Coffee Percs

He pulled a rag from his coat pocket and used it to lift the coffee pot from the fire. He poured the hot brew into two tin cups, put the pot back in place, and then handed a cup to her.ā€

               –James Leonard  (The Good Guy)
 
Pard, there’s strange things happenin’ in the land.  And let me tell yuh something else, there’s a bunch of fools and I’m rightly thinkin’ some of them are demon possessed.  Oh, sorry, let me be fillin’ yur cup.  Don’t mean to be givin’ yuh the grief of my thoughts before yur coffee’d up.  How’d we get to the place where we’d pull such folk in office and then to see some folk there that don’t care a hoot about this country, an’ one of them’s runnin’ for mayor of New York City.  Oh, Lord, help us through the jungles!
     At least the coffee’s good, but don’t yuh see the connection.  There’s a bunch of them tryin’ to replace honest coffee with cinos–compromise on the taste, or give it a twang of something sweet.  Did yuh happen to see this?  I had to shake my head a couple of times.  One of the leaders of our country, in fact he ran for president said, “We’ve got to cut down on farming due to climate change or people are going to starve.”  Huh?  Stop farmin’ so people don’t starve.  Listen we’re a-headin’ for the pills of the Jetsons faster than we think.  In fact, with the help of AI soon we’ll be eatin’ something that tastes like beef steak only when yuh bite into the pill.  As one ol’ boy put it, the west wasn’t won by eatin’ tofu an’ a salad.
     Pard, when folks throw God to the wayside or forget Him altogether there is a price to pay, and we’re seein’ it now.  But Pard, just like yur drinkin’ good ol’ hot black coffee there’s hope.  God will bring a remnant through, and oftentimes He’ll use them to bring a revival.  But if not, the price will be terrible.  I saw a photo of an ol’ rancher that said, “We are livin’ in a day where people are proud of what they should be ashamed of.”  Gay pride, transgender or multiple genders and I’ve seen that yuh can even be changin’ gender back an’ forth as it suits yuh.  Warped, demonic, and yuh don’t hear many preachers takin’ a stand.  An’ let me tell yuh that’s one of the problems–the pulpit has let this country down.  Don’t be gettin’ me wrong, not all of them, some fine preachers are doin’ their job, they’re bein’ watchmen, but there’s a whole bunch that ain’t.
     Then when people runnin’ for public office say that others should be shot.  Why, that a threat!  Others won’t keep the people of their cities safe because of a political agenda.  Jeremiah, where are you?  Amos, where is your cry?  An’ let me throw something at yuh, one reason there isn’t a voice of a true prophet like in the Old Testament is that we have the Bible.  Preach and live the Bible and many problems will be solved.
     Whew, I’ve done did my spoutin’ for this mornin’.  But I see we still made it through a pot.  Pard, be warnin’ yur kids an’ grandkids, don’t let up no matter what, even if’n they get to whinin’.  It’s jist like me a-tellin’ yuh to check yur cinch everytime I see yuh.  It only takes one slip to put another lump on yur noggin’.  Be ridin’ tall in the saddle, keep yur gun oiled, and Bible handy.  No tellin’ what kind of varmint or demon yuh might be meetin’ on the road.
      Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

Fear and faith couldn’t co-exist, they were like oil and water.ā€

                    –Dan Arnold  (Riding for the Brand)

       “‘Assemble the people, and I will give them water.’  There the Israelites sang this song:  ‘Spring up, O well!  Yes, sing about it!'”
                    –Numbers 21:16-17(NLT)
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                    “Spring up, O well, within my soul,
                    Spring up, O well, and make me whole,
                    Spring up, O well, and give to me
                    That life abundantly.”
                            –Phil Wickham

