Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Apr. 9, 2012

“Stick to the Path” “Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” – Proverbs 4:26

We are still in the process of knowing how to “guard our hearts.” We have discussed numerous items or issues to avoid or guard against: complacency, apathy, slothfulness, fatigue, mediocrity, busyness, and blame. Yesterday, we looked at a way where we can be the “aggressor” as it were—to take charge of our relationship rather than being a casual or even passive observer. Here, Solomon tells us to “stick to the path that is marked.”
Jesus reminds us, “…small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:14) The word that Jesus uses for “life” in this verse is the same word He uses for life in John 10:10; “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” It is the word, zoe, and is the root word used for “zoology.” Zoe describes both our temporal existence as well as our eternal. In this regard it refers to life given to us as humans—the life that separates us from all other life on this earth.
We can all testify to the fact that “life is hard.” Nothing new there. I think we can all agree that the Christian life is not all that much easier—and staying on “the straight and narrow” is a tough balancing act to say the least.
One of my parent’s best friends was an experienced outdoorsman and hunter. He knew his way around a forest and could track deer and turkey with the best of them. He told me of a time when he and a friend had been bow hunting—it was late October and the weather was warm. They decided to leave their jackets at camp and had walked some five miles. I remember him telling me that he had been doing this for many years and if experience had taught him anything it was not to get caught unaware in case the weather were to change. Sure enough, a sudden cold-front came in and they lost their bearings. It became darker earlier and without a flashlight they were forced to “make camp” at the best spot they could find. They were able to find enough dry kindling to make a fire but without jackets or warm gear they spent a very cold and miserable night. Had it been a couple of degrees colder, they may not have made it through the night! A reminder…missing the path can happen to the best of them!
Staying on the path is remaining disciplined in our relationship with Christ—staying true to what He wants for us. The following comes from an article from pastor and author Leith Anderson from Moody magazine in 2004:
“My wife and I grew up together and dated through high school and college. We’ve been married for most of our lives, but we’ve never drafted a list of rules for our lives together. Don’t misunderstand, we are both committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and to the Holy Spirit as our guide. We hold God’s moral law in highest value—truth, morality, honesty, honoring of parents, and preserving life.
When we first married, we could not have anticipated all that would be included in “better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health.” There is no way that any set of rules or any book on marriage could have told us what to do. We’ve based our decision on a relationship of commitment, love, and growing to know each other better every day.
That’s the way the Christian life is to be lived—by relationship, not rules. The Christian’s relationship with God is based on love and commitment, holding God’s moral law in highest regard but depending on the grace of God to live out His morality in everyday circumstances. Every relationship is a bit different—everyone’s road may not look the same—but every relationship learns and grows through experience. Life by and in the Spirit, not by the rules.”,br /> The “weather” can change at any time. Stay on the path marked out for us by the One who is leading us.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by E. Christian, McAleater, OK
Saturday, April 7, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
(David said) 5 "I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you (O God). 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night." - Psalm 63:5-6(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
17 Then Jesus said to them (Simon and Andrew), “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” - Mark 1:17(New King James Version).

A QUOTE
The future is as bright as the promises of God. - William Carey -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Who takes the child by the hand takes the mother by the heart. - Danish Proverb -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 77 degrees and a low temperature of 57 degrees. My housecleaning lady came at 11:15 a.m. and cleaned my house while I went for lunch with Charley. I went by the post office and then to the cemetery before I came home. Charley was also at the cemetery. His wife, Clariece, is buried there. My neighbor mowed my back yard this afternoon. I took my nap this afternoon with Little Girl. The little girl from next door brought me a pretty easter gift bag with candy in it. I sat outside with the cats from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. I read and also enjoyed the presence of my cats and I think the feeling was mutual. I read 4 short stories while sitting out, one each from the series of books, "Comfort From Beyond." I just read on the internet that Thomas Kincaide has died at age 54. In my opinion he was one of the greatest Christian Artists of all time.
The cats are fine. Little Girl is the only one in the den with me at present. The others have been coming and going including Tony from across the street. Rascal will come by occasionally and get on the desk and make sure that I see him and pet him. Emmy comes by and if I don't notice her right away, she will meow. Leo just came to the desk to eat a bite. You can tell by my notes that my life revolves around my cats. Quentin puts the Good Things on the blog at www.wordchimes.com . Que, you can leave them off anytime you like and it wouldn't hurt my feelings.
I hope everyone has a Wonderful Easter Sunday! He Is Risen!!!

