Echoes From the Campfire

Life was so short.  Hope and love so futile!  Home and family…should be treasured and lived for with all the power of blood and mind.  Friends should be precious.  It was realization that a man needed.”
              –Zane Grey  (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

    “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.”
              –Luke 2:1, 4-5 (NLT)
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Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, and that there was enough trouble for today.  This is also true in regards to how we deal with family and friends.  Take care of relationships, today as the plans for tomorrow may come to naught.  Realize the value of those close to you, nurture and treasure it.
    This time of year can be turbulent.  Much of it depends upon you.  You can be part of the chaos, or slow down and enjoy the pleasures of the season.  Focus on the important things:  the birth of Jesus, the beauty and magnificence of what God did, family, and friends.  Memories!
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I came across the Christmas message of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.  In our day, it would be hard to imagine a President giving such a message.  Our boys were in the midst of war, some of them fighting for their lives.  The Battle of the Bulge was raging in Europe; the Philippines were being retaken in the Pacific.  Read it with a thankful heart.

         “It is not easy to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to you, my fellow Americans, in this time of destructive war.
          Nor can I say ‘Merry Christmas’ lightly tonight to our armed forces at their battle stations all over the world–or to our allies who fight by their side.  Here, at home, we will celebrate this Christmas Day in our traditional way–because of its deep spiritual meaning to us; because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives; and because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this tradition and the story of the coming of the immortal Prince of Peace and Goodwill.
          But, in perhaps every home in the United States, sad and anxious thoughts will be continually with the millions of our loved ones who are suffering hardships and misery, and who are risking their very lives to preserve for us and for all mankind the fruits of His teachings and the foundations of civilization itself.
         The Christmas spirit lives tonight in the bitter cold of the front lines in Europe and in the heat of the jungles and swamps of Burma and the Pacific islands.  Even the roar of our bombers and fighters in the air and the guns of our ships at sea will not drown out the messages of Christmas which come to the hearts of our fighting men.”

Political correctness be gone!  Whoever in the world came up with such an idea, and the audacity of people using it to spread an agenda that is contrary to the message presented at Christmas.
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    “Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it white.”
              —Bing Crosby

Echoes From the Campfire

Loyalty is the most precious thing on earth.  I will never waste it foolishly.”
              –Clair Huffaker  (Cowboy)

    “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
              –Luke 1:45 (NLT)
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What a great time to worship the Lord.  And my goodness the great worship songs we have–the carols!  If you want exuberance in your worship; if you want fire and passion then look to the hymns.  Why just take a gander at the following:

              “Joy to the world!  the Lord is come;
               Let earth receive her King;
               Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
               And heav’n and nature sing,
               And heav’n and nature sing,
               And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.”
                        –Isaac Watts

Wow!  If that doesn’t get your heart pounding then something’s wrong.  The power behind that song is tremendous, unless you’re used to nonmelodic choruses.  Or take this one:

               “Hark! the herald angels sing,  ‘Glory to the new-born King;
                Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.’
                Joyful, all ye nations rise,
                Join the triumph of the skies;
                With angelic hosts proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.’
                Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the new-born King.'”
                        –Charles Wesley

The Word is declared in these songs.  John 1:1-4 comes alive; doctrine is there.  Come on, get with it when you hear these tremendous, powerful songs.
And if you want a quiet time of stillness; a time of devotion and meditation, a person cannot beat the following:

                “Silent night!  Holy night!
                 All is calm, all is bright
                 ‘Round yon virgin mother and Child,
                 Holy Infant so tender and mild,
                 Sleep in heavenly peace,
                 Sleep in heavenly peace.”
                         –Joseph Mohr

                         or

                “What Child is this, who laid to rest,
                 On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
                 Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
                 While shepherds watch are keeping?
                 This, this is Christ the King,
                 Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
                 Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
                 The Babe, the Son of Mary.”
                         –William C. Dix

Oh, I could go on and on about how the carols lift up the name of the Lord and draw us closer to Him.  I pity the person who cannot worship to the tremendous Christmas hymns of the church.  Maybe you just haven’t gotten into the Spirit of Christmas.  Perhaps we should all pray the following:  “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.  We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.” (Phillips Brooks)  If you understand the concept of worship at Christmas time, then “good Christian men rejoice…”