Joseph Parker writes, “The children of Israel had been having a hard time.  This is the way in which God makes men, by driving them from pillar to post, by making them live a long time in tents, and by commanding them to take up their tent and go on, no matter where; not for them to know, it is enough that God knows.”  A characteristic of the wilderness is the scarcity of water.  Now we see in Numbers 21:17-18, the digging of a well.  That takes time and effort, but the water was desperately needed.
     This time the water was there but the people had to dig a well.  It was dug by the leaders and nobles (interesting).  Moses didn’t strike the rock, there wasn’t a tree to cut down to make the water drinkable.  No, men had to get their hands dirty and dig into the dirt to dig the well that would bring the refreshing, reviving water.
     Take a moment and think of those who have dug wells to refresh and strengthen your life.  Parker says, “Woe to any nation that forgets the memory of its well-diggers.”  Digging a well requires effort.  Who were those who made the effort to dig wells for your life?  Who has encouraged you, who has strengthened you, who has taught and trained you?
     Teaching a child to read is digging a well (Parker).  Instructing them in the Word of God is digging a well.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were well-diggers and their stories we kept in front of the people to remember.  Remembering those who dug wells in the past is digging a well.  Then when the water gushes forth sing praise to the Lord.  When water is found and the soul is refreshed, sing a song of praise.
     One of the purposes of deconstruction (postmodernism) is to distort, obscure, destroy, or deny the well-diggers of the past.  Distort the exploits of Joshua, deny the courage of David, destroy the teachings of Paul.  “Give me liberty or give me death”–those words do not count for Patrick Henry owned slaves.  The “Star-Spangled Banner” must be discarded because Francis Scott Key owned slaves.  Washington, Jefferson, Madison were all slave holders, therefore their contributions are tainted.  Columbus, the exploiter of the natives, or the one who brought hope through Christianity, and a new world was founded that would change the globe.  Warp the purposes of the leaders, misrepresent the purposes and dwell in their faults but never in their faith.  Destroy the well-diggers.
     A final thought–open your eyes and see God.  See the well He has provided in your own life.  Drink from your own well; the water is provided.  Share the water with others in acts of kindness that may bring hope.  You are a well-digger.  Read the chorus above again.  The first part of it goes like this.
                    “I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me,
                     Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see,
                    Opens prison doors, sets the captives free.
                    I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me.”
     Hmmm, perhaps you will have to be like Isaac and uncover the wells of his father.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

No human creature entered a desert oasis without joy, nor left it without regret.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Wanderer of the Wasteland)
 
     “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again.  But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.'”
                    –John 4:13-14 (NKJV)
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     How many bones lie just a hillside away from the oasis, the spring of life?  How many, with just a little more effort, would have made it over the rise to see the refreshing water below?  How many, if they would have just endured a little longer and not given in to the struggle of life, would have made it to the reviving waters?  How many, how many, if they would not have parted from the way; would not have become disoriented; would have made it from one water tank to another?  Oh, the stories that could be told from the bones lying bleached in the wilderness.  Stories that will never be told unless a person happens to come across their dry bones and attempt to surmise what might have happened.
     Water, that vital elixir of life, is often found missing when trekking through the wilderness.  You may notice a dryness in your spirit as you drag your feet through the rocks, gravel, and sand, avoiding the spines of the cacti and cholla.  The canteen is dry, but you still continue to carry it in hope, in faith; you didn’t throw it away when you took that last drop.  The struggle is real, the heat, the dryness, and then, over the rise–look.  No, it can’t be, it must be a mirage, one of those devices of the devil.  Look again, and the heat waves seem to still for a moment.  There is green from the vegetation causing hope to rise in your heart and you move a little faster.  Those feet that were dragging in despair are not lifting off the ground.  Because of your weariness you stumble, but only for a moment; for coming into view, is the refreshing water.  The soul is craving water; the body is trembling at the thought to soothe the parched lips.  Soon, the cool, refreshing water will trickle down your throat.  There is plenty.  Throw yourself in, restore yourself in its freshness.
     Once you have satisfied your thirst, reflect as you sit there, on the edge of the pool, now splashing those tired, hot feet in the coolness of the oasis.  Ahhh, sweet relief, wonderful relief.  Water, to reinvigorate the body and soul.  But remember it is only a stopping point in your journey.  The purpose is to have water, relief from the blast and dryness of the wilderness, to continue the quest onward.  No matter how you came to the wilderness, whether it was by trying to escape a situation of life or being driven by the wind of God; you now seek to survive and you need water.
     Water is essential.  It may be the natural water of a desert oasis, or one of those tanks hidden in the cleft of the rocks along the rugged plateau.  It may be the spiritual water given by the One who said, “I AM, the living water.”  It was needed to keep you alive, just as the spiritual water is needed to help you make it to the land of promise, the land of relief.  The water was provided, you have refreshed yourself for the continuation of the journey.
     You have tasted the water provided by the Lord.  Perhaps now is the time to take a good look at what you have been drinking trying to quench the spiritual thirst.  Know this, only the heavenly water that flows from Jesus will quench that thirst.  Just as when you have been extremely thirsty you sought the natural water to quench that thirst and to revive your body, you need to taste from the overflowing fountain that Christ provides.
 
