Man falls asleep in coffin at funeral home

CANTON, N.Y. - A man was charged with burglary and criminal mischief Thursday after he allegedly broke into a funeral home and fell asleep in a coffin.

Joel Fish, 20, of Queensbury, was arrested after he was discovered at the O'Leary Funeral Home in Canton, 127 miles north of Syracuse.

Debra White, wife of the home's funeral director Joe White, said she noticed a broken window and open door to the casket display room when she awoke at 6:30 a.m. Inside, she saw a boot and pair of pants on the floor and a pair of knees sticking out of a stainless steel coffin.

Fish, who police said was intoxicated, was treated at Canton-Potsdam hospital for cuts. He was arraigned and released to return to court at a later date.

The funeral home estimates the damage from the burglary, mostly to the coffin, at $4,000.

picture courtesy images.google.net & story courtesy ww.nytv.net, 05/19/06

TAKE A LOOK

Psalms 139:16 - (NLT)

      ¹⁶You saw me before I was born.

            Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
      Every moment was laid out

            before a single day had passed.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 - (NLT)

A Time for Everything

      ¹There is a time for everything,
            a season for every activity under heaven.
      ²A time to be born and a time to die.
            A time to plant and a time to harvest.

Hebrews 9:27-28 - (NLT)

²⁷And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, ²⁸so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Imagine how surprised the crook in today's story was when he woke up in a coffin! He had to answer a few questions. Today, let's look at some questions about life after death:

WHO ULTIMATELY IS IN CHARGE OF LIFE AND DEATH?

Take another look at what King David is really saying in Psalm 139:16. God is sovereign (in control) because He is the Creator of everything and everyone - including every moment we have breath!

WHO KNOWS WHEN THAT TIME IS FOR EACH OF US?

David's son, Solomon, reminds us that there is a time for every one of us to die.

WHO DETERMINES WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR SOUL WHEN WE DIE?

The author of Hebrews gets right to the point by telling us that judgment follows death.

That's right....GOD! OUR LOVING CREATOR OFFERS THE ONLY WAY TO BE PREPARED FOR DEATH - TO TRUST IN THE SACRIFICAL DEATH OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS!

So....

....are you prepared to experience eternal life in Heaven after death? (Jesus made it simple: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father, except through Me." ... John 14:6)

....if your answer is yes, are you helping others get ready?

Our world is full of people who think that death is sort of like going into a deep sleep so that your soul can "rest" forever. There is life after death for everyone. The question is where?

TALK ABOUT IT

Thank God for providing the answer to life after death. If you have never trusted Jesus Christ to be your Savior, ask Him to come into your life, forgive you and take over. (If this is you, please contact us by email so that we can help you grow in your new relationship with Christ.)

If you know Christ as your Savior, praise Him for His promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven! Ask Him to give you the heart and eyes to see others as He does - loved by God, in need of the Savior.

TRY IT

For the next month, pay attention to movies, music and TV shows that deal with the subject of life after death. Use them as a conversation starter with your friends or family members who need to know Jesus.
Write a note to God telling Him what you're looking forward to about Heaven!

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.