Coffee Percs

Warm coffee is very good for cold bones. We have had a long, icy ride before getting here.”

                    –Chris Bennett  (Insurrection)
 
Pard, git yurself in here; don’t yuh know it’s cold outside?  My mercy, shut the door!  I’ll be gettin’ the coffee poured in a second.  Made it shor enough strong this mornin’, figured yuh’d need it after ridin’ over in the cold.  Whew, we made it through one cold snap now it looks like we’re facin’ another couple of days.  Poor folk in some areas have been without power for quite a spell.  One can bundle up, but with our high-falutin’ lifestyles now it’s hard to be without electricity.  Folks with gas have it some better.  An’ to think I used to work out in that stuff…brrr, makes me shiver to think ’bout it.  Cold toes I can do without.
     That makes me think of those fools in Minneysota out in the cold doin’ their so-called peaceful protests.  An’ Pard, while I’m at it I don’t recall readin’ anywhere in our Constitution where folk have the right to protest or riot.  It states that they have the right to peaceful assembly.  I hear them politicians and the media huffin’ and puffin’ about the right to protest and all I can do is shake my head and their ignorance and stupidity.  Yuh know to be out in that cold makes me wonder if they not bein’ paid to do so.  I shor do like the new term for the media–they are “full-diaper media morons.”  Shor does fit, and if’n it fit wear it.
     Ahhh, that coffee is like gettin’ kicked by a mule, or should I say horse.  Yep, it’s kickin’ horse coffee.  It gives yuh a real jolt, guess that’s why it’s called “kickin'”.  Back to those “full-diaper media morons” I recall the words of the ol’ Apostle to Timothy, “But mark this:  There will be terrible times in the last days.”  He gives a whole list among it is, “lovers of themselves, proud, abusive, ungrateful, unholy, without self-control.”  Get the picture?  Now look at those doin’ all that “peaceful” protestin’ — my mercy, they would fit in with a Halloween party, but the shame of it is that’s the way they look an’ they are proud of it.  See, many of them are not only cold because of the weather, their innards are cold as well.  Nah, Pard, not their liver or gizzard, but their hearts.  They have a cold, cold, hard, bitter, evil, and hateful heart.  One that has been given over to their sinful desires.  Pard, yuh be watchin’ out for them.
     See, Pard, that’s one of the reasons why we get together for coffee.  Not only for the pleasurable atmosphere of my company, ha–but for the buildin’ up and exhortin’ of one another.  Yuh see, there’s a real purpose for me to be tellin’ yuh to check yur cinch an’ keep yur gun handy, an’ ride tall in the saddle.  Someone has to tow the line, uphold decency and honor, an’ yur one of the hombres to do it.
     Well, Pard, we did it.  We done emptied another pot.  Time for yuh to be gettin’ on down the trail.  Think I’ll do some readin’, prop my feet up in front of the stove, and contemplate the goodness of the Lord whilst the fools go at it.  Yuh take care, now yuh hear?
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

In this country, age didn’t necessarily determine seasoning.”
                    –Donald L. Robertson (Return of the Star)

       “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
                    –2 Peter 1:4 (NIV)
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Several months ago I wrote three devotions concerning what it means to work out your salvation.  Paul tells us emphatically, “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12, NIV)  If you remember we looked at three ways in which we do that:  Fulfill our duty as Christians; to be diligent in our walk without wavering; and to pick up our cross daily.  I want to mention another way; one that is shunned and that is found in 1 Peter 1:16, “Be holy, because I am holy.” (NIV)  There it is!  Straight forward, and though some of you may cry “legalism” it is the Word of God.  I agree with Dr. Lednicky when he says, “Much of the conversation today about ‘legalism’ is nothing more than the flesh seeking an acceptable method for approval and self-justification.”
     Holy!  Only God is holy, yet He tells us that we are to be holy.  How is that possible?  It takes effort, self-discipline, and a walk with the Lord.  It takes self-sacrifice, devotion, and being submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Lednicky states, “Your responsibility is to discipline your life to scriptural obedience.”  Today I want to use a hymn to help us in working on our “holy life.”  It was written by William Dunn Lonstaff

          Take time to be holy, Speak oft with thy Lord;
          Abide in Him always, And feed on His Word.
          Make friends of God’s children; Help those who are weak;
          Forgetting in nothing His blessings to seek.

