Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Saturday, February 11, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. - 1 John 4:7-12(New King James Version

) GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:16(New International Version).

A QUOTE
We were not sent into this world to do anything into which we cannot put out hearts. - John Ruskin -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
The best way to kill time is to work it to death. - From Reminisce Magazine -
We are not light in and of ourselves, but in the Lord. - From Reflecting God -

NOTES
Today has been the coldest day of the winter in McAlester, Oklahoma. High temperature today was 30 degrees and the low temperature was 21 degrees. The skies were cloudy until early afternoon and then the clouds moved out. As I write this skies are clear with a temperature of 26 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I was going to go to Walmart later in the day but Charley suggested I go while I was out for lunch and then I wouldn't have to get out in the cold again, so that's what I did. I also went to the Petsense store as well as the post office. I lay down for my nap around 2:00 p.m. I left the heater on here in the den today so Little Girl decided to sleep out here in front of the heater. Rascal took a nap with me today.
I put food and treats outside at 5:00 p.m. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Mary Ellen who lives in Colorado and Jennifer who live here in McAlester. I am going to post Mary Ellen's note at the end of the Good Things. I hope it comes through alright.
The cats are fine, staying inside most of the time during the cold weather. As usual, Little Girl is in the den with me and Rascal was here earlier but has now gone to another part of the house.
I hope everyone has a Wonderful Sunday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.
**************************************************************************************************************************************** Here is Mary Ellen's letter:
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Thank you Everett for the Good Things that draw us nearer to God.

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On The Mark

Author: Unknown
Feb. 11, 2012

"There is a lot of talk about who the next occupant of the White House will be. And while I believe that Christians should find a candidate who represents a biblical worldview as much as possible and then vote for that candidate, we also need to understand at the same time that no congressman or congresswoman, no senator, or no president can turn our country around.

It is not a political answer America needs; it is a spiritual answer. And the only real answer is a spiritual awakening. A revival must hit America. The classic verse that is often quoted on this subject was given initially to the nation of Israel, but it applies to our nation as well:

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV).

We want God to heal our land. But notice that God said, “If My people who are called by My name …” (emphasis added). When God looked at a nation that was having problems, he pointed his finger at his people. So often we are quick to point out all of the problems in our culture. But God essentially says, “You know, I have kind of been looking at you – you who are called by my name.” The question is, are we experiencing spiritual revival?

God was saying that if you want to turn a nation around, then his people need to live as they should.

That first-century church turned their world upside down. And the question arises, is that where we are today? I think, sadly, the answer is no. In a time when we need to engage our culture with the one truth that has any hope of transforming it, many in the church have turned away from the answer.

One pastor wrote a book questioning the biblical teaching on hell. Of course, that got a lot of press coverage, because many members of the media don’t believe in what the Bible teaches. Therefore, they embrace the idea of a so-called evangelical preacher saying that he was not certain that what we have always taught and believed about hell is really accurate.

Then I read about a pastor of a megachurch who said recently that he thinks the terms “saved” and “born again” should no longer be used in preaching because our culture doesn’t understand that. And a Christian blogger who is very popular questioned the whole idea of evangelism.

Now, I expect this kind of behavior from nonbelievers. But when I see it from people in the church, it causes me to be concerned. To these misled people and those who would follow them, I would say this: There has never been a time when it is more significant for us to warn people about the reality of hell and tell them that, yes, they need to be “saved” and “born again.” And yes, we need to do it through evangelism.

C. S. Lewis said, “All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.” The gospel message is eternal. It never goes out of date. It never goes out of style.

Is the church today, like the church of the first century, changing their world and turning it upside down? Or, is the world turning us upside down? Think about the daunting challenge the church of the first century faced. They had no political base … no voting bloc in the Roman Senate … no emperor of Rome who was sympathetic toward them.

These first Christians did not out-argue the pagans; they outlived them. Christianity made no attempts to conquer paganism blow by blow. Instead, the Christians of the first century outfought, outlived and out-prayed the nonbelievers. And that is because they recognized their weapons were not physical; they were spiritual. We don’t read that the Christians armed themselves and led a revolt against Rome. Rome had the most powerful military on the face of the earth at that time. No, the first-century believers decided to fight fire with fire. They recognized it was a spiritual battle, and so they used spiritual weaponry.

And what is that spiritual weaponry God has given us to fight the battle today? It is primarily prayer and the preaching of the gospel.

The problem is that we don’t use this weaponry. We use political means or other avenues as we try to solve problems, and it is like attempting to extinguish a forest fire out with a squirt gun.,br />
The Bible gives us an account in Acts 12 of a particularly difficult time in the early church. Herod had James, the brother of John, murdered. He had Peter imprisoned. So what did the church do? Did they organize a boycott of all products made in Rome? Did they develop a campaign to have Herod overthrown? No. They actually did something that we don’t do enough of these days. They prayed. We read in Acts 12, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (verse 5). Though all doors remained closed, one was still open: the door of prayer. As D. Martin Lloyd-Jones said, “Of all of the blessings of Christian salvation none is greater than this, that we have access to God in prayer.”

