Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

Friday, December 23, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. - Luke 2:1-7(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. - Psalm 55:22(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER,br /> Gentleness and kind persuasion win where force and bluster fail. - From Reminisce Magazine -,br /> It's more pleasant to give than to receive - especially medicine and advice. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a partly cloudy day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 44 degrees and a low temperature of 32 degrees. I had lunch today with Charley, Bill and Steve. Then quick trips by the post office, Walgreens, and Braums. I had my nap with Beau and Emmy. At around 2:30 p.m. I made a trip to the bank. Tonight I am going try something different. I am going to send the Good Things to me and then forward that copy to everyone and see if that will make a difference in the lines running off the side of the page. Let me know if that makes a difference. I will also stop using special stationery just in case that might be causing the problem. The old year is winding down and Christmas is upon us. I have been thinking about the New Year and the Good Things. I think it would be good to have everyone who wants to receive the Good Things in the new year to send me an e-mail and tell me so. So why don't you send me an e-mail before January 1, otherwise I will drop you on that date if I choose to continue the Good Things in the new year.
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are in their regular places. Have a nice Saturday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Christmas

by Gynith Robers

Merry Christmas to All.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Dec. 23, 2011

Daily Ornament!
A Week of Peace: Friday, Day Twenty-Seven of Advent

“The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. Your throne was established long ago; You are from all eternity. – Psalm 93:1-2

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:67-80
“And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” – Luke 1:80

From today’s Lesson in “Illuminate.”
“At the beginning of Luke we met Zechariah, an upright Jewish priest who was serving in the temple. All of those details were an invitation to respect Zechariah for his place of honor within the Jewish community. Yet when he is visited by a messenger of God, he questions God’s plan. This man, who is pictured as godly, lacks faith and loses the ability to speak. But that is not the end of Zechariah’s participation in God’s story. Instead, Zechariah becomes for us an example of a person growing in God’s grace in preparation for the coming of the Lord. Zechariah reappears in the story when Elizabeth gives birth, and he is asked to name the child. In renewed faith, he obeys God and names the child John. Immediately his mouth opens and we know that God restored Zechariah as a faithful witness to the coming of the Lord.” (pg. 73) Today, (December 23) is my father’s birthday. Had he lived he would have been 96. He died at the age of 52 of lung cancer in 1967. I was 8 at the time and I never really had the opportunity to get to know him.
For those who are not aware (although most reading this are) I was adopted. From the moment I was born I became the child of Darrell and Corine Carnell, not my birth parents. Despite the fact I was not his “natural” child it did not lessen the fact that my father loved me dearly. One of the few early memories I have as a boy was an old blue GMC truck my dad owned. After he bought the truck one of the first things he did was to put on the doors on both sides of the truck these letters: D.E. Carnell & Son. That is how much he loved me. One other note, when I was born my father was 44, not exactly the time when people start a family. It got me to wondering how old Zechariah was at the time of John’s birth. We are told that both he and Elizabeth were advanced in age and had probably accepted the fact that they would never have the experience of being parents! But God changed their thinking! What we do know is that Zechariah’s joy knows no bounds!! The passage from Luke is filled with praise and joy—his love for his son and his God cannot be contained! Advent for me is much like the joy Zechariah is experiencing, and the joy my father received in realizing he had a son. I also see Advent as God’s way of allowing me to be a part of His family! He cares so much for me that He was willing to go to the greatest lengths possible—and He calls me His Father!
For far too many, Advent is nothing more than a seasonal celebration—a time to “cut-loose” and revert back to their child-hood! The story of the birth of a child (two actually if you add John) grants us an excuse to become children ourselves. What do you think would happen if more, in their celebration, would see God as their true Father? Maybe more of us would be like John and “grow strong in spirit!”
I am thankful for my adopted father—a man who loved completely unconditionally. The same can be said for my heavenly Father who had done the same!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Thursday, December 22, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. - Matthew 1:18-24(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” - 1 Peter 5:5(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong, How hard the battle goes, the day how long: Faint not - fight on! Tomorrow comes the song. - Maltbie Davenport Babcock -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
One kind word can warm three winter months. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 56 degrees and a low temperature of 38 degrees. I had lunch with Charley today. Bobbi was our waitress. I went to the post office and then to Walgreens to pick up a couple of prescriptions. Just as I left Walgreens and was headed toward my van I heard someone behind me say "Everett." I turned and it was my dear friend Leela, wife of Steve. We gave each other a big hug and chatted for a few minutes. As I said, Steve and Leela Patterson are dear friends of mine. I took a nap this afternoon with Emmy. At around 4:30 p.m. I made a trip to Country Mart for some items. Today I got in touch with my friend, Darren, who teaches computers at a college. I told him the problem that some people had been having about the text running too far off the page. He sent me an e-mail which I will include at the end of the Good Things. It appears the problem is not anything that I can fix. I do want to know when you have these problems with the Good Things.
The cats are fine. Emmy is now on the desk near my computer for a bite of dry food. She always lets me know when she wants my attention with a meow. Little Girl is lying in the floor in front of the heater. Rascal is in the recliner. Emmy just went to the top of the television set here in the den and is washing her face. Cats wash their face after they eat.
I hope everyone has a nice Saturday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett *********************************************************************************************************************************** Here is Darrens letter:
Everett,
The problem is not in your font size or your computer monitor. Your new Windows 7 machine has the latest version of Internet Explorer along with many new features. The problem is more with the person's Internet Browser that they are using, it is not compatible with yours. They are most likely still using Windows XP or an older version of Internet Explorer. I have viewed your e-mails on several computers today including my iPad and I have only had problems viewing it when I used the older version of Internet Explorer. When you type text into your text editor and send it out, the receiving browser, if it is up-to-date compensates for the text wrapping. The person that is receiving the email can use capitibility mode on their computer and it is possible it will fix it. Hope this helps. I do not believe it is your computer.
Thanks Darren

