As he sat there watching the embers, he knew that he had never been meant for the crowd, for work in an office, for gambling in business deals with men. Peace hovered somewhere near him.”
–Zane Grey (Wyoming)

“Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.”
–2 Chronicles 30:8 (NLT)
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I don’t know if my feelings should be hurt or not. Only one person asked who the “Soldier Saint” was. I left his name out of my writing on Monday, by accident, of course.

John of Capistrano
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“I see that old flagpole still stands. Have your troops hoist the colors to its peak, and let no enemy ever haul them down.”
–Gen. Douglas MacArthur (his return to the island of Corregidor)

The enemy today is among us and is threatening to tear down the flag. I do not fear North Korea; I do not fear Iran; I do not even fear Russia or China. The fear is that the something that could happen to our country is in the middle of us. Listen! Those bowing when the National Anthem is being played are not protesting. They are mocking the sacrifices of those gone before; they are scorning the very name of the United States. All they are doing is putting themselves on the grandstand to protest what? That is my real question, what is the real protest about?
One player and Jesse Jackson (who is he?) stated that these football players are still in slavery; they have only changed owners; that they have just exchanged picking cotton to picking up footballs. Hmmm, there are many white players in the NFL; are they slaves as well? If so, there goes the argument for white privilege, or white supremacy. Let me see: these players receive millions of dollars for pay, while slaves received sustenance. These players could quit at any time, while slaves were bound to their master unless freed someway. These players could find a real job, while slaves had to do the job their master gave them. Seems to me there is quite a difference.
I had a colleague, a few years back, and yes, it was in a Christian school. He told me I needed to get rid of my old archaic ideas of nationalism. Globalism is the way of the world and the United States, along with all Christians need to realize it and become part of it. I will agree, that sooner or later (and it may be sooner that you think) the world will be globalistic in nature. When the Antichrist comes to reign there will be a global network, but until then we are admonished to pray for the leaders of our country and be good and loyal citizens.
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Whatever happened to Father Coughlin?
He was ordained a priest in Detroit and began a weekly hour-long radio program. When the Depression hit he began to move away from spiritual topics and started concentrating on political, social, and economic issues. He became an avid supporter of FDR’s New Deal program. He claimed that “the New Deal is Christ’s deal.” Eventually he turned away from Roosevelt and added capitalism to his campaign along with Socialism and Communism.
Some saw him as a man who was standing up for the poor and downtrodden, while others saw him as a threat to the nation. Either way, World War II came along and new slowly began to fade out of the picture. He served as priest until he retired in 1966, and died in 1979.
(thanks to Stephen J. Lang–The Christian History)
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Battle Grounds: “For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, HCSB)

These were the simplest things in life, but none of them were free. A man had to earn them by sweat and hunger and fatigue. That was why they were good.”
–Ernest Haycox (The Border Legion)

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.”
–Luke 13:24 (NLT)
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“Ooops, we blew it.” Have you heard any network or media make that statement concerning Bergdahl? It has been relatively quiet and I hope that after the sentencing he will just go away, but the only things I have read are statements by him, and the implication from the media that he is a poor guy, just the victim of circumstances. Remember, five terrorist leaders were given their freedom for him. A person who has now pleaded guilty to desertion. The media was all over his release and there was a press conference at the White House where he was declared a “hero”.  Hmmmm, nothing about that now that the truth is out.
Listen to his excuse. I walked off my duty post because I did not like my command. What??!! You are to maintain your post until relieved. By walking off we have come to find out that he caused the death and injury to fellow soldiers. I served for six years and I had good commanders, all but one and he was a different sort, but I would never have thought of walking off simply because I didn’t like the way he ran things.
Then he says he can’t get a fair trial because of the President. Now, that is foolishness, either that or he really doesn’t understand the military. He was to be tried in military court. The “rules” are different there. And how about his last statements? The Taliban were nicer than the American military. Hmmm, sounds like a bit of propaganda for the media to play on to me.
To bring it into a spiritual perspective; do not walk off the post where the Lord has placed you. You are responsible for that duty station until relieved. Just because you don’t like the way things may be going is no excuse to just walk off. If you do, who knows who may become a casualty because of what you did.
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Are you ready? It is almost here–Mal de Ojo. The further saga of the life of Elias Butler. Book 2, in the life of Elias Butler will find Texas in turmoil after Reconstruction. Captain Leander McNelly has reformed the Texas Rangers to meet the challenge of lawlessness.
Mal de Ojo is a border village suspected of protecting bandits making raids into Texas. These bandits are led by the evil El Diablo. Captain McNelly has sent Elias Butler to investigate the situation.
Will Elias have the courage, strength, faith, and fortitude to meet the challenge and the powers of the “Evil Eye”?
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Have you ever heard of the “Soldier Saint”? This man was known to be tough in word and in deed. He was born in Italy in the 14th century, and during one of the wars in Italy found himself in prison. In 1456, he became a follower of Christ, and became one of the noted preachers in the Middle Ages. Many times when he would come to town, businesses shut down when he was preaching, for the townspeople went to hear him.
When he was seventy years old, he traveled with the Crusaders to fight in Belgrade, leading a regiment into battle. The Muslim Turks were driven out of the city. A few months later he contracted the plague and died on October 23, 1456.
How about this for an inscription on a gravestone? “A man worthy of all praise, defender and promoter of the faith, guardian of the church…an ornament to all the world.”
We should pray that we have the courage and strength to defend what is good and honorable. We live in troubled times and the Lord still needs those who can be called “Soldier Saints.”
(The Christian History, Stephen J. Lang)

Woe is me”, is not the talk of the believer in Jesus Christ.  Part of our problem is the fight against self.  Even after we are redeemed there is still the selfish attitudes that continue to come our way.  We need the fire of the Holy Spirit to get rid of all the sin and selfishness, and then turn around and burn brightly inside so that we shine for Christ.

          “O fire of God begin in me,
           Burn out the dross of self and sin,
           Burn off my fetters, set me free,
           And make my heart a heav’n within.”
                 –A.B. Simpson

Preachers use to preach hellfire and brimstone messages, but they also preached about a baptism of fire from above.  The Holy Spirit came upon believers and they were changed completely.  Old things passed away.  Is there then something wrong with the church today?  Hmmm, not many changes from the old life are seen.

          “Baptize with fire this soul of mine,
           Endue me with Thy Spirit’s might,
           And make me by Thy pow’r divine
           A burning and a shining light.”

We must seek to be rid of the old self, and have the image of Christ burned deep within.  I read an article the other day about 10 things that should be gotten rid of in the church.  I could only partly agree with one.  Almost everything they called for had to do with community, fellowship, harmony, and feeling good.  Number ten was to get rid of the sermon; sit around tables and talk out your problems and the pastor would be a monitor.  What ever happened to letting the Holy Spirit set His flame working in our souls?

          “Burn in, O fire of God, burn in,
           Till all my soul Christ’s image bears,
           And ev’ry pow’r and pulse within
           His holy, heav’nly nature wears.”

There is coming a day when the judgment of God will burn away all those things we did for self.  They will be but ashes.  However, today is the day of salvation and the believer should begin to allow the fire of God to burn away the things now.  Where is the cry in the church of “burn on, burn on!”?

          “Burn on, O fire of God, burn on,
           Till all my dross is burn’d away,
           Till earth and sin and self are gone,
           And I can stand the testing day.

                    Burn on! O fire of God, burn on,
                    Till all my dross is burned away,
                    Burn on!  burn on!
                    Prepare me for the testing day.”