Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. - James 4:7(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He (Jesus) is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:8-12(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The memory of a good deed lives on. - Aesop -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Become a "do it now" person. The world is out there waiting to follow those who have faith to move ahead. - From Possibility Thinking - Eat to live, but do not live to eat. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

FUN FACTS ABOUT CATS
If the cat appears to listen and does what you command, she misunderstood whatever you were saying. - From Cats Rule - Before taking any action, sleep on it. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 81 degrees and a low temperature of 66 degrees. I called the vets office at around 9:30 a.m. She said that Little Girl was still improving but still has a way to go. She will have to stay over the weekend. I made an appointment to go see her at 2:00 p.m. I had a leak in my bathroom so I then called a plumber who said they would be out later in the day. I had lunch with Charley, Bill, Pastor J.T. and his wife, Dianne. The plumbers came at 1:00 p.m. and were through by 1:45 p.m. so I went immediately to the vet hospital. I held Little Girl in my lap for 10 minutes or so. She was sleeping most of the time but would rouse up occasionally and I would talk to her. The vet office will be closed Saturday and Sunday. Dr. Sewell said she would call me both days to tell me how Little Girl is doing. It may sound strange to some people that I need to know about Little Girl every day but if you live alone and have pets you will understand how much they mean to a person. Little Girl will eat when they put food in her mouth. I told them that she also drank a lot of water. Since the last Good Things I have heard from my cousin Gina, Burlene, Michelle, Debra, my vet grandson Bryant, my cousin Audie, Alice, my great niece Claudia, Geneva. I am so sorry that I don't have time to answer your e-mails but you can rest assured that they are greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. Thanks to everyone who reads the Good Things. The cats at home are fine. I have seen all of them today. I sat in the back yard for almost an hour this evening reading and visiting with the cats. Rascal is lying on the desk near me now and I just got through giving him a love. Have a nice Saturday,
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Close Enough for Horseshoes and Hand-Grenades”
“He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house.” – Proberbs 7:8

In sports the adage “close is not good enough” is often the truth. In football, a field goal is only counted when the ball goes through the uprights. If it misses by mere inches on one side or the other it does not count and it could cost the team the game. Close is not good enough. In baseball, a mere inch can determine whether a ball is fair or foul, whether it is a ball or a strike, whether a runner is safe or out. Close is not good enough. In basketball, a mere fraction of an inch may be the difference of the ball going through the rim or bouncing out. It is about precision. However, in the game of horseshoes, close does count and the goal is to get closer than your opponent. I’m not certain that attempting to visualize “hand-grenades” would be all that productive—but let’s just say that precision is not altogether necessary for them to be “effective.” Which is what I believe Solomon is trying to say in this verse: It was where he (the young man) was headed that was the problem and where he was headed was a formula for disaster! For some reason, these words of Paul came to my mind as I was reading through this:
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” - 2nd Corinthians 6:14-17

It recently came to my attention that when God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians He had them leave that country for a place they would call their own. The thought occurred to me that the moment Pharaoh said, “You’re free,” it literally meant, they were free. Redeemed. They were no longer slaves and no longer were under the oppression of the Egyptians. So why leave? Why not stay where they were and make a nice home for themselves right there in the land of Egypt? Why pack up all of their belongings and trek the many miles to…to…”Where are we going anyway?” Because they did not belong there! The Egyptians worshiped that which was not God, and thus by them staying in that place: their close proximity to the evil that was there would make it difficult if not impossible to serve God with their whole hearts.
In the process of their journey to Canaan, God provided everything they needed—that He was indeed, Jehovah Jirah. (Provider-God) When they needed direction…He was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When they needed food He sent them bread and quail. He was what they needed. And…He is what we all need!
“Come near to God and he will come near to you…” – James 4:8
When it comes to our relationship with God—it is not necessarily about “precision,” but purpose. It is a choice we consciously make to get closer to Him. To walk with Him. To be where He is—which is why the verse in Corinthians has legs! Translation: we cannot be close to God if we are wandering down the wrong street! To get “close to the house of the immoral woman” is to get too close to problems and step further away from the place where God wants and needs us. Stay away from “her house!” Do not get remotely close, for unlike the game of horseshoes—hand grenades are deadly, and do not discriminate. Stay close to God—always!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. - Proverbs 4:7-8(New International Version).

19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. - Romans 12:19(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Don't hurry, don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So be sure to stop and smell the flowers. - Walter C. Hagen -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Faith is staying with it through thick and thin, believing that eventually you will win. - From Possibility Thinking - Happy are the believers, for they need never worry. - From Possibility Thinking -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 81 degrees and a low temperature of 64 degrees. We had a light shower of rain between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. today. Last evening and last night I had two and two tenths of rain at my house. This morning at 9:00 a.m. I received a call from Dr. Sewell, my vet. She said that Little Girl was much better and was walking a little. Her blood pressure and temperature were normal. We agreed that I would come see her at 10:00 a.m. since the office is closed on Thursday afternoons. I went there at 10:00 and took a seat in the waiting room. Soon they brought Little Girl out to me wrapped in a towel. She was bright eyed and awake. I held her to my shoulder for several minutes as she likes that. She would look around like she wanted to get down and explore but that can't happen yet. I held her for 10 minutes or so and let them have her back. I think that visit helped Little Girl as much as it did me. I saw Charley and Bill and other friends at Bob's at noontime. I came by the post office and then home for my nap with Tony. At around 4:30 p.m. I went to a Dollar General Store. I went out to the back yard with the cats at 6:15 and sat with them for about 30 minutes or more. I have had so many e-mails that I won't list the names tonight but thanks to everyone for your prayers and e-mails. Thanks to each one who reads the Good Things.
The cats at home are fine. I have seen all of them today. Rascal is lying on the desk close to me and I just gave him a boo head. Itty Bitty just brought in a frog and I promptly took it back outside and put it in the grass. The thunderstorms last night caused most of the cats to hide while it was storming but Rascal stayed pretty close to me.
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell. McAlester, OK

