Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 20, 2012

“Road-Trip!”
“Dear friend…with Clear Thinking and Common Sense…You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip…" – Proverbs 3:21, 23 (MSG)

Age has done something to me that I have been long to admit – I cannot do what I used to do without something hurting later! Ouch! That even hurts. When I was in college I would travel home without giving any thought to the fact that I lived almost 800 miles away a second thought. I would drive and drive and drive – and I would not tire because I was “driven” with the hope that I would be home soon. Not so any more. I almost shudder thinking about having to travel for just a couple of hours – let alone all day!
The same thing goes with playing sports. Even up to ten years ago, playing basketball for a couple of hours did little to prevent me from considering the consequences of what I would feel like a few hours later. Not so any more. I hurt now just thinking about what a couple of hours of playing basketball or tennis would do to my back or legs. Have you seen the recent commercials that talk about how much energy you have during the afternoons? The premise of course is the attempt to sell a product that is supposed to help get you through the afternoon and much like that commercial I see so many people who are just “dragging” through life. Each step makes it look like they are pulling a ball and chain – and maybe it is because – THEY ARE! They are dragging their cares, burdens, sorrows, anxieties, failures, and anger behind them and with them everywhere they go. Of course they are tired, they were not meant to live that way.
I may not physically be able to do what I used to do—travel as care-free as I once did—but I do not have to let life drag me to the point where I no longer enjoy the life God has given me to live.
I have also learned something else—not to take on more than I can handle at one time. Be a bit more deliberate and purpose driven! A professor was invited to speak at a military base and was met at the airport by an unforgettable soldier named Ralph. As they headed toward the baggage claim area, Ralph kept disappearing: Once to help an older woman with her suitcase: Once to lift two toddlers so they could see Santa Claus; and again to give someone directions. Each time he came back smiling. "Where did you learn to live like this?" the professor asked. "During the war," said Ralph. Then he told the professor about his duties in Vietnam. His job was to clear mine-fields, and he saw friends meet untimely ends, one after another, before his eyes. "I learned to live between steps,” he said. "I never knew whether the next one would be my last, so I had to get between picking up my foot and putting it down again. Every successful step felt like a whole new world."
Clear Thinking and Common sense says – “Let God do the driving!” He knows the way far better than I. It also lets me know that I do not have to bear my burdens alone—that He is willing to carry them with me and at times, for me! And that way, I won’t be tired when I get to my next destination.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Thursday, January 19, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. - Jude 1:17-19(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD,br /> 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. - Revelation 1:3(New King James Version).

A QUOTE,br /> Life is hard...but God is love when we need acceptance. - Sheri Rose Shepherd -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
You can't touch another's heart with anything less than your own. - From Reminisce Magazine -
A rumor is about as hard to unspread as butter. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 61 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 36 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went to the post office. I came home and sat out in the yard for about 20 minutes. It was a nice day to sit out. Some of the cats were out with me including Friendly, Little Girl and Smokey. I came inside and took my nap. Emmy was already asleep on the bed. Later in the afternoon I listened to the tunes from the year of 1945. I put out treats and food for the cats at 5:30 p.m. After I had a bite of supper I worked in my office room for over an hour shredding and throwing away old records. Rascal was there with me the entire time. Most of the time he was lying on the desk right in front of me. My back was hurting a little when I finished with the records so I almost didn't do the Good Things tonight so if any part of the Good Things was especially for you tonight, let me know. My back is fine now since I took a pill. If you would like to be dropped from the Good Things, let me know. About all I write about in my notes are my cats but they are my family. I think that Geneva's letter might have got dropped off last night so I will include it again tonight.
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are resting here in the den with me. Emmy and Smokey both came by a little while ago and got on the desk beside my computer. They have now gone elsewhere.
I hope everyone has a nice Friday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 19, 2012

“Steroid-Laced Society”,br /> “Dear friend…Clear Thinking and Common Sense…will keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive" – Proverbs 3:22 (The Message)

