Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. - 1 Corinthians 15:51-53(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
1My son, do not forget my (wisdom) teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. - Proverbs 3:1-4(New International Version).

A QUOTE
A friend is one who loves at all times. - Glenda Hotton, M.A. -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Be inspired by God's nature: storms always lose to the sun, the sunrise always overtakes the night and the winter always turns into spring. - From Possibility Thinking - When the well's dry, we know the worth of water. - From Proverbs For Daily Living - "Success keeps you glowing but only friends keep you going." - Sent by Burlene -

FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
Leave the bedroom door open, and you will never sleep alone. - From Cats Rule - You always find something great to scratch immediately after having your claws trimmed. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 95 degrees and a low of 59 degrees. My housecleaning lady came at 11:15 a.m. to clean my house. I had lunch by myself as Charley was busy with a funeral meal at his church. I went to to post office, then by Braum's and then home. I took my nap this afternoon with Little Girl. A little after 4:00 p.m. I went to the cemetery (Memory Gardens) and came back by Walmart. I later went to Lowe's store for a filter for my air purifier that I have in my bedroom. The purifier is supposed to get rid of 99% of stuff in the air including cat hairs. I put treats out for the cats at around 6:15 p.m. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Sandy and Burlene. Sandy live in McAlester but she and husband, Charlie, are now on vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I appreciate your e-mails and I appreciate everyone who reads the Good Things. Let me know if you would like to be dropped. The cats are fine. Rascal was here a little while ago as well as Emmy and Leo. Little Girl is in the recliner. I hope everyone has a Wonderful Sunday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. - Proverbs 2:1-5(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 26 "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." - John 12:26(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Before we may hear the Divine Voice we must shut out all other voices, so that we may be able to listen. - Mark Rutherford -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Better slip with foot than with tongue. - From Proverbs For Daily Living - Every tomorrow is a new invitation to beautiful possibilities. - From Possibility Thinking -

FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
Cats appreciate chubby thighs. A bigger lap is a more comfortable lap. - From Cats Rule - Cats are constantly well groomed. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 99 degrees according to the weather channel. That would break the previous record high for this date. Low temperature for today was 70 degrees. I had lunch today with Charley, Bill and Pastor J.T. After lunch I took Charley to pick up his car at a garage. I came home, took my afternoon nap with Emmy. At 4:00 p.m. I went to Walmart for my weekly supplies. I took the treats out to the cats at around 6:45 p.m. It was too warm to sit outside with them. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Burlene, Debra, Geneva, Patti and Audie. Thanks so much for your e-mails and thanks to everyone who reads the Good Things.
The kitties are fine. I have seen all of them today.
I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. - 1 Corinthians 14:33(New International Version).
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." - Matthew 10:32-33(New International Version).
A QUOTE
I'm learning that helping another is far more rewarding than helping myself. That those who laugh more worry less. - Phil Callaway -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Everyone needs a purpose to live for, a self they can live with and a faith they can live by. - From Possibility Thinking - In the hum of the market there is money, but under the cherry tree there is rest. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
Cats move to a mystery all their own, or as Carl Sandburg put it, "the fog comes on little cat feet." - From Cats Rule - Cats rarely drive you to Prozac. - From Cats Rule -
NOTES
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 93 degrees and a low of 63 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I came by the post office for my mail. I took my nap this afternoon without a cat napping with me. I don't know how I managed to sleep without a cat but I did. I have felt better today. My allergies are better and my back has not given me much pain today. I worked in my office room for a little while this evening trying to catch up on my filing and my bills. I went outside at 6:35 p.m. and sat in the back yard with the cats for almost an hour reading and enjoying the things going on around me, animal, human or nature. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Alice and Michelle. You might ask, why did you start the Good Things again. Well, during this time I was usually working a puzzle or doing some other unproductive thing such as reading a paper. I decided if some people enjoyed the Good Things as much as they say they do then that would probably be what God would have me do with my time during this period. However, if anyone had rather not receive the Good Things, please let me know and I will drop you and I will certainly think no less of you. I will understand.
My cats are fine. I have seen all of them today. Tony has been in a couple of times this evening for food. He sleeps inside during the day. The last three days he has been sleeping on a little pillow on the couch in the living room. That is the way cats are. They will find them a good sleeping place and use it for a few days and then move on to another place. I don't have to tell you where Little Girl is. She is in the same place as she was last night at this time.
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Self-Flagellation”
“If you have good sense, it will show when you speak. But if you are stupid, you will be beaten.” – Proverbs 10:13 (Contemporary English Version)

