Month: April 2025

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The chilly ocean winds being deposited on land had lessened higher up among the California redwoods. The forest of tall trees always put things in perspective reminding him what an insignificant speck he was on this country. One day he would be gone from the land, but the mountains and the rivers, the trees and the long grass, and the lakes and the canyons, would remain.”
                    –Bobby Underwood  (The Wild Country)


       “The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.”
                    –Deuteronomy 29:29  (NLT)
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Proverbs 3:
          19 — The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens;
          20 — By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew.  (NKJV)
(CEB)
          19 — The Lord laid the foundations of the earth with wisdom, establishing the heavens with understanding.
          20 — With his knowledge, the watery depths burst open, and the skies drop dew.

     Often I would ask students what would happen if they were walking and released hold on their books.  Invariably they would say, they would drop, or they would fall.  I would then gently remind them they would not…but gravity would pull them down.  In saying that I don’t mean to imply that I understand the laws of physics.  I do know that some things will happen, such as in the case of the books, but I don’t understand the why of it.  In watching movies I see cowboys shooting up in the air; they don’t understand physics any better than I.  What goes up, must come down, and it will come down in the same arch that it went up (barring other things in nature).
     Stop for a minute and look out the window.  Look at the marvelous creation of God; not evolution–happenchance, but the work of the infinite Creator.  God in His infinite wisdom and plan put it all together.  He spoke and it happened.  I read, whether true or not, of a meeting between the brilliant Albert Einstein and the comedian Charlie Chaplin.  In their conversation it is reportedly said that Chaplin made this remark to the famed scientist:  “The whole world admires you, even though they don’t understand a word of what you say.”
     Bob Beasley points out that “God established the earth, as He set each star of the firmament in position, and as the seas were formed and the ecosystems set up.”  Add to that the grandeur of nature and the wonder of man.  Whew!  It is too much for my pitiful brain to grasp.  I recall the words that God spoke to Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” (38:4, NKJV)  I for sure do not have all the understanding, but I know that it all works together.  I am reminded of the wonderful song by Maltbie D. Babcock:

          This is my Father’s world,
          And to my listening ears
          All nature sings, and round me rings
          The music of the spheres.
          This is my Father’s world:
          I rest me in the thought
          Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
          His hand the wonders wrought.

     “This is my Father’s world,” and I leave it at that.  “I rest me in the thought,” that I cannot comprehend the works of His hands.  Man often gets in the way of the laws of nature and physics.  When that happens bad things can happen and often do.  Warren Wiersbe reminds us, “Obey these laws and creation will work with you; disobey them and creation will work against you.”  Try walking on water.  Oh ye of little faith.  Take a step off a ten story building and see if you can defy the laws of gravity.  On the way down, be sure and pray asking that the Lord forgive you for your stupidity.  He will answer, “My son/daughter, I forgive you” just before the sound of “PLOP!”
     Since this creation belongs to our heavenly Father we are to be good stewards not only of our finances but also of God’s creation.  Upon leaving a campsite I always told my kids and students to leave it better than when you found it.  I hate to drive along roads and see all the trash.  In that same concept, we should also be better stewards of our intelligence.  J.L. Flores states that, “the exhibition of God’s wisdom in creation is intended to lead men to listen to His Word of Revelation.”  Ponder this last thought throughout the day from the NIV Study Bible, “To live by wisdom is to imitate the Lord and conform to the divinely appointed creation order.”

