All accidents are freak accidents.  All dangers are hidden dangers, by the very meaning of the word.  Look out for the Indian sharpshooter where there’s no cover to hide him.  Watch out for the badgerhole, far from where any badgerhole should be.  A man can ready himself for anything on earth, if he knows it’s there.”
              –Alan LeMay  (The Unforgiven)

    “Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.”
              –Psalm 17:5 (NKJV)
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I can remember many a time when walking to or from school when I took a misstep or didn’t notice the ice and wham-bam, right down I went.  Or trying to climb an icy, snow-covered hill and slipped and fell.  When one walks on ice they have to concentrate all the time.  Now, I’m not saying that life is covered with ice, but the way it feels outside it is something to talk about.
    As we go through this life we must concentrate on where we step.  To compromise is to take a step without looking ahead or at the consequences.  The consequences of compromise are often hidden, so beware.  I came across an article by Richard Dresselhaus that I would like to share; it surely is pertinent for this day in which we live.

         “Slippery slopes.  If you don’t watch your step…you can be injured.
          When you follow Jesus–be very careful about slippery slopes–those subtle compromises that Satan puts in your path.
          Typically–they are concealed and hidden–like a bit of loose snow on a slope of ice.  And if you’re not careful…you can lose you spiritual balance and fall prey to Satan’s ways.
          The best way to avoid slipping is to be rooted in the truths of God’s Word.  Those truths become like a sign:  Slippery–proceed with caution.
          Modern society is covered with slippery slopes–compromising religious practices–gender confusion…and secular ideologies.
          When tempted by Satan…Jesus quoted the Word of God.
          Do the same–and you’ll stay on your feet when you hit slippery slopes.”

    Yes, watch your step.  Try the spirits, try the thoughts of man, see if they line up with the Word of God, if not, let them be.  
    I recall when I was in high school one of the top baseball players was skiing.  He was moving down the slopes when something happened.  A ski must have hit something beneath the snow and he went down–hard.  Here was a person, seemingly having fun, whose skies went out from under him and when he hit, his head smashed against a hidden stump.  He was never the same, a metal plate replaced the bone that was crushed in his skull.
    Focus on the important things–God, family, country.  Life is not trivial, yet some live it as if it were.  Don’t let your foot slip on the ice because you’re not focused…the consequences could be devastating.

You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back.”
              –Coast Guard motto

    “No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.”
              –John 15:13 (AMPC)
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Veteran’s Day!  A day of remembrance, a day to give thanks to those who have served.  As of November 2017, there were 18.8 million veterans living in the United States, that is 7.6 percent of the population.  If statistics are right there has been a 3.6% decline since then, meaning that only 4% of the population are veterans.
    I have a scripture marked in my Bible given me by a Marine veteran of Vietnam.  Many years ago, he penned it to me on the flyleaf of a book, I have then since marked it in my Bible.  It is indicative of the Vietnam vet, but it could pertain to any.

         “For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in the province of Asia:  we were completely overwhelmed–beyond our strength–so that we even despaired of life.  However, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.”
                  –2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (HCSB)

    Both Annie’s and my family are filled with veterans.  I won’t take the time to list them again, but they served their country.  They understood the saying, “All gave some; Some gave all.”  It makes me wonder if the Millennials and those of Generation Z appreciate the cost that the veteran has paid.
    When I think of a veteran I think of someone who serves.  He doesn’t look for personal accolades or medals, but is concerned about his country, his family, and his fellow soldier.

        “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself.”
                   –Galatians 6:2-3 (HCSB)

    My custom for the past eighteen years has been to send John McRae’s famous poem, “In Flanders Fields,” out to my readers.  I won’t send the complete poem, though it is short, but I want to concentrate on a certain portion.

        “Take up our quarrel with the foe:
         To you from failing hands we throw
            The torch; be yours to hold it high.
            If ye break faith with us who die
         We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
                 In Flanders fields.”

The torch has been thrown to those now living.  Do they reach out and grasp it, hold it high and continue to serve?  Some do, and thank the Lord for them.  Our country dare not break faith with those who have past, those who have sacrificed.

I wanted again the dark and lonely canyons where only echoes lived, the crash and roar of waters charging between the boulders, hurling themselves against a rocky wall… I wanted to skirt the deadfalls, gather the dead sticks from the ground, build a fire of cedar or pine, and smell the smoke.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Bendigo Shafter)

     “Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.'”
              –John 21:9-10 (NKJV)
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Fire, there’s just something about a fire, especially a campfire.  The sound of the wood popping and crackling as the flames begin to consume it.  The warmth and feeling of security it seems to give.  One can sit there, and if not careful become mesmerized by it.  The flickering of the flames up into the night.  I wonder how many times Jesus stooped over a campfire preparing a meal for the disciples?  I don’t think He was the main cook, that lot may have fallen to Nathaniel.  Maybe Philip and Matthew were the fuel gatherers.
    When camping, especially for an extended stay you want to have plenty of fuel around.  Annie and I camped a few years back up in the high country of Utah near the Wyoming border.  As I was out foraging for wood I found a fallen aspen tree.  It had been dead for some time and was prime for the campfire.  Now, aspen doesn’t put out a lot of heat, but it burns well.  I cut it into sections with my handy axe and then snaked it, piece by piece back to camp where I would cut it into smaller pieces.  The chips would make good tinder.
    There are three things needed to make a fire:  tinder, kindling, and fuel (larger pieces).  Over the years in many camping experiences, especially with novices, I have found that they do not gather enough tinder and kindling.  I have even seen some try to light one of the larger logs to start the fire.  Once, the fire is started there needs to be plenty of kindling to makes coals and to keep it going, then the larger branches and logs may be added.
    Fire is an emblem of God’s Word, igniting and warming, but most often it is seen as an emblem of the Holy Spirit.  Look at a few of them:

