Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Feb. 22, 2012

“Living Between the Steps”
“When you walk, your steps will not be hampered...” – Proverbs 4:12 (NIV)

A professor was invited to speak at a military base and was met at the airport by an unforgettable soldier named Ralph. As they headed toward the baggage claim area, Ralph kept disappearing: Once to help an older woman with her suitcase: Once to lift two toddlers so they could see Santa Claus; and again to give someone directions. Each time he came back smiling. "Where did you learn to live like this?" the professor asked. "During the war," said Ralph. Then he told the professor about his duties in Vietnam. His job was to clear mine-fields, and he saw friends meet untimely ends, one after another, before his eyes. "I learned to live between steps," he said. "I never knew whether the next one would be my last, so I had to get between picking up my foot and putting it down again. Every successful step felt like a whole new world."
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Walking on eggshells.” The idiom walking on eggshells generally describes a situation in which people must tread lightly around a sensitive topic, or make every effort not to offend a volatile or hypersensitive person. Literally walking on eggshells would require exceptional caution and self-control, similar to the feeling of avoiding conflict with an easily disturbed friend, relative or employer. Family members of active alcoholics often describe their careful avoidance of conflict as "walking on eggshells."
The origin of the phrase is a matter of dispute, but the general consensus is that walking on eggshells came from the same place as other cautionary actions, such as walking on thin ice or broken glass. Some sources suggest that "walking on eggshells" came from an earlier idiom, "walking on eggs." While walking on eggshells presents enough difficulty for most people, walking on the whole egg without damage would be nearly impossible. Certain politicians who took extraordinarily cautious positions on an issue were said to have the dubious ability to walk on eggs without breaking them.
There is a big difference between “walking on eggshells” and using good judgment. There are situations where I know there are things I should not do—or words I should not say. That to me is not hampering my steps. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the wisdom of God at work. Without question—I would imagine that the goal of each of us is to get through this life with the least amount of hindrance as possible. That is the goal anyway, but most of us can testify to the fact that it often feels as if we are walking through a “mine-field,” anticipating the next step to be the one that blows up in our face. I like the illustration that I led with. An individual who realized that his next step could literally be his last. But it did not deter him from taking those steps! Realizing that not everything that happens to us in this life is pleasant or is a pleasurable experience—reminds us to just live “one step at a time” and allow the Creator to walk with you to protect your “heart” against those things that attempt to defeat it. I love the words to the song, “Step by Step.” It truly describes this very thing:
O God, You are my God, and I will ever Praise You O God, You are my God, and I will ever Praise You And I will seek You in the morning—and I will learn to walk in Your ways
And Step by Step You’ll lead me—and I will follow You all of my days.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Feb. 21, 2012

“Asking for Directions”
“I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteousness Road.” – Proverbs 4:11 (MSG)

Traveling ain’t what it used to be! GPS units, “Tom-Toms”, and the like have made finding one’s destination less of an adventure and more like a techie paradise. That is, unless you are someone like myself who have not quite entered into that realm of electronics. I have decided to continue to get lost the good old fashioned way—by not reading a map or asking for directions. Consider the following…we enter into this life already lost. And no GPS or electronic device will make a difference in helping us find our way—we can only hope to find our way through seeking and finding God’s wisdom and love. I know I have probably used the following reference before but it remains, at least in my mind, the one passage that solidifies both the existence and power of the Almighty God and leaves little room for question:

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” – Romans 1:19-21 (NIV)

There are certain laws and “directions” that are the same wherever you live. The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. If you are uncertain which direction you are going or need to go—look for the sun. If you are needing direction in life—look toward the Son. The following illustration gives strength to this: There was a scientist who thought religion was nonsense. He began having health problems, which led to some serious financial problems which in turn led to problems within his home. Many of his experiments failed. One day he made a pilgrimage to a shrine—mostly to get away from his troubles at work and at home. At the shrine he said to himself, "If I were not an agnostic, I might experiment with this superstition of religion." After convincing himself that he was going through the motions out of idle curiosity, he began the ritual. Halfway through, he thought, "If this were not folly, what would I pray for? Health? Money?" He continued the ritual, then suddenly he cried, "O God, I beg you. Enlighten my mind so I may invent something great to further our human knowledge!" Amazed, the scientist stood in a stunned silence. For the first time he realized what his true desires and motives were and for the first time he acknowledged that it was only through God that those motives could be achieved. Knowing this at last, Galileo began experiments which led to the invention of the telescope. People search for years trying to "find themselves." They could save time and a lot of heartache by seeking God instead! Like Galileo, once they find the Lord they will truly find themselves! Sometimes it is a matter of knowing when to ask direction…and knowing where to ask as well. Thankfully…you won’t need a GPS unit to do it.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Nan's Calendar

by Nan Forehand, Statesville, NC
Feb. 21, 2012

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and verse 13
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

