The vague scent of an enduring wildness, which was less an actual scent than some powerful influence rising from a fresh earth to stir a man’s senses.”
              –Ernest Haycox  (Man in the Saddle)

    “Jesus replied, ‘No man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
              –Luke 9:62 (NIV)
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I just read a story this week by Leroy Brownlow from his book:  A Time To Laugh.  

         “It’s better to face an actual problem than to fret over an imaginary one.” suggested this sagacious man of the people.  In calling on a mocker who never darkened the door of the church, grandpa was met with these words: “Well, parson, I’ve got a problem.  It wouldn’t be comfortable for me in heaven.  How would I get my shirt on over my wings?”
         “You have a problem,” answered grandpa, “but it’s not what you think.  It’s not about your shirt and heaven.  Unless you get started going to church your problem is going to be how to get your hat on over your horns.”

It’s maybe a little humorous, but the fact of the matter is that people are playing with their souls; making a mockery of the sacrifice that was given to man through Jesus Christ.  Hmmm, what will you give in exchange for your soul?
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Guess I’m borrowing today.  Here’s another story by R.G. LeTourneau.  This story is taken from Promises To Keep.

         I believe the secret of the power of the Gospel is to be willing to go all the way with the Lord.  I believe a man who is on the fence cannot enjoy the things of God.  I believe when he tries to get betwixt and between, he gets into an awful mess.
         We had an experience at Boulder Dam that illustrates this point.  A group of powder men had been working all night drilling holes in the mountainside to blast away the rock.  They wanted to make the big shot before the day crew came on.  At last the holes were all dug, the dynamite was in, the wires connected with the power line.  The man who was to set off the blast was short of wire and there wasn’t time to send to camp for more.  What wire he had wasn’t long enough to let him get beyond the danger zone of falling rocks.  He saw a little cave in the mountainside and thought he’d push the button and jump in there.  So he pushed the button, the blast went off, he jumped in the cave–and there was a rattlesnake!  He was betwixt and between.  He couldn’t go in on account of the snake and he couldn’t go out on account of the falling rocks.  What could he do?  He saw a huge rock at the cave entrance.  In less time than it takes to tell it, he picked up that rock, dropped it over the snake and jumped into the cave.  The snake tattled and rattled but couldn’t reach the man because it was pinned down by the rock.
         I wonder sometimes whether some folks who say they are Christians really believe in the Lord or not.  I don’t know whether they have been born again.  They’re on the fence.  They’re betwixt and between.  I want to say that you’re like that man in the cave and you’ll have to do something about it.  If you get hold of the rock of Christ Jesus, that will save you.  He can hold Satan down.
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Friends, inhale the sweet aroma of the presence of God this weekend.  Take time to refresh your souls.
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Today in the Texas Revolution:  General Antonio Gaona received new orders from Santa Anna to leave his occupation of Mina and to proceed to San Felipe de Austin.

The way I see it, every time a man gets up in the morning he starts his life over.  Sure, the bills are there to pay, and the job is there to do, but you don’t have to stay in a pattern.  You can always start over, saddle a fresh horse and take another trail.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (The Proving Trail)

