19 Oct, 2009
Balloon Boy Case A Hoax
DENVER (Reuters) - The flight of a home-made helium balloon that touched off a frantic rescue attempt for the young boy thought to be aboard was a publicity-seeking hoax, a Colorado sheriff said on Sunday.
Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said the parents of 6-year-old Falcon Heene would likely face four charges in the bizarre incident, which riveted television viewers across the United States for more than two hours on Thursday.
The airship took to the skies on Thursday morning and Richard and Mayumi Heene claimed that their son had climbed aboard, triggering a massive search and rescue operation as the odd silver craft drifted for 50 miles, trailed by U.S. National Guard helicopters.
The boy was later found not in the flying saucer-shaped craft but safe at home.
"It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt," Alderden told a press conference.
"We believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that it was a publicity stunt done with the hopes of better marketing themselves for a reality television show at some point in the future," he said.
Story and photo taken from: http://www.reuters.com
Matthew 27:62-66
62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63"Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 28:5-7 (NIV)
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
The Resurrection of Jesus No Hoax
Many people in history have claimed that Christianity is a hoax. This was proclaimed often by those outside the church but was disputed strongly by the early Christians. For the fact is, if the resurrection is a hoax, so is our faith.
The resurrection of Christ is the bedrock of what we believe. If Christ has not conquered death than as Paul said we are fools.As many historians have stated, it would be hard to believe that 11 out of the 12 disciples would go to their deaths preaching Christ if they did not believe He had risen.
Of course, the reverse is true. If we believe Christ has risen than everything in our life changes. If Christ has defeated death than he truly has the power to speak with authority to every area of our life. His way of living becomes our way. His way of loving becomes our way. Wow. I don't know about you but that is a little scary.
Like the little boy and the balloon in our story today, life is full of hoaxes. There are many things that appear one way that turn out to be another.
What we are required to think about today is whether we believe the risen Christ is a hoax or a reality. If we believe that He has risen everything must change.
- Are you living like the resurrection of Christ is a hoax or a reality?
- How does your outlook on life and the way you treat others change if you give authority to the resurrected Christ?
There are many people around us daily that are looking for attention like the family in today's story. They will do anything to make themselves appear one way when they really are another. Ask God to give you the wisdom to discern this and love them by speaking the power of the risen Christ into their lives.
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