Echoes From the Campfire

It isn’t a place that makes you happy or unhappy. It’s the people you love, and who love you.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (How the West Was Won)

       “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

                    –Romans 9:26 (NKJV)
—————————————
Today we finish off Psalm 68, and it will be our last look at the Psalms until 2022.  Can you believe that?  The year is almost gone, on the horizon is the dawning of a new year, but that’s another “Echo.”  Someone has said that the end of Psalm 68 speaks of the “Psalmist’s View of the World.”   “There in the foreground is the Temple, inhabited by the God of Israel.  The kings of all the other nations are coming to pay tribute to the Lord in Jerusalem.  Egyptians and Ethiopians come from afar to bow before him offering their gifts.  The mighty nations of the world fade into the background because the Lord is the ruler of all, and he lives right here among his people.” (William Petersen)  Get that image in your mind as you read the rest of the Psalms.
 
          27 — There is little Benjamin, their leader, the princes of Judah and their company, the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.
          28 — Your God has commanded your strength; strengthen, O God, what You have done for us.
          29 — Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to You.
          30 — Rebuke the beasts of the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, till everyone submits himself with pieces of silver.  Scatter the peoples who delight in war.
          31 — Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
          32 — Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord.    Selah
          33 — To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old!  Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.
          34 — Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds.
          35 — O God, You are more awesome than Your hold places.  The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.   Blessed be God!  (NKJV)

       We see a mighty victory procession.  The war is over, not just the battle.  Could it allude to Armageddon when Christ will come and rule from Jerusalem?  Could very well be.  There is praise, there is tribute, there is recognition to the Lord, the God of gods.  All will submit to Him.
       As we go through life it is important not to only look at the immediate but remember the whole of life.  Eternity must be kept in view.  Through the midst of sorrows, problems, and difficulties our eyes should not be focused on them but on the Lord.  Never forget, He has the last word, therefore, walk through life keeping that last phrase etched in your mind and heart–“Blessed be God!”

                    “The whole triumphant host give thanks to God on high;
                    ‘Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!’ they ever cry.
                    Hail Abraham’s God and mine!  With heaven our songs we raise;
                    All might and majesty are thine, and endless praise.”
                                      –Thomas Olivers

Coffee Percs

Coffee and bacon—to him those two things had always stood for home. They were intimate and companionable.” 

                    –James Oliver Curwood  (The Valley of Silent Men a Story of the Three River Country)
 
“Jingle bells are ringing… ’cause Christmas time’s a-comin’… and yuh better watch out an’ not pout.”  Why, Pard that’s singin’.  It’s called a medley, and that’s what happens when I go t’ singin’.  I just let ‘er rip, and the words just come from out there somewheres.  What are yuh sayin’, that’s not a medley?  Well, what is it then?  A mess!  Pard yuh just don’t appreciate the way my mind hears music.
       Does that mean yuh don’t wanna partake of my coffee?  It’s on the stove, just needs to be poured.  I’m not sure if bacon is intimate and makes for good companionship.  Why bacon just don’t stay around long enough to become a companion unless yur a-talkin’ about what it does to my figure..  Coffee, it’s sure ‘nough  companion, and brings grand thoughts of home.  Grandma always had a pot on the stove, she didn’t drink it herself, can you imagine, but just in case company might come by she was ready with a cup for them.
       Home!  Ain’t that quite a word!  There’s lots of houses, and buildin’s, but homes have to be made.  I don’t mean of bricks and mortar, but with blood, sweat, tears, and prayers.  Home is where the heart is.  Hmmm, what a thought.  I wonder how much we think of heaven as our home.  Don’t seem that many out there think of it much.  And along with the other troubles in buildin’ a home, some are sayin’ that we shouldn’t necessarily be meetin’ in our homes on Christmas or we need to wear one of those blamed masks.  Pard, if’n I should wear a mask how would yuh see my grin, or I yur bootiful face?
       Yuh better drink yur coffee as I’m about to commence my singin’ again.  One thing for sure there is a list bein’ made.  Part of it might be if’n yur naughty or nice, but there’s sure one book that’s all important–the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Yuh want to make sure yur name’s written in it.
       Ride safely home, Pard.  If’n yuh need to get shoppin’ done don’t let it wait ’til the last minute.  Why then yuh might get to hustlin’ and bustlin’ around and forget to check yur cinch.
        Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

Honor and integrity are critical to me as a lawman and as a man. Without them, I am neither. I don’t make promises easily or often. I have never failed to keep one and I won’t this time.”
                    –C.J. Petit  (Tate)

       “When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her.”

