He never failed to watch the sunset.”
–Zane Grey (Fighting Caravans)
“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.”
–John 10:9 (NLT)
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“The LORD is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”
–Psalm 23:1 (NLT)
I had several thoughts on how to start the Echo in 2026. So often we get caught up right at the beginning of the year with thoughts such as: “I hope this year is better,” or “It’s starting out badly,” or “It’s just like last year.” Such thoughts, we need to shake them out of our mind if we really trust the Lord. Since He is our shepherd, He does provide everything we need. Notice–need! The KJV says, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” We want so much, want this, want that, and if we stop wanting, once in a while we might thank the Lord for all He has provided, all that we need.
Ponder the words of this old hymn, written by Dorothy Thrupp in 1836.
“Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, Thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, Thine we are.”
Troubles? Yes, but don’t fret over them. They come, they happen, and they go. But if you feed your worry you carry your troubles a lot further than needed. Trust, yes, trust in the Savior. Get the words of Psalm 23 in your heart, don’t just say them because they are familiar.
“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”
–Psalm 23:2-5 (NLT)
“We are Thine, do Thou befriend us, be the guardian of our way.
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear, O hear us when we pray.”
Don’t struggle so much with your problems, and more importantly don’t struggle with the Lord. He knows the way, so why go your own way? He is there! Get that, He is there with you each step of the way. When there is a crossroads along the journey, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and when He points out the direction follow Him, don’t chide Him, don’t mock Him by saying your way is better. Understand that He knows better than us.
“Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to Thee;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to Thee.”
Yes, we stumble. Yes, we are often stiffnecked and go our own way and soon find we are in a heap of trouble. Yes, we fail. When we do these sinful, foolish things, know that He has mercy and grace to forgive us and He is ready to forgive and help us along the way again. Think of His promises, then contemplate on His great faithfulness.
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”
–Psalm 23:6 (NLT)
Going the wrong way, look and you will see the Holy Spirit pursuing you to bring you back to the right path. Be ready for 2026, it will be an adventurous year in the Lord. Keep your hand in His and if there is a problem, a sin, a mistake, a trip and stumble–be quick to look to the Lord. Let Him draw closer you to than ever before. You want a relationship, make it happen in 2026.
“Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still.”
Author: Ira Paine
Echoes From the Campfire
A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!”
–Charles Dickens
“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory…. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory…. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
–1 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 22:20 (NIV)
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“Now, the tree is decorated with bright merriment, and song, and dance and cheerfulness. And they are welcome. Innocent and welcome be they ever held, beneath the branches of the Christmas Tree, which cast no gloomy shadow! But, as it sinks into the ground, I hear a whisper going through the leaves. ‘This, in commemoration of the law of love and kindness, mercy and compassion. This, in remembrance of Me!’”
–Charles Dickens
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“Now, the tree is decorated with bright merriment, and song, and dance and cheerfulness. And they are welcome. Innocent and welcome be they ever held, beneath the branches of the Christmas Tree, which cast no gloomy shadow! But, as it sinks into the ground, I hear a whisper going through the leaves. ‘This, in commemoration of the law of love and kindness, mercy and compassion. This, in remembrance of Me!’”
–Charles Dickens
If we’re not careful, in the midst of all the fun, shopping, decorating, eating, watching, laughing, and whatever else we might do on Christmas, we might forget the reason that the Babe was lying in a manger. It was not just a whim of Almighty God. It had purpose–it has purpose. Jesus was born to die.
We all die, but that is not our goal in life. Here we have Jesus who came to be the propitiation for our sins. He came to redeem mankind back to God and that required the death of the perfect sacrifice which was Him. Go ahead, take a look at your tree (even if artificial) and know that Jesus came to die upon a “tree,” upon an old rugged cross. Suffering and shame were the ornaments placed upon Him.
One other thing, know this, that part of His purpose in dying was for complete redemption. The time is near, in fact, the time is now. We look down at the manger scene. We see the Babe lying, helpless, being cared for by His mother. Now, because of His birth, life, and sacrifice we should be looking up. The next time we see Him He will be in the clouds, calling us home.
The rejoicing of Christmas should include not only the birth of Christ, but also the knowledge that He is coming soon. Be ready!
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This is the last Echo, until I don’t know when. Perhaps until next year. Hmmm, think of that, another year gone, another on the horizon.
The Saga of Miles Forrest
In the few days of our empty lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? And who can tell what will happen in the future after we are gone?” –Ecclesiastes 6:12 (NLT)
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McBride made his train and went home for Christmas and things had settled down to normal, whatever that is, after the incident in the diner. Two men walked in, catching me by surprise. With one on each side of me there was no way I could get both men.
But the Lord intervened. I remember throwing myself off my chair to my left, drawing my gun at the same time. When I looked for my assailant all I saw was the pot-bellied stove. Then the voice of McBride rang out as he came from the kitchen. “You touch that gun and you’ll never see another Christmas.”
