Author: Ira Paine

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If a man needs to be humbled, there’s nothin’ like a winter night on the prairie. Just lookin’ up at all the stars reminds you we’re all just a small part of something bigger.”

                    –A.K. Vyas  (Dodge City)

       “In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.”
                    –Hebrews 1:2 (NASB)
————————–
We have finished going through the Psalms.  I started the study back in 2016, and though it was not weekly until 2021, we have made it through.  But that doesn’t mean that we are through with psalms and songs.  There are some others in the Bible that I want us to glean from.  Plus, I changed the format from earlier psalms so I might go back and revisit them.  This morning, however, I would like to draw attention to a song by Paul.  We find it in Colossians 1:15-20.

          15 — He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
          16 — For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.
          17 — And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
          18 — And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
          19 — For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
          20 — And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  (NKJV)

WOW!  What a message.  Such a powerful statement of theology!  Handley C.G. Moule said this, “Can we read this passage and not feel that it glows and moves with a personal joy in believing?  Paul is not only discussing; he is worshiping.”  There is so much to be said of these verses, but I want to draw attention to a few things in this short time and space.
     Jesus is the “image of the invisible God.”  It is through Him that we have a clearer picture and understanding, though not complete, view of the character of God.  Barclay says that Jesus is a representation and a manifestation of God.  Jesus is God in His fullness who came to earth for the redemption of mankind.  William Petersen says that this song of Paul should be read alongside the Christmas story in Luke 2.  Yes, Jesus came as a baby, but He was still the fullness of God.  He is a portrait of the Father and in Him are all the characteristics of the Father.  
     There was, at this time, the rise of the Gnostics.  They had different views, but they claimed to present true knowledge.  Paul, often had to refute them, and they were a hardship to the church for centuries, and we still see forms of their false teachings rise from time to time.  Paul is answering them in these few verses.  He is saying that it was Jesus who created all things.  All things!  Get that–here we see John 1 along with Genesis 1.  Powerful, all is from the word of Christ for He is the Word.  All things were created by Him and for Him.  Grasp that, you are created for Him, to be part of His kingdom, to bring Him joy.  We exist because of Him.  Barclay tells us, “All the laws by which this world is order and not chaos are an expression of the mind of the Son.”  He further states that it means “the law by which the universe hangs together, are not only scientific laws but also divine laws…  The Son is the beginning of creation, and the end of creation, and the power who holds creation together, the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Final Goal of the world.”  Can we go back to the Psalms and get a better glimpse of Christ?  

          “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them.”  (89:11, NKJV)

The NLT translates the last phrase this way, “You created it all.”  That’s it–end of discussion.  Here we have barely touched on these verses, but the day is calling for our attention.  Go out into the world knowing that Christ Jesus is Lord of all.  That everything is by Him and under His control, and that includes all aspects of our lives.  Perhaps, I will visit this song of Paul again because we have barely touched it.

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The coffee was strong, the bacon was crisp, and I savored every morsel and drop knowing I couldn’t take anything as frivolous as a coffee pot or skillet.” 

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Abe)
 