Images of Jesus being flogged in preparation for His crucifixion were no more vivid than those from the movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” The scenes were disturbing to say the least—and for many it was a reminder of the stark reality of the price Jesus paid for our salvation. Flogging (or flagellation) has been used for centuries. It is the act of methodically beating or whipping (Latin flagellum, "whip") the human body. Specialized implements for it include rods, switches (something my parents knew how to use), belts (or straps of leather) called a “sjambok.” Typically, flogging is imposed on an unwilling subject as a punishment; however, it can also be submitted to willingly, or performed on oneself, in religious ceremonies. We’ve probably seen pictures of groups of men “flogging” themselves to show their devotion to their beliefs. Solomon’s thoughts here are telling us that when our words and/or actions go outside the boundaries of good taste or are abusive—we will certainly feel the effects (get beaten up so to speak) in probably more ways than one. The truth of the matter is that far too often we have the tendency to actually beat ourselves up—we become our own worst enemy because we do not “think through” what we do or what we say. Several years ago the Peanuts comic strip had Lucy and Charlie Brown practicing football. Lucy would hold the ball for Charlie’s placekicking and then Charlie would kick the ball. But every time Lucy had ever held the ball for Charlie, he would approach the ball and kick with all his might. At the precise moment of the point of no return, Lucy would pick up the ball and Charlie would kick and his momentum unchecked by the ball, which was not there to kick, would cause him to fall flat on his back. This strip opened with Lucy holding the ball, but Charlie Brown would not kick the ball. Lucy begged him to kick the ball. But Charlie Brown said, "Every time I try to kick the ball you remove it and I fall on my back." They went back and forth for the longest time and finally Lucy broke down in tears and admitted, "Charlie Brown I have been so terrible to you over the years, picking up the football like I have. I have played so many cruel tricks on you, but I’ve seen the error of my ways! I’ve seen the hurt look in your eyes when I’ve deceived you. I’ve been wrong, so wrong. Won’t you give a poor penitent girl another chance?" Charlie Brown was moved by her display of grief and responded to her, "Of course, I’ll give you another chance." He stepped back as she held the ball, and he ran. At the last moment, Lucy picked up the ball and Charlie Brown fell flat on his back. Lucy’s last words were, "Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!" What I have always liked about Charlie Brown is that his intentions were always in the right place, it is just his actions and words often failed him. Much like what often happens in our own lives. How “sensible” are you? Are you working to do things the right way? Or are your words and actions causing you to feel, “beat up?” For over ten chapters, and a lot of words, Solomon has called for us to seek and pursue wisdom as the supreme benefit for our lives. And not just any wisdom mind you, God’s wisdom. It is worth the effort. Stop beating yourself up. We all have the opportunity to enhance our lives. Why not go for it?
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“The Proof is in the Pudding”

“If you have good sense, it will show when you speak.” – Proverbs 10:13 (Good News Translation)

Most of us have heard the phrase/idiom, “The Proof is in the Pudding.” Like so many sayings we use, do we truly understand what this means? Here are a couple of the explanations I have found. First, the phrase is a shortened version of…'The proof of the pudding is in the eating', and is a very old proverb. The earliest printed example of the proverb that I can find is in William Camden's Remaines of a Greater Worke Concerning Britaine, 1605: "All the proof of a pudding is in the eating." The pudding in this description would not be anything near what you would find in a jello mix—but in this case a dish that contained meat—perhaps most likely a type of sausage. Given the lack of preservative and safe-guards, the consuming of this dish may not have been as savory as we like, but could cause sickness and even death. The true meaning is basically this: The quality of something is uncertain until it has been tested directly, sort of like: "You don't know whether you like it until you've tried it." Or, you will not know if it is good (meaning, fresh) until it is digested. There are two ways we can approach this. First, if our words are good—they will be refreshing, nourishing, good for building people up and lifting them up when they need it. Thus, it may be said, the proof will be in the results. Good words will (hopefully) produce good results. Second, the “good sense” that Solomon refers to could also be in reference to knowing when to speak, and when to be silent. There are times when the best words are no words at all—but a holy silence that could actually be more healing and beneficial. Forgive the cliché fest, but I have to use this: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” (Abraham Lincoln). I like this particular illustration that is proof that words do not have to be spoken to get a point across: A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, suddenly stopped coming to church. After a few weeks, the Pastor decided to visit. The Pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his Pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the Pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and lifeless. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave, he slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the Pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sabbath." We live in a world today which too many try to say too much with too little power or purpose. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken. Just lived. And like the earlier example…the “proof” will be in the results.
Pastor J. T. Carnell