Author: Ira Paine

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

You said the finest men had been those who had fallen low and had risen. You said you had faith in me! You made me have faith in myself!”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Light of the Western Stars)

       “This testimony is true.  Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.”
                    –Titus 1:13 (NIV)
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          “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  –Matthew 5:7 (NLT)

     We all, at times, have desired mercy.  I suppose that sometimes we received it while at other times…well, you know what happened.  You may have remembered your parents saying, “This hurts me more than it does you.”  So, you cried at the top of your lungs, “Show Mercy!”  I won’t get into it this lesson, but sometimes deserved discipline is showing mercy.
     One definition of mercy is the manifestation of positive good.  This is a characteristic of genuine disciples.  Arthur Pink writes, “Mercy is an essential feature of that holy character to which God has inseparably connected the enjoyment of His own sovereign kindness.”  As we show mercy, it makes us more conscious of our indebtedness of Divine grace.  One of David’s psalms says, “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” (Psalm 37:21, NIV)  Giving does not have to include money, but it often does; when we give we can be showing mercy.  Some folks need money, others might need a helping hand, while others might need a pat on the back.  Mercy can, and is shown, in various ways.  See, when we show mercy we are reflecting the abundant mercy that is found in God.  Pink states, “The mercifulness of this fifth Beatitude is that spontaneous outflow of a heart that is captivated by, and in love with, the mercy of God.”
     Note this, that mercy is not a duty, not a drudgery, or at least it should not be.  “Mercy is to be exercised cheerfully, to demonstrate that it is not only done voluntarily, but that it is also a pleasure.” (Pink)  Wow!  Let that soak in for a few moments.  How do I then show this cheerful mercy?  First of all we are to be merciful to the souls of others.  Someone has referred to this as “spiritual alms.”  The soul, the eternal spirit of man, is what is of most importance.  Mercy should flow to them first, and at times as Jude states, “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude 22-23, NIV)
     Mercy is advising and exhorting sinners.  The early church father, Augustine said, “If I weep for that body from which the soul is departed–how should I weep for that soul from which God is departed!”  Which is the most important in the light of eternity?  Weeping at the loss of a loved one, or weeping because a loved one is away from God.  Who needs more mercy?  
     Mercy is then advising and exhorting sinners.  It is reproving sinners, and as Thomas Watson states, “do not let them go to hell quietly.”  Telling people of sin is not unloving; it is showing mercy.  Today there are many out there who are mercenaries and not ministers.  Do your job, whatever the means, to reach those who are lost and are greatly in need of mercy.  Watson warns us regarding “Evil ministers are such as having no affections to the souls of their people.”  No word to them of repentance.  No warning regarding their lifestyle.  No care given to them because of the evil way they live.  See mercy might have to be tough to pull and snatch them out of the fire.  “Unmerciful ministers who, instead of breaking the bread of life, fill their people’s heads with any speculations and notions; who tickle the fancy–rather than touch the conscience, and give precious souls music–rather than food.” (Watson)  Listen, “Ministers should be stars to give light, not clouds to obscure the truth.” (Watson)  
     Ponder this, “How dangerous is the leprosy of the head!”  The mind being eaten away by sin, doubt, need, evil, darkness–and what are we doing about it?  Evil and contentious ideas creep in destroying the foundation of truth.  How much should we then be showing mercy to those we know in this situation?  I will say, that often times we are not in a position to show objective mercy, but we can always show mercy by our prayers.  

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It had often seemed to him, watching other stockmen as well as himself, that the economy of the whole ranching industry was built around a coffee pot.” 

                    –Elmer Kelton  (The Time It Never Rained)
 
