Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: theft

Krispy Krime! — September 23, 2025

Krispy Krime!

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I was fraught with donut guilt. Not from eating them, but from stealing them. 

You see, my friends and I had morning paper routes when we were kids.  As we biked our way at 4 a.m., we noticed a Krispy Kreme truck that was making its daily deliveries.   

The driver would hide boxes of donuts in various places so that the retailers would have them when they opened in the morning.   

It seemed like a fun game, so we tailed the truck and watched as the donuts were stowed away in cars and various nooks and crannies.   

And we then confiscated and consumed many of those donuts.  Proverbs 9:17 says, “Stolen waters are sweet.” This was especially true of donuts.

We enjoyed our donut feasts.  We longed for some milk as well, but the milkman didn’t deliver that early.

But then, several years later I found myself twisted up with guilt over the many poor choices I had made in my brief life – including the donut thefts.  My guilt finally found its way to the cross, where Jesus paid my way to heaven – His blood shed for my sin. 

Theologically and experientially, I was born again.  I was free of the burden of my sin and its oppressive guilt, and I wanted the world to know it.  So, I took my guitar and sang of God’s grace and mercy.   

But one day it occurred to me that I was not completely guilt free.  If the manager of the Krispy Kreme should have shown up at the church where I was singing – it would have dropped a load of condemnation all over me. 

I wondered if I needed to make things right with him.  So, I studied the Scripture.  

The idea of making restitution was first discussed in Exodus 22:1-15.  For instance, the man who stole an ox needed to repay the person from whom it was stolen.  Granted, this is from the Old Testament and we Christian are governed by the New.

But I also I found Romans 13:8 where Paul wrote, “Owe no one anything.”   Technically speaking I owed many folks for the things I had stolen.   

I also remembered the example of Zaccheus the tax collector, who used the system to steal from people.  When he found forgiveness from Jesus, he knew that he needed to repay those folks from whom he had stolen (Luke 19:8).

I was convicted. I needed to settle the account. So, I wrote a letter to the manager of the donut store.  I told him what I had done and explained that Christ had changed the course of my life and that I wanted to make restitution.  I also enclosed a check.   I did the same thing with anyone from whom I had stolen.  

Not long after, I began to receive letters in response to my letters – each one thanking me for my confession and restitution and each one granting me forgiveness.   I still have those letters. 

This one came from Krispy Kreme: “Dear James, Thank you very much for the letter.  You are one in a million who would admit this.  I am glad to hear that you have met your Savior and that He has forgiven you.  We at Krispy Kreme sure can do the same thing.  Thanks again.  Come in any time.” P. Lockhart, Mgr.

How refreshing and liberating.  I understand now what Paul meant when he said, “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience” – 2 Timothy 1:3. (NASU)

And I have to say that I so enjoy having a clear conscience, that I am prompted to quickly make amends with the Lord and others when I stumble in the present.  My sins these days are not theft related, but they still stain my conscience until I make it right. 

You may not have a donut debt, but you may have a debt of another kind.  Perhaps it’s time to make things right!

A PRAYER: God, give us the courage to clear up the past

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible® unless otherwise noted.

words in the night — October 21, 2020

words in the night

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My wife and I were awakened by the hushed voices outside our open bedroom window.  I slipped over to eavesdrop in the night.  It sounded like teens, both boys and girls, and they had just stolen a toolbox from the bed of a pickup.  They had it but didn’t know what to do with it. 

They sat against the outside of the apartment wall.  We were less than inches apart with only curtains and a screen between us. 

One kid wanted to sell the box; another wanted to leave it with a friend; one of the girls seemed to be having second thoughts.  They argued back and forth.  

I wanted so badly to interject my opinion.  But what could I say?  My mind raced through what I knew from the book of Proverbs about speech. 

I could seize control by quickly blurting out something.  Not a good idea according to Proverbs 29:20, “You have seen someone who is hasty in his words there is more hope for a fool than for him.”   Been there – done that!  I understand.     

Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.  It wasn’t my toolbox and doesn’t Proverbs 17:28 say, “…the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.” 

On the other hand, there is also this counsel, “Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak…” (Proverbs 31:8)  Someone had to speak up for the guy who had to go to work the next day, without his tools.

OK then maybe I should blast them with righteous indignation.  Probably not a good idea.  “A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.”   (Proverbs 15:1)  If I were to blast them, they would have their revenge.  I didn’t need that. 

Plus, my goal was to nudge them toward a good decision.  “The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.”  (Proverbs 16:21) That’s what I wanted to do – persuade them to do the right thing.

But how could I speak kind words, when my attitude was angry and judgmental.  Proverbs 25:15 is a reminder that one’s attitude is important.  “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.”   Soft!  A soft attitude speaking soft words.  That’s what I needed if I were to nudge them to do the right thing.

And it had to be the right words.  It would probably not sit well with them if I were to have called them thieves.  Again, Proverbs informed me, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.”  (Proverbs 25:11) I had to be sensitive to the situation and the moment.

And the timing, oh yes, the timing had to be just right.  If I interrupted too soon, it could be offensive.  If I waited too long, their decision might be already cast.  Proverbs 15:23 “A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time—how good it is!”

I was busy thinking through my lengthy speech when I remembered, “When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.”  (Proverbs 10:19)  Got it.  I need to say as little as possible and yet get the job done.

OK so what should I say and when should I say it? 

The debate outside was stalled.  One boy said, “I just don’t know, what should we do with this thing?”   That was my cue.  Hidden by the curtains I spoke up.  In a natural and easy voice, I said, “If I were you, I’d put it back.” 

There was silence on the other side.  They were caught and they knew it.  One of the boys said, “Oh man look what we’ve done.  We woke these people up.” (like it was the worst thing they did all night.) 

Another kid said, “Come on, let’s take it back.”  All agreed. 

And as far as I know, the man with the toolbox, the teens and me and my wife lived happily ever after. 

A PRAYER: Father my mouth gets me in trouble much too often, help me rein it in by the principles in your Word. 

All Scripture references are from the NET Bible ®