Fear is a weapon to be used by you if you control it, by your enemies if you do not.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (The Proving Trail)

    “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.”  
              –Proverbs 3:24 (NKJV)
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Greetings!  Welcome to 2021, and welcome back to the Echoes From the Campfire.  Just sit there for a moment, take a deep breath and let your imagination begin to move.  Can you smell the smoke from the burning wood?  Listen to the crackle as the flames burn deep into the wood.  Now open your eyes, and gaze into the fire, notice the coals glowing as the wind breathes on them.
    Not real, you say.  Well, let me disappoint you again.  The number assigned to this year, 2021, isn’t magical.  The date on the calendar might have changed, but there are still the same problems.  There is still the “virus” to contend with, there is still violence on the streets, there are still foolish and power-hungry bureaucrats lurking around.  The same hatred and bitterness looms as larger now as ever.  
    Does that depress you?  Don’t let it for I’ve  got some good news.  I was reading in Matthew toward the end of last year and a phrase stuck out to me.

         “But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.'”
                   –Matthew 28:5-6 (NKJV)

Focus on the phrase:  “do not be afraid.”  If you are saved, if you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ–do not be afraid!  There is comfort in those words.  I have in the front of one of my Bibles a quotation by Joseph Parker, “Fear God, and no other fear will ever trouble you.”  It is time for Christians to walk in the confidence and assurance of God.  He is with us, what comes our way He knows about.
    Perhaps you have phobias.  Some of them are understandable, yet some are part of our vivid imagination.  I want to share a little with you from Charles Spurgeon.

         “Did the earth quake?  Fear not:  God can preserve you though the earth is burned with fire.  Did the angel descend with terrors?  Fear not:  There are no terrors in heaven for the child of God who comes to Jesus’ cross and trusts his soul to Him who bled thereon.  Poor women, is it the dark that alarms you?  Fear not:  God sees and loves you in the dark, and there is nothing in the dark or in the light beyond His control.  Are you afraid to come to the tomb?  Does the grave alarm you?  Fear not:  You cannot die.  Since Christ has risen, though you were dead, yet shall you live.”

Many people, including Christians are living in fear.  Fear is the grand tool of the devil.  God uses love, Satan uses fear.  It is one of his choice weapons; therefore, do not let it control you.  
    There are so many voices out there, you better listen to the right One.  Listen to the guiding of the Holy Spirit.  Don’t run into 2021 with false expectancy or with fear in your heats, but go into it with confidence that the Holy Spirit is guiding your steps.  Be cautious and alert for the devil is there to destroy you by any means possible.  Trust in the Lord and in His might.  Let me finish this first Echo with words from Charles Spurgeon.

         “The past you need not fear, for it is forgiven.  The present you need not fear, for it is provided for.  The future is also secured by the living power of Jesus.  ‘Because I live, you also will live’ (John 14:19).  Fear!  How can it remain when Christ has risen from the dead?…  What is it you fear?  If an angel bids you to not fear, why will you fear?  If every wound of the risen Savior and every act of your reigning Lord consoles you, why will you fear?  To be doubting and fearing, now that Jesus has risen, is an inconsistent thing in any believer…  Therefore, do not fear.”

   Go now with confidence, the new year is here.  What it holds only the Lord knows, but do not tremble as you walk into the year.  Know that He is right beside you–have no fear.

Every man or woman who is genuinely American should read the signs of the times, realize the crisis, and meet it in an American way.  Otherwise we are done as a race.”
             –Zane Grey  (The Call of the Canyon)

