Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on July 7, 2026

Get people spoiled to luxury and pretty soon it’s not a luxury anymore, it’s a necessity.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Good Old Boys)

” For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
–Hebrews 12:3 (NASB)
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“Our peace with God depends on what Christ has done for us. We love Him for that. But more; we rejoice that He is now so glorious in heaven. We look forward to being with Him, but we will not enjoy being with Him there if we do not enjoy being with Him here. I know some people who are anxious if too long a time passes without having Him in their thoughts. Sadly I know more who rarely have Him in their thoughts. It is important to think about Christ in a biblical way…. We must make sure that the means we use to help us meditate are themselves spiritual.”
–John Owen

Friends, when ideas that are contrary to the Bible confront you, quickly cast them aside and denounce them. Satan would love nothing more than to trip you up with pseudo-truth. Things that would cause you to compromise the real truth. Do not be deluded, deceived, or duped in the time in which we live. There are those who spew falsehoods and hatred and bitterness seeking either to get you to join them, or to break you down with their hatred and deceit.
Do not be so caught up in this world system that you forget that you are not part of it. The saying that, “he is too heavenly-minded to be of earthly good” is entirely false. The person who is truly heavenly-minded will do the most earthly-good. Remember the words of James, “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (5:8, NKJV)

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on July 6, 2026

No rider of the desert must see a man to know him, for it is enough to follow his trail.”

–Louis L’Amour (We Shaped the Land with Our Guns)

“Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.”

–Hebrews 12:1 (Amplified)
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Abram, get up and go! How would you react if God spoke to you to go? Most people would make excuses, or think about how they would have to pack everything. To the land where God is telling you to go, you take nothing but yourself. Don’t be a settler, learn to burn the bridges behind you, and don’t linger in the past. Yes, the way may be hard at that time, but that is no reason to look back wishfully. A.W. Tozer puts it this way, “From the effort to understand, we must not turn back because the way is difficult and there are no mechanical aids for the ascent. The view is better farther up and the journey is not one for the feet but for the heart.”
We are heading for a better world, a “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10, NIV) We are far too often earthly-minded than heavenward bound. We live in this world, but we are not part of the world system. We cannot, we must not give into hideous and false cultural ideologies. I wonder, more and more, that what would happen if we would think as much and as often about spiritual things as about the things in this life. We are to be spiritually minded. True, as Francis Schaeffer said, “True spirituality covers all reality,” we should live with the view of the Spirit, a biblical worldview if you please, regarding the things of this world. Perhaps we should think, as John Owen said, “What would you think of a person who pretends that he is journeying to another country where he has an inheritance and yet whose whole conversation is about the trifling things he has to leave behind when he goes?”
Where is your hope? Where is your inheritance? Where is your home? “Let us…for the love of God, encourage ourselves to go on, and leave our reasons and our fears in His hands. Let us forget this natural weakness which occupies us so readily… Our only task is to journey on with good speed so that we may see the Lord.” (Teresa of Avila) So keep your focus, keep up a steady pace and run “with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on July 4, 2026

I’ll see you in the morning for coffee then. And make sure to use the Arbuckles, not that swill you served last I was here. And wash your hands ‘fore you make it.”

–J.V. James (Old)

Whoooeee, friend it’s hot. But then again it’s summer and the fourth of July. Daughter is supposed to be makin’ the coffee this mornin’, we’ll see how she does. She knows right well, how to make it. Say, an’ Pard, don’t be playin’ around with them there firecrackers. We don’t need a hand that is shorthanded. I remember one ol’ boy, that some of the crew was callin’ fingers ’cause he shor wasn’t much of a hand.

Left the middle granddaughter to take care of the homestead whilst we’re away visitin’. Had to drink that hotel coffee on the road, but did have some good coffee at the one way station–Pilot. It usually has some decent coffee. Yuh never know what yuh might come up with at one of those “inns”.

Think about it Pard. If’n we didn’t have that there Boston Tea Party, we might still be like the Limeys and drinkin’ that instead of coffee. See, there was great wisdom in throwin’ that tea in the harbor. Now, I’m not against tea, and in fact I like a cup now and again, but not as a constant companion. Hey Bob, let’s meet for a cup of tea. It jist don’t sound right. Men don’t have tea parties, unless the feminists would have their way. It’s, I’ll meet yuh at the diner for a cup of coffee.

Now, Pard, I’m goin’ to stay away from politics this Fourth of July. I’m goin’ to stand up proudly when Old Glory goes by or when I see it flyin’ in the breeze. I get sorta tired of hearin’ I don’t like this country, yet they stick around an’ enjoy the wonderful blessin’s of it. Most of them there folks are nothin’ but two-faced liars who like to hear themselves spout foolishness.

So, Pard, on this Fourth of July, think of the wonderful blessin’s of this country. The sacrifices that were made to make it the greatest country the world has ever seen or known. Enjoy the day, your family, and the blessin’s of liberty that you have in this country.

Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on July 3, 2026

A man’s got to do things that’s painful and uncomfortable, and he’s got to endure suffering such as he’d never imagined he could.”
–Chris Bennett (Road to Revolution)

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.”
–Hebrews 10:32 (NIV)
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“So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'”
–Joshua 14:9 (NIV)

Hang on, Powder River let ‘er buck! That seems to be the way of life sometimes or else we find ourselves hunkering down because of the storm. We’re not exempt from the rough road of life, the bumps, the ruts, and the washed-out places. Problems, trials, problems, issues and the like are there for us. But “we have a Companion who walks beside us, guards us and guides us and smooths our rugged path every day. His presence brightens our path and gives us joy and hope.” (Kauffman)
The song by John W. Peterson came to my mind:
“It’s not an easy road
We are traveling to heaven,
For many are the thorns on the way;
It’s not an easy road,
But the Savior is with us,
His presence gives us joy every day…”

Our part is to be faithful and obedient and walk the way with the Spirit with joy and thanksgiving. Be sure that you never depart from the commandments of the Lord. Live life with expectancy and confidence and hope.