Author: Ira Paine

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I’m up here to make peace if it can be done, but when you’ve got a rattler by the tail you’d best stomp on his head before he bites you.”

                  –Louis L’Amour  (Utah Blaine)

       “They said, ‘Amen!  Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and forever.  Amen!'”
                    –Revelation 7:12 (NLT)
——————————
Where is your confidence?  A poignant question and one that requires an answer.  Psalm 146 tells us where we should (and must) find our confidence and hope.  It is in the Lord and therefore we should praise Him.

          1 — Praise the LORD!  Praise the LORD, O my soul!
          2 — While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
          3 — Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
          4 — His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.
          5 — Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
          6 — Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever,
          7 — Who executed justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.  The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.
          8 — The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD love loves the righteous.
          9 — The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
        10 — The LORD shall reign forever–your God, O Zion, to all generations.  Praise the LORD!

John Calvin said that, “The most holy service that we can render to God is to be employed in praising His name.”  To do so we must know who He is.  We may start off slowly because of our ignorance and praise Him for our salvation, but as we grow so does our praise.  “Wherever there is advancement in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be an ever-increasing sacrifice of praise ascending from his heart to the Lord.” (Steven Lawson)  Response to spiritual growth is praise; response to any growth should be praise.
     The next several psalms are referred to as the “Hallelujah Psalms” and they tell us to praise, how to praise, what to praise for, and to whom praise is due.  It is in God’s character to help–He is a helping God.  Think of the goodness of the heavenly Father, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11, NKJV)  I like the way the TLB puts this, “And if you hard-hearted, sinful men know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?”
     Notice the commitment of the psalmist in verse 2.  He is determined to praise God.  That praise does not depend upon the circumstances, the situation, “it goes far beyond the mood of the moment.” (Lawson)  Trust in man (princes, leaders) bah!  They will all die.  These men need God just like everyone else, just like you and me.  They can’t help themselves, so how can they help you?  When they die they become clods in the sod; the grave swallows up all their deeds.  On the other hand, we serve a God that never dies, never fails, and therefore, we can put our hope in Him.  He is the Creator, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He, through the death and resurrection of Christ, offers us eternal life.  He remains faithful, and I might add, He remains faithful even when we are faithless.  The Lord reigns forever–give Him praise!
     I remember Annie’s Uncle John.  He was a man of praise.  One time he was at our home, sleeping, when all of a sudden from his being came a tremendous shout, HALLELUJAH!  I don’t know if that came while he was sleeping or if he had just wakened and couldn’t hold it in him.  His soul was filled with praise and He couldn’t hold it in; praise was part of his nature.  He knew his God!  Remember, praise is an act of the will.  Lawson tells us, “We must never allow our praise to be controlled by our circumstance.  Instead, we must allow our praise to control how we respond to our circumstances.”  Praise the Lord…!

               “Now are we free–there’s no condemnation,
               Jesus provides a perfect salvation;
               ‘Come unto me’ –O hear His sweet call,
               Come, and He saves us once for all.”
                       –Philip P. Bliss

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I took the coffee pot back to the stove, picked up my chair, brought it back and sat down. Thought things over a minute.” 

                    –J.V. James  (Old)
 
