Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Tuesday, August 30, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained." - Philippians 3:14-16(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. - Proverbs 1:7(New International Version).

A QUOTE
From the greatest to the least, God's creation is remarkable. - Jim Edlin -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Aim for the sky, even if you hit only the treetop. - From Reminisce Magazine - What you fall for is determined by what you stand for. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
We had a light shower of rain beginning around 8:30 a.m. this morning which lasted probably an hour. Not much rain but every little bit is appreciated. I had lunch with Charley. I went to the post office. I took my nap in early afternoon. At around 4:30 p.m. I went out to mail a letter and stopped by Braums for an item. My next door neighbor mowed my lawn this afternoon. I pay him for mowing. At about 6:45 p.m. I went out to the back yard and gave the cats their treats and put out fresh water and food. I have had several e-mails since the Good Things on Sunday night. I won't list them but you know who you are and your e-mails are really, really appreciated. That is one thing that keep the Good Things coming your way. The picture tonight is Itty Bitty. The cats are fine. Rascal seems to be getting over his sore foot. He was in to check on me a little while ago. Itty Bitty and Leo have both walked through the den going from back to front or vice versa. Little Girl is lying on a tv tray tonight. I have seen all the cats this evening plus Lucy, my friendly little stray. Tony has also been over for a bite of food. After the rain this morning the skies have been mostly cloudy with the sun coming out at times for an hour or so. High temperature today was 99 degrees. Low temperature today has been 76 degrees. At 9:50 p.m. skies are clear with a temperature of 92 degrees. I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett

Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC
Aug. 30, 2011

When God wanted sponges and oysters, He made them, and put one on a rock, and the other in the mud. When He made man, He did not make him to be a sponge or an oyster; He made him with feet and hands, and head and heart, and vital blood, and a place to use them and said to him, "Go work!" Henry Ward Beecher

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him -- for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work -- this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

With gladness of heart let us do our work. I know in light of the events of recent days since Hurricane Irene, there is much work for many people to do. We didn't ask for this devastating hurricane, but it happened and there is much work ahead. The most important thing is gratitude. When we know things could have been much worse, gratitude tells us to be thankful that it wasn't worse. To be alive and to have work to do is a blessing. Now, I must remove myself from this chair and get ready to go to the office and do my work. Have a wonderful day in the Lord. Love, Nan

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Sunday, August 28, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I (wisdom) hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. - Proverbs 8:13(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. - Proverbs 9:10(New International Version).

A QUOTE
You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. - Zig Ziglar -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Commitment is made up of promises kept day by day. - From Reminisce Magazine - How much you know matters less than how much you care. - From Reminisce Magazine - If you don't have a Bible, GET ONE. If you've got a Bible, READ IT. If you read the Bible, BELIEVE IT. If you believe the Bible, LIVE IT. - From Life's Little Handbook Of Wisdom - People with a heart for God have a heart for people. - From Reflecting God -

NOTES
I am running a little late again. I almost decided to miss the Good Things tonight but I thought there might be something included tonight that is just what someone needed. If that is the case with anyone, send me an e-mail and let me know. I attended Worship Service this morning. I had lunch at home. I rested this afternoon. Tonight was fellowship night at the church. Usually I start getting ready at 5:30 p.m. and leave around 5:45 p.m. to get to the church by 6:00 p.m. I was debating with myself whether to go pick up a couple of pizzas to take to the fellowship. I turned on the television just before 5:00 so I could watch 30 minutes of the Lawrence Welk show. Well, the Lawrence Welk Show tonight was country and western tunes and was one of the best of his shows that I have ever seen. It originally was broadcast in 1968. That was 43 years ago and some of you were very young at that time if your were even born. I was 38 years of age at the time and I don't remember watching this program back then. As this big orchestra started playing and singing these country and western songs I just couldn't leave to go to fellowship time. The program lasted for an hour and when it was over it was too late to go to church. I know that some of you folks that read this think this old man is living in the past and has just about lost contact with the present generation. That is partly true and I am ready to go on and leave this current generation when the Lord is ready for me. I tried to remember the tunes that were played and sung tonight and I rembered 15 of the titles but there were two or three more, I think. The titles that I remember are "Anytime", "Don't Fence Me In", "Here Comes Heaven", "If I Could See The World Through The Eyes Of A Child", "I've Got Spurs That Jingle Jangle Jingle", "Just Because", "Make The World Go Away", "Ragtime Cowboy Joe", "San Antonio Rose", "Tennessee Waltz", "The Auctioneer", "The Wayward Wind", "Wabash Cannon Ball", "Walking The Floor Over You" and "You Are My Sunshine." Do you remember any of these songs? The cats are fine. Little Girl is on a tv tray. Rascal was by a little while ago. They are all accounted for. The picture tonight is Rascal. I will see you next time unless you would like to be dropped. In that case send me an e-mail and I will certainly understand.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett christian, McAlester, OK
Tuesday, August 23, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. - Proverbs 15:9(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 40 "For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son (Jesus) and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” - John 6:40(New International Version).

