Echoes From the Campfire

Identifying all the old landmarks, it came back to him now how completely his life had been formed by the peaks and ridges and draws that lay before him, flushed with the first rose light of day.”
               –Ernest Haycox  (Return of a Fighter)

        “Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.”
               –Proverbs 22:28 (NKJV)
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I read a caption the other day that went like this:  “The most exercise I get today is that of shaking my head.”  Now, ain’t that the truth?  I wonder what people are thinking, then it comes to me plain as day–they aren’t thinking, they have forgotten how to think.
     Why tear down statues of a nation’s history?  It would behoove them to think of why the statue was erected in the first place.  I see where they want to set up autonomous zones for “people of color.”  Isn’t that segregation?  I thought we wanted to do away with that.  AOC, that flap-jaw from NYC says that people of color must be judged for what they are.  Wait a minute, I was taught to judge people by who they are individually, by their character, by their work ethic, not by their color.  What is color anyway?  Do they, those like AOC, want special privileges?  I just don’t understand.
     Many are pulling down history regarding those involved with the indigenous people of America.  But, wait a minute, there were no indigenous people here.  The “Indians” as we know them took the land from those that went before them, “the ancient ones,” and those people were not native here for they came from Asia.  Get rid of all representation of Jesus Christ for they represent white supremacy as He was a person of color.  I thought He was Jewish.  In fact, Jesus showed us in His trip to Samaria that prejudice should be overcome by His Words and actions.  Remember, the ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Oh, and here is a dilemma for the “racists.”  Do they tear down the stature of the Buffalo Soldiers (black soldiers who fought in the West) because they fought to put down the natives?
     And there is more, but what is the cause?  Is it because there is so much hatred for President Trump and this is an election year?  That’s some of it, but it has been festering for years.  The Postmodernists have been waiting for a time such as this.  I have written many times of the evils associated with Postmodernism.  Their goal is to deconstruct everything and they began with the language.  We have to be politically correct with our speech, and it has even gone so far as to remove cartoon characters and emblems off syrup bottles.  Ah, but it’s all okay, “tearing down of statues is a healthy display of anger.”  My mercy!
     But there is still a deeper agenda that is using the Postmodernist and that is the agenda of the devil.  Destroy, destroy, do what you have to but destroy.  When we see the lies fly through the air, remember that they are of their father–the devil.  When we see confusion abound remember that confusion comes from the devil.  God has been calling this nation to repentance, but I wonder how many hear the voice of the “prophets.”

          “So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight.”
            –Isaiah 66:4 (NKJV)

Delusion–is it not coming; it is upon us.  And it will get worse as we are coming to the end of the Church Age.  Soon, the man of lawlessness will appear and God will send a great delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11).  Folks do not be deceived, God will be mocked only so long.  He will do what He has promised, but first the coming of His Son for those who look for His appearing.  Put your hands to your ears–listen–the trumpet will so be sounding.
 

Echoes From the Campfire

He cared vastly more, he discovered, for what he considered honor and integrity than he did for life.”
              –Zane Grey  (The Lone Star Ranger)