    “You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion.”
             –Psalm 60:3 (NKJV)
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The year is coming to an end.  Many are ready to say goodbye to 2020, but I have a notion that it, or rather the things that happened in 2020 are going to leave us.  It is always good, at the end of the year, to look back, to reflect and to engage the lessons that should have been learned.
    There has been much discussion concerning the “pandemic” or the “virus.”  Some say it was from China (and maybe they are giggling at us), others say from the hand of God.  I want to say that I do not think this plague was sent by God.  Evil, death, confusion and chaos all come from the devil.  He did not create a virus, but he has been able to use it for his purposes.  However, in saying that, I believe that God takes what was meant for evil and uses it for good.  
    Even good Christians have been fretting, they have been filled with fear over the virus.  That is what the devil wants–fear.  He wants to destroy faith, he wants to disrupt the relationship with God, he delights in seeing believers go into a frenzy and even at times show hatred and bitterness.  In this year of the virus–Covid19–we should be looking at how we can come closer to the Lord.  How we can be more like Him, and walk in faith.  Not foolishness, but faith.  This has been an opportunity to study God’s Word more, to pray more, to meditate and contemplate upon His Word more not to let the devil stomp on us with glee.
    I sat out on the patio the other day, made a nice fire and began to think of the past year, but also began to think and plan for the coming year.  Of course, no one knows what will happen from day to day, but as I watched the flames twist and fight one another and heard the crackling of the fire I looked at the coming year, not with dread, but with knowing that God is in control.  As I watched the flames begin to dwindle into coals and ash, that’s the way I see the end of this year.  The moments of last year cannot be repeated and soon the year will be like my fire–ashes.  Oh, the memory of it is still there, and hopefully the knowledge of lessons learned, but nothing can be repeated.
    Our hearts and minds should not be troubled.  Dare to believe in God.  Realize the He is in control, even when the devil would try to destroy and bring mayhem and havoc upon the world.  Yes, the time of Jesus’ return is at hand, don’t let the devil steal that comfort from you.
    This is the last Echo for 2020.  I have been much in prayer for my writing in 2021.  I’ve asked the Holy Spirit to help guide my thoughts as to how someone may be encouraged, inspired, uplifted, comforted, and at times convicted by what I write.  These last days reflect on the Lord and what He has done in 2020, get out of a mullygrub or fretful state of mind.  Let the Holy Spirit renew your heart, mind, and soul and prepare it for 2021.

False education, false standards, false environment had developed her into a woman who imagined she must feed her body on the milk and honey of indulgence.”
              –Zane Grey  (The Call of the Canyon)

       “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
              –Revelation 21:8 (NKJV)
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Who or what can you trust these days?  It used to be thought that the major folks who lied were lawyers and used car salesmen.  Now there’s a slew of folks.  Can you trust the media to report the truth?  No.  There are few politicians, people in leadership that can be trusted, and they are the ones who are supposed to guide us.  Dare to trust a liar to guide you along the way?  No.  In fact, those people and their ally, the media, oppose truth-tellers.  Hmmm, take a look at what Jesus had to say.

         “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.”
              –John 8:43-45 (NKJV)

   Jesus said that there were those out there, in this case religious and political leaders, who were born of the devil.  He was a deceiver–a liar–from the beginning.  It started in the Garden when he lied to Adam and Eve and he has continued to do so since then and his followers go right along with him.  People do not want to believe the truth–they are fools.  Let me pass along to you some words from Joseph Parker who wrote about liars from Matthew 28:11-13.

         “The liar takes away the character of other men easily because he has first taken away his own.  He who familiarizes himself with suicide of a moral kind falls easily into murder of a moral nature.  Expect no justice from the liar.  Do not imagine that the liar will become a truthful man on purpose to serve your interests and to promote your good fortune and happy progress.  The liar will use you; the false man will tear down all that is sacred in your name, tender in your family, and holy in your household.  Falsehood is bad through and through; to it there is nothing sacred.  It owns no altar; it respects no oath; it abides by no sacramental bond.  It will drink to your health and stab you under the fifth rib; it will smile upon you and plunder not your property but your soul.  Do not therefore let us give way to the ever-damaging notion that a man may speak lies in one direction and be quite truthful in another.  No such anomalies exist in God’s moral creation.  He who can deliberately tell one lie will tell a thousand if he has anything to gain by the deluge of falsehood.”

