Daily Jewel

by pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Aug. 11, 2011

“Gathering Eternal Truths!”
“Get wisdom...Get understanding…” – Proverbs 4:5

From time to time I like creating an “acrostic.” For those who may have forgotten your high school English, an acrostic is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message. One of the most famous acrostics was made in Greek for the acclamation JESUS CHRIST, GOD'S SON, SAVIOUR (Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός, Θεού Υιός, Σωτήρ; Iesous CHristos, THeou Yios, Soter — ch and th being each one letter in Greek). The initials spell ICHTHYS (ΙΧΘΥΣ), Greek for fish – hence the frequent use of the fish as a symbol for Jesus Christ from the early days of Christianity to the present time. (Wikipedia) Today’s acrostic is taken from one of the words in the verse above. In this verse Solomon is telling us to do something that will make our lives better. Something that will help to increase our ability to grow as a person and as a Christian. It begins by GATHERING. To “gather” means to accumulate…or what is even a better word—harvest. We have lived is several communities where farming was the predominate means of support for many a family. During harvest the entire community gets involved. In fact, the community becomes almost one big family. And when there is a good harvest everyone benefits. When we gather what is available to us from the mind and heart of God—we “reap” the benefit but the beauty of our harvest is that others benefit as well. When we become better people by learning from God—it cannot help but spread to others. What are we gathering? That which is ETERNAL!! By using the previous analogy, each year for there to even be a harvest the farmer has to sow seeds. The seeds of life that Solomon bids us to “gather” were sown from the beginning and they are without question eternal. They do not change—they cannot be altered—they are solid. So what we are setting out to do is to harvest that which will give and give and give! Finally, the last part of the acrostic—we are to gather eternal TRUTHS! Truths that were established by God and are maintained by God. And since they are “eternal,” they do not change despite how many make the attempt to either change them or deny them. Here is a good example: Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, was in a meeting with the chairman of a giant publishing company who boasted, "Our newspaper chain was instrumental in the removal of the Ten Commandments from the walls of our public schools." Colson asked him why he thought they should be removed, and the CEO answered, "They offend people from other religions; and besides, we must separate church and state." Later in the same meeting this same executive brought up the subject of juvenile crime. He asked, "What are we going to do about the rising rate of teen delinquency? Occurrences of theft on the school campus have increased at an alarming rate over the past decade. What can we do?" Chuck Colson said, "Maybe we should put a sign on the wall that says, 'Thou shalt not steal'." The newspaper man said, "That's a good idea!" G.E.T. wisdom…G.E.T. understanding. Gather…Eternal…Truths! Dig deep. Read. Listen. Pray. Get all that is there for you to reap and glean. It will be worth it.

Pastor J. T. Carnell

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Aug. 10, 2011

“You Know What You Need to Do”

”I was there when he set boundaries for the sea to make it obey him, and when he laid foundations to support the earth.” – Proverbs 8:29 (Contemporary English Version)