         –Fire consumes — “For our God is a consuming fire.”  (Hebrews 12:29)
         –Fire purifies — “And he touched my mouth with it [burning coal], and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.’” (Isaiah 6:7)
         –Fire breaks — “But he [Samson]broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks when it touches fire.” (Judges 16:9)
         –Fire softens — “As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.” (Psalm 68:2)
         –Fire hardens — as porcelain is hardened in the fire, so is the believer.
         –Fire inflames — “My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned.”  (Psalm 39:3)
         –Fire warms — “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” (Isaiah 44:16)
         –Fire cheers — fire gives life to a dead room; fire brings a smile to a weary hunter as he comes to camp on a cold day.
         –Fire fuses — And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?'” (Luke 24:32)
         –Fire assimilates — “Fire makes all it seizes like itself (Matthew Henry)
         –Fire tests — the works of man will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
         –Fire illuminates — “In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.” (Psalm 78:14)
         –Fire moves — “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” (Psalm 104:4)
         –Fire ascends — the flame goes upward; there were many burnt-offerings where the flames ascended.

    Think of some of your experiences with fire and try to fit them into one or more of the categories about then see how they fit with the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Remember the words of John the Baptist concerning Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)  I want to leave you this Thanksgiving season with two more thoughts for you to ponder about the fire.  First, from the pen of G.A Young,

              “Some thro’ the waters, some thro’ the flood,
               Some thro’ the fire, but all thro’ the blood…”

Remember the words of Peter, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12)
    Second, a prayer by F.E. Marsh, from whom I gathered some of these thoughts.

              “O Thou, Who camest from above,
                  The pure celestial fire to impart,
               Kindle a flame of sacred love
                  On the mean altar of my heart.

               There let it for Thy glory burn
                  With inextinguishable blaze,
               And trembling to its source return
                  In humble prayer and fervent praise.”

How terrifying to think of one small soul alone with the Creator—not alone as in prayer, but mute, voiceless, waiting for His word!”
              –Zane Grey  (Captive of the Desert)

       “Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.”
              –Psalm 51:4 (NKJV)
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         “I come to the Garden alone,
          While the dew is still on the roses…”
                 –C. Austin Miles

This song speaks about believers today and the relationship they can have with Christ, but for a minute think about that first Garden experience.  Adam, created perfectly, then Eve who was given to walk by his side.  They could wander throughout the Garden, not having to worry about stepping on thorns or thistles.  
    How did they worship?  One way was by having communion with the Lord in the cool of the evening.  They walked together, talked with each other, enjoying one another’s presence.  The other way they worshiped was by loving God with their will.  We are told in Scripture to worship the Lord, love Him, with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  The will of man is part of his soul.  One worships or loves God through his will by obedience.  Isn’t it interesting that Satan attacked man in the areas of his mind and his will.
    For some reason, the devil came into the Garden.  Perhaps he envied the happiness of man.  One of the first things he did was to begin to commune with Eve.  We do not know how long they were in the Garden, nor do we know if the “serpent” had approached them before.  We do know that Eve began to have conversation with him.  Somehow he broke her guard down, questioning the very word of God, and she ate of the only thing that was forbidden.  Her mind gave in to his deceptive words; her will broke down and she ate then gave to Adam and he ate.
    Imagine it, Eve and Adam walking in the Garden.  Were they together when the serpent appeared.  Possibly, for sure Adam was not far away, but the devil talked with Eve first.  The serpent slandered God in front of Eve.  Perhaps he had the fruit in his hands and was taking a bite, the juice running down off his chin, and he was making slurping noises as he bit into it.  But it made her want a bite and made her question God.
    Then it happened, she took a bite and gave to Adam and he did the same.  I wondered if she felt remorse or not until he took a bite?  One thing for sure, they both found God to be true to His Word.  They saw their “nakedness”; the glory of God departed from them, and when He came looking for them later, they hid.  They tried in their own fashion to cover their nakedness.  They did not flee to God for mercy, instead, they hid themselves.  When God called out, Adam became afraid.  
    God compels no man to sin.  The choice is always man.  He can love God with his will or he can choose to follow his own inclinations.  We can be tempted by the devil or by our own hearts, but consent only comes with the concurrence of our own wills.  God is concerned over our acts of disobedience.  He had to carry out His threat with justice or the devil might slander Him, but He did it in a way that provided mercy.  Jesus would come, the Lamb to be slain for the sins of man.
    Let me leave you with something to ponder.  God left Eve with a promise that her seed would destroy the head of the serpent.  Did Eve wonder, with the birth of Cain, that he was to be this promised seed?  Hmmm, Cain, the promised Messiah?  If so, she was soon proven wrong.