    The devil is the father of lies.  Do not be deceived by him or his followers.  And who are they?  Liars.  Deceivers.  Those who do the devil’s bidding in destroying you.  They may do this to destroy for their gain.  They may do it to assassinate your character because of their agenda, bitterness, or hatred.
    Parker says that the liar has already committed “spiritual suicide” for he has killed his own moral character through his lies.  If that is true, why would he do less with you?   These people have hardened their hearts to the truth and unless they allow the Holy Spirit to bring Truth to them, and they accept it they are lost to believing the lies of “their father.”
    This person–the liar–is habitually evil.  Their insidious smile tries to fool you, but all the while they are working to destroy you, your family, your work.  They will speak partial truth, which then is in fact a lie.  They will use all means to promote themselves all the while lying while doing so.  
    Beware of such people.  Paul warns us to have nothing to do with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).  Do not call it your friend, do not follow in its footsteps, do not listen to its words.  “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, NKJV).  If you think you can walk with the ungodly then you have already bought into their lies.  Stop, repent, and walk in the light of the Holy Spirit.

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”
              –Washington Irving

    “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
              –Luke 2:7 (NKJV)
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With all of the movies out there, and the commotion that will soon be on the rooftops, perhaps a little history lesson might be in order for Christmas.  The way we hear people bickering about Christmas; maybe if we knew a little more about some of the symbols we might not get so upset.  A word of caution is always necessary though–use discretion and do not avoid the truth.  Growing up I really didn’t give too much thought to Santa Claus, one reason being that we didn’t have a chimney, only a stovepipe, and I never could in my wildest imagination picture someone with the girth of Santa making it down that stovepipe, not to mention flying reindeer or making it around the world to every house in one night.  It just wasn’t sensible or logical in my mind, but there is something to the person/legend of that man in the red suit.
    According to tradition, Nicholas was born in the ancient Lycian seaport city of Patara, and, when young, he traveled to Palestine and Egypt.  He became bishop of Myra soon after returning to Lycia.  While in that position he was placed in prison under the Roman emperor Diocletian, but was released under Constantine.  He was an attendee of the first Council of Nicaea (323).  After his death he was buried in his church at Myra, and by the sixth century his shrine was well known.  The remains of Nicholas were stolen in 1807 by Italian sailors and merchants took them to Bari, Italy.  This will add to his popularity in Europe and Bari became one of the most crowded pilgrimage centers.  The relics of Nicholas remain enshrined in the 11th century basilica of San Nicola, Bari.
    Good ol’ St. Nik, or properly, Nicholas.  He was know for his generosity, kindness, and miracles, especially to those who were poor.  He gave marriage dowries of gold to poverty-stricken girls who would have gone into prostitution.  He is said to have restored life to three children who were butchered and put in a brine tub.  He became the patron saint of Russia and Greece and many organizations, and who said that man in the red suit was only a myth?
    The Dutch brought the idea of their version of St. Nik to New Amsterdam in the early days of the American colonies.  This man was known as Sinterklass.  Sinterklass was in turn adopted by the colonies’ English-speaking people under the name of Santa Claus and his legend was then tied into the Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents.
    We could add the stories of a certain Kris Kringle, but most of our ideas today come from the writings of Clement Moore.  In 1822, he wrote a story for his family, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  From then on Santa was the stuff of legends and was enhanced by the drawings and advertisements by Thomas Nast and Haddon Sundblom.  And we must not, cannot forget the infamous letter that indeed, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” and even the court system recognized him in “A Miracle of 34th Street.”  Personally, I will never forget the Christmas when my Grandpa Jones, a rather rotund man, dressed as Santa Claus and passed out presents to all of the family.  Oh, and by the way, the red and white suit came from St. Nicholas.
    In all of this remember that Santa, Kris, or Nik all represent the spirit of giving.  They give presents as the wise men gave presents to the King of Kings.  Giving is the important thing at Christmas.  Remembering and knowing that this is the day we celebrate the greatest gift of the heavenly Father giving His Son.  One more thing, notice that the Child was given to a family to nourish, nurture, and train.  Family is vital to the Christmas story.  I like what Burton Hillis wrote, “The best gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”
    So, from ol’ Ira and his family to yours — a very Merry Christmas!