Here I am in Utah!
"The Hub" and I love all things western – western, as in the Old West. And twice a year we venture out to western festivals where we enjoy shopping, dressing up (photos of us below!), and visiting with old western TV and movie stars.
Here's a few of the names that are at this year's Western Legends Roundup:
James Drury from The Virginian
Clint Walker from Cheyenne
Dan Haggerty from Grizzly Adams
Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
Wyatt McCrea, grandson of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee
Johnny Crawford from The Rifleman
Peter Ford, son of Glenn Ford
Robert Fuller from Wagon Train (and Emergency!)
James Hampton from F Troop (he was the bugler)
Do any of these names ring a bell and make you take a walk down Memory Lane?!
Well, let me tell you, we're sure experiencing a second childhood!
One of things we love is how nice people are. Friendly, polite, accommodating. "The Hub" and I are always bemoaning how sad it is that progress and technology seem to be gradually (or not-so-gradually) eroding good old-fashioned values.
The "Code of the West" has disappeared. Three years ago, I blogged about that code, and I thought I'd reprint my thoughts on that here:
There are many versions of the "Code" – but they all have one thing in common.
They closely parallel Biblical principles.
So, without further ado, here's a short version of "The Code of the West" – and a verse from Scripture that corresponds with it:
1. Live Each Day with Courage – "…be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
2. Take Pride in Your Work – "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord…" (Colossians 3:23)
3. Always Finish What you Start – "Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now…"
(2 Corinthians 8:11)
4. Do What Has to Be Done – "Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
5. Be Tough, But Fair – "This is what the LORD says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right!" (Jeremiah 22:3)
6. When You Make a Promise, Keep It – "The godly are directed by honesty…" (Proverbs 11:5)
7. Ride for the Brand – "So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ…" (2 Corinthians 5:20)
8. Talk Less and Say More – "…I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue…" (Psalm 39:1)
9. Remember That Some Things Are Not For Sale – "You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)
10. Know Where to Draw the Line – "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation." (Matthew 26:41)
If it's not yours, don't take it.
If it's not true, don't say it.
If it's not right, don't do it.
"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable." (Philippians 4:8)
Advice that SHOULD stand the test of time, huh?
The other thing I'm pondering tonight is how much "The Hub" and I wax nostalgic for those good ol' days. We often think it would be so much fun to have been able to live in the Old West. However, granted, we look backward with romantic eyes.
The ACTUAL Old West was a tough frontier.
Lives were hard and often short-lived. Making a living was thankless toil. Hard work was the rule, from sunup to sundown. And I'm not exactly sure I would have fit in real well – (for instance, in my leisure time I don't smoke cigars, play the game of Faro, nor gulp shots of whiskey).
Also, I'm not thinking that I would have done well in the real reality of being a homesteader.
I collect old irons – (as in ironing clothes, not golf clubs!) And those things weigh a TON! I can't imagine hoisting those things to get out wrinkles – I would have had true Biceps of Steel – (instead of these flabby things made of crepe paper that I call upper arms).
And that's not even considering washboard-clothes-cleaning, butter-churning, wood-splitting, horse-shoeing, or a thousand other chores.
But…
"The Hub" and I have the luxury of looking back in fondness, without all the tough stuff.
I think about this.
Sometimes we look back at our own lives, our own memories, and we long for the good ol’ days. Maybe for the blissful and carefree days of childhood. Or the giddy moments of a first love. Or the reckless freedom of adolescence. Or the wonder-full joys of early parenthood.
But, if you think about it, for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ and long for His return, the good ol' days don't lie behind us…
…they hover on the horizon of hope!
Hope for a future in eternity with the Lord!
Hope for a place where the values of the Code of the West will be fulfilled in perfection. Where there will be no more drudgery or heavy-laden hearts.
A timeless time when all will be well, all will be truly well…forever.
Having fun in Utah right now, yes.
