Month: March 2022

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Life is much better when a man has a good woman to share life with.”

                    –Cliff Hudgins  (Viejo and the Lost Child)

       “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future.”
                    –Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)
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It’s about time for some potpourri.  I haven’t put one of these together in quite a spell.  So here is a few thoughts that I’ve come across.

       Perhaps some of you remember the old song that has the following words:  “No one could be sweeter than my sweetie when I meet her in the morning.”  Well this morning, I met my sweetie for her birthday!  Yep, she’s moving along in age, but a person wouldn’t notice it much.  She’s busy as ever, sweeter than ever, and is a comfort to me each and every day.
       I remember the first birthday I spent with her.  It was a few years ago right after I met her.  We had just started dating and she felt that we should cool things off (silly girl), then Providence intervened.  I was asked by her roommate to get her to the student union as they had planned a surprise birthday party for her.  I told her that we (she) had decided that we should cool things off for a while and that I couldn’t do it.  I was told to find a way, so I said something, probably like “we need to talk,” and got her over to her party.  After that she was by my side, except for that first summer, all the time.  So…

                                     HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNIE!

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       Abraham was called by God to go on a long journey and God didn’t even bother to tell him where he was going.  He said, “Go, and I’ll let you know when you’re there.”  God promised to be with him throughout the journey, that He would care, provide, and protect him.  That is the same promise He has made to us.  We have started out on a journey–the journey of life and are heading toward a place that the Lord has prepared.  How will we get there–by trusting Him.  He will provide for us as He did for Abraham.  When will we know we’ve arrived?  At journey’s end, there will be a place prepared for each person who went on the journey with Him.

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               “But when I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”
                              –Psalm 56:3 (NLT)

            “Nothing seems to rest comfortably these days.  The simplicity of life has been lost in the jumble of the frantic and the unfamiliar.  Like the early explorers who feared to sail too far out lest they slip off the edge of the world, so we fear to launch out too far lest we fall into chaos.  Our careful designs for order turn out in disorder, and our programs for lasting solutions become instead parts of even greater problems.  And yet it is this day that we are given to live.
            And in this mad array of tense dilemmas, we share the moods and the troubles of the psalmist.  But the psalmist was not left desolate.  For with his affirmation of a simple trust in God, he had already been delivered despite the turmoil of his age.  Even in the midst of great hardships, God had given him that day to live in confidence.
            In this moody, unpredictable, and confused world, we can be a part of that same truth.  We too can affirm with confident trust that we are given this day to live.”  (Boyce Brawley)

       In reading the above I would ask are you living today?  I mean living in the will of the Lord, basking in His presence and following His voice?  Today is the day for us to be living for the Kingdom of God.  Don’t look to the right or the left, but look and focus on the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Keep your head, keep your feet, and keep your heart!”
                    –Emerson Hough  (54-40 or Fight)

       “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”
                    –1 Timothy 1:16 (NKJV)
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       Thank you Lord for the breath You give me, and that I can walk.  Oh, I may not be as spry as I used to be and able to hump over the hills and through the woods, but I am still able to get from one place to another.  I can watch a hawk glide through the trees, smell the aroma of a flower, and taste the sweetness of Annie’s apple pie.  Everytime I go to the doctor, I look around and am thankful that I’m not in as bad a shape as those I see.
       Far too often, even Christians, bemoan their grievances, aches, and pains.  Older folk sometimes get together to compare who is taking the most pills, what new pain they have this week, or to show that they are in more misery than the others.  Often this is done in jest, but then again, sometimes we get to complaining too much and are not thankful enough.
       When I begin to “count my blessings and name them one by one,” I get overwhelmed with the goodness of God.  Through all the years He has been good to me and my family.  In struggles, He has helped us.  In sickness, He has touched us and several times healed us.  In sorrow, He has comforted us.  In the good times, He has been there smiling down upon us.
       No, I try not to be negative, but once in a while it just pops up.  Woe is me, I just need to go eat some worms…   But then I remember, I dislike the taste of worms.  They are dirty, slimy and don’t taste so very good.  No, I think I’ll treat myself when the woes hit me.  A piece of pie, a bite of cookie is much better than a worm.  Or we could go further and think of a nice, juicy, broiled t-bone over the fire and its rich aroma; its mouthwatering taste most definitely is better than an old worm.  
       See the woes bring on a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness but in Christ we have both help and hope.  He gives me strength for each day, for each hour.  He says He will never leave my side, and I have the assurance that He is there even when I don’t see or feel Him.  He gives that wonderful blessed hope that He will return and take me to glory either by the rapture or the grave.  
       He gave me the ability to work, and work hard knowing that I work for Him, and for His glory.  He gave me the ability to think, to study, to better myself for my future and my family, again all for His glory.  We tend to get caught up with work, or education, or career, and forget that they are gifts from the Lord and we should honor Him but doing the best we can (Colossians 3:17,23).  
       No, I try my best to stay out of the mulligrubs and not murmur.  It doesn’t do much good anyhow.  Lord, I pray, help me, help me to stay on the “sunny side of life.”  Think of all the good things:  biscuits ‘n’ gravy, the vistas I’ve seen from the tops of mountains, the campsites I’ve enjoyed.  Think of my wife: her smile, her help, her servanthood, and her cooking.  Think of my kids, my grandkids, and how You’ve taken care of them.  Too many blessings to count.  God’s goodness and faithfulness is so apparent.  Ahhh, sometimes I just want to sigh in His presence.

