Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Nov. 15, 2011

“Going in the Right Direction”
“Run to God! Run from evil!" – Proverbs 3:7b (The Message)

A woman calls her elderly husband on his cell phone. “John, you need to be very careful coming home!” she exclaimed. “I just heard on the radio that there is a car going the wrong direction on the freeway.” Her husband answered, “It’s not just one! There are hundreds of them!”
On this thing called the “Highway of Life” we may traveling in the wrong direction and not realize it until we run into the obstacles that could endanger us. We also discover how easy it can be to simply, “lose our way!”
On Monday, February 6, 1995, according to the Chicago Tribune, a Detroit bus driver finished his shift on the Route 21 bus and headed for the terminal. But somehow, he took a wrong turn. He didn't arrive at the terminal at the scheduled time of 7:19 P.M., and a short time later his supervisors started looking for him. Mean-while the driver's wife called the terminal and reported her husband might be disoriented from medication he was taking.
For six hours, the forty-two foot city bus and its driver could not be found. Finally the state police found the bus and driver – over a hundred miles northwest of Detroit. The bus was motoring slowly down a rural two-lane road, weaving slightly from side to side. The police pulled the bus over, and the driver admitted that he was totally and completely lost!
A police news release later stated, "The driver had no idea where he was and agreed he had made a wrong turn somewhere. Apparently this had not occurred to him during the four hours he drove without finding the bus depot. The bus driver had been driving this same route for close to 15 years!
The prophet Isaiah wrote, "All we like sheep have gone astray." (Isaiah 53:6). We think we know the way until we take a wrong turn. If God is not leading you - who or what is?
Solomon implores us to; “Run [to] God!” Go toward Him. Move your life in His direction – or better said – Go the way He is going. Perhaps the Psalmist says it best: “You have made known to me the path of life.” – Psalm 16:11
God’s “way” leads to life’s greatest destinations: Peace, Joy, Hope, and best of all Love. The road is not always smooth but it is the best.
Conversely, we are told to “Run [from] evil.” Evil’s “way” leads to destinations that are not at all to be desired. They are, Hate, Bitterness, Depression, Hopelessness and the worst or all, Destruction. And too often, like the man in the first illustration we may not always be aware that we are the ones going the wrong way. It is easy to blame others for our problems—see ourselves in a positive light but in truth, we are not headed in the way we should be. Which direction are you headed?
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Nov. 14, 2011

“Know What You Do Not Know”
“Don’t assume you know it all..." – Proverbs 3:7 (The Message)

Christian comedian Jeff Allen in one of his routines says; “I believe teenagers are God’s revenge on mankind. It’s as if God said, ‘Let’s see how they like it to create someone in their own image who denies their very existence.’” He goes on to say; “Nowhere in the Bible does it mention how old the devil was when he rejected God’s authority. My guess it would be fifteen. I don’t even know why kids are made to go to school when they turn 15. Is there anything that a 15-year-old doesn’t already know?”
I love the humor in that but then at the same time I sit back and think how often we (yes, we adults) treat the grace, love and knowledge of God as well. I would not necessarily call it flat-out “rebellion,” but it certainly leads to it. As a child I never questioned my parent’s authority or their knowledge. It does not mean I understood it or was perfect in my obedience toward them but I did not consider for a moment that they could be wrong. When I became a teenager with the ability to begin thinking on a more abstract level I began to consider that there were things that I had a better grasp on. Then, once I had my own children I understood exactly how my parents felt when my “authority” was questioned or disobeyed.
Verse 5 of chapter three says, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart.” What I think this means [for me] is that I must do my absolute most and best to “know what I don’t know.” I realize my limitations – that I cannot know it all and to be quite honest that is just far too much responsibility and I am not strong enough to handle it all, but that should not prevent me from seeking more of who God is!
Compartmentalmindedness (an actual word) is seldom used anywhere these days. One reason may be that most of us cannot pronounce it!! It means separating one’s spiritual life from one’s secular life. People who do this are not schizophrenic, but they are a bit crazy if they think they can maintain two totally separate lives and never bear the consequence of such behavior.
Religious history is filled with people who have done this. I think immediately of two writers of great hymns. John Newton once trafficked in slaves but ended up writing “Amazing Grace.” How could such behavior be justified? “Just doing his job,” as many might offer as an explanation for such thinking today. Newton also wrote the hymn that begins, “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds, in the believer’s ear!”
Then there was John Bowring who, during his term as Governor of Hong Kong in the mid-1850s, pushed for free trade between England and China that led to the introduction of opium in China, resulting in millions of Chinese people becoming addicted to the soul-destroying habit. Many today might reason that Bowring was merely operating under orders from British lords. But it is hard to reconcile his choices with the words he wrote to perhaps his most famous hymn:
In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime. When the woes of life o’ertake me, hopes deceive, and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me; lo, it glows with peace and joy. When the sun of bliss is beaming light and love upon my way, From the cross the radiance streaming adds new luster to the day. Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no measure, joys that through all time abide.

