Month: March 2018

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Living a life is much like climbing mountains–the summits are always further off than you think, but when a man has a goal, he always feels he’s working toward something.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Lonely Men)

“If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
–Exodus 18:23 (NLT)
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“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first…”
–2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV)

“And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”
–2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 (NKJV)

Let me give you a couple of thoughts to ponder this morning and throughout the day. First of all, look at 2:3, “the falling away.” That is interesting, yet something that should concern us. Barna shows that the age groups that attend church the most, read their Bible more, and pray are the groups knows as Elders and Boomers. His study shows that each following generation grouping is less with the Millennials and Generation Z showing the least inclination to pray, study God’s Word, and go to church.
Here is the question: is this the “falling away” that is seen here? If so, and even if not, it should make us more aware of our responsibility to that generation; that they hear the Word of the Lord. This is the generations of my grandchildren. Let us be diligent with our responsibilities and obligations.
Second, in this version the “He” in “He who now restrains” is capitalized. I have heard that it refers to the Holy Spirit. But then, I have some questions. If the Spirit is God, and He is, He is omnipresent. If people are saved during the Tribulation, and there will be, who will convict them and apply the blood of Christ, if the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way?
In the past I have thought it may refer to the Church. What will it be like on earth once the Church is removed? The Church is you and me; it represents light and salt. If the light and salt is taken away evil will run rampant. Yet, I lean toward the idea that it is a particular ministry of the Holy Spirit that will be taken away. Troublesome times will overtake the earth.
I heard a preacher, several years ago, mention in prayer one day why evil continually abounds and why morality is dropping and changing in America. He mentioned in his sermon that God revealed to him that the Lord allowed the political climate so that a revival and a change could take place, yet the people of God did not heed the call. This was when Reagan and Bush were presidents. Following them the tide began to change. Moral standards began to drop and terror began to arise. Then another President, a man of faith–George W. Bush. Gene Smith in his book, Faith & the Presidency states that George W. Bush spoke about his faith more than any President in our history. For that he was maligned and the evil tentacles of hatred began to appear. Then there was eight years of the Obama administration when postmodernism and all its delights had a hey-day and political correctness ran rampant. Now, unless there is a national awakening what lies before us?
A falling away by the nation morally! The mystery of lawlessness is already at work, and soon the Holy Spirit will be taken away and it will be a literal hell on earth. Read the Book of Revelation and see all the times the word “Woe” is used. In this time it would be good for us to handle the pressures that are coming to bear. And perhaps we should pray that last prayer in the Scripture, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I stayed pretty close to the diner during the day. I made it my custom to make a round of the town around ten o’clock at night and I wandered in and out of stores making myself visible during the day. Why? That’s a good question as it was not really my responsibility, but guess I was concerned about my friends and fellow citizens. If Billington and the council had any sense they’d rehire Charlie Gold for marshal, but that would go against their arrogant way of doing things.
The weather had gotten colder, down around freezing, but there was relatively little snowfall, maybe an inch or two. In a couple of weeks I had to make the trip to Silverton and oversee the transfer of ore from the train from Silverton to one that would be heading for Denver. Molly would make that trip with me.
I wouldn’t say we were tense, but we were definitely on the alert. Those three men, especially the one I cracked on the skull, Jasper Fletcher, would be making a move. I surely wished they would do it sooner than later. Get it done and over and let the good Lord be with us.
The U.S. Marshal’s office in Denver answered my telegraph stating that Fletcher was wanted in Kansas for murdering a man in Salina. Since he crossed state lines to escape being arrested, that brought him under my jurisdiction as well. I had no idea who the other two men were and the office in Denver didn’t know of any men who rode with him.
My morning round was just finished and I walked into the diner. Marta was back to her old self, which was a relief to us all. The morning rush was over and the three women were back in the kitchen cleaning up when I entered. As was my habit, I walked over to the stove, took my coat off and placed it on the back of my chair, then propped the shotgun up against the wall behind me to my right. Molly came in taking a seat beside me.
“Pour me a cup too,” she pleaded. “Please.”
I looked at her. “What is that all about?” I asked.
“What? Can’t a wife be nice to her husband?” she replied coyly.
Grabbing a couple of cups off the shelf, I then reached and filled one. Placing it on the table in front of her I said, “There you are dear,” with some playful sarcasm. “Should I get the cream and sugar for you too, my dear?”
As I turned back to the stove the front door opened. I had a cup in one hand, the coffeepot in the other and I half-turned to the sound of the door opening. It was time.
Three men walked in, Fletcher in the middle. As soon as they came in the door, they spread out. I finished pouring my coffee and turned toward them taking a sip. One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that those who are full of evil and have rotting souls, dress like the scum they are. Oh, there are the exceptions, like the card-sharps and gunmen, and those who commit fraud and crimes such as that, but scum dress like scum. You can see it in their appearance and in their countenance. Evil just sort of clings to them. Quickly I thought, “out of the heart.”
“Go ahead,” came the bark from Fletcher. “Enjoy your last cup.”
I eyed the Greener, but it was too far away. He smiled and spoke again. “Not so tough without that shotgun.”
Several months back I remembered being in this situation, three men, spread out, here in the diner. “At least let my wife move back to the kitchen,” I requested.
He eyed her. I’m sure he wondered if there was a gun back there or not. “Don’t go too far,” he said with a leer. “We might have use for you later.” She scurried off to the kitchen.
“Take that last drink!” he ordered. Besides you crackin’ my skull, I’ve been paid good money. I’ll look forward to seein’ you lay on the floor like that drunk in the saloon.”
Somebody paid him? I had to do something before they were too spread out.
Breathing a deep sigh I brought the cup to my lips. For some reason the coffee turned awful bitter. Now was as good a time as any, I flung the cup…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

