Author: Ira Paine

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The difference between a man and a boy is the willingness to do a man’s work and take a man’s responsibility.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Killoe)

       “You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.”

                    –Psalm 128:2 (ESV)
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I thought of writing something else this morning, but since it is Labor Day, the thought went to work.  I wrote on Saturday that a person said that we shouldn’t have to work.  That is the idealistic socialist.  Nothing in life comes free.  But then, read Proverbs and the verses regarding the sluggard.  All he wants is something given to him, on a platter if possible, without effort for he thinks he is worth it.
     Listen, no one can be truly happy without work.  My Mom loved to work, she often held three jobs and worked full time until she was in her mid-eighties.  My Dad said that the most important lesson that Grandpa (his Dad) taught him was the value of hard work.  Many years ago, I did a study on joy and I found out that joy and work are dependent upon each other.  Natural joy may be fleeting, but the purest form of natural joy is enjoyment of work.  That thought goes into the idea of spiritual joy as well, for when we are working for the Lord, serving Him, then we find contentment and joy.
     Someone has said, “As a remedy against all ills–poverty, sickness, and melancholy–only one thing is absolutely necessary:  a liking for work.”  Booker T. Washington said that “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.”  No wonder the couch potatoes complain.  Work!  Who me?  Pass me another potato chip.  We must understand that work is a way in which we fulfill God’s purposes for our lives.  In fact, working should be a form of worship.  The old Puritan Work Ethic that was so long prevalent in our country said that all work is from the Lord and that we should do it to the best of our ability.
     Right from the beginning God showed that man was to work.  “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15, ESV)
Then Paul writes that, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23, ESV)  This is a statement of the Puritan Work Ethic.  I have shared this before, but it fits here.  When I was in the Air Force, I was getting down in spirit.  The sergeant was always on my case.  One day, while working in the field, I heard a voice.  It was the closest I’ve come to hearing the audible voice of God, but it resonated deep in my soul, “Who are you working for?”  I remember looking around.  Then I heard in my soul, “Are you working for that sergeant, or for the Air Force?  Or are you working for Me?”  It totally changed my life, my attitude, my perspective, and especially my work ethic.
     There is so much to say regarding work.  I might have to do a deeper study, but I will say this that we are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)  If we work for the Lord, we will work in contentment.  Someone wrote, “When we live out our God-given callings, our everyday labor will become part of God’s plan to bless the world through us.”  
     “Too many people who are looking for a helping hand don’t even try to lift one of their own fingers,” unknown writer with plenty of truth.  As we read in Proverbs, “The sluggard craves and gets nothing…” (13:4, NIV)  One way to fail as a parent, one way to bring demise to a nation, is to not teach the value of work.  Work is/was designed by God, not for punishment, but for development of character.  Some will not agree with this, but I don’t believe that when we get to heaven that we’re going to float around on clouds, playing harps, and eating spiritual bonbons.  There will be some kind of work for us to do.  God is a God of work, therefore, why should we expect less?  
     So on this Labor Day, thank God that you live in this great nation, built upon the back of hard workers.  Men and women with callouses on their hands, people with goals and the fortitude to meet those goals.  Samuel Gompers wrote, “Doing for people what they can and ought to do for themselves is a dangerous experiment.  In the last analysis, the welfare of the workers depends upon their own initiative.”  It is not just happenstance that this country has set aside a day to honor and recognize the “worker.”  
               “Well, hey, hey, the working man, the working man like me,
               Never been on welfare, and that’s one place I will not be
               ‘Cause I’ll be working
               As long as my two hands are fit to use.”
                    –Merle Haggard

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

We let the coffee pot sit on a little nest of hot coals until they gave up their heat. Then we drank warm coffee till it was gone… ‘Thou shalt not waste coffee.’”

