Coffee Percs

The first order of the day was getting his old, fire-blackened coffee pot filled with water and balanced on a rock at the edge of the flames.”

                     –Reg Quist  (The Truth of the Matter)
 
“Aye, Chihuahua!”  Oops,  reckon I have to drop that statement from my vocabulary, or so say the woke, pundit ignoramuses.  But come in Pard, sit yurself down and I’ll give yuh a spiel after I pour the coffee.  Hmmm, wonder if I can use the term “java.”  I imagine they’d really get on to me if they knew I referred to their coffee as “cino”.  Here yuh go, the last of my Crockett coffee.  
     There’s a movement out there amongst the wokers that are sayin’ that anyone who voted for Trump should be banned from Mexican, Indian, and Chinese restaurants and should stick to places like Cracker Barrel.  That’s the truth, don’t be gaspin’.  Oh, the coffee’s too hot.  Now, I don’t who these woker folk are, one is a journalist and I didn’t get his name, but one is some kind of “star,” and I might add in my way of thinkin’ not a very bright one, by the name of Jennifer Welch who made this statement according to Fox News.
     She must be a woker, ’cause this ol’ fence post ain’t never heard of her before.  But that statement shows just how much of an ignoramus she is.  What about the people in those ethnic groups who voted for him?   An’ as far as those “stars” who left the country, I would say, Adios! Que se vaya con viento fresco!  Pard, yuh would be proud of me, I looked it up, that means good riddance in Spanish.  Oh, those wokers will be all worked up now.  Fact is, what did they ever do for us?  They sure ‘nough took money and enough for them to move away.  Sure hope their visas are good wherever they went.  Maybe over to Germany where it is a crime to insult somebody in public.  Yep, a simple insult, like this ol’ fence post callin’ them wokers could be a crime.  My mercy, Pard, they even take their cell phones and computers away.  Whooeee, the Gestapo all over again.  Hate crimes, they’re a-callin’ it.  Why to read yur Bible in public could be dangerous then.
     Now, Pard, what I’m seein’ happen here is what should not have to be.  If folks would be law-abidin’, do things the proper way, most of the problems would be solved.  An’ maybe the worst of it all is for those ignoramuses of woke, liberal judges actin’ on an agenda rather than the law.  Pard, that just ain’t right.  See, that there goes to show yuh–yuh start waterin’ down coffee to make cinos, then yuh start makin’ the law what you want it to be rather than what the law is supposed to be.  Yuh see?  
     Well, if’n yuh don’t go ahead an’ don’t check yur cinch.  Fall on yur noggin’ a time or two, and I guarantee that yuh still won’t check it.  Reason bein’ yuh fall for those moronic liberal wokers!  That all bein’ said, I’ll be wishin’ yuh a buena semana.  An’ I don’t care what they are a-sayin’ I still hope that yuh go with God.
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

Life’s hard. You want to make it, you’re gonna need plenty of guts.”
                    –John Deacon  (Lobo–3)

       “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”
                    –Philippians 3:13(NIV)
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I want to throw a few thoughts your way this morning.  Let’s look first at Philippians 2:12, the second portion:  “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (NIV)  Do not get confused or worried regarding your “born again” experience.  We do not work for salvation, but after we are saved we do works; we continue to grow in grace.  With fear means to serve God with reverence and respect.  Now add the “trembling” meaning that we are to recognize who God is, His power, His infinite works.  We are to work for Him in the great service of the nature of the work He has given us to do.
     The Christian life is to be one of joy, so it is not fear in regard to anxiety or worry.  This life that He has given us is an adventure, good and bad, a “voyage of discovery” (Beggs).  Paul is also not referring to doing good works, but he is referring to how we respond to our salvation that is already ours in Christ.  “He is not telling us how to be saved people but how to live as saved people.  Once we understand that, we are in a position to act upon Paul’s instruction.” (Begg)
     Now how to do it?  There are many answers here and many books have been written about it and I’m sure many more will be.  I want to look at only one aspect of working out your salvation and that is the call to consistency.  We must call upon His name daily to live a consistent Christian life.  John writes, “You are my friends if you do what I command.” (15:14, NIV)  Simple, straightforward statement by our Lord.  Again, this is a study in itself–how do we live a consistent life?  
     One way we are consistent, and that includes being obedient, is to pick up our cross and follow Him.  Oh, me, a cross to bear?  Yes, absolutely.  “This is not an optional extra in the Christian life; it is intrinsic to it.  The daily cross–yes we are to pick it up and bear it daily.  It is not just a “feel like it event,” or once in a while, but a daily occurence.  Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, NIV)  Luke records it this way, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (9:23, NIV)
     I would ask that you think of those thoughts:  denying self, picking up your cross, following Jesus.  Take time to ponder them, and I’ll close with this from Lois A. Cheney–God Is No Fool.