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Then I realized that God allows people to continue in their sinful ways so he can test them.  That way, they can see for themselves that they are no better than animals.”  
–Ecclesiastes 3:17, NLT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     I glared at Tanner, “Where can I find McGinnis and this so-called Kid?”
     A look of fear came across his face and he had trouble answering.  “You can stay here, I won’t need the help from the likes of you.”
     Then I heard a sound from the area of the cells, then Doc Minton hollered, “Marshal, get in here!”
     Charlie’s eyes were open, moving about frantically.  “Miles,” he groaned out a whisper.  “They tend to stay in the Glass Slipper.”  He closed his eyes and I thought he had gone back to sleep.  Just as I started to rise and go out.  “Miles,” came the moaning voice again.  “Be careful…”  He wanted to say more, but passed out.
     Reaching down I patted him on his good shoulder, “I will Charlie, I will.”
     “Marshal,” came the voice of the doctor, “did you look closely at this wound when you dressed it?”
     I gave a little shrug, then answered, “I was more concerned with getting him patched than doin’ a thorough examination.”
     “For your consideration,” he began, looking up from Charlie, “he was shot in the back.  I think he was trying to warn you.”
     That would be Charlie.  “He goin’ to be all right?”
     Doctor Minton stood to his feet, then looked me up and down.  “He’s lost a lot of blood, but he should be all right barring infection.  I’ll come back by tomorrow to check on him.  If he comes to see if you can get him to eat.  He needs to build up his strength.”
     I went back to see Tanner as the doctor was putting his coat on and putting his tools back in his bag.  He nodded to me as he went to the door and stepped out.  After I got my directions, I followed behind him.  He was halfway down the street when I noticed that a man seemed to be following him, walking on the other side of the street.  I glanced up towards Blair street and my destination, but figured I should make sure the doctor got home safely.  I began to follow, at a distance, staying mostly in the shadows, not hurrying but keeping my attention primarily on the stalker.
     The man stopped at the entrance of the store next to the corner as the doctor crossed the street and moved northward.  I slipped into the alcove of a business, watching.  A few seconds went by, then I saw the man slowly move to the corner to peer around, then he continued on.  I made my move to cross the street, glancing backward to make sure I wasn’t being followed.
     I was reminded of a rat, the way the man darted here, then over there.  Quick moves, not the kind one would make if they were truly good at following.  In my mind, I thought of him as a runt, for he was not a big man.  I breathed a prayer, as I continued to follow him. 
     Doc reached his office which included his home upstairs and went in.  The man I was following pulled his gun moving closer to the structure.  He didn’t bother to check if anyone was following as he stepped up on the porch.  I now hurried to get in position.  Holding the Greener in my left hand, I pulled my pistol.
     As the man reached down to turn the knob, I hollered from the edge of the property, “Hold it!  Put the gun down!”
     He turned, pointed the gun at me…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Where trails are, men may go; and where men go there is often death, and the buzzards have a pact with death.”

                         –Louis L’Amour  (The Broken Gun)

       “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
                          –Hebrews 7:25(NKJV)  
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     The words of George Whitefield are appropriated for Psalm 140, “Let us never despair while we have Christ as our leader!”  The NIV starts with the words, “Rescue me…”  It is almost a frantic plea.

          1 — Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,
          2 — Who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war.
          3 — They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips.   Selah
          4 — Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
          5 — The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me.    Selah
          6 — I said to the LORD:  “You are my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
          7 — O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
          8 — Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further his wicked scheme, lest they be exalted.    Selah    (NKJV)

     “Steven Lawson states, “The storms of life either make us or break us.  They either mold us into the persons God wants us to be, or they cause us to lose heart and crumble.  Fiery trials either drive the believer closer to God, or they drive him farther away.  But no one ever remains the same after experiencing a severe distress.  Affliction either softens the believer or sours him.  It either makes him better or makes him bitter.  This is the powerful effect of trials upon our spiritual lives.  All believers go through storms, but none pass through them unchanged.”  There are storms rising, the winds are building, the house is ready to crumble under the onslaught.  What house?  Why the house of your soul.  “Rescue me!”  
     When storms have come, whether wind, rain, or fire, there is always the situation that follows–scavengers.  Those people who will raid a person’s home after the storm has passed just to please their greedy, evil appetites.  People who don’t mind hurting others, and seem to delight in it when they are down.  “Deliver me!” from the hands of evil.  It is an urgent cry, almost to the point of pleading, “Do it now.  I need help now!”  The NLT says these people, “stir up trouble all day long”; the NIV translates verse 2, “who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.”  There are people out there who go about wrecking havoc throughout society.  Ruthless people who care nothing about the rights, feelings, and property of others.  And their tongues, oh my, they run their mouths continuously against you.  Poison seems to be injected into every word they spit out.
     These evil people have a hidden agenda.  They set hidden traps.  One of the most feared traps during the Vietnam War were punji sticks hidden in holes along the paths.  On top of that the enemy would coat these sticks with feces to bring about quick infection.  They laid the trap for the unsuspecting, but even the old veteran sometimes fell into one of them.  Close scrutiny must be given to the path we are traveling on.  One cannot walk through life complacent or wham!  They are jammed with a punji stick hidden by the enemy.  Another careless traveler has been waylaid.  David writes, “Selah,” at the end of this.  Just think on this…just think on what type of person this is.  Hmmm, we should realize that the enemy of our souls is not a gentleman, but a seething evil being who wants nothing more than to hurt, destroy, or kill you.  Think of that!  Don’t let it leave your mind.
     But then…recall the next words and realize that you too can say them:  “You are my God!”  Note that in “the midst of this difficulty, his faith was active and dynamic.” (Lawson)  No matter who is out there to get you, no matter what circumstances may come your way, the Lord God Almighty is there with you.  When someone tries to get you to respond in a like manner, don’t give them that satisfaction.  Stay above their antics, be aware of them, but don’t give in to them.  Go to God, ask Him to act on your behalf, He is able and willing to deliver you.

