There was always a new ridge and a new canyon, and appreciation of them was heightened by a sense of expectancy.”
–Luke Short (Last Hunt)
“For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].”
–Philippians 1:21(Amplified)
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How To Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Sometimes this old world gets us down. When we look around at all of the evil and stupidity a person can get somewhat discouraged. The devil would like to fill your heart with fear, and if that doesn’t work, he will just inject a bit of fear, of anxiety, of question. These few verses from 1 John are to uplift us. The enemy is out there, but we are overcomers. We once walked in the darkness, but now we walk in the light.
12 “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
–1 John 2:12-14(NASB)
I have heard people say, good people, Christian people–“I can’t help it, I’m only human” as if that give an excuse. There is a tendency nowadays to stop seeking to do the will of God. People still live in the past, they say “I’m a sinner, but saved.” Instead it should be, “I’m a saint, who sometimes lives with sin.” Listen we strive to be holy, to do our best to keep His commandments. Yes, it is a high standard, and we moan when we fail that we can’t do it. Yes, we can, after we first get up and continue along the way. The Holy Spirit is there to help us.
These few verses show us the essentials of life. Our sins have been forgiven, we know the Father, we have overcome the evil one. We are strong in the Lord, and we have the Word of God to help us overcome. We have the means, the power, and the victory–now we should live in it. There is really no excuse for failure. We no longer live in sin. Provision has been made for salvation; provision has been made if we do sin (1 John 1:9).
The past is there, we cannot erase the past, but we must be clear about the past. We do not, we must not live in regret, but realize the love of Jesus for us and His provision for our daily walk and for the future. We overcome sin because we have the Word of God in our hearts.
“For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”
–1 Peter 1:23 (NASB)
“Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”
–James 1:21
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states, “If we feel that the demands of this Christian life are too high or impossible, it is nothing but sheer ignorance, a sheer lack of faith.” Read the verses at the top again–we are victors, we are overcomers.
True, as we go through this Christian journey of life, circumstances change. Obstacles change as we grow in Christ. It’s just like a baby growing–they are given tasks that fit their age and life, as they grow the tasks change. As in our physical life, the spiritual life is much the same, as an adult we must work harder. The struggles you have as you mature in Christ are different from when you first accepted Him into your life.
Month: May 2021
Echoes From the Campfire
A man has to face up to himself sometime or other. You can go on being satisfied or ducking the issue only so long, and then there comes a time when you start asking yourself, not what you’ve done with your summer wages, but with your whole life up to that minute.”
–Louis L’Amour (Hanging Woman Creek)
“Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord….”
–Lamentations 2:19(NKJV)
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I like the Psalms. I read them constantly, and at this point in my life I wish that I had memorized many more of them. They are good for inspiration. They are good for comfort. They are good for guidance. They are good to use in worship and praise to the Lord. However, one reason I like them is that so many were written by David and they reflect the reality of his life and how he lived through the trials, troubles, and tribulations that came his way.
Just contemplate the first two verses of Psalm 55,
“Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my trouble.” (NLT)
Have you ever found yourself in that situation, praying that same type of prayer? People declare they want a relationship with God, where here you have one. David knew God. David turned to God when he struggled with abandonment and betrayal. It seems that he might have been concerned that God would leave him as well. As we see in the next few verses, David is in anguish. Why is this happening to me? he wondered. God are you there? he questioned.
3 – My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me, hunting me down in their anger.
4 – My heart is in anguish. The terror of death overpowers me.
5 – Fear and trembling overwhelm me. I can’t stop shaking. (NLT)
In verse 4, the literal translation for “anguish” is “trembling with pain.” Have you ever had so much pain that you actually trembled? Has your body shook because of the pain and you think that you can’t handle it anymore? Add to that the anxiety of those you thought were friends turning against you. The NIV translates verse 3 and 5 this way:
3 – at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger.
