Yet friendship had its ties which held even when friendship is gone.  It was a cold-blooded man who suddenly, on the morning of bad luck, cut these ties clean and stepped away.  It meant the ties were never very real; it meant a man’s loyalty was a shifty thing, subject to any variation in weather.  If a man could not stand fast in a few things, what kind of meaning did life have?”
–Ernest Haycox  (Canyon Passage)

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
–Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)
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I was thinking, pondering actually, about the term “prime”.  It could mean meat.  For example, a prime cut.  Does that describe you?  Not a piece of meat, but prime.  Some of you may remember back to the old days when getting water meant going to the well or pump.  If you had a hand-pump the first thing you had to do was prime it.  That pump just wouldn’t work unless it was primed.  Are you the primer that brings the water gushing out?  Then I thought of the blackpowder weapons.  After moving from flint they went to a primer.  Load the rifle or pistol with lead and powder and nothing would happen unless there was a primer attached.  The hammer would hit the primer causing a spark and then the weapon would discharge.  Are you a primer from which would come a large explosion?
Every morning most of you reading this need a primer.  You head for the coffeepot.  There is a rule where I live, first one up makes the coffee.  That means me for I’m usually the first one up.  I make it strong; I want those drinking it to be primed for the day!  Bah on those who drink cinos or soda pop for breakfast.  That doesn’t really do much priming. (hmmm, maybe I should have saved this for my Saturday Coffee Perc.)
Ahhhh, the smell, the sound, the flavor that comes from that cup of coffee.  Think about it now, does your life exude the sound, flavor and smell that is pleasing to the Lord; the sound of a spirit-led life?  And while I’m on coffee, it was the third most important requirement of our soldiers in both World War I and World War II, just under arms and ammunition.
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“All of a sudden, Fred gave a scream and reared up almost throwing me off.  After he came back on all four legs he was snorting and agitated.  I looked to see what caused this reaction: slithering off the side of the road was a large rattler.  I pulled my gun.
‘Easy, Elias,’ cautioned Brown.
‘I don’t like snakes!’  And I watched as it went around the building looking for shade.
Fred had settled down, and my heart was nearly back to normal, so we continued on down what seemed to be the main street.  Tom started to rein in at the first building, a cantina, but I shook my head as I remembered that snake was somewhere in the vicinity.”
(excerpt from Mal de Ojo)

Satan, that old serpent, still slithers around causing screams and havoc.  He would like nothing better than to sink his fangs deep into your heart and soul.  Be aware then, of your steps.  Do you realize that when the curse is removed and Jesus reigns during the Millennial Period that the serpent will still bear the remarks of the curse as a reminder?

“‘The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,’ Says the Lord.”
–Isaiah 65:25 (NKJV)

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

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.

It was called the Great War; the War to end all wars, but now commonly referred to as World War I. It also marked the beginning of the nationalization of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (though a few years later). If you have ever been to Gettysburg there are many makers there that simply read “Unknown” so the “Tomb” symbolizes and represents all of those in America who died “known only to God.”
This is my traditional note on Veterans Day. Don’t skip over the lines, but take time to read them; get them into your heart, mind, and soul. Understand the tremendous cost of those valiant ones who lay beneath the sod.
My Grandpa Kenlock F. Jones served in the army during World War I as did his sister Henrietta Jones. My Grandpa Adkisson tried to enlist and they told him he was too young. He and a friend went, got tattoos, and went to another town to enlist. Guess what? They saw through the ruse and told him that he was still too young.
One story on my Dad during World War II. I think it was in the Philippines that Dad hurt his finger. The doctor worked on it; there was a war going on so he had to get back in the action. They “fixed” his finger, so that it could never straighten fully, but it had movement so he could pull a trigger.
Just a few notes on Veterans Day. Take time to thank a Vet!

They only prayed!  I heard that comment over and over.  The unbeliever, the person of the world has no concept of the sovereignty of God, no concept of biblical faith, no concept of the heavenly Father.  All they can do in a horrible situation is mock and scorn.  However, to the believer, Death Hath No Terrors.  Not that it is immediately welcomed, but the fear is gone.  The true believer will be able to say, “O Death, where is thy sting?”. (1 Corinthians 15:55)  In reality it is death that is mocked.

          “Death has no terrors for the blood-bought one,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!
           The boasted vict’ry of the grave is gone,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!”
                    –C.P. Jones

The believer has already experienced death for he has died to the world.  The world, its pain, sorrow, and woe does not hold the Christian under its sway.  Instead of fear there is the power of the Holy Spirit.  If the believer is on their deathbed, the soul is still vibrant and alive.

