Everytime we love, everytime we give, it’s Christmas.”
–Dale Evans Rogers
“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure–pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
–Luke 6:38 (NASB)
——————————–
Materialism! That’s all Christmas has become. It’s all been commercialized. Bah Humbug! Yes, there is that aspect of materialism and commercialism at Christmas. The businesses will try to sell their wares and the consumers, well, it is up to them whether or not to buy. One thing for sure, as Bob Welch points out, “Materialism shackles us to self. It diverts our attention from the things that matter most: our faith, our families, and our fundamental responsibility to help those less fortunate. It promises much but delivers little.” People end up loving things that cannot love back, or loving the money in which to buy things.
It is important to realize that you cannot purchase joy and happiness, and it is bought only for the moment. In fact, the buying can become a sort of idol. Some get caught up in the idea that they can purchase love. Buy the most expensive gift, the most gifts, or the best gifts. That will only produce a pseudo-love. A false love that will haunt throughout the life if it is not stopped. I knew of a man who in his business made $50,000 a week, but in the process lost the time with his family, which ended in divorce and his two kids on drugs and serving jail time. Which ended up costing more?
Then we have the other side–Scroogism, I’ll call it. The love of money so dear that it is not spent, but hoarded. Bah Humbug! Welch writes in his book about Dicken’s, “A Christmas Carol, “I wonder how many people, at the end of their lives, wind up regretting that they lived to work instead of worked to live.” Perhaps you’ve heard the little quip, “Nobody, on his deathbed, ever says, ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office.'”
Someone said that, “Joy is having all you want before unwrapping a thing.” We are to be proper stewards of the time, the resources, and yes, the money that God has given us. It is not to hoard, but is to be enjoyed within a proper setting and within proper bounds. Giving is not wrong, but making it the sole purpose, such as, “I’ll give for their love,” is definitely moving along the wrong track. To not give is entirely wrong as well. As Christians we are to be giving people as our heavenly Father is giving.
In other words, keep a proper balance. Enjoy the wonder of the season, just don’t let your mind get off the true Gift that the season is for. This wonderful season, this time of year should not come only in December but should be found in us all year long. Wilfred A. Peterson reminds us as he was reminded, “Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It’s lighting a fire inside the heart. Good will and joy play a vital part. It’s a higher thought and a greater plan. It’s the glorious dream in the soul of man.” Joy to the World! Let that be your theme. Don’t give with wrong motives, or overgive, but on the other hand do not be like Scrooge whom Dickens wrote, was as “Solitary as an oyster.”
Author: Ira Paine
Echoes From the Campfire
The only key out of that jail is truth.”
–Ron Schwab (Old Dogs)
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
–3 John 4 (NIV)
—————————–
In these last few verses from Proverbs 9, we see that Folly promises sweetness and delicacy but delivers death and hell. Bob Beasley says, “Folly is just like those she calls, and she’s heading ultimately to the same place. She is undisciplined and knows no shame, nor has she knowledge of the Holy One.”
13 — A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 — For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city.
15 — To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way:
16 — “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 — “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 — But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell. (NKJV)
The “clamorous,” which means “violently excited” or “bustling”. I like the way the NLT translates this verse. “The woman named Folly is loud and brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t even know it.” The path to wisdom, we have seen, is intentional. “We don’t drift into holiness, and we don’t drift into a life marked by wisdom.” (Mike Leake) We instead have the tendency to drift towards the banquet hall of Folly and as the Prodigal we must come to our senses. Dan Dick warns us, “When we allow ourselves to be distracted from our pursuit of God, the results can be disastrous. Sin, which leads us from our pursuit of the Lord, can pull us into situations that we don’t want to be in, but before we can change them we are trapped.” Therefore, be forewarned and listen to godly instruction.
The foolish woman doesn’t go out and seek, people come to her. Foolishness (Folly) runs a college, it sets forth what appears to be a marvelous feast; one that is appealing to the senses. “Turn in here,” might be better said, “Come in, ignorant people!” Or maybe better yet, “Come in dummy, and taste.” Remember what I wrote earlier in our study, “You can fix ignorance, but stupidity is fatal.” (Don Edwards) Her call is as the mirage of the desert, promising relief to the weary soul, promising refreshing, but it is phony and deceptive and its end is death.
“The power of sin lies in its pleasure” (Arnot). This foolish woman holds her hands out, promises secret enjoyment. Hmm, notice the folly offered by the serpent, the deceiver in the Garden. The serpent offered the deception and Eve fell for it. “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'” (Genesis 3:4-5, NKJV) Here, God is holding back on you. Here, eat the forbidden fruit; taste that it is good. However, that taste, that bite would lead to disaster, and the way to hell was now open.
