Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester,OK

“I Don’t Think that is Such a Good Idea”
“…fools are killed by their own stupidity.” – Proverbs 10:21b (CEV)

It’s time again for everyone’s favorite message, well, mine anyway: The stupid things people do! The following are actual events documented to be a lesson to anyone thinking, “I can do that!”

Two brothers who were celebrating a $75,000 winning lottery ticket by purchasing marijuana and meth accidentally blew up their house on Friday, said Sgt. Bruce Watts of the Wichita Police Department.
The explosion sent one of the brothers – a 27-year-old – to the hospital, where he died of his injuries…the other brother was sent to the hospital with second and third-degree burns on his hands, arms and chest.
The brothers were in a house in the 100 block of North Nevada Court, near Douglas and West Street, about 7 p.m. Friday, Watts said. One of the brothers went to the kitchen to refuel the butane torches they planned to use to light their marijuana cigarettes. He emptied a couple of large cans of butane lighter fluid, leaking butane into the air.
“The butane vapor reached the pilot light in the furnace, and as you might expect, ka-boom,” Watts said.
Officers went to the house with a warrant, where the surviving brother ran out, admitting he had marijuana and methamphetamine. He was arrested and then sent to the hospital.
Charged with drug-possession, Christopher Johns of Grand Rapids, Michigan claimed that he had been searched without a warrant. The prosecutor said the officer did not need a warrant because a bulge in Johns' jacket could have been a gun. "Nonsense," said Christopher who happened to be wearing the same jacket that day. When he handed the judge the jacket, a bag of cocaine fell out. The judge required a five-minute recess so that he could regain his composure.
Derrick Lalli of Gallup, New Mexico walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, Lalli saw a bottle of scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but cashier refused and said "Because I don't believe you are over 21." The robber said he was, but the cashier still refused to give it to him because he didn't believe him. At this point, Lalli took his driver’s license out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over, and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and he put the scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that he got off the license. They arrested Lalli two hours later.
To be perfectly honest—I am not certain there is a deeply significant message here except maybe this—when you choose to live right, you may make mistakes from time to time but, the mistakes of the wise (God’s people) often do not end up with the kind of results that are detailed above.
Stupidity it appears to me is more than just a “by-word,” it is a way of life! It is from Solomon’s perspective a choice. When he says “…fools are killed by their stupidity…” he is witnessing the results of people’s actions that are at the very least, hilarious (as a couple of the stories appear to be) to the point of being at the worst, reckless, and dangerous and unfortunately, deadly.
As “light-hearted” as these accounts appear—too many are hurt and even die daily as the result of decisions and actions made by those who just do not merely think through their actions or words, but who have no regard for anyone or anything else besides themselves. Those are the ones that I believe Solomon describes as “fools.”
Life is worth more than momentary pleasures—things that will not last beyond a life time. Do not be foolish with your life and choose to make wise and “God-like” decisions.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.