Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
4 Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. 5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. - Proverbs 10:4-5(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Lord says) 1“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." - Isaiah 60:1(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Only repentance prepares the way for Christ's entrance into our lives. There is no other way to prepare to meet God. - Gay Leonard -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
An aged Christian, with the snow of time on his head, may remind us that those points of earth are whitest which are nearest heaven. - Chapin -
Anger is often more hurtful than the injury that caused it. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 69 degrees and a low temperature of 32 degrees. I went to the McAlester Clinic Lab at 10:45 a.m. as my doctor needed another blood test on me to determine the use of my medications. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office and then by Walgreen's for an item. I took my usual nap this afternoon with Tony. At 4:30 p.m. I put food and treats outside for the cats. I watched a Billy Graham Classic at 6:00 p.m. taped in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 1985. Since last time I have heard from Michelle, Alice, Pastor J.T., Geneva and Audie (my cousin). Alice still needs our prayers. She is still feeling bad and has some activities at her church on Saturday that she is involved in.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in the recliner and the others have been coming and going. I have seen all of them today.

Have a nice Thursday! I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 9:05 am EST

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Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. - James 3:13-16(New International Version).
,br /> GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. 12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear. - Proverbs 25:11-12(New International Version).

A QUOTE
A friend is someone who reaches for your hand, but touches your heart. - Kathleen Grove -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes it. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
Men are not to be judged by what they do not know, but by what they know, and the manner in which they know it. - Vauvenargues -
,br /> NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 56 degrees and a low temperature of 24 degrees. I saw Charley at noon. I went to the post office and then came by a Dollar General Store. I took my nap this afternoon with Tony. At 4:30 p.m. I put treats and food outside for the cats. Since last time I have heard from Burlene , Alice, Michelle, Pastor J. T., Treva (my daughter), Geneva and Janice. Pray for Burlene who has been having a time keeping her blood pressure under control. Continue to pray for Alice who has a stomach virus.
The cats are fine. Rascal in his usual place and the others here and there. I have seen all of them this afternoon.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester

“In Search of a Moral Compass”
“The road to life is a disciplined life....” – Proverbs 10:17 (MSG)

Thanks to modern technology the need for navigation to steer us in the right direction is rarely an issue. For many years, however, centuries in fact, there has been one tool that was an absolute necessity for traveler’s, especially those who traveled by sea/ocean…and that is a compass.
A compass will always point in the correct direction…it will not point where you are not headed. If you are going in the wrong direction it will not help you. Interpretation: If you are wanting to go south and you are going north the compass will point in the direction you are going. So the key is to know where you want to be and then the compass will get you there.
There is a phrase that we hear from time to time, a “Moral Compass” to be specific, which describes those who live in such a way that others will see and know what is right simply by following their lead…and regardless of the situation will always do what is right because their “compass” (the Holy Spirit) is leading them and He will never lead us in the wrong direction!
Roger Bacon (1214-1294) was an English philosopher and early advocate of the modern scientific method. In his mid-life he became a member of the Franciscan Order and even counseled with the pope on matters that related to religion and science. In one of his reports to the pope he observed that “science lacks a moral compass.” He argued that all institutionalized entities, including the church, lack a moral compass. The point of his argument was that individuals, not institutions, are responsible for inspiring a sense of morality in the marketplace, in governments, in politics, in universities, and the church.
We need look to none other than Abraham Lincoln to observe that morality is born in the hearts of men and women, and through them institutions are changed. In Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, he declared; “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
This speech was hardly the first time Lincoln spoke of equality. Five years earlier, in a speech he gave in Chicago, Lincoln said, “I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal.” And we might add, “All men and women are created equal.” Lincoln possessed a moral compass that continues to influence our nation to this day. Have you heard the legend of “Molly Pitcher” and her heroism in the Battle for Monmouth, New Jersey, in June 1778, during the War for Independence? It is one of those stories that became embellished over time. Molly may have been her real name, but “Pitcher” was not. Her real name, more likely, was Mary Hays McCauly. Her story gives pride to her community of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and the United States Field Artillery that claim her as their heroine. According to the legend, Molly’s husband served as an artilleryman under General Stirling. Their cannons were aimed at the British Redcoats as they attempted to cross a causeway. Stirling’s cannons bought time for General Washington to take command and regroup General Lee’s scattered forces. According to the legend, Molly accompanied William, her husband, in the fight against the British. While he helped reload the cannon to which he was assigned, Molly hauled an artillery bucket filled with water from a nearby spring to the troops. The men shouted, “Here comes Molly with her pitcher!” Thus, the nickname was given her—Molly “Pitcher.”
It was a hot summer day, and the issue of the battle was still in doubt. Neither side seemed able to gain an advantage. Victory was within the grasp of either army. During the fight, Molly’s husband fell wounded. There was no one to take his place, and his cannon’s crew prepared to abandon the field of battle. But without a moment’s hesitation, says the legend, Molly laid the bucket aside and grabbed the rammer staff from her fallen husband and began to swab and reload the cannon. She quickly mastered the technique and agility of a trained artilleryman. “The enemy is almost upon us!” cried one of the soldiers. “Stand fast,” replied Molly. The cheers of her fellow soldiers rang down the line. The battle turned, and there in the ranks stood Molly Pitcher, a cannoneer. It was said the courageous young woman was awarded a warrant as a non-commissioned office, and thereafter the admiring army called her “Sergeant Molly.” Such is the legend of Molly Pitcher, heroine of the American Revolution. The battlefield monuments tell of her courage and an old rhyme recalls her deed:
Moll Pitcher she stood by her gun, And rammed the charges home, sir; And thus on Monmouth’s bloody field a sergeant did become, sir.
Whether or not all the “facts” of this story are true, a truth remains: Morality is born in the hearts of men and women, and through them institutions are changed. And history is made. It is unlikely that modern-day Mollies will be forced into battles like the Revolutionary War. But it is very likely that women and men of this generation will be called upon to take up the battle against greed, secularism, and moral corruption in our neighborhoods, cities, and nation. Every generation needs leaders with a true moral compass.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
14 To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. - Deuteronomy 10:14(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(The Lord said) 4 "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." - Isaiah 46:4(New International Version).

