I judge a man by the way he handles himself, and you’ve been ridin’ for the brand. I ain’t interested in anything else.”
–Louis L’Amour (Riding For The Brand)

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’”
–Matthew 25:21 (NLT)
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“By faith he [Moses] left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees Him wo is invisible.”
–Hebrews 11:27 (HCSB)

My pastor preached a very good message on “The Power of Being a Dreamer” last Sunday. Of course, the main character of his story was Joseph, but one time he did allude to Moses. I know in the last days the “old men will dream dreams.” Now, I am of the belief that these could be actual dreams while one sleeps. A word of warning here though, the dream may be from something you recently saw or read, or it may be from that anchovy pizza you had before going to bed. But also, a dream may be something that God has etched in your soul. Something real that will take place, someday.
One thing a dream will do is that it will change your life. A person with a dream will not be the same person he once was. That takes me to Moses. Somewhere he realized that a deliverer would come and take the people of Israel out of bondage. He saw, sensed, dreamed, that one day this would happen. Problem was at the time, he did not know or understand that he would be that deliverer; he would be the one to fulfill his dream. Moses left Egypt and was trained by God for forty years in the wilderness. What were his thoughts those forty years? Did he regret leaving what would have been his kingdom? Did he get depressed because his once lavish life had now turned to that of a shepherd? Or did the feeling that a deliverer would be sent to Israel? Did that ever leave his mind?
Then the day came–“Moses go deliver Israel!” The dream was now finally, after at least forty years, in the process of becoming a reality. He took hold of his dream, took the challenge and led the people out. He could have said anytime in his forty years in the wilderness that the dream was stupid, not real. Look at a couple of things my pastor said and then you see how they could be applied to Moses:
1) Sometimes you will be misunderstood because of your dream.
2) Dreams will motivate you, but realize that dreams do not come without problems.
Is God challenging you in the moments of your slumber? Is he in your quiet time putting thoughts, not only in your mind, but deep into your soul? Now the question is, what are you doing about them? One word of warning: be sure the dream lines up with Scripture. Once you are sure it does, then put some action behind what God is telling you.
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He died October 26, 1928, a graduate of Yale and two German universities. At those universities he saw that skepticism was being taught trying to turn people away from the Word of God. In response, Reuben Archer Torrey, spent his life destroying the skeptics. He wrote a series of booklets known as “The Fundamentals to Defend Basic Christian Doctrine”. His life, his preaching, and his message was always the affirmation that “this Book of the Word of him who cannot lie.”
“He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
–James 1:6

Up Calv’ry’s mountain, one dreadful morn,
Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn;
Facing for sinners death on the cross,
That He might save them from endless loss.”
–Avis B. Christiansen

We have no real concept of “that day”! Was Jesus just enduring the pain and torture as He walked up that road to Calvary? Did He pray, “Father just help me take one more step?” over and over? Was He thinking “soon, soon, this will all be over?” Each bloody step He took was for you and me, and brought Him closer and closer to death. The real pain He must soon endure was not the tremendous pain of the cross, but the agony of man’s sin. Think of it–every sin from creation to October 26, 2017, and beyond was placed upon Him.

“‘Father forgive them!’ thus did He pray,
E’en while His lifeblood flowed fast away;
Praying for sinners while in such woe–
No one but Jesus ever loved so.”

Jesus did not hop and skip up that dreadful road, but He did endure the crucifixion with joy. (Hebrews 12:2) See, we have a wrong concept of joy.  Joy is a fulfillment of a mission, of a life purpose. Joy is not happiness, but at times happiness may be involved.  Joy is seeing love fulfilled in its fullness.  Jesus took upon Himself sin because of His great love.  Remember, He is love.

“Oh, how I love Him, Savior and Friend,
How can my praises ever find end!
Through years unnumbered on heaven’s shore,
My tongue shall praise Him forevermore.

Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
Seems I now see Him on Calvary’s tree;
Wounded and bleeding; for sinners pleading,
Blind and unheeding–dying for me!”

We sometimes think we have it tough. Woe is me, I am undone and nobody loves me. That is a lie, for the Christ who died on the cross loves you. His torture and crucifixion should convince us that we really do not have it so bad. All of that was done for us. That deed should be etched in our souls, and thus there should be continual praises going forth.
Calvary was personal for Jesus; Calvary should be personal for each of us. Yes, He died for the world, but He also died for me! Make it personal, realize that the God of the universe died for you; that Savior and Friend died for you. Make Him personal; make the cross personal.

As he sat there watching the embers, he knew that he had never been meant for the crowd, for work in an office, for gambling in business deals with men. Peace hovered somewhere near him.”
–Zane Grey (Wyoming)

“Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.”
–2 Chronicles 30:8 (NLT)
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I don’t know if my feelings should be hurt or not. Only one person asked who the “Soldier Saint” was. I left his name out of my writing on Monday, by accident, of course.