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Texas War Lord)
 
Ahhh, good coffee this mornin’, Pard.  Sorry I didn’t wait for yuh, but I wanted a cup.  My mercy, the ‘landest things that were said and done this week.  I don’t have the time, space, or effort to elaborate on them all.  All I know is that we’re headin’ towards the abyss.  Lawlessness and stupidity are tryin’ to gain supremacy.  I don’t remember where I read this, but this little prayer fits, “Strengthen our hearts to stand firm when culture tells us to bow down, remembering that ‘the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.'”  If’n I’m thinkin’ right it came from Chad Prather.
     I won’t go into the shootin’ or the wokism that provoked Cracker Barrel.  There’s been enough said ’bout them.  But I will say that some of them dummy liberals have no clue the power of prayer.  Here’s one of the dumbest things–the mayor of Chicago says that to crack down on crime will bring more about.  He said there will be riots.  ??? Now I have to ponder that.  Why in the world would anyone riot if crime was reduced?  Seems to me the onliest ones that should be riotin’ would be the criminals. 
     Then there was this person who said that we shouldn’t have to work.  No, an’ yuh shouldn’t have to eat.  Ol’ Brother Paul made that clear, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”  It don’t matter the gender, yuh need to work.  Work is satisfyin’.  Work is rewardin’.  Work builds character.  Work separates the riff-raff from the top hand.  Work put beans on the table.  Work puts coffee in the pot.  Yuh get my drift.  That’s why yuh need to be workin’.  Now, I will say this character came right out of the Fruit Loops box, one of them whimperin’, snibblin’, wokist snowflakes. 
     Pard, sorry, didn’t mean to catch yuh in a slurp.  But what many folk don’t realize that the problem with this world is sin and evil.  The liberals, many of whom don’t believe in God, deny this.  They think that by education, or the right diet, or the right environment, or the …  that evil will disappear.  Boy howdy–they don’t have a clue.  Evil comes from the heart of man.  An’ that fool CNN reporter who said that pull the trigger once and a hundred rounds of bullets will fire in a second show they don’t care enough about the truth to check their facts.  They want a way out, an’ I’m a-thinkin’ that’s the kind of world ol’ Noah lived in.  Ha, nothin’ goin’ to happen, let’s put the blame on somethin’ an’ continue to party-hardy–then the rain.  This ol’ world is goin’ on the same way and then–the trumpet.
     Go on an’ get ready to face the week.  Listen to the preacher, grasp hold of tha gospel plow, an’ get ready to face the enemy next week.  An’ be a-rememberin’ that “the word our God stands forever.”  Be seein’ yuh, fight the good fight this week, and be a-checkin’ yur cinch.
     Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

You have to plan ahead a bit and stay the course, even if there are setbacks.”
                    –Ken Pratt  (Wolves of Windsor Ridge)

        “He [Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”
                    –Hebrews 11:26 (NIV)
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Wow!  By the time we get back to the Echoes it will be another month past and we’ll be entering September.  Time does surely fly.  I remember in Basic Training it seemed as if the hours dragged and at the end of the day I’d wonder where it all went.  If you’re walking on the straight and narrow, shouting glory, you’ve probably hit some ruts, some potholes, and maybe much more.  Stay on that road no matter how rough it may get, or how many times you have to repair holes in the way, for it leads to a place that is much better than this old earth.  
     I happened to hear over the weekend, not an old song, but not contemporary one either.  It has great harmony for quartets, but the message rings out even louder.  It was written by Jean Canter.  Let’s take a look at it.  If you want to listen, go to YouTube and find the Oak Ridge Boys, the title is, “I Know What Lies Ahead.”

          This road I’m on is strait and narrow
          But it leads to a better home.
          It was laid by Christ one day at Calvary
          While He suffered all alone.
          This road may lead over many high mountains,
          And valleys dark and low,
          But I’ll walk each day with sweet assurance
          And I’ll safely reach my home.

     For a fact, stay on the road, despite the difficulties, no matter the terrain, for it will be worth it all when we finally reach our heavenly home.  One more mountain in your path, that’s one more challenge to factor, one more obstacle to help you grow in Christ.  One more way to help you “work out your salvation.”  The valley may be dark, it may even be the valley of the shadow of death, but I like those words–we walk each day with “sweet assurance.”

          While on this road I get so weary,
          And often my feet would stray;
          But a gentle hand still leads me onward
          And helps me find the way.
          As I climb each hill and cross each valley
          By His hand I’m daily led,
          But I won’t look back gonna keep on walking
         For I know what lies ahead.