A QUOTE
I believe in angels because I have sensed their presence in my life on special occasions. - Billy Graham -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
God heals and the doctor takes the fee. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -
It is not what a person owns, but what owns them, that shapes their destiny. - From Reflecting God -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 46 degrees and a low temperature of 28 degrees. I saw Charley at noon. I went to the post office but I never get mail on a holiday. I then went to Walmart for my weekly supply of items. I took my afternoon nap with Tony. I put treats and food out for the cats at around 4:30 p.m. Since last time I have heard from Mary Jo, Michelle, Alice, Pastor J. T. and Geneva. Alice is still feeling pretty rough so say another prayer for her tonight.
The cats are fine. Beau has been here in the den the past few minutes meowing but I think he just wants attention since he had food a few minutes ago. Rascal is in his usual place in the recliner asleep.

Have a nice Tuesday!
I will see you next time, In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, OK

“Reward or Regret?”
“The wage of a good person is exuberant life; an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.” – Proverbs 10:16 (MSG)

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life [in] Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

There are, in my estimation, two groups of people. Regardless of Country, culture, social status, creed or belief—you find they are all virtually the same.
The first group is those who exist by survival. They do whatever it takes to get them through the day. Some go to work, punch the clock, do their job, go home, and then prepare themselves to do it all over again the next day. Others simply wake up, find something to eat, watch T.V. (if they have one), and should they make through the day, ready themselves to do it all over again the next day.
Life for the survivalist is routine. Uninspiring. Unmoving. It is cold—it lacks focus, purpose, and the future is always bleak.
Many survivalist’s want more out of life but do not have the drive or the initiative to reach for it. Some (if not the majority) of this lack of drive and initiative is inherited. Not in the physical sense like hair color, or height, or anything of that nature—but all they have heard is “this is life,” and accept it at that. When you have nothing to live for you accept whatever comes your way and that, for many, is life.
For survivalist’s, joy is found in the external. Things and events, the satisfaction of physical desires—that is what life is about and in truth, they rarely see beyond themselves. That is not to say that they are not caring people—many of them care deeply for others, but the end result of their lives is—death. Of both body and soul. And for so many, their lives end in regret, never having real life!
The other group is those who have learned how to live! They have a genuine enthusiasm for life and it shows in everything they do. They are the passionate!
Those who are passionate about life may work the same job as a survivalist, punch the same clock, work the same shift, but at the end of the day their passion for life has not diminished. The reason—they have something to live for!
And here is the part that to me is the biggest difference. Passion for life has nothing to do with wealth. Nor is it about influence or power. Those who have passion do not need to have things go their way—they know that life is not always fair or easy. Those who have passion will hurt if or when tragedy comes their way.
Where does that passion come from? How do we get it? When Christ is received and we see and feel and understand how to live the life we have been given.
I like the words of Paul from Romans here: He says the free gift of God is eternal “life” in Christ Jesus. That tells me that it is more than just existence. More than just surviving. It is in every way, God’s reward.
So I guess it begs the question…in which camp are you? I think the choice is easy but that’s just me.
Pastor J. T. Carnell