          Take time to be holy, The world rushes on;
          Much time spend in secret With Jesus alone;
          By looking at Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be;
          Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

     Are you getting the picture?  If we are to be holy we must spend time with Jesus.  We must be diligent in reading, and not reading only, but studying His Word.  Yes, the world rushes, and tries to put undue pressure on us, therefore it is all the more imperative that we spend time with the Lord.  Instead of saying that “I am free and can do what I want” which is a selfish expression in itself we should be striving to be like Christ.  It is not how close to the edge, how close to the world I can be and still be a Christian; it should be how close can I get to Jesus and imitate Him.  Alistair Begg said, “We cannot love holiness without hating its opposite.”  How can we love the things of the world?  John writes, “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3, NIV).  John has already written, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15, NIV)  Then why make the world your friend.  Instead, we should:

          Take time to be holy, Let Him be thy guide,
          And run not before Him Whatever betide;
          In joy or in sorrow Still follow the Lord,
          And, looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word.

          Take time to be holy, Be calm in thy soul;
          Each though and each motive Beneath His control;
          Thus led by His Spirit To fountains of love,
          Thou soon shalt be fitted For service above.

     Legalism?  Bah, you mean freedom to sin.  Listen, we are to work out our salvation and I am afraid that too many are forgetting the “fear and trembling” part.  “What is too often defined as legalism is nothing more than carnality refusing to be crucified.” (Lednicky)  Pick up your cross, discipline yourself and know that, “Holiness means to be completely separate from all that is common” (Philip Comfort).  Friend, we must take time to be holy.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

God made us in His own image, so it’s up to us to make the most of our gifts and seek a right relationship with our holy creator.”
                    –John Deacon  (Conn)

       “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
                    –Romans 8:6 (NIV)
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     Two quick thoughts–one positive, the other a little on the negative side.  The positive–as I have written often, I try to never miss a sunrise.  There is something about a new day, the opportunities that lay within it besides the wondrous artistic work of the Holy Spirit.  There is a freshness, a wonder, and a comfort knowing that God is there with me through each moment of the day.  “Each morning provides an opportunity for renewed spiritual awakenings.  Every believer can come to Christ anew and find His presence refreshing.”  (Philip Comfort)  It is a time to reflect on the love of God for Jeremiah tells us, “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.” (Lamentations 3:23, NLT)
     The negative aspect is that my feeble brain struggles with poetry.  Always did, still does.  Oh I can handle the little Ogden Nash poem, “Fleas,” which states, “Adam, Had ’em,” but so much I really have to focus and concentrate when I read.  Once in a while, however, there is one that I can grasp and this one fits this morning‘s writing.  It was written around 1827 by John Keble.

                Mornin Hymn
New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove;
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life, and power, and thought.

New mercies, each returning day,
Hover around us while we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiven,
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.

If, on our daily course, our mind
Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.

The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we ought to ask;
Room to deny ourselves, a road
To bring us daily nearer to God.

Only, O Lord, in thy dear love
Fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us this and every day
To live more nearly as we pray.

