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(PHOENIX) --  Early yesterday, January 6th, 1999,  Bill Bennett was told his wife had been killed in a robbery. But five hours later, authorities said she was really alive. Michelle Bennett was kidnapped during an apparent robbery at a Castle Boutique adult bookstore. The kidnappers shot her several times and left her for dead on a trail near the Lost Dutchman State Park. She is listed in critical condition this morning after surgery.

The family of this woman had even identified the body through a picture and had accepted her death.  Many of the people of this world are DEAD spiritually.  Too many Christians accept their death without realizing that even though they are dead they can live again in Christ.

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No Reward Because He Was Dead

   A soldier who had served his country for a time in the army, by deception had his name returned on the roll as dead. He was so reported from his company to his regiment, and from his regimental headquarters to the General Government. In the great records of the nation, against his name "Dead" was written. After the war was over, and peace restored, the Government began to dispense its bounties and pensions to those who had fought its battles and borne its burdens. This runaway soldier, that had deserted from the service and caused a false report to be returned, appeared for a reward at the hands of the Government. The books were examined, the name was found, but "Dead" was written against it. The Government settles by its official records, and in the knowledge of the Government he is a dead man, and not a living claimant.

   In the Christian warfare there is a like danger. Christ has enlisted a great many soldiers that have not answered to the roll call for years. They deserted in time of danger, and the angel scribe has written against their name, "Dead." The books of the Last Day will show erasure, as well as entries, and almost the last words of the Bible warn us of the blotting out of names from the Book of Life.

 --Topical Illustrations

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Body of Death

   In Virgil, there is an account of an ancient king, who was so unnaturally cruel in his punishments that he used to chain a dead man to a living one. It was impossible for the poor wretch to separate himself from his disgusting burden. The carcass was bound fast to his body--its hands to his hands; its face to his face; its lips to his lips. It lay down and rose up whenever he did; it moved about with him whithersoever he went, till the moment when death came to his relief. Many suppose that it was in reference to this that Paul cried out: "O wretched man that I am!" Whether this be so or not, sin is a body of death which all who are not sanctified wholly carry about with them.

--McCartney

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