A QUOTE
It is not enough to have truth planted in our minds. We must learn and labor to keep the ground clear of thorns and briars, follies and perversities, which have a wicked propensity to choke the word of life. - Clyde Francis Lytle -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Conscience is the small voice that sometimes makes you feel smaller. - From Reminisce Magazine - Bending over backward is a great exercise for building good relationships. - From Reminisce Magazine - A friend is one who doubles your joy and halves your sorrow. - From Reminisce Magazine -

A FACT ABOUT CATS
Cats are extremely agile climbers, using both their legs and claws to anchor themselves firmly on a branch. Kittens have to learn these skills by trial and error. - From "Cats" by David Alterton

NOTES
Today I had lunch with my friend, Bill, since my brother, Charley, attended a funeral. Bill insisted on buying my lunch since it is my birthday. Taco Bob's gave me a slice of cheese cake to eat with my meal. Bill had been at Bob's for a while when I arrived and I was still eating when Bill left to do some things(he is retired but is always busy doing things, helping people lots of the time). About that time my pastor came in to Taco Bob's to sit with me and have lunch. He brought me a cake to bring home from he and his wife, Dianne. I went by the post office and then by Braum's for a couple of items. I took a nap with Rascal and Smokey and when I awoke I went to Buck Thetford's Barber Shop and got a hair cut. I put food and water out at about 6:45 p.m. The picture tonight is a wild orchid from Hawaii. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from June, Mary Ellen, Steve, Geneva, Mary Jo, Paula, Janice and Alice. The e-mail from Mary Ellen Smith has a prayer request and I will leave it at the end of Good Things. After I finish the Good Things tonight this 86 year old man is going to have some birthday cake. The cats are fine. Little Girl back on the filing cabinet. Rascal is lying in the floor. The rest are accounted for. Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 102 degrees. Low temperature last night was 79 degrees. At 10:25 p.m. skies are clear with a temperature of 88 degrees. I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Here is Mary Ellen's letter:
Hi Everett, please add my prayer request to the others. My husband Kip is battling Melanoma cancer. He is in a study group for the new drug Vemurafenib that has just been approved by the FDA. This means the study will be over and he will have 30 more days of the drug. After that we are praying for the Lord to make a way for him to stay on it. He had tumors through out his body when he started the drug about six weeks ago. At that time the Dr. said he had two months to live. The tumors under his arm are the ones we can see and feel and they are getting smaller! One is gone. So, when he gets his pet scan at the end of the month, beginning of next, we will see what is going on with the rest of the tumors in his body. He is very tired I mean way way tired. Not eating hardly at all, and has lost interest in most of what is going on around him. I am very worried. His blood sugar needs to get lower as well, or they will take him off the meds. Please friends, pray for my Kip. That the Lord would bless the medicine to his body and he would get completely well. Thank you. Mary Ellen Smith

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Aug. 23, 2011

“God’s Road Map to Life”
"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares..." - Proverbs 1:20 (New International Version)

True understanding and knowledge of what is right is never far away. "It calls aloud..." as Solomon says. Meaning: It is not obscure or hidden but highly visible and more importantly, very available! Unfortunately many just close their eyes and their ears and refuse to hear what she has to say. They are “tuned-out” you might say. Or, they are not willing to read the map they have been given. Maps are great tools! People will spend hours and months, making certain that maps are properly marked with the correct road numbers. Why? So that those traveling those roads have the correct information in front of them, preventing them from getting lost – helping people reach their destination. If you have no idea how to get where you want or need to go - consult the map! Now here is where the problem arises…despite the availability of maps and the arrival of GPS systems – people continue to get lost. Call it pride, ignorance, or a combination of both – too many refuse to follow necessary directions. Many of us have one common destination...Eternity! Hebrews 9:27 says, “…man is destined to die once…” There are, however, so many diversions that the majority of those headed toward that destination are hopelessly lost! Wisdom (God’s Eternity Road Map) calls, yet many are so busy listening to so many other things they cannot hear! Or, what is even more destructive is they are following their own lead – refusing to seek directions. (Where have we heard that one before?) The following illustration shows what can happen when one refused to realize they needed a new direction. Andre-Francois Raffray was one who chose to follow his own lead. A retired lawyer in Arles, France, Raffray made what any reasonable businessman would say was a sound financial decision. According to the Chicago Tribune, for a five-hundred-dollar-a-month annuity, he bought the rights to take over an apartment in Arles, on the death of its current resident. The woman living in the apartment was Jeanne Calment, age ninety. Actuarial tables predicting the mathematical probabilities of Jeanne Calment's life span were clearly on the lawyer's side. Thirty years later and $180,000 poorer, Raffray had still not moved into the apartment. On Tuesday, February 21, 1995, Jeanne Calment celebrated her 120th birthday. She was verifiably the oldest person in the world. Each year on her birthday she would send Raffray a card that jokingly said, "Sorry, I am still alive!" Raffray died two weeks after Calment's 120th birthday. What are we listening to? What has our attention? What (or whose) “map” are we following? The voice of wisdom is calling…are we listening?
Pastor J. T. Carnell