July 2023 – Persecution Live

Cops: Alleged Robber Used ‘Gun’ Many Will Recognize Officials say David Joseph Dalesandro held up convenience store with Nintendo ‘Duck Hunt’ pistol

David Joseph Dalesandro. (York County Sheriff’s Office)

An armed robbery this week at a South Carolina convenience store apparently wasn’t as “armed” as the clerk thought. CNN reports on the Tuesday incident at a Kwik Stop in the small town of Sharon, where a man donning a hoodie, wig, and mask entered the store around 5:45pm, per a release from the York County Sheriff’s Office. According to authorities, the suspect pointed to the gun in his waistband and ordered the clerk to hand over whatever cash was in the register—about $300.

Deputies tracked down Dalesandro in the parking lot of a nearby Dollar General and placed him under arrest. They say the pistol he’d used was tucked into his pants, except it wasn’t an actual pistol: It was a fake gun used to play the Nintendo video game Duck Hunt, spray-painted black, which could appear to mean that Dalesandro couldn’t be busted for an actual armed robbery.

Not quite. Law & Crime notes that in South Carolina, even “the mere representation of possessing a deadly weapon that a witness reasonably believed to be a real gun is enough” to hit someone with those charges. Per the sheriff’s office, Dalesandro—who was charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon, petty larceny of less than $2,000, and “wearing masks and the like”—is being held without bond in the York County Detention Center. (Read more weird crimes stories.)

An unfortunate turn of events for two would-be thieves. (Getty Images/BirdShutterB)

Two apparent would-be thieves probably thought they had the perfect plan—one would run into their local Kohl’s, grab a bunch of merch, and run back out to the parking lot, where the second guy would be waiting with the getaway car. What the suspects likely didn’t count on was their getaway car’s battery dying. Clackamas County deputies say they responded to a call about an alleged theft at the Clackamas Promenade around 3:30pm Monday, and when they got there, they say they found the hood of said car up, and Raymond Stavig and Derek Shurts trying to get a jump from bystanders, per KOIN and KPTV. Found inside the car, among other items, per authorities: phones, laptops, clothing from other stores, stolen credit cards and a credit card reader, drugs, and counterfeit cash.

Deputies say Shurts—who was the one who allegedly lifted the items from the Kohl’s and who authorities say also had counterfeit bills in his pocket—told them that before they arrived on the scene, Stavig had offered him $1,000 if he took the blame for the theft (an offer he apparently declined to take). Stavig, meanwhile, told deputies the items in the car all belonged to his wife. Also stolen: the getaway car itself, deputies say. Stavig was arrested on charges of theft, identity theft, possession of methamphetamine, and a warrant for aggravated ID theft. Shurts, meanwhile, was arrested on charges of theft, possession of a forged instrument, and a warrant for heroin possession. (Read more weird crimes stories.)

CONFESSING HATE

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “hate” is defined as intense hostility and aversion, usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury. If Jesus boiled down the 10 commandments to two laws, which were “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself,” how can we find it OK to disobey?

If we ever find an excuse to justify hating on another, especially someone who is innocent of the attack, we directly refuse the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Welcome to part 4 of the Going By Faith series “Uncovering Sin and Finding Forgiveness.” For last week’s confession on cowardice, click here.

How it works: First pray with the Bible verse and then read the questions one by one — answer them truthfully. This is between you and God.

Every “yes” answer means sin in your life, so spend time confessing it. Name it to God. Let there be no excuse for it — just admit it and ask forgiveness.

PRAY

Verse: John 13:35 (NLV)

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

CONFESS

Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of others?
Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another?
Are you guilty of any contention or strife?
Do you quarrel, argue, or engage in heated discussions?
Are you a partaker in any division or parting spirit?
Are there people whom you deliberately slight?

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We already know that whatever is in our hearts determines what we say (Matt 12:34), so take it a step further and question the secret thoughts that no one hears. They are still things we say, just not aloud.

Luke 5:45 tells us:

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

It doesn’t matter what others do or how others act, let’s leave nothing undone on our part. We’re not perfect, and we need God’s Holy Spirit to help us turn the tide of negative thoughts, feelings and words, but hating on other people is sin at work displayed for all to see. We know it’s not the right way.

Confessions of a Hater

Most of us don’t think of ourselves as haters, but most of us also turn a blind eye to activities we enjoy — especially when it comes to hearing about the misfortune of others.

While there’s a clear difference between spreading malicious gossip and listening to the latest news, it’s how we process the information that matters.

If you feel put off by it, you already realize the destruction it causes enough to stay away. But if you find yourself encouraging it… enjoying it… that’s a whole different issue.

Confessions of Greed

Greed leads to a lonely place. I know because for a short time in my life, I lived there.

And it’s a cruel master when you become its slave. Nothing is ever enough. Nothing can satisfy. Worse yet, it deceives us into thinking we will run out of the very thing that often keeps us locked in its grasp.

The Bible warns us about greed repeatedly. Luke 12:15 tells us, “Then he said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’”

When does the Bible ever tell us to beware of something without good cause?

CONFESSIONS OF A PART-TIME CHRISTIAN

Welcome to part 6 of the Going By Faith series “Uncovering Sin and Finding Forgiveness.” For the previous confession, click “confessions of greed.”

If you feel like you’ve been living like a part-time Christian, living for God sometimes and turning away other times, take a moment to repent. You can do this by praying with the Bible verse below. Next, read the questions one by one — answer them truthfully. Confess it if you’ve been irresponsible toward God. Be honest — this is between you and Him.

Every “yes” answer means sin in your life. Name it, and let there be no excuse — admit it and ask forgiveness.

PRAY

Below are three translations of 1 Corinthians 4:2. Reading all three can give us a special glimpse into the true meaning of being responsible with our saved life in God’s eyes.

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (NIV)

“Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” (NLV)

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” (ESV)

CONFESS

Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord’s work?
Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for things of the Lord but doing nothing about it?

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Keeping faith in everyday Christian life helps us get through trials, but it also helps us to live, think and trust like Christ — keeping our hearts open to God to do His work in us, through us and around us. In other words, we become responsible and trustworthy stewards of our faith.

Heavenly Father, shine the light of your love into our hearts so that it can pour out to others. Help us walk with you full-time, in every area of this life you have given us to live. May our life show your glory.

Thank you Christ Life Ministriesfor granting permission to use your content (concept and confession questions).

Confessions of Irresponsibility (the Part-Time Christian)

This weekend I heard a sermon that touched on a few of the biggest disasters throughout history, one of them being the sinking of the Titanic.

Of the 1,347 people who perished, something close to 90% were men who gave up their lives so women and children could live.

In another story, the sinking of a ship called “The Empress of Ireland” in 1914, there were 130 Salvation Army officers on board — some of them old women — who gave up their life preservers, even to strong men, saying, “I can die better than you can.”

What the pastor said made me think: If you were one of the survivors and someone gave his or her life up to save yours, wouldn’t it change the way you lived from that day forward?

Most of us would agree — Yes, definitely!

And yet Jesus gave up His life for us. We have all been on that sinking ship (and maybe still are), but Jesus gave us a life preserver — one he paid for with his life. We have been saved, ultimately, from the greatest disaster.

Has if profoundly changed the way we live? Are we living a true Christian life, or are we only walking with God when it’s convenient?