Month: May 2023

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

On all sides was the stretching, soundless, aching void of desolation, carrying to the rider its lurking threat of death, the promise of evil to come.”

                         –Charles A. Seltzer  (“Drag” Harlan)

       “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”
                         –Proverbs 17:15(NKJV)
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I had planned to go in a different direction this morning with the Echo, but decided to spend one more day with the “fools.”  We can’t help it, they are among us.  Wish it away, don’t make it so.  I know that it is  worse in some areas than in others, but the voice, the loud cry from the media carries to all parts of the country.  We most certainly do live in a nation that is fast approaching apostasy because of its foolishness.  Yes, even in the midst of apparent apostasy take heart for there will remain the faithful–“the remnant.”

               “Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their ways are His delight.”
                              –Proverbs 11:20(NKJV)

       Two things were brought to my attention yesterday that I want to share to show the times in which we are living.  A New York City Catholic priest “proclaims ‘God is Trans.'”  He is a priest in the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Manhattan and has “launched an exhibit titled, ‘God is Trans:  A Queer Spiritual Journey.'”  Thankfully there were several parishioners who are appalled.  They should be!  Apostasy!  Blasphemy!  Remember our study, “How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World” where we studied the Scripture speaking of antichrists, “They went out from us, but they were not of us…” (1 John 2:18-19).
       The second thing that was brought to my attention was from my daughter.  It is a statement from the Montgomery County Public Schools of Maryland.  They are instructions and policies regarding transgenderism in the school system.  Here is a sample:

               –Students have the right to be referred to by their preferred name or pronoun.  This information may not be disclosed to the child’s parent unless the child authorizes the disclosure of such information.
               –A student has the right to use the bathroom or locker room of their preferred gender identity.
               –A student has the right to participate in sports activities according to their preferred gender identity.
               –On overnight field trips, students are allowed to room with other students according to their preferred gender identity…  Other students and their parents will not be notified if a student is staying overnight with students of the opposite sex.
               –A student’s self-identification is sufficient for a change in their school record.

Lord have mercy, and He does, that is why He has not yet returned.  He is waiting, however, that does not mean that He will withhold judgment.  Read again those statements.  A teacher cannot even inform the parent is their child wants to be called a him/her/shim, or whatever.  Things are coming together rapidly for a climatic end.  However, in the meantime, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway [control] of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19, NKJV)
       Darkness is creeping in on the face of the earth.  Satan is ready to defy God in strange and perverse ways.  More than ever we are to be wearing the armor of God.  We are to be standing firm; we are to be guarding the truth.  Be a righteous sword-bearer to those around you, for the night is coming when no one can work.  Solomon reminds us over and over again in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes that the wicked and perverse are an abomination to the Lord.  “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but the words of the pure are pleasant.”  (Proverbs 15:26, NKJV).  Be one to stand for the Lord, be one who speaks what is pleasing to Him.  Be ready!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

You’re a bunch of half-witted fools believing what you want to believe with no evidence to back it.”
                    –William MacLeod Raine  (Rustlers’ Gap)

       “He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.”

                    –Proverbs 5:23 (NLT)
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I want to spend another day looking at “fools.”  Why not?  They’re all around us anyway; we should be able to take notice and avoid them if possible, cope with them if not, and defeat them whenever we can.  Go back to the verse I used yesterday.

                    “The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD.”
                              –Proverbs 19:3 (NKJV)