Pard, here yuh go, saw yuh ridin’ up so I got yur cup out.  Poured it full jist as yuh walked in.  Watch it, it’s hot.  That’s it, blow on it some, take a swaller, an’ yu’ll find it’ll tickle yur gizzard.
     Lot’s of things brewin’ besides coffee.  Things in my mind, things happenin’ in this country an’ over the ocean.  Yuh know Pard, the world’s in a mess, and I ain’t no prophet nor philosophyer, but I can tell yuh the reason.  They forsook the Word of the Lord, they didn’t hearken to the salvation presented by Jesus.  As in the days of Noah…that’s what we’re seein’ now.  Folks doin’ their own thing, followin’ their own lusts and desires.  Strange things a-happenin’.
     Pard, I was readin’ jist the other day from that ol’ preacher-man Tozer.  Now, I’m not quoting straight, so this is Tozer paraphrased by yur’s truly.  He was a-sayin’ because we have ignored and actually mocked the laws of God, His moral decrees, that we have brought pollution to the race–that’s the human race.  People have done compromised God’s Word so much and justified it by rationalizin’ with the culture that we are fully messed up.  Why, Pard, they have pride month, pride day, drag queens readin’ in school library session, and that among the educated folk; them folk that’s supposed to be smart.  See, Pard, it didn’t start with cinos; it started with the wise guys in the colleges and the smart-alec bums we know as bureaucrats, and shamefully, the white-sepluchered preachers that don’t preach the Word, but their own opinion.  See, their hearts are darkened.  They walk hand-in-hand with the devil hisownself.  Ol’ Tozer said, by doing this, we glorifyin’ somethin’ that will kill us in time.
     Whoooeee, it’n that don’t wake yuh up!  When people who say they are Christian don’t change their habits, lifestyle and attitude, well, that’s worse’n drinkin’ watered-down coffee.  How will people know who a Christian is an’ what he stands for if’n he don’t walk tall and straight?  Sorry, Pard, don’t mean to get all riled, but sometimes when I look at what’s goin’ on, well, it jist jerks my jaw.
     I knows yuh have things to do, an’ need to be on yur way, but there’s still coffee in the pot.  Yuh go ahead an’ pour another cup whilst I bring up somethin’ else.  I saw one of them there memes the other day that made me grit my teeth.  It went like this, due to unfortunate circumstances, I’m awake.  Now Pard, that is downright sinful–laziness is somethin’ the good Lord despises.  Why, if’n I’m not mistaken, the first thing the Lord told Adam was to get to work.  He was to be the chief gardener of Eden.  Yet, look today at our welfare rolls, the young how they bounce from one job to another, how they want top pay without payin’ their jist dues.  Pard, no wonder we’re in a mess.  Get up, I tell them, make yur bed, drink yur coffee, throw some bacon on a biscuit an’ get on out to work!  
     Well, that’s enough for this Saturday.  Yuh be havin’ a good weekend.  Meet with the saints tomorrow, worship the Lord, honor the Sabbath the best yuh can.  Hey, an’ don’t be ridin’ off to Sunday School without checkin’ yur cinch.
    Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
We’ve been through a knothole together–but we’ve come out stronger.”
                    –David Fitz-Gerald  (First Drive)
 
       “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
                    –Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
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     “All these are the beginning birth pains” (Matthew 24:8, NIV)  What was Jesus talking about?  It was not a particular date, but it was a season, a process.  Almost since the beginning of time there have been wars and rumors of wars, there have been earthquakes and famines.  But, and I’ll let you answer, are they on the increase with more frequency?  There will be persecution, and remember this, there are all kinds of ways to persecute.  It does not have to be physical torture, though in several places that is the case.  Notice that the persecutions we see happening in the world tend to affect their cultures.  Passing laws prohibiting speaking out against sin in some countries (Finland, Canada).  The attempt to hinder the freedom of the pulpit.  The murders in Nigeria, the murders of Christians in many other Muslim nations.  Yes, troublesome times, the beginning…
     Read Matthew 24 and ponder the words of Jesus.  The time is coming, the world is ripe for the man of lawlessness to appear.  But now, now is the day of salvation!  The words speak to us several great things.  That’s why we need to ponder these words of Jesus.  Don’t just say, “happy day” or “woe is me and the rest of the world.”  This is a time to get excited, be energetic about what the Lord is doing, be looking up for His redemption–the catching away of the saints–is near.
     When we see these things happening that Jesus spoke of we can be assured then that God has not abandoned His people, nor the world.  “For all its wickedness, the world is still the scene in which God’s purpose is being worked out.  It is not abandonment that God contemplates; it is intervention.” (William Barclay)  When we see these things happening, this tremendous onslaught of evil throughout the world, it should not discourage or depress us.  Barclay reminds us that before the Judgment, before that dreadful Day of the Lord, there will be chaos, confusion, and anarchy.  “A complete breakdown of all moral standards and an apparent complete disintegration of the world” must happen before the Day of the Lord.  If we think the world is in bad shape now, just wait until the meltdown begins and the man of lawlessness rules.
     One more thing we see in these verses is the fact that both judgment and a new creation are certain.  I do not pretend to understand the working of the Lord, especially in regard to the end of time.  I’m not going to speculate, predict, or fret over what is on the horizon.  My job is to keep myself ready, and to help others be prepared for the Lord’s return, in any way that I am given.  Prepping?  Preppers?  Not in the way that we see; however, we should be prepped and ready for the Judgment Day.  The day in which we live “tell us that God contemplates the world both in justice and in mercy; and that God’s plan is not the obliteration of the world, but the creation of a world which is nearer to his heart’s desire.” (Barclay)
     Our attitude is important as we see what is happening in the world.  We are not to live another unhappy day, but look up.  Think for a moment of life’s blessings–life itself for one.  Edwin R. Chess, USAF Chaplain, stated, “In Him do I find my strength to believe despite the doubts that assail me, to hope despite my gloom, to live in the face of all the evidence of human hate that surrounds me.”  What a time we live in!  Let me assure you that as a believer neither you nor I have to fear this present day of evil. The Lord is our protector, shield, and fortress.  “Keep your Christian ideals alive in the human setting in which you find yourself.  Make your religion real, worship meaningful, involvement total.  The issues and problems of the day are your responsibility, too.” (Chess)
     Take heart!  Keep going onward and upward for great is your reward in heaven and do not forget He is your strength.  You can do all things in Him who strengthens you. (cf., Philippians 4:13).