               “Through all the changing scenes of life,
               In trouble and in joy,
               The praise of my God shall still
               My heart and tongue employ.”
                      –Nahum Tate

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He drank the last of the coffee from the pot sitting beside the fire. If that fool don’t get back here soon, we’re goin’ to be hurtin’ for coffee. I don’t think there’s enough left to make even one pot. He better get back here today, ’cause he knows what I’m like if I don’t get my coffee.”
                    –C. Wayne Winkle  (Reno Gates)

 
     Pard, I made the coffee extry strong this mornin’ for what I’ve got to tell yuh.  Go ‘head, take yur first swaller, the a deep breath.  My mercy, some of the things I’ve read this week is beyond common sense, but then I don’t understand much these days nohow.
     Here’s the first one.  “Gen Z is getting ‘tramp stamps’ to feel more empowered.”  Goodness, why not just develop some backbone.  Empowered??  What does that mean?  It will give you the ability to get up for work?  It will give them ability to stick to a job?  Maybe, this is it, Pard, it will help them become a contributor to society.  Just a little tattoo will add to your mental and physical strength.  Deception!  I will never understand the attraction of a tattoo, and I just don’t know why a person would want to put graffiti on the temple of the Holy Spirit.
     Tolt yuh, we needed the coffee strong this mornin’.  Here’s one that’ll frizz yur hair.  Get yurself another swaller.  Pard, yuh tell me–tell me why four women sittin’ on with those long black robes on in the high court would want to vote to keep that heinous Venezuelan gang in the United States.  The five men upheld the President’s rulin’, but the women said they could/should stay.  Don’t make no sense for sure.  Those women aren’t interested in justice nor in protecting the public.  Yuh know, Pard, when I read Jeremiah, Amos, and the other prophets, one thing is clear – makin’ the judgment of God necessary.  That is the perversion of justice and the corruption of the legal system and purpose.  Sure, it was not the only thing but it is on the list.
     Here’s the last one, that’s enough for today.  That’s plenty for any day.  Take another deep swaller.  Oh, yuh need yur cup filled up first.  Here yuh go, now slurp away.  Number three for this week.  “Nextgen Sexuality”, a webinar about gender confusion and what to do about pronouns.  My mercy, this was under AG Youth Ministries.  Pard, we’ve come a long way an’ I’m ‘fraid it ain’t upward.  Why, right off’n the bat yuh can see it’s about confusion.  I tell yuh, Pard, God is not the author of confusion, to quote the ol’ Apostle.  Ol’ Slewfoot is that bein’, confusin’ the mind, confusin’ the life, confusin’ the truth.  Pard, if’n there’s confusion around be lookin’ for the ol’ devil.
     One more thing Pard since the pot is empty, and we’ve got to be on our way.  Stick to the doctrine of the Bible, don’t be led ’round by the nose and don’t be puttin’ no ring in it for someone to be grabbin’.  Many out there fit the bill–their thinkin’ became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened; claimin’ to be wise, they became fools.  Pard, drink yur coffee strong, keep yur mind on the Word, yur gun oiled, and check yur cinch and yu’ll be on the way to a good week.  Don’t be waverin’ or even totterin’.
     Vaya con Dios.