Good Things

by     Everet Christian,  McAlester, OK   

 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
7 For you (Lord) are my hiding place;
      you protect me from trouble.
      You surround me with songs of victory.
- Psalm 32:7(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them."  - John 14:23(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
Heaven is not a state of mind or being; it is a place.
- W. E. McCumber -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
Experience is what allows you to recognize a mistake the second time you make it.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
Hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone else expects of you.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been mostly cloudy with a high temperature of 76 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 63 degrees. I had lunch with Bill today. My brother, Charley, has gone on a senior retreat with his church for a couple of days. I went to the post office. I took my nap in early afternoon. Around 4:30 p.m. I went by the post office drop box to mail a couple of letters (bills). I sat out for a little while around 5:00 p.m. I have received 10 letters since last night telling me how much the Good Things mean to them, so folks you have spoken and the Good Things will continue. As always, if anyone would like to be dropped from receiving the Good Things, just send me an e-mail. I will understand and love you just the same. The cat picture tonight is Rascal in some old man's lap. They both are about to go to sleep.
 
Today in Hendersonville, Tennesse, at 2:00 p.m., funeral services were held for Ferlin Husky. You younger people may not remember him but he made famous the song "On The Wings Of A Dove." I saw an interview tonight that Ralph Emery had with Ferlin on April 14, 2008. Ferlin helped write the dove song but he couldn't get any record company to let him record it. He finally got it recorded but changed the word God to He. Ferlin was 85 years of age the same as me. I grew up on country music so this song is one that I really like. I will leave a link for you to hear it so if you don't care for country music you don't have to listen to it. Here is the link:  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFMPRIcc6yQ
 
The cats are fine. Rascal just came by and gave me a boo head. Little Girl is outside at present. The others are all accounted for.
 
At 10:35 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 72 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.

God's Tug

In Whose Hands?    Monday, March 14, 2011

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:27-29 NIV (emphasis mine)

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

Galatians 2:20 NIV

Today when I was doing my meditations, reading today’s lesson from Charles Stanley’s In Touch magazine, the lesson was in John, but a different verse. I felt pulled over a few pages back to the verse in John above and then to Galatians. Those two verses were so difficult for me to remember, not only the verses themselves, but where they were in the New Testament. Yet, they have become such bedrock verses in my heart and soul. I have been through all kinds of challenges and difficulties in my life (and still am) and I survived and made it to the other side. These verses kept coming back to me – again and again. Never once, even in times of fearing others, did I ever feel I was alone.

I feel such chills going up and down me, because I have such a powerful ally in my corner. In whose hand am I? I’m in the hands of God, my Father, and in the hands of Jesus, my Saviour; they are one.

Blessings,

Michelle Rose

Constitutional Convention

by   Quentin Clingerman,  Monrovia, MD

There are some issues that I believe call for a Constitutional Convention to revise our Constitution.

Universal Suffrage has not been good for out country:   1:  People who do not or have never, nor will ever pay income taxes have no reason to keep government expense under control.  2:  Politicians buy votes by offering these no tax paying people all kinds of goodies.  People without a monetary investment in the system have no incentive to care how much the government spends as long as they get a handout.

Congress decides if it should get salary increases and other benefits which has not been good for keeping government expenditure under control.  There should be a nongovenment commission made up of fiscal savy to determine salary and benefits.  Congress should not make more than the average citizen in either salary or benefits. 

War should be declared by Congress.  Only in extreme emergencies which is clearly defined should the President be able to commit military to any conflict that is outside of the USA or its territories.  Then Congress must declare War within 90 days or the military must be pulled back.

Universal Education should be provided but not required.  Parents must be responsible for the education of their children.  All children should be tested every three years from nine years of age to make sure that parents are seeing to it their children are being educated.  Parents should be fined if their children fail these tests (criteria for exemptions should be provided).  Students who are then obstreporus or out of control would be placed in the direct responsibility of the parents. Teachers then could be teachers and not baby sitters, psychologists, police officers, etc.

So what do you thin?

Daily Jewel

by   Pastor J.T.  Carnell, McAlester, OK

Good Morning Everyone!  Hope today will be a good one for all.

We have a number who are on the "walking wounded" list.  Several called in sick yesterday so we certainly want to keep everyone lifted in prayer.

Ruby's sister had a stroke yesterday.  Please pray for Mary Windell. 

