In the last five years there
have been at least 35 documented cases of
animals escaping from the Los Angeles Zoo. Most
of them just got out of their cages into
secondary holding areas, others broke lose into
the general population area where the visitors
roam, but a few managed to escape the confines
of the zoo grounds, like the antelope that was
captured on a nearby golf course two days after
its escape. Some the escapes are credited to the
animal’s cunning, but others just to caretakers
not exercising due diligence. The Los Angeles
Times reports, “The zoo records show that some
of the escapes were the result of mere lapses of
attention, as animals scampered past their
keepers…”
—Los Angeles Times, July 5,
2003, p. 1, A26 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson
And that’s where the danger
is. We try to keep our base desires in check,
but when we underestimate the cunning of the
adversary or fail to exercise due diligence we
put ourselves, and others in danger.
1 Peter 5:8 NLT “Be careful!
Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great
enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion,
looking for some victim to devour.”
DILIGENCE
A Senior
Living Community in Deltona, Florida suffered
turmoil when an angry squirrel entered in the
complex seemingly unaware and attacked the
residents. The disturbance was so severe that
someone called 911 to report the residents
were under attack.
According to
the local paper, the squirrel entered into the
building and began to attack the residents in
the activity room. Before they threw the
squirrel out, several people sustained
significant injuries. The humane society is on
the lookout for this devilish squirrel; but to
date, it is still at large perhaps waiting for
the opportunity to attack again. —Jim L.
Wilson and Douglas Diggs
1 Peter 5:8 (HCSB) “Be
serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is
prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for
anyone he can devour.”
DILIGENCE
Steve
Jobs was a visionary that launched the age of
the personal computer. Before
him, computers were unaffordable and
enormous—occupying the space of an entire
room. Under Jobs' guidance, Apple pioneered
revolutionary technologies,
including the mouse, the iPod, the iPhone, and
the iPad. In July 2012, Time
Magazine listed Steve Jobs as one of the most
influential Americans of all
times.
Jobs was not
diligent in everything. He was not as
careful
with his family relationships, his health,
and God as he was with his work.
When Jobs was 23, he fathered a daughter,
Lisa. For seven years, he denied
paternity. Lisa struggled financially for
much of her life.
Over the years,
Jobs and Lisa sustained a strained
and complicated relationship.
When doctors
diagnosed Steve Jobs with cancer, they told
him
that his cancer was operable, but he refused
opting
for a change in diet to treat his
disease. Jobs died of pancreatic
cancer when he was only 56 years old,
leaving behind around $7 billion.Steve
Jobs’ sister said that his last words as
he died were: "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” —Jim
L. Wilson and Carlos Andres
Rodriguez
Matthew 16:26 (CSB)“For what
will it benefit someone if he gains
the whole world yet loses his life? Or what
will anyone give in exchange for
his life?”
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