But oh, so longing for the Good Ol' Days that await me in the future!
Yee Haw and Yippee Ki Yay!!
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Marshal Virgil Earp... |
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...and His Wife |
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice..." (1 Peter 1:3-6, NIV)
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared...And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven...I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.' And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I am making everything new!'" (Revelation 21:1-5, NLT)
So what are you looking forward to the most in the Good Ol' Days to come in Heaven?
Linked today with:
Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Jen at UNITE
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Shari at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Wanda at FRIDAY FIVE FELLOWSHIP
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
I long for the values of the "good old days" to return. I'm not one to live in the past but we sure could use a big dose of decency in the world today. I loved the old westerns and so does my hubby...he DVRs many of them weekly. By the way, the pics are adorable and look really authentic! At first I thought your Hub was Sam Elliot...on of my favorite actors..lol!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know any of those names, lol. I love that perspective that the good old days don't lay behind us but on the horizon of hope. Our best days are yet to come. Cute pics of the two of you.
ReplyDeleteWell hellooooo Miss Kitty! Sorry to compare you to the saloon owner, but you're pretty feathered up in them thar duds... I love your picture almost as much as I love the one of the hub, who is now officially known in my head by another name. Do I REALLY have to tell you that it's Hunky McElliot?
ReplyDeleteDidn't think so.
I so loved this whole post, both the part about the code of the west (I want to figure out a way to frame that somehow) and the part about waxing nostalgic for what is behind us when what is in front of us is so awesome.
As usual, I leave here better for having come. That's a pretty wonderful credit to your writing.
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post, liked the photo's
Hubba hubba!!! What a great looking pair!
ReplyDeleteI think you already know that my hubby also collects early western stuff, has for about 40 years, so it all looks and sounds completely normal to me. :)
Love the code of the west lines... when a good firm handshake said it all. Your parallels are priceless!
Great post, Sharon. Yes, we need to return to some old fashioned values. Yet, the best is yet to come!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos. Looks like you and the hubs are having a great time!
Oh, I agree with Debbie above -- your husband is Sam Elliot's twin brother, I know it! lol What fun it looks like the two of you are having!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about longing for the good ol' days. Especially with all the things in the news these days, it can get pretty depressing looking at our society. I've often longed for a quieter and simpler time from the past. But then, I remember that looking back doesn't see the full picture. Even (and especially) in Biblical times, things were pretty rough, too! Morality may seem pretty shaky now-a-days, but it does seem that history repeats itself. We live in a fallen world...and no matter what decade we live in, I'm so thankful for our Savior who saves us from the decay all around us. But, like you, I'm excited for the good ol' days to come...on the horizon of hope!
Blessings to you and the sheriff! lol
In Him, Joan
Love this, Sharon, and how I wish we could return to the values of those old time days. You guys look so fabulous in your western gear. Your husband reminds me of Sam Elliott. And, yes, this all seems very normal to me too as my husband loves all things western. Just when I think he has read every western novel there is, the librarian suggests another author. He has read every Louis L'amour book published, I do believe!
ReplyDeleteHugs~
Loved this post!
ReplyDeleteHow fun is that Sharon, you both look great! When I read that list to The Sweetheart he was jealous. We love James Drury especially...still watch The Virginian reruns! Great post, have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteOh this sounds like a truly fun short vacation to visit the "West" I like your ten Rules and the scriptures for each. And don't forget the ending - -If it's not yours, don't take it.
ReplyDeleteIf it's not true, don't say it. If it's not right, don't do it. I can see that collecting irons could be quite a different hobby. Thank you for sharing your story here at "Tell Me a Story."
Thanks for sharing this interesting post today. Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. I am linking up just after you over at Rich Faith Rising.
ReplyDeleteReally like this post.