    “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, Though he may gain much, If God takes away his life?”
              –Job 27:8 (NKJV)
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    He took one more look outside while standing at the top of the ramp.  There was the noise of a mob rising in the town not far away, loud enough that he could hear it.  The cooking fire was still burning, but he made no move to put it out as it was now sprinkling.  Water coming from the skies.  The Lord said it would rain, now it is beginning to fall.  
    One more check through the ark.  “Shem, where is Shem?” he began to shout.  “Shem!  Shem!”  Rushing through the ark he looked for his son.  Stopping to ask Ham, “Have you seen Shem?” to only receive an negative nod.  He rushed to the ramp again, “Was Shem outside?”  There was a groaning noise.  The ramp was closing, “No, Shem, Shem!”
    No, it didn’t happen that way.  The Scripture declares, “On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark” (Genesis 7:13, NKJV).  But what if?  Let me ask a question:  Are all your children safely in the ark?  There are snares everywhere to hinder our children from being safe, hindering them from entering the ark of safety.  Listen, friend, this is not a time to be worried about “corona”, or making money, or material possessions.  This is the time to make sure that your children and grandchildren are ready for the coming storm and for the trumpet of the Lord to sound. What would have been Noah’s feelings if indeed, Shem did not make it into the ark?
    Nietzsche said that he gloried in chaos.  What else could be expected from a madman?  However, he also said that out of the chaos would rise the superman.  Could he have been right?  Will the rider of the White Horse appear in the midst of all the chaos that is happening in the world?  Listen, it is not only happening in our country, but there is chaos, outrage, mayhem happening throughout the world.  Will it usher in the true man of chaos, the man of lawlessness?
    There is a song and chorus that have been running through my mind the past week or so, written by J.B. Vaughn.  Let me leave you with the second verse and chorus:

         “Are you ready should the Savior call today?
          Would Jesus say, ‘Well done,’ or ‘Go away’?
          My home is for the pure, the vile can never stay,
          We shall see the King when He comes.

                            We shall see the King, We shall see the King,
                            We shall see the King when He comes;
                            He is coming in pow’r, we’ll hail the blessed hour,
                            We shall see the King when He comes.”

    The storms of evil are raging and they will continue to develop until one day the Father will cry, “That’s enough!” and send His Son for those who are ready.  The trumpet shall sound and we will go to meet Him in the air to be forever with Him in heaven.  Are you ready?  Are your children ready?

The Saga of Miles Forrest

We were sitting at the diner, enjoying coffee and pie.  Judge Klaser had fined each of the cowboys, Bill Farmer and Dakota Norris by name, twenty dollars for fighting and disorderly conduct.  Their boss, Cecil Thompson, was fined fifty dollars for inciting the fight and resisting arrest.  The Judge also gave them a stern warning that this will not be tolerated in Durango.
     Mateo was just picking at his pie.  “I will tell Luciana that you toy with your food,” warned Marta. 
     The diner was empty, it being around 10:30, however, the lunch group would start coming in shortly.  Marta had been sitting with us, along with her husband Sheriff Gold, Molly, and Doc.  She got up to go to the kitchen.  Her aunt, Emelda our regular cook, was not feeling well so Marta was doing the main cooking duties today.  When the rush started Edith Jones would be coming to help wait the tables.
     “So what’s wrong, Mateo?” I asked.
     “I worry that I did not handle the situation so well,” he replied softly.
     That sort of stunned me.  I thought he took care of those two cowboys quite well.  “How’s that?  I thought you handled yourself admirably.”
     “Admirably?  What does that mean?” Mateo inquired.
     “With honor,” piped in Doc Jones.  “It means you did a good job.”
     “But,” he began to reply looking first at Doc then over at Charlie and me.  “But I let them fool me.  I was fortunate.”
     I pulled on the left side of my moustache then wiped my hand down over my mouth and chin.  “Yes, you were fortunate.  But, Mateo, no matter how alert we are we can’t see everythin’.  You had no idea that you were goin’ to be pushed.”
     “You think we’ll have any more problems with them?” he asked.
     “New rancher in the area.  He might just be feelin’ out how we handle things in Durango, or he might have some personal issues.  Either way, he knows we’ll not put up with any shenanigans.”
     “Shenanigan, what does that mean?” inquired Mateo.  “You use strange words.”
     Again Doc to the rescue, “It means misbehavior, deception to do harm.”
     “Well, we’ll see if he wants to continue the argument.  Look who just came through the doorway,” said Charlie nodding in the direction of the entrance.
     In walked Cecil Thompson, the two cowboys, and a fourth man that I hadn’t seen before.  He was dressed similar to the cowboys, but that’s where it ended.  He wasn’t the normal working cowhand, and his gun was holstered low on his hips.  “Gunman?” I wondered.  But I hadn’t heard of any big outfits buying up land, nor of any men with their names on wanted posters in the area.
     The two cowboys went on to sit at a table while Thompson and the other man stood for a moment looking toward our table.  Thompson went on to join his hands while the stare from the stranger lingered on for a few more seconds. 
     When the man joined the others, Molly rose to go get their order.  The cowboys smiled at her, they were just doing what their boss told them, but there was a stare from Thompson and a lewd look from the stranger that brought a tinge of concern to my mind.
     “Do you think it is trouble?” asked Mateo.
     “No, not here,” they’ve come in to eat.  The city wouldn’t feed them breakfast since the hearing was early.  I found myself pulling on my moustache again while contemplating.  “I would like to know who that stranger is.”
     “I’ll find out,” proclaimed Charlie who proceeded to get up.  As he approached their table he reached for a chair and sat down between the stranger and Thompson.
     I was just able to make out the introduction.  “Howdy, I’m Sheriff Gold,” he said reaching out his hand to Thompson.  “Always like to meet new residents in the county.  I heard you have a ranch over toward Hesperus; that’s in my jurisdiction.”
     Thompson hesitated, then shook Charlie’s hand.  “Been here near two months.  I needed to get rid of a few cows, but found the stock manager trying to fill his own pockets with the prices he was charging.”
     “That so?” questioned Charlie.  “Why I’ve always known Pete Simmons to be an honest man.  I’m sure he’s not charging more than what are reasonable rates.  This is a mining region you know.”
     Then he turned his attention to the stranger.  “And you, do you work for Mr. Thompson?”  The man didn’t reply.  “Do you have a name?” asked Charlie.
     “Conrad…”
 

