It was a place I could have stayed forever.  How many times I have found such campsites!  Place so beautiful it gave a man the wistfuls to see or to think back on.  So many times we said, ‘We’ve got to come back some time!’ an’ knowin’ all the while we never would.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Lonely on the Mountain)

    “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
              –2 Peter 3:14 (NKJV)
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We’re sure having a nice time on vacation.  It’s been fun staying with Shauna, Greg, and Garrett.  Our glamping experience was really enjoyable.  Glamping is not really camping; when a person glamps they are using an RV or in our case a cabin.  We stayed on Little Pine Creek in north central Pennsylvania.  While there Annie was able to see her “little” brother and his family, that includes the nephews.  It was a grand time.  Then last Saturday, her “big” brother and his wife came to visit.  Sure was good, made the heart glad.
    However, I was reminded several times during each visit that it could be the last time we see each other, at least on this side of heaven.  There could be many reasons for that.  One is that we are all getting up in age and could be called home.  Accidents do occur and there is that thing called the virus out there.  The devil would love for us to die, but that is not his call for it will not happen until the Lord gives the appointed time.  On a positive note, we could all go up together in the Rapture.
    In saying all of that I am reminded of family and friends.  It’s important while we are still down here on earth to be about the Lord’s business and that includes making the most of the time we have with them.  I have always thought that way; I have thought many times that this could be the last time we see one another.  “Do this,” I think to myself, “for it could be the last time.”
    All last week the words from Albert E. Brumley’s song kept coming to me.

           Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey
           And perhaps never meet anymore
           Till we gather in Heaven’s bright city
           Far away on that beautiful shore

           If we never meet again this side of Heaven
           As we struggle through this world and its strife
           There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven
           By the side of the river of life

           Where the charming roses bloom forever
           And where separations come no more
           If we never meet again this side of Heaven
           I will meet you on that beautiful shore

On this side we have to say goodbye from time to time.  There are those instances when we intend to see a person again and for some reason, a move, death, or simply life gets in the way and we don’t bother to contact them or go see them.  No matter what, we do need to remember to pray for them.  Every morning, when I send out the Echo, I say a prayer that it will touch those who read it.  I have tried to be faithful in sending them, and I wonder, at times, if the recipients get anything from them.  
    I have thought of the quotation by Louis L’Amour many, many times.  So many places I would have liked to stay, so many places I would like to have revisited and never have, most likely never will.  Friends, if we never meet again on this side, it is my prayer that you are ready to meet the Lord so that we can have that grand reunion on that “beautiful shore.”

Thinking was something I worked at like a prospector washing out gold.  I’d take me a brain full of the coarse gravel of ideas and sift it down until the gold remained.  Only sometimes I worked a long time and came up with no color showing at all.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (The First Fast Draw)

    “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”
              –John 9:4 (NKJV)
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One of my Mom’s favorite sayings was, “Have to go to work, gotta make a dollar.”  Mom loved to work.  She liked to be around people so most of her jobs in her lifetime dealt with the public in one form or another.  My Dad always said that the most important thing that his Dad taught him was to work hard.
    Now I’m not saying that there aren’t people in this world that don’t know how to work, or don’t work hard.  It used to be engrained in our national ethos–the Puritan Work Ethic.  All work came from God, thus we should do that work to the best of our ability for Him (see Colossians 3:17,23).  However, there is a large segment of society that have forgotten this truism.  They bounce from place to place, or they depend upon handouts (and I’m not talking about the homeless).  Somewhere along the line we have not taught our children the importance of work and of doing things with quality.  So many things are now done haphazardly.  There is a glut of mediocrity in the world.
    There are laws of sowing and reaping in the natural world just as in the spiritual world.  “There are certain laws that govern success in the kingdom of grace as well as in the kingdom of nature, and you must study these laws and adapt yourself to them.”  (Catherine Booth)  Things must be done right and in order.  It would be foolish for a farmer to try to reap before planting.  It is silly to sell a garment that wasn’t made according to pattern.  The same is true in the kingdom of God.  People take time to learn their professions, they spend hours working in training, but somehow in Christianity we think all will come instantaneously.  Catherine Booth stated, “For in their work for God, they would not seem to think it worthwhile to take the trouble to think and ponder, to plan and try to pray and to wrestle with God for wisdom.”  No wonder so many fall.  No wonder when those that fail don’t bother to get up and try again.
    God expects you to be developing–growing in grace.  To those He has given special talents He expects them to be used for His glory and the kingdom, and He will hold you responsible.  He holds you responsible, also in the manner in which you use your time.  There should be something developing throughout the day, throughout your life.  Does that mean you are not to rest?  Absolutely not, but rest from what?  Rest from your labor.  Far too many people rest from their rest.  They move about aimlessly and they will have to give an account.
    Ask yourself what you are doing with your time, your money, your effort and energy, your family and relationships, your influence.  When you make plans, no matter what type, do you take God in account in them?  Is He included?  Which son will you be like?  The Father told two sons to go out to work.  One said, “I will not, then changed his mind and went out to work.  The other told his Father that he would work, but then did not fulfill his word. (see Matthew 21:28-29)  In these last days of time, not only work hard for the Master, but begin to work if you are not already doing so.  Also, make sure that you are doing the work properly and with the Lord in mind.

