Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Aug. 8, 2011

“Tunnel-Hearing!”
“I’m giving you good counsel; don’t let it go in one ear and out the other." – Proverbs 4:2 (MSG

) One of the reasons why I like the The Message version of the Bible is in its ability to help me capture its “Word Pictures.” The language is so vivid and it truly helps to understand what the author is trying to get across. However, if you need more of a visual example—the picture below should pretty much sum it up: I believe I was around 14 when one day my mother—obviously overworked simply flat-out asked me, “Are you on drugs?” Well, that question certainly caught my attention but I should have not been surprised by her frustration—she had been talking to me and I simply was not listening. I was just simply doing my thing—lost in my own world and oblivious to the things around me. And at the time—not listening at all to the voice of the Holy Spirit. No doubt you have heard the term, “tunnel-vision.” Medically speaking, tunnel-vision is the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision, resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision. More simply stated—you can see in front of you and that is about it. You are virtually blind to everything else. Another definition perhaps better fits what this verse is trying to get across to us. It can describe, “An extremely narrow point of view…narrow-mindedness.” “Tunnel-Hearing” can have the same effect. It simply means listening only to those things that are pleasing—acceptable to our understanding and shutting out everything else that does not fit our thinking. My mother would certainly have agreed with that! Jesus certainly faced this dilemma with the religious leaders of His day. The words He spoke were directly from the Father’s heart and mind and yet they were both blind and deaf to the truth. This would lead Him to say: “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.” (Matthew 13:14-15, NIV) James in his epistle reminds us: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19, NIV)
One more thing to note here—just because you think you’ve heard it all—seen it all and that you are exempt from what God has to say—think again!! He never stops instructing us and as long as we have a heartbeat He will continue to instruct us. Are you listening? Did you hear me? Are you listening?
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Sunday, August 7, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. - 1 John 5:20(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. - Proverbs 29:25(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Wealth is not to be squandered in self-indulgence. It should represent expanded opportunities to do good. - Robert D. Branson -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
An excellent life is made up of countless excellent moments. - From Reminisce Magazine - A good scare is often worth more than good advice. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
I arose this morning, took my first pain pill, ate some breakfast, called my daughter Treva, then waited for my back to get easy enough to go to Worship Service. The Worship Service was good and enlightening as usual. After the service, I went by the cemetery since I had not been there this week. The flowers are still pretty. I had lunch at home. At about 2:00 p.m. I lay down for my nap. Of course, Smokey was there with me. Around 4:15 p.m. we had a nice refreshing thunderstorm which lasted no more than 30 minutes, but it was fine while it lasted. Skies have been mostly cloudy today. High temperature was 102 degrees before the thunderstorm cooled the weather a little. Low temperature early this morning was 80 degrees. I attended church tonight. After church I put out food for the outside animals and then I ate my supper. As soon as I get through with the Good Things, I must get the garbage ready and out on the curb for pick up in the morning. The picture tonight is Little Girl on a limb in the Catalpa tree. The cats are fine. When I got up this morning, Emmy was home, Praise The Lord! She had been gone a couple of days. Little Girl is on the filing cabinet now. Rascal just came by and stopped for a minute to let me know he was here. At 9:40 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 83 degrees. I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Award Winners of New Poets Contest

The following poets will receive the hardback edition of "Wordchimes.com: a Poetry Anthology". They were selected by lottery. Walter Ferguson
R. L. Hanna
Michael P. Johnson
Virginia Logsdon
Peter O'Brien

The First Prize Award of $500 will go to Julie Ann Cook for "In the Quiet"
Congratulations to each and every participant.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK
Aug. 5, 2011

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus) 1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. - Titus 2:1-5(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Be a model of honesty. - Glenda Hotton, MA -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
One of life's greatest pleasures is having your secret good deed discovered by accident. - From Reminisce Magazine - For mending someone's broken heart, the best glue is compassion. - From Reminisce Magazine -

NOTES
I had lunch with Charley and Bill today. I went to the post office. I stopped by Braum's and picked up some grapes and ice cream. Braum's grapes are from California while Walmart's grapes are often from another country. I took a nap this afternoon with Rascal and Smokey. Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 108 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 84 degrees. There was a rain shower in parts of McAlester last evening. All I got at my house was a few light sprinkles with lots of lightening and thunder. I live in the north part of town. My brother lives in the south part of town and he got a half inch of rain last evening. It will rain sometime. It always has before. I put out fresh water and food for the outside animals this evening. I watered two of my trees. I really get hot and tired watering the trees but it needs to be done. In pictures I will go back to my cat family tonight. I have shown you many of my family pictures and now it is time to go back to my cat family. The picture tonight is one of my female cats named Friendly. My eight cats and one stray are fine except for Emmy. She has been gone again for a day or two. I keep praying that she is okay and will come home safely. The other cats stay inside most of the time now. Little Girl is on the filing cabinet again tonight. Rascal was here a little while ago. At 10:15 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 97 degrees. I will see you next time.

In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK
Aug. 5, 2011 “Sit Up Straight!”

“Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you’ll know how to live…’" – Proverbs 4:1 (MSG

It’s hard to believe but school begins next week. It has been a looooonnnng time since I was going to school but I can vividly remember my fifth grade teacher—Miss Hensley, always telling us to “Sit up straight in your desks!” I did not realize at the time how important that really was and now some 40 years later (give or take a few) I understand why she was so adamant about our posture. You listen better and you learn better. End of story. Well, not quite. Solomon started it. He’s the one that told Miss Hensley to say what she did—and I am grateful for that today. Another reason why you need to sit up straight is to keep you alert and ready for whatever may come your way. If you are “slouching” it becomes much easier for you to let your eyes get a little droopy and then wander off into Neverland. Not good when the teacher catches you! A couple got a late start for home after their daughter's wedding which was three hours away. The wife had been fighting fatigue as well as a nasal infection and was longing for home and her own bed. After a short discussion about the wedding she drifted off to sleep. Suddenly, there was a terrible shimmying and weaving of the car. She woke up and thought, "We're in an accident..." but kept her eyes closed out of fear. She continued to feel the car shaking, then nothing. Opening her eyes, she realized that they were in a ditch in the middle of the highway, still speeding along on cruise control. Finally, her husband, keeping his composure, shut off the cruise control and steered the car back up and onto the interstate. A couple of miles down the road she said, "Did you fall asleep?" "Yes," he quickly answered. "Do you want me to drive?" "No," he said with calmness. "I'm wide awake now!" Life is one big classroom! We are constantly learning and growing and hopefully we are paying attention to what is around us—especially to what the Lord is wanting to teach us. Another way to approach this is to see it as this couple in the illustration—and as we travel down this highway of life how it is so very easy to get tired and "fall asleep at the wheel!" Then, when we find ourselves in a shaky or even dangerous situation Jesus gets our attention quickly. Perhaps the best way to "stay alert" is to sit up straight—or more specifically, live a HOLY life! One where Jesus is Lord and the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead us day in and day out. Second, keep a steady pace. When you're tired from the struggles of life it's okay to rest for a while. Let someone help carry your load. But to fall asleep while going full speed...that can lead to some dangerous consequences!! Okay class—sit up straight! No slouching!

Pastor J. T. Carnell