Daily Jewel

by pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Dec. 22, 2011

Daily Ornament!
A Week of Peace: Thursday, Day Twenty-Six of Advent

“Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—He remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.” – Psalm 146:5-10

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:57-66
“Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.” – Luke 1:64-66,br />
From today’s Lesson in “Illuminate.”
“John’s birth is a sign to us that the coming of the Lord is close at hand. John points us to the One who will bring the peace of God. John’s character is the embodiment of Advent because he is prepared by God to be a witness who prepares people to receive the Light of the world. Let us embrace John’s birth story and recognize our role as a people who call out: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” (pg. 71)
I have stated on a number of occasions—there are certain individuals that have a way of expressing themselves that reaches into my soul and embraces it with a holy knowledge. One of those individuals is a former professor of mine and a man I call a dear friend, Dr. Tom Barnard. The following is an article of his that I believe epitomizes the message for today. It is entitled, “A Lasting Christmas.”
We have a tradition at our house. We love Christmas so much that we keep some decorations up all year long. Last year Madelyn decided to keep up all year long a decorated tree in our entry-hall. It is out of everyone’s way—in a corner where the wide stairway to the second floor takes a left turn and provides a tall, narrow “nook” between the stairs and the entry-hall closet door. On this tree are dozens of “Christopher Radko” ornaments—those lovely, hand-painted blown glass ornaments like those that used to be imported from Europe and China prior to World War II. Only these are really special. They vary in size—large and small, tall and fat, round and square, shaped like trees and houses and Santas and candy canes and stars and trains and cars and snowmen and angels and wrapped presents. The colors are fantastic. On each box that contains a new ornament is a notice: “Fragile glass. Not a toy.” Radko ornaments are made in Poland, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. They are not cheap. On the wall just to the left of the closet door is a large green wreath covered with—you guessed it—more Radko ornaments. (I learned many years ago never to ask about the cost of the ornaments that grace our trees.) Yes, trees. As in more than one. Some years my wife has decorated a dozen trees for Christmas—in our home. But this year she decided to keep the tree and the wreath in the entry hall decorated all year long.
Guests visiting us in the spring, summer, or fall were treated to Christmas whenever they stepped into our home. Someone once asked, “Does all of this Christmas ever get old?” Not really. It is a reminder of the First Christmas, and the Gift of a Child that changed the world forever. Does that story ever get old?
The Advent Season is in full swing. It will be over in just a few days. Eventually the Advent Candles at church will be put away, along with the greens that grace the windows and walls of the sanctuary and the beautiful Christmas trees that are positioned on the church platform. The world will say it’s time to move on to New Years Eve. Christmas will be over. But not at our house.
The first Advent changed the world. It started with two families who received word from an Angel—and they were never the same. It was with them all the time!
Why not let the same be said for us? Why make it just for a few days? Be a living ornament for people to see and wonder of the Goodness of God!
Pastor J. T. Carnell