The Saga of Miles Forrest

Come by the Tivoli in the morning, before it opens for business,” suggested Masterson.  “I think Soapy would like to talk with you.”
    I saw him looking up the street and he added, “You might want to cross the street and move along.  I think the new police chief will be looking for you.”
    There, moving briskly up the street toward the Tivoli was a uniformed man, seeming as if he was on a mission.  I took Bat’s advice and moved away.  I didn’t need to waste my time with this man.
    Instead of walking around town, seeing the changes that had come, I decided to go back to the Albany and eat there.  I knew that Merker was still around.  After eating I went up to my room.  Sitting on the bed I pulled off my boots then cleaned and reloaded my pistol.  Laying down I was trying to remember the name of the person that was with Merker when I first met him.  It finally came to me…Myers.  If I saw Gilford in the morning I would pass that along to him.  I didn’t know if Merker and Myers were still working together or not.
    I ate breakfast the next morning in the Albany.  One thing for sure, it may be a fancy hotel, with all of the curtains, fancy dishes, and silverware, but the food couldn’t compare to Anihu’s and Molly’s.  Then, on top of that the prices were triple.  Yep, that’s progress in the big city for you.
    Around 9:00 I ambled on down to the Tivoli.  The door was open and as I walked in I saw three swampers cleaning up the place.  Bat was sitting at a table and motioned me over to him.  “Let me take you in to see Mr. Smith,” he said then smiled.  “I would think he’s up by now.”
    We went to an upstairs office and Bat knocked on the door.  A smallish, bearded man opened the door.  “Come in Bat, come in,” he chirped.  “Ah, this is the man you told me about, Miles Forrest is it?  Come in, and sit down.”
    Bat took up introductions.  “Miles this is Soapy Smith, owner of the Tivoli and Eagle Bar,” he smiled and continued.  “Businessman extraordinaire.”
    I continued to stand there until Masterson took a chair.  Smith went behind a large desk so I sat on a chair next to Masterson.
    “I’ll come right to the point, Forrest.  I’m looking for men to help me in my enterprise.  I am wanting to own a few more saloons and billiard halls.  I’m also looking at venturing up to Creede, where there are sounds of gold and silver being found.  What I need is good men to protect my interests, and I’m offering you a position with me.”
    Looking at Bat, I found his face very passive.  Smith was energetic, but I sensed something was wrong.  “Legitimate enterprise?” I queried.
    Smith smiled, “Ah, so you heard how I gained my nickname.  Well, all I have to tell you is don’t believe everything you’ve heard or read in the newspapers.  You won’t be involved in the business, just in protecting the payroll.  If you walk through Denver visit the orphanage or the Presbyterian church.  They’ll tell you of how I’ve helped the city.  Wintertime, can be rough, I make sure that no one is out in the cold or starving.”
    The thought hit me.  “Mister Smith, do you know someone named Merker?  He’s the one who sent those men who shot at me.”
    I saw his jaw jerk a little and a glint flicker through his eyes.  “I know Merker,” he said with exasperation.  “He is out for himself.  He hasn’t bothered me yet, but I try to know when he’s in town.”
    “Would you know where he is?” I prodded.
    “Not right now, but I do know he is leaving.  Purchased a train ticket,” he said stroking his beard.  “I do have a little problem with some young hoodlums trying to barge in on my business–the Blonger brothers.  They think they’re up-an’-comers.”  He paused for a minute.  “Listen, Forrest, you go to work for me and I can help you with Merker.”
    I stood up.  “Mister Smith, I have to get back to Durango!  I’ll think over your proposition.”  Looking at Masterson, who had also stood.  “Bat, good to meet you.  Thanks for your help last night.”
    Hurrying back to the Albany to get my gear, and then to the livery for Star, then I headed to the station.  There was a train pulling out in thirty minutes.  I had time to get my ticket and Star boarded.  My thoughts were bothering me, “was Merker heading back to Durango?”
    A couple of hours after changing trains in La Junta, I lowered my head to catch a few winks.  I felt him approach.  Not lifting my head I said,  “I’m not sleepin’…”

Echoes From the Campfire

To live with danger was a way of life, but we did not think of it as danger, merely as part of all that we must face in the natural order of living.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Killoe)

    “Stay alert!” –1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
    “Stay alert and be clearheaded.”  –1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NLT)
    “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”  –1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)
    “Keep alert at all times.”  –Luke 21:36 (NLT)
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This week we finish up Psalm 10.  In the second part of this Psalm there is a major change.  Last week, we questioned, “Oh, Lord where are you?”

              “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen;
               Nobody knows but Jesus.”
                     –Negro spiritual

Have troubles?  —Jesus is there.  Have worries and needs?  —Jesus is there.  Have sorrow and find yourself in despair?  —Jesus is there.  There is not a condition or situation you may have or find yourself in that Jesus is not there with you.

              12 “Rise up, Lord God! Lift up Your hand.  Do not forget the afflicted.
              13 Why has the wicked person despised God?  He says to himself, ‘You will not demand an account.’
              14 But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands.
The helpless entrusts himself to You; You are a helper of the fatherless.
              15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil person; call his wickedness into account until nothing remains of it.
              16 The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from His land.
              17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts.  You will listen carefully,
              18 doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that men of the earth may terrify them no more.” (HCSB)

    Jesus came to earth to share in the griefs of mankind; in fact, to bear them.  He came to bear upon Himself the sins of all.  He understands trouble and grief.  Therefore, trust Him.  The wicked says that God, if there is a God, will not worry about this world (almost deism), and that He will not demand an account.  Oh, but do they have an awakening coming!  Some of it may happen in this life, but it surely will in the next one.

              “He who reigns above the sky
               Once became as poor as I.
               Poor and needy, though I be
               God, my Maker, cares for me.”
                      –Old Scottish Psalter

    “Where are you God?” you may cry, but then realize that He is standing right there next to you.  He is ready to aid the afflicted.  Now, what are you doing about it?  Realize that many times the Lord uses us to help the helpless, needy, and afflicted.
    Notice the last three verses.  In the first part of the Psalm (1-11) David was reflecting on his feelings.  He was letting them run amuck.  Now, faith arises and takes over.  Knowledge and faith go hand-in-hand, for without knowledge of the Almighty where would faith be?  I know who God is, therefore, I will trust in Him!
    Ponder this:  What would happen if preachers would preach and pray like David?  They, most likely, would be called bigots and haters.  Should we then pray the prayers of David?  They are Scripture.  Hmmm, I think maybe we should, perhaps it is because we don’t that things that need to be accomplished are not.
    I like this little prayer by George O. Wood:

              “Lord, today I take my place with those who trust You.  Thank You for giving me room to rage and question, but, even more, thank You for helping me gain stability.  Thank You for giving me faith that all will end well because You do act on my behalf.”