Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester,OK

“I Don’t Think that is Such a Good Idea”
“…fools are killed by their own stupidity.” – Proverbs 10:21b (CEV)

It’s time again for everyone’s favorite message, well, mine anyway: The stupid things people do! The following are actual events documented to be a lesson to anyone thinking, “I can do that!”

Two brothers who were celebrating a $75,000 winning lottery ticket by purchasing marijuana and meth accidentally blew up their house on Friday, said Sgt. Bruce Watts of the Wichita Police Department.
The explosion sent one of the brothers – a 27-year-old – to the hospital, where he died of his injuries…the other brother was sent to the hospital with second and third-degree burns on his hands, arms and chest.
The brothers were in a house in the 100 block of North Nevada Court, near Douglas and West Street, about 7 p.m. Friday, Watts said. One of the brothers went to the kitchen to refuel the butane torches they planned to use to light their marijuana cigarettes. He emptied a couple of large cans of butane lighter fluid, leaking butane into the air.
“The butane vapor reached the pilot light in the furnace, and as you might expect, ka-boom,” Watts said.
Officers went to the house with a warrant, where the surviving brother ran out, admitting he had marijuana and methamphetamine. He was arrested and then sent to the hospital.
Charged with drug-possession, Christopher Johns of Grand Rapids, Michigan claimed that he had been searched without a warrant. The prosecutor said the officer did not need a warrant because a bulge in Johns' jacket could have been a gun. "Nonsense," said Christopher who happened to be wearing the same jacket that day. When he handed the judge the jacket, a bag of cocaine fell out. The judge required a five-minute recess so that he could regain his composure.
Derrick Lalli of Gallup, New Mexico walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, Lalli saw a bottle of scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but cashier refused and said "Because I don't believe you are over 21." The robber said he was, but the cashier still refused to give it to him because he didn't believe him. At this point, Lalli took his driver’s license out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over, and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and he put the scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that he got off the license. They arrested Lalli two hours later.
To be perfectly honest—I am not certain there is a deeply significant message here except maybe this—when you choose to live right, you may make mistakes from time to time but, the mistakes of the wise (God’s people) often do not end up with the kind of results that are detailed above.
Stupidity it appears to me is more than just a “by-word,” it is a way of life! It is from Solomon’s perspective a choice. When he says “…fools are killed by their stupidity…” he is witnessing the results of people’s actions that are at the very least, hilarious (as a couple of the stories appear to be) to the point of being at the worst, reckless, and dangerous and unfortunately, deadly.
As “light-hearted” as these accounts appear—too many are hurt and even die daily as the result of decisions and actions made by those who just do not merely think through their actions or words, but who have no regard for anyone or anything else besides themselves. Those are the ones that I believe Solomon describes as “fools.”
Life is worth more than momentary pleasures—things that will not last beyond a life time. Do not be foolish with your life and choose to make wise and “God-like” decisions.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
18 With me (wisdom) are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. - Proverbs 8:18-21(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
10 All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. - Psalm 145:10-13(New International Version)

A QUOTE
A smile is the universal welcome. - Max Eastman -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
People who fly into a rage usually make a crash landing. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Joy is not in things; it is in us. - Wagner -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny with a high temperature of 63 degrees and a low temperature of 28 degrees. I attended Worship Services this morning. We had a wonderful service. I had lunch at home and took a nap with Smokey this afternoon. I attended church tonight. We had fellowship tonight. I put treats out for the cats at 4:30 p.m. Since the last Good Things I have heard from Audie, Alice, Patti and Pastor J.T.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them today.
Have a Nice Monday to start your week!
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep Each One until next time. Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 11 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 35 "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." - Luke 6:35(New International Version).

A QUOTE
A good laugh is sunshine in the house. - William Makepeace Thackeray -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but rather a manner of traveling. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Look through nature up to nature's God. - Pope -
,br /> NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 50 degrees and a low temperature of 25 degrees. I saw Charley at noon. I went to the post office. I took my nap this afternoon with Smokey. At around 3:45 p.m. I made a trip to the Petsense store and then to Walmart. I put treats and food outside for the cats at around 5:00 p.m. Since last time I have heard from Burlene, Audie, Alice, Geneva, Quentin, Gaetano and Michelle. Thanks for the e-mails.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in his usual place. Emmy was here a few minutes ago. I have seen all of my cats this evening. Have a Wonderful Sunday!
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep Each One until next time. Everett.

Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 4:10 pm EST

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Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
17"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
“13 Jesus answered, ( the woman at the well) “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:13-14(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Every house where love abides and friendship is a guest, is surely home, and home, sweet home, for there the heart can rest. - Henry Van Dyke -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Life is an escalator. You can move forward or backward; you can't remain still. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Trust: a body relaxed, a mind at peace, a heart at rest. - The Lunn Log -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 42 degrees and a low temperature of 24 degrees. I had lunch with Charley, Bill, and many other people today at St. John's Catholic Church. Every Friday until Easter they will serve all kinds of soup for a donation. Today I had potato leek soup with cornbread which was delicious. I also had a piece of peanut butter pie and I had ice tea to drink. I went to the post office and then to Walgreen's to pick up prescriptions. I had my afternoon nap with Smokey. I then had to go back to Walgreen's because one prescription was not ready when I was there earlier. I went by McDonald's and picked up a chicken sandwich, fries and a drink for my evening meal. I put the treats and food out for the cats at around 5:00 p.m. Since last time I have heard from Burlene, Alice, Debra, Pastor J.T. and Geneva. As always I am happy to get e-mails.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in his usual place. I think the rest are in the house because it is cold outside tonight. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
I hope everyone has a nice Saturday!
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep Each One until next time. Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Ill-Gotten Gain is Really no Gain at All”
"My sons, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, 'Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone’s blood, let's waylay some harmless soul....we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder....".my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths..." – Proverbs 1:10 –11, 13

This passage reminds me of that proverbial "The Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow!" We all know there is nothing there but will search nonetheless just to make sure. Our televisions are being plastered with these so-called, infomercials. "Be your own boss." "Increase Your Portfolio!" "You too, can be a millionaire!" “Make money from home by working only a few hours a month!” There is always something in it for us if we would just trust and sign our name on the dotted line.
When I was in college I was duped into sending someone that I did not know $50 as a part of a chain letter scheme. All I had to do was to sign up three other guys to send $50 to the person at the top of the list, then they were to sign up three other people and by the time my name got to the top of the list I would make hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Yeah, right! In my naivety I never once considered the possibility that this was wrong or unethical...all I saw was the money that I could make!! The problem that I ran into was that I could not get anyone to keep the chain going so my name never made it to the top. Ah, yes, the allure of “quick riches!”

I certainly learned a great lesson through that and it was this: the things of this life are to be earned by hard and honest labor. Any gain that we think we might receive by unethical or immoral means, whether it is actual wealth or maybe the "respect" in the eyes of those around us, will never last!
My “lesson-learned” has served me well through the years as I have been approached on several occasions with much the same sales-pitch – here’s a way to make some quick easy money. Investing little with the hope of getting a whole lot back. Recent events in our nation and the many that lost millions of dollars as a result of Bernard Madoff’s “Ponzi” scheme show that even the used to be rich and famous are not exempt from this mind-set.
Have you ever found yourself involved in something that you felt very uncomfortable with? Why do you suppose that is? Was it because you felt inadequate in your abilities or was it because you were uncertain that the activity was not exactly moral or even legal? If you ever feel uncomfortable along these lines perhaps it is the Holy Spirit giving you a warning signal to Stay Away! Paul said, "Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial." (1st Corinthians 6:12)
"Not all that glitters is gold" someone once said. As this verse might indicate, not all "plunder" is for our benefit, or God ordained! Remember Achan? (Joshua 7) God had given the Israelites a great victory at Jericho but had warned them not to take any of the “plunder.” It was to be destroyed, but Achan did not heed the message. As a result his family and the families of 36 others (those killed in the ensuing battle at Ai) suffered grief and loss. Had he only been patient and relied upon God—Achan would have been richly rewarded further down the line!
I think the key here is that of trust. Trust in the One who gave you life to take care of that life. He knows you…how you are made! He knows what you need and how you need it…and why! Trust Him to take of you today…and then again tomorrow.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.