There has been a long standing controversy about whether a high school player who is good enough should skip college and go straight to the pros. Part of that controversy is over whether a player can be good enough, but another is whether any young player, regardless of skill level has the emotional maturity to handle all of the pressure that comes with a multi-million dollar contract in the pros. Micah Downs is weighing those issues right now. He's already signed with Kansas University but in an article for the Seattle Times Steve Downs, the father of the 6' 8" high school basketball player indicated his son was ready to accept a pro offer. This news came as a shock to Bill Self, the KU basketball coach. He said, "For them to visit publicly about this before we even had any knowledge of it is disappointing."

Self isn't happy about what he read in the Times, and Downs isn't happy about what the Times reporter wrote, but not because he thinks he was misquoted. "I wouldn't say we were misquoted, but some of the things in there weren't explained exactly like I want them to be."

—http://www.ljworld.com/section/kusports/story/191408 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

As far as I'm concerned, Downs doesn't have a complaint here. The reporter didn't misquote him or misrepresent what he said. He wasn't misquoted, he should count himself lucky, apologize for misleading Coach Self, and then help his son make the best decision he can for himself.

Now I don't want to pick on Downs necessarily, after all, he is a private citizen that got caught making a public mistake. The only difference between me and him, (besides the fact that his son will probably one day be a millionaire) is that his statements were recorded in the paper and mine usually go unnoticed. My point is, deception isn't just telling someone a bald-faced lie, sometimes it is withholding information.

Full disclosure, even when it doesn't make us look so good, is the hallmark of authenticity, and is the basis of strong relationships.

Romans 3:13 (NASB) "Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving, The poison of asps is under their lips"

A small church in Minnesota is reeling after two men conned them. Last winter the church hired a man as pastor, not knowing that he was a veteran con artist. The church gave him $10,000 for a car, a home down payment, and other expenses. The church was devastated when he left town with the money.

The church determined to be more cautious with their next pastor. They asked James Poole to come to the church and preach to ensure that he was a legitimate pastor. Poole was hired in August, but less than month later, he allegedly left town without repaying over $3,000 he "borrowed" from the church for rent, trips, and a new bathtub.

Church officials later learned that Poole—who authorities believe was really named Jerry Andrews, had served jail time for writing bad checks and credit card theft. Church secretary Mary Steffins said the congregation was fooled by Poole. She said, "He did a good service. I will give him credit for that."Steffins added, "I feel like we are a clearing house for bad pastors." The congregation is now trying to decide if they will seek another pastor or close the doors.

—Associated Press, Minn. Church Apparently Conned—Again, November 13, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Matthew 7:15 (NASB) "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

Some lies are easier to detect than others. A Washington State Trooper saw an intoxicated driver who, after he noticed the officer, turned into a driveway and pulled into an empty garage. He was trying to convince the Trooper this was his home. Trooper Trevor Downey had no problem detecting the false story however. You see, the house was the Trooper’s house and the driver parked his car in the Trooper’s garage.

--World Magazine, March 28, 2009 p14. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Proverbs 19:9 warns the one who tells lies that he will perish. In this case, the lie will not help the liar avoid a Driving While Intoxicated arrest.

At the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago, thousands of scientists gathered to watch magicians perform and then chat about attention, memory, and perception. They were studying the way in which our minds are deceived. Learning this, they hope to better understand, diagnose, and treat certain cognitive illnesses.

Studying deception in the lab doesn’t work because subjects know how the scientists are trying to fool them. To overcome this they are using Magicians. Magicians are able to fool people without them knowing it. Magicians use visual tactics, props, sounds, and body movements to manipulate attention and memory. In other words, they trick us with misdirection. While we are thinking about something else, they deceive us.

In 2 Corinthians 11:3, the Bible states that this is the way Satan deceives people. It is important for us to keep our minds on the things of God and not fall prey to the wiles of Satan.

--USA Today, October 20, 2009. P. 4d Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Ephesians 4:14 (NASB) “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;”

The placebo effect is the idea is that simply believing that a medical treatment will work is enough to make that treatment effective. A patient who thinks he is taking an aspirin for a headache is likely to get the same relief if he swallows a sugar pill meant to look like a painkiller. The effect is powerful enough that control groups in studies of treatment effectiveness receive a dummy treatment to control for it. Now, some new evidence suggests that other there is other things in life that will work the same way. Buttons and devices around us may cause a change in perception, where one does not exist.

One such device is the “close door” bottom on elevators. Passengers push it a lot, but the doors are on a timer. The button in most elevators only works with a special key, though most riders never realize it. No matter how many times the button is pressed, the door eventually closes anyway. Another device is an HD or High definition label on a television. The label is used so often these days, there is a wide definition of what High Definition. Dutch scientists discovered that simply hearing that a television is hi def is enough to convince viewers the picture is better. In a 2009 study, researchers showed 60 people an identical video clip on identical televisions. They told half the participants the clip would be in high-definition, and even attached an extra thick cable to the back of the set. Researchers told a control group to expect a normal DVD image.

Afterwards the group that was told they were watching a better picture thought the picture was better on what they were told was high-definition even though it was exactly the same as a normal DVD image. Researchers say the study is a good reminder that an assurance that something is “high quality” does not only make a person more likely to buy a product, it may also subtly influence their enjoyment of it.

--5 Things You Think Work, But Actually Don’t;; http://www.mainstreet.com/article/smart-spending/5-things-you-think-work-actually-don-t; October 1, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Ephesians 5:6 (CEV) Don't let anyone trick you with foolish talk. God punishes everyone who disobeys him and says foolish things.

Police arrested Jeff Waters when he tried to cash a $368 billion check. When questioned by police Waters claimed he bought the check for $100 from a man named Tito. “Blame Tito,” Waters told police. “I’m as innocent as a schoolgirl.”

It is hard to tell which delusion Jeff Waters had was the most serious. Was it that he believed he could buy such a large check for $100, that the bank would cash such a check, or even that the police would buy his story.

There are many false prophets in the world, and there are many who believe the false teachings of these false leaders. The day is ahead when they will try in vain to cash in on the false promises. -- Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Matthew 24:24 (HCSB) False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Deception

According to news reports, Joshua Tackett, a 29-year-old New Hampshire resident crashed his car in front of his local police headquarters. Police later arrested him on the suspicion of drunk driving. In his mug shot, he is wearing a t-shirt that says, “This guy needs a beer.”

While many viewing the picture on social media have found humor in it, the police take the problem seriously. They said, “We can’t stress enough how important it is for motorist to slow down, put down the hand-held devices, and find designated drivers instead of getting behind the wheel while being impaired by drugs or alcohol.”—Jim L. Wilson

The last thing this guy needs is a beer—he is deceiving himself. It is one thing to lie to others. It is quite another or lie to yourself, because it destroys the opportunity to change.

Proverbs 28:13 (HCSB)“The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”

A fish market in Kuwait received a shutdown notice from the ministry of commerce for putting fake eyes on the fish they were selling. The government found the market guilty of using cosmetics to make their fish seem fresher.

We should live our lives as worthy on their own, no need for deception. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time,”