2-21-2017 – A Word to the Wise: “Sir, we had a call about a disturbance. Can we come in?” He quickly replied that he was by himself, and there was no need for the police. “Sir, I am sure that is true, but it is cold out here. Can we come in?” “I told you my wife is not here; she is at work.”

2-18-2017 – A Word to the Wise: “346 received and in route.” It took several minutes to get to the location. The apartment was located up a narrow flight of stairs. It was dark, and it was cold. Taking my heavy flashlight, I knocked, and then beat on the unanswered door. We could hear noise coming from inside the apartment. Finally, a young male opened the door slightly and wanted to know what we wanted. He had on a pair of pants and no shirt, and was sweating profusely. Perspiration was running off of him in buckets with the temperature near 20 degrees. He had a towel in his hand and continually dried himself.

2-17-2017 A Word to the Wise: It was early in my work as a Dallas Police officer. It was a very cold March evening when my partner and I received a call to the 2600 block of Hatcher, a high crime area in the southern part of Dallas. The cold was bone-chilling, and it was nearly time to get off. “346, you have a family disturbance at 2622 Hatcher, Apartment B. The call comes from a neighbor who says a women has been crying and screaming for nearly thirty minutes.”

2-16-2017 A Word to the Wise: The first time is always the most vivid. No matter how many times you see it later on, the first time leaves an unforgettable impression. As time goes by, one is deadened to the scene seeing it time and again, but the first time…

2-15-2017 – A Word to the Wise: One should understand at this point something about the Hebrew language. It is one of the most ancient of languages. It is a highly picturesque language. Here the Lord uses a word, which He wants us, the reader, to see in our mind’s eye. The Hebrew word “Chamac” is a very intense word. Divorce, according to its usage, is literally beating a person to death. Have you ever seen such a thing? I remember the first time I did; let me share it with you.

2-11-2017 – A Word to the Wise: Why Lord? Why? Then the Living God spelled it out for them in the most simple of language. “I witnessed your marriage, I gave you this person as a blessing, and you have cursed my blessing. . . I want Godly offspring, and you make that near impossible with divorce.” In the next sentence, the Lord explains why in the most vivid of language.

2-10-2017 – A Word to the Wise: First, take note in the opening sentence: the problem or more specifically, the consequence upsetting these people is that God is rejecting their offerings. No doubt, these offerings were given at great sacrifice by very poor people who wanted the Lord’s acceptance. The wanted it so desperately and experienced rejection so deeply that they were weeping and crying, begging to know what was happening. By whatever means the Lord employed, they knew, God was rejecting their offerings, and they wanted to correct the situation.

2-9-2017 – A Word to the Wise: The inclusion of this passage in a paper on morality is relevant because it reveals that divorce is a morality problem. I know of no other passage that reveals the consequences so strongly. Bear with me as we together understand what the Lord is revealing here.

2-8-2017 – A Word to the Wise: After looking at this information, we more easily understand why the Lord says what He does about divorce. Two passages of scripture give us insight. Malachi 2:13-16 states: “And this you do as well: You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor at your hand. You ask, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did not one God make her? Both flesh and spirit is his. And what does the one God desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel, and covering one’s garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless.”

2-6-2017 – A Word to the Wise: Finally, single parenthood affects the family formation behavior of future generations. Children who grow up in communities with a high prevalence of single parent families find single parenthood more acceptable and are somewhat more likely to become single parents themselves than children who grow up in communities where single parenthood is less common.29 The intergenerational effect persists even after adjusting for other community variables, such as dropout rates, unemployment rates, and crime.