Night closed down upon the canyon… He saw the fading red embers of his fire, the great looming pines, the black shadowy wall; he smelled the smoke and the tang of the forest; he heard the sound of the wind, the brawl of the brook, the wail of the coyotes.”
–Zane Grey (30,000 on the Hoof)
“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.”
–Psalm 125:2 (NKJV)
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The water from the rushing stream was so cold that it made my hands ache. Upon following the stream to its source we found that it came directly from a large snow bank and further up the trail was a lake. Annie and I had camped just below timberline on a level portion in the wind blown trees. One thing about camping at timberline is that there is always plenty of wood to be found lying around.
The nights up there were cold, but it was cozy sitting around the campfire drinking coffee and just being in one another’s company. The moonlight shown brightly upon the stream as it splashed over rocks and the stars, my…one could never begin to count them. In the comfort of our sleeping bags we could hear the sound of the cascading water and below us the cries of marmots.
When morning came the sun shone brightly from the east upon our little camp. I started the fire, put the coffee on while Annie prepared breakfast of eggs and bacon. It was a time early in our lives when things were new. Now it is something to recall, to reflect upon and think of the goodness of God.
“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?”
–Psalm 121:1 (NASB)
Does our help come from the mountains? Be careful, think through this before answering. For sure it is not to the mountain that we pray. It is not the mountains in which we put our trust. However, mountains represent the government of God and when we are in need we look toward His abode and wait for Him to come sweeping down.
“My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.”
–Psalm 121:2-3 (NASB)
I heard a powerful sermon last Sunday regarding the mountains and valleys of life. They are continually in our life, more often than not we are in the valley, but we do have those times in the mountains. Listen and ponder this: “God explains Himself on the mountain; He exposes Himself in the valley.” God takes us up on a mountain, as He did Moses, to learn of Him. But we live in the valley. We cannot bear the storms of the high country; the majesty, power, and magnificence of it would overwhelm us and as we learn of God we hear Him say, get back to the valley and use what I have taught you. Remember that Peter, James, and John wanted to build tents and stay on the mountain, but Jesus said that there was work to be done down in the valley.
Use the lessons of God on the mountain as you live and work in the valley. God does not change. He is God whether on the mountain or the valley or the desert or the sea. Consider the following lyrics:
“For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night.”
–Bill & Gloria Gaither
Author: Ira Paine
Echoes From the Campfire
Being one who is apt to accept the situation and take it from there, I considered.”
–Louis L’Amour (Lonely on the Mountain)
“Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!'”
–Haggai 1:5 (NKJV)
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One thing that is clearly seen in the Scriptures, and is on the lips of almost every prophet is the phrase, “Thus saith the Lord.” In these perilous times it is vital that we know what God is saying. We need to know the Word of God so we can stand on those words, “thus saith the Lord,” or as modern translations put it, “as the Lord has spoken” or “has said.” Do you know His Word well enough to be at rest in the turbulence of the times?
“‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’
–Louisa M.R. Stead
I find myself often sighing when I see the goings on in the world and in the nation. When I see the lies and the hatred of the media and people. One reason for the sigh is that I know in Whom I have placed my trust. My Lord will never fail me, and if worse comes to worst (death), I will be ushered into His presence. Another reason for the sigh is the grief and pity for those who live daily not knowing that Jesus is the answer to their problems and their needs.
“O, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood.
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.”
In the midst of death that is around me, I have life. In the midst of unrest, turmoil, and rioting, I have rest and peace. In the midst of all the hatred and bitterness, I have joy. When I get away from self and turn to Jesus and keep my eyes upon Him the world is so much brighter and the toils of life so much lighter.
“I’m so glad I learn’d to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve prov’d Him o’er and o’er.
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.”
Faith is not hard, it is simply trusting Jesus. It is relying upon Him–trusting Him. He will be there in the midst of our lives. Try Him, trust Him, lean upon Him, dare to rest in Him.
The other day, Annie and I were discussing the chorus. She thought that the last phrase should be “O for faith to trust Him more.” We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). I started to ponder that. Then I thought I might have caught a glimpse of what the author was saying. In the midst of the lies, give me grace to see and lean upon the Truth. In the midst of the hatred, give me the grace to love my enemies. In the midst of the bitterness, give me the grace to have peace and rejoice. Oh, give me the grace to not fall into the trap of the devil, but the “grace to trust Him more.”
Echoes From the Campfire
It was a place I could have stayed forever. How many times I have found such campsites! Place so beautiful it gave a man the wistfuls to see or to think back on. So many times we said, ‘We’ve got to come back some time!’ an’ knowin’ all the while we never would.”
–Louis L’Amour (Lonely on the Mountain)
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
–2 Peter 3:14 (NKJV)
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We’re sure having a nice time on vacation. It’s been fun staying with Shauna, Greg, and Garrett. Our glamping experience was really enjoyable. Glamping is not really camping; when a person glamps they are using an RV or in our case a cabin. We stayed on Little Pine Creek in north central Pennsylvania. While there Annie was able to see her “little” brother and his family, that includes the nephews. It was a grand time. Then last Saturday, her “big” brother and his wife came to visit. Sure was good, made the heart glad.
However, I was reminded several times during each visit that it could be the last time we see each other, at least on this side of heaven. There could be many reasons for that. One is that we are all getting up in age and could be called home. Accidents do occur and there is that thing called the virus out there. The devil would love for us to die, but that is not his call for it will not happen until the Lord gives the appointed time. On a positive note, we could all go up together in the Rapture.
