(Casey Anthony was a young mother in Florida who's story made national news as she was aquitted, in 2011, of murdering you young daughter, Cailey)
The recent acquittal of Casey Anthony created a tidal wave of rage across the country! I have been puzzled as to why this particular story has captured the country's attention. I mean, children being murdered happens more often than we are comfortable thinking about. I think it must be that picture. You know the one. Have you ever seen a more angelic face?
I was asked if I've ever encountered someone like this. And as I remember Joseph Ditomaso, I also remember the way my skin crawled at the mere thought of the man. He was arrested here in Indianapolis for killing his 3 week old son by squeezing his head with his bare hands. I know. My stomach churned too. There was so much publicity around his case we had to keep him completely isolated at the jail. Every inmate in the place wanted to get their hands on him. The senior chaplain at the jail was the only chaplain allowed to visit with him...and that was just fine by me! I had no desire.
After his conviction, the publicity died down. He was awaiting sentencing when he requested a chaplain visit again. The Senior Chaplain handed me the card and said, "Here, you do it this time." My jaw fell and I said, "...what?..." He said, "You got a problem with that?" ...stomach starting to churn again...
"No sir."
So this man is brought to my office and he's sitting across the desk from me. He knows what he's facing once he goes to prison, he's already had numerous death threats made against him. He's completely freaked out and wants to go ahead and end it all.
...and he's asking me for a reason to go on.
Well to be honest...I couldn't think of one. Inside my head I was thinking, "Well hold on there a minute, buddy, and let me get you a rope!"
But in reality...that wasn't exactly an option. My mind is reeling...and as I'm sitting there "watching him talk"...I'm having this conversation with myself inside my head. "I really don't have anything for this guy." Then I thought of God. "Hmmm...what does He make of this?" So I asked myself, "Did Jesus die for all sin or didn't He?" And again..."Did Jesus die for all sin or didn't He? Did Jesus die for all sin or didn't He? Did He? Or didn't He? Because IF HE DID...then how am I supposed respond to this man?" So from ROTE memory...I simply started reciting the gospel. When I got thru that, I told him about Moses...and David...and Paul...all the "Bible Biggie's" who were also murderers.
And in midst of our conversation...God performed a miracle that I never would have imagined!
As I spoke this Life Giving Word...God changed ME!! As I spoke to Joseph about an incomprehensible Love...God did the most incomprehensible thing to me!! I found that I could not share the gospel with this man without finding grace for him in my own heart!! It was impossible!! When my attention was taken off of this man and his sin, and transferred to God and what He did...for ALL of us...well...there's no other way to say it... It was a miracle!! God used this encounter to change me as much it changed Joe!!
After this office visit, another chaplain at the jail followed up with Joe and he was soon baptized into Christ. She continued to correspond with him after he went to prison. So far as she knew, he remained a faithful follower until he was, eventually, murdered in prison.
Did Joseph Ditammaso get what he had coming to him? I don't know how to answer that. Did Casey Anthony get away with murder? Sounds like there's a good chance she did. Does that give us, who wear the name "Christian" the right to be so malicious? Hardly. I don't know what will become of this, the most hated woman in America, now that she has been released from jail. But I do know that we Christians are not honoring God by joining the frenzy of hate that has spread across this country in the name of "honoring her daughter's memory".
We have this comfort... Cailey Anthony is with God now. She's ok.
And we are left with her mom. And so...Did Jesus Die for all sin? Or didn't He?
Either He did. Or He didn't.
If you believe that He did...then how would God have us respond to this woman?
What does it look like to honor God in how we deal with or think about this woman? Will you pray for her? Will you pray for some kind, compassionate souls to find their way into her life and share the gospel with her? Would you pray that God would transform her...and somehow... actually work something out for the good in this horrible mess like He promises He will for those who love Him? (Romans 8:28)
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" -- Eph. 3:20-21
You know what I think? I think that when we get to heaven...we will probably all be surprised... both by some of the characters who actually made it through that Gate...as well as by those who didn't...