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Charlie Gold, Doc Jones and I were sitting around the table in the diner, drinking coffee, and of course we each ate a hearty piece of pie, all discussing Lucas’ adventures.  It was easy to relax and confide in these two men, friends, men a person could trust.
       Doc began to scratch the side of his head as was his habit when he was going to say something.  “Lucas has become quite a man in a short time.  Why, I remember when he was running around cutting wood for folks.”
       “Hmpf,” snorted Charlie, “there are times when I wish he was still doing that.  I know Marta sure does.  However, I will say she is doing much better.”
       “She know about Lucas’ latest adventure?” questioned Doc.
       “Oh no, only small bits of it,” replied Charlie shaking his head.  “We don’t discuss sheriffing around her except the general doings of the day.”  He paused, then put a hand on my shoulder.  “I want to thank you for watching over Lucas.”
       Smiling, I touched my chin where Lucas had punched me for my guardian angel status.  Doc began to chuckle because I told them earlier of what Lucas did in response to me shadowing him around.   “I won’t be doin’ that anymore.  He’s on his own–make or break.”
       A burst of sunlight came into the room as the entry door opened to the diner.  With the light it was hard to see who it was until the door shut behind him.  Both Charlie and I studied the man some as he walked to a table.  He was tall, thin, and carried his jacket over his left arm so he was not hindered if he needed to reach for his gun.  I had not seen him before, either in person or on a poster.  With a couple day’s growth of whiskers his complexion was dark, but he wasn’t threatening in any manner.  Probably just come off the trail and wanted something to eat.
       Since Charlie was the sheriff he thought it was his duty to introduce himself.  Heaving a sigh, he got up from his chair, bumping the table and spilling some of my freshly poured coffee.  He went over to where the man was studying the limited menu.
       As Charlie approached his eyes glanced upward then went back to the menu.  “Not a big selection here,” he proclaimed, then looked up at Charlie who was now standing by the table.  
       “I can assure you it is all good,” Charlie responded.  “It’s a small diner, so it cannot have much overhead, but I can vouch for the tastiness of the food.”
       That got a smile from the man while at the same time Marta arrived to take his order.  “This man here,” the man sort of pointed with the menu, “says that everything on it is good, so I’ll take a steak, hashbrowns, and whatever kind of greens you can throw on the plate.  Just sizzle the steak.”
       “Save a piece of pie for the man,” added Charlie.
       The man gazed up at Charlie.  “Now what can I do for you, uh,” Charlie opened his vest to show his badge,” Sheriff?”
       “Just come to welcome you to Durango.  You passing through or plan to stay awhile?”
       “You always this courteous to strangers, or did you pick me out on purpose?” asked the man with some animosity in his voice.
       Charlie stood there relaxed, “Try to be.  I was sitting here and you walked in so I took the opportunity to greet you.”
       The man squinted, then asked, “Are you Sheriff Forrest?”
       Charlie didn’t refer to me sitting back at the table.  “No, I’m Sheriff Gold,” he informed the man.  At that time Marta walked up with the man’s meal.  “I’ll let you enjoy your meal.  Enjoy it and your time in Durango.”
       The door opened again, this time it was Rev. Chapman.  He waved at Charlie as he proceeded back to our table.  After he passed Charlie followed and went back to his chair.  
       “Good morning, gentlemen.  The Lord sure is good!” he proclaimed before sitting down.  “Brother Miles, would you mind pouring me a cup of that elixir? requested the preacher after he had seated himself.
       I got up, refilled everyone’s cup and poured a cup for the preacher.  “What brings you to join us today, Parson?” I asked.
      He didn’t answer as he was helping himself to the hot coffee.  I don’t know how he can swallow such a big gulp that coffee as hot as it was.  
      While he was enjoying his drink, I turned to Charlie.  “What did the man say?”
       “He was asking about you…”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
There was no nonsense when it came to dealing with enemies, or those who were evil.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Lonely Men)

       “For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns.”
                    –Isaiah 62:1 (NKJV)
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       Do you feel panicked by the darkness of our culture?  Is it beginning to overwhelm you?  It seems that Christians, in these times, are more fearful than faithful.  We need to be calm, rest in that calm assurance of the Lord.  There are many out there groping in the dark for answers; it is not becoming that Christians join in with them when we have the “Light” to guide our way.  This Monday morning we look at the first part of Psalm 72.

               1 — Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
               2 — He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice.
               3 — The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
               4 — He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.
               5 — They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
               6 — He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth.
               7 — In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.  (NKJV)

       Notice how many times righteous or righteousness is mentioned in the Scriptures above.  Righteousness is the doing of what is right.  But how is “right” determined?  Is it relative or absolute?  Our culture today is saying that there is no absolute right or wrong; it is all relative and up to the individual.  How wrong they are! (and that is an absolute)
       Who, today, determines what is right?  The government, the court system, the individual–no, it has already been determined.  God’s holy law is written within the hearts of man.  Sure he can disregard it, to his own peril and that of those near him.  Society will suffer when it is decided that they will go away and against God’s declared moral laws.
Culture/society will break down when it moves away from the righteous standards of the Almighty God.  However, that is what the postmodernists (the woke culture) wants to happen–the deconstruction of moral standards.
       George Wood states, “Any branch of government losing this perspective [the standards of God’s moral laws] descends into the quicksand of moral relativity and ethical chaos.”    Of course, chaos is the great cleanser according to Nietzsche.  Break everything down, do away with God and His laws, start over again with the new, enlightened woke society.  To do that the refreshing of the Holy Spirit will leave the nation.  And to think of that is frightful.  We already have a taste of inadequacy when man tries to establish his own laws contrary to what God has set.
       Stay calm…never forget–God is still in control.  No matter what man might try to do, he cannot thwart God’s purposes.

                   “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed,
                   Great David’s greater Son!
                   Hail in the time appointed,
                   His reign on earth begun!
                   He comes to break oppression,
                   To set the captive free;
                   To take away transgression,
                   And rule in equity.”
                             –James Montgomery