The news this week carried the following amazing headline: “Louisiana Man Unearths 2.89 Carat White Diamond at Arkansas State Park”. The ensuing article then gave the details about a Louisiana man who had recently found a 2.89 carat white diamond at the “Crater of Diamonds” State Park located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas.
Apparently, Mr. Brandon Kalenda of Maurepas, Louisiana, found the diamond, “triangular-shaped with a metallic appearance and about the size of an English pea”, back on March 6. He has since
affectionately christened it the "Jax Diamond" after his infant son
Jackson.
It also appears that the diamond is the 47th one to be found and then registered by visitors to the park this year. Even more impressively, it is the fourth one weighing more than a carat to be found in the last month.
Park officials say that they encourage visitors to look for pockets or layers on the surface of gravel, and search there. This is exactly what Brandon was doing, when after only searching for about 20 minutes in the Fugitt’s Bank area of the park, he hit pay dirt!
It appears that conditions right now are "perfect" for diamond hunting at the park. As they periodically do, the park staff plowed the diamond search field at the end of January. That action, combined with recent rainfall, makes for optimal search conditions.
A spokesperson for the park was quoting as saying that... “diamonds are a bit heavy for their size, and they lack static electricity, so rainfall slides the dirt off diamonds that are on the surface of the search field leaving them exposed. When the sun comes out, they’ll shine and be noticeable.”
Wow! I don’t’ know about you; but when I first read this, I was pumped! In fact, I was tempted to pull up stakes and head for Arkansas immediately! Who among us is not enthralled by the notion of going over some site that is so well-trodden and still finding some immense treasure?
And yet, we do not have to pull up stakes and move to Arkansas to have that experience. I have discovered that the Bible is a book that has been pored over by others for millennia, and by me as well for decades. Nonetheless, every time I return to its pages, I discover new truths to treasure.
In the thirteenth chapter of the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shares seven different parables. One of them is about a man who discovers treasure in a field. He says… “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
As if to emphasize His point, he immediately adds another parable: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Jesus’ point is that the message He came to proclaim, that of the Gospel or “Good News” of the Kingdom, is of infinitely more value than anything this world has to offer. And thus, a wise person, upon discovering the Gospel, will immediately recognize its immense value, will quickly seize this great treasure, and will then hold on to it as life’s dearest possession.
I have personally done just that. I encountered this wonderful treasure and secured it one day back in May of 1970. The possession and protection of it have been the primary occupations in my life ever since. I hope that you too have found this great treasure. If not, then, in the words of Jesus, “Seek, and ye shall find.”
For the same Jesus Who said this also told us (in the third chapter of the New Testament Gospel of John) that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And no treasure on earth can even begin to compare with that of eternal life!
*SOURCE OF NEWS ITEM: http://www.foxnews.com/science/201
4/03/12/louisiana-man-unearths-28-carat-white-diamond-at-arka
nsas-state-park/.
Apparently, Mr. Brandon Kalenda of Maurepas, Louisiana, found the diamond, “triangular-shaped with a metallic appearance and about the size of an English pea”, back on March 6. He has since
affectionately christened it the "Jax Diamond" after his infant son
Jackson.
It also appears that the diamond is the 47th one to be found and then registered by visitors to the park this year. Even more impressively, it is the fourth one weighing more than a carat to be found in the last month.
Park officials say that they encourage visitors to look for pockets or layers on the surface of gravel, and search there. This is exactly what Brandon was doing, when after only searching for about 20 minutes in the Fugitt’s Bank area of the park, he hit pay dirt!
It appears that conditions right now are "perfect" for diamond hunting at the park. As they periodically do, the park staff plowed the diamond search field at the end of January. That action, combined with recent rainfall, makes for optimal search conditions.
A spokesperson for the park was quoting as saying that... “diamonds are a bit heavy for their size, and they lack static electricity, so rainfall slides the dirt off diamonds that are on the surface of the search field leaving them exposed. When the sun comes out, they’ll shine and be noticeable.”
Wow! I don’t’ know about you; but when I first read this, I was pumped! In fact, I was tempted to pull up stakes and head for Arkansas immediately! Who among us is not enthralled by the notion of going over some site that is so well-trodden and still finding some immense treasure?
And yet, we do not have to pull up stakes and move to Arkansas to have that experience. I have discovered that the Bible is a book that has been pored over by others for millennia, and by me as well for decades. Nonetheless, every time I return to its pages, I discover new truths to treasure.
In the thirteenth chapter of the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shares seven different parables. One of them is about a man who discovers treasure in a field. He says… “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
As if to emphasize His point, he immediately adds another parable: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Jesus’ point is that the message He came to proclaim, that of the Gospel or “Good News” of the Kingdom, is of infinitely more value than anything this world has to offer. And thus, a wise person, upon discovering the Gospel, will immediately recognize its immense value, will quickly seize this great treasure, and will then hold on to it as life’s dearest possession.
I have personally done just that. I encountered this wonderful treasure and secured it one day back in May of 1970. The possession and protection of it have been the primary occupations in my life ever since. I hope that you too have found this great treasure. If not, then, in the words of Jesus, “Seek, and ye shall find.”
For the same Jesus Who said this also told us (in the third chapter of the New Testament Gospel of John) that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And no treasure on earth can even begin to compare with that of eternal life!
*SOURCE OF NEWS ITEM: http://www.foxnews.com/science/201
4/03/12/louisiana-man-unearths-28-carat-white-diamond-at-arka
nsas-state-park/.