          “Our souls die daily to the world and sin, 
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!
           By the Spirit’s power as He dwells within,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!”

We are pilgrims on this earth, wandering toward that glorious, heavenly city.  This world does not hold us, for we will dwell in a mansion that Jesus has prepared for us.  While we travel there may be toil and trouble, but the joys that are waiting for us on that heavenly shore will never cease.

          “We seek a city far beyond this vale,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!
           Where joys celestial never, never fail,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!”

Onward we go no matter what the foe brings against us.  Temptations shall be no more.  Storms rage now, but they will cease.  People may gloat over us, but soon they will be passed by.  The heart may ache, but that is only temporary.  Those that mock cannot understand the hope and peace that the believer has when faced with eternity.  Perhaps that is why they scorn so; they do not have that hope.

          “We’ll the press forward to the heav’nly land,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!
           Nor mind the troubles met on ev’ry hand,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!”

Two and a half years ago I lay on a gurney ready for a procedure to take care of a blocked artery in my heart.  I stared at the ceiling, but I was not anxious or fretful.  There was peace; if death came it had no terror for me.  There was nothing I could do about it anyway.  So I just put my trust in the Lord; He was in control anyway.

          “We’ll rise some day just as our Savior rose,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!
           Till then shall death be but a calm repose,
           O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!

                    Jesus rose from the dead,
                    Rose triumphant as He said,
                    Snatched the vict’ry from the grave,
                    Rose again our souls to save–
                    O glory hallelujah to the Lamb!”

You oughtn’ to hate work. Hard work makes for what I reckon you like in a man, but don’t understand. As I look back over my life…what I remember most an’ feel best over are the hardest jobs I ever did an’ those that cost the most sweat an’ blood.”
–Zane Grey (The Mysterious Rider)

“So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.”
–Ecclesiastes 3:22 (NIV)
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Sunday was a horrific day! The first thing that came to my mind was, “How terrible; the poor families.” Then I started to ponder, could this shooting have been stopped? Perhaps the only way would be if there was an armed guard outside the door and one inside. The one outside would first of all be a deterrent, and second, he might take a bullet, but that would give the person inside an opportunity to act.
I see the pundits from the left are already starting. First, give the families a break and let them get their loved ones buried in peace. Second, this shooting could not be stopped. In fact, very few can be stopped totally. There was a slipup with the Air Force, if that is correct. The shooter should not have been able to purchase a weapon. Finally, as always, it was not the rifle; it was the crazy man behind the rifle.
It is a shame that we should have to arm guards for a church. But really, what can we expect? God and prayer are removed, right is now wrong and wrong is right. When God’s moral laws are flaunted and mocked what else can happen in society but for it to degenerate?
Isn’t it interesting that the reason he stopped firing at the church was that an armed neighbor started firing at him. Sometimes it takes armed force to stop the maniacs out there. See why I tell you to be aware of your surroundings, keep your gun oiled and your Bible well read.
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I’ve always been one to ponder. Thoughts sort of float through my head, well, sometimes they actually run and I don’t catch them. I don’t always come up with conclusions with my ponderings, and sometimes I still wonder about them. I happened to come across this little reading, so I pondered it.

“It is good to spend time each day in quiet reflection, thinking and praying about our lives. Much of our daily life is spent ‘inside our own heads,’ though just how much varies a lot with individuals and circumstances.
Introverts and people who live alone probably spend more time inside their own heads than extroverts and people who live with others.
In any case, there are perils to reflection and interiority; quiet reflection can easily turn into brooding over real or imagined grievances. The teacher on the way to school and the office worker on the way to work may both be imagining the difficult individuals they are sure to confront.
How much of your interior life is spent in these imaginary conflicts? While it can be helpful to rehearse the argument you plan to have with someone, these rehearsals can easily become obsessive and filled with unkind thoughts about others.
Also, do you find yourself dwelling on unchaste thoughts throughout the day? Sometimes we must make a conscious effort to clean up our interior space…”

I know that many times the thoughts are put there by the devil, however, other times they come from our own imaginations. It is important that we reflect upon the day and upon God’s Word, but we must be careful about “vain imaginations.” Dallas Willard said, “I have found that there is always a quality of nervousness, of tininess, about one’s own thoughts.” If we are not careful they can cause anxiety or depression.

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.”
–Philippians 4:8 (HCSB)
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How about this? Atheist Stephen Hawking made the following statement, The “earth could become a ball of fire.” Hmmm, you don’t think he might be sneaking in some Bible reading?

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c] 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?”
–2 Peter 3:10-12 (NKJV)