I will see you next time,
With Christian Love, Everett.

One Minute of Prayer

From: Betty Hall, a sister-in-law of Quentin, Dover, DE

ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT
This is the scariest election we as Christians have ever faced, and from the looks of the polls, the Christians aren't voting Christian values. We all need to be on our knees.
Do you believe we can take God at His word? Call upon His name, then stand back and watch His wonders unfold. This scripture gives us, as Christians, ownership of this land and the ability to call upon God to heal it. I challenge you to do that. We have never been more desperate than now for God to heal our land.
This election is the scariest I remember in my lifetime. 2 Chronicles 7:14. 'If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'

During WWII, there was an adviser to Churchill, who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute, to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace. This had an amazing effect, as bombing stopped.
There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America .
The United States of America , and our citizens, need prayer more than ever!!! If you would like to participate, each evening at 9:00 P.M. Eastern Time (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific), stop whatever you're doing, and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world, the upcoming election, that the Bible will remain the basis for the laws governing our land, and that Christianity will grow in the U.S.
If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Thank you.
Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join us. God Bless You!!!

Good Things

by E. Christian, McAlester, OK
Friday, April 6, 2012

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:5-6(New King James Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
14 He (Jesus) redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. - Galatians 3:14(New International Version).

A QUOTE
People are drawn to a warm smile and a hearty laugh. - Dr. Steve Stephens -

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
A child is. . . an island of curiosity surrounded by a sea of question marks. - From Home is Where the Heart Is -

NOTES
Today has been partly cloudy with a high temperature of 74 degrees and a low temperature of 48 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and Bill. I came by the post office and then home. Before my nap I sat out for a little while and called Rascal home from under a neighbors storage house one house over from mine. It is a large storage house and it must be nice and cool under it. The cats go down the alley to get to it. I took my nap with Emmy and Beau. At about 3:15 p.m. I made my weekly visit to Walmart to buy my weekly supply of dry cat food and grocery items. At 5:30 I went outside and sat with the cats and read for about an hour or more. A few years before my dear Flonnie went to Heaven I ordered a set of books from Guideposts. I have five books with 30 or more true stories in each book. The set of books is called "Comfort From Beyond". They tell about the tender ways God eases our grief after someone we love dies. I have been reading from these books the past few weeks as I sit outside. When I ordered the books I had no idea who would go first, Flonnie or me. Right after she passed away if you remember I had that bad back problem with pain for about a month. After I felt like reading again I have read from these books off and on for the past four years. I think I am about through with my second reading of them. I was sitting in the back yard reading two years ago when I saw Flonnie walking down the street and she waved to me. I have written you about that before. This evening some of my cats stayed out with me until I came inside.
The cats are fine. Little Girl and Rascal are in their usual place. I talk to my cats just like I do humans and ask them questions. They look at me like they understand.
I will see you next time,
With Christian Love to Everyone, Everett.

