Month: April 2022

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
He is to go out among wild men. He must have strength of the spirit. He must also have a strength of the body that they will understand and respect.”
                         –Max Brand  (Rider of the Silences)

       “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
                         –Romans 8:35(NKJV)
———————————
How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World

Key Verse:  “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”  –1 John 5:19 (NKJV)

Foolishness!  Wickedness!  Have you seen that Nabisco, using their top-selling cookie, OREO is sponsoring the movie promoting the gay lifestyle?  They are joining with the moral bankruptcy of Disney.  Someone recently wrote that “Memory Lane has been turned into the road to perdition.”  My question is, what are you doing to keep yourself and your family strong in the Lord?  What stand are you taking?
       The world is becoming more and more hostile to Christians.  For years, other countries have faced severe persecution and still are but we are seeing an insidious move now in America.  Where is the person who will stand in the gap?  Notice how John finishes his epistle.  It is almost like a postscript.  He didn’t forget to put it in, but he wanted it to stand out in closing.

                    “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen”  –1 John 5:21 (NKJV)

       You can almost hear him shouting in closing — “Keep from idols!”  We are to know the true, living God.  Do not be duped into universalism or globalism in your doctrine.  Stand firm in the Lord.
       What is idolatry, you may ask?  When we think of idols we think of those of Canaan or Egypt:  Baal, Molech, Dagon and others.  Figures made of wood or carved in stone.  However, partaking of the world and what it has to offer is idolatry.  Idolatry defined is anything in our lives that occupies the place that should be occupied by God alone.
       We must be careful for idols sift in subtly.  If not careful, the excuse of a family outing every Sunday may soon become an idol.  It is keeping you from God’s house and you then are making your family vulnerable to the onslaughts of this pagan world.  Listening to the voices of the “antichrists” and you may find yourselves hovering over an idol in your life.  “Did God really mean this?”  Yes, His Word means what it says!
       Go look in the mirror and you will see the biggest idol that you must face–the idol of self.  Some have it worse than others.  Some have the “barbie-doll” complex, while others want that rugged, macho look.  Remember, how you see yourself in the mirror is not the way that others may see you.  But it is good to look in the mirror, the mirror of the soul that is.  What is that mirror–God’s holy Word.  What is your reflection when you look into it?
       The times are not going to get easier.  Reflection, true reflection, on God’s Word is part of what Paul meant when he said, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…” (Philippians 2:12-13).  Remember the truth about God and live in communion with Him.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If it cost a hundred dollars to go to heaven, I might make it to Fort Worth.”

                    –Elmer Kelton  (The Good Old Boys)

       “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
                    –Hebrews 9:12(NKJV)
——————————-
                    “Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
                    Thank you, Lord, for making me whole,
                    Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
                    Thy great salvation so rich and free.”
                              –Alfred B. Smith

     Most of you have probably heard this chorus, and I would suspect even sang it a time or several dozen.  It is a wonderful, meaningful little chorus.  Part of it is thanking for the Lord for salvation.  But I want to focus on the last few words this morning.
     In one sense God’s salvation is “free.”  It is for whosoever will accept it.  It is now free for everyone; it is not universalism.  However, it is available for everyone.  Even in that there are a few requirements for it is not just thrown out to everyone.  There has to be repentance–asking the forgiveness of sins.  There must also be the acknowledgment that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was crucified and rose for the dead.  When those requirements have been met, then salvation is freely given.
     There is one more aspect to this and that is that it is not free.  It cost a great price.  Redemption was involved.

