Robert E Foust
Collision Course with God
Lessons from Raising a Troubled Teen
THE BOOK
Collision Course with God by Robert E. Foust tells the true story of Robert and his son Aaron Foust as they go through the trials of childhood, adolescence and adulthood leading up to Aaron’s execution at age twenty-six on April 28, 1999.
The book itself is designed as a self-help guide for parents with problem adolescents. Throughout the book, Robert tells stories of the challenges he faced raising a sociopath and his trust in God to guide and sustain him as Aaron’s behavioral issues became worse. The problems became so severe that Robert finally had to pray for God to take charge of Aaron’s protection. This led to many events where only the power of God’s intervention could have prevented Aaron’s death.
Seven Things I Learned from the Father
1. Love: Give your love unconditionally and without compromise. They can't earn it, they should not doubt it, they don't have to deserve it but they have it. They are your children.
Exodus 34:5-7, Romans 8:16-17, 1Corinthians 13:4-8, 1John 3:18
2. Involvement: Show your love with actions, not just words.
Be emotionally committed and involved in your child’s life to develop an intimate relationship. Give your children praise.
John 3:16, 1John 4:13-15
3. Stability: Be consistent. Provide a Christian home. You are the same today that you were yesterday and will be tomorrow. Right will always be right and wrong will always be wrong.
Exodus 3:14, James 1:17, 1Timothy 5:8, Titus 3:1-2
4. Communication/Listening: You should communicate and listen to your children so you will know their heart. Listening is essential to communication.
James 1:19, 1John 5:14-15
5. Discipline: Even though you want only good for your children and encourage them to do good, you will allow them to suffer for their wrong decisions in hopes that they will see you offer something better. You can’t be overprotective.
Luke 15:11-32, Ephesians 6:4
6. Forgiveness: You should forgive your children because love covers a multitude of sins. Without forgiveness your love will be conditional. There will always be doubt. Without forgiveness we will harbor negative feelings.
Proverbs 10:12, Ephesians 4:31-32, 1Peter 4:8, 1John 2:1
7. Teaching: Be a role model. You should be a positive example for your children in every thing you do. Prepare them for life. Teach “life skills.”
Psalm 32:8, Proverbs 4:10-13, Galatians 5:22-25