Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! Grace and Peace to you this day in the Name of our Lord. “Investing in God”
“Wealth and Glory accompany me— also substantial Honor and a Good Name.” – Proverbs 8:18 (MSG)

We see the advertisements often. Investments! Remember the commercial, “When E.F. speaks…people listen.” Today there are those calling for people to invest in Gold, and recently I saw a commercial for Silver. What’s next…aluminum? The name “Bernie” Madoff has become synonymous with failure…or more specifically the failure of others to invest themselves into something that can be trusted and believed.
Bernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff is a former stock broker, investment advisor, non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock market, and the admitted operator of what has been described as the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
In March 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11federal felonies and admitted to turning his wealth management business into a massive Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors of billions of dollars. Madoff said he began the Ponzi scheme in the early 1990s. However, federal investigators believe the fraud began as early as the 1970s, and those charged with recovering the missing money believe the investment operation may never have been legitimate. The amount missing from client accounts, including fabricated gains, was almost $65 billion. The court-appointed trustee estimated actual losses to investors of $18 billion. On June 29, 2009, he was sentenced to 150 years in prison, the maximum allowed.
The list of those who lost money investing with Madoff could read like a “Who’s Who” of among the elite and from a broad spectrum of those in business, entertainment and sports. Here are just a few who fell victim to Madoff’s greed. Producer, director, Steven Spielberg. Fred Wilpon, owner of the New York Mets. Mortimer Zuckerman, owner of the U.S. News & World Report. Leonard Feinstein, co-founder of Bed, Bath & Beyond. Norman Braman, former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. Actress, Zsa Zsa Gabor; Former MLB Pitching great, Sandy Koufax; fomer Miss America and sports reporter, Phyllis George; Talk-Show host, Larry King; actors John Malkovich and Kevin Bacon. One individual investor lost 14 Million and one company, the Auriga International Advisors Ltd. from the British Virgin Isles lost nearly 350 million.
Churches, synagogues, colleges, banks, hospitals, real estate firms…no one was exempt from making poor judgments and losing millions upon millions of dollars.
Is it wrong to invest our money? No. There is nothing from what I see scripturally that says investing goes against the Will and desire of God. Jesus uses an illustration that refers to making an investment. (Matthew 25:14-30) Here’s the point—those who seek wealth and satisfaction, “glory and honor” outside of God’s prescribed methods will more often than not receive anything except heartache and loss. It has played out time and time again, decade after decade and even throughout the centuries. Jesus gave us the New Testament version of Solomon’s appeal in His “Sermon on the Mount” when He said:
,br /> "Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” – Matthew 6:19-21 (MSG)
,br /> Become “Madoff-Proof” not just with your finances—but also with your heart. Do not invest your most precious resources, your time and your soul into things that have no lasting value. Invest in God, His Son, and His Church—that which you can trust to provide with everlasting rewards!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Looking For Love in the Right Places”
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” – Proverbs 8:17
,br /> A number of musical artists through the years have been (or are) defined by one signature song. Last year while in Branson for a retreat we heard Debbie Boone who’s only hit was a big one, “You Light Up My Life,” but her reputation is based more on her famous father (Pat Boone) than her actual singing career. Billy Ray Cyrus, whose one big hit, “Achy, Breaky, Heart” brought his name into the spotlight but is today known more for his daughter, Miley (Hannah Montana) and his singing career has taken a back seat.,br /> I am not a big country music fan. In fact, I can safely say that I do not like country music at all but from time to time there are songs and the people who sing them that redefine how people view things. I could not tell you a single song that Country Music artist Mickey Gilley had done prior to a song he recorded for the movie, “Urban Cowboy.” The following is the lyrics to that song that was popular in the early 1980’s. The name of the song is “Looking for Love.”

I spent a lifetime lookin' for you Single bars and good time lovers were never true Playing a fool’s game, hopin' to win Tellin' those sweet lies and losin' again.