Like so many, he wants something for nothing.  But nothing comes free.  One way or another, everything must be paid for.”
              –Elmer Kelton  (Texas Standoff)

    “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
              –2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
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Isaac Charles Parker was one of the most renown members of the court system in our history.  He acquired the moniker, the “Hanging Judge.”  His court was extremely busy with over 13,480 cases in his time on the bench over Indian Territory (Oklahoma).  Judge Parker sentenced 160 of these to death with 79 of them being executed; the others had the sentences either commuted, pardoned, or died in prison.
    I will not go into any cases or the character of the Judge here, that is for another time.  He was a fair man, yet firm in regard to the law.  He stated, “I do not desire to hang you men.  It is the law.”  He declared the law determined the fate of the men after they were convicted of their deeds.
    The Law is harsh and has the distinct purpose of guiding lives.  Its purpose is to dictate boundaries and provide safety for the citizens.  The Law of God is very similar.  No one can keep it and its purpose is to show us that we sin.  Man is a transgressor of God’s law, therefore what are we to do?  Throw ourselves on the mercy of the court, for we cannot do that with the law.  The law points out our transgressions–guilty as charged.  The verdict is death.
    Paul declares, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23, NKJV) and therefore, “the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23, NKJV).  There you have it again, the verdict is death.  What can we do?  Is there no hope?  Ah, but there is; there is eternal life.  Continue with Romans 6:23, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
    The purpose of the Law is then to show us that we are sinners and that there is the verdict of death looming over us, except for the sacrifice that we have been provided through Jesus Christ.  Right now there is an escape from the death sentence and that is to accept Jesus Christ as Savior.  Recognize your guilt, repent, and ask for His forgiveness.  He was given by the “Judge” for this occasion–to redeem us from the sentence of death.
    How many people refuse the pardon offered by a judge?  How many of those in Judge Parker’s court said, “hang me!  I deserve to die!”  How many of them would refuse to accept, if the judge said, I give you grace; you are pardoned?  Right now, God is offering grace so that when we stand before Him the verdict is not death.  Right now accept Him, grace and pardon are there.  Refuse and when you stand in the courtroom of heaven at the Great White Throne Judgment there final verdict will be death–death everlasting.
    Now is the time–heed the call.

Wasting your life away won’t change the past.  It just makes it more of a tragedy.”
              –Duane Boehm  (Last Stand)

       “Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.”
              –Psalm 73:1 (NKJV)
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I don’t care for folks without some gumption.  Folks that sit around with their hands out saying, “Give me, give me, I deserve it.”  What these type of people need is a good kick in the seat of the pants.  They need to get out and give work, and life, a try.
    Ah, but we must remember, this is our pampered generation (18-29) part of them being that large group of millennials, the whiners and snot-nosed crybabies.  New numbers have just came out and 52% of this age still live at home.  This are the highest numbers on record, the next highest being in 1940.  Now, there surely are some legitimate reasons to live with one or both of your parents.  However, for the most part they are spoiled brats continuing to want a handout.
    Part of the fault lies with the parents.  They haven’t done the job they were supposed to do and are afraid for little Susie.  They know that sweet Tommy cannot survive in the big, bad world.  Come home to us, we’ll still change your diapers and wipe your snotty nose.  No wonder the kids whine, the parents do the same thing.  Come home, please…
    The time may come when there may be the need of the family communal.  However, with saying that it doesn’t mean that the poor little dears don’t earn their own way.  Believers must realize that they must train up their child to face the world.  They should be taught that they are light and salt to the world and that they should represent Christ wherever they are.  They can’t do that hiding behind momma’s apron strings (that is if momma knows how to cook and wears an apron).
    A few weeks ago I watched an episode of Stoney Burke (it was one of my favorite shows as a kid).  There was a youngster that fell into bad times.  A person asked Stoney if he thought the kid would make it.  His reply, “He has a good family, with a good family behind him, he’ll make it.”  So there is value in having a good family, but it is not in accepting a wimp, or a whiner to live there.  A good family is not one that so much babies, but one that supports.
    One other thought in regard to the family.  First, Noah, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  What was his greatest accomplishment besides obedience?  Gathering, and caring for his family.

         “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”
                  –Hebrews 11:7 (NKJV)

We do not know if the sons of Noah were righteous, but we do know that it was because of Noah who prepared a refuge of safety for his household.
    Now look at Job:

         “…Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.  For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’  Thus Job did regularly.”
                  –Job 1:5 (NKJV)

The idea is to prepare children properly.  To train them to be on their own, and to serve the Lord.  However, continue to pray and train and guide whenever needed.