15 Mar, 2007
Mom Taught Her Two Kids To Fake Retardation
A woman admitted that she coached her two children to fake retardation starting when they were 4 and 8 years old so she could collect Social Security benefits on their behalf.
Rosie Costello, 46, admitted in U.S. District Court that she collected more than $280,000 in benefits, beginning in the mid-1980s. Most was from Social Security, but the state social services agency paid $53,000.
Costello pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government and Social Security fraud. Her son, Pete, 26, pleaded guilty earlier this month. Federal prosecutors in Seattle said authorities had not yet located her daughter, Marie.
According to the plea agreement, Costello began coaching her daughter at age 4, and later used the same ruse with her son. He feigned retardation into his mid-20s — picking at his face, slouching and appearing uncommunicative in meetings with Social Security officials.
picture courtesy images.google.com & story freerepublic.com, 02/27/07
Are you out of your mind?
2 Corinthians 5:13-15
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about being out of our "right minds" for Christ?
The apostle Paul was out of his "right mind" for Christ! Paul knew that it was Christ's love that drove him to live "beside himself" for God's glory! Like Paul and Christ's disciples, we should be willing to die for Christ's cause, because He died and rose from the grave for us.
Jesus Christ's disciples began the spreading of Truth all around the world because they believed in God's Kingdom cause. They believed that the death and resurrection of Christ was the Truth that would provide eternal hope to every person who would trust Jesus as Savior.
Today's story about the mom teaching her kids to act retarded is so sad and disgusting! There's enough pain in the world already without people faking retardation in order to get money.
Do you what else is sad and disgusting? It's when peole try to fake a commitment to God in order to gain some benefits or attention.
Following Jesus requires a willinginess to give up everything, including our lives. Faking it will eventually catch up with an impostor, forever.
Are you willing to follow Jesus no matter what? His Holy Spirit will empower you to be "our of your mind" for His honor and glory!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Praise God for His Holy Spirit's power to enable you to be out of your "right mind" His Kingdom! Confess any way in which you have been relying on your own strength to live each day. Invite the Holy Spirit to control you 24-7. Ask Jesus to give you the desire to follow His instructions to serve Him with your life, even it means giving up your life some day for living out His love and sharing His Truth.
- Begin each day for the next two weeks by simply praying for the power of God's Holy Spirit to be evident in your life. Write down what you learn.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
For the next couple of weeks, watch for everything that is fake around you. When you notice this, let Jesus remind you that His love will make you "out of your right mind" in order to communicate God's Story and your story to others who need Christ's good news. Being real makes all the difference!
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- June 2006 [3]
