Month: April 2023

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He poured coffee and water into a shallow pan. The coffee was going to be strong and black, but it would taste good and cut the dust from parched throats.”

                         –J.S. Stroud  (The Old Rider)
 
Mornin’ to yuh, Pard.  Yuh still eatin’ them biled eggs from last weekend.  The wife and I went some real fixin’s last Sunday after church, and my, oh my, was there a feast.  I shore did load myself up on what they call “deviled eggs.”  The truth be known, they should be called more like the “fruit of the angels,” but reckon they’re called “deviled” ’cause yuh eat too many of them an’ then the devil works on yur innards.
       Well, Pard, I turned to technology to find out my answer.  Don’t who I talked to, Alexa, Safari, or Siri, or maybe to plain ol’ Google itself, but the story I found was that they are deviled because they are spicy.  Guess they originally had paprika or cayenne mixed in them.  Hmmm, some small pieces of jalapenos might be good.  Just wanted to give that little culinary lesson to yuh.  
       While we were partakin’ of the feast a youngster proceeded to my delight to make coffee.  It wasn’t none of that cino stuff either.  I waited for a spell, then sent one of the granddaughters off to get me a cup.  Should’ve known—it was weak.  Drinkable, but weak.  I grabbed the youngster later an’ told him so.  I didn’t want him to go through life thinkin’ he was makin’ good coffee.  He seemed to appreciate my suggestion when I told him to always put at least one more tablespoon of coffee than the cups yur gonna drink.  If’n yur drinkin’ five cups of coffee yuh put in six scoops.  Easy.  Made my day, knowin’ that I helped a yungun along life’s journey.
       Finally got my last book published on that their Kindle.  Usually I have some troubles but it went as smooth as that silk bandanna yur a-wearin’.  So if’n yuh want a good book look for Ticket to Danger.  Speakin’ of danger, yuh are readin’ the Good Book every day?  Best be guardin’ yur soul against the wiles of the devil.  He’d like nothin’ but t’ see yur face in the dirt.  Why he’s slicker than snot on a glass door knob with his deceivin’ words and ideas.  My mercy, I remember when a man was a man and a woman was glad of it, but now… Whewee, ‘nough said ’bout that sick wickedness.  Yuh be strong in the faith an’ don’t be led astray.  Yuh keep the Bible handy, yur gun oiled and ready, and be checkin’ yur cinch for times are gettin’ eviler and eviler.
       Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Kindness is a gift.”

                   –A.W. Hart  (Killer’s Chance)

       “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
                   –Romans 13:10(NKJV)
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Today I want to borrow from my trusty little devotional by Lois A. Cheney, God Is No Fool.  I have used this book over and over, meditating on the gems that are in it.  I want to keep with the theme of yesterday’s devotion.

          Is there a hell?
               Once upon a time a person was touched by God, and God gave him a priceless gift.  This gift was the capacity for love.  He was grateful and humble, and he knew what an extraordinary thing had happened to him.  He carried it like a jewel and he walked tall and with purpose.
               From time to time he would show this gift to others, and they would smile and stroke his jewel.  But it seemed that they’d also dirty it up a little.  Now, this was no way to treat such a precious thing, so the person built a box to protect his jewel.  And he decided to show it only to those who would treat it with respect and meet it with reverent love of their own.
               Even that didn’t work, for some tried to break into the box.  So he built a bigger, stronger box–one that no one could get into–and the man felt good.  At last he was protecting the jewel as it should be.  Upon occasion, when he decided that someone had earned the right to see it, he’d show it proudly.  But they sometimes refused, or kind of smudged it, or just glanced at it disinterestedly.
               Much time went by, and then only once in awhile would one pass by the man, the aging man; he would pat his box and say, “I have the loveliest of jewels in here.”  Once or twice he opened the box and offered it saying, “Look and see.  I want you to.”  And the passerby would look, and look, and look.  And then he would back away from the old man, shaking his head.
               The man died, and he went to God, and he said, “You gave me a precious gift many years ago, and I’ve kept it safe, and it is as lovely as the day you gave it to me.”  And he opened the box and held it out to God.  He glanced in it, and in it was a lizard–an ugly, laughing lizard.
          Yes, there is a hell.

