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FOR TEENS
'LIAR' ... WHO, ME??
It can be pretty tempting to judge other people sometimes. Many of us may label others a particular way, with or without realizing what we're doing. But worst of all, we may end up labeling ourselves. I think the opposite of judging is authenticity. When we judge or label ourselves or others, we're not being authentic, real—nor seeing the genuine nature of a person.
Throughout my childhood, and up to my sophomore year in high school, I used to lie about practically everything. Sometimes without even knowing it, I'd lie about what I'd been doing, where I really had been, or even the things I was going to do. At first it started with "innocent" white lies. My mom would ask if I'd done my homework, and I'd say yes when really I hadn't. Then it turned into a game for me: a competition between my lying skills and my mom's ability to discern the truth. I'd make up excuses and try to avoid her questions.
When my mom sensed that I wasn't being truthful, she would always say that God, Truth, would reveal what was really going on. (My mother and others did realize some of what was going on.) Then the lies began to feel like a competition with God, Truth itself. During times when I wasn't allowed to e-mail, call, or hang out with my boyfriend, I would try to find a way where I could still use my computer for homework and then talk to him over instant messaging.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
December 27, 2010 issue
View Issue-
LETTERS
with contributions from PATRICIA EDWARDS, BARBARA LEE MCNABB, JANET MCCONNELL, HEATHER VASEFF
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HONEY OR GIANTS?
STEVE GRAHAM, MANAGING EDITOR, SENTINEL, JOURNAL, AND HERALD
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ITEMS OF INTEREST
with contributions from Diane Black, Mary Lane
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ENERGY BREAKTHROUGHS
ERIC NELSON
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THE LORD IS GOOD!
GALEN GOLDSMITH
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Getting 'me' out of the way
BY JOANNE OTTO
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Spiritual lessons in math class
BY KENDALL DAVIS
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A way out of anxiety
Janet Kennedy
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Building trust in Turkey
BY ROSALIE E. DUNBAR, NEWS EDITOR
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A STRICTLY SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE
BY WALTER RODGERS
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ONLY PATTERNS OF GOOD
BY SANDRA BROOKS
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The next 90 years
BY MARK SWINNEY
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'LIAR' ... WHO, ME??
BY ANN SEBRING
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Spotting the year's real winners
BY KIM SHIPPEY, SENIOR WRITER
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A child's prayer of thanks
Tom Black
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QUICKLY HEALED OF FLU SYMPTOMS AND INJURY
NANCY ROBISON
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PRAYER BRINGS HEALING AND HARMONY
DAPHNE LUNGE
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FREE FROM PAIN AND STIFFNESS
MARGI NEALE GRIFFITH