                   “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
                              –1 Peter 1:18-19(NKJV)

I won’t go into all the details of the “kinsman Redeemer,” but simply will say that to redeem something means, “to recover possession or ownership of by payment of a price or service.” (Collins)  Your soul, your eternal destiny wasn’t free as the little chorus says.  There was a great cost to redeem you.  There was a price to be paid.  That price was the precious blood of Christ.  The crucifixion–the blood was poured out from the body of Jesus for mankind’s redemption.  The price was paid–it was not free.  It cost the life of Jesus, the Son of God.
      It will be a terrible thing on that Judgment Day when sinners are gathered together in judgment.  It will be shown that the blood of Christ purchased their redemption (salvation), yet they did not accept it, in fact, many scorned and mocked the offer of redemption.  It will be a terrible day when they are shown that the price was paid for them, but they refused it.
      The great “kinsman Redeemer,” came upon the scene to pay for our salvation.  It is free to us; it doesn’t cost us a penny, but there was a terrible price that was paid for mankind.  Never lose sight of that when singing the little chorus.  Always remember that is was the precious blood of Jesus that purchased your salvation.

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
I walked into CC’s Billiard Parlor where there were two tables with men playing.  At a small round table toward the back and against the wall I saw the stranger I was looking for.  Approaching him, “I heard you’ve been lookin’ for me?” I inquired.  He was drinking beer and looked confused when I spoke to him.
       “Sheriff Gold said you were askin’ about me,” I said again.
       Slowly he lowered the glass of beer to the table, his face turning serious and taut.  “Are you Forrest?”
       “I am,” came my curt reply.  I placed my thumbs inside my gunbelt so he could see I wasn’t a threat.  From what I could gather I didn’t think he was after me or a threat to me either.  Of course, I’ve been wrong before.  “What is it I can help you with?”
       He was appraising me, looking closely at the badge I was wearing.  “I was told you could help me locate a certain individual,” he remarked.  
       “First, tell me who you are, and what you want,” I demanded.  “Then I’ll hear your questions.”
       He frowned slightly.  “Impertinent and to the point aren’t you?  I’m Sly Malone,” he said, reaching his hand out over the table.  I stayed as I was and in a few seconds he dropped his hand.  “Not a friendly sort either,” he muttered.
       “Who said I could help you?  Help you with what?”
       “I’m getting to that.  People have said that you know most everyone in town, and I’m looking for a certain individual by the name of Clyde Hoffner,” he informed me.
       My attention was now completely focused on him since he was asking about Clyde.  “I try to get to know most folk in town.  What do you want with Clyde?”
       He smiled as he reached for his shirt pocket bringing out a folded piece of paper.  It was a wanted poster.  “He’s wanted back in Illinois for arson and attempted murder.”
       Taking the poster from his hand I perused it carefully.  I handed it back to the man.  “This is not issued by the State of Illinois,” I paused, “It appears to be a vendetta against Clyde for some reason.  Mind tellin’ me who issued the poster?”
       “Doesn’t matter who issued the poster, he’s still wanted.  It seems that Mr. Swithart chased him off as he didn’t want this Hoffner fellow seeing his daughter.  A couple of days later, his barn was burned to the ground, and his house partially burned with the family inside.  Hoffner disappeared at the same time.”
       “That’s not much evidence,” I replied.
       An insidious sneer appeared, “It’s enough for Mr. Swithart to offer a reward of $500 for him.”
       People like this, bounty hunters in general, jerk my jaws.  “It’s not a valid poster.  Besides I don’t know where he is.”
       “Do you deny that he was working for Cecil Thompson?
       “No, in fact, that’s the last place I knew where he was.  If he’s gone I don’t have an idea where, and with that bogus poster I wouldn’t tell you anyway.”
       There were several moments of tension.  He was angry, but not threatening, then he spoke, “I’ll find him.  Good day, Marshal.”
       Since I was dismissed, I turned and left waving at Casey Cameron the proprietor who was putting up pool cues.  Leaving the billiard parlor I headed on up toward the church and the Chapman residence.  Clyde was a cousin to the preacher and helped him move to town.  I wanted to see if he knew anything about this supposed fire.
       Knocking on the door, Betty Chapman answered.  I must have caught her at a bad time.  She was wearing a scarf and when she opened the door she was trying to push strands of her hair underneath it.  She was wearing an old dress with a well-worn apron over it.  “Oh, Marshal Forrest, oh, please forgive me for the way I look.  I was doing some cleaning and wasn’t expecting company.”
       I smiled, “I reckon minister’s wives sometimes have to clean the house.  I’m sorry to have caught you at an inopportune moment, but I would like to speak to the parson.”
       She smiled, still working at her hair.  “I’ll get him, and put on some coffee.  Please sit down.”  She already knew my weakness.
       Shortly thereafter, Rev. Chapman came into the room.  He had a smile for me and I stood to greet him.  “Miles, it’s always good to see you.  Betty said you had something to ask me.”
       I shook his hand and we both sat down.  The coffee must have already been made, for as we sat Betty came in with two cups.  She handed one to each of us then sat next to her husband.  I noticed that she had removed the apron.
       “Parson, there’s a man in town lookin’ for Clyde.”  His eyes narrowed and he set the cup down on the table next to the little couch.  “He has a wanted poster on Clyde.”
       “Why is that ridiculous!” exclaimed Betty.  
       Her husband put his hand on her knee to settle her.  “What does the poster say?” he inquired.
       “Arson and attempted murder.”
       He was shaking his head.  Clyde helped us move, and I don’t know of anything he would have done to bring those charges.  Did this man who had the posters say anything else?”
       I was ready to respond when the door burst open…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Wisdom must be shared, it must be given, or else it lies cold upon the rocks.”
                         –Louis L’Amour  (The Californios)
 
