Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Wednesday, May 23, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
4 Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. - Proverbs 22:4(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13:14(New International Version).

A QUOTE
If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades. - Oswald Chambers -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
God loves us, not for what we are, but for what He can make us. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 89 degrees and a low temperature of 66 degrees. I had lunch with Charley. I went by the post office. I sat outside for a few minutes before I took my nap. Smokey decided that he would take a nap with me this afternoon. At 3:25 p.m. I went to the Petsense store and them to Walmart to pick up my weekly supply of cat food and other items. I was tired and hot when I got back home so I lay down and rested a few more minutes. I sat outside with the cats from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. and then I watched a Billy Graham Crusade Classic. The one tonight was from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1985. Johnny Cash was one of the guests on the program.
My daughter, June, will be here tomorrow to stay a couple of weeks. My other two children, Ron and Treva, will be here from Saturday through Tuesday. I am also going to invite some of my grandkids down on Monday. My grandson, Bryant, his wife, Ashley, and baby, Ella, will be moving to Kansas City from Ithaca, New York, the last week of June. This is making my daughter, Treva, very happy to have them so close to her home in Topeka, Kansas.
I am not sure about the Good Things for the next few days. I know that I will miss some days so don't be concerned.
The cats are fine. It seems they are all outside at the present. I have seen all of the cats this evening including Lucy and Tony. Anyone that has never been close to an animal can not realize how much they can mean to a person. They are just like members of the family.
I will see you next time (not sure when),
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
May 22, 2012

“Loose as a Goose, or Straight as an Arrow?”
“For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.” – Proverbs 5:23

Have you ever wondered where some of the phrases we use come from? Phrases like, “sick as a dog,” which actually dates back to the early 1700’s. “Dead as a doornail,” which seems to have originated with William Shakespeare. Other phrases that appear to have originated with Shakespeare are, “fight fire with fire.” “Eaten out of house and home.” “In a pickle.” “In the twinkling of an eye.” And so on and so forth. (Not sure who originated that one.) It would take too long to try and explain each of these phrases—needless to say we have found many ways to express ourselves given certain situations. But I need to give one more.
Most of you have heard the phrase, “Loose as a goose.” I must admit that when I read the above referenced verse from Proverbs that was the first thing or thought that came into my mind! What I discovered when going through the origins of that idiom how close I was to what it really means. According to a number of sources it describes a person with very loose morals. In 18th Century England geese were the most common “domestic” birds in the land and were thought of in the same way we think of chickens today. Because of their long necks when they walk they almost have the appearance that their head will fall off. The term, “Loosey Goosey” was used to refer to people who made idiotic mistakes, not using their heads in making decisions.
Later, the reference would be used exclusively to describe women of ill repute, whose reputation was less than stellar. If you were a woman and were described as being, “loose as a goose,” let’s just say your reputation was pretty much shot! Throughout practically this entire chapter Solomon has been dealing with this very issue—and in many ways it comes down to this: Your actions and lifestyle will define you. But let us be cautious to not label people simply because of reputation. What we see on the outside may not truly define what God sees on the inside. Phrases may be adequate in one regard, but may miss the mark entirely when it comes to who that person is—and sometimes it may be us!
Jeff Pierce was the 1994 captain of the Chevrolet-L.A. Sheriff professional cycling team and a world top cycling competitor. In 1987 he won one stage of the Tour de France, the Superbowl of cycling. In 1994, according to USA Today, he accepted an interesting and potentially dangerous assignment. To prepare for an article he planned to write for a magazine called Bicycle Guide, Pierce worked for a month as a bike messenger in downtown New York. On the streets for eleven hours a day, he dodged taxis and buses, sometimes reaching a speed of thirty-nine miles an hour on his custom-made, $2,500 racing bike. Was he worried about this expensive bike being stolen as he dashed into buildings to deliver his packages? YOU BET HE WAS!!
To thwart thieves, Pierce wrapped duct tape around the frame of his bike and spray-painted it black. His bike looked like a piece of junk, and his plan worked. No one touched it!! We too often judge by appearance. God told the prophet Samuel, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
We may see someone who on the outside does not measure up to "our" expectations...but on the inside they are priceless to God! We might think they are “loose as a goose,” but in reality they may actually be, “straight as an arrow!”
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
29 So He (Jesus) said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” - Luke 18:29-30(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
3 Now by this we know that we know Him (Jesus), if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. - 1 John 2:3-6(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
Loving as Jesus loved is not "doing what comes naturally," but doing what comes supernaturally. - W. E. McCumber -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER,br /> A little explained, a little endured, a little forgiven, the quarrel is cured. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
Where you go hereafter is determined by what you go after here. - From Reminisce Magazine -
NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 84 degrees and a low temperature of 51 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. As I came home from lunch I went by the post office and Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Store. I sat outside a few minutes before I took my nap. I took a nap this afternoon without a cat napping with me. I don't know how I slept without a cat. At 5:00 p.m. I went to a Sonic Drive In for a half priced hamburger for my supper. I sat outside with the cats and read from 6:00 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. That is about all that happened in my life today. I had several e-mails from people who said they like the notes. I appreciate your e-mails and I really appreciate everyone who reads the Good Things. I love each one with sincere Christian Love and wish I could meet each of you in person and I do look forward to seeing you in Heaven so make sure you are ready. I had a note from Debra today and she said she heard the verse from Isaiah 40:29 that I used last night quoted on a Christian radio station today.
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are in their usual places and you know where that is. I have seen all of the cats today.
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
May 23, 2012

