Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

Hearts are not “Garage-Sale” Appropriate
“...the heart of the wicked is of little value…” – Proverbs 10:20b (NIV)

It is amazing some of the incredible “bargains” some people find at garage/yard sales. And not simply bargains—but outright incredible discoveries.
As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and Aaron LaPedis is living proof. Over the years he’s been so successful buying and reselling other people’s unwanted items, he’s earned the nickname The Garage Sale Millionaire and even written a book about it. His most recent gem: photo negatives of Elvis Presley’s famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show — the one where Sullivan told him he couldn’t shake his hips — that he hopes to sell for six figures.
He tells of a man, Ray Snider, who stumbled across a yard sale in his native town of Quincy, Massachusetts. A woman was selling items she came across in her grandfather’s attic after he had passed away. She placed a number of items in several boxes and sold each box for a whopping $5 apiece. Ray took a chance and purchased two of the boxes. When he got home and started going through them he came across some old baseball cards. Being Boston Red Sox fan, Snider immediately recognized the names and knew immediately he may have come across true treasure. Two months after his purchase Ray traveled to Baltimore to the National Sports Collectors Convention where his 37 baseball cards featuring the likes of Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Cy Young and Honus Wagner fetched $566,132 in brisk online and live bidding. I would say that Ray’s $5 investment was well worth it.
Obviously, those discoveries are rare and the reason why people go to garage sales is to find what bargains they can. They often spend little and that is just about what they get in return. That is unless the one having the garage/yard sale is not in good standing with their spouse. I recently read of woman who discovered that her husband was having an affair. He eventually moved out leaving the woman he had spent the last 20 years with. She had given her heart to this man only to have it broken. Her initial response was to take all of the personal items belonging to him and had left behind and just burn them but her better sense soon overtook her and thought the better of it. She decided to have yard sale, selling essentially everything that was his, which included a premium set of golf clubs, worth well over $1,000 just by themselves. On top of that one of the club covers was signed by a young and up and coming professional golfer by the name of “Tiger” Woods. When a buyer spotted the clubs he asked, “What do you want for these?” Her response, “Make me an offer.” Talk about a bargain—she was $20 richer and let’s just say that was the best $20 investment he had ever made!
To this woman, her husband’s actions reduced the value of what his life represented. Now, maybe this was (and is) an extreme example but the more I think about it what I get from this is that evil actions and/or words, reduce those individuals down to nothing.
Hearts are not like baseball cards that can be had at a bargain price. You can no more treat someone’s trust in you than you can expect to buy love in a box of items found in an attic! You might find a long lost Picasso painting, but not something as important as a deep, interpersonal relationship, especially our relationship with Christ.
The Apostle Paul writes: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” – 1st Corinthians 6:19-20
You may find some great bargain and discoveries like Ray Snider and Aaron LePedis, but make no mistake about it—anything less than our best in our servitude to Christ and to the Kingdom of God is what the great German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer called, “cheap grace.”
I do wish, however, I had been the one to find those $20 golf clubs. Maybe someday.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. - 1 John 2:10(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right." - Acts 10:34-35(New International Version).

A QUOTE
I joked about every prominent man in my lifetime, but I never met one I didn't like. - Will Rogers -
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
A noble deed is a step toward God. - Holland -
Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. - Bunyan -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy in McAlester, Oklahoma. with a high temperature of 49 degrees and a low temperature of 28 degrees. Charley and I had lunch today at St. John's Catholic Church where they served all kinds of soup for a donation. I had tomato bisque soup which I had never eaten before. It was very good. I then went to the post office and then on to city hall to pay my water bill. I came home and took a nap with Smokey. I put treats and food outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. It was much to cool to stay out long due to a brisk north wind blowing. Even the cats didn't hang around outside for long. Since last time I have heard from Leela, Alice, Pastor J.T., Geneva and Claudia (my great niece). As always I am happy to get e-mails.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in the recliner asleep and the rest are inside somewhere and I can guarantee you that they are resting, probably asleep. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
I hope everyone has a nice Saturday!
May the Good Lord Bless and keep each one until next time. Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(The Apostle Paul wrote) 3 "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:3-7(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
( Peter said) 19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus." - Acts 3:19-20(New International Version).

