Strange Story of Child Abduction

[Raggedy Anne]

I've been following this story for a couple of days.  It's just about one of the strangest stories I've read lately.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/31/garrido.documents/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Sadly, I doubt that "the law" will be interested in listening to him tell about his new heart.  It's really sad. 
Maybe God can use this for miracles, who knows.   When I think about everyone involved -- the parents who
went for 18 years not knowing what had become of their daughter --- the step-father of the missing girl under
suspicion all that time, the way it ruined their marriage - the mother's torment over the years, I sometimes just
wonder why God allows so much torment to go on in people's lives.  I'm really ready for people's pain to stop.
How much suffering of humanity is enough, really?

[Raggedy Anne]

Another of his victims is now reliving her nightmare... 
Garrido victim: 'He had me for 8 hours. He had her for 18 years'
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/31/garrido.victim.lkl/index.html

After reading the article I'm struck by the fact that people cannot forgive this kind of crime.  I read about half way through the comments after the article and not one person mentioned anything about forgiveness, or even her need to forgive in order to let go of the pain she suffered.  I just wonder why that never gets discussed in these types of discussions.    I wonder if the number 18 has some purpose - isn't that the number for judgment?

[Redlettervoice]

Can "we" make the "gentiles" obedient?
Paul said "that the offering up of the gentiles be acceptable"
He further said ...romans 15 .......for I will not "dare" speak
of any of those things which Christ hath "NOT" wrought by me,
to make the Gentiles "obedient" by word and deed.

So this sounds like he offered them up by faith "to" God but
the act of repenting was given by God alone.....?

Now when you think of the POWER God gave there at the last to
the 12 diciples ............He "breathed" that POWER on them.....as
if to transfer His own power over to them.........but If a person "stops" their behaviour and "turns" it is easier to forgive, isn't it?

Anne, 18 means "bondage" ............remember the "woman" who
was bowed down for 18 years and she crawled thru the crowd.....
we are crawling thru the crowd of our own mind.........

taking the land. The Spirit in us is.

The system of "this" world is justice!! which no one can ever pay.
I am like you, I've seen enough.  Of man and his evil, and retribution
also.  If things are not God, then they are just not God.  But God
made the devil......I'll never understand it all.............I just know
'I love you."

[chuckt]

If a person "stops" their behaviour and "turns" it is easier to forgive, isn't it?

to them who is forgiven much, loveth much.

once we are shown how much we have been forgiven, its much easy to forgive others.

can we also forgive others for not forgiving? i think so, who here can say how they would react unless the same burden is given unto them?

since i know the depravity of my own self, and that only by the grace of God i have not done worse than i already have done, who am i to judge?

inlove
chuckt

[Raggedy Anne]

Thanks, Carlene and Chuck -

Sometimes I just have to talk about a thing a little bit when I'm astonished by it.   I feel that a lot of the stories in the news are used as God's teaching tools for us.  Now that doesn't mean I believe God caused these evil things to happen.  But I do believe God can make an illustration to any of us at any time by any means He chooses.  And I was getting some symbolic messages (it seemed) from following this story and thinking about it.  Thanks for defining 18 as bondage, Carlene - that makes sense and I was thinking of the woman with an issue of blood (not the same woman you mentioned... I need to go back and read the scriptures more)  cause I'm not sure how long her bondage lasted without looking it up.

If y'all have any spiritual insights that you feel are connected to this story, please post them here.

Love to both of you -
Anne

[Raggedy Anne]

Chuck,

Yes, I don't mean to say I'm not understanding of the masses of unforgiveness in people's hearts - just that it is a burden to witness humanity tied up in so many big knots.  I think the saints are called to pray always for the liberation of everyone from the bondage of the enemy.  When Christians think to "take sides" that goes right out the door.  And I'm sure you know Christians who even get mad if you don't "pick a side" in an issue.  But we cannot choose a side.  Which is why I love that song by Peter Gabriel, "Here Comes the Flood"......   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww9JS8dJ9fY

Anne

[chuckt]

Thanks, Carlene and Chuck -

Sometimes I just have to talk about a thing a little bit when I'm astonished by it.   I feel that a lot of the stories in the news are used as God's teaching tools for us.  Now that doesn't mean I believe God caused these evil things to happen.  But I do believe God can make an illustration to any of us at any time by any means He chooses.  And I was getting some symbolic messages (it seemed) from following this story and thinking about it.  Thanks for defining 18 as bondage, Carlene - that makes sense and I was thinking of the woman with an issue of blood (not the same woman you mentioned... I need to go back and read the scriptures more)  cause I'm not sure how long her bondage lasted without looking it up.

If y'all have any spiritual insights that you feel are connected to this story, please post them here.

Love to both of you -
Anne

hello,

when i first heard the story i pictured a huge backyard well hidden, it amazed me when i saw a tiny backyard, how could the neighbors not notice anything? and why didnt the girl try and escape all those 18 yrs??

chuckt

[chuckt]

Chuck,

Yes, I don't mean to say I'm not understanding of the masses of unforgiveness in people's hearts - just that it is a burden to witness humanity tied up in so many big knots.  I think the saints are called to pray always for the liberation of everyone from the bondage of the enemy.  When Christians think to "take sides" that goes right out the door.  And I'm sure you know Christians who even get mad if you don't "pick a side" in an issue.  But we cannot choose a side.  Which is why I love that song by Peter Gabriel, "Here Comes the Flood"......   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww9JS8dJ9fY

Anne

Anne,

i understand, and my post was not dirrected at you personally.



inlove
chuckt

[Raggedy Anne]

Chuck, Carlene (Everyone) - another beautiful song by Peter Gabriel is called 'Mercy Street'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX7zIypE2FE&feature=related

[Cardinal]

when i first heard the story i pictured a huge backyard well hidden, it amazed me when i saw a tiny backyard, how could the neighbors not notice anything? and why didnt the girl try and escape all those 18 yrs??

chuckt

:cloud9: Stockholm Syndrome........

[Raggedy Anne]

when i first heard the story i pictured a huge backyard well hidden, it amazed me when i saw a tiny backyard, how could the neighbors not notice anything? and why didnt the girl try and escape all those 18 yrs??

chuckt

:cloud9: Stockholm Syndrome........

Yes, when I think back to being age 11 - it would not have been hard at all for someone to keep me from returning home if the right words were said.  I was not very well mentally developed at that age due to previous life traumas that had already occurred by then (the loss of my father at age 6)  and I wonder what happened to this young girl's biological father early on - he has not been mentioned - rather her step-father was mentioned in the news.  I wonder if her biological father had died or if there was a divorce.

Just thinking about it out loud.

Anne