Not much more to report.  If you have some news to share, please let me know.  Here is today's message.

“Avoid Becoming Lion-Bait”  

“(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares,
   at every corner she lurks.)” – Proverbs 7:11, 12

“Be alert and of sober mind. 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 the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1st Peter 5:8, 9

Lions tend to hunt mostly by night or in the early mornings, and for much of the rest of the time are the embodiment of sluggishness. However, being opportunists they'll hunt whenever the chance arises and that could be the middle of the hottest day. 

Of some significance here is the fact that they’re not very fast animals, while by contrast, the animals they hunt are some of the fastest on the planet. A wildebeest can achieve a top speed of somewhere around 50 miles per hour and maintain it effortlessly and even a humble wart hog can manage almost 30 miles per hour. In fact such is the disparity between predator and prey that many of the faster species don't even bother to run away at full speed, which must be galling to say the least. 

Consequently lions have developed two main hunting methods. The first is a version of grandmother's footsteps, in which the lion stalks from cover to cover with a final burst of speed at the end. (If spotted the lion will sit up and stare nonchalantly into the distance.) The second method is to find a bush close to something your prey needs - usually water - climb in and wait. This has the great advantage that the lion can catch up on sleep whilst technically "out hunting".

There are however two things that help the lion considerably. First they’re incredibly good at hiding and phenomenally patient. Secondly, the antelopes, while physically fast, are mentally not quite so sprightly and pay perhaps too little attention to learning from their mistakes.

A couple of observations and parallels from both the Scripture reference and the nature lesson:  First, notice that the lion and the wayward woman (i.e. evil) prefer the cover of darkness as the time to do their “dirty work.”  It is not that they are afraid of the day but most of their successes are at night.  Second, and what is even more important is the target of their prey—the weak.  The simple—those who are unaware of their situation, and often it is those who have isolated themselves from the group.

            There is also something to note in this story—lions hunt smart!  They know where to find their prey and eventual victims.  They do not wait for their victims to come to them so they must go to where they are.  And, I might also add, the place where they mostly find their victims—at the watering hole—a place that represents a basic need. 

We have seen this verse before but this is a good reminder of what we are all up against, regardless of who we are:

“And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.  For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” – 2nd Corinthians 11:12-15

Paul, in this context, was referring to “false prophets,” those who were preaching a gospel other than Christ for their own benefit—luring the weak away from the faith.  In truth, anything that lures us away from focusing on Christ as our primary object of affection is a false prophet, and like the lion they will approach us at the point of our greatest need—which is mostly on an emotional level.

Two things in conclusion:  First is awareness!  Be on the alert for evil and sin is always on the prowl!  It has an insatiable hunger and does not discriminate when it comes to its victims!  A lion (with help) can just as easily take down an elephant as they can a gazelle. 

Second:  As has been noted before, the “young man” in Solomon’s analogy had strayed from “the pack” so to speak, making himself easy prey.  So, stay close to the pack—ergo, the Body of Christ!  There is indeed strength in numbers. 

Good Things

by  Everett Christian,   McAlester, OK

 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
5 Evil people don’t understand justice,
      but those who follow the Lord understand completely.
- Proverbs 28:5(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
(Jesus said) 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
      for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
      that the blind will see,
   that the oppressed will be set free,
      19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come."
- Luke 4:18-19(New Living Translation).
 
 
A QUOTE
 
An action that takes courage is standing up for something you believe in even though it might mean rejection or ridicule or even physical harm. - Dr. Steve Stephens -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
You can refresh yourself and others by a cheerful disposition.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been mostly sunny with a few clouds now and then. High temperature was 81 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 61 degrees. I attended Worship Service this morning. I didn't attend Sunday School as my back was still hurting and I had to rest a while longer. I had lunch at home. I had my nap this afternoon. Rascal was sleeping upon a high shelf this afternoon until I lay down and then he came and snuggled and slept with me. The way I feel tonight, maybe the Good Things have run their course, so there may not be Good Things anymore. I have said that before and always started them again. One of these times it will happen and maybe this time. I hope to see each one of you in Heaven.
 
The cats are fine. The cat picture tonight is Leo. Little Girl is on the blanket on the couch. The others are coming and going.
 
At 10:10 p.m. skies are cloudy with a temperature of 72 degrees.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.