The words of Lord Byron relate strongly to this passage:
“My days are in the yellow leaf,
The flowers and fruits of love are gone;
The worm, the canker, and the grief
are mine alone.”
Take time to compare and contrast the Way of Wisdom with the Way of Folly. Examine your walk. “Though she gets lots of attention, her appeal makes sense only to him who lacks understanding.” (NKJV Study Bible) Heed the words of the Lord.
—————————–
In these last few verses from Proverbs 9, we see that Folly promises sweetness and delicacy but delivers death and hell. Bob Beasley says, “Folly is just like those she calls, and she’s heading ultimately to the same place. She is undisciplined and knows no shame, nor has she knowledge of the Holy One.”
13 — A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 — For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city.
15 — To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way:
16 — “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 — “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 — But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell. (NKJV)
The “clamorous,” which means “violently excited” or “bustling”. I like the way the NLT translates this verse. “The woman named Folly is loud and brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t even know it.” The path to wisdom, we have seen, is intentional. “We don’t drift into holiness, and we don’t drift into a life marked by wisdom.” (Mike Leake) We instead have the tendency to drift towards the banquet hall of Folly and as the Prodigal we must come to our senses. Dan Dick warns us, “When we allow ourselves to be distracted from our pursuit of God, the results can be disastrous. Sin, which leads us from our pursuit of the Lord, can pull us into situations that we don’t want to be in, but before we can change them we are trapped.” Therefore, be forewarned and listen to godly instruction.
The foolish woman doesn’t go out and seek, people come to her. Foolishness (Folly) runs a college, it sets forth what appears to be a marvelous feast; one that is appealing to the senses. “Turn in here,” might be better said, “Come in, ignorant people!” Or maybe better yet, “Come in dummy, and taste.” Remember what I wrote earlier in our study, “You can fix ignorance, but stupidity is fatal.” (Don Edwards) Her call is as the mirage of the desert, promising relief to the weary soul, promising refreshing, but it is phony and deceptive and its end is death.
“The power of sin lies in its pleasure” (Arnot). This foolish woman holds her hands out, promises secret enjoyment. Hmm, notice the folly offered by the serpent, the deceiver in the Garden. The serpent offered the deception and Eve fell for it. “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'” (Genesis 3:4-5, NKJV) Here, God is holding back on you. Here, eat the forbidden fruit; taste that it is good. However, that taste, that bite would lead to disaster, and the way to hell was now open.
The words of Lord Byron relate strongly to this passage:
“My days are in the yellow leaf,
The flowers and fruits of love are gone;
The worm, the canker, and the grief
are mine alone.”
Take time to compare and contrast the Way of Wisdom with the Way of Folly. Examine your walk. “Though she gets lots of attention, her appeal makes sense only to him who lacks understanding.” (NKJV Study Bible) Heed the words of the Lord.
The Saga of Miles Forrest
The more words you speak, the less they mean. So why overdo it?” –Ecclesiastes 6:11 (NLT)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Dave Cook told me that you rode with McNelly down in Texas,” said McBride, matter-of-factly as he sipped his coffee. Emelda made us one of my favorite breakfasts, I call it huevos verde, but it is really green chili that she makes, not just a sauce. It’s right under biscuits and gravy as my favorite breakfast.
I had to wipe some of the chili from my moustache before answering him. “My, that was ages ago. It was not long after the war. I was driftin’ as many were, tryin’ to find a way to begin life over. Both my folks were murdered during the war,” I paused, took a sip. “Sort of a vendetta by some folks in Virginia as we went with West Virginia in her succession. They burned everything. I sold the land and came West.”
Molly went out to the store ordering goods to carry over until spring. It seemed almost a miracle the things they can put in cans to keep them from spoiling. I like that term “miracle,” though it really was not. It was using the good sense that the Lord gave us to progress. The shame of it was that man often didn’t use much good sense in his progress. I planned on going out on a hunt as soon as McBride left. Ol’ Grizz crossed over the Great Divide and he did quite a bit of our hunting for the diner. Of course, Mr. Thompson kept us supplied with beef, and once in a while Molly bought from Mike Fountain. She purchased her chickens from Joe Dixon, and Greta still supplied eggs though Hannah had passed on a couple of years ago.
“Well, if you’re half as good as Blasco and Cook say, you’ll make my job much easier,” remarked McBride as he used a tortilla to sop us the rest of the chili on his plate.