Does obedience really matter? Is doing the right thing at all times really that important? From the inception of the beginning of time, obedience has been an integral part of life—even before the first man and woman walked the earth. Listen to this description of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in northern Ukraine: "There were two electrical engineers in the control room that night, and the best thing that could be said for what they were doing is they were 'playing around' with the machine. They were performing what the Soviets later described as an unauthorized experiment. They were trying to see how long a turbine would 'free wheel' when they took the power off it. "Now, taking the power off that kind of a nuclear reactor is a difficult, dangerous thing to do, because these reactors are very unstable in their lower ranges. In order to get the reactor down to that kind of power, where they could perform the test they were interested in performing, they had to override manually six separate computer-driven alarm systems. "One by one the computers would come up and say, 'Stop! Dangerous! Go no further!' And one by one, rather than shutting off the experiment, they shut off the alarms and kept going. You know the results: nuclear fallout that was recorded all around the world, from the largest industrial accident ever to occur in the world." This city, which formerly had 55,000 people, is now largely abandoned. The instructions and warnings in Scripture are just as clear. We ignore them at our own peril, and tragically, at the peril of innocent others. The Proverb above describes how nature obeyed the Word of God. He gave specific instructions—He gave boundaries and they obeyed. But as the illustration above reminds us when we go outside of what is right, things can go tragically wrong. Here is another example. Thompson Canyon is one of the most beautiful areas in the Colorado Mountains. The thirty-two mile drive from the city of Loveland to the entrance of Estes Park is one of the most beautiful drives in Colorado. The Big Thompson Canyon is a heavily wooded area of scenic beauty with rugged cliffs and high mountains bordering the Big Thompson River. The road follows the river, and winds around walls of granite, which lift their heads thousands of feet in the air, past timber and grass covered slopes. The views presented along the route through this wonderful canyon are beyond comparison and one never tires of looking at and admiring the wonderful works of nature. In the 1960’s the Colorado Core of Engineers and the State built a new road, U.S. Route 34, through the canyon—which was needed to provide a route to help connect the western slope with the eastern part of the state but it also allowed people to travel through some magnificent country. In so doing, however, they re-routed the river in a couple of areas to create camping areas and an easier route for the route. On July 31, 1976, during the celebration of Colorado's centennial, the Big Thompson Canyon was the site of devastating flash floods that swept down the steep and narrow canyon, claiming the lives of 143 people, 5 of whom were never found. Of the 143, a number of them were children and teenagers who were on a church camping trip. This flood was triggered by a nearly stationary thunderstorm near the upper section of the canyon that dumped 300 millimeters (12 inches) of rain in less than 4 hours (more than 3/4 of the annual rainfall for the area). Little rain fell over the lower section of the canyon, where many of the victims were. Around 9 p.m., a wall of water more than 20 feet high raced down the canyon at about 14 mph, destroying 400 cars, 418 houses and 52 businesses and washing out most of U.S. Route 34, the road that was built by the Core of Engineers. Most of those who were killed were camping in the areas created when the road was built. A spokesman for the State was quoted in the Denver Post: “We learned a tragic lesson here—to not mess with nature. The flood sent the river back to it’s original path and I think it would be to our benefit to leave it that way.” Wisdom says…obey the Lord! Obey His instructions. Since nature knows to obey the boundaries it was given wouldn’t it stand to reason that we would do the same? It makes sense.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Wednesday, August 10, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 4 "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." - John 9:4(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. - Proverbs 9:11(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Do we thank God for what we have and share it with others? - Robert D. Branson -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. - From Reminisce Magazine - A wise person will make more opportunities than he or she finds. - From Reminisce Magazine - Character is what you are; reputation is what people think you are. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
Well, I decided to do Good Things tonight rather than wait until Friday night since I will be watching some television programs tomorrow night. I had been thinking tonight that perhaps I should go back to sending the Good Things every night. I never know from night to night what Scripture verses I will be using. The Scripture verse tonight from John, chapter 9, also makes one think seriously. Jesus said, "Night is coming when no one can work." That being the case is all the more reason I should do the Good Things every night if they are actually helping some one. Here is what I would like for you to do. If the Good Things are helping you, send me an e-mail in the next two days and give your opinion on whether I should do them every night. I would only be reading if I am not doing the Good Things. I never dreamed that I would ever be doing something like the Good Things. I had lunch today with Charley and Bill. I went by the post office, then by the bank momentarily and then by Braums for some items. I have been inside the rest of the day except to put out food and water for the outside animals this evening. Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 95 degrees. Quite a change from the past several days. We had thunderstorms this morning beginning shortly before 4:00 a.m. and continuing for an hour or so. We received over an inch of rain in McAlester. Low temperature this morning was 72 degrees. The cats are fine. The cat picture tonight is a tabby gray named Beau. Little Girl has changed positions tonight and is now on the arm of the couch. She may want to go outside so I will ask her when I finish the Good Things. Rascal has been in to check on me. Friendly came by a few minutes ago and gave me a love and ate a few bites. At 9:35 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 85 degrees. I will see you Friday if the Lord is willing.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Aug. 9, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” -Luke 15:10(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
3 He (the Lord) will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. - Psalm 121:3(New Living Translation).