In a couple of weeks, what has become the biggest yearly event on the calendar will be here! It is the biggest Sunday of the year and millions of people are preparing for this one single event—so much so that retailers are calling it one of their “main events.” For those of you who think that I am talking about Easter, sadly, I am not. I am talking about Super Bowl Sunday!! It has become the single biggest and most extravagant sports event of the year. Not only will millions be “locked-in” sitting in front of their television sets, but thousands of churches will alter their schedule to accommodate their congregations. That is how big it has become!,br /> Also in a couple of weeks, the “pop of the bat,” and the sound of the baseball hitting the glove will be heard as Spring Training begins. The smell of hot dogs will soon be in the air and where the two words, “Play Ball!” are the mantra for two hours of nothing but pure Americana at its finest.
We have such a love-affair with sports in this Country and so much of our lives become wrapped up in what is happening on the football field…the basketball court or the baseball diamond. And we sit in the stadiums or in front of our television sets and marvel at these individual’s abilities. Or we used to! In recent years the steroids issue (or performance enhancing drugs) has redefined how we view a player’s performance on the field. Instead of being dazzled or amazed at the talent level many of these players display we are beginning to view their achievements with cynicism and doubt. Did Barry Bonds legitimately break Hank Aaron’s Home-Run record? Should Mark McGwire, “Big Mac” be in the Hall of Fame? As a St. Louis Cardinal’s fan I listened during every game that season as he and Sammy Sosa (another who disappointed his fans with allegations of steroid misuse) were vying to be the first to break the single-season home run record—only to have that record broken by the afore-mentioned Bonds. Football is no longer exempt from this as a number of professional player have been suspended after testing positive for some form of steroid. In this entire scenario—professional sports has become a true reflection of what we have become—not only as Americans but also as human beings! As a society we have come to the point where we treat entertainment as religion (Superbowl Sunday is a great example), the entertainers as gods and in many churches, we have reduced Christianity as nothing but entertainment.
Half a century ago, Christianity was strong and the Church was flourishing. People viewed Hollywood and professional sports for what they were and are, entertainment. Today, unfortunately, many treat Christianity and Christian leaders with cynicism while allowing Hollywood and most of the modern media to define, even dictate public policy. To some extent—there have been some of our Christian leaders who have created this problem. Their “steroid” was/is power and used their power to deceive the innocent and enhance their bank accounts.,br /> What is even worse is that we are getting precariously close to passing the “Point of No Return.” “Clear-Thinking” and “Common Sense” have been imprisoned and there are too many barring the gates to help set them free so that we can get back to living a far less complicated existence. Wouldn’t it be great to get back to a point where sports venues are good entertainment and the Church is great truth?
It begins with us! We set the standard. We must not allow the society to tell us what is important. We must stay focused and fixed upon the Word. Instead of Churches altering their schedules to accommodate a game, what if the game had to accommodate the Church? Just a thought!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
GOOD THINGS Wednesday, January 18, 2012 GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13(New King James Version). GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD 1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. - Psalm 112:1(New King James Version). A QUOTE The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched...but are felt in the heart. - Helen Keller - THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER Those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves. - From Reminisce Magazine - If you fall seven times, stand up eight. - From Reminisce Maazine - NOTES Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 47 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 20 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I went by Family Dollar store and bought liquid Tide laundry detergent. The price was $5.00 for a 40 oz. container(24 loads). I had a $2.00 coupon so the cost to me was $3.00 plus sales tax. You can't beat that price at Walmart or your local grocery store. I went by the post office. I went to Walgreens to pick up a couple of prescriptions. I took my nap this afternoon with Emmy. I listened to tunes this afternoon from 1944. I could tell you a lot about the year of 1944 but I had better get on with the Good Things. I put food and treats out for the cats this evening. At 6:00 p.m. I watched a Billy Graham crusade from from Ft. Lauderville, Florida in 1985. Today is another anniversary for me. It wa 66 years ago tonight that I had my first date with my Flonnie. I had gotten home from the Army on January 16, 1946 and this was two days later. My cousin, Audie (who receives this e-mail), will remember because she and her older brother, George, took me to get Flonnie. We went to a high school basketball game at Atwood, Oklahoma. That school is now closed. George drove since I didn't yet have my drivers liscense and Audie was a dear friend of Flonnie. I will admit to you that I shed a few tears this afternoon before I went to sleep. Since the last Good Things I have received e-mails from Alice and Geneva. I will share Geneva's letter at the end of the Good Things. The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal in their usual place here in the den. I have seen all the others this evening. I hope everyone has a nice Thursday! I will see you next time. In Christian Love, Everett. ********************************************************************************************************************************************* Here is Geneva's letter:<

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Jan. 18, 2012

“The Death of Common Sense”
“Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them…" – Proverbs 3:21 (The Message)

Guard clear thinking and common sense with your life. That is a big task, and one that should not be taken lightly. Seeing this verse I am instantly drawn to a couple of passages from the New Testament. The first one is this:

“Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:1)

The second one is very similar, but a bit more specific:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8

Obviously, there is something to be said about how we think and what we think about. That is what Clear Thinking will do for us. Keeping our minds unclouded and out of the gutter.
But what about “common-sense?” Can we actually do something about that? According to Solomon the answer is a staunch, YES!! The problem is we are no longer surrounded with this thing called common sense and our children (and grandchildren) will not know what it is unless we model it!,br /> I don’t remember exactly who sent it to me – but about five years ago I received an email from someone that makes this verse more important than ever. The concept behind it is something that is quickly becoming non-existent, the ability to clearly think and do the right thing. The following takes us there.
Today we mourn the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
Common Sense selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories, helping people get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.
For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, the early bird gets the worm, and life isn't always fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (adults are in charge, not kids), and it's okay to come in second.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including the free love movement, body piercing, whole language and "new math."
But his health declined when he became infected with the "If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus. In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of the “It’s-not-my-fault” virus teamed with overbearing federal regulation.
Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as Lifetime Values became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and entertainers were given the platform to determine public policy.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son Reason. Three stepbrothers survive him: Rights, Tolerance and Whiner.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.,br /> Wow! I knew Common Sense was ill – but I did not realize it was that serious. But then again—looking at our world and our society, I should have seen it coming.
Pastor J. T. Carnell