Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Thursday, April 19, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble. - Proverbs 12:13(New Interational Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
19 And He (Jesus) took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them (the Apostles), saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." - Luke 22:19-20(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness. - Dorothy Law Nolte -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
For excellence, ask an expert; for wisdom, ask a sage; for honesty, ask a child. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 78 degrees and a low temperature of 58 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill at Taco Bob's Fiesta Grill. I went to the post office and then home. My neighbor mowed my back yard while I was out for lunch. I took my nap in early afternoon. I worked in my office room a little this afternoon. I sat outside with the cats from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. I finished reading the last book in the series "Comfort From Beyond." I then read from the "Angels on Earth" magazine that I received a couple of days ago. Of course I was not reading all the time I was sitting outside. I appreciate your e-mails. I appreciate everyone who reads the Good Things.
The cats are fine. Rascal is asleep on the desk near my computer. Little Girl is asleep on the sofa. I have seen all of them this evening.
I will see you next time,
With Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
April 19, 2012

“Having a Sand-Shake”
“The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet, her soft words are oh so smooth. But it won't be long before she's gravel in your mouth, a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart.” – Proverbs 5:3-5 (The Message)

We are continuing with this concept of the power of the adulteress. I think you have discovered by now it has nothing to do with prostitution—and yet it has everything to do with prostitution! The prostitute sells herself with the intent of luring in her customer. It is for entirely selfish reasons but that does not matter to her and she could care less what it does to her victim. And that is the point Solomon is trying to get across—the tempter could care less about you, he just does not want God to have you so that is where the power and the purpose of his seduction(s) derives. He even makes things we know are wrong look appealing!
As kids we have all probably eaten our share of, shall we say, things that that are probably not digestible. I remember having a sand box in our yard and making myself a “sand-shake.” Definitely not something you will find at Dairy Queen. But the reason that as young children we would do something as ludicrous as eating dirt or sand is simply because we didn’t know better until we got it into our mouths.
As an adult—we should know better. We should know the difference between what is edible and what is make-believe. What Solomon is saying is that even though we should know the difference between what is good and what is not—the adulteress (temptation) is very good at disguising its evil—that is until we attempt to digest it and only then do we discover the truth. The problem that creates is by that point we have either hurt others and our relationship with them or we have done some permanent damage to our own selves—created wedges or resentments that are not easy to overcome.
In the Christian Reader, Lynn Austin writes: “The artificial lures fishermen use look so phony, it astonishes me that any fish would fall for them: shiny metallic and gaudy plastic, hot pink and neon colors in stripes and spots.
Satan knows what he can use to dazzle and distract me. After more than 10 years of introducing myself as ‘just a housewife,’ my enemy dangled before me the lure of a ‘real job,’ with a pay-check and prestige. To boost my flagging self-esteem, I snapped at the bait and signed a contract before prayerfully considering the consequences to our family life.
Within a few months, I knew I had made a mistake. Early morning meetings forced me to leave the house while my children were still asleep. Afternoon conferences that dragged on and on turned them into latchkey kids.
The demands of the job did not line up with my talents and interests. As the work pressures and the laundry piled up, I missed my daily quiet times with the Lord, my friends at Bible study, and my daughter’s Mother’s Day program at school. When my contract expired a year later, I gratefully resigned. I had learned a hard lesson: not to be distracted by fancy lures that make me forget the things that really matter.”
The power of seduction. Subtle. Appealing. Alluring. But in the end—sandy. Unsatisfying. Unhealthy. Destructive. Just thinking about it makes me reach for my mouthwash.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Wednesday, April 18, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. - Psalm 91:5-6(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Lord said to Joshua) 9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
God does not comfort us to make us comfortable only, but to make us comforters. - John Henry Jowett -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
The noble secret of laughing at oneself is the greatest humor of all. - From Reminise Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 75 degrees and a low temperature of 51 degrees. Charley and I drove to Taco Bob's today and there standing in front of Bob's was our nephew, Denton McNutt (our sister's son) and his daughter Leslie. They said they were having a meal at The Meeting Place with some more relatives and they invited us to go eat with them, so that is what we did. Those attending that luncheon were Denton McNutt and wife Carol, their daughter Leslie, another daughter Jan and her husband, another nephew Doug McNutt (Denton's brother) and wife Darlene. We had an enjoyable time visiting. After going by the post office, I didn't get home until around 1:30 p.m. I sat outside for a few minutes and lay down for my nap around 2:00 p.m. I awoke at 4:00 p.m. and Smokey was napping with me. I sat out with the cats from 5:25 to 6:00 p.m. I watched a Billy Graham Crusade Classic from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. This one was from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 1993. Tonight I would like to welcome my nephew and wife, Doug and Darlene McNutt back to the Good Things. I had dropped them off some time ago since I hadn't heard from them in a long time. I thought maybe they might have left me for Facebook (I don't do Facebook) but Doug said they had missed the Good Things. I am sorry I dropped you off Doug but now you are back on for as long as I do the Good Things. Doug and Darlene live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I talked with my daughter June in Hawaii last night. I talked with my daughter Treva in Topeka yesterday morning and left her a message this morning. Ron I will call you one of these nights.
The cats are fine. Rascal is on the desk near my computer and I just reached over and petted him which he likes. As usual, Little Girl, is on the sofa. Leo just came in and let me knoww that he wanted some canned food so I went and opened a can. The five others, plus Lucy the Stray and Tony the neighbor cat have all been seen this evening.,br /> I will see you next time,
With Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
April 18, 2012