In saying all of that I am reminded of family and friends. It’s important while we are still down here on earth to be about the Lord’s business and that includes making the most of the time we have with them. I have always thought that way; I have thought many times that this could be the last time we see one another. “Do this,” I think to myself, “for it could be the last time.”
All last week the words from Albert E. Brumley’s song kept coming to me.
Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey
And perhaps never meet anymore
Till we gather in Heaven’s bright city
Far away on that beautiful shore
If we never meet again this side of Heaven
As we struggle through this world and its strife
There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven
By the side of the river of life
Where the charming roses bloom forever
And where separations come no more
If we never meet again this side of Heaven
I will meet you on that beautiful shore
On this side we have to say goodbye from time to time. There are those instances when we intend to see a person again and for some reason, a move, death, or simply life gets in the way and we don’t bother to contact them or go see them. No matter what, we do need to remember to pray for them. Every morning, when I send out the Echo, I say a prayer that it will touch those who read it. I have tried to be faithful in sending them, and I wonder, at times, if the recipients get anything from them.
I have thought of the quotation by Louis L’Amour many, many times. So many places I would have liked to stay, so many places I would like to have revisited and never have, most likely never will. Friends, if we never meet again on this side, it is my prayer that you are ready to meet the Lord so that we can have that grand reunion on that “beautiful shore.”
The Saga of Miles Forrest
I had been to see Mateo everyday since I had arrived back home. Since Charlie had been over in Telluride dealing with an incident I would stop to see Mateo on my daily and nightly rounds. He was just now getting up and trying crutches. Doc Jones told him that it would be a slow process healing and that he would never walk normal again.
Luciana was holding up well and the two boys were helping out at home as they should be. Ever since Mateo had become my deputy they had taken on more of the house chores, the chopping of wood and such, that Mateo normally would have done. I had a talk with Judge Klaser about the city council firing Mateo after he was shot. He said there wasn’t much that could be done, but he gave a wry smile.
The morning after I got back I stormed in to see Foster. I jumped all over him and would have chewed on him good if Darnelle hadn’t been in the shop. There were other customers and I wanted them to hear what I was saying. It seemed that Foster just stuck his fingers in his ears and wouldn’t listen. I told him I had a mind to resign leaving the town unprotected and wondered how Elizabeth would take it when the bums and thugs began to have their own way with the town.
As I was leaving I heard Darnelle take over where I left off. She did the chewing. I heard her exclaim, “Uncle, how could you do such a thing to Mr. Ramirez? Especially after he was shot trying to put an end to a gunfight!” From there I took my rampage over to John Newsome.
I wasn’t able to attend the Sunday service, but Molly told me that the new preacher, Rev. Chapman, preached on the Good Samaritan and how it was the responsibility of the people to help others when they are down and out, not to throw them in the dump. She said that his eyes were on Foster and Newsome. This past Monday I found out that a lawyer came to see Foster and said that he was going to enjoy the opportunity to bring the lawsuit against him on behalf of Mateo. From what Darnelle told me later, Wilson’s eyes got wide and his cheeks bulged with anger but also fright. Especially when he reminded Foster that there was an election coming up in a month.
Doc was sitting with me in the diner having our usual morning coffee. From what Marta understood, Charlie was to be back on Saturday. That would free me up some to go looking for Upton Shaw. I had a score to settle with him.
“Let me go over this one more time,” I said referring to the gunfight. “Keim and another cowpoke from the ranch were comin’ out of Solly’s store when Shaw fired from over in the park.”
“I didn’t see it, but I heard the shots and ran out of my office,” stated Doc. “I saw Keim holding his side and the cowhand by the name of MacLean holding his arm. My attention went to Shaw who fired another shot hitting Keim, knocking him down. That’s when Mateo came running from around the corner hollering for Shaw to drop his gun.”
“Was that when Mateo was shot?”
“You got it. Upon hearing Mateo, he turned to fire at him, hitting him in the leg. Mateo fell, but was able to get off a shot hitting Shaw who then limped off into the park,” Doc informed me.
“No one went after Shaw?” I asked, finally taking a sip of my coffee.
Doc shook his head, “Mateo was down, Charlie was out of town, and you were on a train somewhere.”
“You know Shaw was hit?” I questioned.
“There was no doubt about it, but I don’t know how bad. Since he was limping my guess it was in the leg or thigh.”
I had heard this from Doc before, some from Molly and Marta as they stepped out from the diner after the first shots were fired. When they saw Mateo fall they rushed to his aid. The story was pretty much the same from Mateo, although he didn’t see the first shots fired. Solly confirmed most of what Doc said as did others I’d talked with.
“Where do you think Shaw went?” I asked Doc who had just requested a piece of pie.
“When I catch up with him, he’ll have plenty of charges against him, and a long time in prison to contemplate his actions,” I responded.
“Remember, vengeance is the Lord’s,” uttered Doc, cutting a piece of pie with his fork. I looked at it–apricot.
“Don’t worry, I don’t want to kill him, and I won’t unless absolutely necessary. He is used to doing things his own way, going his own way, having freedom to move around. My thinkin’ is that prison would be the greater punishment,” I replied. Then I hollered, “Molly, I’ll take a piece of that pie.”