Don’t let your dark places control your life.”
–Troy G. Wagstaff (.44 Caliber Preacher)
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
–2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)
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Yesterday, August 6, 1945, was a day that forever changed the course of world history. It was the day that the Enola Gay flew over Hiroshima and dropped the first nuclear bomb. Many today said that it was cruel and heartless, but it broke the back of the Japanese empire. It took another one, a few days later to finally bring it to their knees.
Some say it was cruel and inhumane, Those do not know their history. Sure, we could have starved them into submission. Put a blockade around the country. Japan was already starving so when the Americans came, they brought food. Japan was also in the midst of a massive cholera epidemic. That was quickly stopped with the occupation by American troops. Plus there was the fact that thousands upon thousands would have been killed when an invasion took place which was scheduled for spring 1946, both American and Japanese. My Dad’s Division was to be in the invading force. He had fought in New Guinea and the Philippines, and was part of the invasion of Palawan.
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Is this a true pandemic? I have problems with the term. Sure, several have been affected, but the death rate is very low. Pandemic, epidemic proportions, not sure? Think of the Black Death. It swept through Europe several times killing one-third to one-half the population. The influenza of 1917-1920 killed probably over forty million.
Not to get in an argument over the term, but I want to remind you of Who is in control. “When trials or disasters come upon us in life, we many times recoil at the dilemma because we can’t see down the road of life to know what God is preparing us for.” (Gregg Turnbull) We get so caught up in the dilemma, or the “pandemic” that we cannot see the hand of God and what He is trying to do in our lives. “Christian, when something that you would consider bad happens to you, do not hit the panic button. If God allowed it, don’t be shortsighted. Not only is God watching your response, but others are also. Have confidence in God.” (Gregg Turnbull)
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“Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.”
–Proverbs 2:5-7 (NKJV)
Let me ask this one very important question? Is God your Father? When you talk with Him, if you do, are you frazzled and seeking things from other sources, or do you calmly go to Him? I like the words of F.B. Meyer, “It is a mistake to see a sign from heaven; to run from counselor to counselor; to cast a lot; or to trust to some chance coincidence. Not that God may not reveal his will thus; but because it is hardly the behavior of a child with its Father. There is a more excellent way. Let the heart be quieted and still in the presence of God… Let the voice of the Son of God hush into perfect rest the storms that sweep the lake of the inner life, and ruffle its calm surface… Remembering that all who lack wisdom are to ask it of God…let us quietly appropriate him, in that capacity, by faith; and then go forward, perhaps not conscious of any increase of wisdom…but sure that we shall be guided as each new step must be taken, or word spoken, or decision made.”
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
–Matthew 7:11(NKJV)
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I will finish today with a portion from a sermon by Phillips Brooks. In this he deals with some very important questions that all should answer and at the end of life all will answer before Him at the judgment. Have you ever thought about your purpose here on earth? What were you placed here for?
“What makes every one of us sigh when we think what we might have been? Why is every one of us missing his highest? What are we all shut out from our trees of life? There is one word, one universal word, that tells the sad story for us all. It is selfishness–selfishness from the beginning. If we had not been selfish, if we had lived for God from the beginning, if we had been consecrated, we know it would have been different;…we would have come to what He made us for–our fullest and our best life.”
A person may think that they are a success, that they have it all, but then that day comes when they stand before the Lord and they have nothing to show. They look around as if to say, “I have done this”, but find that there is nothing there. He then looks at the Lord who is silently shaking His head.
Now is the time to seek Him. Now is the time to consecrate and be willing to give all and do service for the Lord.
Month: August 2020
Echoes From the Campfire
As a rule, I’m a happy person, but that happiness doesn’t always get to my face.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Cain)
“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.”
–Jude 24 (NLT)
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Look at the news… No! Don’t! Don’t do anything where the devil can try to steal your joy. We live in a time of hatred, bitterness, despondency, and despair. There are voices everywhere and they try to confuse you. If you are downcast, why? Aren’t you saved? Aren’t you on your way to heaven? Don’t let the things of this earth spoil your joy. In fact, it should not be characteristic of a Christian to not be joyful. Remember, joy is from the heart; it is not happiness.
