Echoes From the Campfire

Men will give up anything rather than what they want to believe.  And hate you for telling them there’s nothing to believe.  And even if you prove it to them, they’ll continue to believe, and hate you for proving them foolish.”
–Louis L’Amour (Over on the Dry Side)

“But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.”
–2 Timothy 1:12 (NLT)
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“Part of our citizenship is…doing our best to understand the tribulations our predecessors confronted in building this nation.”
–John M. Vermillion

“He was a Christian man, and in his mind it was impossible to be a worthy Christian if you tried to center the universe on yourself.  He didn’t, after all, set out to be not a man of importance, but of value.”
–John M. Vermillion

I don’t understand!  It is totally perplexing to me all of this kneeling in protest when the National Anthem is played.  The people of this country are so underprivileged.  My mercy!  Go to some other countries and be sure and get away from the tourist areas.  See how underprivileged America is.  A person in the poverty level in our country would be one of the privileged in other countries.  Tell me, also, how many people do you know that are not making it?  If there are any, then look again and see if there is a reason why.
I don’t understand!  I know I have been out of the military for many years.  But I can still remember filling out a form that had hundreds of organizations on it.  I had to check any that I might have been involved in for they were all subversive to the United States.  Most of them at that time were communist.  An avowed communist cannot serve in the military of the United States.  For one thing, an oath to defend the Constitution is taken and a communist seeks the revolutionary overthrow of government.  So, to my point, how in the world did someone graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point and upon graduation break several guidelines and also proclaimed himself a communist?  How in the world is he now serving at Ranger school?  He is an outright mockery and a scam to the uniform.
I don’t understand!  Protesting the National Anthem by kneeling at a sports game is one thing.  I personally do not think it is protesting for they have yet to prove their issue, but to go to an area that is “sacred” if that word can be applied to a national shrine and kneeling is another.  How dare someone go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and protest by kneeling!  First of all it had to be on purpose; a person just doesn’t happen to be there.  Secondly, that is not protesting, that is sheer mockery!  That is definitely asking for violence; I am surprised that nothing happened when the incident took place.
Enough is enough!
I was reading my devotions yesterday in Amos, the 5th chapter.  These verses jumped out at me.
    
          “They hate him who reproves in the gate,
           And they abhor him who speaks with integrity.”  (Amos 5:10, NASB)

Those in the gate speak of those in leadership.  We will never totally agree with those in leadership, but to go so far as to “hate” is another thing.  Why do they hate?  Because the leadership is reproving them.  The second part is that they abhor the person who speaks with integrity, or the person who speaks the truth.  Look at the liberal lies; look at what they believe.

          “Hate evil, love good,
           And establish justice in the gate!
           Perhaps the Lord God of hosts
           May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:15, NASB)

We are to seek good and not evil that we may live (vs 14).  Yet there is a group of loud-mouths out there, some in places at the gates and formerly at the gates that say good is evil and evil is good.  Friends, that is dangerous to them, to us, and to the nation.  As I mentioned yesterday from the writings of Paul, “We are in perilous times.”  Oh, and I might mention, the phrase “Lord God of hosts,” means the Commander of the Armies of Heaven.  Hmmm, ponder that!
Therefore, be ready for evil is all around you.  Be ready for the return of the Lord is at hand.  Be ready to admonish your children and teach them in the ways of the Lord.  Be ready to guard the truth.  Be ready to be righteous, for righteousness exalts a nation.