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

“But the wicked will be blinded. They will have no escape. Their only hope is death.”
–Job 11:20 (NLT)
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I sense that the world is full of turmoil and hatred. Things are happening faster and faster. There is a trembling in and on the earth. The inhabitants of the world are being primed for the rise of the ugliness and power and reign of evil. People mock God, people mock the Christ of the Cross, people mock the working of the Holy Spirit, and people mock the way of the Christian. Two Scriptures keep coming to my mind:

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
–Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
–Matthew 24:37 (NKJV)

Now I may be old, but ol’ brother Noah and I weren’t on speaking terms. He was some before my time, however, the days must have been terribly evil, for the people of that time brought the wrath of the Lord to the earth. There is a day such as that, minus the water, that is upon the horizon.
The days ahead may take you into a wilderness that you have not faced before. This may be one in the physical, mental, or spiritual but I believe it will be a combination of the three. One of the definitions of “wilderness” is the following:

“Something characterized by bewildering vastness, perilousness, or unchecked profusion.”

You may be enjoying life now and suddenly, without warning may find yourself in the midst of a perilous situation. The wilderness is a place of trial, for Christ will return for His Bride that is without spot or wrinkle. “The wilderness is definitely a place of suffering and of bruising, whether it be the sole of your foot or the heart of your soul.” (Trails in the Wilderness) Don’t scoff, don’t scorn or mock for you might come “upon the sun-bleached bones (whether physical or spiritual) and all you can do is shake your head in pity.” (Trails in the Wilderness)
Do not become deceived, or beguiled. The time is coming, and to an extent is already upon us, of confusion and chaos. Remember who the author of confusion is, the father of lies, and the great deceiver. He is at work in the midst of the world. Do not be like the Israelites when they were finally free from the bondage of evil, and upon finding themselves in the wilderness and the terrors it held cried, “Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:12, NKJV)
This “Echo” is not to cause alarm but to touch in a manner as to get your attention. We are not without hope. I fully believe in the “blessed Hope” of the Church; the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is what is called the “Rapture.” I believe that His people will not face the wrath of the Antichrist, however, with that being said, there may be tribulation, toils, and trials as the devil will begin to do his work of destruction, deceit, and death.

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He released his hammer, slid his pistol into his holster, then stepped to the stove, poured himself a cup of coffee and took his customary seat in the corner.”
–C.J. Petit (Alex Paine)

Come on in, pard. Hope the weather’s fine where you’re at, sure been nice for the beginning of March in East Texas. Ahhh, the coffee sure does make the gizzard smile this mornin’. Pard, there’s just somethin’ I can’t figure out. Since I’ve left the workin’ world, it seems like I can’t get all the things done that I plan each day. Most of them aren’t all that important and can be put off, but I surely thought that things would slow down a bit since I supposed to be sittin’ back in the ol’ rockin’ chair enjoyin’ my retirement. Now, now, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure enjoyin’ it, just ain’t getting everything done; maybe I could make my list shorter.
Let me tell yuh one thing I’m convinced of–this world is gettin’ crazier by the day! How ’bout that Texas state wrestlin’ champ. It/she/he was a transgender who wrestled with the girls and won. When the world gets confused about who or what they are it’s in a sorry, sad shape. Changin’ the truth for a lie. Just a minute, cup’s empty; very few things worse than an empty coffee cup. Let me continue my rantin’. Ever notice that those that call for peace and love are the ones that are the least tolerant and force yuh to pack yur pistol? Instead of love, hatred abounds. ‘Nother thing for sure if you pay any mind to those talk shows–they are so dumb and cheap, but the truth of the matter is that you can’t insult arrogance.
Think my wife has the flu. No, she’s not shiverin’ with a fever, but sure is hackin’ with a cough. Yuh know, in the ol’ days we had to depend on home remedies. Some worked, others not so well. I was readin’ about a man with the ague and his ol’ pard came to visit him with a cure. Put the coffee on to boil and when it was ready told the friend to drink it fast, which he did. No one knows the end of the story. The friend has strained the coffee through red hot peppers. Not to worry yuh pard, ifn yur sick I might come an’ make yuh coffee, but I won’t be filterin’ it with pepper.
As the week approaches, yuh go at it with the strength and care of the Lord. That’s the answer to the peace and love the world craves, but they don’t want to see the truth. Keep that gun oiled and handy an’ get yur eyes into the Bible; it’ll help you in the days to come.
I know yur week will probably be busy, but don’t go mountin’ up without checkin’ yur cinch.