Month: January 2026

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It’s amazing how God can paint such beauty in the midst of all the terrible things that happen.”
                    –B.N. Rundell  (The Trail to Rebellion)

       “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him.”
                    –Ephesians 1:9 (NASB)
—————————–
I don’t understand it.  Man tries to explain in his feeble way.  God spoke and the worlds were created and all that is in them.  Man for some reason has trouble with that.  They instead make idols to explain.  Then as man progressed he realized that idols were not right, so he made the ultimate idol–himself, and has come up with the answer to creation–the Big Bang or other such theories.  Man wanting to be rational and logical chose not to accept the only rational and logical reason for creation–GOD!  
     Then there is the issue of evil.  I do not understand how it all happened.  Get this, evil and sin were not created!  We read in Ezekiel, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,Till iniquity was found in you.” (28:15, NKJV)  Other translations use the terms:  wickedness, evil, unrighteousness.  Here we see the only perfect being.  Lucifer–perfect in his being, perfect in his ways, who had access to the throne room.  Then…then he looked to the One on the throne and saw someone who was–more than perfect.  I don’t understand perfection, much less more than perfect.  Lucifer looked at Him, and sin/iniquity was found in him.  Paul mentions this “mystery of lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians.  It is indeed a mystery.  Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit–sin came, death is now a part of life.  A mystery!
     Paul also writes about the mystery of faith, the mystery of Christ, the mystery of God.  We see now only as through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12)  It is a mystery, but as we continue in this verse we read, “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (NIV)  Tell me about mercy and grace.  It is a mystery.  John Newton wrote, “We judge things by their present appearance, but the Lord sees them in their consequences…”  
     Look at the agony in Gethsemane.  What do you see?  The physical and mental anguish of Jesus.  Look at the cross.  What do you see?  Jesus in agony, brutally whipped, beaten unrecognizable, and bleeding.  But is there a mystery?  Is there something hidden from our view?  Absolutely!   F.W. Krummacher says this, “His being taken prisoner, His being brought before the bar of judgment, His condemnation by the Sanhedrin, and His passage to the cross, are only symbolical representations of infinitely more exalted events, which were behind the veil.”  We do not, and thankfully so, have the view of the supernatural at this time.  We cannot see sin as it touches the loving Savior, only in His cry, “It is finished.”  What did it look like in the spiritual realm?  Thank God, we cannot see the fullness of the agony of Christ.  We cannot see the devil, and the imps rejoicing at the death of Jesus.  I could go on–the tomb, the burial, the days before the resurrection, the resurrection itself–what did it look like in the spiritual realm?
     We must be careful.  Eastern religions and Cosmic Humanism seek to find the spiritual world.  While we are told to leave that to the Holy Spirit within us.  There is continual activity in that mysterious realm, but do not dare to enter.  One day that mystery will be opened to us as well.  “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2, NKJV)  We shall see Him in all of His splendor, majesty, and glory.  The mystery will be over.  As Jesus came in the fullness of times, the mystery of time will be over, and we will be forever in the fullness of eternity.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

We can scare ourselves into insanity if we don’t get a hold of ourselves and shake the cobwebs off. It takes courage to live this life.”

                    –Ken Pratt  (The Gypsum Creek Massacre)

       “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
                    –Acts 16:25 (NIV)
—————————
Listen, get real!  Quit using the excuse when you sin, “I’m only human.”  If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times.  Yes, we are all human.  We all make mistakes, pursue bad decisions, and fall into sin and the reason is that we are human.  But don’t use that as an excuse, just know it as a fact.  Then, do something about it.
     If, and when, we sin we do not lose our salvation, know that for a fact, but as Francis Schaeffer puts it, “we do have separation from my Father in the parent-child relationship.”  There is an estrangement from the Father; we remember what we had and now sin has brought tension, strife, perhaps turmoil to our relationship.  It must be taken care of as soon as possible.  I have often thought of Adam as he was walking out of the Garden.  Stepping out, he stopped, looked back to see the cherubim take their posts with flaming swords to guard the entrance to make it impossible for Adam to get back in.  There was no way back in, there was no way for Adam to have the same relationship with a holy Father.  Gone were the days when he could walk in the Garden with God.  Paradise lost–indeed, Adam and Eve were no longer welcome in the presence of a holy God.
     Woe is mankind, woe is me.  But wait!  John writes to believers, to those who have accepted the redeeming grace of Jesus that relationship can be restored.  The way is to admit that we have sinned.  It cannot be excused, it cannot be blamed on someone or something else.  We must not say, “I’m only human,” or “I’m not perfect,” but go to God.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NKJV)  Relationship is now restored; God walks with us.
     Let me say this.  In the midst of suffering and sorrow; when we have given into sin–repent, try again, and do not stop rejoicing at any time.  Read the Psalms.  In David’s woes, trials, battles, and sin did he stop playing his harp at any time?  Philip Comfort reminds us that, “We too can stop in the midst of life’s tumult and disappointment and offer this prayer:  ‘Come, thou fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.'”  Think of the times that Paul tells us to rejoice, rejoice.  We are not like Adam, the relationship can be restored.  Continue to praise and rejoice as you repent and know–know that the Father is there.