Come on in, Pard.  Let me tell yuh from the git-go, I figured it out.  Yep, been ponderin’ for quite a spell on it, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason why we now have this here AI is because there ain’t much real intelligence left.  Pard, that is a scary thing, my mercy, the foolishness and deception that could come from it.  Whooee….sorry, didn’t mean to keep yuh waitin’.  Hold out yur cup an’ I’ll pour.  
     Boy, I sure agree with ol’ Bradshaw, ‘specially since I’m a simple man myself.  That coffeepot and skillet are something to be toted around.  Back when I was doin’ more travelin’, back before AI, I always kept a coffeepot, skillet, and small pan in the truck just in case I needed them or wanted some coffee along the way.  Been with Grandpa a few times fishin’ when he’d just boil up some coffee in a pan on the banks of a lake.  Listen, Pard, yuh never know what yuh might face out there, so’s best to be prepared.  Plus, I’ve swallered my share of gas station coffee.  Some better today, for example Pilot ain’t so bad, but the rest, well, it has the appearance of coffee.
     This AI don’t help none, folks are still runnin’ to and fro.  I’m beginnin’ to understand a little more what the ol’ Prophet Daniel was talkin’ about.  He was given visions of the end times–the times in which we are a-livin’–and he says that “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”  He doesn’t say wisdom will increase, or righteousness will increase.  But men will be like a hamster runnin’ through a maze not knowin’ where to go or where to stop.  Just like that fellar who almost became our Vice-President who said that believing your rights come from God is something only theocracies like Iran believe.  Mercy, Pard, and he’s one of our “leaders”?
     Sorta makes the bile come to life in the ol’ liver don’t it?  Well, take another swaller for I’ve got more.  Yuh recall the press secretary, Psaki?  She said, “Prayer is not freaking enough…  Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”  Then some politician said, “The thoughts and prayers.  I’m so beyond that nonsense.  The lie of that.”  And another one, “Praying does not work.  The kids were in a church, and God didn’t protect them.”  My mercy, Pard, little do they understand the power and purpose of prayer.  I might add these statements were made in regard to the school shootin’ in Minnesota.  Listen, if America would truly repent, turn back to God, then we might see a different response to prayer.  However, don’t ever be a-forgettin’ that the world is evil and that God is sovereign.
     Well, Pard, the pot’s empty, my palaverin’ is over.  But with the coffee (and prayers) we’ve enjoyed the hard ride of the day shore will be easier.  Need to tell yuh, that if’n yuh come by yuh’ll have to make yur own coffee next week.  We’ll be in the ol steel strawberry mount headin’ for the eldest daughter’s home.  Don’t yuh worry, I’ll be checkin’ my cinch, and makin’ sure everythin’ is packed right.  Be prayin’ for us, an’ I don’t just mean findin’ decent coffee.  Ugh, already thinkin’ ’bout hotel coffee.  Yuh be ridin’ true and I’ll be sittin’ tall in the saddle.
    Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

You’re going to need this, there’s plenty of varmints on the road.”

                    –Frank Baugher  (Preacher’s Corner)

       “The highways are deserted, no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken, its witnesses are despised, no one is respected.”
                     –Isaiah 33:8  (NIV)
——————————–
A few years back we were on a little trip and decided to go to the site where my folks lived when they first came from Oklahoma in 1936.  We went over Cottonwood Pass, which had some memories for we had to pull off the road and camp there one night back in the 1970s (oh, so long ago).  The car I was driving vapor locked and it simply wouldn’t go any further up the pass so I pulled it over and set up camp–in the rain with only the dog to help.  It wasn’t a good night, Annie and I, two little girls, and a beagle, but we did sleep well.  But it was the road we had to travel and the next morning the car started right up and over the pass we went.
     Back to the later trip; after Cottonwood Pass we stopped for a little while at Tin Cup in Taylor Park.  My Grandpa used to fish there in years gone by, then we headed through Tin Cup and up over Cumberland Pass.  It was the road we had to travel, so up we went.  My old Dodge Dakota climbed easily despite the weather; it had begun to rain mixed with sleet and snow.  The road became treacherous, but onward and upward, there was no other way.  We were in the clouds when we reached the summit and the weather had slackened.  We continued on the rocky, dirt road up over Waunita Pass, which isn’t a bad pass but the road was terrible, filled with washboards.  On the other side of this pass was where the cabin once stood.  It was the third time I had visited the cabin, but this time it had fallen apart.  The roof was caved in, one side was leaning inward.  Now the road was still rough and rocky, but there the driving was easy through the pasture land, the many copses of aspens and by Waunita Hot Springs.  We had to travel this road to get to our destination.
     I might ask, what type of road are you traveling on today?  Some of you may be traveling through a storm.  Let me tell you, I’ve driven through all sorts of storms:  snow with white-outs, heavy rain and thunderstorms, fog so thick you could cut it with a knife, a tornado moving nearby.  However, I couldn’t let the storm stop me from my destination.  Once I was on a trip and there was a problem with my vehicle’s engine.  Everytime I stopped for gas, I had to put water in the radiator.  Now, I remember going through the deserts of Arizona and California years ago when Dad would tie a bag of water in front of the radiator to help cool the engine and to use if needed.  Problems on the road, they cannot be totally avoided, but no matter the trouble we travel on that road–we had to if we wanted to reach our destination.
     “How much longer?”  Oh, how many times have I heard that?  My normal response was “an hour and a half.”  “Are we almost there?”  We’ll be there in about an hour and a half.  It didn’t really matter, we had to travel that road no matter how long it took.  Sometimes time seems to drag on.  Will we ever make it?  I recall the words from a Walt Mills song:  
               “Sometimes it seems like I’m standing still,
               Until I look back and see,
               How deep my valley, how high the hill
               And each step nearer to eternity.”
No matter where we travel, on fine highways that are straight and smooth, or on curvy, winding roads that are full of ruts, we keep going.  We are traveling the road to our heavenly home.  We are light and salt to those who pass our way no matter the direction they are going.  Someone once put it this way, “Christianity is made for the road.”  We meet all sorts on the road and we are to be a testimony to them.  We are to go onward to our destination, knowing that each mile is directed by Him, that each step of the way He is with us.  Jesus walks with us each step of each day until finally one day we will reach our destination.  See we travel this road–it is the only one we have that gets us to our destination.
   