The mouth of a fool, listen to the media, dominates conversations in total ignorance.  They use empty and often profane talk in their boasting.  In fact, they are blasphemous with their words for they profane and challenge the Creator and His purpose.  These people are like “a ship without a rudder.  And, it is indeed, rebellion against God.”  (Dave Roever)  He continues to say regarding this idiotic trans movement, “This entire trans movement has gone crazy.  They don’t know what they want.  They don’t know how to get ‘it’ because they don’t know what ‘it’ is they are trying to get.  Their ignorance of this entire manner is pure rebellion against God, which is the same as witchcraft.”
       The fool talks about the future, but has no clue what he is doing.  They have great plans but cannot even find their way.  Solomon writes, “The labor of fools wearies them, for they do not even know how to go to the city!” (Ecclesiastes 10:15, NKJV)  They end up with an inefficient and unproductive lifestyle that will end up in perdition.  Put a fool on an elevator and he’ll get lost.”  Listen, folly–foolishness–has nothing to do with IQ.  A fool speaks, “A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” (Shakespeare)
       Look at Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 with a paraphrase, “Woe to you, country, if you find yourself ruled by such immaturity, by such rash and ruthless fools.”  We are quickly finding this to be true.  Call a fool a fool, and you will suddenly find yourself chastized, maybe in court, and ridiculed.   Stupidity reigns, fools are loud and they continue to get louder.  I saw a spoof regarding the transgender swimmer, nominated for NCAA woman of the year, who has now broken many of the women’s records said that he is ready to move on and take on the Special Olympics.  Woe to us, and as Charles Swindoll said, “Fools can be dangerous to your health.”
       When you live amongst fools, be ready.  The fool acts and reacts to whatever truth you say in nonsensical fashion.  Look at what Isaiah says will happen, “The people will be oppressed, every one by another and every one by his neighbor; the child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable.”  Read, Romans 1 again.  The fool…  Fools are like “sagging rafters and leaky roofs” (Ecclesiastes 10:18).  They are a shame to the country, to themselves, and most importantly to God, yet they glory in their shame.  They scorn their Creator, and mock His creation by their foolish actions.  Lord help us…”Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Whole dang world’s going mad, all tied up in red tape, and just keeps getting’ more foolish.”
                    –J.V. James  (Old As Old Boots)

       “…But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; the words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness.”
                    –Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 (NKJV)
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The more I look around me, the more I watch the actions of people, the more I hear the media and the voices of politicians, the more I am convinced that I am surrounded by fools.  Fools who want to lead the people.  Fools who want to decide for the people.  Fools who think they are bigger than their britches.  Psalm 14:2, states, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’  They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.” (NKJV)  We often notice the first part regarding the fool, then stop and pay no notice to the second part of the verse.  Look at it again, “They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.”  Yet we listen to the fool, we adhere to his teachings and disregard the word of God.
       Since he believes there is no God, we then should understand that there is no accountability in his way of thinking.  No God, therefore who is God?  The fool thinks because there is no God there is no one to whom he is accountable–only to self.  

               “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.  Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor.”  — Proverbs 14:8-9 (NKJV)
               “To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.”  –Proverbs 10:23 (NKJV)

The fool is deceitful.  My mercy, look around you!  Remember the words of leadership during the “pandemic.”  Listen to the words of our President; it should bring shame to this nation.  Look at his actions, what he has done and is doing.  Is globalism finally coming our way?  If so, prepare yourself for two things:  more chaos and confusion, and the coming of the Lord.  When the time is ripe for the fruit to rot in a worldwide global society, then listen for the sound of the trumpet, but in the meantime you have to struggle with the actions of fools.
       Fools mock at sin.  The practice of wickedness brings them pleasure.  Read the verses in Romans again and see the fool flaunting his life in rebellion against the Lord.  

               “…They began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused.  Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead….  So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.  As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies….  That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires….”
                               –Romans 1:21-22, 24-26 (NLT)

These individuals–these fools–are given over to a “depraved/debased/worthless/reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28, choose your translation).  A depraved mind is one that doesn’t function properly.  It is the mind of an insane person, one in “which is demonstrated clearly in the fact that now we’re not allowed to say that a man is a man and a woman is a woman.  That is insanity; that is a depraved mind.” (John MacArthur)  These people, these fools rage at God, they mock His word, they scorn His name cursing it; they despise the knowledge of the Holy One, they scoff making themselves even more the fool.  Remember that “The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:3)  As the words of the old cowboy said, “You can fix ignorance, stupidity is fatal.” (Don Edwards)  Not only fatal in this life, but also in regards to eternity.

