Well, when the time comes that He wants to call me home, I’m willin’ to go. I leave things to Him and don’t let worry mess with my sleep.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Way of the Coyote)
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.”
–Hebrews 11:13-14(NKJV)
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There are two places I like to do my morning devotions and reading. The first is a rocker in the living room; it sits by a little stove and in front of a window that faces the east. This is my “reading station #1” The other place is on the back deck. We have a little table and I enjoy sitting there while reading, my chair there faces east. I cannot see the sun on the horizon as it rises, but soon it is high and the rays shine through the trees.
The other day I was sitting at station #1 and some thoughts meandered through my mind.
“I will meet you in the morning,
Just inside the Eastern Gate;
Then be ready, faithful pilgrim,
Lest with you it be too late.
I will meet you, I will meet you
Just inside the Eastern Gate over there;
I will meet you, I will meet you,
I will meet you in the morning over there.”
–Isaiah G. Martin
“Signs of the time are everywhere
There’s a brand new feeling in the air,
Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky
Lift us your head redemption draweth nigh.”
–Gordon Jensen
Then I thought of the verse in Matthew, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (24:27, NKJV)
The eastern skies, the Eastern Gate are all related to the coming of the Lord. We may use them metaphorically and symbolically, but they are more than that. It was through the Eastern Gate that Jesus went from the Mount of Olives and entered Jerusalem. “The Eastern Gate was sealed shut in AD 1540-41 by order of Suleiman the Magnificent, a sultan of the Ottoman Empire. It’s believed that the reason for the closing of the Eastern Gate was to prevent the Jewish Messiah from gaining entrance to Jerusalem. Jewish tradition states that the Messiah will pass through the Eastern Gate when He comes to rule. The Muslim Suleiman was attempting to thwart the Messiah’s plans with sixteen feet of cement.” (GotQuestions)
There is much bickering and argument among scholars as to the gate, which one was the original, and other things that keep things astir. However, there is much written, especially in Ezekiel about the Eastern Gate and Zechariah also mentions it. In all of this the key thought is that we are to be looking for the coming of the Lord. It seems that so many Christians are becoming bound to the land. They are not homesick for heaven, their eternal home. Perhaps it is because they have not seen it, but more likely they don’t want to leave “Sodom.” They are satisfied here, becoming complacent and comfortable. Roots have been put down instead of a tent that is moveable. No longer do they consider themselves pilgrims but residents of earth.
As for me, every morning when I sit and look at the eastern skies and see the sun shine through I will look for the coming of the Lord. Listen, Christians, it is time to unshackle yourself from this old earth and begin to look up, stay alert, and be ready.
“Keep your lamps all trimmed and burning;
For the Bridegroom watch and wait;
He’ll be with us at the meeting
Just inside the Eastern Gate.”
–Isaiah G. Martin
Author: Ira Paine
The Saga of Miles Forrest
Charlie and I arrived in Silverton amongst a stir in the crowd. There were several folk gathered at the station and on up the street to the Wells Fargo office. It was the first time I had ever seen people line up for a parade of gold bullion going down the street.
We were welcomed as we stepped off the train by Ken Maxwell, a Secret Service Agent. He was tall and very thin, which made him look like a stringbean especially as he was topped off with a derby. Walking down the street to the Wells Fargo office he filled us in on the protocol of the shipment.
These people had seen gold shipped out, but I could see what all the higgledy-piggledy was about for there was a contingent of soldiers from the relatively new Fort Crawford over in Montrose. Six of them were standing guard outside the office. As we approached one brought his rifle to bear until Agent Maxwell spoke with him. Inside the office I nodded at Morgan Appleby and Dick Fletcher, both Wells Fargo men that I knew, a new man looked up when he saw them wave.
There were six more guards in the office posted in the four corners and two by the safe. Maxwell took me to the desk to introduce me to the agent in charge.
“I should have known it would be someone like you,” I said in disgust. “Always sittin’ down on the job if I remember right.”
The man jerked up, anger showing in his features, then a genuine smile broke forth through his moustache. “Miles Forrest!” he exclaimed. “I would have thought you’d be pushing up daisies by now.” He reached forth his hand to shake mine. It was Josh Gibbons, an agent I worked with in the short spell I was in the Secret Services employ.
“Ah, you two know each other?” asked Maxwell.
