Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I didn’t need to worry about right an’ wrong as long as I continued to worry about right and wrong.”
                    –James D. Best  (Leadville)

       “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
                    –Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
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On this first day of August I want to leave a couple thoughts in your mind.  Something for you to ponder over the weekend and on Sunday, especially.  See if they resonate within your soul.  Two verses from Proverbs both from the NIV, 1973 edition.

          “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” –4:23
          “Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.” –9:6

We are surrounded by much superficiality today, most of it having to do with external life.  The heart (spirit) is the mainspring of our being.  “It is the center that controls our thinking, feeling, and desire.  It is the secret chamber that controls our whole life.” (Ralph Heynen)  In other words, it is what makes us tick (pun intended).  This is the place where your character is developed from the issues that you face in life.  However, that character development depends much on the choices you make.  For example, a situation in life can make you better or bitter–your choice.  The choice you make is of dire consequence and it requires sound judgment to make the right choices at the right times, all the time.
     Courage and honesty come from the heart as well as fear and hostility.  Lies come from dishonest thoughts that come from the heart.  “It is for this reason that we must guard the gates of the heart so that the evil desires and longings may not rise to hurt us.” (Heynen)  This requires good judgment!  Good judgment is developed by discipline; it is not something we are born with.  Dale A. O’Shields states that the discipline of good judgment “Is something that has to be purposefully and actively cultivated over time.”  It comes our way through various means:  study, experience, especially learning the lessons well from our mistakes, from teachers and pastors.
     “To truly guard the citadel of our inner selves we must encourage that which is good and lovely, honorable and clean.  We must bring ourselves under the control of noble ideas, of uplifting thoughts, and of motives that lead to confident and courageous living.” (Heynen)  In this superficial world with all of its allures we must discipline our minds, our eyes, and our thinking if we are to live honorable and righteous lives.  General George S. Patton said, “Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.  It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.”  Take this thought and apply it to your spiritual life as well.  What you do with your spirit/heart determines what happens in your life, whom you will serve.  
     Studies have shown that Millennials have acquired ideals and character from movies more than any other generation.  Therefore we need, we must, take authority over our thoughts and make sure that they line up with God’s Word.  Discipline your heart and mind to determine the difference between the good, the best and the better, then choose wisely.  Prioritize your thoughts and your actions.  Do what is important and proper rather than doing what seems urgent and expedient. (O’Shields)
     It is what we are that counts.  God sees what is in our hearts.  It is when we have made the choice for Him that He lives within us and we can depend upon the Holy Spirit when sound judgment is needed.  O’Shields writes, “It is the capacity to count the costs and consider the consequences of our attitudes and actions before we entertain and engage them.”  That is sound judgment, that is spiritual discipline, that is guarding the heart.  I like this little prayer by Ralph Heynen, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Fill the inner recesses of my soul so that which is unworthy may be crowded out.  Give me that inner strength that will carry me on, even in life’s darkest hour.  Amen.”

               “Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
               Naught be all else to me save that Thou art–
               Thou my best thought by day and by night;
               Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”
                      –10th or 11th century Irish hymn (translated in 1905, Mary Byrne)

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

In its own cruel way, there is nothing that is finally more brutally depressing than a forever hostile sky flooding down constant, battering waves of chilling raindrops that go on and on without end.”
                    –Clair Huffaker  (The Cowboy and the Cossack)

       “I would hasten to my place of refuge from the stormy wind and tempest.”

                    –Psalm 55:8  (NASB)
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In the past year this country has seen its share of floods.  Floods throughout history have been the source of great devastation.  Rivers can run rampant bringing destruction and loss of life.  A calm stream can quickly become a raging torrent.  It is estimated that the Yellow River flood in 1887 brought death to over a million people in China.  The worst flood in U.S. history took place in 1889 in Johnstown where over two thousand individuals lost their lives.  Add to that tsunamis and storm surges and we see that floods can bring catastrophe.  We saw this year in Texas the results of flooding.  Rivers brought debris and death as they overflowed their banks–cars, structures and houses, campers, along with animals and humans were caught in the raging water.
     I want us to turn to Romans 5:20 and look at a portion of that verse.  I’m not a Greek scholar (how I wish I were), so I am borrowing some from Rick Renner this morning.

