I wish we didn’t go so fast. People nowadays haven’t time to draw a comfortable breath.”
–Zane Grey (The Call of the Canyon)
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
–Daniel 12:4 (NKJV)
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“Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandfather’s house we go;…”
–Lydia Maria Child
There’s a chance if’n a person decides to come to our house that they may cross over the Trinity River, or possibly the San Jacinto. For sure if’n they’re coming in from the north they will cross over Wolf Creek and if they travel from the south they will have to cross Indian Creek. Then it’s around the bend, up over the hill and down then up another hill around another bend and there nestled down in the trees is our little home in the woods. There won’t be any snow, so no need of a sleigh.
Grandma and Grandpa’s house…it’s supposed to be a home, but what is that? Some have said that where a man hangs his hat is a home. However, it is the woman that makes the home. It is built and nurtured around her toil, tears, sweat, blood (I just sharpened the knives, Annie cut herself) and prayers. It is the woman that makes the home and gives it warmth. Grandpa is there to sharpen the knives and eat the cookies.
There is a word that is a key factor in this poem, one of the earliest that I can remember. It is mentioned twice and my favorite line of the poem is:
“Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!”
Yep, don’t forget that pie. Pumpkin is always good with or without a large dab of whipped cream. But my wife is not satisfied with just a pumpkin pie. She’s going to make an apple pie and a German chocolate pie. Let me tell you that this ol’ fence post is going to sample each one.
There’ll be turkey with all the fixin’s, ham, taters both white and sweet, most likely green beans, and I’m sure that some will bring their favorite. The feast is fast approaching, and I’ll be there to check the pies. Because of all the doin’s next week I’m not sure when or if an “Echo” will be sent out.
Maybe sitting around the fire at the camp I’ll come up with some thoughts that will come forth in future “Echoes.”
Be sure you to take time to be thankful. Don’t get caught up with that piece of turkey in front of you, or those slabs of pie just to the top that you forget the person sitting next to you or across from you.
Most important of all–give thanks to the Lord that He has allowed to you be sitting there. Stop, take time to reflect on all the things that you see before you, for all the things He has seen you through.
Month: November 2019
Echoes From the Campfire
If evil and hardship come upon you at least you will be aware of what is happening, and you will have some understanding of why. It is better than falling under the axe like some dumb brute in a slaughterhouse who has no awareness of what is happening to him. A wise man can even experience the approach of death with some awareness. It may be the final experience, but it is experience.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Proving Trail)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
–Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)
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I have often heard, and thought it to be true, that “ignorance can be fixed, but stupidity is fatal.” If a person doesn’t know, he can learn, but what if it is reversed? Let’s take a look at the following verses:
“Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”
–Romans 1:22-23(NKJV)
I was reading Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Finished Work of Christ, which is a commentary on Romans 1-8. He made some interesting comments on the above verses. Man was made in God’s image, but man has instead decided to make God in their image. Being made in God’s image means that man is rational, moral, and has significance. But now… “He has exchanged the infinite for the finite. He exchanged great wealth and truth for poverty, for sorrow, and for ignorance.” (Schaeffer)
Why is man in the mess he is in? Because he has chosen to be ignorant. When one chooses to be ignorant they become fools, and that is a dangerous position. Ignorance may be fixed, but when a man chooses to be ignorant that goes beyond stupid, that is the mark of a fool. Remember, a fool is someone who does not believe in God. Here we see that a fool is someone who chooses to become their own god, to become autonomous without the ability to do so. When man gets into this position everything becomes a lie. “Mankind doesn’t know who he is. The truth is gone.” (Schaeffer)
Jeremiah said, “The LORD is the God of truth”. Mankind has changed the truth of God into a lie. “When people throw away the God of truth, all truth is gone. All that is left are sets of opinions, and personal gods and pleasure.” (Schaeffer) Man is left ignorant–man is a fool! I like the way J.B. Phillips translates the verses from Romans.