John of Capistrano
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“I see that old flagpole still stands. Have your troops hoist the colors to its peak, and let no enemy ever haul them down.”
–Gen. Douglas MacArthur (his return to the island of Corregidor)

The enemy today is among us and is threatening to tear down the flag. I do not fear North Korea; I do not fear Iran; I do not even fear Russia or China. The fear is that the something that could happen to our country is in the middle of us. Listen! Those bowing when the National Anthem is being played are not protesting. They are mocking the sacrifices of those gone before; they are scorning the very name of the United States. All they are doing is putting themselves on the grandstand to protest what? That is my real question, what is the real protest about?
One player and Jesse Jackson (who is he?) stated that these football players are still in slavery; they have only changed owners; that they have just exchanged picking cotton to picking up footballs. Hmmm, there are many white players in the NFL; are they slaves as well? If so, there goes the argument for white privilege, or white supremacy. Let me see: these players receive millions of dollars for pay, while slaves received sustenance. These players could quit at any time, while slaves were bound to their master unless freed someway. These players could find a real job, while slaves had to do the job their master gave them. Seems to me there is quite a difference.
I had a colleague, a few years back, and yes, it was in a Christian school. He told me I needed to get rid of my old archaic ideas of nationalism. Globalism is the way of the world and the United States, along with all Christians need to realize it and become part of it. I will agree, that sooner or later (and it may be sooner that you think) the world will be globalistic in nature. When the Antichrist comes to reign there will be a global network, but until then we are admonished to pray for the leaders of our country and be good and loyal citizens.
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Whatever happened to Father Coughlin?
He was ordained a priest in Detroit and began a weekly hour-long radio program. When the Depression hit he began to move away from spiritual topics and started concentrating on political, social, and economic issues. He became an avid supporter of FDR’s New Deal program. He claimed that “the New Deal is Christ’s deal.” Eventually he turned away from Roosevelt and added capitalism to his campaign along with Socialism and Communism.
Some saw him as a man who was standing up for the poor and downtrodden, while others saw him as a threat to the nation. Either way, World War II came along and new slowly began to fade out of the picture. He served as priest until he retired in 1966, and died in 1979.
(thanks to Stephen J. Lang–The Christian History)
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Battle Grounds: “For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, HCSB)

These were the simplest things in life, but none of them were free. A man had to earn them by sweat and hunger and fatigue. That was why they were good.”
–Ernest Haycox (The Border Legion)

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.”
–Luke 13:24 (NLT)
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“Ooops, we blew it.” Have you heard any network or media make that statement concerning Bergdahl? It has been relatively quiet and I hope that after the sentencing he will just go away, but the only things I have read are statements by him, and the implication from the media that he is a poor guy, just the victim of circumstances. Remember, five terrorist leaders were given their freedom for him. A person who has now pleaded guilty to desertion. The media was all over his release and there was a press conference at the White House where he was declared a “hero”.  Hmmmm, nothing about that now that the truth is out.
Listen to his excuse. I walked off my duty post because I did not like my command. What??!! You are to maintain your post until relieved. By walking off we have come to find out that he caused the death and injury to fellow soldiers. I served for six years and I had good commanders, all but one and he was a different sort, but I would never have thought of walking off simply because I didn’t like the way he ran things.
Then he says he can’t get a fair trial because of the President. Now, that is foolishness, either that or he really doesn’t understand the military. He was to be tried in military court. The “rules” are different there. And how about his last statements? The Taliban were nicer than the American military. Hmmm, sounds like a bit of propaganda for the media to play on to me.
To bring it into a spiritual perspective; do not walk off the post where the Lord has placed you. You are responsible for that duty station until relieved. Just because you don’t like the way things may be going is no excuse to just walk off. If you do, who knows who may become a casualty because of what you did.
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Are you ready? It is almost here–Mal de Ojo. The further saga of the life of Elias Butler. Book 2, in the life of Elias Butler will find Texas in turmoil after Reconstruction. Captain Leander McNelly has reformed the Texas Rangers to meet the challenge of lawlessness.
Mal de Ojo is a border village suspected of protecting bandits making raids into Texas. These bandits are led by the evil El Diablo. Captain McNelly has sent Elias Butler to investigate the situation.
Will Elias have the courage, strength, faith, and fortitude to meet the challenge and the powers of the “Evil Eye”?
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Have you ever heard of the “Soldier Saint”? This man was known to be tough in word and in deed. He was born in Italy in the 14th century, and during one of the wars in Italy found himself in prison. In 1456, he became a follower of Christ, and became one of the noted preachers in the Middle Ages. Many times when he would come to town, businesses shut down when he was preaching, for the townspeople went to hear him.
When he was seventy years old, he traveled with the Crusaders to fight in Belgrade, leading a regiment into battle. The Muslim Turks were driven out of the city. A few months later he contracted the plague and died on October 23, 1456.
How about this for an inscription on a gravestone? “A man worthy of all praise, defender and promoter of the faith, guardian of the church…an ornament to all the world.”
We should pray that we have the courage and strength to defend what is good and honorable. We live in troubled times and the Lord still needs those who can be called “Soldier Saints.”
(The Christian History, Stephen J. Lang)