“Question: How Dumb Can One Be? Answer: It’s Limitless!!”
“At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.” – Proverbs 7:6-7 (NIV)

“Two things are infinite; the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” – Albert Einstein
“Life is tough—but it’s tougher when you’re stupid.” – John Wayne
“Stupid is as stupid does.” - Tom Hanks (as Forrest Gump)

I recently saw a Facebook “Picture Post” that was a classic. It was a cartoon picture of an individual with these words attached: “I’ve stopped asking the question, ‘How dumb can you be?’ because I realized that many were taking it on as a challenge.” How many of you have heard of “The Darwin Awards?” Named in honor of Charles Darwin, since 1994 the Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it. Consider a couple of past “winners.” (November 1997, Pennsylvania) Wayne Roth, 38, of Pittston, was bitten by a cobra belonging to his friend, Roger Croteau, after playfully reaching into the tank and picking up the snake. Wayne subsequently refused to go to a hospital, telling Roger, "I'm a man, I can handle it." Falser words have seldom been spoken. Instead of a hospital, Wayne reported to a bar. He had three drinks, and enjoyed bragging that he had just been bitten by a cobra. Cobra venom is a slow-acting central nervous system toxin. He died within a few hours, in Jenkins Township, Pennsylvania. (31 July 2009, South Carolina) Two disguised men entered a Sprint store on Sparkleberry Lane, pulled out guns, and stole wallets, purses, and credit cards from employees before ordering them into a bathroom. Both men fled, but they could not flee from their own stupidity. 23-year-old James T. had disguised himself by painting his face gold. Yes, in order to conceal his identity during the robbery, James had covered his skin with spray paint. If this isn't a Darwin Award, what is? Paints are clearly labeled, do not get on skin, do not get in eyes, do not inhale. Paint fumes are well-known to be toxic, and the metallic colors are particularly noxious. James began having trouble breathing (surprise!) and died wheezing shortly after the robbery took place. To add insult to injury, the disguise was ineffective. Witnesses were certain as to the identity of their assailant. Had he lived, James, like his surviving accomplice, would have been charged with armed robbery. Not to be outdone by these brilliant scholars allow me to add one more and this comes from a website that highlights “stupid criminals.” "A man and his girlfriend were robbing a convenience store. While waiting for her boyfriend to finish getting the money, the woman noticed a contest entry form. Thinking it would be cool to win, she filled out the form, complete with her name, address, and phone number. A few hours later the police were at the couple's house to arrest them." Isn’t that the jest of what Solomon is saying? He is witnessing someone getting ready to do something really stupid—something mankind has been doing for a long time!! How is it that after centuries and at a time when we should be far more enlightened we continue to act in ways that probably astounds God? It goes to prove that the human mind, when given the opportunity to think on its own is capable of some pretty bizarre things—ergo, the examples provided above. And, the one Solomon provides as well. Life comes at us at such an incredibly fast pace—being able to “think through” each situation that comes our way may not always be a luxury we have available to us. We may have to rely on what we have been given or learned to get us through those encounters—that, and the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit! How many times have we (figuratively of course) reached our hands into a tank filled with snakes—been bitten—and go on as if nothing has happened? Maybe even bragged about it to our friends? But as the illustration above points out there are always consequences. You may have to die a “stupid” death to be nominated for a “Darwin Award,” but every life lived apart from Christ leads to a useless death. Don’t be among those!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” - Luke 19:10(New International Version).

A QUOTE
A loving family exhibits a sense of shared responsibility. - Dolores Curran -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
God is present with you, in spite of what the circumstances might appear to say. - From Possibility Thinking - Your life is in the care and keeping of God who keeps watch over His own. - From Possibility Thinking -

NOTES
I am feeling very sad tonight but I wanted to do the Good Things so I could have you pray with me. My dear cat named Little Girl is in the Vet Hospital tonight. A couple of dogs mauled her this morning and she is very bad. I took her to the Vet this morning holding her on my shoulder like she likes to be held. She has some marks in her side where the dogs bit her. Somehow she got in the yard where the dogs were and I don't know how or why. It is across the street from our house. I went back to see Little Girl at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon and she was sedated with ivs in her. I spoke to her but she couldn't respond. I will call again at 9:00 a.m. in the morning to see how she is doing. The Vet said there is hope but she is a sick kitty. Please, Please say a prayer for Little Girl tonight. I have seen all the other cats this evening. We have had thunderstorms this evening. The tornado sirens blew about three times but my electricity never went off. I will see you next time.
. In Christian Love, Everett.