The man threw his hands in the air, but either the other man didn’t hear or see, or was just all-fire ready to do something stupid, and he jerked his gun. I didn’t see what happened, but I heard a shot, and a thud as the man hit the wooden floor. Slowly I pulled myself up, looking first at the man with his hands in the air, then to the one on the floor as I finally made my way to my feet.
McBride came up behind the man to lift his pistol from his holster. Then he pushed him with the barrel of his gun to a chair commanding him to sit and not move. I watched as he checked him over for any other weapons which produced a knife from his belt.
“You mentioned Lem Collins. Who is he to you?” I had shot Collins when I was arresting him for rustling cattle. He resisted, but he couldn’t resist the piece of lead. I didn’t kill him; he was spending time in the pen, but he does have a nice hole in his right shoulder.
He wasn’t defiant with his answer, but he wasn’t overly joyous either. “Lem was my cousin. My aunt was heartsick when she heard the news, and I reckoned I should try to make it up to her,” he said with in monotone voice.
“You got a name?” asked McBride as the two of us looked at him carefully. McBride shook his head, and I went over to the man lying on the floor to check on him. He hadn’t moved an inch, so I figured he was dead.
As I was stooped down over him, Mateo and Doc came through the door. “Get away!” ordered Doc, as he bent down taking over my ministrations. There was a lot of blood.
I could hear Doc muttering but couldn’t make out a word he said.
“Never seen the like,” he muttered. “Hand me my bag.” By now Molly and Emelda had emerged from the kitchen as Doc took out a bandage and began to bind it around his head. Then he took another one to put against the wound on the man’s shoulder. When he was satisfied, he stood looking down at the still unconscious man.
“He alive?” I questioned.
Doc scratched his cheek. “Oh, yes, very much. The bullet hit the top of his collar bone then glanced upward taking off a piece of his ear and making a nice groove along the side of his head. He’ll come to in a short spell.”
McBride came over, and Mateo had handcuffs on the other man moving him on out of the diner to the jail. “Man said his name was Lucius Feeney.” He nudged the man on the floor with his boot. “This is his brother Mort.”
Doc proceeded to pour himself a cup of coffee, while McBride and I took a chair at the table with him, waiting for Mort Feeney to gain consciousness.
Well, that was all the excitement, nothing amounted to anything the rest of the week. A heavy snow did come in which put off my hunting trip until after it settled. Folks had mixed emotions regarding it. The kids were excited for now they would have a white Christmas, and I warned Mateo to be ready for an attack by those rascals with snowballs.
Christmas…why a thing like what happened could put a damper on it, but then when a person took the time to look at the big picture it only made more sense why Christ came to earth. It was to put an end to the death-grip of sin. Sure, it was still around, but now with the sacrifice of Jesus there was hope of redemption.
Molly and me, why we hope to spend the morning at the diner feeding the derelicts and out of work miners, then sit in front of a cozy fire back in the cabin. Maybe sneak a piece of pie from the diner, and drink some coffee. Mainly relax, with her by my side, reminiscing and thanking the Lord for all He has done for us through the years.
Echoes From the Campfire
Late on a sleepy, star-spangled night, those angels peeled back the sky just like you would tear open a sparkling Christmas present. Then, with light and joy pouring out of Heaven like water through a broken dam, they began to shout and sing the message that baby Jesus had been born. The world had a Savior! The angels called it ‘Good News,’ and it was.”
–Larry Libby
“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.”
–Micah 4:2 (NIV)
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Since we are through with the Psalms and other songs found in the Holy Writ, I thought it might be appropriate to use a well-known hymn written by Charles Wesley. A couple of things before contemplating the words of this great carol. First, Wesley was a prolific hymn writer who wrote about sixty-five hundred hymns, many of which we still sing today. He committed his heart to the Lord in 1738 and began his ministry of preaching and the writing of these songs. When we read his hymns we see them full of rich scriptural teaching. The second thing is a question: do angels sing? Dare to find a verse in the Bible that states that angels sing. It may be implied when it says the heavenly host praised God in Luke 2. But praising doesn’t necessarily mean singing. Could it be that singing in heaven is reserved for God and His family? Just a thought–don’t make a doctrine of it. Now to look at Wesley’s hymn.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail, th’ incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Come, Desire of nations, come! Fix in us Thy humble home:
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head;
Adam’s likeness now efface, stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Second Adam, the woman’s conquering seed, our Emmanuel are just a few of the great doctrinal points mentioned. We see Wesley ministering through his wonderful writing skills. With that thought, know this–we all are what Paul calls “living letters.” People read the gospel of Christ by what we say, act, and do. Some may do it through song, others through preaching, while others may write, but with all of our talents the greatest message is our lives.
“Jesus is not only the Son but also the Sun. The Sun of Righteousness brings not only light but life.” (William Petersen) He is the light of the world. And look up during this Christmas season. Look up in the day to see the Sun knowing that righteousness is brought by the Son. Look up at night and think of that day long ago when the angels appeared to the shepherds outside that little village to herald forth the Light of God coming into the world. Ponder the words of Psalm 103:20-21, “Praise the LORD, you angels of his, you mighty creatures who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!” (NLT)