          “…But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” (NKJV)

The first use of the word “abound,” where sin abounded, Paul uses the Greek word, “plenoadzo”–which means more, something exists in abundance.  Sin then grows more in the passing of time.  Sin is never stagnant but always increasing and growing–bringing devastation like the flood waters that overwhelm.  However, abounded is used again in this verse.  Grace “abounded,” is the Greek word, “huperperisseo”–which means something that is growing out of measure, beyond proportion.  If sin is flooding, then grace is the fountain of the deep rising up.
     Rick Renner paraphrases this verse as such:  “For wherever sin exists in abundance, that is precisely the time and place where grace is poured out in a far greater, surpassing quality.”  Ponder!  Contemplate!  Ah, the riches, the superabundance of grace comes to us through Christ.  As the floods in nature bring devastation when they overflow their banks the grace of God brings His love, joy, and peace to us.  “No banks can hold the flood of grace He is sending in our direction….  The flood of grace will always far surpass the flood of sin and darkness!” (Renner)
     I think it is good to look at other translations from time to time to see perhaps a different insight.  First is from Henry Harbuck, “But where sin multiplied, [God’s] grace super-multiplied to [the point of] overflowing.”  Remember the first “abound” is the growing of sin, multiplying, but then Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit states that even though that happens the abundance of grace is “super-multiplying”!  J.B. Phillips translates it this way, “Yet, though sin is shown to be wide and deep, thank God his grace is wider and deeper still!”  
     It brings to my mind the song of Sunday School in my childhood days:  “Deep and wide, there’s a fountain flowing, deep and wide.”  That’s the grace of God as it is sooo deep and sooo wide.  “Not only can sin never exceed the grace provided by God, sin loses its threat when compared to the superabounding grace of God.” (NKJV Study Bible)  Grace is far more than sin for grace is eternal.  The words of John Chrysostom, that great preacher of the early Church said, [grace brings] “remission from punishment but forgiveness from sin as well.”  
               Grace, grace, God’s grace,
               Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
               Grace, grace, God’s grace,
               Grace that is greater than all our sin!
                     –Julia H. Johnston

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The evil, the terrible greed, the brutal lust, were in the hearts of the men. And hate, liberated, rampant, stalked out unconcealed, ready for blood.”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Border Legion)

       “For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die.”

                    –Ezekiel 33:18 (NLT)
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Proverbs 6:12-15, brings to us a dire warning of danger.  Almost the opposite of the sluggard, not the workaholic, but the one who rushes to do evil.  Evil is his delight and it can be seen in all the actions of his body.  It can be covert in his actions, but can also be very advert.  We read that in these verses “this deceiver uses a lot of body language to distribute his poison.” (Beasley)

          12 — A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;
          13 — He winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers;
          14 — Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.
          15 — Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.  (NKJV)

Paul sums up this individual, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:17, NKJV)  Paul is speaking of those whose “feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways.” (Romans 3:16, NKJV)  John writes, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:  Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10, NKJV)  In this time when we want to speak of man having worth and the dignity of man there is type of person who the Bible describes here as “worthless” and “wicked.”  He walks around with a “perverted heart” (ESV).  However, he doesn’t realize it, but he is living a precarious life that at any time “will be broken beyond healing” (ESV).
     Perhaps you have known individuals like these.  People whose “every gesture is suggestive.  Everything they say has a filthy connotation.” (McGee)  They seem not able to control the filth that pours from their mouth, and this is not always in the form of obscenities, but gossip, slander, sowing discord, and maliciousness may be the purpose.  J.L. Flores writes, “this man of wickedness makes his whole body a medium for the conveyance of his evil plans and desires.”  His whole body becomes, “as instruments of unrighteousness to sin…” (Romans 6:13, NKJV)  He is a conniver, one who can slip in unawares using flattering lips; he is able to conceal what he does with one of his innocent, yet evil, glances.  
     Evil is all around us.  It is becoming more and more open and prevalent following the desires of their father the devil.  Think of the man who was recently caught after stabbing seven people at WalMart.  Evil plans, perverse heart, and he was caught and justice will come down upon him, both in this life and the next if he does not repent and accept the Lord Jesus.  The term “walk” implies progression.  They grow more and more evil and wicked.  Their schemes become worse and worse not caring who gets hurt, in fact, they delight in hurting the innocent.  They may be silent outwardly using silent gestures, but inwardly their heart is seething and devising more and more evil.
     Going back to the words of Paul in Romans 6:13, “but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” (NKJV).  With evil growing and seemingly running rampant so much more the Christian should be salt and light to those around them.  In this darkened world, we are to be a light to show the way of Christ.  It is time to quit compromising with evil and give ourselves over to holy living.  “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16, NKJV) is not a suggestion.  Now is the time to quit compromising and using legalism as an excuse.  The CEV translates it this way, “That’s why the Scriptures say, ‘I am the holy God, and you must be holy too.’”  Watch out that you do not find yourselves practicing evil, be careful in your walk with the Lord; it is to be steadfast and sure.  J.B. Phillips in his translation puts verse 16 like this, “So brace up your minds, and, as men who know what they are doing…  be holy in every department of your lives, for the one who has called you is himself holy. The scripture says: ‘Be holy, for I am holy’.”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