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Can we stand and make the tough decisions, which will take us into harm’s way and put our lives at risk, or do we cower and make excuses for refusing to do what is required of us? You have taken the path of hardship and courage. Your mission will end one day. Then, you will see the brightness of the future for the man who lives by truth and righteousness.”

                    –Lloyd E. Foley  (Spirit of Lone Warrior)

       “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from God.  Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”
                    –3 John 11 (NIV)
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First of all I want to apologize for some errors in punctuation and spelling in yesterday’s email.  I could blame it on spell-check, but most likely it was from fat fingers.  I do want to clear up the quotation by John Dob.  “Do not hearken to the reports of such wicked persons as seek to defame others and detract from their good name…”  Thanks for your understanding and continued reading.  
     One of the most misunderstood concepts in the church today is that of legalism.  Understand, legalism is when you add works to aid in your salvation.  You are doing something to help the Lord.  Salvation comes only from the blood of Christ and man’s acceptance of that divine sacrifice.  Then, because of salvation we do “works.”
     Some of the most legalistic people are those who use their freedom wrongly.  True, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, but freedom from what, for what, and to what?  Freedom from the chains of sin–slavery to sin.  However, as Paul tells us, “What then?  Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?  Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15, NKJV)  I now can party-hardy, booze it up, flaunt a lifestyle that is contrary to the teachings of God’s Word.  Certainly not!  And that is not legalism!  Paul writes that we are now to “present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”  (Romans 6:19, NKJV)  I hear very few who clamor against legalism delve into that verse.
     Most who holler, “that’s legalism” do not want to be slaves of righteousness for holiness.  Their antilegalism has become a form of legalism itself.  Dr. H. Maurice Lednicky declares, “What is too often defined as legalism is nothing more than carnality refusing to be crucified?”  It is self-undulation and self-love promoting a form of Christian relative truth.  When you see Christians holding a bottle of alcohol and flaunting it on social media, how is that “freedom” instead of self-love?  It is ignoring the truth of Romans 6:19 and the verses in Scripture warning us about being friends with the world (cf. 1 John).
     The anti-legalist as well as all Christians must always remember the “weaker brother” considerations.  We read of Paul’s teaching this in 1 Corinthians 8 regarding his teaching concerning meat sacrificed to idols.  The emphasis of responsibility is clearly on the stronger Christian.  They should always have the interest of the weaker Christian in mind.
     Also, I should remind, “exercising rampant Christian freedom does not necessarily mean one is a strong Christian.  It could indicate that one is too weak to control one’s passions and is hiding behind the argument that they are a stronger brother,” (Probe Ministries) and cry out, “legalism.”  It is imperative that we continually examine and reexamine our motives.  Do not cause others to stumble because of your “spiritual freedom.”  Do not be “legalistic” in your actions regarding freedom.  Remember, it is freedom from the law and sin, and also do not forget, and this is important, that with freedom comes great responsibility.  Don’t gloat over your freedom.  Know that “much of the conversation today about ‘legalism’ is nothing more than the flesh seeking an acceptable method for approval and self-justification.” (Lednicky)  I reiterate Paul’s instructions, “present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”