Giving a little cough, I replied, “You don’t always want to believe everything those two gentlemen tell you.”
McBride didn’t reply, but lifted his eyes to look over the rim of his cup as he drank. I couldn’t quite tell if there was a hint of a smile on his face.
“I don’t want you out in the weather, but as soon as possible start making your rounds in the district. Red Cower and Nick Jordan are Rangers for the Silverton and Ouray area. Sim Jurgenson will be joining them come spring. Introduce yourself to them. One of them will be with any major ore shipments going out of the area. Also Ab Loningr will be working over in Telluride. We call him “Slick” and when you meet him you’ll understand why. When he leaves with a shipment you might want to be in Telluride until he returns.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “It’s up to you to inform me if we need anyone over in the western district. I’ll be leaving tomorrow. If I’m not home for Christmas my wife will send me on down the road with Santy Claus,” he said with a laugh.
Molly came in at that time carrying two sacks of groceries followed by Jimmy Hopkins with a couple more. McBride jumped to his feet to relieve her of her burden and followed her into the kitchen with Jimmy in tow. I hadn’t paid any attention to the two men that followed them into the diner. When my eyes finally went their direction I found that one was directly to my left and the other in front of me a little to the right of where I was sitting. I felt a little foolish getting caught in this situation. Now what to do about it.
“I reckon that you two gents have something on your mind. You might as well get it out.”
I had to look at the man in front of me, and that made me vulnerable to the one on the left. If I looked to the left I would lose contact with the other man. The Greener was behind me leaning against the wall and I had a cup in my left hand. My right hand was on the table.
“You remember Lem Collins?” asked the man in front. “This is for him.”
As he pulled his gun, I fell backward, my hand going to my pistol, then…
Echoes From the Campfire
The mystery of Christmas therefore lays upon us all a debt and an obligation to the rest of men and to the whole created universe.”
–Thomas Merton
“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.”
–Psalm 62:5 (NKJV)
—————————–
I like the story that William J. Petersen wrote, “According to an old story, a traveler walked into a country store in the hills of Kentucky one wintry day in 1809 and asked, ‘Anything new happen around here lately?’ The proprietor almost laughed. ‘Around here, stranger? Nothing happens around here. A baby was born in the Lincoln cabin last night; that’s all.’ Who knows the eventual impact of a life?”
We all need to grasp hold of that truth. Who knows who your life might have influenced? Who knows what you might still do in the remaining years of your life? Simeon knew the value of one life. We see this in his hymn found in Luke 2.
“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: (25-28)
29 — ‘Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;
30 — For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 — Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 — A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.’
And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of man in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.'” (33-35, NKUV)
A song from his heart, and then a prophecy regarding the Child. Mary and Joseph had brought the baby Jesus to the Temple when He was eight days old, fulfilling the requirements of the law of Moses. Simeon took the Child, sang a little song, then gave a stunning prophecy. “He was standing at the turning point of all history, and he knew it.” (Petersen).
Simeon told it straight. Looking at Mary he said that Jesus would be the cause of whereby many will fall. Think of it! As Barclay said, “It is not so much God who judges a man; a man judges himself; and his judgment is his reaction to Jesus Christ.” There will be a great refusal as well as a great acceptance. The great choice of life: choose Jesus and enter into the Kingdom, reject Him and enter into condemnation. Jesus is the cause by which many will rise. It is Jesus who offers His hand to lift “a man out of the old life and into a new one, out of the sin into the goodness, out of the shame into the glory.” (Barclay) He will meet much opposition. “Towards Jesus there can be no neutrality.” (Barclay)
Mary was told that she would experience great sorrow as a result of her Son. Man’s heart would be revealed, and now the rest of history hangs in the balance of accepting Christ or rejecting Him. This season, celebrate the entry of Jesus into the world and all that it means. Know that your life can never be the same since that day so many years ago–acceptance or rejection, the choice is yours, mine, and everyone else’s. Because of Jesus, nothing else will ever remain the same. One more little side note, that I’m sure that Simeon realized. His death was now imminent. When he held the Child, I’m sure the truth of the Spirit came to him. But it was a gloomy time for Simeon, we see that in his song, and as G. Campbell Morgan states, “For Simeon to hold that baby in his arms was to have death revealed to him, not as dissolution, but as emancipation. The great and glorious fact that would emerge was that Christ has abolished death.”
“Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown
When thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room
For they holy nativity:
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for thee.”
–Emily E.S. Elliott