My brother, Woody and I met for the first time in our lives four years ago. God gave us a very precious gift of these four years together. Ours is a beautiful love story that knows no end. Woody peacefully went home to be with the Lord this morning, February 21, 2012. He was 71 years of age. He died on my only son's 20th birthday. Woody and John share a lot in common. Yes, they will always share a very special date, a date to celebrate life. Both, men of integrity, honor, and with much love for family, love of our beloved America, and love of mankind. I am so proud of them both; so proud to be Woody's only sister and so proud to be John's Mama.
Words are so inadequate at this moment to express all the love in my heart. It is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the time we had together. I'm so thankful Woody received me with open arms when we met for the first time. I'm so thankful to God, our Father, who kept us both alive long enough to be united and to get to know each other. I am so thankful God blessed me with a wonderful son and a wonderful husband. Allen was the one who, in January 2008, discovered the details of the whereabouts of Woody, Lin and Gene (brothers, also, whom I love very much), and our niece, Michelle (daughter of Del, Woody's twin brother, our brother.) I am thankful for the love of their wives, Judy, Woody's wife, Jeannie, (who passed away October 2010) Lin's wife, and Marie, Gene's wife. I grew up knowing I had four older brothers somewhere on the face of the earth. I knew their names, and that was about all I knew. They never knew they had a sister until Allen's discovery and until I made personal contact with them, telling them I'm their sister. This is a loving tribute and celebration of Woody's life. It is a loving tribute to my precious son, John.
I'll love you both forever and always. Nancy/Mama

Good Things

by E, Christian, McAlester, OK
Monday, February 20, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." - John 12:46(New King James Version).
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
(Jesus said) 26" For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son (Jesus) to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." - John 5:26-29(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise. - George Washington, (First President of the United States) -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Travel can be broadening, especially when the food is good. - From Reminisce Magazine -
NOTES
Today has been cloudy and around 6:30 p.m. we had a heavy rain shower which lasted maybe 30 minutes. High temperature today was 57 degrees and the low temperature was 45 degrees. I had lunch today with my brother, Charley, and our friends Bill and Steve. A friend of Steve's, Bob Weaver, also came in and visited but didn't have lunch, only a glass of water. He was going to eat somewhere later. I went to the post office but I had no mail. The post office people say they put mail in the boxes on holidays but I never get mail on a holiday. I took my nap this afternoon with Rascal and Beau joined us later. Around 3:15 p.m. I went to Country Mart for a few items and used $7.00 worth of coupons. I got back home at 4:15 p.m. and I put food and treats outside at 4:45 p.m. Some cat or other animal has been eating the food I put out at night. I watched "Trains and Locomotives" from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. and saw some old locomotives traveling through some very beautiful scenery in Colorado. The past two days I have had e-mails from Michelle, Geneva, Alice, Michele, Quentin and Janice. Thanks very much for those e-mails!!!
When I find something outstanding, I like to share it with my friends. Last Saturday, while watching television I saw a family singing that I had never heard before, "The Collinsworth Family." They quickly made an impression on me and I have since listened to them on You Tube. Rather than talk about them I will just give you their website and you can see for yourself if you want to know more about them. Their website is www.thecollinsworthfamily.com and you can read all about them. I visited their guest book and left a few remarks.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is the only one in the den with me at present but Friendly, Rascal and Leo have been here this evening.
I hope everyone has a nice Tuesday! I will see you next time.
In Christian Love, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Feb. 20, 2012

“It’s Not the Years…It’s the Mileage”
“Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.” – Proverbs 4:10

You don’t have to be a “movie buff” to recognize some of the most famous lines and quotes that seem to find their way in our everyday conversations. You may have never seen the movies from which a quote is taken—and yet you may have used the quote from time-to-time. Here are some of the most famous quotes/lines from movies through the years. See if you can guess what movies they are from and who said them. If you think you know the answers to quotes email them to me along with either the character’s name from the movie or their actual name.

“Here’s looking at you, kid.”
“Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
“You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.” “My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you.”
“One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I’ll never know.” “Mama always said life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
“Well, here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.”
“Hasta la vista, baby,”
Some of those are just way too easy and how many times have we used any of these lines? I have one more—and it may not be as “famous” as these others but it is one of my personal favorites. It is from one of the greatest adventure movies ever made, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Harrison Ford plays an archeologist who tends to get himself into some rather bizarre situations—usually requiring him to use some very creative means to rescue himself and others from diabolical villains. After one such episode his body is bruised, and bloody. The character he has just rescued (a female of course) said, “Your getting old, Jones.” Following is one of the greatest lines of all times: “It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.”,br /> So, what does a movie quote have to do with Proverbs? Or our lives for that matter? If you go back to Solomon’s day, the average life-span was around 60 years of age. Not quite the same as during the early Old Testament days was it? So for them, long life was truly a matter of perspective.
In our culture we tend to measure a “good long life” to those who live into their eighties, nineties and even beyond. But does that mean that their life has been a good one? Could it be that those who lived far less in terms of their years experienced more “life” in a short time than many who live to be much older? It is unfortunate that too many leave us way too early, but if they knew the Lord as their Savior—if they have been “saved by grace,” and were walking with Him through life—then I would say they got far more mileage out of their life.
The Life of Christ offers so much more and though it may not add years to our lives, it will add life to our years. I love this quote from John Eldredge from his book, The Journey of Desire: “The Jews (of Jesus day) were practicing a very soul-killing spirituality, a lifeless religion of duty and obligation. They had abandoned desire and replaced it with knowledge and performance as the key to life. The synagogue was the place to go to learn how to get with the program. Desire was out of the question; duty was the path that people must walk. No wonder they feared Jesus. He came along and started appealing to desire I am also reminded what the Psalmist says in chapter 90: “For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”
Truth of the matter…time means nothing to God—and with God, time loses it power and grip on our lives. When we are living our lives with “God-Ordained” passion, the time we spend with Him and for Him lose its meaning as well. A few minutes for Jesus are worth more than a day elsewhere! In conclusion...are you getting mileage out of your life—or are you running out of gas? Something to consider this day!
Pastor J. T. Carnell