     To waken each morning is a gift from God, yet do we see it that way?  We should devote and dedicate the day to the Lord and our lives to it.  All should be done to His glory, therefore, we should not dread the so-called mundane chores–those tasks of everyday life–but we can commune with God while carrying out our duties and be a good steward by doing them with excellence.  Dread doing the dishes, thank God that you have them and a sink and water to wash them.  Dread washing clothes, thank God that you have them to wear, and that you have the modern conveniences of cleaning them.  Get the picture?
     Let me close with these poignant words by Philip Comfort.  “As we awake each day, we can decide from the start to live for Christ, refusing to waste the day complaining or living for self-fulfillment.  By turning our heart and mind to Christ, we will not only gain a fresh knowledge of God but also mature in our faith and relationship with Him.”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

Whatever you do, tackle it like a man—do a man’s job and don’t be a slacker.”
                    –D.C. Adkisson  (The True and Unbiased Life of Elias Butler)

       “His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”
                    –Isaiah 56:10 (NKJV)
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You’ve worked with them–the person who won’t do his share of work, the one with all kinds of excuses.  I used to hate group work, for there would inevitably be the one who would sponge off the others earning a grade that they didn’t contribute to.  As an administrator there was nothing worse than a lazy teacher…  Today we’ll take a look at Proverbs 10:4-5.

          4 — He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
          5 — He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.  (NKJV)

          4 — A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
          5 — He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.  (ESV)

     We see first the idea of sloth or laziness which these versions call “slack.”  The fruits of a lazy person are poverty, and disgrace.  Bob Beasley says, “Sloth therefore becomes not just a material problem, but a moral one as well.”  The term for “slack” is literally “deceitful”; this is the person who “pretends to serve his Master.” (Charles Bridges)  The lazy, the slacker is a deceitful person.  He takes his wages, he signs up to do the work, but puts it off or does a haphazard job.  Beasley writes, “Laziness impoverishes in every way–materially, spiritually, physically, and mentally–and makes us unprepared for the challenges that lie ahead.”  This is a person who is wasting their trust.
     Look at the situation in our country today.  Much of it is due to the slacker, the lazy person who wants a handout rather than earning their keep.  They have the “give me” mentality, in fact, the new mayor of New York has said that the idea of “rugged individualism” must be done away with and we must become a community.  In other words, “give me.”  The theologian of earlier days, Bishop Hall said, “Our idle days are Satan’s busy days.”  Idleness leads to poverty, not just material but moral–see again what is happening in Minnesota.
     Dan Dick brings this idea, “There is nothing to be gained by resting on our laurels.  Hard work and integrity are important values to possess.  If we can learn to be disciplined in our daily work, then we can improve our spiritual discipline as well.  It is pleasing to God when we put forth our best efforts.  When we refuse to do our best, then we are failing to utilize the talents and gifts that God has given to us all.”  Satan wants to stop our work.  See there is great value in work.  We must be diligent–“decisive in all things, one who economises their times and means”. (Andrew Fausett)  We need to be like Nehemiah in our answer, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.  Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (6:3, NKJV)  Leave the work, become a slacker, lose the opportunity that God has given us, the training that is ours–that is what happens to the slacker.
     We must not be like the person that Jeremiah describes when he proclaims, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” (8:20, NKJV)  We realize that we are not saved by works, but because we are saved we are to do works.  J. Vernon McGee says, “Faith and laziness will not mingle.  A lazy Christian is not a Christian with real faith in God.”  Similar to what James tells us, “Thus faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.  But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’  Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (2:17-18, NKJV)  The Swiss theologian Zollikofer said, “The industrious man lives in the entire true intimate consciousness of himself.  He rejoices in his life, his faculties, his endowments, his time.”  In other words, he fulfills the purpose for which he is placed on earth.  He does not idle away the time.
     Our work for the week helps prepare us properly for the day of rest.  The Sabbath rest is sweeter and more rewarding after a week of diligent work.  Look at this another way, the work of the week–“life”–helps to prepare us properly for the time of rest–“eternity.”  Charles Bridges writes, “The wise gathering in this summer gives substance, vigour, high tone and power of usefulness in after-life!  How often may we trace poverty of mind, enervation of character, unprofitable habits, to sleep in this fruitful harvest!”