IS THERE SIN IN YOUR SOUP?

May 2, 2006

The case of the mouse-in-the-soup turns out to be a scam.

THINK ABOUT IT

WOMAN, SON CONVICTED IN MOUSE-IN-SOUP SCAM

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A woman and her adult son have been convicted of trying to extort money from the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain by claiming they found a dead mouse in a bowl of soup while celebrating Mother's Day in 2004.

Jurors deliberated nearly four hours Friday before convicting Carla Patterson, 38, and Ricky Patterson, 22, of conspiracy to commit extortion.

Carla Patterson claimed she had already eaten some of her vegetable soup on May 8, 2004, the day before Mother's Day, when she scooped up the mouse.

Charges were filed after a necropsy showed the mouse died of a fractured skull. It had no soup in its lungs and had not been cooked, signs that the rodent was dropped into the soup after its death.

Cracker Barrel officials said the Pattersons sought $500,000 from the company.

The defendants insisted they were innocent, claiming Cracker Barrel officials offered them money to make the bad publicity go away. They wept when the verdict was read.

The Pattersons faced up to 10 years in prison, but the jury recommended sentences of one year and fines of $2,500 each. Sentencing is set for July 5.

photos courtesy images.google.com & story courtesy msn.news.com, 04/28/06

TAKE A LOOK

Numbers 32:23 - (NLT)

²³But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the LORD, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

WHAT IS THE TRUTH IN TODAY'S SCRIPTURE THAT APPLIES ALL THE TIME?

In this passage, Moses is telling the Israelites the importance of obeying God. The bottom line was simple and profound - they could not sin against the LORD and get away with it.

This Biblical truth is timeless. Our sin will always find us out. Because God is all-knowing and all-seeing, it is foolish for anyone to ever think that they can fool God. We may deceive people in this life, but the Holy and Just God is never deceived. Every one of us is always accountable to God for every one of our actions.

For all of you CSI fans, did you notice that the mouse-in-the-soup scam was solved after the police examined the evidence? The mouse had been killed and then dropped in the soup.

Attempting to hide evidence from God always traps us in our own sin. Let's obey Him.

TALK ABOUT IT

Thank God that He is not only Holy and Just, but also Merciful and full of Grace. Confess any way in which you may have been trying to hide your sin. Thank God for the conviction of His Spirit, because this proves that He is your loving Heavenly Father. Ask the Lord to help you come clean and admit your sins to Him. Praise Him for His constant love and work in your life!

TRY IT

Pray every day for a humble heart that quickly goes to God for forgiveness rather than attempting to get away with sin.
Whenever you use the "mouse" for your computer, let it be a reminder that your sin will always find you out.
Have some friends over for soup and share this Devo with them.

ABOUT IT

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Byron Emmert Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.