Did these men come to regret the part they played in promoting two of the worst social evils that have plagued our world? Yes. Would they have taken a different direction if they had known in advance the outcomes of their decisions? I believe they would. But choices always lead to inevitable consequences.
King David’s highest ambition was to build a Temple to honor the God of the Israelites. But he had been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israel’s enemies. God said, “You have killed many men in great battles you fought. And since you have shed so much blood before me, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name.” (1st Chronicles 22:8). David’s son, Solomon, would eventually lead in the construction. David designed it; he purchased construction materials and assigned to others the job of cutting stone and gathering choice wood for the building. Solomon would supervise the construction. David’s final words to the assembly were prophetic (1st Chronicles 22:19): “Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart. Build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that you can bring the Ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy vessels of God into the Temple built to honor the Lord’s name.”

Perhaps Jesus had David’s words in mind when he said (Matthew 6:33): “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Trying to separate the sacred from the secular is difficult, if not impossible. How much better to put God and his will first in your life, and let everything else you do flow down from that priority. You might not end up writing great hymns, but you will end up orchestrating a great life. Jesus said it, so it must be true.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Christian Unity

by Que Clingerman, Calabash, NC
Nov. 15, 2011

Reason Poteet's poem, "The Lord's Prayer", Chime of the Day today, reminded me that there is an organization called World Trumpet Ministry headquartered in Orlando, FL in the USA that is working to get churches of all denominations to pray together. In several states it has been quite successful. If you go to Google you will probably find out more about this organization. A friend of mine, Rev. Chris Vennetti, is very much involved with promoting this ministry. I am praying that every effort to bring devote Christians together to pray for this nation and the world will succeed. We desperately need a spiritual awakening in the USA and the world.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. - 2 Thessalonians 3:3(New International Version).,br />
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. - Psalm 145:18(New International Version).

A QUOTE,br /> Every Christian has experienced personally the graciousness of God, who alone forgives iniquity. Hallelujah! - Sergio Franco -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Much wisdom comes from wise words, little from wisecracks and less from wise guys. - From Reminisce Magazine -
The trouble with the younger generation is that most of us aren't in it. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been mostly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 78 degrees. Low temperature for today is the current temperature of 59 degrees. A few drops of rain fell a few minutes ago but not enough to even get a cat wet. I had lunch today with my brother, Charley, our friend, Bill, and my pastor, J.T. Our waitress today was Bobbi who always does an excellent job of taking care of us. I came by the post office and then home. I took a nap this afternoon without a cat. I put out treats and food for the cats at 4:30 p.m. At 5:00 p.m. I watched "Trains and Locomotives" on the RFD channel. I just love to watch those old steam engines that were around when I was a child. Last week I wrote that you folks could write and tell me about your activities like I do every day. I heard from a few of you telling me what you do. I heard from Alice today and I wrote her that I was going to use her letter on the Good Things tonight. She didn't object. Alice is church secretary for Bereans Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When you write about your activities, tell me if you don't want it published for everyone to read.
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal in their usual places. The others have been around today.

Here is Alice's letter:
Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my very favorite scriptures. Saturday I came to the church to print and fold the bulletins for Sunday, and include a Special Thanksgiving Offering envelope in them. After that I planned to go to Barnes And Noble to read a while. I like to go there, because at home there is too much to do to sit down to read - unless I'm studying. Bill came with me, and played on an extra computer while I worked. We got a call from my brother to meet them at Braums. So, bulletins ready, we went to Braums and visited with them and everyone who came through that we knew. :) A man named Joe works at Braums, a second job. He was laid off when the crisis came and everyone was laying people off rather than letting them retire in a year. Joe and his wife are members at an Assembly church in Red Fork, OK. He manages to witness quite a bit in there, I think. Well, we finished that visit in time to run on over to Barnes and Noble and read for an hour - and have one of their tasty coffee latte drinks. They closed at 11PM, so we went home. Time to study the Sunday School lesson. I've been teaching from Nehemiah. This lesson was Nehemiah 12. Nehemiah is a wonderful book - I never realized how much it offered. I got so involved in that (along with letting the dogs in/out/in/out/beg/treat/in/out) that when done with the study and preparation of lesson I looked up at the clock and it was 4AM. Yikes :) I went off to bed, getting as uncomfortable as possible to be sure I could wake up and get going in three hours. haha. Yep, I did! Totally inspired by Nehemiah. Church service was good. A beautiful little girl named Anna went forward to proclaim her trust in the Lord as her saviour! That was wonderful. She is special. That's a good ending for my backatcha epistle. Praise the Lord and in all things give thanks! Pray today for Joanne Roe. She is in surgery right now, has been for 2 hours. They are rescuing her from cancer, with the Lord's guiding hands. Love, Alice

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Sunday, November 13, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
7 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. - James 5:7-8(New Living Translation).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” - James 4:13-15(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Welcome every morning with a smile. - Og Mandino -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Everyone wants progress, but few want the change that progress requires. - From Reminisce Magazine -
A hint is something we drop but seldom pick up. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny with a few clouds now and then in McAlester, Oklahoma. High temperature today was 81 degrees with a low this morning of 63 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. I had lunch at home. I took a nap this afternoon with Emmy and Little Girl (cats you know). I put treats and food outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. I attended church tonight. Tonight was Missionary night where we learn more about our missionaries.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them today. Rascal is on a desk near me at present while Little Girl is on the back of the couch. When I came home from church tonight Rascal was waiting for me on the front porch same as last Sunday night. After I came in tonight he followed me around for a while and then went on about his cat business.
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.