The recent acquittal of Casey Anthony created a tidal wave of rage across the country! I have been puzzled as to why this particular story has captured the country's attention. I mean, children being murdered happens more often than we are comfortable thinking about. I think it must be that picture. You know the one. Have you ever seen a more angelic face?
I was asked if I've ever encountered someone like this. And as I remember Joseph Ditomaso, I also remember the way my skin crawled at the mere thought of the man. He was arrested here in Indianapolis for killing his 3 week old son by squeezing his head with his bare hands. I know. My stomach churned too. There was so much publicity around his case we had to keep him completely isolated at the jail. Every inmate in the place wanted to get their hands on him. The senior chaplain at the jail was the only chaplain allowed to visit with him...and that was just fine by me! I had no desire.
After his conviction, the publicity died down. He was awaiting sentencing when he requested a chaplain visit again. The Senior Chaplain handed me the card and said, "Here, you do it this time." My jaw fell and I said, "...what?..." He said, "You got a problem with that?" ...stomach starting to churn again...
"No sir."
So this man is brought to my office and he's sitting across the desk from me. He knows what he's facing once he goes to prison, he's already had numerous death threats made against him. He's completely freaked out and wants to go ahead and end it all.
...and he's asking me for a reason to go on.
Well to be honest...I couldn't think of one. Inside my head I was thinking, "Well hold on there a minute, buddy, and let me get you a rope!"
But in reality...that wasn't exactly an option. My mind is reeling...and as I'm sitting there "watching him talk"...I'm having this conversation with myself inside my head. "I really don't have anything for this guy." Then I thought of God. "Hmmm...what does He make of this?" So I asked myself, "Did Jesus die for all sin or didn't He?" And again..."Did Jesus die for all sin or didn't He? Did Jesus die for all sin or didn't He? Did He? Or didn't He? Because IF HE DID...then how am I supposed respond to this man?" So from ROTE memory...I simply started reciting the gospel. When I got thru that, I told him about Moses...and David...and Paul...all the "Bible Biggie's" who were also murderers.
And in midst of our conversation...God performed a miracle that I never would have imagined!
As I spoke this Life Giving Word...God changed ME!! As I spoke to Joseph about an incomprehensible Love...God did the most incomprehensible thing to me!! I found that I could not share the gospel with this man without finding grace for him in my own heart!! It was impossible!! When my attention was taken off of this man and his sin, and transferred to God and what He did...for ALL of us...well...there's no other way to say it... It was a miracle!! God used this encounter to change me as much it changed Joe!!
After this office visit, another chaplain at the jail followed up with Joe and he was soon baptized into Christ. She continued to correspond with him after he went to prison. So far as she knew, he remained a faithful follower until he was, eventually, murdered in prison.
Did Joseph Ditammaso get what he had coming to him? I don't know how to answer that. Did Casey Anthony get away with murder? Sounds like there's a good chance she did. Does that give us, who wear the name "Christian" the right to be so malicious? Hardly. I don't know what will become of this, the most hated woman in America, now that she has been released from jail. But I do know that we Christians are not honoring God by joining the frenzy of hate that has spread across this country in the name of "honoring her daughter's memory".
We have this comfort... Cailey Anthony is with God now. She's ok.
And we are left with her mom. And so...Did Jesus Die for all sin? Or didn't He?
Either He did. Or He didn't.
If you believe that He did...then how would God have us respond to this woman?
What does it look like to honor God in how we deal with or think about this woman? Will you pray for her? Will you pray for some kind, compassionate souls to find their way into her life and share the gospel with her? Would you pray that God would transform her...and somehow... actually work something out for the good in this horrible mess like He promises He will for those who love Him? (Romans 8:28)
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" -- Eph. 3:20-21
You know what I think? I think that when we get to heaven...we will probably all be surprised... both by some of the characters who actually made it through that Gate...as well as by those who didn't...