Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on October 28, 2021

Seems like I always calm down and forget the grief of a weary world when you’re around.”
–Ernest Haycox (Whispering Range)

“[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

–1 Corinthians 13:6-7 (NASB)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World

Key Verse: “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NLT)

Hiding the truth–that is not love. Compromising the truth–that is not love. Hatred, worry, and despair–that is not love. It seems almost contradictory that a way in which we survive in this evil world is to love.
Many years ago, I was walking down the hallway in the school where I was teaching. There was a parent coming my direction and he blurted out in passing, “Love you brother.” After he went on by I stopped and turned to look at him shaking my head. It was a cliche coming from him, for I had never been shown any love from him in the past. It was something that was supposed to be said. A similar situation is when a guest speaker gets up in front of an audience and cries out, “I love you all.” Nonsense! Yet, we are to love, especially those of the faith. How can you love if you do not know a person?

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
–1 John 4:7-8 (NASB)

To know about love it is vital to look at 1 Corinthians 13. Love is not puffed up; not easily provoked, does not think evil; not to rejoice in evil about others. Love gives us hope. We are to have patience, be in sympathy, and understand the feelings, situations, and problems of others. Love is not easy. In fact, we cannot have true “agape” love without the Holy Spirit living in us.
God’s nature is love–you cannot think of God without love. Love is of God, love is from God, love flows from God. This love is not natural love. Only when this love is flowing through you can you say to a believer you have never met–love you brother. It has to come from the Holy Spirit. Know this, that loving one another is evidence of our new birth. We cannot love as God loves without being born again.
A key to love/loving is knowing God. To love we must know God and if we do not love do we really know God?

“God is love, and therefore, the more I know God, the more will I know that God is love, and the more I will know about love.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

As we grow in grace; as the Holy Spirit works on and in our lives we come to know God better. We are not as much concerned about the things we know about Him, but our interest is to know God Himself. Matthew writes, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (5:48, NASB) Perfection??!! How can we become perfect? Do not be afraid of that word. I have told many students over the years who sought perfection that they can’t be perfect, but they can be excellent. This perfection Matthew writes about is to reach a goal; to be complete, mature. The more the Holy Spirit works within us the more we become like Christ, therefore, the more complete we become. The more we can walk through this pagan and foolish world with the love of Christ in us.

When we realize that the Holy Spirit lives within us. When we recognize the value of true Christian friends and believers then we can surely forget the weariness that this old sinful world tries to place upon us.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on October 27, 2021

He was dependable; a man who would do his share of the work and more. In other words, the kind of man you’d want alongside you in the tough times.”
–D.C. Adkisson (Troubles at Gregory Gulch)

“Man goes out to his work And to his labor until the evening.”
–Psalm 104:23 (NKJV)
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There are many of our core foundations being struck out today. Foundations that are vital to the survival of this nation. One of them is the work ethic. Just recently I drove up to Missouri and everywhere–I mean everywhere– there were signs: “Hiring,” “Positions Available,” “Applications Being Accepted.” If I would have counted them they would have been up in the hundreds. We ate dinner one evening at a restaurant and were told that they had to go from a full menu to a small buffet because they did not have the workers.
Too long now, there have been too many given a free ride. Now, don’t get me wrong, if a hand is needed then it should go out, but there are too many freeloaders in this country. Too many who would rather get a welfare check than put in an honest day’s work. What has happened? This foundation of America is in danger of cracking.
Many years ago I did a study regarding work. (Maybe one day I’ll dig it out of the files or boxes). The gist of the study came up with two premises:

1) The purest form of natural joy is man’s enjoyment in his work.
2) The purest form of joy is in Jesus Christ.

A hard day’s work brings welcome sleep. A hard day’s work brings satisfaction–JOY. But far too often people grumble and complain about working. People have become lazy, wanting a handout, wanting their debt removed, wanting a free ride, wanting others to take up their slack. In all my years of working one of those individuals that caused me much consternation was a slacker. A person who slacks in their work is a person who is not to be trusted.
Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that there is “Nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24, NKJV) The NLT puts it, “to find satisfaction in his work.” You want to see a nation’s foundation crack, let the people go to a welfare state (socialism).
America has always been known for its work ethic, industriousness, and innovation. The Puritan Work Ethic was ingrained into the soul of the people. God ordained work, God called people to their position; therefore man was to work, not only to provide for his family, but also for the glory of God. The further man moved from this concept the more socialism has been able to creep in. Many businesses have had to shut down simply because the people don’t have a mind to work.