“I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth eve’ry need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.”
–B.E. Warren
Let the joy of Christ dwell in you. Perhaps you should ask what it is that gives you joy. Sometimes happiness can bring joy, but happiness is fleeting while joy should be permanent. Joy is why the Christians of old could go to their death in the Roman arenas singing–they had joy in their hearts. The problem is that we let the world dictate to us what should bring us joy. Are you happy about having to wear a mask? Probably not, but that should not steal your joy.
“I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing! I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.”
Are you saved? Be joyful! Are you living in grace? Be joyful! Can you feel the presence of the Lord? Be joyous! Rejoice, and again I say rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) Just think, the Lord is coming soon, be joyful and if He should tarry, be joyful still. Do you have fellowship with God; have you been reconciled to Him? If so, keep the joy in your heart. Ponder the words of Romans 5:2, “Through whom [Jesus Christ] also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
“I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face.”
I used some of this hymn in yesterday’s “Echo.” In thinking of it, joy should “echo” throughout our lives as we walk along the journey to glory. Christ is with us, that should make us pick up our feet and not drag them along the way, mumbling, “woe is me…blah, blah, blah.” Come on, if Christ could look at the joy and thus face the torment of the cross because of what laid behind it, then we can do the same in this life for we are heading for a city and a mansion that is in the realm of glory. Get that joy in your heart.
“I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll!
It is like a great o’er-flowing well,
Springing up within my soul.
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.”
Echoes From the Campfire
Take things as they come and stay cheerful.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Day the Cowboys Quit)
“I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.”
–1 Chronicles 29:17 (NKJV)
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Interesting how a person can look at something several times and it not see it. I always like to teach a course, “Knowing God.” If it is the first time I teach in a new church that is what I start with. Often when I have a new class coming in, that is what I teach on. There are many reasons for it, one is that few in the church, especially new converts, but I have even found it among old also, really contemplate God. We can never learn enough about Him, and we can never exhaust of learning of Him. Another reason is that it exhilarates my soul. When I think of God, dwell upon Him, all I can say is a resounding “WOW!!!…”
Last week I was doing my morning devotions and a thought struck home. When I teach of God, I teach that He is complete. His omnipotence never ends; He is infinite; there is no limit to His omniscience, and on. God is limitless. God is love. Now here is where I stopped in my teaching and where I was hit with the devotion. God is peace, God is wrath, God is just, God is…and the devotion was about joy. God is full of joy! He has infinite joy!
When he looks at His creation it brings Him joy. It brings satisfaction. Stay with me, sure He was “disappointed” that man sinned, but He also knew that he would, and He had a plan. There would be joy in the salvation of mankind. See, God is so infinite in all His attributes–natural and moral–that He can be understood only partially. Part of our purpose, perhaps our main purpose here on earth, is to come to know Him better.
All of us, believers and nonbelievers, have experienced some of the joy of the Lord. The breath we breathe is a gift from the Father and hopefully you find it joyful to be breathing in and out. Have you ever stood on a precipice looking out over a vista, say the Grand Canyon? Do you find beauty, do you find joy? So does the heavenly Father in His creation of it, and in the pleasure that you are currently receiving from it.
God is infinitely good and it pleasures Him to bless His children, here on earth and in heaven. It gives Him joy, but it does not add to His joy for His joy is infinite and complete already. WOW!! Because of His joy, along with other attributes He is good, but that also is an infinite attribute in itself–Goodness, God is good! Dallas Willard said, “All of the good and beautiful things from which we occasionally drink tiny droplets of soul-exhilarating joy, God continuously experiences in all their breadth and depth and richness.”
No wonder our toe goes to tapping: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart…!” And it’s, “Joy unspeakable and full of glory…oh, the half has never yet been told.” (B.E. Warren) We have amazing grace, we have amazing love, and we should be living in amazing joy.