No matter what is going on in my life, the good or the bad, a man must live his life. It was really that simple.”
                    –Chris Mullen  (Rowdy: Wild and Mean, Sharp and Keen)

       “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
                    –1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
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“This is a Hallelujah chorus, and is something to be listened to and felt.  This is a blaze of glory that should be contemplated as a sublime sunrise or sunset, not subjected scientifically to prismatic analysis,” so wrote W. Graham Scroggie.  As we read the first portion of Psalm 148 what can we do but agree?

          1 — Praise the LORD!  Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!
          2 — Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts!
          3 — Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light!
          4 — Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
          5 — Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created.
          6 — He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.  (NKJV)

“The highest purpose of all creation is to glorify God.  Whether they be in the heights of heaven or in the depths of the earth, this is the crowning reason for all that God has made.  All creatures find their ultimate purpose in rendering praise to the Lord.” (Lawson)  All creation is summoned to praise the Lord.  Now, I don’t know all there is to this.  I know that it is not pantheism, but there is something about nature that recognizes the Creator.  It is more of this nature, the heavenly bodies do not literally speak words of praise to God, but rather, they reflect the glory of God.  “They are silent, visible testifiers of the greatness of God.” (Lawson)
     When we see the laws of physics in operation they are reflecting the mind of God in His creation.  When we see them in operation (which is every moment of every day) we should praise the Lord for His magnificent creation.  Imagine the universal chaos without the laws of physics.  When we sit outside and watch the starry sky, their reflection is a sign of praise to the Creator.  When we gaze upon them, how can we not be in awe over the wonder of His vast creation of the universe?
          “Praise Him!  Praise Him!  tell of His excellent greatness;
          Praise Him!  Praise Him!   ever in joyful song!
                  –Fanny J. Crosby
     One thing regarding man’s free will is that we have the choice to praise God or not.  In fact, praise is actually an act of the will.  We must choose to praise Him.  No matter the times or seasons in which we find ourselves there is always something to praise the Lord for.  Praise Him for another day of life.  Praise Him for the breath you breathe and the respiratory system that He so wonderfully devised.  Praise Him for His goodness.  Praise Him for His providence, not only of the world and creation, but for your life.  Charles H. Spurgeon said, “When God is praised, we have come to the ultimatum.  This is the thing for which all other things are designed.”  In other words, praise Him for who He is.  Choose to praise Him in the good times and the bad; praise Him when the sun shines or when the storm howls.  Know Him for who He is and praise will come forth.
     One other way to praise the Lord is by reflecting Him in our lives.  This is so entangled with true worship.  Our lives should be one of worship, therefore, our lives should continually reflect Jesus and that will show forth in praise.  Living a righteous life is praise.  Reflecting the love of God is praise.  Showing acts of kindness and doing good to others is praise.  As the heavens reflect the Creator so should our life reflect Him.  William J. Petersen wrote, “It would seem that if the rest of creation is praising God, maybe we should join creation’s choir today and make it unanimous.”

          “All creatures of our God and King,
          Lift up your voice and with us sing,
               Alleluia, Alleluia!
          Thou burning sun with golden beam,
          Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
          O praise Him, O praise Him!
               Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!”
                     –Francis of Assisi (translated by William H. Draper)