               “I’m following Jesus one step at a time,
               I live for the moment in His love divine.
               Why think of tomorrow, just live for today,
               I’m following Jesus, each step of the way.

               The pathway is narrow but He leads me on,
               I walk in His shadow, my fears are all gone.
               My spirit grows stronger, each moment, each day,
               For Jesus is leading each step of the way.
                         –Redd Harper

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

By his example, he taught me more than anyone else the value of cheerfulness in the face of adversity.”
                    –E.B. Sledge  (With the Old Breed)

       “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”
                    –2 Corinthians 10:3 (NIV)
—————————–
          “Complete the salvation that God has given you with a proper sense of awe and responsibility.  For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve his purpose.”
                    –Philippians 2:12-13(Phillips)

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling”–we have looked at several aspects of what that means.  It means to fulfill your duty as a Christian, to be diligent in our walk not wavering, and to pick up our cross daily.  I want to look at a different aspect this morning.  We work out our salvation by living our training, standing firm in every situation, and when others fall, continue to stand.
     Barclay reminds us that salvation is of God.  He is the One who saves us.  The continuance of that process is to be awakened by Him, and without His goodness in our lives sin cannot be conquered; it is God who is at work within us.  The end process of salvation is with God as well.  We are His and He is ours.  “The work of salvation is begun, continued and ended in God.”  However, as Barcaly uses the illustration, man may be ill and the doctor prescribes the medicine that will help him, but the man must take them.  He can be stubborn and refuse.  “No man can ever receive salvation unless he answers God’s appeal and takes what He offers.”  Then throughout life there are instructions to be followed, duties to be obeyed, and obligations to be met, thus working out one’s salvation.
     This term, “work out,” means to “work in a mine” getting all out of the mine that is possible.  It can also mean working in a field to get the greatest harvest possible.  As problems come into our lives we have to “work them out.”  Warren Wiersbe writes, “Our lives have tremendous potential, like a mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfill that potential.”
     “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, NIV)  We work out our own salvation by putting on the armor of God.  Notice, we put it on.  It is something we do.  If we can put it on, we can take it off, or refuse to wear it in the first place.  Wearing the armor of God is no easy thing and since it has a military connotation we can expect a battle–to fight.  Not only must we put it on, we must put it to use.  In my short time in the military and from my studies, I have found out the difference between a warrior and a soldier is that a warrior lives his training.
     To be a warrior in any army, but especially in the service of the Lord requires strict discipline and the adherence to a warrior code.  Shannon D. French says in her wonderful book, “The Code of a Warrior,” that the code “set boundaries on his behavior.  It distinguishes honorable acts from shameful acts…  They respect the values of the society in which they were raised and which they are prepared to die to protect.”  That is one reason why the Christians of the early church could march into the colosseum singing for they were marching in the army of the Lord.  The Christian in his armor understands the “thou shalt nots” of the Ten Commandments.  He practices being a good steward with his finances, his time, and most importantly of all, his life.  
     What happens when the day of evil comes if you don’t have on your armor?  If you have laid aside your sword?  If you are barefooted?  No, part of working out one’s salvation is to be alert and prepared at all times so “after the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13, NIV)  Don’t be lax, don’t become a sluggard, but stand your ground, work out your salvation, fight the good fight and recall with the smile of a warrior the words of Paul to Timothy, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:3, NIV)
               “And battles sometimes futile seem
               Not worth the heavy cost,
               But each must stand in his own time
               Or see his freedom lost.”
                       –Andrew H. Hines
Stand your ground.  You may not understand the “why” of the battle but you follow orders because you are working out your salvation, and most importantly of all–you know your Commander.  We stand against the fiery darts, we stand when the lion roars in our face, we stand when others around us have fallen.  Lost?  No way, I’m in the King’s Army and my loyalty is to Him and He will provide a way to victory.