           I asked some young people if they would give up and sacrifice themselves, if Christ were to call them, now, today.  They were serious awhile, fidgeted, and answered awkwardly that they were tied to their homes; their parents wouldn’t understand; and they felt this had to wait until they were older and could make their own decisions.
          I heard a young man being asked concerning his religious convictions.  He looked alternately embarrassed and irritated.  He answered with long detail of how active his wife was in the church; and how his kids went to Sunday school nearly every Sunday.  He was relieved when his questioner left him.  His eyes followed him with accusation.
          I heard a young woman being asked to dedicate a portion of her time to needed Christian works.  The eyebrows arched sharply and the replies came quickly in staccato rhythm.  In rapid succession she listed her civic duties; her responsibilities to her children; and she concluded with reference to her husband putting his foot down about her many, too many, activities.
          I heard an elderly person being asked to declare and dedicate his life in a special Christian manner.  He snorted and snapped that it was the younger people’s job.  He’d done his work in his day, and he’d earned a rest.
          The cross is a lonely place.  Even Christ didn’t pick it up quickly and easily.
          He waits for others to do it
          And He waits…
          And He waits…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

Most people are so starved for warmth that the slightest kindness fills them with joy.”
                    –John Deacon  (Lobo–2)

       “Beg the LORD to save you–all you who are humble, all you who uphold justice.  Walk humbly and do what is right.  Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.”
                    –Zephaniah 2:3 (NLT)
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It is important that you read John 13:1-17 carefully.  There is much in these verses but I want to concentrate on a couple of things.  The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was teaching, especially Peter.  Jesus started washing the disciples’ feet (which was the job of a slave), but Peter, thinking he was humble, refused.  Jesus said this to him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” (13:8, NKJV)  Then Peter blurts, “then wash me all over–give me a bath.”  Jesus answers him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” (13:10, NKJV)
     Jesus was probably smiling and shaking His head at the same time.  As William Barclay proclaims, “The wonderful thing about Jesus was that His nearness to God, so far from separating Him from men, brought Him nearer than ever to them.”  Peter was offended so easily, then turned around after the words of Jesus and wanted his whole body to be cleansed.  There it is, like so much of Scriptural practice–two extremes.  Jesus showed His humility by doing the job of a slave.  Note this, humility is not bowing down in defeat; it is recognizing a need and meeting that need without fanfare.  Charles Swindoll points out that “authentic humility is possible only for victorious men and women.”
     Some are like Peter, so proud they’re humble, and will not allow the Lord to wash their feet.  Others say that “foot-washing” should be a sacrament, an ordinance of the church, yet Jesus didn’t not say do this.  He was showing a principle of life.  Peter cries, “no, Lord,” then wants a bath.  He was already clean.  Clean by grace and know that bathing of the body you do yourself, you work out your own salvation, however, before you enter the tabernacle you wash your hands and feet, or as Barclay puts it when you enter the “household of faith.”
     One extreme–unclean; the other–give me a bath.  This is the symbolism of the laver in the tabernacle.  The priest went through purification rituals before they could offer the sacrifice upon the brazen altar, but then coming to the holy place, in that short walk, their hands and feet would become contaminated and they must wash them again before entering.  Swindoll says, “While the believer has been cleansed of sin in the legal sense–past, present, and future sins will not be counted against him or her in eternity–the believer will continually struggle to remain clean experientially before entering eternity.”  
     Grace–salvation–has already happened, the believer is clean.  But life happens!  In this journey of faith we sin, we do things that are improper; we are unfaithful.  Yet we do not need a bath, we do not need a new beginning again, however, Krummacher points out, “The man’s walk is polluted; his feet, with which he comes in contact with the earth, are defiled.”  He needs only to have his feet and hands washed, for he is already clean.  Life is a fight, “lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil” is something we are faced with everyday.  F.W. Krummacher states, “Where a real spiritual life exists, there is also constant activity, unceasing striving against sin, repeated humiliation before God, and renewed experience of His favor.”  We repent by washing our hands and feet, and this is done quite regularly.
     Oh, we should have foot-washing services.  No.  Listen, humility isn’t announced; it isn’t calling attention to the act of humility except in Jesus’ case where He was teaching a lesson.  How we wash feet can vary.  It can be a random act of kindness.  I remember when I was in the military I would get to feeling dirty from all the cussing and stories and crudeness around men, then a brother in Christ would come by (sent by the Holy Spirit), smile and say, “how are you doing, brother?”  I just had my feet washed; I felt clean again.  I didn’t need a bath, just a cleaning of the extremities.  That is one reason we need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit–you might be washing someone’s feet.  It is not announcing that we are having a special foot-washing service.  I had this happen to me one time and fortunately I was not able to participate (whew), but I did talk to the person in charge later.  I told him that if he really wanted to show humility for him to sleep in the barracks with the boys.  What he actually was doing was showing how proud he was that he was humble enough to wash feet, but then he couldn’t bring himself to sleep with the guys.  Let me also say that the joy of humility is through doing.
     A couple more thoughts for this morning.  Wash your hands and feet regularly, there is a danger of hiding or underestimating any act of unfaithfulness that may have been committed.  Get it washed off.  Look one more time at verse 10, the last phrase.  Remember Jesus washed all twelve of the disciples’ feet, that would include Judas.  He makes a slight comment that they were completely clean–“but not all of you.”  Judas was shown a great act of humility by the Lord.  Sometimes, we do acts of kindness to those who we might think are unworthy of such.  Keep a smile on your face, be ready to help someone who is in need.  I always like what Francis Schaeffer said, “True spirituality covers all of reality.”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

