Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

When “Tradition” Meets Jesus
”Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ’It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” – Matthew 21:12-13

Save for the last four days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) the event of Jesus in the early part of the week remain a bit sketchy in terms of sequence. We are told he continued to teach, heal, and remain a thorn in the flesh to the religious elite – which of course would eventually lead to his crucifixion.
One such event that stands out is the “Cleansing of the Temple” where Jesus overturns tables and scatters the tables of the “money-changers” that had been set up in the Temple area. This for years had been a common practice. Those coming to celebrate and participate in the Passover would first have to “register” at the Temple. They would bring their sacrifice for inspection, or, some would come and purchase their sacrifice from the chief priest who would in turn provide that individual with the proper animal for the Passover Sacrifice.
The problem with this was that the process had become corrupt and nothing more than a money-making scheme for those “selling” the sacrificial lambs. According to the Law as given by God to Moses, the lamb had to be without defect. Mostly, without any visible deformities. The ambiguity of the language, however, provided the temple priests opportunity to find fault in areas that were never meant to be so those bringing in their lambs for inspection were having them rejected as unfit! To be eligible to participate in the celebration and receive the blessing of forgiveness would in turn cost them more!
Martin Luther would fight this same battle some 15 centuries later as the Church was selling “indulgences,” the remission of a sin which may or may not have been forgiven. As was the case with selling in the Temple – there were those making a fortune by selling “forgiveness.” Luther was appalled by the practice and called the leaders out on this as well as other issues – only to be excommunicated by the Church – leading to the beginning of the Protestant movement.
For years the Kingdom of Christ has been plagued by those who have found a way to make faith “profitable.” All this does is disgrace His Name and cheapen His grace. I would hope that we would be able to see through the disguises and reject anything that is not ordained of God. Unfortunately…not all things that occur “in the name of Jesus” have to do with money but far too often it is a matter of POWER. Having one’s way because they can! Someone once labeled this phrase, the seven last words of a dying church…”We’ve always done it that way before.” Both, the selling of forgiveness and/or the need for control do nothing to lift up the Name of Christ.
Jesus would remind us today that you cannot buy your way to forgiveness – it can only happen in this way…by asking and then repenting! Thank you Jesus for giving us a better way to find and experience forgiveness and redemption.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

The New New Testament

A few days ago, my local paper had an extensive article on the publishing of a New New Testament. A scholar from one of USA's more liberal seminaries has translated a number of "letters" written in Christ's time or shortly thereafter about him. Evidently some of them paint a somewhat different picture of our Lord and the scholar felt they belonged with the other New Testament books. Well, contemporaries of Christ had already disputed some claims that were being made about Christ. And the Council of Nicea, I believe under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, sorted out the wheat from the chaff. The so-called scholarship that would give credence to all that was written of Jesus by his contemporaries has to be poorly thought out or is intentionally meant to dilute the message of Redemption provided by God through Christ. I choose to stick with the New Testament, the wheat of the Gospel. What about you?

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
9 This is what the Lord Almighty said: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other." - Zechariah 7:9-10(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. - 1 Peter 2:25(New International Version).

A QUOTE
He that spills the rum, loses that only; He that drinks it, often loses both that and himself. - Benjamin Franklin -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
He who laughs, lasts. - From Reminisce Magazine -,br /> One day the One who Pilate judged will judge him. - From Reflecting God -

NOTES
The day started with cloudy skies and there were even some snow flurries in the middle of the morning. High temperatures were in the forties. Skies cleared this afternoon. I attended Worship Services this morning. As you know this was Palm Sunday. We had a wonderful service with hymns and songs of praise. Pastor J.T.'s sermon was titled "Rejoice in the Light." It has been quite cold today with a north wind blowing. I put treats and food out for the cats at 6:00 p.m. I put the garbage out on the street between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.
This will be the last time that I will tell you that I am updating my e-mail list so if you still want to receive the Good Things PLEASE RESPOND (if you haven't already) by March 25 (tomorrow). Those I haven't heard from I will try to contact this week to see if they are still receiving the Good Things and if it is their wish to discontinue them. Those I haven't heard from will be dropped after March 31 but I sure don't want to drop anyone who wants to stay on board.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in his usual place. Tony was just here. I just saw Beau and Smokey in the kitchen. They are all around somewhere.

Have a wonderful Monday!
Everett.
Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts!!!

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. - Hebrews 13:15-16(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. - Proverbs 4:23(New International Version).

A QUOTE
What will you decide about Jesus? It is the most important question you will ever be asked to answer. - Frank Moore -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Maturity is acting your age instead of your urge. - From Reminisce Magazine -
The winds of the daytime wrestle and fight longer and stronger than those of the night. - From Ben Franklin's Almanac -

NOTES
Today has been a cloudy day with a light shower this afternoon. High temperatures were in the upper forties. I saw Charley at noon. I went to the post office and picked up my mail. Later before my nap I went to the cemetery. I took my nap later in the afternoon with Beau sleeping with me today. I put the cat treats and food outside at 6:00 p.m. I watched the Lawrence Welk show at 7:00 p.m. It was about St. Patrick's Day and had a lot of green colors in it with several Irish songs. It was recorded in 1979. It will be repeated tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. on OETA (Oklahoma Educational Television). Since the last Good Things I have heard from Alice and Burlene. I like to receive e-mails.
The cats are fine. Rascal is asleep in the recliner chair. Some of the others have been coming and going through the den.

Have a Wonderful Sunday!
Everett.
Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts!!!

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus), 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. - Colossians 1:19-20(New International Version).

A QUOTE
What people say behind your back is your standing in the community. - Ed Howe -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER,br /> Like tacks, we can go no further than our heads will let us. - From Reminisce Magazine -
When God measures a person, He puts the tape around the heart, not around the head. - From Alive -,br />
NOTES
Today has been a cloudy day with high temperatures in the upper forties. I drove my van to Muskogee, Oklahoma, today to take Charley for an appointment with his urologist. Charley had to take a strong pain pill before the procedure they did on him. He had to take it a while before he arrived at the doctor's office so I drove so he wouldn't have to drive while under the influence of the pill. After his appointment we had lunch at a Bar-B-Que place. The meal was excellent. We left my house at 9:15 a.m . this morning and arrived back at my house at about 1:45 p.m. I went to the post office before I came home. I took a nap with Tony. At 5:30 p.m. I put the treats and food outside for the cats. I didn't stay out long because it was quite cool with a cold wind blowing from the north direction. Since last time I have heard from Alice, Michelle and Pastor J. T. I am always happy to get those emails.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in his usual place and Leo just came in from outside. Beau was also just here in the den. ,br />,br /> Have a nice Saturday!
Everett.
Keep Thinking The Good Thoughts.