“Behind a facade of “wisdom” they became just fools, fools who would exchange the glory of the eternal God for an imitation image of a mortal man, or of creatures that run or fly or crawl.”
–Romans 1:22-23(Phillips)
When you see all the foolish things that are happening do not be surprised. They are part of what God has said, the truth is there. When you read and see the foolish statements remember these scriptures. Then look at a fool in the Book of Proverbs. There is no way you can deal with a fool.
Echoes From the Campfire
It is not our God you do not understand. It is our lives you do not understand—our failure to conform to our professed teachings.”
–Zane Grey (Captive of the Desert)
“That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
–Psalm 78:7-8 (NKJV)
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“Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!”
–F.W. Faber
There is so much disregard for our heritage today. I was talking with a former history teacher who informed me that many universities are dropping history courses. Students are no longer taking up history as a major. Give us a generation and what will be our history? It used to be that our fight was with the revisionists, but if history disappears anything can be made up. We are seeing that already beginning to happen.
“Faith of our fathers! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word.”
Oh, Lord, help us not to forget! Despite who Senator Warren says is the backbone of our country is/was, don’t let us be duped by that foolish rhetoric. We need to remember, not only the famous–men such as Washington, Henry, Hamilton and others–but also, those men of faith who came to America to worship freely. Men who withstood the persecution and braved the onslaught of making a life in a new world.
“Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free:
How sweet would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them, could die for thee!
Remember men like John Bunyan, William Tyndale, and the Reformers. Men who faced prison, some faced death but would not bow to their tormentors. They stood, as the Apostle proclaimed, and after having done all continued to stand. The Word of God would continue to go forward, but it would go in the hearts of men. It would go to a New World, then from there missionaries would begin to take it throughout the world. Men such as William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Morris Plotts, and thousands of others. Their faith should help us to stand in the dark hours of our lives.
“Faith of our fathers! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life!”
Virtue! My what is that? The world is telling us today that right is wrong and wrong is right. Those who are truly virtuous are considered by modern society to be intolerant. God loves all people, which is true. God honors all ways to Him, which is a lie from the pit. What will get you through this life, through the storms, battles, toils and troubles? Faith! What will bring you to Jesus Christ? Faith! How is one saved by grace? Through faith! Did our fathers of faith have faults? Yes, but look beyond the faults and see the stalwart heart; those who worked, journeyed, toiled, gave sweat and blood. Look at the faith of our fathers!
“Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!”
Take to heart the faith of our fathers. This Thanksgiving take time to thank the Lord for those who went before on the road to glory.
The Saga of Miles Forrest
Lucas was having a good time. He had taken care of my horses, ridden them almost everyday, but about mid-afternoon the ride began to catch up with him. Gone were the smiles and we were just beginning to really climb. I can normally make it to Silverton with only one night on the trail, but with the grim features on his face I reckoned that we’d spend two nights on the trail.
The first night’s camp was just south of Columbine Lake. There was a small meadow off the road a piece. We crossed it and camped on the far side of the meadow where the timber began. There was a small stream running through the meadow and skirting our camp to the west. I decided to hobble the horses so they could graze in the grass and have access to water.
I watched as Lucas dismounted. There was no way I couldn’t smile as I saw him walk stiffly to pick up firewood. At least he wasn’t complaining and started doing chores without being asked. I didn’t know how much outdoors experience he’d had. After I unloaded the mule I went to the stream to fill up the coffeepot and a small pot for beans.
As soon as Lucas had the fire started I put the pots on the fire. Lucas watched me as I placed my bedroll down and then he followed suit. We were in shadows, but the sun was still shining on the tops of the peaks in the distance. The coffee had come to a boil and I poured each of us a cup. It would be a while before the beans would be ready. Molly had a piece of ham placed in with our food supplies.
“Want that I cut up the ham an’ throw it in with the beans or keep it out?” I inquired of him.
