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Snake-handling Ky. pastor dies from snake bite
wkyt.com ^ | Feb 16, 2014 | Sam Smith

Posted on 02/17/2014 6:11:16 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave

The snake-handling pastor starring on the reality show "Snake Salvation," has died from a snake bite, according to Middlesboro Police.

Police believe Jamie Coots died after a rattlesnake bit his right hand during a church service Saturday night.

Coots was found dead in his home about 10 p.m. after refusing medical help, according to police.

"The snake that bit him, we've been carrying it for four months. It's been carried hundreds of times and handled at all kinds of times," said Cody Coots, Coots' son. "When it's your time to go. It's just your time to go. "

Coots was best known for his starring role on National Geographic's show "Snake Salvation." The reality show highlights the snake handling practice at his church in Bell County.

WKYT spoke to Coots about a year ago, after he was stopped in Tennessee where police found several rattlesnakes and copperheads in his car.

Coots said he believed the venomous snakes couldn't hurt him as long as he had the power of God.

"We use them in religious ceremonies and I believe as for me, if I don't have them there to use I'm not obeying the word of god," Coots said.

Coots said he was a third-generation snake handler and hoped to pass the church on to his son, Cody.

Pastor Coots will be laid to rest at Creech Funeral Home on Tuesday. Visitation is at 5 p.m. and the funeral is at 8 p.m. The interment will be private.


TOPICS: Religion; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: darwin; darwinaward; kentucky; pastor
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To: cripplecreek

Exactly. Same reason Westboro get so much press-they want people to think this is what Christianity is about.


21 posted on 02/17/2014 6:47:17 AM PST by icwhatudo (Low taxes and less spending in Sodom and Gomorrah is not my idea of a conservative victory)
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To: TomServo

GOOD ONE, thanks for your comment!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7iqVfrGY7w

Above uploaded on Jan 12, 2008
Song by: Pinkard and Bowden. Digital transfer from 45. For those of you who don’t understand the song and what it means.. In the south, we have what is called “Snake Handeling”. Meaning, that you hold a snake and it will either bite you or not. If it doesn’t then you go to Heaven but, If it does than you go to hell. But, This is one of my first creations and I made it into text form... Enjoy


22 posted on 02/17/2014 6:48:22 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave (The democRATic party preys on the ignorant..!)
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To: Las Vegas Dave

I loved Pinkard and Bowden before they went X-rated.


23 posted on 02/17/2014 7:09:44 AM PST by Scoutmaster (I'd rather be at Philmont)
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To: Las Vegas Dave

I’m not going to question that this guy was legitimately saved, but I can well imagine him showing up in Heaven and St. Peter smacking him across the face and going “What’s wrong with you?!”


24 posted on 02/17/2014 7:11:32 AM PST by william clark (Ecclesiastes 10:2)
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To: Abathar
"Kind of a “Hold ma Bible and watch this!” thing..."

LOL! Another literalist/fundamentalist religious nut-case bites the dust.

25 posted on 02/17/2014 7:17:32 AM PST by Matchett-PI (It's a single step from relativism to barbarism, low information to Democrat, ignorance to tenure)
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To: left that other site

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/all/

Sure they do. They’re on MTV, though.


26 posted on 02/17/2014 9:09:33 AM PST by dmz
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To: dmz

Ah yes...I see your point.

BUT, if they are on MTV, is their purpose to ridicule these demographic groups or to hold them up as sterling examples of American Life?


27 posted on 02/17/2014 9:24:54 AM PST by left that other site
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To: Las Vegas Dave
At least he died doing something he loved.

:>}

28 posted on 02/17/2014 9:33:14 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam is a religion of peace, and Moslems reserve the right to behead anyone who says otherwise.)
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To: left that other site

Funny. No idea. I just went to the mtv website. I don’t watch the shows myself. LOL.

I had a conversation a couple of years ago with my daughter about the pregnant and 16 show, though, and they do NOT glorify the life these young girls live.


29 posted on 02/17/2014 10:12:27 AM PST by dmz
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To: Las Vegas Dave

I bet that hurt for a bit.


30 posted on 02/18/2014 12:04:16 PM PST by b4its2late (A Progressive is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: Las Vegas Dave
Some quick thoughts:

1. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. - Galatians 6:7

2. These kind of people use Mark 16:17-18 as their basis for such antics. But, a) we don't read about people in the Bible intentionally playing with poisonous snakes to prove their spirituality (in fact, the whole message of the New Testament is that our spirituality is based on what's inside, not what we do outwardly); and, b) I don't recall reading about any of these folks drinking poison very often.

3. The son said something to the effect that "It must have been God's will." Ignorance, sickness, and death (even from poisonous snakes) came into the world because of man's decision to sin - until that time, creation was perfect!

3. The world just loves it when Christians make fools of themselves.

31 posted on 02/18/2014 12:24:07 PM PST by jda ("Righteousness exalts a nation . . .")
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