5 – Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
One would think that David was living in today’s society and facing the onslaught of the enemy.
Many times I could have related to the final words to this first part of Psalm 55. Let me go to the high lonesome; let me get away from all the stupidity and hatred around me.
6 – Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!
7 – I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude (Selah)
8 – How quickly I would escape–far away from this wild storm of hatred. (NLT)
However, the Holy Spirit will not allow us to escape. We are where He has placed us. We are to be steadfast and trust in His leadership and guidance. The Lord will give us comfort, He will not forsake us. Fleeing is not the answer for there will the issues will follow and by fleeing there will be added problems.
“Oh, were I a feathered dove,
And innocence had wings.
I’d fly and with the God I love,
Leave all these restless things.”
–Isaac Watts
The Saga of Miles Forrest
I had just come from sending telegrams to Marshal Blasco and Dave Cook about the demise of Mike Queens. I mentioned that a full report would be sent later. Stanley Offut was awful skittish, I think the ordeal wore on his nerves. He wasn’t afraid of me, but our relationship wasn’t what it was before. I did my best to soothe him.
Solly Vendor was standing outside his store smoking one of his own stogies when I walked by. Solly was always friendly to me, not that I’d say we had regular fellowship, but there was no animosity. He blew out a big puff of smoke. “What’s wrong with Stanley?” he asked good naturedly. “He acts like a rat in a room of cats. He’s tickier than that machine he runs.”
All I could do was give him a weak smile. “I’ll just say that he’s gone through quite an ordeal.”
He nodded his head understanding that I couldn’t give out any more information until the Judge had the case clear, but he prodded just a mite. “I heard it had something to do with the killing of Queens,” he paused taking a deep puff. “When will they be appointing a new marshal?”
“Solly, of that I have no idea. They might have to wait until after the inquest.”
Now he exhaled, then sighed, “Why don’t they give the job back to you? You have your ways, but you’re a fair man. Folks feel safe around you,” he paused to look up the street. “Maybe I’ll go have a talk with Newsome,” he paused to take another puff. “By the way, how is Foster?”
That was Solly, he was truly interested in the town and the welfare of its citizens. Not a regular church-goer, mind you, but a solid citizen.
He gave me pause for thought, I should make it a weekly habit to visit Wilson. He and I did not always see eye-to-eye, but we were friends. Darnelle was keeping the store open and it was doing right well with the help of Mrs. Blackstone. I waved at Solly and continued on up the street toward the jail. That was another thing, what do to with Mrs. Blackstone’s request. Right now I had laid it in the preacher’s lap. That’s probably where it should remain for the time being at least.
I noticed Lucas cleaning up along main street, but didn’t see Fernando. Perhaps he was working in another area. I stopped to look around for a few moments then continued to trod to the office. There was really nothing I needed there but I promised Charlie that I would make my presence known through the town in his absence. He went up to Silverton to check on Mateo.
Silverton, that was a rough town. It began to boom in 1874 and was still going strong. With the booming mining industry, the evil and vice was booming as well. With the growth of the mines, many miners brought their families with them. Most worked in the larger mines such as the Silver Lake, the Iowa, the Royal Tiger, and the Sunnyside, along with some smaller mines. Oh, there were still the few sourdougher, but their days were coming to an end. Every time I went there, more buildings were going up, but most of the riff-raff built close to Blair Street or close by. In that area of town they boasted of nearly forty saloons or gambling dens and dance halls that never closed. However, there were other businesses being built. They had two banks along with Wells Fargo, several hotels, and a church. A racetrack was proposed with a jockey club, a library was built. Yep, Silverton was booming–I wondered for how long.
I walked through the town, stopped in to say hello to Mateo’s wife, Luciana and his two sons. Then started back toward the diner where Judge Klaser was to have supper with Molly and me. I had often invited the Judge since he was a widower, but he was afraid that people would perceive a conflict of friendship with the marshal and the judging of the law behind the bench.
