Story-Teller
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Ripped Off
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:13-16.
I know it happens all the time and that thousands of people have had it happen to them; however, it had never happened to me. So, I was still surprised when I saw an unauthorized charge on my credit card for $3464.40. I thought it just had to be some kind of mistake that someone had put in the wrong numbers into the computer and charged the wrong account. Wrong! Someone called a Home Depot store in Oklahoma City claiming to work for Ideal Homes and ordered $3464.40 in Lithium Ion tools. The woman I talked to had personally taken the order and had talked to two different people who had all of my credit card info including the security code on the card.
Hopefully, the credit card company will live up to its fraud guarantee and the charge will be erased from my account. I think now that when we last stayed at a hotel in Oklahoma City that the security code was taken from my card at that time. The hotel is very close to the Home Depot where the tools were ordered. It was so easy for them I wonder why it is not happening more frequently. There is very little to stop someone from gathering huge amounts of credit card information and then calling store after store ordering merchandise. My question is why is it not happening more often?
Several things are preventing more people from engaging in this type of activity. One, there are criminal and civil penalties if you are caught. Two, there is the restraining power of God among His people. Three, there is the presence of God’s people scattered like “salt” across the world to preserve the good and maintain morality. God’s people are also shining “light” into the dark crevices of the minds of people who would do evil things. It is a restraining force holding back evil.
Have you ever wondered whether you as a Christian are making any kind of difference in the lives of others? The answer is that to the extent that you live out a Christian life of good before others you are a vital part of that restraining power of God. Your life is “salt” preserving the world from slipping further into the depths of immorality. Your life is “light” helping those around you see how life can and should be lived.
Keep on being salty and keep on letting your light shine because it really does make a difference!
Copyright © 2006. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Submitted by Richard
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:13-16.
I know it happens all the time and that thousands of people have had it happen to them; however, it had never happened to me. So, I was still surprised when I saw an unauthorized charge on my credit card for $3464.40. I thought it just had to be some kind of mistake that someone had put in the wrong numbers into the computer and charged the wrong account. Wrong! Someone called a Home Depot store in Oklahoma City claiming to work for Ideal Homes and ordered $3464.40 in Lithium Ion tools. The woman I talked to had personally taken the order and had talked to two different people who had all of my credit card info including the security code on the card.
Hopefully, the credit card company will live up to its fraud guarantee and the charge will be erased from my account. I think now that when we last stayed at a hotel in Oklahoma City that the security code was taken from my card at that time. The hotel is very close to the Home Depot where the tools were ordered. It was so easy for them I wonder why it is not happening more frequently. There is very little to stop someone from gathering huge amounts of credit card information and then calling store after store ordering merchandise. My question is why is it not happening more often?
Several things are preventing more people from engaging in this type of activity. One, there are criminal and civil penalties if you are caught. Two, there is the restraining power of God among His people. Three, there is the presence of God’s people scattered like “salt” across the world to preserve the good and maintain morality. God’s people are also shining “light” into the dark crevices of the minds of people who would do evil things. It is a restraining force holding back evil.
Have you ever wondered whether you as a Christian are making any kind of difference in the lives of others? The answer is that to the extent that you live out a Christian life of good before others you are a vital part of that restraining power of God. Your life is “salt” preserving the world from slipping further into the depths of immorality. Your life is “light” helping those around you see how life can and should be lived.
Keep on being salty and keep on letting your light shine because it really does make a difference!
Copyright © 2006. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Submitted by Richard