“When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.”
–Psalm 128:2 (NKJV)

“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

–2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NKJV)

The ability to work is a blessing from God. A job, career, position is a blessing from God. Do not despise God’s blessings for to do so is to despise the Giver. Work hard at work worth doing (and this could cover various areas of life). True sometimes we must work in a position for a while, maybe to put food on the table, maybe to learn of the position and all that it entails, maybe just to pay our dues to life.

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on October 26, 2021

Brrr, I was cold. We had a good, wet snow last night and the dampness had gotten into my bones. Doc Jones laughed when I came in to huddle around the stove at the Diner. He told me it was old age creeping in and once it did not even a stove could get rid of it.

Lucas had shoveled off the walk in front of the jail, and I went down to Foster’s store to help Darnelle shovel in front. I paid Connor Blackstone a dime to clean off in front of the diner, then go up and shovel in front of the Foster home. Wilson was doing some better, but he was mostly confined to a wheelchair. I would try to visit him once a week or so, and he would walk with a cane from the wheelchair to a rocker that sat in front of the fireplace.

Doc and I was sitting in front of the stove; I was still trying to warm up while he was enjoying a biscuit along with a big piece of sausage. I had already eaten as I had come to the diner early to get the stoves fired. Molly was wanting to make several pies and Emelda would be in before six. Marta would show up shortly after. She hadn’t been real friendly since our discussion a few weeks back, but came and did her job without saying much. I think she and Lucas were on the outs as he was staying at the jail. Without a city marshal there were few in the cells. Either Charlie or Mateo would try to be here for the weekend to keep control over the bar crowd.

Since Masterson had taken over in Silverton Charlie hadn’t gone back to visit. Mateo was over in Telluride and when he came back Charlie would go on up to Silverton to check things out. He was good about letting Masterson work the town and he would hear complaints surrounding the mining camps. With this snow some of the miners who hadn’t shown any color would pack up and go to Silverton or on down here to Durango. Overall the past couple of weeks had been very quiet.

I was working on my second cup of coffee. My toes were beginning to warm and the chill from my body had now passed. Doc was wrong, I thought when John Newsome came in the door. I hadn’t talked to John much since Foster’s stroke. He went to all the tables in the room greeting those sitting at them. He was doing some politicking as next week was election time. This was the first time he had faced an opponent–Theodore Howell was running against him.

Howell had come to town from Omaha and set up a hardware business. From what I knew about him, he was hard-working and a straight-forward businessman. On a day-to-day basis he was much more friendly than John. His wife Sally stayed in the background as far as the store was concerned but she was always helping out when someone needed assistance. She had become good friends with Betty Chapman and would often sing during the Sunday morning service. That alone didn’t set well with Jewelene Newsome. There’s talk going about allowing women to vote. I haven’t thought through the issue yet, but one thing for certain it would certainly make elections more interesting.

Newsome finally made it to our table and without asking set himself down. “Doc, how are you this crisp, snowy morning?” he said enthusiastically slapping Doc on the shoulder. “Miles, how about filling me up a cup of coffee from the stove.”

I ignored him by asking, “What brings you out on this cold morning, John?”

“Oh, just thought I’d come visit the folks of this fine community. The stores in the competent hands of Jewelene,” he said looking past me at the coffeepot on the stove.

“Miles, he’s stumping,” related Doc. “Election’s next week and John is out shaking hands and kissing babies.” Doc chuckled, then added looking seriously at Newsome, “Be careful, John. Don’t be getting the impetigo.”

He frowned at Doc. “What are you talking about?”

Before Doc could answer Marta came by. “Would you like some coffee, Senor Newsome?” she asked kindly.

“Yes, I guess Miles didn’t hear me. I would appreciate a cup of your fine brew.” Doc and I looked at each other; he rolled his eyes and I ducked my head down toward the table. John didn’t pay much attention to Marta after replying. She gave a slight frown then went to get a cup.