It was a person’s actions that defined them. It was up to them to choose what kind of man they’d be; where to draw the line and how to conduct themselves, so that their integrity shone through.”

                    –Andrew Weston  (Trouble on the Smoky Hill Trail)

       “Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it.”
                    –James 1:22 (CEV)
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Until we die we will be influenced by our parent’s teaching, or a parent-figure.  Hopefully, it is for good.  Some may run from it and by doing so are being influenced though in a negative way.  Read and ponder these verses from Proverbs 6 carefully; keep in mind as you read the concept of your heavenly Father giving you His instructions.

          20 — My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.
          21 — Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck.
          23 — When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you.
          24 — For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”  (NKJV)

     Bob Beasley tells us that “God’s lessons need to be fixed in the learner’s heart if they are to be effective.  We must internalize them by contemplation and memorization, and then apply them to all the situations we encounter in our daily walk.”  I might also add that we are to be learning throughout life.  New lessons, new training that fit current life experiences.  Training is continuous throughout life.
     Learning, training, discipline–they help us avoid the pitfalls of sin.  They keep us alert and help us make wise decisions. They warn us of dangers along the pathway of life.  We need to incorporate God’s Word into every aspect of our lives to help guide us through the treachery and deceitfulness of sin that is offered to us by the world.  When we internalize, practice and obey God’s truth, we can more readily recognize the lies of the enemy.  
     “The Word of God in the mind and heart is like a guide who leads us on the safe path and protects us from attacks.  It’s also like a friend who talks to us and counsels us along the way.” (Warren Wiersbe)  The more of the Word that is in us, the more easily the Holy Spirit can aid us for He acts upon the Word that is in us.  Wiersbe also points out the negative, “If the Word is not in us there is a gradual erosion of the spiritual life, from light to darkness, and with this erosion comes a deterioration of Christian character.”
     The Word of God is like a lamp.  A light that cannot be carried with us “will be useless to a man who has to find his way home in the dark on an uneven road” (J.L. Flores).  This light comes from the Holy Spirit using the Word of God in our lives.  Wherever we go we are to walk in the light of His Word.  It reminds me of the song that was learned back in my early Sunday School days as a child, “”While walking in the light of God, I sweet communion find; I press with holy vigor on, And leave the world behind” (J.W. VanDe Venter).  This light comes from a source outside ourselves; it comes from the Holy Spirit using the Word of God in our lives.  Wherever we go we are to walk in the light of His Word!
     Look again at verses 22 and 23:

          22 — When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.
          23 — For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.  (ESV)

Notice, there is a lamp, a light to help guide our way.  Dan Dick writes, “As we grow in our Christian lives, the commandments and laws of God are like lamplight to our eyes.  They guide us and warm us, and fill us with that little something extra which makes our travel easy.”  Get in the practice of not only speaking to God in conversational prayer, but also focusing your mind on the concepts and precepts of God’s Word.  Let them filter through the issues, confrontations, battles, storms, and everyday experiences that come your way each day.
     A true warrior lives his training!  Get this!  Read these verses again.  This instruction “is a keeper, a guide, and a lamp to those only who keep it.” (Flores)  It is one thing to know and another to put what you know into practice.  We must always be learning, in training, and therefore, always putting it into practice and action.