(Much of the above was taken from my book, Trails in the Wilderness)

Echoes From the Campfire

Every man is responsible for his own actions. Whatever he does or says, it’s his choice and no one else’s.ā€
                    –John Deacon  (Yonder)

       “The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.”
                    –Proverbs 1:7 (Amplified)
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Chapter 8 of Proverbs starts out with the cry from wisdom.  This is the cry of reality, the cry of reason.  No, not man’s reason, nor man’s relative reality.  The wisdom of God is pure in its nature, and as I have written many times the words of Francis Schaeffer, “True spirituality comes all of reality.”  Then listen, listen to the cry of reality–the cry of wisdom.  Bob Beasley says that, “Godly wisdom is truth.  That which is not wise is crooked and perverse.”  As you read, note also the Messianic tone.

          1 — Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding life up her voice?
          2 — She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet.
          3 — She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors:
          4 — To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
          5 — O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart.
          6 — Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come the right things;
          7 — For my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
          8 — All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
          9 — They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
        10 — Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;
        11 — For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.  (NKJV)

     If you wonder why there is so much chaos, so much perversion and immorality, it is because man does not heed the cry of wisdom.  We see that reason is making herself heard.  But who is listening?  Then too often, the voice of wisdom is silenced (i.e., Charlie Kirk).  “People create circumstances that are good and bad, and you and I have to deal with people and circumstances as we go through life.” (Wiersbe)  As we read through Proverbs, note the people that are seen–you’ll meet them throughout your life.
     It has become the purpose of higher education to silence wisdom.  They show a type of pseudo-wisdom–fake, false, man’s wisdom.  It has become the purpose of politicians to push a wisdom that does not line up with the Scriptures.  One reason for that, is that the Word of God is not taught, preached, or lived out.  With that, many pulpits, that sacred desk which should be crying out with the wisdom of God is silent and has become complacent or compromised.
     Let me add, no matter what we see–wisdom is calling; always placing man at places of decision.  Verse 3, says that she cries out where the paths meet.  The path divides, which do you take?  THE CHOICE IS YOURS.  I would advise listening to the voice of wisdom, not the progressive teaching of culture.  The wisdom of God is patient while modern culture “elevates quick fixes, instant gratification and self-centered pursuits.” (Mike Leake)  J. Verson McGee writes, “The problem is in the mind and heart of men.”  Look at the way, the paths come together, which will you take.  Wisdom has only one path–choose wisely.
     Quickly I want to give some thoughts.  There is so much to say on these verses.  Verse 4, the appeal is to all people, just as salvation is to all.  Who will listen?  Verse 5, if you are immature you should learn to be mature.  If you are foolish, you should learn to have sense.  What voice are you listening to?  Verse 6, Listen/Hear!!  We should follow the example given here and let “our words reflect the presence of God in our hearts.”  When you speak, what comes from your mouth?  The words of the wise, the godly or the atrocious speech of the wicked?  Verse 10-11, show the value of godly training and instruction.  It is far better than worldly wealth and gain.  I will add in closely, these verses present a path, a choice–who are you serving?  If serving God, how much energy and effort is put into that service?   Pursue God listening to the words of wisdom.