I declared war on Satan a long time ago and it’s his work you’re about tonight.”
–Elmer Kelton (Badger Boy)
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.”
–Ephesians 2:1-2 (NKJV)
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“Three things led to death in the jungles of Vietnam,” was told me by several combat veterans of that war. These three things were: complacency, curiosity, and compromise. The same is true of the battle against Satan and his evil followers. The Book of Judges touches on each of those deadly pitfalls, but I want to take a minute and look at compromise. Once a person begins to compromise it is hard for them to stop.
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
–Judges 21:25(NKJV)
Why do we see chaos, confusion, horror, and terror along the streets of America? One reason is that there is no “King” in America. Taken and pushed aside is God. A forgotten relic of days gone by. Oh, He might have been important once; yes, He might have helped us in times of trouble in the past, but now; now we are more enlightened and know what to do… And look where it has gotten us when we began to do things that were right in the eyes of man.
Over and over God had to send someone to help Israel when they began to lower their standards and compromised with the people around them. God always presents an opportunity for repentance and revival, but people have to be ready to accept and stopped compromising. Gary Inrig wrote, “Unless we grab hold of the great principles of spiritual living…we may find ourselves to be spiritual dropouts, mere spectators at the climax of the invisible war between God and Satan or, even worse, spiritual casualties.”
The shootings that are seeming to become part of the norm, are caused by moral collapse. When a large portion of the nation clamors that they have the right to murder unborn infants, how can they be appalled by someone else being murdered? When man turns away from God’s law, how can they know what is right? Inrig continues, “Much more than I want to admit, many Christians live, act, and choose as if God’s Word had never been written.” People are doing right in their own eyes!
Drag queens in libraries and schools of elementary children are applauded. The gay lifestyle is accepted and they flaunt their lifestyle and dare others to contradict them, the gender confusion and I could go on. And we wonder why things happen in America? Moral collapse–people doing right in their own eyes. To turn our backs upon God eventually will bring disaster.
We are fighting those who do not want to obey the laws of the law (i.e., the Constitution), but demand that sharia law should be their law. I often wonder why those come to the U.S. for freedom from the lives they were living in other countries and then demand to live under the laws of the country they came from. Hmmm, one thing for sure it is doing right in their own eyes.
God does not allow compromise. You cannot read either the Old or the New Testaments and realize that. Come out from among them, separate yourselves, having nothing to do with the world, make no covenant with them… What have we done? The opposite, in the name of tolerance and political correctness we have compromised. A clever, evil scheme by the devil that is centuries old.
We must be committed to serving a sovereign God. One that declared that compromise with heathen and pagan people will not be allowed. There can be no covenant with the enemy for the enemy was still the enemy. There is much danger in compromise, in doing things that are right in your own eyes. Heed the words of God in Exodus 23:32-33 (NKJV).
“You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”
Author: Ira Paine
The Saga of Miles Forrest
I leaned back against several bags of pintos that were being shipped up to Silverton. It was fairly comfortable plus it gave some warmth as there was not a stove in this baggage car. Even though it was the end of summer, it was quite cool riding up the canyon, especially when the train moved into the shadows.
My mind was a blur of activity, if that’s possible. I always thought of leaving Molly behind. She was quite capable of taking care of herself, but with that last robbery and her kidnapping I was bothered, plus there was still the situation with Marta. She said she was alright, but I still wondered. Then I thought of Clevenger. He must be incompetent; not knowing how much money was taken and hiding in his office during the holdup.
Where would be places that a holdup could occur? There were a few places along the trip that made for a feasible spot. The problem the robbers would have would be to find an escape route. Ore and bullion being sent out from the mines were normally left alone for this reason. Wagons would be needed to haul it away, but payrolls were another issue. Some of the mines paid off with gold from the mine itself, but the larger ones paid in cash. The banks in Silverton normally didn’t keep that much money around.
The attack could come at Rockwood, just before entering the Animas Canyon; that would make it about sixteen miles from Durango. There were several places where the train could be boarded on the way up, but it would either have to happen at the lower portion or just before arriving in Silverton. If an attack came I reckoned it would happen just a few miles south of Silverton. That would give them the option of traveling to different areas: to the northeast toward Lake City or northwest over the pass to Telluride.
“Lord, give me wisdom,” I prayed silently.
There were two baggagemen in the car with me plus two other guards. We would be met in Silverton by guards from the mines. I didn’t think there would be a problem after the payroll reached Silverton. No, if there was to be an attack it would happen on the way.
The train continued chugging up alongside the river up through the canyon, stopping every so often for water on the way. It saved time, as it would take an extra day to ride over the passes, but I sure missed riding the wild country and through the mountains. I needed to get Hawk out and ride up here again sometime.
With no windows in the car I had no idea exactly where we were. I figured we must be moving out of the canyon into the valley where Silverton was located. I was just getting ready to stand and stretch my legs when I noticed the slowing down of the train. “Here it comes,” I thought. I checked the Greener, my pistol.
“Get ready,” I ordered the guards. “I think we’ll soon be having company.”
The train had come to a complete stop, but nothing happened.
“Maybe it’s just some kinda mechanical problem,” suggested a guard named Baxter.
Fifteen minutes went by, nothing. Then…the hammering on the door. “Don’t shoot unless I do,” I ordered the two guards.
I nodded to the two baggage men to open the door. “Then stand out of the way.”
As the door opened the sight that greeted my eyes were two women dressed in their finery. Upon it being opened completely I counted six women held at gunpoint. Four masked men held them hostage. They wore only bandanas across their face, so I scrutinized everything I could about their eyes and hair color.