       Paul told Timothy, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you….” (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJV)  Now, Paul was speaking of spiritual gifts, most likely the “gifts of calling” because he mentioned it was given by the “laying on of my hands.”  But we should heed this advice whether we are speaking of spiritual gifts or natural gifts.  We all have at least one spiritual gift as seen in Romans 12.  It is important to recognize that these gifts are different than those mentioned in Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12.  Everyone has one of the gifts in Romans 12, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (12:6, NKJV)
       The gifts/talents that the Lord gives us are not to be despised whether spiritual or natural.  To do so would be to despise the Giver of the gifts.  For a few seconds, take a look at your natural gifts.  They may be small and few in number, or they may be great–no matter, stir them up and use them.  I knew a man who had tremendous talent and used them for the Lord, but he also had a small gift, the gift of a smile.  Every time he stopped at the same convenience store he would smile and tell the attendant, “Have a good day.”  Finally, after several weeks of this, the person asked him, “why do you smile?”  That presented an open-door opportunity to witness, but it was the simple gift given of a smile.  Immediately comes to my mind is a student who I told, “God gave you a gift of a smile which is infectious–use it.”
       So again, I ask–are you using your gift(s)?  If not, stir them up.  Maybe you have the gift of organization (administration/leadership depending upon the translation) then put it to use.  Maybe your gift is ministry (and we all can do this).  Ministry is not necessarily preaching of the Word, but it might be making coffee at the men’s meeting.  It may be giving a drink of water to a thirsty soul.  Whatever the gift is–stir it up.  Do not be like the unfaithful servant and hide your gift, but stir up the gift into a flame.  Use the gift of prayer, especially that of intercession.  Think about the things that the Lord has given you–use them for His kingdom!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If I go two days in a row without working, then I get all squirmy inside.”

                      –C.J. Petit  (Gus)

       “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.”

                      –Luke 12:47 (NLT)

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I have probably heard dozens of sermons on the Parable of the Talents.  I hope I am not overly redundant, but there are a few things I would like to point out.  In Matthew 25:14, the parable starts out, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.”  I first want to point out that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are not the same.  Once a person becomes a Christian, one who is born-again, purchased by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, they are part of the kingdom of God.  This man was involved with the kingdom of heaven, but before he left he called his servants.

       “And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” (Matthew 25:15)  There is so much to say regarding this verse.  Why wasn’t I given the “talent” to make a million dollars?  Perhaps the Lord knew that I wouldn’t handle it very well.  He did not leave that gift to me because it was beyond my ability.  It is important to realize what it is that you have, and then to use it.  You cannot use the talents given to someone else.  I will never have the voice of some of the great singers, but some of them could not stand up in front of thirty high school seniors and teach.  Get the picture–use what you have.

       That first servant must have had great ability.  He would be the man on Wall Street who knew when to make the right trade and when to sell.  He most likely had charisma that the other two didn’t have.  He knew how to work and wasn’t afraid of working and putting his gifts to work as well.  He would be the Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Greg Maddux of baseball–great gifts and put to their best use.  (Yeah, I know I’m showing my age with those people, but I don’t watch much in the world of sports anymore).  

       Much has been said about the third servant.  He was only given one talent, and what did he do?  He buried it!  What a waste!  When asked why he hid the talent (money) he replied, “And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.” (Matthew 25:25)  Pity the man who misuses what the Lord has given.  As I wrote the words of Walter C. Kaiser yesterday, “Believers are to be rebuked for rejecting God’s worldly gifts and refusing to use them in a proper way.”  We have all been given gifts; are we using them, or hiding them?

