GUILTY

[Work in Progress]

I feel sorry for her and hope she does no jail time. I think she is a scapegoat. So what if she got a tip that the stock was going to dive and dumped it? Big deal.

[traveller]

I feel sorry for her and hope she does no jail time. I think she is a scapegoat. So what if she got a tip that the stock was going to dive and dumped it? Big deal.

[Catsmeow]

LadyC: I love my husband but he's the most negative man in the world....truly!

Every day when we turn on the news, I don't care WHO it is, he's always saying nasty things about them and hoping they get nailed. He seems to delight in people's misfortune. It takes it's toll on my spirit.

It goes against the grace and mercy I've been shown by a holy and righteous God.

Ever notice....when it's our own family , we have pity on them? When it's somebody else, we say "throw the book at 'em."

I look at that Martha and all I see is a lonely, frightened woman who's probably wondering why everyone hates her.

I remember during one interview, an anchor woman asked Martha, "Why does everyone hate you?" What a thoughtless, rude thing to ask her!

I look at it this way....if she's guilty, she should pay a fine. But so should all of us.

OtherOne: Maybe you've never, ever stolen anything before in your life. Maybe you've never, ever told a lie in your life. But I'd bet real money that you've sinned and you should pay for your sins. So should I.

We are all guilty before God and we should all "pay" for our sins. We've escaped the consequences of our sins.

I don't begrudge the system for penalizing Martha with a fine. But I don't delight in it. I don't get a thrill out of it. I feel sorry in my heart that she made a bad choice.

The longer I live on this earth, the sadder I feel when people make bad choices.

I long for people to make good choices and yearn for good things for others.

I hate to see people make poor choices that hurt themselves and others.

So, no ....it's not so much about "justice"...it's the compassion I feel for lost sheep who need Jesus to guide them and help them walk in the right way.

I feel a burning desire to see mercy abound and for souls to flock to Christ for His grace. I've been spared the punishment I truly deserve. I hope the same for Ms. Stewart.

Amazing Grace...how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

[Guest LCPGUY]

I wonder how many people that are rejoicing at her verdict and saying "She broke the law, she deserves punishment" have never broken the law?

Have you ever cheated on a tax return? Have you ever run a red light? Have you ever exceeded the speed limit? Have you ever parked in a handicapped space when you weren't entitled to? Have you ever gotten away with any of these things? These are all examples of breaking the law. By God's grace, you were not punished.

I say, have mercy on Martha, pray for her, forgive her. She got caught. You didn't.

Lastly, remember that your Father will forgive you, as you forgive others.

May love, mercy and compassion prevail.

In Christ's Love,

John

[Catsmeow]

While I understand that the law of the land must prevail in order to stem off further criminal behavior, I do not delight in seeing someone fall.

I guess I've looked too often into her eyes on television and I don't see a happy homemaker...I see a very sad and frightened woman, trying to hide her fears and panic.

I feel more compassion for people these days because I realize how much God has spared me when I was at my very worse.

All I feel is overwhelmed by God's grace and my weakness and utter dependence on Him to help me be strong and not sin.

But for the grace of God, there go I....

[other one]

While I understand that the law of the land must prevail in order to stem off further criminal behavior, I do not delight in seeing someone fall.

I guess I've looked too often into her eyes on television and I don't see a happy homemaker...I see a very sad and frightened woman, trying to hide her fears and panic.

I feel more compassion for people these days because I realize how much God has spared me when I was at my very worse.

All I feel is overwhelmed by God's grace and my weakness and utter dependence on Him to help me be strong and not sin.

But for the grace of God, there go I....

I guess we can be in total agreement on that.

It is jsut that I have very close friends that lost a big part of their retirement because of similar things our CEO did several years ago and I see the other end of her actions. The sad part is that it was over such a very small amount of money considering how much she makes. We could pray for her but I can't be sure that it would actually the best thing for her. It is just so hard to know.

I know when we found out my wife has M.S. I prayed and prayed for God to heal her. He told me not to worry that she would be made whole again, but he would not heal her. At the time she had lost feeling in multiple places and could not walk.

It is a very long story but when I actually demanded to know why he would not heal her I was told it was not any of my business and to get on with life. He has a way of letting you know when you have gone way too far.

Just like He told me, she is for the most part ok, but she does take very expensive medication, and is limited as to how much she can do at one time. I learned from this to be very careful what you pray for, for there seems to be some reason for her to still be aflicted with the problem. I do know we have both been drawn closer together....... and closer to Him.

