Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Monday, August 15, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. - 1 Thessalonians 4:9(New International Version).
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul Wrote) 14 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.' Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain." - Philippians 2:14-16(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Stop and smell the roses. - Bob Welch -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
If you don't see an opportunity, try to create one. - From Reminisce Magazine - Every successful person got where he is by starting where he was. - From Reminisce Magazine - If you never made mistakes, probably no one would ever have heard of you. - From Reminisce Magazine -
A CAT FACT
Cats may sleep for up to three quarters of the day, especially when they are young. - From "Cats" by David Alderton -
NOTES
You noticed that I added another item to Good Things tonight. Someone may ask, don't we hear enough about cats without adding more about them? Well, a good friend of mine gave me a book yesterday titled "Cats" by David Alderton. This book has everything you would want to know about cats with a visual guide to more than 250 types of cats from around the world. Stan McMullen gave me the book. I have worked with Stan in the church for 48 years with the exception of the 10 months I lived in Moore, Oklahoma. So I will leave you a fact about cats every day for a while. Your comments are welcome, pro or con. Today, I had lunch with Charley, I went to the post office, then came by Braum's for an item. I took my nap with Emmy and Smokey. At 4:30 p.m. I went to city hall to pay my water-garbage-sewerage bill and came by Walgreens to pick up some asprins and eye vitamins. I put out food and water for the outside animals at 6:30 p.m. The cat picture tonight is Itty Bitty. The cats are fine. Little Girl is stretched out asleep on the filing cabinet. They are all accounted for this evening. Today in McAlester, Oklahoma, skies have been mostly sunny with a few clouds floating around. High temperature was 100 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 74 degrees. At 9:40 p.m. skies are mostly cloudy with a temperature of 90 degrees. I will see you next time. Send me an e-mail if you would like to be dropped from Good Things.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Aug. 15, 2011

“Spiritual Training Camp”
"Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse." – Proverbs 2:12

If you have been following this “devotional” for any length of time, you might be saying to yourself, “this sure seems repetitive.” I might not be too quick to disagree. There is an obvious answer to this! We need constant reminders and training to keep our “spirits” sharpened and ready for what may come our way. By now you should have figured out that I am a big sports fan and I am quick to make a number of analogies using my love of sports with how we can view God’s Words of life. With that said I believe the following analogy fits well with today’s verse. Currently all 30 professional football teams have began their yearly training camps. If you were to ask most of the veteran players they would tell you that if they could bypass training camp they would do it in heartbeat! There are a lot of repetitions…exercises…basic and routine plays that some have been performing for a number of years. Someone might ask, “If a player has been playing the sport professionally for several years, why do they need to keep attending training camp?” There are actually two answers to that and both make perfectly good sense. First, even though a professional player (regardless of the sport) may be at the top of their sport, they still need to sharpen their skills and prepare for the season ahead! Regardless of how good they are no one has their “skill” perfected. Secondly, there will be “rookies” at training camp who do not know the plays. Having skilled personal there to help them only serves to make the whole team better and that is the key to success—regardless of the sport. The Apostle Paul (a seasoned veteran) told his young protégé, Timothy; “Keep your sense of urgency (stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it be welcome or unwelcome…)” – 2nd Timothy 4:2 (The New Amplified Bible) Paul was telling Timothy always be ready for whatever comes your way! God's wisdom says, "Watch Out!" "Be Alert!" Wickedness can leap upon us in a moment’s notice. It is then that (God’s) wisdom will keep you protected against those individuals who act and think that way. It will protect your heart and mind against their negative (perverse) talk! The kind that hurts and destroys. The kind that can easily lead to anger and hatred. The kind that could destroy relationships. It is against such things we truly need wisdom’s protection!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Sunday, August 14, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. - Proverbs 3:25-26(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. - Psalm 145:14-16(New International Version).

A QUOTE
We must never let the pursuit of wealth displace our loyalty and love for God and His way of life for His people. - Robert D. Branson -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Adversity can be uplifting; a kite rises only when pulled against the wind. - From Reminisce Magazine - Everything comes to those who hustle while they wait. - From Reminisce Magazine - Be not simply good; be good for something. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
I attended worship service this morning. I had lunch at home. I had my nap this afternoon with Smokey. I attended church tonight. I put out fresh water and food for the outside animals after I came home from church tonight. I would like to write a few more comments tonight but I have to get the garbage ready and put out on the curb. The picture tonight is Smokey with his eyes shining from the camera's reflection. The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the file cabinet. I have seen all of them this evening. Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 95 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 70 degrees. At 9:30 p.m. skies are clear with a temperature of 86 degrees. I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Friday, August 12, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. - Romans 12:16(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
{The Lord says} 9 "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’" - Isaiah 46:9-10(New International Version).