       Concentrate now on the second servant.  He is common, has some ability, and uses it.  “Nobody in this thing called Christianity is qualified–but we all have a part to play.”  (Bill Wilson)  You may not be qualified to be a government official, but you can be involved in helping choose the school board.  This servant wasn’t given as much as the first because the master understood his abilities.  The devil could have used this to discourage the servant.  “Look at you, you’re as good as him.  Why didn’t the Master give you more–you deserve it,” comes the voice of the devil.  If the servant would have followed these words he would have become bitter, angry, and frustrated.  Instead, he used what he had been given and doubled it.

       Maybe we all should take time to look in the mirror and see if we are satisfied in doing what the Lord has given us.  Jesus simply said, “Go”.  Go where?  God into the world in which you live.  Give a smile, hum a tune, live the life of Christ to those around you, remember you are a “living letter” to them.  I believe that this second servant, upon hearing of the master’s return, began to search his soul.  Can you read his thoughts?  Did I do enough?  I could have done better?  What if I got up a half-hour earlier and prayed?  What if I didn’t go to those concerts, ballgames, fishing trips–would I have been more successful?  Get the picture–could he have done more.  He doubled his gift, and there may have been a little trembling when he stood before the master who looked at him.  He gave the two plus two more to the master.  Then he heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your Lord.”  (Matthew 25:23).

       One more word about the unfaithful servant.  The one who despised small things.  The one who hid what was given to him.  The one who refused what the Lord had given him and dug a hole in the ground and hid it.  Maybe he said, “I can’t” or “I won’t” or “I deserved more” or “I don’t want that talent” or, or, or….  The words he heard from the Lord should make us all tremble, “And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  (Matthew 25:30)

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

That evening I cleaned and oiled my weapons and made sure everything was in good working order.”
                         –Lou Bradshaw  (Blue)

       “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”

                         –Revelation 3:2 (NKJV)
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What do you expect from life?  What do you see happening in life?  Is it what you expected?  Solomon in verse 11 of Ecclesiastes 9 shows us five negatives.  

          “I have observed something else in this world of ours.  The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle.  The wise are often poor, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy.  And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives.  It is all decided by chance, by being at the right place at the right time.”  (NLT)

An opportunity doesn’t always guarantee success.  I’ve seen people with great talents use them for the wrong purposes, or they do not take time to develop them properly and for the right reasons.  Two things are seen:  the sovereignty of God and the simpleness and sometimes laziness of man.  Man may be given wonderful talents, but they are used incorrectly.  Elvis and Jerry Lee come immediately to mind.  Walter C. Kaiser states, “Believers are to be rebuked for rejecting God’s worldly gifts and refusing to use them in a proper way.”  To be given a gift by God and using it in a wrong manner may be worse than the man given a “gift” and hiding it.
       Most of you will not remember Jackie Jensen.  He was a premier hitter in the late 1950s and destined for stardom.  He led the league in RBIs twice, but eventually left the game because he could not overcome his fear of flying.  Another man destined for greatness in baseball was Herb Score.  His career was shortened by a line-drive in the face from the bat of Gil McDougald.  One never knows.
       Strength is impressive, but what is it that made you strong?  Steroids?  The wise counsel is never popular, rarely obeyed, and seldom remembered.   Human rulers will always outshout wise counselors, and fools prefer the former.  I look around at the world today and I see what is called “woke.”  It is really part of the postmodern agenda of deconstruction–make up your own truth; it is all relative.  In the church I see what could be called “Accommodating Theology.”  It’s your opinion about God that counts, not what the Bible says.
       Read the rest of chapter 9–it states what I just paraphrased.  Verse 12, “For a man also does not know his time:  like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.” (NKJV)  With evil all around are you ready to handle it?  What are you doing to prepare yourself for the times in which you live?  Are you a prepper or one who trusts in the Lord?  Preparedness is good, but faith is better.
       So how do you live your life?  How do you survive the times?  “In the divine plan of things, the race belongs to the one who runs in the strength of God.  Strength, wisdom, speed, discernment, and learning are only valuable in so far as they are ordered by God.” (Kaiser)  Therefore, use your gifts and talents wisely–as unto the Lord.  Remember the words of Paul when he wrote the church at Corinth.

               “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
                          –1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NKJV)