Author: Ira Paine

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I started a fire in the stove. There was some water in a pitcher, so I poured it into the coffee pot and got some coffee started on the stove.”

                    –Dan Arnold  (Bear Creek)
 
Beep, beep, no that’s not the Road Runner, that’s good mornin’ to yuh in tech terms.  Coffee’s ready, Pard, I heard the beep from the coffee maker.  If’n I’d made it in the old perkolater there wouldn’t be a beep.  Beep, everything has a beep.  The oven is heated–beep, beep, beep.  The car door is left open–beep, beep, beep.  You left the keys in the car–beep, beep, beep.  Why, even some vehicles make beep, beep, beep, when they back up.  Add to that the dings and dongs, the pings, buzzes, whistles, and gongs and we have a whole technological symphony goin’.  
     Let me take a swallow an’ I’ll tell yuh where I’m goin’ with this.  Yuh tell me, Pard.  Why is it that the smoke alarm, when the batteries are dyin’, only beeps at the early hours of the mornin’?  They never seem to go out durin’ the day, but only at the wee hours of the mornin’, then it’s BEEP!  A few seconds later BEEP!  An’ at the time, it’s that loud and that annoyin’.  I think it must be another one of those technological conspiracies.
     I’m sure glad the ol’ song goes, “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more…”.  I’d sure rather the Lord come on a trumpet blast than with a beeper, or a beepin’ sound.  There will be the trumpet call of God, accordin’ to ol’ Paul, not beep, beep, beep.
     Not very profound this mornin’, but let’s jist enjoy our coffee hopin’ that nothin’ else beeps around here.  But…I did hear some beepin’ the other day as there’s some construction goin’ on ’round here.  One thing, if’n yuh fall out of the saddle ’cause yuh didn’t check yur cinch and fall on yur noggin’ it sure enough won’t beep.  It’ll be more like a thud and a rattle as the marbles get all spewed about.
     Yuh be havin’ a good day an’ week, an’ if’n yuh hear some beepin’ sound check yur pacemaker; it may be out of whack and goin’ bonkers, errr I mean beepers.
      Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Trouble ain’t always bad. Trouble can be cleansing.”
                    –Dan Arnold  (Death Is the Dealer)