“No!” exclaimed Gibbons, “I always allow strangers to insult me.” He then shifted his attention to a man at the other desk. “This is Lt. Oliver Rosecrans Evanston; he’s in charge of the army patrol. Lieutenant Evanston, I want you to meet Deputy U.S. Marshal Miles Forrest.”
I reached out my hand, but he didn’t bother to stand, nor bother to take mine. Reckon they don’t teach manners and proper etiquette to officers anymore. “Lieutenant,” I gave a nod since he didn’t take my hand and I pointed to Charlie. “This here is Sheriff of the county, Charlie Gold. If we can be of help…”
I didn’t finish, as he abruptly interrupted. “We have it all under control!”
Looking over at Gibbons, I shrugged as if to say, “is he for real?”
“Miles, we have one more agent who is currently out to lunch. I’ll introduce him when he gets back; fellow by the name of Troy Linton. Have a seat and I’ll fill you in on the plan.”
Glancing at the Lieutenant I noticed that he had propped his feet up on the desk and was leaning back, very nonchalant acting as if he were above shipping gold to the treasury in the capitol.
After I sat, I nodded with my head toward the lieutenant. “Kinda brash for a youngster, ain’t he?”
“He thinks he’s another Custer,” remarked Gibbons.
Looking at the man again, “Well, Josh, I can tell you he’s no Custer. I served with the General, and sure he was arrogant, up to a point, but he was also courteous and very appreciative of his troops. Reckon he’s more like his name sake.”
Gibbons gave a shrug as if to say that’s enough about him then got down to business. “Here’s the plan. It’s no big secret, I wish it was, but these troops will stay with the train until we reach Las Animas where they will be replaced by troops from Fort Lyons. They will then travel with us to Kansas City.” He gave a smile and wiped down his chin. “You’ll be leaving us there.”
“Why bring Sheriff Gold up here? He has no jurisdiction outside the county,” I inquired.
Gibbons looked over at Charlie, “No meaning to slight him, but I wanted it done mainly as a course of protocol. I’ve worked with law officers enough over the years that to trample on some’s jurisdiction they can get riled. The sheriff will not be going with us but I wanted to include him in the plan.”
Charlie nodded with a smile. I knew he wasn’t hankering to travel all the way to Kansas City, in fact, neither was I but it was part of my job. I liked knowing that Josh Gibbons was in charge of the operation.
“We have two hours before the turn around is complete, and the cars placed appropriately,” Gibbons began again. “I couldn’t say much about the Silverton-Durango train, but was able to get the passenger cars behind the baggage car. From Durango to Las Animas there will be only one passenger car. I had hoped to have none with us, but can’t stop the power of the mighty railroad completely.”
“You fellows hungry?” asked Gibbons. “No, Molly prepared us a lunch which we ate on the way up. I could use a cup of coffee though, if there’s some made.” I knew there would be or Appleby and Fletcher were falling down on the job.
“Gilcrist!” hollered Gibbons and the new Wells Fargo man lifted his head. “Would you be so kind to bring the three of us some coffee!” it was not a question.
He had just sat the coffee down on the desk when in through the door walked a man dressed similar to Agent Maxwell and Gibbons. They just needed to do something about dressing more appropriately. What they were wearing might be fine back in Philadelphia or Boston, but they were a dead giveaway in Colorado.
I turned my head to see the man then frowned. I peered over at Charlie to see his expression. His was frowning, his forehead all wrinkled up.
Gibbons waved him over to the desk. “Marshal Forrest, Sheriff Gold, this is our other agent Troy Linton…
Echoes From the Campfire
I just don’t like to see a man shirk and hide when he has every right to walk with pride.”
–Luke Short (First Campaign)
“And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”
–1 Samuel 9:6 (NKJV)
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The first part of Psalm 45 spoke of the groom, this week we shall look at the bride. The bride is supposed to be the focal point of the wedding, at least in modern times. Even in a royal wedding, such as this is, the bride is who everyone talks about and gazes upon.
Upon reading this portion of Psalm 45, you need to read it with the idea of a royal wedding, plus the grand wedding of the Groom–Jesus Christ, and His bride–the Church.
10 – Listen, daughter, pay attention and consider: forget your people and your father’s house,
11 – and the king will desire your beauty. Bow down to him, for he is your lord.
