20 Feb, 2007
Mummified body found in front of blaring TV
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Police called to a Long Island man's house discovered the mummified remains of the resident, dead for more than a year, sitting in front of a blaring television set.
The 70-year-old Hampton Bays, New York, resident, identified as Vincenzo Ricardo, appeared to have died of natural causes. Police said on Saturday his body was discovered on Thursday when they were called to the house over a burst water pipe.
"You could see his face. He still had hair on his head," Newsday quoted morgue assistant Jeff Bacchus as saying. The home's low humidity had preserved the body.
Officials could not explain why the electricity had not been turned off, considering Ricardo had not been heard from since December 2005.
Neighbors said when they had not seen Ricardo, who was diabetic and had been blind for years, they assumed he was in the hospital or a long-term care facility.
photo courtesy AP & story infoshop.org, 02/17/07
A lonely skeleton
Proverbs 18:24
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(ESV)
NOTE: Today's DAILYBIDE is recycled from about a month ago because it's another story of someone dying without friends. I hope it grips your heart as much as it does mine...
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about being a friend?
Today's verse touches on some very important truths to remember about relationships. There are some people who pretend to be "friends". The relationship is superficial. Often this "friendship" is a taking relationship rather than a giving one.
We all need friends who will stick close, listen, forgive, encourage and offer help in both good times and bad.
If you need a genuine friend, try to become one to someone.
Without knowing any details about the man who sat dead in front of his television for over a year, I'm guessing he was a lonely person. How could he not be missed for more than a year? Didn't he have any friends or family?
Loneliness is all around us. Someone you know probably feels cut off and friendless. Maybe it's you sometimes?
Who is someone you know who is lonely? Will you reach out to him or her?
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for the ultimate friend you have in Jesus Christ! Ask Jesus to show you someone who needs you as a friend. If you are lonely, ask Jesus to give you the courage to start a friendship with someone and trust Jesus as your true friend while you build relationships with others.
- Pray every day for Jesus to enable you to be like Him in your relationships with others.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Pray for the opportunity to befriend a lonely person and watch God work! It might be someone at school, in your neighborhood, or even in your family.
- Use today's DAILYBIDE as a topic for discussion in your youth group or small group. Together, come up with a plan to reach out to one or serveral individuals you know are lonely.
- Whenever you are sitting and watching television during the next couple of weeks, let Jesus remind you to be a friend to someone you know is lonely.
- February 2012 [5]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [21]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
