I’d fear a brave man less than a coward. The coward has no scruples.”
–Louis L’Amour (How the West Was Won)
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
–Revelation 21:8 (NKJV)
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Tighten your cinch and hang on tight–Powder River let ‘er Buck!! Here I wakened this morning to see no election. I did look at a map and observed that if the President wins the states in which he is ahead, he will win the election. This is no time to celebrate, but time to keep praying.
As I am writing this, I’m looking at one of my favorite cups. It is one I used to keep on my desk at school. There is a saying on the front: “Neither drought, nor rain, nor blizzard disturbs the joy-juice in this ol’ gizzard!” Add to that any other type of storm, plus Presidential elections. This ol’ gizzard is goin’ to stay cool, calm, and collected.
The other day, in one of the Echoes, I used a phrase from an old song. I thought with the elections and the commotion, and the soon-coming chaos that I would use the whole song this morning. One thing I believe that many Christians are forgetting is that we are just pilgrims here on earth. We’re just passing through. It seems that some are wanting to settle down and become part of the world. It would be good for those people to go back and read Matthew 24.
I’m pressing on through this world of care
Nobody knows what a load I bear
But for my Lord I will bravely stand
And I know my Lord’s gonna lead me out of this pilgrim land.
He hears my prayers, for me intercedes,
And He’s a friend everybody needs.
He lifted me from the sinking sand,
And I know my Lord’s gonna lead me out of this pilgrim land.
I’m gonna rest on the gospel way,
Just long enough to kneel and pray,
I’m gonna cling to His precious hand,
And I know my Lord’s gonna lead me out of this pilgrim land.
I know my Lord’s gonna lead me out,
I know my Lord’s gonna lead me out,
I’m gonna pray and do the best I can,
And I know my Lord’s gonna lead me out of this pilgrim land.
–Albert E. Brumley
We all carry loads, and we are all concerned about the results of the election. A person’s life may be at stake, and the life of this nation is at stake as well. No matter the results we keep pressing onward and upward. If we rest on the way it should be for a time of prayer; prayer for strength to continue and to keep ourselves from the onslaught of the world. The old-timers used to say, “keep prayed up.” Are you ready should the Master come today? Rest in assurance if you are that the Lord will lead you out of this wearisome, pilgrim land.
Month: November 2020
The Saga of Miles Forrest
Langston stood next to me and Rev. Chapman as we waited for our horses to be unloaded. He leaned toward me, I think hoping the parson wouldn’t hear and asked, “Where’s a good place to get a drink?”
“Blair Street is a couple streets up, and you can find all the rotgut you want,” I replied a little loudly, more for the parson’s benefit. “Last I heard there were forty saloons in Silverton. You could drink all day and more if you wanted to visit them all.”
“Mister Langston, you surely won’t be doing your mind and body any good by visiting those dens of iniquity, and they will work worse havoc on your soul,” piped in the Reverend.
Langston gave a little cough, then said, “Reckon you’re right, Preacher, but I ain’t got my soul saved yet, and the four hours on that train gave me a powerful thirst.”
I grabbed the reins of Hawk while Langston mounted. He gave a little wave and rode off. I wanted to mount but thought I ought to walk along with the parson. The Wells Fargo office was only a little over a block away and I like to stop in to say hello to the guys who worked there.
Only Dick Fletcher and the new man Gilcrist were in the office. After introducing them to Rev. Chapman, Dick informed me that Morgan Appleby was visiting in Denver and might start working somewhere along the Front Range. He wiped hair from the front of his face tucking it under the visor, then said, “Miles, you know this office needs at least three men.”
There was no need for a reply, for he was right, so I just nodded my head. “Say, I’m looking for three men and was wonderin’ if you guys might be able to help me out. First, there is a man wanted, Upton Shaw…”
“What’s he wanted for?” interrupted Gilcrist.
“Does it matter?” I answered curtly. “But if you insist on knowing he shot the deputy marshal in Durango and a fellow by the name of Conrad Keim.” I didn’t go into any detail nor tell him that I expressly told Shaw to desist in his search.
“Go ahead,” said Dick.
“The word is that Shaw stopped to see a doctor in Silverton. I’m also interested in finding a man with the handle of Frank Black.”
“That would be Dr. Webb,” blurted Gilcrist. I looked at Dick who sort of rolled his eyes. Giving a slight grin I was beginning to understand why they needed three men to work here.
Gilcrist continued, “The doctor has a place down a few blocks on Empire Street. Want me to go fetch him?”
Dick was looking at me and shaking his head. I took the hint, “No, I want to see him in his office. Dick, what about Black?”
I could tell he was thinking, then, of course Gilcrist blurted out again, “There’s a Black that has a run-down saloon up on Greene and 18th Street.”
As we stepped back out on the sidewalk, Rev. Blair asked, “Are there any churches in Silverton?”