The Saga of Miles Forrest
Reaching out my hand, “Let me see that poster of Keim again.”
There was some hesitation as Shaw looked into my eyes then shifted them to glance at the Greener I was holding in my right hand. He reached in his pocket for the folded paper and reluctantly handed it to me.
I looked it over carefully. He turned my eyes back to Shaw. “Was this issued by the State of Kansas or any of the counties therein?”
He sneered, “Don’t make no difference; it’s a wanted poster!”
“Well, it makes quite the difference. People can go makin’ up their own wanted posters that would make them an accessory to murder. Now from what I understand from Mr. Keim is that this was issued by the Langford family.”
Shaw’s eyes widened and he started to jump up from his chair when I gently, well sorta gently put the Greener on his shoulder. “Just stay seated!”
I tapped the Greener on his cheek. “Let me tell you straight, and I’ll tell you only once. Anything happens to Conrad Keim, whether he is killed or disappears, I will hunt you down. I’ll make sure you hang.”
Hatred entered his eyes making me wonder if my name was added to his poster. I had him pretty well figured out. He wasn’t a tough man, but a cheap, weak sample of a man. He wasn’t the type who would face up to anyone, but would only come from their blindside, shooting them in the back.
“I am waiting for a telegram from the U.S. Marshal’s office in Kansas awaiting information concernin’ this poster. If it says what I think it will say I’m comin’ for you,” I informed him, not bothering to tell him I hadn’t sent the telegram to them, yet.
“What for?” he almost screamed. “I haven’t done anything.”
I tapped his cheek again with the Greener. “You pointed a gun and threatened an innocent citizen. You are tryin’ to enforce an illegal wanted poster and by pointin’ that gun of yours I could imply it was a threat of murder,” I paused for him to think about it. “Plus, you have disturbed the peace of this town, and agitated me to no end. I don’t like that.”
He snatched the poster back. “Can’t Keim take care of himself or does he always hide behind yur skirts?”
Well, that did it. I raised the Greener to give him a little thump alongside the head. Nothing to really hurt, but enough to get his attention. He did right well, for he maintained a sitting position in his chair with the thump. I did see his hand move toward his pistol.
“That would not be real bright,” I muttered then smiled.
By now his eyes blazed bright with hate. “Shaw, you ought to leave town. I can’t be around to protect you all the time and,” I turned to look at Keim then back to Shaw, “I think that Keim would easily take care of you. That is if you dared to face him.”
He was breathing deeply. “Can I leave now?” he asked with a snarl.
“Why surely,” I responded. Shaw stood up knocking the chair over as he did and started to walk off. I put the Greener out in front of him barring his retreat. “Forget somethin’?” I pointed to the chair.
His jaws tightened, he was not a happy person, but finally he remembered some manners taught by his mother, bless her soul, or maybe it was the 12-gauge shotgun I held but he reached down to pick up the chair scooting it under the table. I couldn’t make it out but he was muttering something under his breath.
“Speak up! Don’t let there be secrets between us. If’n your makin’ a threat I’d like to know.”
He didn’t say any more just stalked off. Just before he got to the door, I hollered, “Shaw, remember my job is to keep the peace and protect the citizens of this town.” He glanced at me then proceeded out the door. I turned my attention to Keim. “That goes for you as well.”
I went back to my table setting the Greener on the table then picked up my cup of cold coffee. Leaving it on the table I went to the counter for a new cup and poured a fresh cup. “Sorry gentlemen,” I said after sitting. “Part of the job.”
Reverend Chapman rubbed his chin then spoke, “Well, that was entertaining. Is that typical?”
Giving him a glance then over to the Rev. Robinson, who I thought was trying to hide a smile. I took a sip before answering. “No, it was done special for the new pastor,” then lifted my cup for a deeper swallow. “Just count it toward the offering this Sunday.”
That brought an actual chuckle from Rev. Robinson. Molly came up to the table at that time. “What’s so funny? I just thought I’d see if you gentlemen were ready for your pie…”