“God’s Road Map to Life”
"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares..."
- Proverbs 1:20 (New International Version) True understanding and knowledge of what is right is never far away. "It calls aloud..." as Solomon says. Meaning: It is not obscure or hidden but highly visible and more importantly, very available! Unfortunately many just close their eyes and their ears and refuse to hear what she has to say. They are “tuned-out” you might say. Or, they are not willing to read the map they have been given.

Maps are great tools! People will spend hours and months, making certain that maps are properly marked with the correct road numbers. Why? So that those traveling those roads have the correct information in front of them, preventing them from getting lost – helping people reach their destination. If you have no idea how to get where you want or need to go - consult the map!
Now here is where the problem arises…despite the availability of maps and the arrival of GPS systems – people continue to get lost. Call it pride, ignorance, or a combination of both – too many refuse to follow necessary directions.
Many of us have one common destination...Eternity! Hebrews 9:27 says, “…man is destined to die once…” There are, however, so many diversions that the majority of those headed toward that destination are hopelessly lost! Wisdom (God’s Eternity Road Map) calls, yet they are so busy listening to so many other things they cannot hear! Or, what is even more destructive is they are following their own lead – refusing to seek directions. (Where have we heard that one before?) The following illustration shows what can happen when one refused to realize they need a new direction.
Andre-Francois Raffray was one who chose to follow his own lead. A retired lawyer in Arles, France, Raffray made what any reasonable businessman would say was a sound financial decision. According to the Chicago Tribune, for a five-hundred-dollar-a-month annuity, he bought the rights to take over an apartment in Arles, on the death of its current resident. The woman living in the apartment was Jeanne Calment, age ninety. Actuarial tables predicting the mathematical probabilities of Jeanne Calment's life span were clearly on the lawyer's side.
Thirty years later and $180,000 poorer, Raffray had still not moved into the apartment. On Tuesday, February 21, 1995, Jeanne Calment celebrated her 120th birthday. She was verifiably the oldest person in the world. Each year on her birthday she would send Raffray a card that jokingly said, "Sorry, I am still alive!" Raffray died two weeks after Calment's 120th birthday.
What are we listening to? What has our attention? What (or whose) “map” are we following? The voice of wisdom is calling…are we listening?
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Tuesday, April 17, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 4:6(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 9 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." - John 10:9(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
God is peace when we're haunted by fear. - Sheri Rose Shepherd -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Busy souls have no time to be busy bodies. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 76 degrees and a low temperature of 45 degrees. I had lunch with Charley. I went to the post office, then by Walgreens to pick up prescriptions and then to Braum's for a couple of items. I sat outside a little while before I took my nap. I lay down for my nap at 1:30 p.m. I am not sure if a cat napped with me or not. At 5:00 p.m. I went to a Sonic drive in and picked up a hamburger and french fries. Hamburgers are half price at Sonic after 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings. I went outside with the cats at around 5:30 p.m. and stayed until 7:00 p.m. reading and visiting with the cats. I have had a few e-mails today most of them in response to an e-mail I sent out called Moving Pictures. I always appreciate your e-mails and I appreciate everyone who reads the Good Things.
The cats are fine. Rascal is lying on the desk near me asleep. Little Girl is on the sofa. Itty Bitty and Leo have been through the den recently.
I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.