Well–well, if you believed in God your case would not be hopeless. But some men–a few out of the man wanderers–find God out here in these wilds.”
–Zane Grey (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

“Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope.”
–Amos 5:20 (NLT)
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“You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what it natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief].”
–John 8:44-45 (AMP)

I don’t know why we should be surprised, but the closer we are to the coming of the Lord, the more we are going to see the works of evil. People in high places are either completely fools, completely deceived, or completely trying to deceive others. More than likely they are a combination of the three. Look at the news and in some of them you can actually see in their faces the deceitfulness of their heart. I watched one senator, upon asking a Christian who was being interviewed for office, if he thought because of his beliefs that Muslims and others are condemned. When he was answered I thought the senator was going to burst a blood vessel in his neck.
Be ready, and again I’ll say be ready for the attacks are only going to increase. The agenda of the world is definitely against those of the Word. Another thing to be careful of is compromise. Jesus, never compromised the truth. He never apologized for speaking and living the truth. There is no blending of light and darkness. Jesus dealt in the area of truth, not public relations. When people disregard the truth, they show who their real father is.
By their fruits you shall know them–look at what is being said. Look at how the news and the truth is being twisted. The term is now “fake news.” Nonsense, call it what it is–LIES. I am not a conspiracist by any means, but there is one great conspiracy out there and it is led by the devil.
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“We set our place, we set our pace
we fill our calendar
We haven’t any time to waste
so, we must whip and spur
Go, sieze the day. Go, make the hay
the sun won’t always shine
And nothing takes forever
‘specially, running out of time.”
–Waddie Mitchell

Now, I’m not one who claims to have too many friends. Maybe it’s because I not such a friendly person. But in the last couple of weeks I’ve felt the hearts of many whom I will claim as friend. Sometimes we tend to drift apart, not necessarily purposeful, but life just sort of happens. Then we have those special times when we have what we call a “homecoming” or maybe better in our case right now a “going-away.”
We get busy, busy, and more busy. Our calendars are full and we make them more full by adding things that might not necessarily be that important. We put friends aside, not really meaning to, but busyness gets in the way. Then, all of a sudden, we find that we have run out of time.
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Here’s a little saying that makes a lot of horse sense. It is kind of a good way to look at life.

“You miss a lot when you travel at a gallop.”
–unknown

Now I know there are times to get up and get moving! Sometime you have to put the spur to life, but more often than not we miss some of the things that the good Lord has given us to appreciate. It’s also hard to be aware of the things around you when you’re rushing around at a gallop; something might come upon you unawares.

Another swap and another raking of spurs, not knowing where he was, not caring, knowing only that a trail is longer or shorter and that no man rides forever.”
–Brice Walton (The Land Beyond)

“I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.”
–Psalm 119:59 (NLT)
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Have you ever read the grand old classic, “Robinson Crusoe”?  It was one of the first English novels, and if you haven’t taken the time to read it you should.  Make it part of your summer reading program.  I was going over some of my notes that I took from the book and it caused me to ponder some.

“In a word, as my life was a life of sorrow one way, so it was a life of mercy another; and I wanted nothing to make it a life of comfort but to be able to make my sense of God’s goodness to me and care over me in this condition be my daily consolation.”
–Daniel Defoe

My question then to you is, what is your life?  Have you been living a life for someone else?  Perhaps you are living a life of illusion and fantasy.  Maybe you are one of those who want to live the Peter Pan Syndrome and never grow up.  Has your life been one of woe and sorrow and if so why?  The types could go on, but the reality is that we should live a life that brings glory to God no matter what situation we find ourselves in.
We think more of our woes and fears than we do of God’s goodness.  We whine and want more and more of God’s blessings when we do not take the time to thank Him for what He has already given us.  At the end of each day we should stop and thank Him for His goodness toward us this day.  I recall the words from Paul:

“Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.”
–Philippians 4:11 (AMP)

As a castaway Crusoe had to learn the lessons of survival.  He realized that God watched over him day-by-day, but more importantly he had to learn the lessons given to him by the Spirit.
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“You can’t insult arrogance.”
–unknown

My mercy, that is the truth.  Arrogance is despicable.  I don’t hardly watch the political scene because not only of the arrogance, but the stupidity that arises from it.  There is an agenda in America and much of it comes from arrogant people.  They don’t care about people, only their agenda.
Folks, hang in there, the Lord is surely getting things ready.