That’s what I’ve been doin’ Pard, sittin’ and contemplatin’.  Thinkin’ of the foolishness and the stupidity of those out there protestin’ and riotin’.  Most are paid, most are socialist in nature, most favor anarchy, most are shiftless bums wanting to complain, magnify the flaws of the country.  They riot but do nothin’ to help the country.  They murmur, but they are not grateful for all this country does and stands for.
     Take a sip, ignore my agitation.  Guess that’s what Moses saw when the people complained about the bounty that God had waitin’ for them, but didn’t want to take to task the burden of facin’ the “giants.”  
     Pard, I was contemplatin’ the 4th of July and the freedoms that we have in this country.  Then my mind went to the word, “redeem”.  According to Vine, and I’m gettin’ a little scholarly on yuh, the term means “to buy out, especially of purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom.”  We have been redeemed of all iniquity.  Think of it Pard, redeemed means to free men from lawlessness, the bondage of self-will which rejects the will of God.  But we must know that redemption, true redemption only comes through Christ.  And one day, Pard, when we get to glory, we will have complete redemption.  No more frustrations over the fools about us.
     That’s what I’ve been ponderin’, that and sittin’ down to enjoy our time together and the coffee; of course, the coffee.  I’ve been ponderin’ that most of us do not understand nor fully realize how good we have it in America.  I’ve been ponderin’ the redemption of God that is offered to all, an’ then why, oh why, don’t the fools out there realize that it is there for them.  Guess that’s why they’re called “fools.”
     I was sittin’ there, drinkin’ my coffee, and the words of that wonderful hymn came up on the music I was playin’.  Ponder them, and try to get a glimpse of what the Lord has done for us.  
           “Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
          Pardon there was multiplied to me;
          There my burdened soul found liberty,
          At Calvary.”
Ol’ William Newell was on to somethin’.  Liberty comes only through the redemption provided by Christ on the cross at Calvary.  Whew!  What a thought!
     Well, Pard, time to be a-leavin’.  I’m glad to see yuh still have all yur fingers; yuh mustn’t’ve not shot off any firecrackers.  Yur gettin’ smart in yur old age, why I saw that when yuh mounted yuh even checked yur cinch.
    Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

One could not yield to the lawless and the ruthless, or soon there would be no freedom. It was among men as it was among nations.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Mountain Valley War)

       “Plant your feet firmly therefore within the freedom that Christ has won for us, and do not let yourselves be caught again in the shackles of slavery.”
                    –Galatians 5:1 (Phillips)
——————————-
     I don’t think that John Adams thought he was prophesying regarding the signing of the Declaration of Independence when he wrote to his wife:  “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.  It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”  Since that time the night skies throughout the country light up with grand displays of fireworks and often the singing of songs.  
     It is now a majestic display, but Adams also said this:  “You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not–I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.  Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory.  I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means…”  It did take blood and sacrifice to secure these free United States and it has taken more to secure it.  When people riot they have forgotten that with freedom comes responsibility.   And don’t think for a moment that the riots on the streets of our cities is the same as proclaiming independence from Great Britain.  There is much difference between securing rights and anarchy.
     Freedom, how often people get confused with that term.  Freedom doesn’t mean the right to do what you want–freedom actually means the right to do what you ought.  Freedom then is liberty to do what we ought.  Freedom means paying a price; it means sacrifice, in other words, freedom doesn’t come free.  Believers, sincere ones, often get confused over the term “freedom” in the Bible.  Jesus said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NKJV)
     This is not a profound theological study, but I will ask, what are you free from?  First of all, you are free from the bonds of the Law.  The Law is not to be forgotten, but it is used as a mirror, not a taskmaster.  Alistar Begg says, “They [ten commandments] do not restrict our freedom but rather give us a blueprint for joy, showing us how life works best.”  We are not under the law, but listen to Paul, “What then?  Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?  Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15, NKJV)  I like the way the KJV puts it, “God forbid!”  Grace does not give license, it brings freedom from the bondage of the law.
     Second, freedom means that we are no longer slaves to sin.  Old things are passed away… (2 Corinthians 5:17)  Peter states that we have been “purged from the old sins” (2 Peter 1:9).  No longer slaves to sin.  Sin no longer dominates or controls us for we now belong to the Lord, we have been bought with a price.  Whoa, hold on — bought?  Doesn’t that indicate that we belong to someone?  It is no longer sin, or the world system, or the law…then what is it?  Let’s look at Paul’s explanation, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?…  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16,18, NKJV)  
     Freedom brings with it obligation.  Without some type of guidance all that remains is anarchy.  That’s where Satan wants you to be, in the realm of darkness, groping about, no obligations, no obedience, no true freedom.  Chaos is not freedom!  Paul writes, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22, KKJV)  We are free from sin–we have freedom–so that we can have eternal life.  
     Enjoy your liberty as citizens of this wonderful country.  Despite its flaws, and there are many, it is still the best country on the face of the earth.  Do not take your freedom, your liberty for granted.  Enjoy your hotdogs, your apple pie, and the fireworks, but remember those things bring about an obligation.  As Christians do not take your freedom lightly either for it was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  Know this that there are obligations that come with freedom, do not neglect them.  “The greater our obedience, the greater our freedom, for the more we obey our Creator who told His image-bearers to enjoy being blessed, the more we are living in line with the people we were made to be.” (Begg)

