Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Friday, June 15, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He (the Lord) shall hear my voice. - Psalm 55:17(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. - Romans 14:17-18(New International Version).

A QUOTE
What more can we ask of the Savior Than to know we are never alone - That His mercy and love are unfailing And He makes all our problems His own. - Helen Steiner Rice -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER Be not afraid of moving slowly; be afraid of standing still. - From Reminisce Magazine -
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it. - From Proverbs for Daily Living -

FUN THOUGHTS ABOUT CATS
No two identical cats are alike. - From Cats Rule -
Never lie on the floor when you can lie on the couch. Never lie on the couch when you can lie on the bed. - From Cats Rule -

NOTES
It was raining when I awoke this morning and rained until around 9:00 a.m. Skies cleared in the afternoon. High temperature today was 87 degrees and low temperature was 68 degrees. I had lunch with Charley, Bill and my pastor, J. T. Carnell. I went outside and checked on the cats before I took my nap this afternoon. I took my nap without a cat. I sat outside with the cats this evening for about 30 minutes from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. I watched the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Jo Ann Castle, who used to play the piano on the Lawrence Welk program was a guest on the show today. This program is current and up to date. I sure appreciate your e-mails but it seems I can't seem to find the time to answer them indivduallly but rest assured, they are read and appreciated. I will leave pictures tonight.
Last night I asked you to send me an e-mail if you had been with me from the start of my e-mails which were not always called Good Things. I heard from three people who had been with me from the start and I will probably hear from others. Those I heard from were Claudia (my great niece from Willits, California), Audie (my cousin from Moore, Oklahoma) and Laura ( a church friend from McAlester, Oklahoma). I appreciate these people and I appreciate those who have joined me through the years and are so faithful now in reading the Good Things. My old back, body and mind are getting tired now. June, I would like to have you here again but I know you will have to take care of your own home until sometime next year when you will visit again. In the meatime, Treva and Ron will visit me as time goes along.
The cats are fine. None are inside with me at present but Rascal and Emmy were both here a short while ago. My cats have to have a little attention from me when they come in. I have seen them all this evening.
I will see you next time,
In Christain Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
June 14, 2012

“Scams and Schemes!”
“Riffraff and rascals talk out of both sides of their mouths.” – Proverbs 6:12 (The Message)

Late in 2008, many Americans became familiar with what was for many a new concept—a “Ponzi Scheme.” Synonymous with that phrase is the name, Bernie Madoff who according to experts is the largest in terms of monetary losses in history. A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to separate investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned. The Ponzi scheme usually entices new investors by offering returns other investments cannot guarantee, in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent. The perpetuation of the returns that a Ponzi scheme advertises and pays requires an ever-increasing flow of money from investors to keep the scheme going.
The scheme is named for Charles Ponzi, who became notorious for using the technique in early 1920. He had emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1903. Ponzi did not invent the scheme (Charles Dickens' 1857 novel Little Dorrit described such a scheme decades before Ponzi was born, for example), but his operation took in so much money that it was the first to become known throughout the United States. His original scheme was in theory based on receiving international reply coupons (bonds) for postage stamps, but soon diverted investors' money to support payments to earlier investors and Ponzi's personal wealth. The system is destined to collapse because the earnings, if any, are less than the payments to investors. Usually, the scheme is interrupted by legal authorities before it collapses because a Ponzi scheme is suspected or because the promoter is selling unregistered securities. As more investors become involved, the likelihood of the scheme coming to the attention of authorities increases. Prosecutors estimate losses at Madoff's hand totaling roughly $21 billion, as estimated by the money invested by his victims. When considering what the investments were meant to give back, the total could actually be closer to $68 billion.
It is obvious from the verse mentioned above that “scams” and “schemes” have been a part of humanity for as long as history has been recorded. And much of it goes back to the previous verses—it is about trying to get something for nothing. Countless numbers of men and women who have used other people’s resources for their own selfish purposes—and gave nothing back but heartache and loss.
But let’s take this to a far different and even more important level—and it goes to the issue of “trust.” Not trust in a person but a trust in God that does not need “investments” to feel secure in life. When you look at some of the people that invested in Madoff’s scheme, it reads like a “Who’s who” of Hollywood insiders, Sports figures and yes, political figures as well. Some say they lost several million dollars. Which leads me to ask the question—where have they placed their trust? If they had that kind of money to invest in the first place, you have to wonder if God is anywhere in the picture?
Is it wrong to invest? No. Even in biblical times the concept of investment was alive and well—but if we are weak in our faith and trust and we rely upon worldly riches and resources, then when some “riffraff” comes around promising a great return for our investment—what do you think might be the result?
O, and by the way—the master “riffraff,” the devil, wants to steal our most precious resource—our soul and the souls of our family. If your trust and faith is outside the love and grace of God, his ability to steal those resources is much greater. Know what you are investing in and who is in charge of it—you do not want to lose it all with no recourse to recover.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
June 15, 2012

“Winks & Wheat”
“Riffraff and rascals talk out of both sides of their mouths…They wink at each other, they shuffle their feet, they cross their fingers behind their backs...” – Proverbs 6:12, 13 (The Message)

Life is filled with “Scams and Schemes.” Something we learned with the previous message. Most of us have received emails with too good to be true offers, and we have all heard how good people have lost their life’s savings as a result of those who scammed them without mercy. Jesus Himself talked about such people. He also taught by using a great medium called “parables.” A story with a truth attached that people could easily understand. In His Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-42) said that at the “harvest” (the end of the Age), he and his angels would gather all the lawless ones (the schemers and scammers) and cast them into the “furnace of fire.” The righteous ones would enter the kingdom of heaven forever.
There is one grand theme in this parable, but also some interesting sub-themes. The grand theme is this: God’s people will win it all in the end, and evil people will lose it all in the end. But the sub-themes are significantly important. Are you ready? Let’s begin. There is an evil presence active in the world today, constantly scheming against God’s people. Like the “tares” in the story, the evil one wants his angels to co-exist with God’s people, hoping to influence them without being noticed. In fact, the evil one is like a pit bull—very scary—but toothless. He is all bark and not much bite. Even if his bites leave scars, the scars are temporary. As Robert Schuller correctly observes, “God can help you turn your scars into stars.” Distinguishing between good and evil can be difficult. Evil can mask its true identity and intentions. The Pharisees had all the appearance of being religiously committed. Jesus called them snakes. They knew the right language, but they spoke with a forked tongue. God gives discernment to his servants, so they can identify bad intentions from good intentions. But in the end, God will separate the unrighteous from the righteous. We don’t have to worry about them. Evil may appear to be productive and even seem to be victorious, but in the end destruction awaits. Theologian William Barclay observes, “Judgment is not hasty, but judgment does come.” As with the wheat and tares, righteous people and unrighteous people may grow together in tandem, but only one will survive in the end. The Apostle Paul had some things to say about God’s activity in the world: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows…Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:7, 8). Associating with evil people does not mean that we will be corrupted by them. Jesus was often criticized because he chose to rub shoulders with outcasts of society. Do you remember Zacchaeus, the tax-collector? Jesus chose to be a guest at his house. When he was challenged, he said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). There is a difference between being “in” the world and “of” the world. Welcoming sinners at church does not corrupt the righteous; the church exists for sinners. The church is a hospital for the broken and bleeding of society; it is not a country club for the saved.
One more thought. Sinners cannot frustrate God’s plan. But believers can. I like this quote from Richard Howard:

Posted to Religious by Que Clingerman @ 5:00 pm EDT