Month: November 2025

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He finished the pie, drank another cup of coffee, and pushed back from the table.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Conagher)
 
Here yuh go, Pard.  Nice and hot, and plenty strong.  Sure hopin’ it puts yuh in a good mood, yuh know what they say.  What?  My coffee is strong enough to remove a tattoo?  Well, Pard, I wish it was, there’s shore enough of them bein’ painted on folks anymore.  What a sight!  But no, here’s what I was goin’ to say, this mornin’s good mood is sponsored by coffee good and strong.  No cinos, just plain coffee.  Ahhh, that’ll fix yur mood right up.  Fact is the only thing better is to add some time with the Lord to it.  My, how I enjoy sittin’, readin’, lookin’ out in the trees, and drinkin’ my mornin’ coffee.  Life is good, God is good.
     Pard, Thanksgivin’ is right around the corner.  Time for some nostalgia, time to be thinkin’ of times past, and more importantly, it’s time to be makin’ new memories.  Yep, the missus will be makin’ several pies, some pumpkin pecan, a German chocolate, maybe an apple, a cherry-berry, and of course that Thanksgivin’ staple, plain ol’ pumpkin.  Whoop!  The stomach is jumpin’ already in delight just a-thinkin’.  Then we’ll be with friends and family at the campsite.  Looks like no campfire this year as we’ve got a burn ban goin’.  Shame we have to have those, but folks just don’t know how to be good woodsmen.  Think it sorta ties in with the fact that they don’t know how to be good stewards. 
     People get sloppy, careless an’ many don’t even care ’bout what they’re doin’ an’ what could happen.  I’ve seen plenty a fellow burnt, or cut, or walk away leavin’ a fire burnin’.  They don’t care, or if’n they do they don’t show it.  Same ways with the things of the Lord.  He gives a blessin’ an’ it’s ignored, or used wrongly.  Some folks don’t take care of the things He gives ’em, they waste, they disfigure, they abuse those wonderful blessin’ of the Lord.  Some of the things they do with the gifts from the Lord are worse than diggin’ a hole and buryin’ it.
     But ‘nough of that negativity; it’s Thanksgiving.  Time to be rememberin’ our blessin’s and thankin’ the Lord for them and all that He has done.  My mercy, Pard, that shore a heapful!  An’ what’s more–He keeps on a-givin’ an’ a-blessin’.  Take a deep breath, no, there’s not a pie in the oven, but go ahead.  Now, think, He has given you the breath of life, and even more so because of Jesus He’s given us the breath of eternal life.  My, my…
     So Pard, be enjoyin’ all the blessin’s that are part of Thanksgivin’.  Some don’t have it so well.  Some lost it all, like ol’ Job.  But then remember, that old man got more than before.  It’ll be the same when we walk through the gates of that heavenly city, an’ sit down at that table.  My, I wonder if’n we’ll find out that manna was really apple pie?  
     Be havin’ a good week, and bein’ thankful.  Don’t spoil it all by not checkin’ yur cinch.
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The heavy curtain of dark grey overhung the pale blue that faded to blushing orange and pink, reflecting the brighter colors on the silhouetted landscape. It was his favorite time of the day. Quiet, still, cool and constantly changing moods as the palette of colors was dipped with the Creator’s brush to be splashed across the horizon. He looked heavenward and spoke a silent prayer, the words coming deep within his grateful heart.”

                    –B.N. Rundell  (Saguache)

       “Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.”
                    –Mark 14:23 (NKJV)
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               “Give thanks with a grateful heart,
               Give thanks to the Holy One…”
                      –Henry Smith

Thanksgiving, a time when we remember and are reminded to be thankful.  Shame that we have to have a special day to remind us, but then again, it is a wonderful idea that we do set aside a day to be thankful.  Far too often we take things for granted; we don’t even think about being thankful.  I understand that we don’t have to be constantly saying, “I’m thankful for the squirrels running up the tree, I’m thankful that I can walk, I’m thankful for…”.  I understand that, but at the same time we need to have a heart of gratitude, an attitude of thankfulness.
     I received at the beginning of the month a little reminder to be thankful.  It is called 30 Days of Thankfulness, and I have used it every morning in my little inspirational thought or jab at the grandkids.  I have enjoyed it, and it is a little different as it identifies some things that I really never thought to be thankful for.  For example, be thankful for a gadget.  It made me think of the tools we use in the kitchen, i.e., just the gadget of a can opener.  Another day, be thankful for a scent.  Mmmm, the smell of baking bread, of coffee, of bacon frying.  (How come they all related to food?)  The fresh smell after a rain.
     The idea was to get our minds geared to the idea that we are to “give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ for you.” –1 Thessalonians 5:18.  Let’s take a look now at some things in the Bible that we are to be thankful for.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” –1 Chronicles 16:8
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”  –1 Chronicles 16:34
“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.”  –2 Samuel 22:50
“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.”  –Psalm 30:4
“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.” –Psalm 75:1
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!”  –Psalm 105:1
“Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”  –Psalm 106:1
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  –1 Corinthians 15:57
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.”  –Colossians 1:3
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.”  –Revelation 11:17

There!  That gives you an idea of the reasons why we should give thanks.  There are plenty more, but just notice how being thankful draws our attention to God.  An attitude of gratitude–remember that.  And most of all, let me finish the lyrics of Henry Smith:
             
               “Give thanks because He’s given
               Jesus Christ, His Son.”