    “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'”
              –John 8:12 (NKJV)
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I remember the words of my pastor a few years back when I was a teenager.  He made a simple statement, yet very profound.  “Life is living.”  It seems that so many are too busy to really live life.  Today, right now, take a breather and find out where you are in this journey called “life.”
    Are you moving up a steep, rocky trail hoping to reach the summit of the mountain that you are climbing, or maybe have been climbing for quite a spell?  Perhaps you are coming down from the summit and are on the slippery slope and the gravel begins to roll under your shoes and you find yourself losing your balance.  Maybe everything is just hunky-dory and you are moving easily and freely through a lush meadow.  Listen, life is no picnic.  Do not become complacent.
    William E. Sangster wrote, “Enjoy it [life] while you can.  Seize every scrap of legitimate happiness, but remember–life is not a picnic.  There are tears in things.”  Right now things may be easy and the trail clearly marked.  Even if a bit rugged from time to time it is a plain trail.  But what is around the corner?  Move slowly, look around.  I can recall a time, back in those teenage years again, when several of us were coming back from a hike up Green Mountain.  I just happened to be running down the trail and a hand grabbed my foot, actually it was either a root or rock, and I began to tumble, rolled off the trail and down the side.  No real hurts, some cuts and scrapes, a bruise or two–it could have been much worse.  A slip, a stumble, the ankle twists, the ground comes up fast and your head is stunned when contact is made.  Life is no picnic.
    Then there are those well-marked trails.  I have walked enough of them that sometimes when you come to a fork there are no signs for direction.  If you don’t carry a map or know your destination or haven’t traveled the trail before you might become quite befuddled.  Which way?  There are also those trails that grow dim or have several paths branching off from it.  The voices begin to run through your mind, “Take this one”, “No, take this one”, “This one looks easier and more traveled.”  If darkness is coming on, it may be prudent to stop for the night and wait for the morning’s light.  It is vital that you recognize and stay on the right trail.
    Hopefully you are prepared for the night; that you have the right equipment with you.  Tomorrow there should be light and you should recognize the right trail.  Settle down, don’t panic.  This is the time to draw upon your resources and knowledge.  If you know the Word of God, it will shine its light on the right path.  Perhaps your prayer at a time like this might be similar to one of George Matheson’s:

         “When I stand below the stars without Thee I say with with Jacob, ‘How dreadful is this place!’  Take away the dread, my Father!  Light this solemn world with Thy smile!  Dispel with Thy voice the solitude I feel!  Guide me amid the things I know not, the things that know not me!  It is not death I am afraid of; it is life–life without Thee.”

    Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit–this life is no picnic.  With Him as your Guide, and the Word of God lighting your way, you should be able to make it to your destination.

Each problem must be taken by itself, and you have to leave emotion out of it.  Be stern with yourself.  Don’t pamper yourself.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Reilly’s Luck)

    “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.”
              –Proverbs 12:1 (NKJV)
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It was 159 years ago, on this day in 1860 that a daring enterprise began.  The trip consisted of speed and endurance for it was a distance of 1,840 miles and was to be covered in 10 days.  It was the Pony Express.  Riders, young men, would have to ride their horses at top speed, night and day, and changed every ten to twenty miles.  These riders would have to maintain a strict schedule in all kinds of weather.
    These young men were paid well for the time period and the pay was according to the terrain that must be traveled–$100 to $150 per month.  “Young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over eighteen,” were wanted – so went the advertising posters.  It continued with a warning, “willing to risk death daily.  Orphans preferred.”  They were given one item by their employers which they could carry, a Bible.  They were to outrun any person so they would not need the weight of a gun.  Then there was the oath!

         “I [name], do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors & Waddell, I will, under no circumstances, use profane language; that I will drink no intoxicating liquors; that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employees of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employer.  So help me God.”
               –Pony Express Pledge

“Riders who violated this oath could expect to be terminated, with the loss of back pay.”  Were these young men saints? No, but they understood ethics, duty, and loyalty.  How many companies would even dare have an oath like that today?  Think of the lawsuits when someone was terminated in this time period. It’s not that we have become more complex; it is more like we have become more confused.  Morality has changed, no, the concept of morality has changed.  God’s truth; God’s morals are always the same.
    “Profane language”, is all around.  People say that’s just the way people talk today.  Whenever a person looks on Facebook, it seems that half of the pictures show a person holding some kind of alcoholic drink.  Think about it; they could not be an employee of the Pony Express.  The person understood the value and concept of loyalty and fulfilling their duties.  They may not have been a Christian, but people in times past had a concept of God and the Bible.  Sadly, it seems today that the more confusion in morals the better.
    I read about this new gender the other day, “theybe”.  Can you imagine a snowflake, someone from Generation Z (or even a Millennial) one of those cupcakes applying to be a rider with the Pony Express? The interview process would be quite interesting, and then when it came time to take the oath there would be a massive commotion.  “God!” they would exclaim! The problem is that people do not realize that they need the help of the Lord in times of distress and tribulation.  No wonder the suicide rate in increasing, people are not looking to the Lord for direction.  They have put Him out of the picture.
    Lord help us in our present state of confusion; help us in our present state of mind.