ReplyDeleteloved this Sharon...especially the life instructions. And collecting irons????? Wow. those must take up alot of space. Hugs and happy Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon! I love going to historical places, this is my kind of fun! That code of the west and the Scripture to match is just so cool! Nice :)
ReplyDeleteThe Old West wasn't anything close to perfect, but neither am I. I'll look forward to all the love in heaven. Love is what lasts, and that will be amazing!
Ceil
Sharon,
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post. I too, am a huge fan of things from the West and never really considered your point about how tough it was to want to go back to those days and live in the West. I too, could not have imagined just how hard a woman's life would have been especially if she lost her husband and had to raise a family on her own. Gives a whole new appreciation for single parents.
I look forward to the day when sickness and death are no longer things we fear because in heaven those will be removed. I no longer will have to live in fear that my loved one will be taken from me. Those are the moments I live for.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Hi Sharon~So glad the future will hold more wonder-filled moments than the good-old days that I often long for. Now I have something to compare those days to. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm glad you are relaxing with the Hubs. You look soooo cute in your purple Old West dress up.
Blessings,
Janis
A priceless post for sure, Sharon! Love the code and the costumes. We use to dress up as a family in Oatman, AZ and I remember reminiscing once with the photographer saying wish I lived back then when life was simple and people lived the code. She said: "Not me! No penicillin. No advanced medicine to save lives." So despite all complicated modern technology and loose morals, we are blessed by far. I love the western novels by Janette Oke featuring settling in homesteads. It's our American history. Have fun on your trip!
ReplyDeleteA great post, Sharon - but the pictures were a tease - only two??? I wanted to see you in photos with all the old time western folk mentioned here - yes, I remember them all.
ReplyDeleteFondly.
And, I am always waxing nostalgic. The "code" sounds good to me. How did we lose it? It worked. Nothing nowadays does. I'm with you, too, in that I don't have the physical where-with-all to live that hard life. Perhaps if I'd been brought up in it - but, I do love the fruit of an agricultural society living close to Creation and retaining some humanity. I fear society is turning into beasts and robots.
Even so - come Lord Jesus, come. With every glance at the headlines, can't be long, now. Until that day, though, I shall occupy with what I know - pointing back to the memorial stones of Goodness and Light - Beauty and Innocence. Just like Israel was constantly reminded of their past to encourage living for God in the present so as to pass on the legacy to future generations, I am compelled to do the same.
Wish I was dressing in period attire with you and the Sheriff. Ed and I would fit right in there, ya know.
Joy!
Kathy
Much of what you shared re: the former Western programs and stars sure stood out to me. Some really make my heart sing. HOWEVER some of what you described was more based on reality as family and outside workers. It was rarely an easy everyday thing then. In some ways, ain't easy now.
ReplyDeleteRe: Heaven and Eternity, all I can do is look forward to it.. I "see" too much of what is hitting too many in this world, and my heart is broken. BUT serving Him is all that counts here and serving Him forever in eternity is definitely what I want to do, especially if it will bring more and more peace to more and more people. BTW, I have LIVED in Revelation many times. The Lord drops me in there often.
Thank you for your good sharing, good explaining, good way of encouraging people to move forward.
Wonderful post. Loved the pics :)))
ReplyDeleteLove this, and I agree with the advice. Your photos are great. Such a pretty area and some great old shows.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon, great post. Loved the pics. And loved your words. Such great truth there.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
What fun pictures! And such a great word.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday!
God bless!
I long for the seeming easiness and laid back feelings of the Good Ol Days! Life seemed to go slower and consequently you were able to enjoy and appreciate each moment. Thank you for your post today. I loved stepping back into time even for a minute. Blessings!
ReplyDeletemmm ... remembering those ol' shows with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans ... now those were the days!
ReplyDeleteYou two are adorable! And such wonderful truths you share! So good having you UNITE, my friend! ~ Jen
ReplyDeleteGosh what a great post. You had a good time in Utah! I have heard some of their names. I love all those rules - all good ones. And you are BEAUTIFUL! sandie
ReplyDelete