Care for the orphans in their distress...

I took my mom to work with me yesterday for a few hours. She told me that she was really upset over something she read in the paper and was considering never reading the paper again. I don't read the paper and seldom watch the news. I saw enough horror at work all those years, I really don't need to invite it into my home. The two stories below are what she told me about.

*These are really, really horrible. Read with caution.
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(credit AP) Daniel John Collins, 39, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of domestic violence/animal cruelty and two counts of neglect of a dependent. He forced his 7-year-old daughter to stab the family's cat.

Collins was arrested March 13 after he was accused of forcing his daughter to stab Boots, the family's eight-month-old feline, with a knife. The girl and Collins' 11-year-old son said their father ordered them to stab the cat because he wanted them to "learn to kill."

Police said the defendant's son tried to hide the cat from his father, but that Collins was able to find the animal and strangled it as his children looked on.

Authorities said Boots had suffered a broken leg, broken teeth, a bruised ear, ripped lip and two stab wounds, but died as a result of being strangled. Collins, of Muncie, says he was drunk at the time and doesn't remember the incident, but he didn't dispute his children's account.

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DAYTON, Ohio (credit AP) - A mother was convicted Friday of killing her month-old daughter by burning her in a microwave oven, with jurors rejecting a defense attorney's claims there was evidence that someone else was responsible.

China Arnold is convicted of killing her baby by burning her in the microwave.China Arnold, 28, showed no reaction when the jury's verdict was announced and then lowered her head, looking down at the defense table.

Relatives in the courtroom cried and covered their faces with their hands. She was found guilty of aggravated murder and faces the death penalty when sentenced. Arnold was accused of killing daughter Paris Talley in 2005. A judge declared a mistrial in February, and the retrial began August 18. Jury deliberations started Thursday following closing arguments. Prosecutors said Arnold intentionally put her baby in the microwave oven and cooked the child to death after a fight with her boyfriend. Arnolds' cell mate testified that Arnold confessed to putting the baby in the microwave and turned it on because she was worried her boyfriend would leave her if he found out the child wasn't his. The baby's DNA was found inside the microwave in Arnold's apartment, prosecutors said.Defense attorney Jon Paul Rion said there was evidence someone else was responsible. He cited testimony from an 8-year-old boy who said he saw another boy walk into the kitchen of a nearby apartment with the baby, heard the microwave go on, and then later saw the burned baby in the microwave. Judge John Kessler declared a mistrial February 11 after he privately heard testimony from the juvenile. In rebuttal, however, the 8-year-old's mother testified Wednesday that they lived some distance away and they were not at Arnold's apartment complex when the baby died. Her former live-in boyfriend also testified that he was certain the boy was not at the location.
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When I read stories like this, I just want to adopt even more, and encourage other people (who have a good head on their shoulders) to adopt as well. There are so many children out there in horrible circumstances who need a home.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means

caring for orphans and widows in their distress and

refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27 (NLT)