How things change as a result of powerful prayer. God will always have the last word. Acts 12 opens with James dead, Peter in prison and Herod triumphing. But it closes with Herod dead, Peter free and the Word of God triumphing. It’s not over till it’s over. That is the power of prayer. So, let's use the spiritual weapons that God has given us. Let's start praying!"

Sent to me via email by Geneva Poynter. Que

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Friday, February 10, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. - 1 Thessalonians 5:8(New King James Version)

. GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. - Proverbs 3:21-24(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Let my soul take refuge . . . beneath the shadow of Your wings; let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in You, O God. - Augustine -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Minds are like television sets. When they go blank, it's best to turn off the sound. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been cloudy and cold in McAlester, Oklahoma and it will be colder tomorrrow. High temperature today was 44 degrees with a low temperature of 30 degrees. At present it is partly cloudy with a temperature of 31 degrees. We had rain during the night but it stopped early this morning. My housecleaning lady came today and cleaned my house while I went to lunch. She had plans for tomorrow so she came today. I had lunch with Charley and my pastor, J.T. Carnell. We saw our dear friends, Stan and Sue McMullen, at Taco Bob's today. As I came home from lunch, I went by Country Mart for a few items and then to the post office. I lay down for my nap with Little Girl a little while before 2:00 p.m. I put food and treats outside at 5:00 p.m. I didn't stay long outside because it was cold. My cats didn't stay long outside either. I watched the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. I think that his band sounds similar to the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Jimmy Sturr's band plays a lot of polka music. You can pick his band up on You Tube if you would like to hear how it sounds. I have had e-mails since the last Good Things from Alice, Mary Jo, Geneva, Burlene and Tiyan. Thanks for your e-mails and thanks to everyone who reads the Good Things. I want you friends who read my Good Things to know that I consider each one of you a very dear friend.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is on the back of the couch. Rascal is trying to go to sleep on the desk near my computer. I reach over and pet him now and then. I will try to get all of them to stay inside tonight but if they insist I will let them out until they want back in.
I hope everyone has a nice Saturday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Feb. 10, 2012

“Clueless”
“Write this at the top of your list—get understanding!” – Proverbs 4:7 (The Message)

I used to think that the term “clueless” was a synonym for the word “stupid.” I have changed my mind on that one. The term implies a lack of information, misinformation, or a certain naiveté. And in some cases, it can be a very good thing. I’ll explain.
I love stories in the New Testament where the people were clueless about Jesus and his mission to the world. In Jerusalem it was the first day of the week leading up to Passover. Unknown to most of the citizens of Jerusalem, Jesus was about to enter their city. He had been in the city before, and whenever he came to town, something memorable happened. When he approached the city this time, he was riding on a donkey—not exactly a politically correct thing to do. Early risers near the entrance to the city that day spotted him, and a crowd soon gathered. Excitement was beginning to build. A friendly mob formed and followed him into the city. Here is how Matthew described it:
“He was the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!’ The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered, ‘Who is this?’ they asked. And the crowds replied, ‘It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’” (Matthew 21:10, 11

) They said the right words, but the mob had no idea about what was going to happen. Jesus would be dead in five days. But the mob didn’t see it coming. They were clueless. The contrasts that day were stark:

The mob shouted praises…Jesus wept. The mob looked for a warrior riding in a chariot…They got a carpenter riding on a donkey. The mob wanted hype…They got a healer. The mob wanted a prophet…They got a man who fulfilled prophecy. The mob wanted a guy with a scepter…They got a guy who would die before he would rule. The mob got nothing they asked for, but everything they needed. If they had only known….

A Christian College president reported to some of his colleagues on the events of the first week of classes at their school. A few days earlier he had met socially with a group of incoming students who had transferred from other universities. He asked them to tell about the most surprising thing they had experienced during that week in the new setting. One student said the thing that impressed her most was the fact that professors prayed before class. Praying before class was a surprise? Yes. And many in the new-student group agreed with her. There were other things that impressed them, of course, but the fact that professors began each class with prayer was at the top of their list of lasting first impressions. Until that first day in class they had been clueless about one of the differences between a Christian education and a secular education. They had been uninformed, but that was about to change…for the good. They also discovered that they felt much more attached to the school and their learning. Most of those students agreed that when they got into the classroom they became more attentive—open—and ready.
What’s the point here? That Christian colleges encourage prayer before classes and other colleges don’t? No. The point is that wherever Christians meet, caring happens. Where Christ’s followers gather, people are accepted for what they are. It is putting people at the “top of the list!” And it makes their lives better.
There is no reason at all that we should be “clueless.” Not when understanding is always within reach. Put it on the top of your list.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC
Feb. 10, 2012

I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, that I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do. Edward Hale

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. The longer I live, the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world. John Burroughs

Look for the loveliness everywhere offered.

What a wonderful thing a day is!!

One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is the triumph of enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hi, It's Nan ...... I am enthusiastic about life in general and specifically. Live today on purpose. Enjoy every moment. Yes, every moment. Give the world your smile. It is a priceless treasure, this smile of yours. Show the world the Light and the twinkle in your eyes as you give them this precious gift.
If you have ever seen a smile cross my lips, imagine that same smile right now as you read this love note today. Some of the greatest treasures on earth are absolutely free. You, my dear one, are a treasure! Enjoy!!!!
LOVE, Nan