A QUOTE
Through waves and clouds and storms He gently clears the way. Wait thou His time; so shall this night soon end in joyous day. - Paul Gerhardt -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
It is refreshing to find a clergyman willing to defend the youth of today. Unfortunately the defense of the youth of today is too frequently made by lawyers. - Crane -
No affliction would trouble a child of God, if he knew God's reasons for sending it. - Morgan -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 66 degrees and a low temperature of 33 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office. I took my nap with Smokey and Tony. I put treats and food outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. It was such a nice day that I sat out with the cats and read for a few minutes. Since the last Good Things, I have heard from Alice, Gaetano, Michelle, Debra, Pastor J.T., Gail, Geneva, Quentin, Laura, Don & Evelyn and Janice. I am always happy to receive notes from my e-mail friends.
The cats are fine. I have seen all of them this evening.
I hope everyone has a nice Friday.
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep each one until next time. Everett

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

The “Value” of our Words
“The words of the godly are like sterling silver…” – Proverbs 10:20 (NLT)

Words appear to be the Solomon’s overt theme for this chapter, and it continues in here in verse 20. There are several variations of this verse but they all say virtually the same thing and they make the same declaration—God’s people are to use words that inspire, encourage, build up, and generally create an atmosphere that has a taste of elegance. Have you ever thought of your words having “value?” What if some words were worth more than others? Would that make a difference is what words you used and how they were used?
I love this “fun” illustration: A Texas oilman was getting married and was extremely nervous. He went to the minister and told him that his fee would be in direct proportion to the length of the service. In other words--the fewer the words--the more the value of each word would be. If the minister performed a long service, the preacher would get nothing. When the wedding day came, the couple stood before the minister. He said to the man, "Take her?" To the woman, "Take him?" He then closed the ceremony by pronouncing, "Took!" The whole ceremony lasted 5 words. He received $100 per word—or to be brief, $500!! There is a “word” that we do not use often but aptly applies here. It is what we have the power to do if we would but choose to use it. It is called—AFFIRMATION!! And we certainly affirm others through our words!
Affirmation is a building-block of self-esteem. Affirmation works both ways—giving and receiving. But strong self-esteem always begins at the receiving end, not the giving end. Infants and young children, especially, need to be affirmed—sincerely and often. The absence of affirmation, coupled with constant criticism by their siblings, parents, and others in the family will lead to dysfunction. The same thing applies to youth and adults, but a deficiency in affirmation at the earliest levels of growth are more permanent than a deficiency that occurs later in life.
Jesus was a master at affirming others. He looked at those rag-tag followers—none of whom was intellectually great—and affirmed them by saying, “You are the light of the world.” Not “a reflection of my light;” not “on your very best day;” not “you are second or third below Moses;” not “clones of Abraham;” but instead, “You (and you alone) are the light of the world!” And if that weren’t enough, he added, “A city on a hill, shining!” Was he talking about shy Andrew or skeptical Thomas? Yes, he was. He called his disciples, “my friends.”
My favorite affirmation story is recorded in Luke 7. A Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner, and he accepted the offer. During dinner, a woman known for her sinful life in the town showed up without an invitation. She brought with her an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. While the guests were eating, she positioned herself at the feet of Jesus, weeping, and began washing his feet and drying them with her hair. And there was more. As she wiped his feet, she kissed them and poured perfume on them. Simon, the Pharisee host, was more than annoyed. But Jesus said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, and she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much.” How’s that for affirmation?
Are there people in your life who are under-affirmed and/or under-valued? Are there some that no one seems to appreciate? You can change all of that, by following the example of the Affirmer and lifting their spirits. Begin now.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
6 Splendor and majesty are before him (the Lord); strength and glory are in his sanctuary. - Psalm 96:6(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. - Psalm 3:5(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The Holy Spirit is the divine substitute on earth today for the bodily presence of the Lord Jesus Christ two thousand years ago. - Alan Redpath -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny. - From Leaves of Gold -
The diminutive chains of habit are generally too small to be felt, till they are too strong to be broken. - From Leaves of Gold -

NOTES
Today has been a sunny day in McAlester, Oklahoma, with a high temperature of 56 degrees and a low temperature of 35 degrees. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I went to the post office. I took a nap this afternoon with Itty Bitty, Smokey and Tony who were with me part of the time I was napping. I put treats and food outside for the cats at 4:30 p.m. Since last time I have heard from Alice, Patti, Michelle, Mary Jo, Pasor J.T., Quentin, Burlene and Dr. Phil (not the one on television but a good friend who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma).
The cats are fine. Leo and Rascal are with me at present. Tony was here a short while ago. I have seen all of them this evening.

I HOPE EVERY ONE HAS A WONDERFUL VALENTINES DAY FILLED WITH LOVE!!!

See you next time!~ Everett