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Silverton, one of the richest strikes in history.  The mines were pouring out both gold and silver, but that brought in an element of lawlessness, evil, and wickedness on a large scale.  The city boasted not only of its richness and wickedness, but of its commercial growth.  It hosted four hundred buildings containing two banks, twenty-nine saloons, several hotels, dance halls, and theaters.  The town itself was split in half along Greene Street with the law-abiding church-goers on one side and those that dealt in vice on the other.  It was into this town we find Miles Forrest entering as acting sheriff for Charlie Gold.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
       It had been a while since I’d been in Silverton.  New buildings had sprung up; a cafe here, a laundry there.  There was a new bakery I could see as I rode down the middle of Greene Street and they had finished the Grand Hotel.  In years past I had spent quite some time in this town, back when the mines were just opening.  The last time I was here Big Bob Phillips was marshal, but I heard he had been killed.
       I rode Hawk up to where I knew the jail to be and tied him off.  The jail was not near large enough to hold all the miscreants that needed to be in there.  It consisted of two floors with six cells on the top floor and three on the bottom, along with an outer office and a smaller one for the marshal.  There was a man sitting at a desk with his head down on folded arms on the desk.  I didn’t know whether to smile or feel pity.  I guess there wasn’t any reason for the man to catch up on some sleep, but it just doesn’t look good when someone enters and finds the law asleep at a desk.
       “Mister,” I said with raised voice.  “I’m looking for the marshal!”
       The man jerked awake, and I thought for a moment he was going for his gun.  “Whoa, man, take it easy,” I said, trying to calm him.
       He brought one hand to his head, as if to hold it up, and possibly clear it.  “Uh, uh, sorry, but who are you?”
       “Deputy United States Marshal, and acting sheriff Miles Forrest,” I explained.  “I’m here for Sheriff Gold who is currently incapacitated.”
       His eyes finally found mine, and he didn’t make any offer to shake my hand.  “Uh, the marshal’s not here right now.  What do you want him for?” he asked in what I thought was a little belligerent manner.
       “You have a handle?” I inquired.
       He eyed me over before answering.  “Curt Cunningham, I’m the deputy.”
       “The marshal allow his deputies to sleep while on duty?” I questioned again.
       A frown appeared.  “If we have a rough night, and there’s nothing happening on the streets, why, yes he does as if that is anything to you.”
       “No, no, that’s between you and the marshal.  What did you say his name was?”  I was getting tired of playing this little game.
       “Todd Johnson!” he blurted.  “Why are you here anyway?  This is not your jurisdiction!”
       I didn’t like the fact that he was getting a little huffy with me.  “Son, if you had been listenin’ I told you why I was here.  An’,” I opened my vest to show him my badge, “this badge says that I do have jurisdiction here.  Mind tellin’ me where I can find the marshal?”
       He scratched at his head, then looked up at the clock that was handing on the wall.  “Well, he’s either home, or up on Blair Street releasing the drunks from last night.”
       I had a puzzled look on my face from his last statement so he began to explain.  “We don’t have enough room in the cells for all the drunks so we either tie them to a rail or handcuff them to one.  They sleep it off and are released the next day.”
       “What happens if it rains?”
       “They get wet!” he smarted off to me and I came close to giving the brash young buck a good thump.
       “What about in the winter?” I continued my questioning.
       He sort of sneered, then said, “You better ask the marshal that, he would know more about that.”

       If I found out that they had been negligent in their duties and people had died, I’d make sure they paid the cost.  “Get me the keys, I want to look in the cells.”
       His arrogance appeared again, “They’re hanging over there on the wall.”
       That about did it.  I almost always carry my Greener with me and this was no exception.  I slammed the barrel down on the desk, that gained his attention.  “Get the keys for me!”
       His lip curled up in a snarl but he got up from his chair and fetched me the keys.  “Lord give me patience,” I silently prayed.
       There was nothing I could really do about the condition of the cells which I found filthy.  I don’t mean they have to be pristine, but they should be cleaned out once in a while, blankets aired out if nothing else.  However, if men died, I could deal with that.
       As I handed the keys back to the deputy, a man entered.  “Marshal Johnson, this is…”