                    –Matthew 1:24(HCSB)
——————————-
It was a little over 51 years ago.  It was midnight or after, the rain was pouring down and it was quite foggy in spots.  I was taking Annie home from a wedding we both attended.  We dated the previous spring semester in college and we met at the wedding of Gary Hines and Kathy Miller.  On the rain driven night I decided to take the plunge; I pulled over on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and asked this wonderful woman to be my wife.  No, the angels didn’t sing, and the trumpets didn’t blow or the drums beat, but I heard an affirmative word– YES!  Then the sound of my heart let out a sound, or was it just the crack of lightning.  I/We were officially engaged!
       I wrote all of that because of Joseph.  He was already betrothed to Mary.  I imagine he had dreams; he probably thought of seeing her on their wedding day ready to take their vows and become one.  But…yes, but God intervened.  There is a wonderful phrase used by Paul, “in the fullness of times.”  At one time, only one time in history would a man and woman be just, righteous, and able to handle the coming words from the Lord.  What were Joseph’s thoughts when he found out that Mary was pregnant?  Joseph was a righteous man, and could not in good conscience marry Mary, who would be thought unfaithful.  It seemed quite a dilemma.
      The Incarnation has always been a wonder to me.  I have pondered it over and over, from different aspects.  It continues to cause me to pause and think of the wonder of it all, the majesty and the mystery, the solemnness, and the integrity of Mary and Joseph along with their obedience.

               “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
                              –Matthew 1:19-20 (NKJV)

Joseph most likely knew the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (NKJV)  But really, Lord not us–was probably the thoughts that went through his mind after all of the other emotions.  Joseph didn’t depend or rely upon his emotions, he started to put a plan into place, one that would not come to completion.

               “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.”
                             –Matthew 1:24(NKJV)

       The obedience of Joseph was immediate.  He showed his true character and in humility and integrity went through with God’s plan that was not his own.  Imagine, he had to take on the responsibility of raising Jesus, God’s Son.  He was to care for Him, nurture and discipline Him, teach Him the Torah and also a trade.  We do not know all that happened in the life of Jesus as a boy.  It is dangerous to speculate, but He was placed in Joseph’s care and keeping.
       Joseph and Mary were remarkable in their faith, obedience, and submission to God.  It was Joseph who obeyed, when on the eighth day when Jesus was presented saying that His name was “Jesus.”  These characteristics were taught to Jesus as He grew in strength, wisdom, and stature.

Echoes From the Campfire

When a man escapes death…he may mature in a few hours as much as he normally would do in years.”
                    –Wayne D. Overholser  (Day of Judgment)

       “But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety.”

                    –Deuteronomy 12:10(NKJV)
———————————-
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)

       So many people, including believers, go through life living in fear.  They wander about wondering what is going to happen to them.  They worry about sickness, they worry about health issues, they worry about money, and they worry about dying.  Some even go so far as to have their bodies frozen so that, hopefully, somewhere in the future a cure will be found for whatever killed them and they can be brought back to life (hopefully no Christians would do this).

               “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
                              –Hebrews 9:27(NKJV)

       Death is inevitable (unless the Rapture occurs) for all of us.  However, we should not go through this life worrying about death.  If we are abiding in Christ then we are happy to be in this world, and therefore, should be more happy about the next world.  There will come a day of judgment and we should not fear that day.  The man or woman who is abiding in Christ has no fear of the judgment for they know that the judgment of their sins took place on Calvary.  We should not be ignorant of the judgment, but neither should be fear it.  In fact, we should be looking forward to the “blessed hope,” for we are children of God.  Lloyd-Jones writes, “Love and fear are incompatible; love drives out fear; love comes into the heart of a Christian and drives out fear; so we have not right to be fearful in this sense.”
       We walk through this world knowing that Christ is with us and in us.  We do not have to fear what men or the enemy can do to us.  The sting of death has been taken away; fear has been removed because of the love of Christ.  Through the trials of this life, the sorrows, the suffering, the pain and anguish–put away fear, trust wholly in the Lord, not only go to Him, but abide in Him.  It brings to mind the first couple of phrases of my favorite song:

               “Rock of Ages cleft for me,
                Let me hide myself in Thee…”
                       –Augustus Toplady

To live in this pagan world, rest in Jesus Christ.  Hide yourself in His love, and let it drive fear away.