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Apr. 6, 2012

Pastor J. T. Carnell
****************** "About a decade ago, I realized that I had for years taken the Crucifixion more or less for granted — that I had grown callous to its horror by a too easy familiarity with the grim details and a too distant friendship with our Lord. It finally occurred to me that, though a physician, I didn’t even know the actual immediate cause of death. The Gospel writers don’t help us much on this point, because crucifixion and scourging were so common during their lifetime that they apparently considered a detailed description unnecessary.
So we have only the concise words of the Evangelists: “Pilate, having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to them to be crucified — and they crucified Him.” I have no competence to discuss the infinite psychic and spiritual suffering of the Incarnate God atoning for the sins of fallen man. But it seemed to me that as a physician I might pursue the physiological and anatomical aspects of our Lord’s passion in some detail.
What did the body of Jesus of Nazareth actually endure during those hours of torture? This led me first to a study of the practice of crucifixion itself; that is, torture and execution by fixation to a cross. I am indebted to many who have studied this subject in the past, and especially to a contemporary colleague, Dr. Pierre Barbet, a French surgeon who has done exhaustive historical and experimental research and has written extensively on the subject.
Apparently, the first known practice of crucifixion was by the Persians. Alexander and his generals brought it back to the Mediterranean world — to Egypt and to Carthage. The Romans apparently learned the practice from the Carthaginians and (as with almost everything the Romans did) rapidly developed a very high degree of efficiency and skill at it. A number of Roman authors comment on crucifixion, and several innovations, modifications, and variations are described in the ancient literature. For instance, the upright portion of the cross (or stipes) could have the cross-arm (or patibulum) attached two or three feet below its top in what we commonly think of as the Latin cross. The most common form used in our Lord’s day, however, was the Tau cross, shaped like our T. In this cross, the patibulum was placed in a notch at the top of the stipes. There is archeological evidence that it was on this type of cross that Jesus was crucified. Without any historical or biblical proof, Medieval and Renaissance painters have given us our picture of Christ carrying the entire cross. But the upright post, or stipes, was generally fixed permanently in the ground at the site of execution and the condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum, weighing about 110 pounds, from the prison to the place of execution.
Many of the painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixion, also show the nails through the palms. Historical Roman accounts and experimental work have established that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists (radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will strip out between the fingers when made to support the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Observe my hands.” Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrist as part of the hand.
A titulus, or small sign, stating the victim’s crime was usually placed on a staff, carried at the front of the procession from the prison, and later nailed to the cross so that it extended above the head. This sign with its staff nailed to the top of the cross would have given it somewhat the characteristic form of the Latin cross.
But, of course, the physical passion of the Christ began in Gethsemane. Of the many aspects of this initial suffering, the one of greatest physiological interest is the bloody sweat. It is interesting that St. Luke, the physician, is the only one to mention this. He says, “And being in agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.” Every ruse (trick) imaginable has been used by modern scholars to explain away this description, apparently under the mistaken impression that this just doesn’t happen. A great deal of effort could have been saved had the doubters consulted the medical literature. Though very rare, the phenomenon of Hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is well documented. Under great emotional stress of the kind our Lord suffered, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can break, thus mixing blood with sweat. This process might well have produced marked weakness and possible shock. After the arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus was next brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face.
In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted from a sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. You are, of course, familiar with Pilate’s action in attempting to pass responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate.
It was then, in response to the cries of the mob, that Pilate ordered Bar-Abbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion. There is much disagreement among authorities about the unusual scourging as a prelude to crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do not associate the two. Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered Jesus scourged as his full punishment and that the death sentence by crucifixion came only in response to the taunt by the mob that the Procurator was not properly defending Caesar against this pretender who allegedly claimed to be the King of the Jews. Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the Prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. It is doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish law in this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty lashes. The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum (or flagellum) in his hand. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus’ shoulders, back, and legs.
At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped. The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood.
The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.
After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport and the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds once more begin to bleed. In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His garments. The heavy patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the Via Dolorosa.
In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock, until the 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed. Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the ground and Jesus quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms to tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” is nailed in place.
The left foot is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain — the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves.
As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet. At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.
It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded:The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The second, to the penitent thief, “Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise.” The third, looking down at the terrified, grief-stricken adolescent John — the beloved Apostle — he said, “Behold thy mother.” Then, looking to His mother Mary, “Woman behold thy son.” The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?”

Jesus experienced hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins -- a terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. One remembers again the 22nd Psalm, the 14th verse: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.”
It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain. Jesus gasps His fifth cry, “I thirst.” One remembers another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou has brought me into the dust of death.” A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drink of the Roman legionaries, is lifted to His lips. He apparently doesn’t take any of the liquid.
The body of Jesus is now in extremes, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings out His sixth words, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, “It is finished.” His mission of atonement has completed. Finally He can allow his body to die.
With one last surge of strength, he once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, “Father! Into thy hands I commit my spirit.”
The rest you know. In order that the Sabbath not be profaned, the Jews asked that the condemned men be dispatched and removed from the crosses. The common method of ending a crucifixion was by crurifracture, the breaking of the bones of the legs. This prevented the victim from pushing himself upward; thus the tension could not be relieved from the muscles of the chest and rapid suffocation occurred. The legs of the two thieves were broken, but when the soldiers came to Jesus they saw that this was unnecessary. Apparently, to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth interspace between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. The 34th verse of the 19th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John reports: “And immediately there came out blood and water.” That is, there was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that Our Lord died not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a broken heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.

Thus we have had our glimpse — including the medical evidence — of that epitome of evil which man has exhibited toward Man and toward God. It has been a terrible sight, and more than enough to leave us despondent and depressed. How grateful we can be that we have the great sequel in the infinite mercy of God toward man — at once the miracle of the atonement and the expectation of the triumphant Easter morning.
Article attributed by Dr. C. Truman Davis