A QUOTE
A loving family communicates and listens. - Dolores Curran -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Avoid solutions that are worse than the problem. - Aesop, Ancient Storyteller -
Living without kindness is like driving a car without oil. - From Reminisce Magazine - No one is ever old enough to know better. - From Reminisce Magazine - Our words and our deeds should say the same thing. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
I had lunch with Charley and Bill. We saw several other friends that we knew including Stan and Sue McMullen. I came by the post office and then home. I have been inside the rest of the day. I took my nap with Smokey. Beau and Emmy were also sleeping in my bedroom but on shelves. Smokey will usually get up when I do. This evening I put out fresh water and food for the outside animals. Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 104 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 77 degrees. Around midnight last night we had a lot of lightening and thunder but only a few sprinkles of rain. The picture tonight is Everett with Rascal. In all probability there will not be Good Things on Thursday night because of some television programs that I want to watch. If I should happen to get Good Things out tomorrow night then you will know it, however, it may be Friday night before the next Good Things. Let me know if Good Things are cluttering up your computer and you would like to be dropped. The cats are fine. I have seen them all today. Little Girl is asleep on the filing cabinet. At 9:55 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 93 degrees. I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T Carnell, McAlester, OK
Aug. 9, 2011

“It’s Time for School!”
“When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, ‘Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.’” – Proverbs 4:3-4

It is school-time once again across the state and in many places throughout our nation. There are a number of reminders of this all around us. At the corner of our street just in front of our house is a bus stop. Monday through Friday we can watch as McAlester school-children are getting on or getting off the bus. Quite often there are a number of cars in the Church parking lot that are either dropping off or picking up their children. To the east of us is William Gay Elementary School. I have to admit that during the summer I miss the sounds of the kids playing during recess. It reminds me of the days when my children were that age and in school. As much as it may appear to our children that sending them to school is nothing short of cruelty and parental abuse we all know there is something much more important at work—the shaping of lives and minds that is meant to guide them through their entire lives. That of course is the intent—whether or not that happens is entirely up to each individual child and how deep their desire to learn burns within them. Or is there more to it than that? Could it be that there is more to our children’s learning than what happens in the classroom? Could it be that our children’s desire to learn begins with—dare I say—Us? Parents? Grandparents? Aunts…Uncles…and yes…even the Church? Going back to chapter one I made the assumption that as the king’s son, Solomon had access to the best learning available. There is no doubt that the brightest minds and teachers in the land provided any of the king’s children the best education available. But do you notice in this verse where Solomon says his learning really began? With his father. And when he was young and impressionable. I am writing this message at a time when there is something happening within the life of our church that is exciting to be a part of—seeing a number of children running around and just as springtime is a reminder of new life—seeing these children reminds us that the Kingdom goes on! It also means we (as a church) have a great responsibility. A responsibility to teach them the Word of Life. We do that not just by our words but also by our lives and our actions. If we want them to know what it means to serve—are we serving? If we want them to know how to tithe—are we tithing? If we want them to know important it is to pray—do they see us praying? If we want them to trust in the Lord—do they see us trusting? One last thing—and this goes back to the element of desire. I believe that children learn best when we are passionate about what we believe. My best teachers were those who were deeply passionate about what they were teaching. One of my favorite teachers was Mr. Kynor—a Social Studies teacher in Junior High. Every day in his class he gave us his best. You would never know if he was having a bad day because his demeanor was always positive. I don’t remember there ever being a problem in his class—and it was not just because he was a former Marine—but because he commanded respect through his attitude. Does it not make sense that we should do the same? Let us give our children a reason to believe and to show that we can be passionate about the Lord!
Pastor J. T. Carnell