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If there is one thing that will grow in a drought, it’s a weed.”

                    –John Hansen  (The Outfit)

       “He lops off every branch that doesn’t produce. And he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.”
                    –John 15:2 (TLB)
———————————-
     We must not throw all the words of Job’s companions away for there is some truth in what they say.  Bildad chides Job but he does say one thing that we should ponder, “Their roots will dry up, and their branches will wither.” (Job 18:16, NLT)  The HCSB translates it this way, “His roots below dry up, and his branches above wither away.”  Here’s my question for you this morning:  How lively and fruitful are your spiritual branches?
     In our approach to Bildad and his critical assumptions regarding Job he does bring forth an important truth.  One of the terrible effects of sin is a dry, dehydrated spiritual root system.  Are we thirsty enough for that living water?  Do we drink from the fountains that will never go dry?  Far too many Christians live in an arid condition spiritually.  “Their spiritual roots are dry.  They are suffering from internal drought.  There is little or no growth or fruitfulness in their lives.” (Dale A. O’Shields)  We have the Fruit of the Spirit but so often it is not nourished enough to grow.  
     A person gets born-again, but that’s it.  They often are not nourished properly and more often than not, for one reason or another, they are not discipled properly.  The root system is weak, therefore, the fruit yield is less and what is there will wither.  These people are normally easy to spot.  First, the fruit of the Spirit is not evident in their lives.  These individuals have lost their peace and joy; they’re the ones with cynical or critical attitudes.  Those in this condition are dangerously on the edge; “this spiritual dryness becomes a serious threat to their spiritual well being.”
     A second question:  how healthy is our root system?  To maintain a healthy spiritual root system we must continue to grow in a healthy fellowship with the Lord.  “If we fail to hydrate these roots regularly and properly, we eventually suffer the consequences–we begin to wither and die.  Fruitlessness externally is the result of spiritual root problems–dryness and death internally.” (O’Shields)
     Since the root system is out of sight, it often is out of mind.  We have to take time to deal properly with the roots.  “Dry roots result in a weak structure–a tree that is vulnerable to destructive, adverse forces and ravaging insects and diseases.” (O’Shields)  The pests, the imps of the devil become a hazard.  Have you ever been through a forest of tall pines, once seemingly indestructible, but now dead due to the hidden pine beetle?  Once strong, sturdy, but the pest came in and destroyed the tree.  Or those tall trees that look firm have dried out roots and when the storm blows the tree falls due to the dried up root system.
     We are to be firmly planted.  We are to make sure our “root system” is properly watered.  We are to be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3, NKJV)  We are to be productive for the kingdom, therefore we must have the proper nutrients flowing up through the roots.  We must have a time with God every day, in fact, the more we meet with Him the stronger our root system will be.  “As we recognize our need for spiritual hydration, we must make the commitment to cultivate a regular pattern of exposing ourselves to the life-giving, refreshing and renewing presence of God.” (O’Shields)
               “Drinking at the springs of living water,
               Happy now am I,
               My soul they satisfy;
               Drinking at the springs of living water,
               O wonderful and bountiful supply.”
                      –John W. Peterson