“I hear the famous Bat Masterson is the marshal up in Silverton. I would certainly like to meet him. Maybe he could come down this weekend and give my campaign a plug,” he said. Marta brought him coffee and he didn’t thank her. He took a taste and frowned. “How about some honey!” he hollered.

“Train’s runnin’,” I ventured. “You could get on this afternoon and come back tomorrow. I’m sure Mr. Masterson would love to meet you,” I said with some sarcasm.

It was Doc’s turn, “John, you’re not running for governor. I don’t think someone of Mr. Masterson’s reputation would want to leave his duties up in Silverton.”

Marta had brought some honey and Newsome was spooning it into his coffee and stirring it. “Hmm, I suppose you’re right. He does have to fulfill his obligations.”

I looked at John, the spoon banging against the cup was getting on my nerves. “John, have you ever been to Silverton?”

He looked at me like I was crazy, then he took a sip. “This coffee’s cold!”

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on October 14, 2021

He remembered the pungent smell of cedar, the deep red glow of dying fires, the sound of wind in the mesquite.”
–Louis L’Amour (Flint)

“The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.”

–Psalm 29:7 (NKJV)
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Friends, family, acquaintances, loved ones, and strangers–this will be the last Campfire for a week or so. Yep, taking off again. That’s a benefit of retirement; I’m not tied down to a desk, career, boss, or other. I can’t really pack up and go whenever I please, but my calendar certainly is more flexible than ever before.
If you’ve been around many campfires you’ll know that at times a breeze will sweep through causing the fire to flames and send burning embers into the sky. Most of these come to naught, however, they can be dangerous and cause a fire where they land. (Ponder that) So perhaps the thoughts this morning might be called embers from the campfire, or embers from the flame.
See, there’s a thought right there. We have a nice fire, our flame is burning brightly. Those around are warm, secure, comfortable and we have been able to cook over it. Then a wind (the Holy Spirit) sweeps through lifting some brightly burning embers into the air. Some will land and not be noticed, but there may be a few to land and catch fire. The flames from your campfire have now spread to someone else. Hmmm, not bad.
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Many years ago I was asked if I knew anything about the Book of Barnabas. Really I was sort of surprised, but then knowing the character of the person asking I figured it fit. I replied, not ugly, that I did not, that I didn’t even have time enough to study Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to be concerned about Barnabas. I told them if I was a student of church history I would be more interested.
Since that time I have become slightly familiar with the writings of a “Barnabas.” There is the Gospel of Barnabas, and there is the Epistle of Barnabas. Some believe that the Barnabas of Acts wrote the Gospel, while few will say the same regarding the Epistle. Regardless, I am still not going to take the time to study either. They were not considered for the canon which we now have–neither the Protestant or the Catholic.
Saying all of that I did come across a saying that is attributed to Barnabas and it is worth pondering.

“Let us keep ourselves with the utmost strictness from any kind of wrongdoing; otherwise wrongdoing will get the better of us. Let there be hatred in us for the errors of this world, so that there may be love for us in the world to come. We must not give such rein to our natural instincts that we feel ourselves free to mix at will with rogues and sinners, or we shall only grow to resemble them.”
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“He liked the wind in the grass, himself. And the cedars, too, and the smell of them…. Gnarled, twisted by wind, rooted often enough in rock, still it lived and grew. It took a sight of living and hardship to grow like that, but when they did grow they grew strong, and they lasted.”
–Louis L’Amour (Conagher)

Conagher is one of my favorite Louis L’Amour books and the movie is also among my favorites. The above quotation brings to mind a man who has worked all his life and now is a gnarled old man. He is still rooted, and has enjoyed life–even the toils and troubles. There is the wind again–for the Holy Spirit has guided the man’s life, sometimes working on him in ways that he never began to consider.
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I will mention that we are taking our middle granddaughter Kylee with us on this trip. It will be a “college day” for her as we will be visiting the campus of Evangel University and attending the Homecoming activities. This is Annie’s 50th homecoming anniversary. Kylee found my old letter sweater and letter jacket and is going to wear them. Fitting for homecoming, don’t you think?
In the meantime, keep praying, keep studying God’s Word, be ready and alert, and don’t go drinking any bad coffee.