Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Evil Never Sleeps!”

“For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.” – Proverbs 4:16

I remember my early days when I became a Christian. I was fourteen and was learning so many new things. I remember hearing the story of Harmon Schmelzenbach, our pioneer missionary to Africa. There was a book and a movie about his life and ministry called, “They Cry in the Night.” It talked about a spiritual darkness that the people were under and it was the reminder that the need for Christ does not end when the sun goes down. In fact—the need may increase. When you think of Africa you think of Lions. There is a Scripture that reminds us of this thought: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1st Peter 5:8, 9 (NIV) There is an equal spiritual darkness that cannot be ignored—and it is right in our back yard. And it does not discriminate when it comes to age. It was only twelve years ago when Americans were shocked to hear of the tragedy that unfolded in Jonesboro, Arkansas, as two boys—one age 11 and the other age 13—dressed in army-type clothing, fired off dozens of rounds of ammunition in ambush-style from their hiding place in the nearby woods adjacent to their school at their classmates and teachers who had been forced to exit the building following the pulling of a fire alarm. Four young girls and a 32-year-old teacher were killed; many were wounded. State newspapers later named it the “Westside Middle School Massacre.” Seven weapons were recovered—three rifles and four handguns. The boys couldn’t gain access to a locked gun-case owned by one of the fathers, but the grandfather’s gun collection was not locked. On the night before the shooting, the boys loaded the minivan owned by one of their mothers with camping supplies, snack foods, and the guns. The following morning, the boys drove to the woods near the school, and one of them entered the school and pulled a fire alarm before returning to join his friend. From their location in the woods, they opened fire. When they attempted to escape in the minivan, they were captured by police. The boys were among the youngest ever charged with capital murder in U.S. history. The prosecutor later said that if the boys had been older, he would have sought the death penalty for the pair. In the summer of 1998 they were sentenced to prison until they reached the age of 18. The sentence was later amended to the age of 21. One of the boys was released from custody in 2003. The other was released in 2007. In the wake of that incident, people from all levels of society asked hard questions—the kinds of questions that have no answers. Who was at fault here? How could the boys obtain their arsenal of weapons without anyone knowing about it? What were they thinking? How could they point and shoot at other children? Were there no warning signs? Why didn’t classmates share their concerns with authority’s days earlier? Could this happen in our community? Difficult questions, all. One fact seems clear: our children are not waiting until adulthood to “put away childish things.” They want to make decisions regarding their future at an earlier age than ever before. Adolescence has overtaken child-hood. Name it; our kids have seen it or have experienced it personally. Parents everywhere are facing challenges that their parents never dreamed of facing. What does the Church say in the face of tragedies like Jonesboro? Perhaps there are no sure “solutions” to the troubles children and youth experience today. Certainly no generation of Americans has been exposed to so much violence, abuse, and secular thinking as today’s youth have seen. But the church must begin somewhere! Being silent or passive only reinforces the view that the situation is hopeless. And we cannot afford to accept hopelessness as a norm for our society. There is hope, and it can be found in the word of God and in the life of Christ. If you are a parent of a young child reading this—be on the alert. Listen for the roar—because unlike the words of the song, “the lion sleeps tonight,” in the spiritual realm, evil does not sleep. Thankfully, neither does our Lord and is available to hear our prayers of supplication at anytime of the day or night!
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOOD THINGS Saturday, June 4, 2011 GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD 17 A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. - Proverbs 17:17(New Living Translation). GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD 23 From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. 24 Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. - Proverbs 16:23-24(New Living Translation). A QUOTE However hindered our circumstances seem to make us, the Holy Spirit remains unhindered and can use us in remarkable ways. - Bruce Paul - THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER You can't spell "brothers" without, at the same time, spelling "others." - From Reminisce Magazine - There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. - From Reminisce Magazine - NOTES Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 93 degrees. Low temperature last night was 70 degrees. I had lunch with my brother, Charley, and his former pastor Joel Kircher. I came by Family Dollar Store and then to the post office. I took a nap in early afternoon. My house cleaning lady came at 5:00 p.m. and cleaned my house. I sat outside in back with the cats and read for a while this evening. My back has been bothering me off and on the last few days so to my Sunday School friends, if I don't make it to Sunday School, that will be the reason. I will try to make it to Worship Service if not Sunday School. I still have lots of pictures from last week-end. The picture tonight is my daughter, Treva, with Rascal. The cats are fine. Little Girl has been outside but my neighbors next door are in the front yard, so Little Girl decided to come in. The other cats are outside, mainly in the back yard. At 8:45 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 85 degrees. Have a Wonderful Sunday! I will see you next time. I will watch "Billy Graham Classics" at 9:00 p.m. on TBN. In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J>T> Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Investing in God” “Wealth and Glory accompany me— also substantial Honor and a Good Name.” – Proverbs 8:18 (MSG) 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 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 11 federal 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, founder and 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: "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) 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

Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC

I read something recently that has kept coming back to my mind. Up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is Linville Caverns. I want to go there sometime. I read that when one goes down into the caverns to a certain depth there is complete and total darkness. The report stated that if a one stays in the darkness long enough blindness occurs. The trout swimming in the water below the earth in the caverns are blind. I am thinking in terms now, of spiritual blindness at this point. When a person allows the darkness of negativity and destructive thoughts to become manifest as negative actions or at times, lack of action that would bring in the light (the Light of God), I can understand how one can become spiritually blind, even to the point of losing connection with the other senses God gave us. A person can hear words spoken with good intentions and yet, not hear. It is as if their spiritual ears stop picking up the sound waves and are unable to process the sounds. As well, they can still speak, but the spiritual voice is quieted to the point of becoming mute. How sad for a spirit to become blind, deaf and mute and then succumb because of a failure to thrive. God didn't design our spirits to live in darkness and He didn't design us, physically, to live in total darkness. Why would He have given us our senses if He didn't want us to use them to the fullest extent. I understand, there are those who were born sightless, some unable to hear and others born unable to speak. They do the best they can with what they were given, even to the point of heightened awareness of the senses they were given to accommodate for the lack of the other. I want you to be that beam of light in the lives of others. Your smile or encouraging word may be the only bit of light that shines through the dark abyss in which a human being cowers. Be careful, though, because when one has been in the darkness so long, too much light at once may be overwhelming. When you hold the candle and share it with another, your own light is not lessened. Rather, the darkness is lessened and both can see better and therefore, both are comforted. Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Geneva Poynter

Geneva Poynter who lives in the Midwest, USA, is one of the poets from the WC community of poets. I wish to recognize her especially for her generous encouragement of other poets by her regular comments on their poetry as well as her own fine poetry contributions. You are encouraged to visit her poetry database at WC. Thank you, Geneva, for all your time and goodwill expressed at Wordchimes.com. Quentin Clingerman, founder and administrator at WC