A QUOTE
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. - Nola Bertelson - - Wise Sayings My Mother Taught Me -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
No one is honored for what he or she has received, only what he or she has given. - From Reminisce Magazine - There's no kindness more appreciated than just being there when needed. - From Reminisce Magazine - Don't be so preoccupied with making a living that you forget to live. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
I had lunch with my brother, Charley, today. We then went to a nursing home and visited a few minutes with our brother-in-law, O. V. McNutt. While there we also visited with a friend, Wayne "Curly" Hull. I then went to the post office and then home. I took my afternoon nap. At about 4:30 p.m. I went to Walmart for cat food and other items. I sat outside this evening for about 30 minutes. There was a very strong cool breeze from the northeast direction. It was cloudy and I watched the clouds for a while. The cloud formations at different altitudes were going in opposite directions. After I came inside we had some lightening and thunder but no rain this evening. Yesterday around noontime we had a good rain shower that lasted for a couple of hours or longer. I went to sleep with Rascal while it was raining and when I woke up the rain had stopped. The picture tonight is a pretty little gecko lizard on June and Keith's front porch. There are no poisonious snakes on Hawaii's islands, some say there are no snakes there at all. The lizards are non posionous. After my e-mail on Wednesday night to 58 addressees, I had 14 who responded to the idea of sending the Good Things every night. For the time being I will send them out every night that I feel like it and have the time. I appreciate the ones who responded and others that may respond later. I intended to send a personal thank you note to those who responded but haven't found the time. I have to rest every time I come in from going somewhere or every time I stir around a little. I appreciate everyone who reads the Good Things. It makes me feel very humble. If you would like to be dropped just let me know and I will drop you and I will certainly understand. The cats are fine. Little Girl just came in the den. Leo and Rascal came by a little while ago and Toney from across the street came by for a bite of food. He likes my food. I am sure he gets plenty of food at home. High temperature today was 99 degrees. Low this morning was 70 degrees. At present the temperature is 78 degrees. I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Aug. 12, 2011

“Stay on Track”
“…do not forget my words or swerve from them…” – Proverbs 4:5

How many times have we heard or been told that when driving down the road do not swerve should an animal run in front of you. When teaching my children to drive both my wife and I emphasized that point, but this was a hard lesson my daughter learned when she was a teenager. One day she and my son were traveling down a country road. It was around dusk and she saw what she thought was a buzzard standing in the middle of road. The closer she got the more she realized that is exactly what she was seeing and unfortunately the buzzard was not moving. Before she knew it she was right on top it and instead of hitting the bird she swerved—which caused her to fishtail on the gravel on the shoulder. The back of the car hit some brush that was on the side of the road causing more damage than if she had hit the bird. In my daughter’s defense, how many of us—even those who are experienced drivers find ourselves doing the very same thing? It is almost an instinct. An instinct that is more dangerous to the driver. Solomon is reflecting. He is remembering the lessons taught to him by his father. David was the most respected man in all of Israel—and it may be safe to say in most of the world as well. It is also safe to say that David made his share of mistakes in life—costly mistakes. Mistakes that proved deadly to many in the land. Perhaps these words were David’s way to warn his Son—“I know what I am talking about and I want to keep you on the straight and narrow path and prevent you the pain and humility I have experienced.” Essentially, David was telling Solomon—stay on course! Don’t swerve and in the end you will reach the goal! In his book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (Thomas Nelson, 1998), author John C. Maxwell discusses “The Law of Navigation” (Chapter 4). His opening line is insightful: “Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.” He tells the stories of two teams of explorers whose goal was to be the first team to reach the South Pole. One team was led by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Long before his team was scheduled to depart in 1911, Amundsen studied the methods of experienced Arctic explorers and determined that the safest plan was to negotiate the trip over the frozen Antarctic surface by dogsled. For his team he chose experienced skiers and dog handlers. The trip for the two-month journey to the Pole was divided into six-hour days, giving men and their dogs time to rest and prepare for the next day’s travels. Amundsen’s attention to detail was impressive. He set up depots along the way, depositing supplies and food for the return trip. He purchased the finest gear possible. He anticipated every possible hindrance throughout the trip. He charted the course with perfection. All of the members of his team survived, successfully reaching the Pole and completing the return trip with no serious problems. The other team was led by Robert Falcon Scott, a British naval officer who was familiar with overall conditions in the Antarctic. Instead of using dogsleds, Scott decided to use newer technology—motorized sleds, complemented by ponies. Only five days into the journey the motors on the sledges broke down. Soon afterward, it was discovered that the ponies couldn’t survive in the sub-zero weather and had to be euthanized. The men ended up hauling the 200-pound sleds themselves. Scott had purchased inferior equipment that failed to hold up in the cold weather. His men suffered scurvy, frostbite, and frequent snow-blindness. Food and water supplies were inadequate. After covering the eight hundred miles in ten weeks, Scott’s group arrived at the South Pole on January 17, 1912, only to discover that Amundsen’s team had beaten them to the goal by more than a month. Scott’s return trip was tragic. Two months into the return and short of supplies and exhausted, Scott’s team was still 150 miles from their destination. Scott and all of his men died. From these examples, Maxwell draws what he calls the Laws of Navigation. He concludes that we need to: · Anticipate the entire trip. “We need to see the whole trip before leaving the dock.” We need to “have a vision for the destination”—from start to finish. · Listen to what others have observed. We need to gather information from many reliable and Godly sources. · Examine the conditions thoroughly before making commitments. Maxwell says, “Good navigators count the cost before making commitments for themselves and others.” · Make certain to include both faith and fact. “If you can’t confidently make the trip in your mind, you’re not going to be able to take it in real life. You can’t minimize obstacles or rationalize your challenges.” I think David knew in his heart that Solomon would succeed him on the throne. He knew what it took to be a leader but mostly—what it took to be a “Man of God.” His hope was to steer his son in that direction and for him to stay the course! How are we doing on our road?
Pastor J. T. Carnell