I was lookin' for love in all the wrong places Lookin' for love in too many places Searchin' her eyes, lookin' for traces Of what I'm dreamin' of Hoping to find a friend and a lover I'll bless the day I discover, You - lookin' for love.
I was alone then, no love in site I did everything I could to get me through the night Don''t know where it started or where it might end I'd turn to a stranger just like a friend.

Music speaks to the heart and to the soul. And many times songs and music reflect how the heart feels—and what makes this song so powerful is the fact that far too many live by this philosophy. This is the “theme” song that a host of people—who night after night go from one club or bar to another looking for that one person (or thing) that will make their life complete. ,br /> I think back to the late 70’s, early 80’s when disco ruled the airwaves. The big movie was the blockbuster, “Saturday Night Fever” which would spawn a number of copy-cat movies all with the same story line; young people gathering to find that one person they can “hook-up” with and have a good time. Many of the songs from that era had to do with dancing and the “beat” of the songs prompted people to do just that!,br /> This did not just play out on the movie screen! Hundreds of disco-clubs opened all across the United States and Europe. Every weekend they would be filled with loud music and longing hearts. The vast majority who went to those clubs would leave with nothing more than a headache and shattered hopes! And if you are wondering if I was one of those I have been describing the answer to that is an emphatic, NO!! As much as I did not like Country music I hated disco even more and I had better things to spend my time and money on. Solomon tells us what to look for and more importantly, where! Looking for love, hope, peace, in any other place other than the Father’s heart will only result in an empty search. If you want to gather to a place where you will find love, then look no further than the Body of Christ…the Church. Although it is not perfect, and there are those who fail to live out God’s purpose for them, it still remains the avenue and channel from which His love flows.,br /> If you want answers to life…love…hope…here it is!! And the good part about it—it is without cost and headache free! And the best part…you don’t have to know how to dance.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. - Psalm 42:11(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. - Psalm 27:10(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. - Zig Ziglar -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A person cannot discover new oceans unless they have courage to lose sight of the shore. - Author Unknown - You can't get ahead when you're trying to get even. - From Don't Wait for Your Ship to Com In. . . Swim Out to Meet It -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy here in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 76 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 44 degrees. I saw Charley at noon time. I went to the post office. At 1:00 p.m. I went to Buck Thetford's Barber Shop and got a hair cut. I took my nap later in the afternoon with Tony. I put treats out for the kitties at 4:30 p.m. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Alice, Lucille (my niece), Burlene, Michelle, Geneva, Tiyan (my second cousin-in-law), Carissa (my granddaughter) and Audie (my cousin). I am always glad to get those e-mails.
I will leave a special prayer request with you tonight for my little great grandson, Carter, born a few days ago. I will leave a note from my granddaughter, Carissa, at the end of the Good Things.
The cats are fine. Rascal is asleep in the recliner and Leo is on the desk eating dry food. I have seen all of them this evening.,br /> I will see you next time,
In Christian Love, Everett.

Here is Carissa's note:
"Our sweet Carter was airlifted to OU Children's today for SVT. His heart rate has been over 300. They finally had to intubate him so he could get a central line. He has been diagnosed with WPW which is a heart disorder. His new home for now is the PICU. He will have to be on heart medicine for about a year and if that doesn't help he'll have a procedure to correct it. He should be okay. I love you... Carissa"

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“The Marriage of Church and State”
“With my help, leaders rule, and lawmakers legislate fairly…” – Proverbs 8:15 (MSG)

