.com/

When I started this blog, I thought I had found a cause I needed to get behind. I came to learn that the issue is far more complicated than I’d ever imagined. I continue to believe there is something fundamentally wrong about trying and convicting juveniles as adults and incarcerating them in adult prison for life without the possibility of parole, but my reasons have changed. (Emphasis added)
I learned that most of these juvenile offenders committed unspeakable crimes. I learned that in cases where offenders could be said to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, someone was brutally murdered.
I learned that the loved ones of the victims of these crimes;  mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, children, friends and neighbors endure a lifetime of grief and pain. Marriages fall apart. Mental illness and substance abuse often ensue.
The loved ones of the juvenile offenders suffer similar fates, although often alone, shunned by relatives, friends and members of their communities.
I searched on line and read books on everything I could find detailing the crimes of the 46 offenders in my home state of Colorado who will die in prison, trying to understand how they could have done the things they did. I found no answers. Some of them made impulsive, stupid decisions and ended up being party to deadly crimes. And some of them are dangerous sociopaths who are incapable of feeling compassion for other people or remorse for what they’ve done.

Click the Website above to read more 

     Maybe, most of us have similar reactions. sentiments, and even confusion whether this law is still applicable or serving its causes. This trend is very alarming and I’m trying to figure out why?

   First, I look inside the Family. Most of these children grew up in an atmosphere where either one or both parents are too busy “earning a living” or either they get their much needed attention from friends, or thru the cyber world. Some even had parents working overseas and they left their children to other adults who are either too busy themselves or too old to catch up what’s happening in them.  

   I’m going to take the Biblical perspective on these issues. Perhaps, what our law-makers overlooked is the very basic principle that the Bible states, and we need not go further…we simple have to browse The 10 Commandments.

   Love the Lord thy God…How many today’s family go to church together? Do you introduce God to your children?

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength-- Deut. 6:5

   I had a friend who had been in and out of jail, from various offenses and he told me once; “You know what, I blame my parents for not introducing religion to me. Maybe, if I had formed the habit of praying to God, things would be a lot different.”

   Now, listen to what Jesus said when the elders tried to stop children from going near Jesus...

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.-- Luke 18:16

   Perhaps, this little children were noisy, playing around while Jesus was discussing an interesting topic like salvation...but of course children are like that. 

  Educational Institution should take some actions too. Most school has altogether abandon inclusion of “Religion” in their curriculum. We used to have Freedom of Religion, now we opted Freedom from Religion. Before, we are free to worship what ever gods we like; now we are given the opportunity not to worship any god at all. I wonder if it's progress or decay???

Some shall depart to the faith taking heed to seducing spirits…

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. -- 1 Timothy 

   Thou shall not make unto thee graven images…well if you carefully follow what happen after if you disobey this command, the curse will pass from generation to generation…this mean if you practice idolatry, and the consequences are your children will suffer the curses. Well, it’s hard to say these but if you have “gay” or “lesbian” child, it’s a result of these offense. Don’t hit it on me; this is what the Bible declares on Roman chapter One. I’m not condemning the third sex or the forth whatsoever…I believe there are some transgender who still function as a good citizen. But let us consider what is in Romans 1:21-26

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
 ²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
 ²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

    Now that's the due penalty for "worshiping idols"....

   The thing is, when you worship “idols” fashioned by human hands (in fact, the Bible was so strict on the matter, that even making one is already a sin) you get these results. You can read the whole chapter and see what other bad effect worshipping gods made from stone, metal, or wood.

   By the way, the shooting incident between a 13 and 17 yrs old from initial investigation of Police was seen on the angle “crime of passion” and the two victims are both male. Obviously, either one of the two is from the other sex. (Again, let me stress, these curses can be lifted if we turn back to God)

   Obey your parents…You can never go wrong when you obey your parents. 

   But what kind of parent do we obey? Or are as parents are we spending quality time to our children? This command obviously point out that as mother and father, we should guide our children…the stress on this command isn’t on the children only but also to the parents. There is a mutual responsibility existing on this admonition.