“A Message inside of a Message inside of a Message…”
“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger…” – Proverbs 6:1
There was a movie out a couple of years ago called, “Inception.” The premise of the movie was about dreams—and in one scene you had a dream inside of a dream inside of a dream. I would like to say that I could explain it but I seriously doubt that I could because I must admit I was hopelessly lost! What I did come away with was an understanding that not everything is what it appears. You’ve got to do some digging if you are going to find treasure…and there are some riches here in this verse.
First message…show caution in who you partner with! There will be more on this later as we get to the next couple of verses, but that is what Solomon is leading us to.
Second message…and one that has been debated for centuries and will continue to be debated until Jesus comes, and it is found in the one little word…”if.”

I have said in a number of sermons and have probably stated it at one time or another within the text of one of these messages that the word, “if” is probably the largest two-letter word in our vocabulary. It lays upon us conditions of either action or non-action. For example, “if only I had said something…” or, “if only I had not said what I did.” Then there are the “ifs” that haunt us, that makes us think less about ourselves: “If I were younger…” “If I were older…” “If I were thinner…” “prettier…” “smarter…” “wealthier…” all based on the condition of…if.
Those who live their lives constantly leaning on “ifs” live without faith, hope, or purpose. Everything is based upon conditions and if those conditions are not met they are easily defeated.
Nicolas Barson, from Queens, New York, was identified as "the world's greatest real estate salesman" in 1997 by Success Magazine. The year before he had earned more than $1,000,000 by selling more than $27 million worth of real estate. The amazing part of Barsan's story is that he was a Romanian immigrant and had been selling houses for only four years. He said, “I had a number of people tell me that selling real estate was impossible. At first I believed them and began thinking, ‘if only I could speak English better,’ and ‘if only I were smarter.’ Then I read a passage of Scripture that told me, ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.’ From there my attitude changed and I realized I could do this. No more ifs for me! Attitude is number one with me." Third Message. Take the word “if” and reduce it down to one letter, “I.”
I have a friend from my college days that I can only describe as a person who is, the center of his universe. Every conversation was about himself—he was (to hear him tell it) the best player on his teams—the top of his class and so on and so forth. He treated people with respect and he had a deep-seated faith in Christ, but his constant use of “I” turned people off and in many ways led to a mis-trust in whatever he had to say. As we get deeper into the book of Proverbs we will discover how much emphasis Solomon places upon relationships—how vital they are to not only our physical health but our emotional and spiritual well-being as well. Being an “I” person makes having strong relationships difficult. A message inside of a message inside of a message. Solomon’s unique insights just keep getting better and better and! The closer the look the more you discover and the better it gets.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Monday, May 21, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
29 He (the Lord) gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. - Isaiah 40:29(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
17 For if by the one man’s (Adam's) offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:17(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
The power of sin is far too subtle and deceptive to handle on our own. - Morris A. Weigelt -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
An oath is not needed by a good man, nor will it prevent the bad man from perjuring himself. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
Generally speaking, the most automated appliance in a household is a mother. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Today has been a partly cloudy day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 84 degrees and a low temperature of 59 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. Steve and Jeanne LeFlore also came and ate with us. After lunch I went by Wall's Bargain Center and the post office. I sat outside for a few minutes before I took my nap. Emmy napped with me part of the time. I sat outside with the cats and read from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. I sometimes wonder if some who receive the Good Things had just as soon not receive the notes since there are some people that I never hear from any more. I would leave the notes off of the Good Things but as I have said before, some people want the notes. I love everyone of you with sincere Christian Love and would not hurt anyone for anything in the world. I am very sensitive about hurting people. If I have offended anyone in any way with my notes I would like to hear from you so I can apologize to you personally. Since the Good Things are actually helping some people I will continue them.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is on a pillow on the sofa and Rascal is in the recliner. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.