       “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
                         –1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV)
————————————–
Do something!  Have you ever told that to the Lord?  Just do something!  Not in a mean way, but in anguish, in frustration, when it seems that everything is going wrong and against you.  Psalm 74 is one of Asaph in his anguish.  Why is God so unjust to Israel?  But Asaph didn’t have the complete picture; his perspective was limited.  Israel was God’s chosen people, yet they chose to dabble in the idolatry of the cultures around them.
 
          1 — O GOD, why have You cast us off forever?  Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
          2 — Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, the tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed–this Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
          3 — Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.  The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
          4 — Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; they set up their banners for signs.
          5 — They seem like men who lift up axes among the thick trees.
          6 — And now they break down its carved work, all at once, with axes and hammers.
          7 — They have set fire to Your sanctuary; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.
          8 — They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.”  They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.
          9 — We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet; nor is there any among us who knows how long.
         10 — O God, how long will the adversary reproach?  Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
         11 — Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?  Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.”  (NKJV)
 
       Nations were mocking God.  The people of Israel had accepted their customs and cultures and now were paying the penalty for doing so–the consequences were heavy and Asaph, Jeremiah, and others were crying out for the Lord to do something.  
       George O. Wood points out five consequences of disobedience that is shown in these verses.
               1)  God’s rejection–when people reject God, God has the right to reject them.
               2)  Hopelessness–the Temple was in ruins.  Look at your life–the Temple of the Holy Spirit–what condition is it in.  “Though time erases most ruins, self-destructive choices have a way of creating long-term havoc on ourselves and others.”
               3)  Powerlessness–the backsliding had taken time, but now it seems to roll more quickly.  Devastation comes when people do their own thing rather than obey God’s commands.
               4)  Spiritual abandonment–God’s presence seemed far removed.  What is the state of the church you attend?  Does the Holy Spirit move?  What is your own personal state with God, does the Holy Spirit move?
               5)  Frustration–God could deliver, but dare He?  He could change your circumstances, but why should He?   In verse 11 it is shown that God does not even begin to move His strong right hand of deliverance.  The people had to pay the price of disobedience.
       Look at your life and those around you.  Are they accepting the cancel culture?  Are they following the ways of the world, letting the deceptions of Satan sneak into their lives and those of their family?  Take for example the utter immorality that Disney is now promoting.  How many Christians will continue to support this ungodly company?  Do the Christians, the people of God, that you know dabble in the idolatry of the culture around them?
 
                    “From the depths of nature’s blindness,
                    From the hardening power of sin,
                    From all malice and unkindness,
                    From the pride that lurks within;
                    By thy mercy, O deliver us, good Lord.”
                                    –John James Cummins