Echoes From the Campfire

Grab yourself some Arbuckles boy. Ridin’ hard on an empty belly ain’t good for a growin’ boy.”
–Cotton Smith (Dark Trail to Dodge)

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.”
–Philippians 1:9 (NLT)
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Most of you are probably familiar with the “Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis. These books are full of symbolism and analogies. In the fourth book, “The Silver Chair,” Lewis writes of a little girl named Jill. Aslan is lying beside a stream and the Jill is extremely thirsty. Aslan, the lion, asks if she is thirsty and the conversation is as follows:

“I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.
“Then drink,” said the Lion.
“May I–could I would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
“Will you promise not to–do anything to me, if I do come?” asked Jill.
“I make no promise,” said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
“Do you eat little girls?” she said.
“I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings, and emperors, cities and realms,” said the Lion. It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
“I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill.
“Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.
“Oh dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer, “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”
“There is no other stream,” said the Lion.

Remember the words of Jesus (“the Lion”), “But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again—ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.” (John 4:14, HCSB) People are hesitant to give up their life and yet are dying of thirst.
If you’ve ever traveled much in the wilderness, especially long before bottled-water, and you get to the point of extreme thirst. Looking at the map, not the gps, you see there is a stream over the next rise. Hope arises in you and you cross the rim and wander down the dry path to the fresh-flowing water of the stream. When you get to it, you stumble and stop. It is dry! That’s what happens to so many people in life. They wander from dry stream to dry stream wasting time, energy, and their life. Jesus proclaims that He is the living water, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink!” (John 7:37)
Don’t hesitate like the little girl. True, the Lion has devoured many for many have come to Him. But they are no longer thirsting for the things of the world.
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Here is another example of the crazies! You know how much I love the media. They definitely have their agenda–intensely liberal. The media was meant to inform, but they actually thing they are a separate and untouchable branch of the government.
Maybe you have already seen this but USA Today reviewed the new movie, “Dunkirk,” and reported that it was offensive. They were upset that there were few women in the movie and no “people of color.” There were no black actors in the movie. DUH! How many people of color were there on the beaches of Dunkirk? For that matter, how many people of color were on the beaches of Normandy a few years later. For the sake of an agenda and political correctness they want to change history.

The Saga of Miles Forrest

I didn’t hurry down to the Wells Fargo office since I no longer worked for them, but I also didn’t want to keep this gentleman waiting.  As I walked into the outer office the clerk caught my eye and simply pointed to the back office.  I noticed immediately that Jensen, the manager of the Durango office was missing.  Behind the desk sat a well-dressed man and standing close to him another well-dressed person.  My mind went back to the Wells Fargo office in Denver, but there was nothing menacing about the man standing and he seemed quite relaxed.
“Mr. Forrest,” the man who was seated stood and reached out his hand.  “I’m Gilford Covney and this is U.S. Marshal Jens Blasco, head of the Rocky Mountain region.”
He seated himself, and motioned to the chairs.  “Sit down, sit down, both of you.  I’m finally glad to meet you Mr. Forrest.  I’m sorry to hear of the epidemic in Durango.  Diphtheria–a terrible disease.  I hope that you were not affected.”
“Some friends,” I replied.
“Oh, I am truly sorry.”
I know that some people say that and they don’t mean anything; they are just spouting words, and then there are others who say it just to be saying it, but I felt that he was genuine when he spoke.
“Thank you.”
“Mr. Forrest, have you ever heard of the Secret Service?”
I nodded that I hadn’t.
“We were formed in 1865 as an investigative agency of the United States government whose primary duty is to protect the government from fraud.  Do you know that right now roughly one-third of the money in circulation is counterfeit?”  He didn’t give me time to respond.
“I don’t mean to bore you, but I want to offer you a position with our agency.  I know that you recently were relieved of your duties as Wells Fargo detective and I know that you are a ‘special’ U.S. Deputy Marshal.  I have been authorized by the head of our department and the Treasurer of the United States to offer you a position as an agent.”
I looked at him.  “What would be my duties?”
“Right now we are losing gold and silver somewhere before it reaches the Mint in Denver.  Not a lot of it is missing at once, but a little here and a little there, but after a while it all adds up.  You can remain here in Durango, but you would have to travel to Denver from time-to-time.  Also you need to check on the major mining operations in the state.  Check their manifests and then follow it on down to the Mint.”
He paused and there was some silence in the room.  I stroked my moustache.  He began again, “We work closely with the U.S. Marshal’s office; that is one of the reasons for Marshal Blasco to be here.  He would be your contact person, and he is also here to witness our conversation.”
I looked at the Marshal and then back at Covney and thought, “Conversation, the only person conversin’ is you.”
“When do you need an answer?” I asked.
“Tomorrow, I leave on the train tomorrow,” he hesitated.  “Don’t you want to know about pay?”
“Not that important if I believe the Lord wants me to take this job.”
He sort of chuckled, not trying to be mean.  “Well, to ease your mind, the pay would be $75 a month plus expenses.”
“My mercy, I know where some of that gold is disappearing to.”
“I hope you’ll join us.  We need good men,” he said standing and putting out his hand to shake.
“You all need a good meal?”
“Sure,” these were the first words from Blasco.
“Come to the M & M Diner and I’ll treat you to supper.  Best in town, plus there could be a ‘die-for’ pie waiting for the three of us.”
“Sounds good,” said Covney.  “We can discuss the position more over supper.”
“My wife would be able to join us.  I want her in on the discussion.”
We all started out the door and onto the boardwalk…

