Life’s a bit too short to take the long way around the barn.”
                    –James Leonard  (The Neglected)

       “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
                    –1 John 5:12 (NKJV)
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Boy howdy, was there a mistake on yesterday’s Echo!  I don’t know how, or why, but I do apologize for my error.  It aggravates me to the core when I do something like that.  The quotation by Cliff Hudgins should have been:  “The real strength is in depth.”  For some reason the Bible verse I used at the beginning of the writing ended up as Hudgin’s quotation.  Now onto the thought of the day.
     Perhaps one of the saddest stories in the Bible is found in Numbers 14.  “And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt!  Or if only we had died in the wilderness!  Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims?  Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’  So they said to one another, ‘Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.'” (14:2-4, NKJV)  Be careful–the Israelites would get their wish!
     Remember that Egypt is symbolic of the world system.  John tells us “do not love the world [Egypt] or the things of the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15, NKJV)  Abraham went out looking for a city, he understood that he was but a pilgrim in this world, but in Numbers we see that the people are so attached to the world that they would rather die in it.  They savored the leeks of Egypt more than the manna from God.  Paul deals with this concept in Romans, we are free from the bondage of sin, from the power of “Egypt.”  Why then do we want to go back to that bondage?  The people of Israel shouted when they left Egypt, but now they are moaning and wanting to return.  It sounds crazy, but many believers do the same thing.  See when people who are free in God still seek the pleasures of sin, God will send them into the wilderness, and, sadly to say, many will die there.
     We are free!  No longer are we bound to the chains of sin.  No longer should we want anything to do with the lifestyle back in Egypt.  The words by Margaret J. Harris come to my mind:
               I followed close beside Him, and the land soon found
               I did not halt or tremble, for Canaan I was bound;
               My Guide I fully trusted, and He led me in,
               I shouted hallelujah, my heart is free from sin.
The place where we walk is supposed to be holy ground, not the sand of Egypt.  Listen, and I’ll tell you straight, don’t look for me way down in Egypt’s land.
               You need not look for me, down in Egypt’s sand,
               For I have pitched my tent far up in Beulah land.
It should not be our lifestyle to boast of things of the world.  We should live close to the Lord, do away with foolish and evil ways.  Egypt get behind me!  Onward and upward I will go.
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(Some of the thoughts are from my new book:  “New Trails Through the Old Hymns”)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
                    –Cliff Hudgins  (Viejo and the Ranger)

Some things a man can’t do. But some things he’s got to do.”
                    –Ernest Haycox  (Wipe Out the Brierlys)

       “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
                    –Mark 1:15 (NKJV)    
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Why did Jesus come to this earth?  There are many reasons but one is found in Mark 1:38, “But He said to them, ‘Let us go into the next town, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.'” (NKJV)

     With that I would ask, what is your purpose on this earth?  I read this recently, “Action, the desire to accomplish, impels each of us.  Confusion arises because we are not sure which action to take.  We lack a firm basis for decision.” (Orris E. Kelly)  Chaplain Kelly continues on to say, “To move into the world we must have a base.”
     Then I will follow up with another question, what is your base?  That is the foundational question.  If your base is self-seeking don’t be surprised if you are frustrated with the results, and when you come to the end of your life you will find it is full of regrets.  If your base is self-serving don’t be surprised if you find life lonely.  Oh, you may say you are doing things for others, but the deeper reason is that you are seeking to satisfy yourself.  Instead life should be filled with serving others.
     Make your base, your foundation, the Word of God.  Understand that when we center our lives, make God our base, we become free from self-anxiety. The action of our lives finds purpose in serving the kingdom of God.  Since our lives now have focus and a base we can push forward with purpose and make life meaningful.  Our service, our attitudes, our focus must find its basis in knowing God.  Then, and only then, can we find true purpose which will bring happiness and joy to our lives.

I say I prefer to use the Word. But sometimes you have to get their attention before they’ll listen.”
                    –Elmer Kelton  (Badger Boy)

       “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.”
                    –Jeremiah 7:24 (NLT)
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I know that on Tuesday there is usually a story about Miles Forrest.  Since I’m on vacation and Miles is speaking with Holly McBride of the Colorado Mounted Rangers I thought I’d leave him alone.  He sent me a telegram and one to Molly saying that there were tracks down and he was going to be held up for a few days.

I have been tempted to stop my series on Miles, but I get enjoyment from doing it.  It is a way to convey a truth of life or from God’s Word in story form.  I attempt to write it in the form of the old magazine or radio serials.  Miles has given me fun, and helped me produce four novels.  Miles may be back next week, but if not, look for him in October and be ready for another exciting adventure in those days of yesteryear in the Old West.

     I thought I’d just throw out a few thoughts.  I watched most of the Charlie Kirk memorial service.  Quite stirring.  I heard some good preachings from the politicians and leaders of our country; better than what is coming out of many pulpits.  Now time will tell…  Who knows, only God, but this could be the last great chance for America to turn back to God.  God places men and governments in position to use for many reasons, one of which is to help straighten out a nation, to bring it back to godly morality and righteousness.  We must not let this chance go by.  Many times in the Old Testament we read where God sent prophets to warn the people and for the people to repent and come back.  Now time will tell…
     There is an old saying that you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.  I saw recently something added to that–You can show a person the truth but you can’t make them think.  Hmmm.  Two more things for today.  The first is, when you see people cheering over the death of others and mocking them, that is a sure sign of demonic activity.  Beware of these people!  The second is that when God opens the door for revival, the choice is given.  It can bring refreshing and renewal to those who seek God, but for those who reject it, it could mean the hardening of their hearts.  Pharaoh had the opportunity to listen, but his heart was hardened.  Paul writes that God will give those who do not turn to Him over to a debased mind (Romans 1:28)  We also read in 2 Thessalonians that God, during the Tribulation, will send a “strong delusion, that they should believe the lie. (2:11)  If the people do not want to repent, to change, to believe then they are in grave danger.  It will not get better with them, but they will become more bitter and there will be more hatred stirred in their hearts.
     As believers we are to rejoice as we travel this life.  The old song says, “Keep on the sunny side of life.  It will help us every day; it will brighten all the way…” (Ada Blenkhorn)  Stand firm, be a model for others, be a light along the way, and continue onward and upward on the glory trail.