Those perfect full days when you felt that the whole world was yours and you had been here forever.  Mountains did that to you, these mountains.”
–Hal Borland  (When the Legends Die)

“Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains.”
–Deuteronomy 3:25 (NLT)
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I hesitated about putting any hymns out this summer, but then I know that several people enjoy reading them, and a few actually start to hum the tune if they know it.  This hymn is powerful and is one of my favorites.  Charles Wesley was so inspirational and doctrinal in his writings.  What I didn’t know was that there are 19 verses to this hymn.  Look at just a few with me.

          “O for a thousand tongues to sing
           My great Redeemer’s praise,
           The glories of my God and King,
           The triumphs of His grace!”

That is one of the place where Satan made his mistake.  In trying to conquer the Son of God, even with his vast knowledge, he had no idea of the power of His grace.  Let me tell you for sure that there will be more than a thousand tongues that sing, will sing, and continue to sing the praises of our Redeemer.  How many will there be in heaven singing around the throne?

          “Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
           That bids our sorrows cease;
           ’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
           ’Tis life, and health, and peace.”

We don’t have an inkling behind the power of Jesus’ name.  Far too many use it improperly and profane it.  Others, believers, think that it is a magical incantation to cite when trouble arises.  However, it is the Name above all names.  It is the name, that if you have a personal relationship with Him, the fears of life are put to rest. 

          “He breaks the power of canceled sin,
           He sets the prisoner free;
           His blood can make the foulest clean,
           His blood availed for me.”

Why praise His name so loudly, so often?  The verse above tells much of the reason.  Sin is gone–removed; prisoners, once bound by the chains of sin are now free.  No matter how evil, how despicable a person thinks they are, the blood of Christ is able to cleanse and restore.  No matter how often He has done it for others, that blood was also there for me.

          “In Christ your Head, you then shall know,
           Shall feel your sins forgiven;
           Anticipate your heaven below,
           And own that love is heaven.”

The load of sin, the shame and guilt that was once borne has now been removed.  Sins are forgiven as we journey toward heaven.  But there is one line of truth in this verse that far too many Christians have not taken to heart.  We need to live in the Kingdom now by “anticipating our heaven below.”  We grumble, murmur, and often complain about life and forget that where Christ is, there is a part of heaven.

          “I found and owned His promise true,
           Ascertained of my part,
           My pardon passed in heaven I knew
           When written on my heart.”

With 19 verses it was hard to choose which ones to write down.  I would encourage you to look up the hymn and meditate on each of the verses.  But this last one I chose has a truth that we often neglect.  We moan about our life and have regrets about our past.  We have been pardoned so all that junk has been erased.  At the same time look into your heart and see what the Holy Spirit has written.  His promises, His Word, His laws are written down, etched deep, in our hearts.
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Be sure to keep us in your prayers.  Right now, there is one more hurdle for the house.  The inspector said the roof wasn’t put on right, so I have to have my roofer come out and take pictures to show that it was.  That is supposed to happen on Saturday. 
Things just aren’t like they used to be.  There is all kinds of paperwork, legal jargon, and who controls the power.

