Month: November 2024

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Take the hats off your flea-bitten heads and listen up, and I will instruct you in the word of the Lord.”
                    –John Deacon  (The Provider–2)

       “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”
                    –1 Timothy 6:17 (KJV)
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               8 — My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;
               9 — For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.
                               –Proverbs 1:8-9 (NKJV)
               8 — Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.  (HCSB)

HEED!  That’s the key word for today.  

               Now the sons of Eli (Hophni and Phinehas) were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.  –1 Samuel 2:12, NKJV
               Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.  So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.  –Leviticus 10:1-2, NKJV)
 
     Being “corrupt” literally means, “sons of Belial,” in other words in cohorts with the devil, therefore, persons of no value.  Sons of the high priest, sons who had performed their duties before the Lord at other times knowing the right way, became corrupt and decided to do things their own way going against the teachings of their father and more importantly their heavenly Father.  They did not heed their father’s instructions and they rejected their mother’s teachings and paid the price.
     There is a tremendous responsibility as parents to train up a child in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord.  As go the parents and their teachings, so goes the child.  Look around and you can see the results of what is happening in the home.  Chaos all around, hmm, chaos in the home, or perhaps an apathetic, too permissive homelife.  Parents would do well to instruct and teach their children rightly.  As J. Vernon McGee says, “May God have mercy on the parents who are not instructing their little ones in the things of God.”
     There is a tremendous obligation of the child to listen; to pay attention to the teaching of their parents (and others).  They are to be dutiful and respectful in their attentiveness.  They are to heed what is being taught!  There is an implied warning here–do not abandon what he’s been told.  Just like Paul said in Timothy, do not abandon the faith.  As evil and wicked times come, more and more will abandon the faith, however, those who heed the teachings, the instruction of their parents and other leaders will be stable and confident in the days of trouble.
     To hear means to “receive with readiness.”  This teaching is never to be “forsaken” or forgotten.  It is to be heeded throughout the journey of life.  We see then in verse 7 from last week’s study the first requirement:  fear and worship God.  Now, we are looking at the second requirement:  honor parents by obeying.  This teaching will be like an ornament or gold chains.  In other words, value the teaching that has been given and show it in your lifestyle.  Matthew Henry relates, “Those are truly valuable, and shall be valued, who value themselves more by their virtue and piety than by their worldly wealth and dignity.”
     Much more in Proverbs will be referred back to these verses.  Do not scoff at instruction.  Do not scorn the discipline that is handed out with love.  The instruction, if properly given, and properly adhered to will save multitudes of problems in life.  “The instruction and discipline of wisdom do at first seem difficult and hard, and are like fetters or iron restraining the corruption and rebellion of nature; but at length they are like chains of gold, worn like ornaments and no burden at all.” (Michael Jermin)

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

To a barefoot man, the owner of an old pair of boots appears rich.”

                    –Elmer Kelton  (Badger Boy)