       “Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?”
                    –Mark 4:40 (NKJV)
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Storms!  We’ve all been through them.  Most of them are natural, physical storms, however, we also know that there are the storms of life, those that rage havoc upon our souls, our minds, and emotions.  Storms of doubt, storms of depression, storms of fear, and on we could mention the different types of storms.  In Mark 4, we read of a storm that caused the disciples to ask a stunning and amazing question:  “Who is this?”  Phillips shows the disciples in wonderment and puts it this way, “Who ever can he be?”
     Briefly the episode goes like this.  Jesus says to His disciples that they should all get in the boat and go over to the other side.  While the disciples were taking care of the chores, Jesus in a tired state was in the stern and went to sleep.  While he was sleeping a violent storm came up.  The terminology is that it was an intense storm, one of cyclonic proportions.  The disciples had to wake Him up and they cried out to Him.  Jesus gets up, rebukes the wind and sea, then turns to His disciples and rebukes them as well.  All of this causes them to ask the question:  “Who is this?”
     There is much more to the story than meets the eye.  First, there is this violent storm.  Even though Jesus was sleeping, do you think He was surprised?  Bernard Rossier says that, “It was Satan who brought this storm about…  Satan is the god of this world and the prince of the powers of the air.”  Another attack on Jesus.  Destroy Him, if possible.  Bring the forces of nature against Him.  I wonder if Jesus was smiling in His sleep at the puny effort of the enemy?  We often get the idea that after the temptation in the wilderness that Satan no longer went after Jesus.  Remember the words in Luke, “…he [Satan] departed from Him until an opportune time.” (4:13, NKJV)  
     The disciples were afraid for their lives.  Here we see a vivid picture of humanity.  “Many times individuals are caught by the storms of life and see the waves beating about them.  They become discouraged, heartbroken, and depressed.  It seems that the devils of darkness scream and attack us whenever possible.  As we start the journey of faith with Jesus toward the throne of the kingdom, it is not a journey on which we have to be capsized and drowned beneath the waves of oppression, discouragement, worry, and darkness.  There may be difficulties that seem insurmountable, but God is eternally alive and alert.” (Rossier)  The disciples were afraid they were going to die; that there was no hope.  Then they did something that was almost unthinkable–they rebuked the Lord.  “How dare He,” they may have thought.  Scripture says, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38, NKJV)  They were in effect, rebuking the Lord.  They had not yet learned the lesson that William Barclay puts it so truthfully, “To voyage with Jesus was to voyage in peace even in a storm.”
     We don’t know Jesus’ reaction to the disciple when they awoke Him.  But in His love and in His power He rises and says, “Peace, be still!”  Notice the NKJV puts an exclamation point.  Was it a stern rebuke to Satan?  Look at the term “peace.”  It means “to be silent, still, hushed, calm.”  In other words, Jesus said to the storm (or Satan) “hush up!”  The next two words, “be still” means “to close the mouth with a muzzle.”  Hmm, possibly another finger pointed at the devil.  It is the same words used by Jesus to silence the demon possessed man in Mark 1:25, though our translations have it slightly different.  However, Phillips does say this, “Hold your tongue and get out of him!”
     One more thought and this answers the question, “Who is this?”  The disciples were overwhelmed at what happened.  They could not believe what took place.  Who can control the seas and the wind by speaking?  This is important, for Jesus is showing His disciples, though they do not recognize it at the time who He is.  Who can control the wind and waters by speaking?  Look to the Creator-God who spoke and there becomes a division of the water so that dry land appears.  Who can control the winds and waters?  Look to the God in heaven who caused the rain to fall and the waters of the deep to rise.  Who can control the winds and waters?  Look to the Deliverer, the One who controls the Red Sea and calls the wind to come and make a division in the water.  In fact, the disciples were acting similar to the Israelites at the Red Sea.  Who is this?  YAHWEH!  Jesus, is relating to His disciples that He is God in the flesh.  He is demonstrating His deity to them. (Chad Bird)
     The next time you read this account, realize that Jesus is telling His disciples that He is God!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Character is what you are because of your choices, those choices of right and wrong that make you a man, or something less.”
                    –B.N. Rundell  (The Trail to Retaliation) 

       “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”
                    –Proverbs 14:12 (NLT)
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Do not be deceived–there is a way of evil.  We must have God’s word hidden in our hearts to know the right way.  Godly wisdom is there to aid us along the proper pathway. Bob Beasley states, “God’s practical wisdom seated in our hearts by study, meditation, and memorization keeps us from trouble.”  It keeps us from straying.

          2.12 — To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things,
            .13 — From those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness;
            .14 — Who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked;
            .15 — Whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths.   (NKJV)
          2.12 — Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
            .13 — who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
            .14 — who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
            .15 — whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.  (NIV, 1973)
 
     There are people waiting, lurking to attack, devour and destroy anyone coming their way.  They look for the weak, the unaware, the unstable.  Cults will look at obituaries in the newspapers or go to divorce courts to find the vulnerable, those who are depressed and downcast.  They go to skid row to find the wino, the drunk, the disabled.  There are those, like the “jumping cholla” that wait for you to pass and will jump out and cling to you.
     Call them evil, wicked, perverse, ungodly, unrighteous, they all have the same purpose–to get others to go down to the pit with them.  Misery loves company, so does sin.  The progress of the wicked and evil is always downhill, eventually arriving at the Pit.  Their talk may sound sweet, but it spread about moral disease and death.  They are the opposite of the person that Paul writes about, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8, NKJV)
     Lovers of darkness, and I do not understand why.  Walk in the dark, bump into something, stub your toe, there is always something to run into.  There are people who willingly and purposely left the way of truth to walk in darkness–the reason, because their deeds are evil, their heart is dark and cold.  Jude and John warn us in their epistles about these men whose purpose is to deceive.  John, in his gospel, tells us, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (3:19-20, NKJV)  The light keeps us from stumbling; it keeps us safe.  The ways of darkness are of “concealment, evasion, cunning, deceit.  He who walks in them is ever groping.” (Wardlaw)
     William Arnot says, “The doing of evil produces darkness, and darkness produces the evil doing.  Indulged lusts puts out the eye-sight of the conscience; and under the darkened conscience the lusts revel unchecked.”  The wicked rejoice, i.e., “Happy Hour”, but their happiness is short lived.  Paul writes, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18, NKJV)  These people are perverse, (Romans 1:27-32). Woe unto those who follow the perverse, who walk in the pathway of evil and wickedness.  John tells us that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (1:5, NKJV)
     Listen, my son, my daughter, to wisdom.  Let it be your guide in this journey of life.  Let the light shine and keep you on the right path.  Do not turn to the right or the left, but listen to the words of wisdom.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