She brought me fresh coffee, some tortillas, and beans, placing them on a table beside me.”
–Louis L’Amour  (Tucker)

“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”
–Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
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Wheeeee-doggies!  Mercy me, another one has come.  Yep, my friends and readers, Annie and I celebrated 46 years of marriage yesterday.  It was a time, let me tell you.  No, we didn’t go out and paint the town red, nor even a faded pink, but I cocked an eye at her at the breakfast table and she cocked an eye at me, and we sat there, cock-eyed as can be.
Maybe I’ve told you, but it bears repeating here.  It was her staring at me one day in the Evangel cafeteria that caught my attention.  Of course I stared back, and maybe my memory isn’t as good at this point, but I’m thinking she winked at me.  (oh, oh, here comes the rolling pin)  For some reason she always says I exaggerate, well, maybe the winking, but there was a thought that raced through my gray matter, “I’m gonna marry her.”  Now it had to be fleeting, and of course I was quite shy back then, but I didn’t give her nary a thought for several months.
Now here we are.  The eyelids don’t wink or flash as they used to, so we just sat there, like I wrote, cockeyed.  Through the years we may have made many a cockeyed turn on our journey.  Let’s see:  MO to PA to FL to CO to NY to PA to TX to LA to KY and back to Texas.  We are in the process of making another life change by moving from the grand city of San Antonio with all its tacos to the town of Coldspring in East Texas.  Sure hope I can find a few good Mexican restaurants or I’ll have to get my frijole culinary skills honed up.
Forty-six, actually forty-seven if you throw in that courting year; well, the year I had to convince her that she needed to spend her life with me.  I’m not sure what I’ve thrown into the mix, maybe a bowl of chili or two, but have I ever told you that she makes a mean pie, especially apple?  Yep, I grabbed the real thing when I got her.  One little story and I’ll move along.  Annie’s from outside Pittsburgh, PA.  Now those folk are not used to the ways of the West.  She hardly knew what a taco was and forget about the idea of an enchilada.  I’m from Colorado and I usually had me a pair or two of boots, cowboy boots.  In fact, we are in the yearbook with me walking her back to her dorm wearing my cowboy boots.  After we were engaged, she began to have nightmares.  No, not about me, but about me wearing my boots to the wedding.  I’ve got her partially trained now though, I think if we were to get married now, she would not fret about me wearing my boots, she would know it would happen.
Through those years the Lord sure has been good to us.  We have had some adventures as we journeyed down this trail of life.  And I will certainly say–it’s been a good life and journey!
Hey, honey, how ’bout a piece of pie?
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Speaking of moving, last week we went out to mark out the perimeter of the house on our lot.  Had to mark which trees to take out and which to try and leave.  It was a fun experience.  But the next morning, Pockets was moaning that the chiggers had gotten him.  I didn’t laugh for I know those little buggers.  I was camping in Arkansas, many years ago, along the White River, and I made a nice meal for them.  Since then I haven’t had much problem with them.
I pulled on the same pants, and drove back home to San Antonio, not really thinking of chiggers.  The next morning, I saw where they feasted on my legs.  Just looking at them started the itching.  Little microscopic devils, and they do little damage, but they do leave that torturous itch.  I reckoned that they were in my pants and just waiting for a tender piece of my leg appear.
That got this ol’ fence post to pondering the ways of the devil.  Very seldom will we actually face an attack from him personally, but he often lets some of his little vermin try to feed on us; he sends his little “chiggers” to feast.  We don’t see them, but all of a sudden we begin to itch, and then we start the scratching.  Some of those so-called “little sins” can cause us a tremendous amount of irritation.  If we don’t cleanse ourselves and get them off they will keep on biting.  Then the itching really starts, and that is a nuisance. There is danger if we scratch too much for then more of those bad “little bugs” called bacteria can get in and now there is a full-blown problem–infection.
The good news is that they are now beginning to fade some.  We have ointments to put on them to stop the itching.  Remember that the Epistles were written to believers, not to the world (that doesn’t mean that some of it cannot apply to them).  We can apply the balm from the Holy Spirit from 1 John 1:9.  “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
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Here’s a little bit of wisdom that you might want to ponder.  “If you stick your nose into trouble, your feet are bound to follow.”  In other words, unless you are guided by the Holy Spirit or you are concerned about a family member or friend–mind your own business.