Echoes From the Campfire

For the truth is always the truth, no matter how painful.”
              –J.V. James  (Frye)

    “Delayed hope makes the heart sick, but fulfilled desire is a tree of life.”
              –Proverbs 13:12(HCSB)
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Just this past Saturday while I was out on the back deck doing my morning devotions a couple of deer came up from drinking at the stream and stood in the grassy lane that went by the house.  They stood, looking at me for several minutes, then went back down toward the stream.  An interesting note to go along with the first part of Psalm 42 is the fact that the thirsty deer was a symbol used by the early church, denoting a Christian’s passion for God.
    We are living in a time when we may be barred from ever worshiping in a church.  A time when we cannot go down to the altar to weep and seek the Lord.  Remember how it used to be?  Even though David did not write this Psalm it could be about him as he was forced to flee Jerusalem with the rebellion by Absalom.  He was barred from worshiping the Lord before the Ark.  We know that as David left he was weeping and the people taunted him.

    1 – As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God.
    2 – I thirst for God, the living God.  When can I come and appear before God?
    3 – My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God?”
    4 – I remember this as I pour out my heart:  how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.
    5 – Why am I so depressed?  Why this turmoil within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. (HCSB)

    The Book of Psalms is actually divided into five books, this begins Book II.  It is by the sons of Korah, a Levite family.  This is a song for when we don’t feel like singing.  In fact we see depression in the psalm.  The singer is thirsty for God and He cannot come to Him.  Depression comes when we have lost something dear to us, and may deepen when we feel God has gone away.
    The singer is panting for the fresh water, the life-giving stream.  Norman Snaith says, “The psalmist’s craving is directly associated to his worship of God his sanctuary.  Those people, then or now, who are lackadaisical about attendance at church have never known what it really means to worship God.”  Remember, the Levites were involved in leading the worship and now all he has are his memories and his hope.
    Look at verse 5, “Why am I so depressed?  Why this turmoil within me?”  The NLT puts the later half of this verse, “I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again–my Savior and my God!”  Notice the exclamation.  Does gloom and despair seem to be your lot in life?  Time to get your hope back by praising the Lord.

              “Jesus, the very thought of thee
               With sweetness fills my breast;
               But sweeter far thy face to see,
               And in thy presence rest.”
                       –Bernard of Clairvaux