       “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
                    –Revelation 3:17(NKJV)
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“How many times have I told you?”  Have you ever had that said to you, or perhaps it came from your lips in warning to your children?  That sums up chapter 4 of Amos.  God over and over has chastised and warned Israel for the purpose of causing the people to return to Him in repentance and renewed obedience.  “Yet you have not returned to Me.”
          1 — Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring wine, let us drink!”
          2 — The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness:  “Behold, the days shall come upon you when He will take you away with fishhooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
          3 — You will go out through broken walls, each one straight ahead of her, and you will be cast into Harmon,” says the LORD.  (NKJV)
     Imagine this scenario.  Amos has been invited to be a guest on a news talk show, say, “The View.”  He walks in very manlike, sits down, and scrutinizes the hosts.  Then the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him.  He points his calloused hand at them, then extends his finger pointing and begins, “You splendid, lazy cows…” (literal)  My, oh my, think of the commotion.  Remember, Amos was a herdsman, he knew cattle.  Lloyd Ogilvie says this, “The wave of indignation that must have been like thunder and lightning rumbling and flashing through the self-satisfied ambience of Amos’ audience.”  To call a group of sophisticated, high manner women fat cows certainly would get their attention and their wrath.
     These women oppress the poor and needy not only in reality but with their haughtiness as well.  These women pressure their husbands for more and more, arrogantly commanding them to “Bring wine, let us drink.”   They seem to be a law unto themselves, haughty, disgraceful, not fulfilling their proper role as a woman of Israel, much less a proper wife, yet in God’s eyes, they are a disgrace.  If Amos was preaching today he wouldn’t be a popular man.
     They are ignorant, boastful, not understanding what happens to fattened cattle.  Amos knows, fattened cattle are taken to the slaughterhouse.  “Their sins were fattening themselves up for the coming slaughter.” (Warren Wiersbe)  Amos prophesies that they would be led away by fishhooks.  A common practice of the Assyrians was to attach a fishhook either to the eyelid or the lip, then attach that line to a rope.  It would only take a little tug to lead the people out of the city at the nearest opening in the walls and be taken throughout the world as captives.  Not only the women, but their children would be taken as well.  Some scholars say that these were not actually fishhooks but hooks used to drag out dead bodies.  Either way it would be debasing and devastating to these high-tone women.  As Albert Garner states, “Sins overtake the swiftest person and nation.”
     Then Amos turns to the religious apostasy.  Those that worshiped with zeal, but forgot who they were to be worshipping.
          4 — “Come to Bethel and transgress, at Gilgal multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days.
          5 — Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, proclaim and announce the freewill offerings; for this you love, you children of Israel!” says the Lord God.  (NKJV)
The true knowledge of God had escaped them.  Amos is saying what good are your ceremonies that are not accompanied by repentance and a search after God’s will?  Faith (faithfulness) had been replaced by hype and false worship.  “The atmosphere is a combination of the excitement of a convention, the hoopla of a carnival, and the raucous jostling of an overcrowded picnic.” (Ogilvie)  Gone, lost, forgotten is the fear of the Lord.  They have forgotten His commandments and moral requirements.  They offered unclean sacrifices.  Wiersbe points out that, “if the heart isn’t right with God, the sacrifices mean nothing.”  
     They bragged about their offering, in fact, offering more than the law required.  They loved the ceremonies but forgot the fear of the Lord.  Ogilvie states, “We humans have an immense ability to tolerate contradictions between our faith and our actions.”  Faith was gone, left only was the zeal.  They worshiped Baal with zeal and fervor, forgetting the God that had saved them.  They loved the act of worship rather than having their heart changed.  Wiersbe says, “they had everything that money could buy, but they didn’t have the things money can’t buy, the things of the Lord that make life worthwhile.  They made their sacrifices, they fulfilled their rituals and they said, “I feel good.”  Better it be said when they finished, “Do I know God better?”