   Therefore, since our child should be guided accordingly I will focus on the parents activities instead, what the Bible said on how to discipline our children…

   The Lord gave us the authority to spank our children. The idea seems to be outdated now, since our law makers are pushing “No spanking” during discipline. I think the psychological study blame the rebellious character of children as result of strict discipline. What clinical study and law-makers must realized is the relationship of “pain” and “sin”. 

   The Bible on the other hand have different view on this matter, especially those written by King Solomon (The wisest man that ever lived according to the Scripture)

 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (Proverbs 13:24) 

Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. (Proverbs 19:18) 

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Proverbs 22:15) 

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. (Proverbs 23:13) 

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. 17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. (Proverbs 29:15, 17)

   I want to make special focus on the 3rd verse. It seems Solomon is pointing out that by "Nature" children are bound to make mistake if not guided properly. This is contrary to other clinical study that claims, children are born good and that environment are factor if he or she became bad.

   Now, asked your grandparents what happened to them when they are naughty? Now compare the heinous crime of our generation to the past. There are fewer and lesser crimes, people are more discipline, respectful, and most important pray to God on daily basis. You don’t read a child molesting another child do you during their time?

   Just a reminder, God wants discipline NOT HAZING.

   The rest of the commandments are there for guidance. If we adult do them like “Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife…” expect the same result from our children.

A Prophesy coming true

   The future is here, where Biblical prophesy coming true…Children becoming disobedient to their parents…you are witnessing terrible crime one after the other…but don’t loose hope…the Bible also declares.

  ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; -- Acts 2:17 (See also Joel 2:28)

Challenges for Parents

    As a parent myself, I know the reality how hard it is to be a role model and train my own children. You wish and envisioned your children to be good citizens in the future...but there are some realities we have to face. Like we can't be with them all the time. Now how do we fare to these modern challenges our children experience everyday? 

   Here are some suggestions that I have gathered that might help...
  Participate in sports with them or if you can't, just watch them play. By being there for support is enough for them  to realized that you love them  and that you have your approval on this positive activities.

   Regular communication is important just like in any relationship. This reminds me of a noodle commercial that I commend  where it encourage family dinner and spending time together. At least we can reserved 1 or 2 dinner per week with our children. Better if we can do it daily. 

   That's the disadvantage of children who had parents abroad...it's harder for them to extract vital information that might gave them clue if their children are going to commit suicide. Well, I think we should remind the adults we had left with our children, as their guardian to be responsible and if possible who are good parent themselves. Maybe we should re-classify our priorities. It's not impossible anymore to have regular communication, we had the internet and cellphones to keep up with our growing children. 

ATTENTION
   "Look at me dad!"
   Look at me, I'm going to shoot all my classmates...then kill myself. Then finally I have your attention. 
   Here's one of the last Facebook status of a teen-age boy who had committed suicide the other day: Let us laugh! I am sad...

   Get to know your children more. Ask them what music they like and dislike. It's a bit nosy but at least you should check your children's status on Facebook...who they are talking to and exchanging message with.

   Most of the Child offenders being interviewed seems to have problem on "attention". They believe if they commit these crimes they will get the much attention they needed. 

   Learn the Technology of our Youth. Well maybe we can ask them what are the latest YouTube viral videos, what are the tricks on playing "SF" or what level they are on CityVille. This way we get their attention. It is easier to make them talk, when they know you are at the level of their thinking (or at least, trying to understand even if we are lost to their use of language). 

   Which reminds me when; My child would often told me story as if they are real, giving me names of character as if they just live next door. Then, I get frustrated to know later that they are video game characters. Well, at this point, I have to ask them: Can you introduce them to me again? 

   More importantly, introduce God to them. Maybe, we should both study the word of God together. Like Shamcey Supsup said during the Ms. Universe pageant; "He should love my God too." Well, do your children worship the same God you know? Or they are worshiping "idols" like Rock Star or Animated Character?  

   Enroll your children to Bible School or encourage them to join Youth Ministries. This is better if you don't have time spending "Bible Study" with them.