Echoes From the Campfire

A man can walk if he doesn’t like the spread he’s working on. He can’t steal something just because he thinks it’s owed him.”
–C. J. Petit (Gus)

“You must burn their idols in fire, and you must not covet the silver or gold that covers them. You must not take it or it will become a trap to you, for it is detestable to the Lord your God.”
–Deuteronomy 7:25 (NLT)
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I will have to say that most of the people I have worked with over the years were good folk. Starting way back when I bussed tables and washed dishes, through the Air Force, and in education there were really relatively few that did not do their jobs. I used to ask my students if they would hire a B student. Most of them said “no.” Are you telling me that you would not hire the majority of yourselves, including you? Remember, most people in America are just average; that means “C” student. The key is twofold: are they doing the best they can? And, are they doing the job required in quality manner?
I have been doing a small study on the kings of Israel and Judah. David was a good king, but he had some problems. One was the rebellion led by a servant who thought better of himself than he should have. He wanted to be king, but he was a lowly servant, yet he led a rebellion. Through his arrogance he tried to turn the people from David. Joab, Abishai and the army went to subdue the rebellion. Joab had Sheba, son of Birchi, cornered. The people in the city where Sheba was hiding feared for their city and said they supported David. Joab said he would leave if he could have Sheba. The people of the city took Sheba, cut off his head and threw it down from the city wall. So much for rebellion; so much for arrogance.
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Maybe here is a good time to throw in one of my favorite quotations. We are in mid-summer and often we can get the doldrums and then a lackadaisical attitude forms that may lead to depression.

“You must live your life. Make it worth while. Every man, every woman has
a burden. Lift yours cheerfully and begin to climb…. Love those with whom
fate has placed you. And fight–fight the dark moods, the selfish thoughts,
the hateful memories! Work…Love.”
–Zane Grey

What are you doing to make yourself better: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? Since we are more than just body we should be trying to improve ourselves in all areas of life.
The second thing to ask is the why. Why should I try to make myself better? The reason is that the Lord made you. Therefore, you are to give yourself back completely to Him; you are to become a “living sacrifice.” We are to worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). Because of that we should make our life worthwhile in service to the Lord.

Coffee Percs

I wondered how many times I had looked at a pre-dawn sky and crawled from my blankets to build up the fire and make coffee.”
–Lou Bradshaw

Mornin’ pard, past graylight now, but I kept the coffee on and it’s hot. Sittin’ out near Lake Conroe, just waitin’ for yuh to come by and listenin’ to the birds singin’. Don’t know what time it is, but it sure does have premonitions of a good day. Sure is still and there is hardly any movement on the Lake.
Ahhhh, hot coffee; don’t taste too bad. I didn’t even look at the headlines this mornin’ as I’m tryin’ to keep my gizzard from gettin’ all riled up. I did read yesterday that there are some folk out there that think that there should be no age put on sexual relations. That way they will know at an early age what gender to choose. Now, that not only riles my gizzard, but it makes me want to puke all over the place. Thinking to be wise, enlightened, they are literally, utterly fools. Mommas! You better get to trainin’ your kids in the ways of the Lord!
What is ol’ fence post is a-seein’ is a lot of hackles raised, anger stirred, but not up to the point of doing anything about it in the home. Most homes, including Christian ones, are lackadaisical in their trainin’ up their kids. Dad’s not usually around or doin’ his own thing if his is, and kids are on their phones, games, doing who-knows-what. It’s just not “cool” to be trainin’ children according to the Lord’s commands.
Here, let me fill up our cups again, and that’ll stop me from my rantin’ this mornin’. I’ve been readin’ about the kings of Israel and how they established worship of false gods and compromised their culture. Then came Hezekiah and he had the courage to stand against the false practices and tear down all the high places and false groves of worship. Perhaps it’s time that Christians do the same, at least in their own homes.
Sorry, didn’t mean to be ventin’ this mornin’, maybe I’ll have another cup and it’ll sooth things down a mite. When yuh come by next week, I promise I’ll be cool.
Don’t worry, I won’t go out in a rush and forget to check my cinch. I do have a little self-control.