30 Oct, 2006
Ah rats!
Cowboys coach claims family found dead rat in McDonald's salad
DALLAS - Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Todd Haley is suing a suburban McDonald's, claiming his wife and the family's live-in baby sitter found a dead rat in a salad they took home and began to eat.
(Note: This photograph made available Friday by Scott Casterline, a spokesman for the Todd Haley family, allegedly shows a rodent in a McDonalds salad. The photo has been digitally manipulated by the source to make the rat look blue.)
The lawsuit filed Thursday in state district court seeks $1.7 million in damages, The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site.
In addition to Haley, the Cowboys' passing game coordinator who got in a well-publicized shouting match with receiver Terrell Owens earlier this month, the suit was also filed on behalf of his wife Christine and the family's au pair, Kathryn Kelley.
According to the lawsuit, Christine Haley and Kelley had eaten part of the salad purchased June 5 at a McDonald's in Southlake before the rat was discovered. The women became violently ill and endured long-lasting physical injuries, the lawsuit said.
Believed to be a juvenile roof rat, the rodent was about 6 inches long and was found on its back with its mouth opened, Scott Casterline, a spokesman for the family, told The Associated Press.
"The family needs closure," said Casterline, whose family's law firm is representing the plaintiffs. "It came to a point where you have to draw a line."
Ken Lobato, owner-operator of the McDonald's in Southlake, told the Morning News that he hadn't seen the suit and couldn't respond.
"Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our customers," he said. "We maintain the strictest quality standards. We take these matters seriously and are conducting a full investigation to get all the facts.
"In my years as an owner-operator, I've never seen anything like this."
photo courtesy dfw.com & story twincities.com, 10/26/06
Leviticus 11:1-8
Clean and Unclean Animals
11:1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. 3 Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 4 Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 5 And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 7 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story teach us about sin and tempting situations?
Come on now, how often do any of us read from the book of Leviticus? I don't. Do you? Usually, we think this is just one of those Old Testament books that doesn't apply much to our stories today. BUT, I think you'll see that all of Scripture is holy because God's Spirit wrote it and it is timeless because it is full of practical lessons to help us abide in Christ.
Here's the deal on today's verses from the study notes found in Tyndale's Life Application Study Bible:
11:8 God had strictly forbidden eating the meat of certain "unclean" animals; to make sure, he forbade even touching them. He wanted the people to be totally separated from those things he had forbidden. So often we flirt with temptation, rationalizing that at least we are technically keeping the commandment not to commit the sin. But God wants us to separate ourselves completely from all sin and tempting situations. Perhaps this passage has made you aware of areas of your life where you have "technical" innocence but in which you have actually been involved in sin. It's time to cross back over the line and stay there.
It'a a no-brainer what you do when you find a rat in your salad. First of all - you throw up! Then don't eat it! It's unclean.
God wants us to think no-self when we are faced with "unclean" situations in our lives. If we trust His Spirit to help us abide in Christ every day, we'll be able to make Godly choices when we face 'McSinful' tempations in our lives!
How can you connect today's God's Story to your life?
- Take a few minutes to talk and listen to Jesus. If you are willing to be totally honest, Jesus will help you recognize the "unclean" areas in your life right now. Confess them and let His forgiving grace (made possible through His sacrificial death on the cross) get you clean again. Thank God and worship Him!
- Let Jesus help you write down the 5 main areas in your life where it's sometimes like finding a rat in your salad! In humility, ask Jesus every day to help you rely on His power to live clean.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
The way to apply this is obvious. BUT be careful to not make your friends and family throw up! You can use today's DAILYBIDE to share more of your story with other Christians and with those in your storysphere who are not yet followers of Jesus. When you talk about this subject of God's instructions on the "unclean", be careful to be real about your own weaknesses, without judging the other person.
NOTE: You might want to tell today's story after you have a salad at McDonalds, not during your meal. Wait a minute...for your friends with weak stomachs, you might want to wait till the next day....maybe while keeping a barf bag handy!
- July 2008 [18]
- June 2008 [13]
- May 2008 [20]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [19]
- November 2007 [17]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [19]
- August 2007 [18]
- July 2007 [13]
- June 2007 [11]
- May 2007 [14]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [12]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [5]
- November 2006 [14]
- October 2006 [18]
- September 2006 [12]
- August 2006 [17]
- July 2006 [11]
- June 2006 [4]