For evil to stay away, good men must continue to do what is right, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable or difficult.”
                    –B. N. Rundell  (Black Hawk)


       “So the Lord’s message spread and became even more powerful.”
                    –Acts 19:20 (CEV)
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     The prophetic visions of Amos were interrupted by the priest of Bethel.  Amaziah was determined to get rid of Amos.  Albert Garner writes that he became “all shook up” or “became completely unglued.”  

          7.10 — Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel.  The land is not able to bear all his words.
            .11 — For thus Amos has said:  ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive from their own land.'”
            .12 — Then Amaziah said to Amos:  “God, you seer!  Flee to the land of Judah.  There eat bread, and there prophesy.
            .13 — But never agains prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the royal residence.” (NKJV)

Amaziah, the priest, didn’t care for the message and warning from the prophet.  He told Jeroboam that the message is stirring the people to a dangerous state, one of conspiracy and revolt, adding to the prophet’s words that Jeroboam would be slain by the sword.  Someone said, “The bite of Amos’ condemnation of the sins of Israel’s people was in the truth of his words.”  The wickedness of Amaziah’s heart is revealed in his rebuke to Amos.  Warren Wiersbe states, “He [Amaziah] claimed that there is no validity to Amos’ message; he only dreamed it up.”  Lloyd Ogilvie puts it this way, “Strong words from a power-hungry priest who did not know Yahweh.”  
     Amaziah was telling Amos to go back to Judah, flee, as in a cowardly manner.  Earn your living there and preach there.  Do not come to Bethel again; do not disturb the king.  But if sin is present it is the duty of the prophet to disturb the king, and the people.  Amaziah did not want God’s truth and demands for righteousness proclaimed in Israel (Ogilvie).  Was Amaziah that ignorant, or was he deceived by his own pride and wealth and fame?  Matthew Henry states, “How willing wicked men are to get clear of their faithful reprovers.”  Amos was a problem to Amaziah, but not as big a one that will come forth from the prophet’s lips.

           .14 — Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah:  “I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit.
           .15 — Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’
           .16 — Now therefore, hear the word of the LORD:  You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not spout against the house of Isaac.’
           .17 — Therefore thus says the LORD:  ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; your land shall be divided by survey line; you shall die in a defiled land; and Israel shall surely be led away captive from his own land.'”  (NKJV)

     As Albert Garner writes, “As well tell the wind to blow no more, command the rain not to fall, or water to run up hill, as to tell a true man of God not to prophesy or witness anymore.”  Amos was not intimidated by the priest, nor did he flee, but instead he turned his attention to the priest.  He told the priest, “I was not a prophet” indicating that he was not a professional religionist who wanted to rival Amaziah.  He then gives his credentials and adds, “the LORD took me.”  What could he do if the Lord took him, but answer the call of God?  He was prophesying in Bethel for one reason–God sent him.  Amos’ commission and accountability is from God.
     He confronts Amaziah, now with a prophetic word to him telling him of the judgment that would befall him.  Look at what will happen to Amaziah because of his wickedness and apostasy:  1) lose his property; 2) he would go into exile, a “defiled land” meaning a land of pagans and thus ruining his credentials as a priest; 3) sons and daughters would be slain by the sword, most likely that of the Assyrians; 4) his wife shall become a prostitute.  Imagine the wife of the priest now in that role either because of the Assyrian soldiers or from a life of destitution.  “Amaziah had position, wealth, authority, and reputation, but Amos had the word of the Lord.” (Wiersbe)
     Here we see that Amaziah seeks to stop the messenger from God.  Man may attempt and even succeed briefly in stopping the messenger, but they cannot stop the message.  God’s word will prevail.  Never forget our job in proclaiming the message of the Lord to those around us.  It may not be by prophetic word, but simply living a life of righteousness before others.  “We are called to be saints in plumb with a new commitment to pray for opportunities to practice our gift of righteousness.” (Ogilvie)