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!”  –Proverbs 21:26(NLT)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     I spent the rest of the morning with Judge Klaser.  We discussed the plight of Martin’s store and the possibility of the Peabodys running it.  He ordered Sheriff Gold to check through Martin’s home and store for anything resembling a will.  It took an hour or two along with the District Attorney, Desiderus Luther to draw up a contract for the Peabody’s.  The Judge then charged me to take it up to the Peabody residence and explain it to him as well as the situation.
     For November it was a warm day, and I had need only of my jacket as I rode Star up the rode to the Peabody tent.  The tent was about a quarter mile to the north of town on something that some folk might call a road.  It was more like two ruts in the ground.  I chuckled as I approached.  I remembered what my Grandpa used to say, “A rut ain’t nothin’ more than a grave with both ends knocked out.”  I must have said it outloud for Star turned his head to look at me.  Nodding back at him, I said, “And we’ve seen plenty of folk livin’ in a rut, haven’t we, boy?”
     “Why, Marshal Forrest, whatever are you doin’ comin’ up this a-way?” inquired Mrs. Peabody as I rode up.
     I tipped my hat, “Ma’am, mind if I step down?”
     “Why sure, where are my manners?  Penny, fetch the Marshal a cup of coffee.  Sorry, I don’t have nothin’ but a biscuit left over from breakfast,” she said, then she touched her chin with a fingertip.  “‘Course nothin’ like your Missus makes.”
     “Coffee will be fine,” I replied.  “I seldom turn down a cup of coffee.”
     “Been sittin’ next to the fire; it was made this mornin’ so it might be a tad strong.”
     Penny brought the cup to me.  She had been gathering wood that morning and the front of her dress was dirty and had pieces of sticks attached to it.  Smiling, she handed me the cup of hot coffee.  “Marshal, I didn’t spill a drop,” she informed me, proud of herself.
     It was hot, and it was strong, bordering on being scorched, but not quite.  I took a tentative sip.  Then looked over the brim of the cup seeing Penny watching me.  “If you made this coffee, you’ll make a man happy one day,” I said, teasing her.
     That made her smile grow larger, then she turned skipping away to grab her brother, Jake, by the hand.
     I took another sip.  “Ma’am…” 
     “My name’s Eloise, friends call me Lois, and Marshal I take you as a friend.”
     Nodding, I smiled, then continued, “Is your husband around?  I have something I need to talk over with him, and, for that matter, with you as well.”
     She motioned for me to sit on a log by the fire.  “He should be back anytime.  He was down working on the widows’ chicken coops.”
     Hannah and Gertrude both lost their husbands several years ago.  Since that time they started an egg farm.  Kept the diner in eggs, along with several others in town and Crandall’s store.  “He won’t get no money for it,” she said, not a touch of bitterness in her tone.  “Most likely he’ll be paid in eggs.”
     “Nothin’ wrong with eggs,” I replied.  “Hard to go without them, once you get used to havin’ them for breakfast.”
     I sat watching her work making what looked like stew.  It was probably twenty minutes, and I was getting somewhat antsy when I heard Lois called out.  “Well, it’s about time.  The Marshal’s been waiting for you.  Reckon he has a cell ready for you.”  She tried to be serious, but it lasted only a few seconds before she laughed, then gave her husband a hug.
     “Marshal Forrest, what are you doing here?” he asked, putting down a tool box, then setting down a box that he had been carrying in the other arm.  He smiled, “Eggs.”
     “Mrs. Peabody, if you can spare the time away from your cookin’ I have something to discuss with you and Marshall.”
     “Lois, remember?”
     I nodded and smiled.  For the next several minutes I explained the contract and what Judge Klaser, the sheriff and I had proposed.  They looked at each other, then Marshall Peabody spoke almost in a whisper.  “You’d do that for us?  Why?”
     Lifting my hand, I pointed at the kids now playing.  “That’s two reasons.”  Then I turned my attention to the tent.  “Winter’s comin’ on, you’ll need a warmer place to stay.”
     Lois burst into tears falling to her knees in front of and grabbing my hands.  “Bless you, bless you…” she kept murmuring.
     “Be ready to move into as soon as Sheriff Gold goes through the store.  Probably tomorrow afternoon,” I told them, trying to downplay her emotions.  “Think you can handle the store?”
     “I, I, ….”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”
                    –Calvin Coolidge
 
       “Let the LORD judge the peoples.  Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.”
                    –Psalm 7:8 (NIV)
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I am going to deviate somewhat from the Psalm this one Monday seeing that it is Veterans’ Day.  First, my annual remembrance of this day, a day that all too often is taken for granted.  I will say that it is indeed, a holy-day.
 
          In Flanders fields the poppies blow
          Between the crosses, row on row,
               That mark our place; and in the sky
               The larks, still bravely singing, fly
          Scarce heard amid the guns below.
 
          We are the Dead.  Short days ago
          We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
               Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
                   In Flanders fields.
 
          Take up our quarrel with the foe:
          To you from failing hands we throw
               The torch; be yours to hold it high.
               If ye break faith with us who die
          We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
                   In Flanders fields.
                            –John McCrae
 
Friends, I read where some are afraid that President Trump is going to change the heads of the military–the chiefs of staff.  Well, something must be done!  Wokeism has overtaken many in the military.  They have broken faith with those who have died and gone before.  They have made a mockery of the American fighting man.  I remember the words of General George S. Brown, from when I served:  “[we need] to turn America back from a course of permissiveness and moral decay to a pursuit of excellence, a pursuit of high standards of integrity.  We need this badly.” 
     What has happened to the high standards?  Oh, “they” say it is progress.  We are going forward, they say, but when that day of need comes, we will find that we have neither the fortitude nor the strength, and possibly courage might be a failure as well to withstand the onslaught of an enemy.   Duty–Honor–Country is no longer the ideal.   Forgotten are the words of General Douglas MacArthur, “Duty, Honor, Country are the rallying points that can help build courage, regain faith, and create hope.”
     Have we broken faith with the dead, those who have given time, effort, blood, sweat, and tears in the service of this country?  Has the torch been dropped?  If so, help us, Lord.  Help us to regain our obligation to You, and to those who live in this great land.  Let us raise the bar, the high standards of excellence of which we were so proud.  Let us more vigorously pursue that watered-down virtue of integrity.  For without integrity, we are nothing.
     This day, I would say to you–do your part.  Thank a Vet!