27 Aug, 2007
Child killer sentenced to death
John Evander Couey was sentenced Friday to death for abducting, raping and killing a 9-year-old Florida girl by burying her alive in 2005.
Couey did not speak during the almost hour long hearing and showed no emotion when the sentence was pronounced in an Inverness, Florida, courtroom.
Members of Jessica Lunsford's family embraced and cried. 200.jpg)
"[Couey] said one time that when he gets to heaven that he was gonna tell Jessie he is sorry. I got bad news, I don't think you're gonna make it there," the girl's father, Mark Lunsford, said afterward, wiping tears from his eyes.
He also urged his daughter's killer not to appeal the sentence.
"Take your punishment. Be done with it. You want to do something for her, give your life for the life you took," Lunsford said.
photos courtesy images.google.com & story cnn.com, 8/24/07
Eternal fear or hope?
Proverbs 10:24 (NLT)
24 The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;
the hopes of the godly will be granted.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the fear of death?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes provide this insight:
10:24 The wicked person dreads death. Those who do not believe in God usually fear death, and with good reason. By contrast, believers desire eternal life and God's salvation - their hopes will be rewarded. This verse offers a choice: You can have either your fears or your hopes come true. You make that choice by rejecting God and living your own way or by accepting God and following Him.
Do you believe that John Couey is not afraid to die? There is no doubt that his heart is hard to have done such horrible acts to this little girl. He says he will apologize when he gets to heaven.
I believe that deep down in his soul, John Couey is wondering about his eternal destination.
How about you? Do you fear death or do you have peace, knowing that in Christ, your eternal destination is secure?
How can we connect today's verse, which is part of God's Story, to our lives?
- Praise God for the peace He provides you in facing death. Thank Him that because Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead, you can know that your eternal hope in heaven is a promise that your loving Heavenly Father will keep.
- Remember today's verse as you continue to watch news events that include people talking about what happens after death.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray for John Couey to turn to the living God and receive Christ as his Savior before he is executed. Yes, God's grace is big enough to save this evil man and change the final outcome of his eternal story.
- Pray for the family of Jessica Lunsford to experience God's peace and to be drawn to the truth of Christ if they don't know Him as their Savior.
Use this DAILYBIDE as a conversation starter to encourage someone else in your storysphere. You could email it to him or her and ask them if they think someone can know for sure their eternal destination after death?
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