Just think, contemplate, recognize, meditate upon the goodness of the Lord and what He has done for us.  Yes, Give Thanks!

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

No traveler of the desert had ever correctly measured distance in this valley of shadows and hazes and illusions.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

       “Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.”

                    –Job 6:18 (NIV)
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There are 280 references in the Bible in regard to “the wilderness.”  That does not even count the times that the term “desert,” or “rocky places,” or “mountains” are used.  Wilderness places are places that God often uses.  A few days ago I mentioned different types of wilderness: polar, desert, jungle, prairie, and mountain.  I will also mention that there are unusual wilderness places such as the belly of a large fish, a den filled with lions, not to mention prisons of various types.  One of the first and foremost things you need to do is to recognize the type of wilderness that you are in, and then understand that your soul is facing a challenge.  Work through the wilderness no matter how long it takes.  Do not hasten, let the Holy Spirit do His work, remember that Moses faced the wilderness for forty years before accepting his calling, then went on to live another forty years.  A little side note:  Moses had to first rid himself of the “civilization” that was in him.
     We find ourselves in the wilderness for various reasons.  I mentioned that the woman Hagar was using the wilderness as a means of escape.  Trying to escape she placed herself in possible danger.  We are not told how far into the wilderness she fled, but it was one of those “woe is me” attempts.  Our wilderness may come because we are trying to escape; we feel sorry for ourselves, and we do not want to submit to the hand of the Lord.  Some people run from job to job, never secure, and never realizing what they are doing.  They are in a wilderness and do not even recognize it.  How will they stumble through life?
     Maybe it is time you take inventory and check your situation.  Maybe you are continually unsatisfied with your work, just bouncing around, or grumbling and complaining.   Perhaps the Lord is trying to get your attention and you’re not listening, but murmuring against what He is attempting to do with your life.  Maybe you are running to the wilderness of materialism to satisfy your needs, something, anything, to satisfy that longing.  You need to stop, look around, access the situation, recognize the problem or you will find that this wilderness of the soul will continue on until the end of life.
     I said there may be unusual types of wilderness experiences.  Some may retreat into the wilderness of loneliness.  They hide from others not trying to find their way out.  They cover their heads, like an ostrich in the sand, hoping, wishing, that it will go away–but it won’t.  We have to work out of the wilderness.  Children may run to the wilderness of their rooms.  When scolded or disciplined they want a refuge, but instead and not realizing it, what they have really done is to enter a wilderness.  The danger here is that they could wander their entire lives, becoming lazy bums, couch potatoes, and welfare recipients.  They may not be fortunate like Hagar to find a spring nearby.  They may hide under their pillow and not hear the voice of the Lord.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He’s still a tenderfoot and he’ll be one even if he stays out here the rest of his life.”
                    –John Benteen  (Fargo)

       “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
                    –Revelation 20:15(NKJV)
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Where is your focus?  Where is your attention?  How do you live each day?  Answer these questions then read the following verses from Proverbs 8 and reevaluate your answers.

          32 — Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
          33 — Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it.
          34 — Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
          35 — For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD;
          36 — But he who sins against me, wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.  (NKJV)

     It is a daily waiting, watching, and walking life.  Bob Beasley writes, “We are to live moment by moment, from faith to faith, step-by-step, on a daily basis.”  Our concentration is to be upon the Lord every moment of every day.  Paul tells us, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.'” (Romans 1:17, NKJV)  We never know what might lie ahead, so we should consciously try to be the best we can in all circumstances.
     J.L. Flores says, “Not to listen is to refuse.  Not to wait on God is to sin against Him–is to despise the provisions of His mercy.”  It is foolish, downright stupid, for people to ignore the wonderful grace and mercy that is before them.  We have this simple, yet profound statement, if you have Christ you have life.  Then the contrast, if you hate Christ, you love death.  To refuse Christ then is a self-destroyer, a sort of spiritual suicide.  “He who refuses to drink of the Fountain of Life, must, of necessity, be left to soul-death.” (Flores)
     We see the wonderful blessings that are promised to those who will listen to the instruction of God’s wisdom and keep God’s ways.  Life and favor (grace) are His and He gives them freely to all who accept the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Why then is man so foolish?  Christian, I would also advise you to check your time; prioritize it to meet with the Lord, to find Him, and to walk with Him.  Perhaps this person was right when he said, “We live in a world full of stupidity.  Stupid acts done by stupid people with stupid motives.”  I remember the words of that bard, Don Edwards, “You can fix ignorance, but stupidity is fatal.”  To go against God and His ways is indeed, fatal.  
     I hear, I read, and I wonder.  How in the world some folks out there actually believe what they say and do.  Samuel Miller hit it right on the head when he said, “Doing without is a stupid misery; but hating wisdom is an insane marvel.”
     Listen to what you are taught!  “Wisdom’s gracious invitation is more desirable than anything and an invitation to a blessed life.” (NKJV Study Bible)