One man seemed a bit startled to see me there. “Marshal, we meet again. I don’t suppose you have your dear lady hidden there with the baggage.”
It was the same man in the diner who kidnapped Molly. From my posters I didn’t think this was Fooy. “Always hide behind women?” I asked with scorn.
The man snorted. “Well, it helps keep the shooting down to a minimum with no one being hurt. Now, if you don’t mind open the vault.”
“I don’t have the combination. That will be those at Silverton,” I informed him.
There was a sigh from another man as he climbed up in the car. Reaching inside his jacket he removed a stick of dynamite placing it next to the hinges of the large safe.
“Won’t that blow the money to smithereens?” I inquired.
Ignoring me, he lit the fuse then jumped off the car. Those of us in the car tried to jump out before the explosion took place. I had no time, I fell behind the several hundred pounds of beans I had been laying on and hunkered down. The man must have know what he was doing for when the explosion took place there was little damage done except to the safe, and the floor beneath and around it.
The man jumped back into the car, prying open the door. Another outlaw joined him and they began to pulled out bags of payroll money. I could hear the sound of a wagon approaching and the men began pitching the bags into the back of the wagon while the other two men kept guard over us. My eyes kept going back to the man who had kidnapped Molly.
The sound startled all of us. Some of the women screamed, we all jumped as a shrill whistle emerged from the engine followed by a gunshot. I started to lift the shotgun when the man hollered, “Don’t!” putting his pistol to the back of the head of a young woman who was quaking and crying in his grasp.
There was a quickening of activity among the outlaws. Three women were chosen to keep the men company as they left. “Marshal, we still have a date with destiny,” assured the man.
Echoes From the Campfire
Once you find the life you were meant to lead, it sure feels good. And you better stick with it.”
–C. Wayne Winkle (Judd’s Journey)
“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
–Matthew 10:39 (NKJV)
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Verse 8, caught my attention right off. Let’s put a New Testament slant on it. Do you love to attend church? Do you enjoy the word being preached to your soul, or is it a drudgery to go? Or take it one step further; since our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit – how well do we take care of it? Is it tarnished, does graffiti adorn its walls, is it defiled by the things you take, eat, drink, or watch? Hmmm…
Let’s take a look at verse 6-12 of Psalm 26 (HCSB). It’s such a powerful, insightful chapter in the Word of God.
6 – I wash my hands in innocence and go around Your altar, Lord,
7 – raising my voice in thanksgiving and telling about Your wonderful works.
8 – Lord, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides.
9 – Do not destroy me along with sinners, or my life along with men of bloodshed
10 – in whose hands are evil schemes and whose right hands are filled with bribes.
11 – But I live with integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.
12 – My foot stands on level ground; I will praise the Lord in the assemblies.
Do we tend to take the Lord for granted? Here is David, he cannot be satisfied with serving God in private for he must go to the sanctuary directly to the altar to praise the Lord. The altar–oh my, how many churches still have altars? In fact, there is a clamor from the more enlightened, sophisticated crowd that altars are archaic, and only belong in the Old Testament.
“I love thy Church, O God! Her walls before thee stand,
Dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand.
For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.”
–Timothy Dwight
Again we see the similarity of Job and David. Even in the midst of evil schemes and the wickedness of the world they both proclaim they live with integrity. Another similarity, even though they say they are individuals of integrity, they both understand the need for redemption. They/we all need the grace of God to be poured out upon us.
True worship builds confidence, resolve, and trust that will help us get through the snares of evil. True worship helps us maintain our integrity. True worship shows our humility. We need to worship with passion, not foolishness.
Coffee Percs
Outside he had coffee and bacon ready, so we took the time to contemplate what had all happened.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Cain)
Glad yuh stopped by Pardner, sorry I slept in a bit. Bein’ fightin’ the gout and finally got some medicine and a good night’s sleep. I won’t say the bed hasn’t felt better, but it sure was a comfort last night. Drink up, the coffee’s fine, I guarantee, unless you go to addin’ water to it. I checked it out and the spoon stood straight up in it.
Been ponderin’ somethin’, but before I get to that one of my ol’ pards, Parson Tom, almost went to see his Maker this past week. No, of course not, he had checked his cinch, he was sick but kept puttin’ it off and finally they admitted him to one of them there hospitals. I remember, hearin’ the ol’ Parson preach, why he could get out a rip-roain’ sermon if anybody could. He’s feelin’ a mite better now.
Now that got me to ponderin’; we only get through this life once. No I don’t think I’ll be reincarnated as a goat. There’s just this here life the Lord gave us and we should be makin’ the best of it for Him. From time-to-time the good Lord allows people to come into our lives when we need them. Most likely yuh don’t have the same friends now, yuh did when yuh graduated from high school. It’s good to have memories of old friends, but what I’m gettin’ at is to make sure yuh appreciate the ones yuh have now. There’s no tellin’ when yuh might be called to the Father’s house, but then agin, if the trumpet were to sound, my pards and I would all go up together. Now, that’s somethin’ else to be ponderin’, especially in this day in which we live.
Well, yuh must have liked the coffee this mornin’, yuh done drank the whole pot. Well, I see yuh have to be rushin’ off. Thanks, Pard, for comin’ by and sharin’ yur time and gracin’ my table. Glad the coffee was to yur likin’ this mornin’ and be sayin’ a little prayer for ol’ Parson Tom.
Don’t go lettin’ yur mind go to wonderin’ that yuh don’t forget to check yur cinch. I know I need to be buildin’ up my prayer life, but fallin’ off yur horse, that just ain’t the way to do it.