I really have learned to be very careful of what I pray for.

[Catsmeow]

I hate the sin but have pity on the sinner.

I feel very sorry for people who've lost money in their 401K retirement plans. That's heartbreaking.

Those who have done evil will eventually pay the price for their deeds.

Still, I don't delight in anyone suffering...and when I see pain in someone's eyes, I feel pity for them.

I always reflect on the evil I have done and remember how kind and forgiving God was toward me when I deserved hell.

I'm just so overwhelmed by His mercy and compassion, it's what I feel most strongly towards other offenders.

I am hopeful for others to repent and turn and become a new creation in Christ.

[IslandRose]

Personally, I so glad God isn't always JUST...but rather merciful. Because if I got what I deserved I'd be on my way to hell. God has chosen to be merciful and spare me what I really deserve.

Actually God is always just. But His justice is tempered by mercy. You couldn't bear the punishment for yur sin, so God in His mercy sent His Son to bear it for you. The judge in this trial can and probably will temper justice with mercy. She will be punished for her crime. But I truly doubt that the judge will give her the maximum sentence.. She will probably get the minimum. Justice...tempered with mercy.

Martha did the crime. She lied to the government. We have all sinned. That does not excuse any of us when we are found guilty of our sin.. If I am in a group of cars that is speediing down the highway, and I am the only one who gets caught, I am not going to get off just because I say..."Well, I wasn't the only one!.."

[Catsmeow]

That's true.

However, what I sense these days (and this comes largely from what I've been living with at home)...is an overwhelming sense of glee when people fall.

I realize there are consequences to behavior, assuming Ms. Stewart is guilty.

The issue here is twofold:

1. The desire we have to grant mercy for those who are weak and struggling with their flesh.

and....

2. The tendency for people to delight in the misfortune of those who are 'down for the count'.

I guess you'd have to walk in my shoes to understand where I'm coming from.

Sometimes I see even in Christians a tendency to salivate when someone is on the losing end.

People cheered when Jesus fed the multitude; they cheered when he healed the sick...the cheered when the big catch came in... When Pilate stood him bloodied and beaten before the same crowd...the smell of blood was in the air and the mood changed drastically.

I'm sure Martha has done wrong. So have I. I've been fortunate not to get caught but she wasn't so fortunate.

I've done enough drugs in my life to spend my life in prison. I never got caught.

I feel very sorry for people who sin. I hope she has repented in her heart. Naturally, at this juncture she can't come out and say, "Folks, I blew it bad."

A little too late for that. She'd really hang herself then.

But I think she's learned an important lesson.

I just don't know how to explain what I'm feeling...just a deep sorrow and a sense of pity for people when they stumble and fall.

I don't condone their sin but I feel great pity for them and long for them to repent and come to Jesus for forgiveness.

I seem to be going through an amazing change of heart where I feel enormous compassion for the lost. I sense Martha is a talented lady who simply hasn't been introduced to the Savior.

I hope so much she does come to meet Him in a personal way.

That's my heart's desire.

[Guest LCPGUY]

Stupid, ignorant me

I just assumed Martha got involved in selling stock illegally. I was wrong. If that's all it was I stand by my prior comments, and Cats comments.

I just learned that it wasn't because of that, but rather due to the fact that she lied about and tried to cover it up. If she hadn't lied, she'd probably have gotten a slap on the wrist, according to the prosecutors and analysts.

Remember, it wasn't watergate that brought Nixon down. It was his lies in trying to cover it all up.

Martha knowingly and willingly LIED to try and cover her illegal actions. She is obviously an unrepentant woman. She wasn't willing to admit the truth. If she really thought she did nothing wrong, then she shouldn't have lied.

I have changed my opinion. Maybe a good stint in the CAN will knock some common sense into her. I hope so. And I hope she gets a stiff sentence. She deserves it!

Sorry for my turnaround, but only now do I understand the facts.

I pray that while she is in jail, the Lord will touch her heart and draw her to Him. Maybe when she gets out, she will be an effective witness for our Lord.

That being said, jail time t'aint the end-of-the-world. This world is temporal. Tribulation is temporal. Immense wealth is temporal. If she finds Jesus, she's set for eternity in paradise and that's what counts.

Lord, touch her heart and heal her, bring her close to You I pray.

Just my 2