     Don’t give up.  Yes, the way sometimes does get weary.  Sometimes we want to rest and some want to just plain quit.  How many do you know that have strayed off the path?  How many do you know that have given up?  Don’t be like them.  With the Holy Spirit as your guide He will show you the way and give you peace in the midst of your troubles and weariness.  Don’t look back, but put your gaze on the horizon, on that city like Abraham of old did; that city with foundations built by God.  Don’t settle for this old earth to be your home.

          Ahead there’s joy and gladness
          And rest for the weary soul.
          Ahead there’s peace and contentment
          Everybody will be happy and whole.
          I’ll be at home with Jesus
          Where tears will never be shed;
          Though often this road gets rough and rocky
          Still I know what lies ahead.

     Ahead–that heavenly home awaits.  Don’t let the cares and the temptations of this world turn you aside.  Keep plodding on for in front of you is peace and contentment.  It will be worth it all when we reach those pearly gates.  We will be in awe as we enter walking on those streets of gold.  We will gaze around and see mansions, and yes, there’s one with your name posted on it.  Go ahead, enter, you’re already clean and I’ll join you at the Marriage Supper.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It is never a pleasant feeling to be on constant guard against dangers either real or imagined but this was what the situation required.”
                    –Nathan Wright  (For Lack of a Title)

       “Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability.”

                    –2 Peter 3:17 (HCSB)
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               “Dearest friends, when I was there with you, you were always so careful to follow my instructions. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to do the good things that result from being saved, obeying God with deep reverence, shrinking back from all that might displease him.”
                              –Philippians 2:12(TLB)

Don’t be a sluggard!  Don’t be a coward!  Don’t shirk your duty and responsibility as a Christian!  Each of us, in our own way, in our own place are to reflect Christ’s character.  Shakespeare wrote in “As You Like It”:
          “Master, go on, and I will follow thee
          To the last gasp, with truth and loyalty.”
Now this is not from the Bible, but it does contain Biblical truth.  What are you doing with the salvation that God has given you?  What are you doing with the gifts He has bestowed?  Two weeks ago, we looked at one way to “work out” our salvation and that is to pick up our cross daily and follow Him.  Last week, we saw that we are to be diligent in our walk with the Lord, not wavering.  This morning I would like to point out another way that we continue to grow in grace–working out our salvation.
     First of all, I must remind you that we are not speaking of becoming saved.  That is completely the work of Christ when we are born again.  We simply accept His grace and who He is.  But then Paul tells us in Philippians to “work out.”  I draw your attention to 2 Timothy 1:14, “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” (NASB)  I like the way the NIV puts it, “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you–guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”  Guard (“phulasso”) which means to preserve, to watch, to beware, to guard.  The term “guard” is emphasized in the NIV, and that it to be our way of life.  Daily we guard our souls, we guard doctrine, we guard our families.  Barclay translates it thusly, “Guard the fine trust…”  Guard your hope and confidence.
     We must constantly be on guard.  The enemy of our soul does not sleep, nor does he faint.  He waits and when he sees an opportunity he attacks, therefore, we must constantly be on our guard.  Guard against the easily seen evil in the world, but beware of the subtleness of the enemy and guard against false teaching, lack of ethics.  Guard against what John MacArthur defines, “any doctrine which does not promote godliness is manifestly bogus.”  Listen if we “lose the message, we have lost everything.” (Rossier)  Paul wrote to Timothy, “O Timothy! [Place your name there]  Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge–by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:20-21, NKJV)
     How do we guard?  Of course, by using the armor of God found in Ephesians.  Pray whenever the foe advances, pray whatever the circumstances, pray to stand, pray for the strength to guard and protect what has been given to you.  Ralph Earle says, “the only way to keep doctrine is to both live and proclaim it with faith and love.”  Rise up, be diligent.  The way may be tiring, the obstacles many, but your obligation, your duty to yourself, your family, and most importantly to God is to guard the truth that you have been given.  Don’t falter, know that the Holy Spirit is there to give you strength.  The Special Forces have within their ranks men called “Gatekeepers.”  Their job is to make sure that the standard of the men in the Special Forces unit meet that standard and do not fall short.  Be a “Gatekeeper” of your salvation, of your family, of the God you serve.

          “Rise up, O men of God
          Have done with lesser things,
          Give heart and mind and soul and strength
          To serve the King of kings.”
                    –William Merrill