               “No ear so dull, no soul so cold,
               That felt not, friend not to the tone,
               Till David’s lyre grew mightier than his throne!”
                    –Lord Byron

     Let 2026 be known as a year of rejoicing in the Lord!  No matter the situation, no matter the circumstance, no matter the storm, no matter the battle–rejoice in the Lord!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Apprenticeship’s over, and so is schooling. Time to be a man.”
                    –Chris Bennett  (Road to Revolution)

       “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
                    –Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
————————–
We see here beginning in chapter 10 of Proverbs what is called antithetical parallelism.  This is a positive phrase followed by a negative phrase.  Mike Leake adds that these proverbs are the “path to truth in a misinformation age.”  I might also add that most translations use the term “son” where it does mean child of either sex.  As we see in verse 1, the NLT translates, “the wise child…”

          –“A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.” –NKJV
          –“A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”  –ESV
          –“A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.”  –NLT

     It would be an interesting study of the Bible to see the stories of wise and foolish sons.  Sons who either blessed their parents or cursed them; bring joy or grief.  This begins at the beginning with Adam and Eve.  Cain brought a curse, Seth a blessing; Esau a curse, Isaac a blessing; and on down to David, Absalom a curse, Solomon a blessing.
     With verse 1 there is a need to keep in mind Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10:  wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.  “All wisdom flows from that spring.  The foolish son despises the Lord and His instruction.  And so it is in our relationship to the Lord that we bring our parents’ joy.” (Bob Beasley)  It is important to remember that the parents are to give godly instruction to their children, but it is still the decision of the individual child to choose to take it to heart or not.
     Grief versus gladness is the reality of life.  The words that the parents speak are important, but as J.L. Flores points out, “whether parents shall have gladness or grief in their children depends not so much upon the excellence of their words as upon the godliness of their lives.”  Our lives dictate much of what our children will perceive and hang on to.  Words and life go together and as Mike Leake points out, “The more a lie is shared the more it feels true.”  A child is to be given the truth, shown the truth and the child must choose the world’s view or the truth of God’s Word.  “The babbling fool comes to ruin; his reality isn’t grounded in truth.” (Leake)
     Know this, “The child’s behavior affects both parents.  Both parents find their joy or sadness in their child who demonstrates skill in life.” (NKJV Study Bible)  Therefore, as children of Father in heaven, our greatest calling then is to bring our heavenly Father joy.

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
A good reputation is more valuable than the most expensive perfume.  In the same way, the day you die is better than the day you are born.”  –Ecclesiastes 7:1 (NLT)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
     I was trudging back through the deep snow that had fallen the past three days after checking on the horses.  They were comfortable in their stalls, but I had to spend some time mucking them out after the storm.  It was clearing and that meant the temperatures would drop.  I figured it would get down ’round zero tonight so I placed a couple of blankets on the backs of Hawk, Star, and Two-Bits, fed them some grain and oats and made sure they had plenty of water and hay.  Tomorrow I would let them out to romp in the snow.
     It was cold and the night would be even colder.  Before I entered the cabin, I picked up an armload of firewood.  That would save me at least one trip outside.  Entering the blast of warm air hit me, as well as the aroma of coffee, and biscuits.  Glancing over at the stove I saw that Molly was making sausage gravy for the biscuits.  She turned, smiling, holding up two eggs.  “These are the last two until I can get down to the diner.”
     Placing the wood near the fireplace I checked the kindling for the stove and saw that the box was almost full.  I then poked around the logs in the fireplace, moving them a bit then added a couple of the large pieces I brought in.  It was sure comfortable inside compared to being out in the cold.  My morning cup was still on the table.  I glanced in it, then went to the stove to retrieve the pot sitting there.  Molly was just finishing up so I headed to my chair at the table.
     Molly brought two platefuls of biscuits and gravy each with an egg on top.  We bowed our heads, and she offered the blessing for the food, for the life the Lord had provided, and for the coming year.  When she said that I had forgotten that we were now in a new year.  My mercy, where does the time go?  Had it really been fifteen years ago since I left Texas and the Rangers?  Don’t seem hardly possible.
     “There’s plenty of wood,” I mentioned before taking a large bite.  “I need to walk down to the jail to check on the prisoners.”
     “Do you really have to go?” she questioned.  “Isn’t Lucas staying there?”
     “I wouldn’t go, but they are federal prisoners.  Lucas is there and feeding them,” I stopped to laugh.  “I don’t know how good a cook he is, but for sure his coffee is terrible.”
     Molly gave a little cackle.  “Miles, anyone can heat up a can of beans.”
     “I probably would have let Lucius out, but he needed to care for his brother.  It was a good thing too, as Doc wouldn’t have been able to make it up to the jail.  I imagine with the snow no longer coming down that he’ll try today.”  I paused to take a swallow from the cup then hoisted another forkful of gravy with biscuit to my mouth.  After chewing and swallowing most of it.  “If they weren’t federal prisoners, the trial would have already been over.  I don’t know when the district judge will get here with all this snow.”
     “You go do your duty, and maybe, just maybe I’ll have us a butterscotch pie ready when you get back,” she informed me.
     My eyes lit up.  “A fella could get fat an’ lazy sittin’ ’round the house, nice and warm and cozy.”
     “Hmpf,” came the sound from her.  “No pie until you chop some more wood.  Leave the plate and get going.  The faster you get outta here, the sooner you’ll get back.”
     Within minutes I was on my way to the jail.  It took time with the heavy snow on the road.  I noticed on my walk that there was no one out.  The streets were full of snow and no one had ventured out.  I was pleased to see Lucas in front of the jail shoveling snow from the boardwalk.  
     He saw me approaching as he looked up from his work.  “Senor Marshal, I am so glad you are here.  The man, Mort, he has gone loco.”
     “What do you mean?” I asked opening the door.
     “Kid!  Is that you?  I need some help!” came the sound from the cell.  
     I opened the door to the cell room and saw Lucius sitting on top of his brother.  “Marshal, am I glad to see you…”