Walking in, I nodded at Marta, then went over to my usual table. Molly was busy helping Marta with the customers. I needed to talk with her about getting some help during the rush hours. When it was extremely busy, Edith, Doc’s wife would give a hand, but it seemed that they could afford a regular person. Emelda, along with Molly, did most of the cooking; it was time for my wife to settle just a little.
I was sipping my coffee and was pondering how the good Lord had blessed me when the Judge entered. He nodded at several on his way to my table. When he was seated I poured him a cup of coffee and Molly came to get his order. The Judge requested a platter of Emelda’s enchiladas, and he asked if Molly had any baking soda. He said he wanted it handy if he was going to get heartburn.
We were chatting, the Judge greatly enjoying his enchiladas while Molly and I had elk stew. She had already told me that she was saving some pie for us. I was just lifting my spoon to my mouth when Lucas walked in, his shoulders bent and head drooped low.
He looked up at me, with a blackened eye and cut lip. “Senor Marshal, I ….”
Echoes From the Campfire
They rode because of loyalty to one another… They also rode because in each of them there was a sense of what was right and what was justice, although none of them would have admitted to it or would have know how to phrase it. They had never learned how to rationalize, and their world was a simple one where right and wrong were quite obvious.”
–Louis L’Amour (Where the Long Grass Blows)
“That they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
–2 Thessalonians 2:12 (NKJV)
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I looked at the news on my phone (that sounds crazy) to see who won the Kentucky Derby. All I saw was that the liberals went berserk because the anthem of the Kentucky Derby was played (“My Old Kentucky Home”). The headline asked the question whether the song was pro-slave or anti-slave. That’s what happens when the “woke” crowd speaks. Did Stephen Foster have a political idea in mind when he wrote the song, or was it a depiction of life in Kentucky in the 1850s and nothing more?
Frederick Douglas promoted the song and that it popularized the sentiment of abolishing slavery. But the headlines of yesterday show the farce of the cancel culture crowd. The song, part of history showing life in the South is now to be outlawed, castigated by the progressive of society. Who cares about the race, the tradition, and the importance, all that matters is another chance by the media and the liberals to be vocal. Oh, by the way, I did find out that “Medina Spirit” won the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby.
The wokes, cancel culture, or progressive democrats–whatever name you want to give them–are some of the biggest hypocrites. The bemoan the idea of slavery and yet they back the murder of infants with no thought as to race. Studies show that black women have the highest abortion ratio in the country with 474 abortions per 1000 live births with black women making up 14 percent of the childbearing population. Hmmm, slavery versus murder, where are those involved in the BLM movement regarding this?
That same group will harp on racism, Jim Crow laws, and yet they will yield to the abominations of God’s Word. They willingly condone the homosexual and transgender lifestyle yet complain about the racist ideas of police and conservative politicians. It is not even mentioned that the President called the winner of the Masters, “an Asian boy”. Where is the consistency? There is none, because what they are screaming for really doesn’t matter. What matters is their own self-centeredness and self-righteousness. Who cares about the truth as long as we can cause chaos and mayhem?
“…Yet you have turned justice into poison, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.”
–Amos 6:12 (NASB)
Isn’t the verse above indicative of the times in which we are living. Where is justice? Is it the whim of man or the agenda of the media? Is it for the good of the people or for the elite ruling class? Justice into poison, no wonder police officers are changing jobs or retiring.
I have been pondering the words of 2 Thessalonians 2:7, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.” (NKJV) It makes me think that so many of the liberal left are puppets of the lawless one. Lawlessness is already at work–could it be that the Antichrist is alive and working, but is still being held in check? Could it be that his influence is already guiding and fueling the lies and lives of many in the world, but his reins are still be held tight by the Holy Spirit? Words to ponder my friend; words to judge your life by. I don’t know about you, but I’m expecting to hear that trumpet sound. Are you ready?