I am going to do something that I often attempt to stay away from—politics. It is not that I detest politics—it is because how divisive it can be, especially when combining politics with religion. We have just come through a very heated election season where politics was practically all we heard for months. And during this past election—religion played a part.
How often do we hear the phrase, “the separation between Church and State?” The belief that many have that the Church should have nothing to do with the government while at the same time the government should have nothing to do with the Church. But is that the true intent of the founding fathers?
Interestingly, (and this is pure opinion mind you) I think most people who cling to that phrase have absolutely no idea what it is truly saying. They would like to think that all rules and laws are purely based on human reasoning without any assistance from some supernatural being. Here’s another phrase that I hear far too often: “You can’t legislate morality.” My statement or answer to that is simple: where did we get those laws to begin with? Who determined murder was wrong? Or stealing? Whose idea was it to punish those who commit those crimes as well as other crimes against the state?
If you cannot legislate “morality” then we may as well just wipe every law off the books and let everyone govern themselves according to their own standards. What do you think would happen if that were the case? We’ve actually seen that before! The very last sentence (verse) in the book of Judges says: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” (Judges 21:25) Compare that to the words from the Psalmist who said: "Blessed is the nation whose God is Lord." – Psalm 33:12
Those words remind us that reliance on God and His providence was very real to our founding fathers as our early national documents bear testimony. It was not surprising that in the midst of the Civil War, when our nation received its greatest test, the decision was made to inscribe on American coins the motto: "In God We Trust." Ever since that motto was first adopted there have been those who have felt it hypocritical since we so often we put our priorities elsewhere. First of all, the motto, "In God We Trust" is not so much a boast as it is a conviction. It is not the proclamation of a smug people who deem themselves privileged and singled out for special favor. It is instead a conviction that calls us to repentance and nurtures our hopes. As one Theologian put it: "If within we find nothing over us, we succumb to what is around us." The motto "In God We Trust" while not always an actuality is still a commitment to be a nation whose Lord is God. While we are not presumptuous enough to think this is true in every way, we are committed to let it be so. Our prayer should be that God would make it so through us.
God’s wisdom was never meant to be reserved for a single segment of life—it was meant to be used wherever people are—be it at home, church, school, businesses, and yes, even the courtroom—state governments—the United States Capital—even to the White House. It would be my hope and prayer that we never lose sight of that!
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. 25 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! - Proverbs 23:24-25(New International Version).
,br /> GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. - Proverbs 1:7-9(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. - Helen Keller -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Three good meals a day is bad living. - From Proverbs for Daily Living - When you stretch the truth, watch out for the snap back. - From Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In. . . Swim Out to Meet It!

NOTES
Today has been a partly cloudy day with a high temperature of 71 degrees and a low temperature this morning of 55 degrees. I say Charley and Bill at noon time. After lunch I went to the post office, then to the Petsense store and then to Walmart. I bought my cat food and my food supplies for the week. I went outside with the cats for a few minutes before my afternoon nap. Tony napped with me again today. I took the treats outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. Since last night's Good Things I have heard from Burlene, Debra, Geneva, Michelle and Alice. I always appreciate your e-mails. I am doing the Good Things early again tonight so I can watch the second episode of "The Dust Bowl". I watched the first part last night and how sad it was. As I mentioned last night I lived through those days but I lived in eastern Oklahoma and it was much worse in western Oklahoma. I think tonight's program will show the big exodus of people from Oklahoma going to California. If you moved to California back then you were called an "Okie" regardless of what state you were from. I had friends and relatives move to California to never return to Oklahoma to live. However, some people would go to California and work a while and return to Oklahoma. Two famous people who moved from Oklahoma to California were Gene Autry and Will Rogers. The program tonight is on the Public Broadcasting System if you wish to tune in.
Today is an anniversary for me. On November 19, 1943, I boarded a bus in Holdenville, Oklahoma, headed for Fort Sill, Oklahoma. It was my first day in the Army. I would stay in the Army until January 15, 1946. I was in combat in the Philippine Islands and was wounded in my right hip, both legs and left foot from a Japanese hand grenade. Thank God I made it home, maybe in order to do the Good Things many, many years later. The Lord could look into the future but I couldn't and I never thought that I would live to be 87 years of age and still doing the Good Things.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening.
Have a nice Tuesday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.