12 – The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people, will seek your favor with gifts.
13 – In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious, her clothing embroidered with gold.
14 – In colorful garments she is led to the king; after her, the virgins, her companions, are brought to you.
15 – They are led in with gladness and rejoicing; they enter the king’s palace.
16 – Your sons will succeed your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.
17 – I will cause your name to be remembered for all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever. (HCSB)
G. Campbell Morgan said this about Psalm 45, “Nowhere in the Old Testament writing do we find a nearer approach to the disclosure of the secret of the Church than in this psalm.” The “Bride” is led into the presence of the King with “a joyful, enthusiastic procession” (NLT) to stand before Him, pure, clean, and holy.
How can the Bride stand before such a stunning groom? How shall she respond?
1) There is a break with the past (vs 10). Marriage does involve transfer of loyalty and affection.
2) There must be a genuine respect (vs 11). One can marry from false motives–money, power, security. When a couple truly love each other, they do everything possible to make honor and servanthood a two-way street.
3) There is pride in belonging (vs 12). A bride not only marries the groom, but all he represents.
4) There is a delightful appearance (vs 13-15). The bride is lovely. Not all can dress lavishly and adorn themselves with expensive clothing, but all can enter their husband’s presence with “joy and gladness.”
5) From wife to mother (vs 16-17). Smart is the bride who picks not only a good husband, but a good father; likewise the groom chooses not only the woman he loves, but also a great mother to his children. (George O. Wood)
Perhaps one of the hardest things to do is to move away from parents. I know of so many who must stay where the were raised. They are bound to their homeland. This is utterly wrong if they are a true servant of the Lord. We must go where He sends us. “When we commit ourself to God, it’s like a marriage. We need to forsake all others… Make the Lord the center of your attention and loyalty.” (William Petersen)
Think back to your wedding. I can remember mine and then the subsequent separation of my wife from all she knew. She put her trust in me (and the Lord) and we moved 900 miles from her home, and 900 miles from mine. We had to depend upon each other and the Lord. One more thing in contemplating this Psalm. Think of how the Lord delights in His Bride. Think of how much He then delights in us.
“The Bride eyes, not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace,
Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.”
–Anne Ross Cousin
Coffee Percs
They came into the living room, declining the coffee I offered. When a person does that, a warning flag goes up in my mind. Who turns down a cup of coffee?”
–D.C. Adkisson (Mal de Ojo)
Come in, Pard. I’ll bring yuh a cup sooner than yuh can place yur spurs under the table. Careful there, don’t leave any scratches for the missus to find.
Ahhh, now that’s good coffee, if’n I do have to say so myself. Yuh look right well this mornin’ so yuh must be takin’ care of yurself, or somebody is. I’m doin’ well, I’ve stayed away from that vicious pack of wolves that snarl an’ bare their teeth at passer-bys–the media.
Pard, do yuh remember as a kid, the carnival would come to town, and I’d ride the tilt-o-whirl? It’d jerk yuh one way, then spin yuh some, then jerk another. It was a fun ride. That’s the way I see things ’bout now. Bein’ jerked one way, then another, then spun some. Let me tell yuh one thing: I wrote somethin’ on a page dedicated to Louis L’Amour about gettin’ on with life an’ facin’ up to troubles. A woman replied, “but my parents didn’t face the complexities that I do.” Oh, boo-hoo. Let’s see, the Depression, Dust Bowl, World War II, the Cold War. If she was talkin’ ’bout the corona all they faced was tuberculosis, polio, flu. Yuh get my drift, Pard. She must have been a sorry sort. What she needed was a good dose of the Holy Ghost. He sure is One to ride the river with!
Been ponderin’ some of the old trails. Thinkin’ ’bout campsites along the trail of life. Drinkin’ coffee, speakin’ of which, let me fill yur cup again. I can remember makin’ camp a few times in the midst of a downpour, but mostly remember some wonderful sunrises and sunsets. The Lord sure has been with me. Yuh know, I’m a-thinkin’ there are plenty of spiritual “campsites” we make along the way as well. Goin’ to ponder that some more.
Get up in yur saddle, Pard, and sit tall. There’s plenty of thievin’, sneakin’ scoundrels out there so yuh be ware of them. Stand yur ground, read yur Bible, keep yur gun handy, and be checkin’ yur cinch before mountin’.