“Keep it separate, por favor,” he replied then took a taste of the coffee and grimaced. “Senor Miles, do you have any sweetener for the coffee?”
Smiling I replied, “No, the only luxury I bring on the trail is this.” I reached in my saddlebag for a little pouch I always kept in there. “Friend of mine, back in Texas, always kept some of this around to help flavor the beans.”
I put a few pinches of it in the beans. “Have to be careful not to get too much or it’ll make the beans too bitter.”
Showing him the pouch, he gave a smile, the stated, “Chili powder.”
While waiting, I checked over my guns, wiped them off. “Always a good idea to check your guns after a day’s ride,” I hinted. He got up from where he was sitting to get his rifle.
***
The next morning I was up early, before graylight. I had to roust Lucas up. He was stiff and sore. “Come on, Pard. We’ve got a day riding. The horses will get a workout today. I want to camp this side of Molas Pass. It’s only about a dozen miles, but it’s a steep grade.
He went up to stand by the fire that I had started earlier. “Coffee’ll be ready by the time you bring the horses in.” I could tell he didn’t want to leave the fire as it was fairly cold this morning.
So far the weather had been good. There were clouds in the sky but the sun was also shining. I kept a watch, for the weather can change almost instantly in the high country. Tonight I imagined we would find snow. I hoped to make it to a group of boulders that had trees intermixed within them. There was a small place in there that I had camped several times before.
Lucas was chilled as we settled in for camp that evening. “Hurry up, son, get that fire started.” This was a good place to camp as there were boulders on all sides that would reflect the heat from the fire. Tonight I would give the animals a bit of oats that I carried and picket them in camp.
We had seen several wagons coming and going. The ore wagons coming from smaller claim sites going into Silverton where there was a smelter. There were a few supply wagons going down to Durango…not many of those anymore since the railroad came.
“Lucas, get over there by your bedroll. Be relaxed, but I want you holdin’ your rifle.” I switched my cup to my left hand.
“Hello, the camp!” came a voice from the darkness. “Mind if we come in?”
“Come on–easy like,” I replied.
There were three of them, rugged looking. From my glance I reckoned they were miners down on their luck, but they were riding good horses. Miners either traveled with a burro, mule, or shanks mare.
“Saw the fire…say, that coffee looks mighty invitin’,” he declared.
“Go ahead, help yourselves,” I replied.
They fetched cups from their gear then gathered around the fire appreciating the warmth. The one who had been talking ordered, “Ioway, pour us some coffee.” As the man was pouring, I was introduced. “The one doin’ the pourin’ is Ioway Jenks, this feller to my right is Glen Framm. I’m a-bein’ Micah Teeter, and we’re obliged for the hospitality.”
“I’ll not begrudge a traveler coffee nor the warmth of a fire on a chilly night,” I responded. “Why you traveling so late?”
“Framm’s horse began limpin’, so we had to walk some of the way. We’re hopin’ a night of rest will solve the problem and we can ride on into Silverton tomorrow.”
I saw him glance over at Lucas. He smiled then reached up to wipe his mouth. “Hopin’ yuh wouldn’t mind us stayin’ here for the night.”
He had given me no reason to suspect him of everything. I didn’t recognize the names as being wanted. However, there was something nagging at me. “Go ahead. You won’t be able to bring your horses inside the rocks.”
That brought a little frown. “Okay, Glen, go and secure them soon as yuh finish that cup,” he ordered again. Then turning his attention back to me. “We’re thankin’ yuh. By the way, yuh didn’t tell me yur name.”
Without looking I said, “My pard over there is Lucas. I’m Miles Forrest.”
He put out his hand, I ignored it pretending I didn’t see the gesture and went to my bedroll. “Reckon one of you boys could thrown some more wood on the fire? I reckon it’ll get cold before mornin’.”
Leaning back against my saddle I reckoned…