I pulled on my moustache to think on what he said. “Parson, there are two churches to my knowledge; a Congregational and a Catholic.”
“My, my,” he muttered, “Two churches and forty saloons. Seems like there’s work to be done here in the devil’s playground.”
“Parson, I’m goin’ to visit the doc, then go see this Frank Black.”
“Go on, Brother, where shall I meet you?” he inquired.
“Call me, Miles. I’ll plan on meeting you at the Grand Hotel, say around four o’clock.” With that I mounted Hawk, the called out to him. “You be careful, Parson.”
Within a few minutes I was outside the doctor’s office noticing a sign, “Wilbur Webb, M.D.” and next to his office which I reckoned was his residence was a building that carried a sign indicating hospital. Looking at the layout I was thinking that in a place such as Silverton he probably had quite the business.
Normally I don’t tie Hawk, but decided to this time, then walked in the office. “Be right with you!” called a voice from a back room.
In a few seconds a squat, wobbly man with white shirt with stains on it, and pants held up by suspenders walked out. I noticed that he seemed to stagger a little until he placed his hand on the edge of a bookshelf.
“What can I do for you? You don’t look sick, and you’re standing, so what is it that ills you?”
“I’m Deputy U.S. Marshal Miles Forrest, and I’m lookin’ for a man you may have treated for a bullet wound in the leg,” I informed him.
“Bullet wound! Do you know how many bullet wounds I treat in a week? Bah, get out and leave me alone.” He turned to go back to room when he stumbled and fell.
Rushing to him, I lifted him up and sort of half carried, half drug him to a chair. He wasn’t hurt, but I quickly could tell his problem from the smell. He was drunk.
“You sit there!” I ordered, then went to the stove. I put in a few pieces of wood to heat it up, then began to look for a coffeepot. “Where’s your coffeepot?”
He looked at me, sort of with a half-glazed, half angry stare. “Back room…but I don’t want any coffee!”
Ignoring him I went to look…
Echoes From the Campfire
To each of us is given a life. To live with honor and to pass on having left our mark, it is only essential that we do our part, that we leave our children strong. Nothing exists long when its time is passed. Wealth is important only to the small of mind. The important thing is to do the best one can with what one has.”
–Louis L’Amour (Hondo)
“Because you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”
–Revelation 3:17(HCSB)
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Do you remember the story that Jesus told of the rich man who had great wealth? He would tear down his barns to build bigger ones as he had so much grain. He then figured he could sit back and enjoy his wealth. God had another plan, for that night the rich man would die. (Luke 12:16-21).
Listen, death is inevitable. The wealthy are going to die just as the poor along with you and me. They may leave behind a legacy of wealth (i.e., Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, etc.), they may have buildings named after them, schools may carry their name, but in the grave they are no different than anyone else. Before commenting further, read the remaining portion of Psalm 49.
10 – For one can see that wise men die; foolish and stupid men also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.
11 – Their graves are their eternal homes, their homes from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.
12 – But despite his assets, man will not last; he is like the animals that perish.
13 – This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah
14 – Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning,
and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
15 – But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah
16 – Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases.
17 – For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down.
18 – Though he praises himself during his lifetime—and people praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 – he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.
20 – A man with valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish. (HCSB)
People tend to measure things in money or wealth. Athletes, entertainers, powerful CEOs all point to the money they make. Oh, some of them may make a token gift to charity and the media proclaims them great philanthropists, but really they should be asking themselves the question, “What will you give in exchange for your soul?”
So many people trust in their wealth, or in the wealth of their friends. This Psalm speaks to those people. John J. Durham said this, “It is foolish as well as dangerous to put one’s trust in something which is even less stable than the man himself.” Listen–you can’t take it with you! Why trust in something tangible? Why put your money in stocks where who knows what could happen?
I like the way George Wood puts it, “Things are turned upside down in the afterlife.” We must, as believers grasp hold of the vital truth that we are but pilgrims in this world. We are traveling to a heavenly city, so why encumber ourselves with the wealth of the world thinking that it can save you? Jesus said that it was hard for a rich man to get to heaven and one reason for this is that they trust in their riches instead of in the blood of Jesus Christ. Being poor has that advantage–where can they put their trust?
There are two key verses here. The first, verse 15, look at your redemption. From Who, from where does it come and what is the result? Christ is our Redeemer! He is the one Who will redeem us from the grave. The second is verse 20. The man with possessions is not the problem; it is the man without understanding. “Don’t be overawed by the external glitz. The splendor and the good vibes of others’ praise will soon be gone. Worldly magnificence is only temporal. The psalm closes–not by castigating the rich, but by condemning wealth ‘without understanding.’ If in order to be ‘wealthy’ in anything I have to deceive or take advantage of another person, trust myself rather than God, do it my way rather than His, then my so-called wealth will ruin me. The only ones who don’t get this meassage are as beasts who perish. How dumb!” (George O. Wood)
“Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”
–James M. Black