Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

On all sides was the stretching, soundless, aching void of desolation, carrying to the rider its lurking threat of death, the promise of evil to come.”

                         –Charles A. Seltzer  (“Drag” Harlan)

       “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”
                         –Proverbs 17:15(NKJV)
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I had planned to go in a different direction this morning with the Echo, but decided to spend one more day with the “fools.”  We can’t help it, they are among us.  Wish it away, don’t make it so.  I know that it is  worse in some areas than in others, but the voice, the loud cry from the media carries to all parts of the country.  We most certainly do live in a nation that is fast approaching apostasy because of its foolishness.  Yes, even in the midst of apparent apostasy take heart for there will remain the faithful–“the remnant.”

               “Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their ways are His delight.”
                              –Proverbs 11:20(NKJV)

       Two things were brought to my attention yesterday that I want to share to show the times in which we are living.  A New York City Catholic priest “proclaims ‘God is Trans.'”  He is a priest in the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Manhattan and has “launched an exhibit titled, ‘God is Trans:  A Queer Spiritual Journey.'”  Thankfully there were several parishioners who are appalled.  They should be!  Apostasy!  Blasphemy!  Remember our study, “How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World” where we studied the Scripture speaking of antichrists, “They went out from us, but they were not of us…” (1 John 2:18-19).
       The second thing that was brought to my attention was from my daughter.  It is a statement from the Montgomery County Public Schools of Maryland.  They are instructions and policies regarding transgenderism in the school system.  Here is a sample:

               –Students have the right to be referred to by their preferred name or pronoun.  This information may not be disclosed to the child’s parent unless the child authorizes the disclosure of such information.
               –A student has the right to use the bathroom or locker room of their preferred gender identity.
               –A student has the right to participate in sports activities according to their preferred gender identity.
               –On overnight field trips, students are allowed to room with other students according to their preferred gender identity…  Other students and their parents will not be notified if a student is staying overnight with students of the opposite sex.
               –A student’s self-identification is sufficient for a change in their school record.

Lord have mercy, and He does, that is why He has not yet returned.  He is waiting, however, that does not mean that He will withhold judgment.  Read again those statements.  A teacher cannot even inform the parent is their child wants to be called a him/her/shim, or whatever.  Things are coming together rapidly for a climatic end.  However, in the meantime, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway [control] of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19, NKJV)
       Darkness is creeping in on the face of the earth.  Satan is ready to defy God in strange and perverse ways.  More than ever we are to be wearing the armor of God.  We are to be standing firm; we are to be guarding the truth.  Be a righteous sword-bearer to those around you, for the night is coming when no one can work.  Solomon reminds us over and over again in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes that the wicked and perverse are an abomination to the Lord.  “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but the words of the pure are pleasant.”  (Proverbs 15:26, NKJV).  Be one to stand for the Lord, be one who speaks what is pleasing to Him.  Be ready!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

You’re a bunch of half-witted fools believing what you want to believe with no evidence to back it.”
                    –William MacLeod Raine  (Rustlers’ Gap)

       “He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.”

                    –Proverbs 5:23 (NLT)
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I want to spend another day looking at “fools.”  Why not?  They’re all around us anyway; we should be able to take notice and avoid them if possible, cope with them if not, and defeat them whenever we can.  Go back to the verse I used yesterday.

                    “The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD.”
                              –Proverbs 19:3 (NKJV)

The mouth of a fool, listen to the media, dominates conversations in total ignorance.  They use empty and often profane talk in their boasting.  In fact, they are blasphemous with their words for they profane and challenge the Creator and His purpose.  These people are like “a ship without a rudder.  And, it is indeed, rebellion against God.”  (Dave Roever)  He continues to say regarding this idiotic trans movement, “This entire trans movement has gone crazy.  They don’t know what they want.  They don’t know how to get ‘it’ because they don’t know what ‘it’ is they are trying to get.  Their ignorance of this entire manner is pure rebellion against God, which is the same as witchcraft.”
       The fool talks about the future, but has no clue what he is doing.  They have great plans but cannot even find their way.  Solomon writes, “The labor of fools wearies them, for they do not even know how to go to the city!” (Ecclesiastes 10:15, NKJV)  They end up with an inefficient and unproductive lifestyle that will end up in perdition.  Put a fool on an elevator and he’ll get lost.”  Listen, folly–foolishness–has nothing to do with IQ.  A fool speaks, “A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” (Shakespeare)
       Look at Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 with a paraphrase, “Woe to you, country, if you find yourself ruled by such immaturity, by such rash and ruthless fools.”  We are quickly finding this to be true.  Call a fool a fool, and you will suddenly find yourself chastized, maybe in court, and ridiculed.   Stupidity reigns, fools are loud and they continue to get louder.  I saw a spoof regarding the transgender swimmer, nominated for NCAA woman of the year, who has now broken many of the women’s records said that he is ready to move on and take on the Special Olympics.  Woe to us, and as Charles Swindoll said, “Fools can be dangerous to your health.”
       When you live amongst fools, be ready.  The fool acts and reacts to whatever truth you say in nonsensical fashion.  Look at what Isaiah says will happen, “The people will be oppressed, every one by another and every one by his neighbor; the child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable.”  Read, Romans 1 again.  The fool…  Fools are like “sagging rafters and leaky roofs” (Ecclesiastes 10:18).  They are a shame to the country, to themselves, and most importantly to God, yet they glory in their shame.  They scorn their Creator, and mock His creation by their foolish actions.  Lord help us…”Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Whole dang world’s going mad, all tied up in red tape, and just keeps getting’ more foolish.”
                    –J.V. James  (Old As Old Boots)

       “…But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; the words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness.”
                    –Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 (NKJV)
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The more I look around me, the more I watch the actions of people, the more I hear the media and the voices of politicians, the more I am convinced that I am surrounded by fools.  Fools who want to lead the people.  Fools who want to decide for the people.  Fools who think they are bigger than their britches.  Psalm 14:2, states, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’  They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.” (NKJV)  We often notice the first part regarding the fool, then stop and pay no notice to the second part of the verse.  Look at it again, “They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.”  Yet we listen to the fool, we adhere to his teachings and disregard the word of God.
       Since he believes there is no God, we then should understand that there is no accountability in his way of thinking.  No God, therefore who is God?  The fool thinks because there is no God there is no one to whom he is accountable–only to self.  

               “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.  Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor.”  — Proverbs 14:8-9 (NKJV)
               “To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.”  –Proverbs 10:23 (NKJV)

The fool is deceitful.  My mercy, look around you!  Remember the words of leadership during the “pandemic.”  Listen to the words of our President; it should bring shame to this nation.  Look at his actions, what he has done and is doing.  Is globalism finally coming our way?  If so, prepare yourself for two things:  more chaos and confusion, and the coming of the Lord.  When the time is ripe for the fruit to rot in a worldwide global society, then listen for the sound of the trumpet, but in the meantime you have to struggle with the actions of fools.
       Fools mock at sin.  The practice of wickedness brings them pleasure.  Read the verses in Romans again and see the fool flaunting his life in rebellion against the Lord.  

               “…They began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused.  Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead….  So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.  As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies….  That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires….”
                               –Romans 1:21-22, 24-26 (NLT)

These individuals–these fools–are given over to a “depraved/debased/worthless/reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28, choose your translation).  A depraved mind is one that doesn’t function properly.  It is the mind of an insane person, one in “which is demonstrated clearly in the fact that now we’re not allowed to say that a man is a man and a woman is a woman.  That is insanity; that is a depraved mind.” (John MacArthur)  These people, these fools rage at God, they mock His word, they scorn His name cursing it; they despise the knowledge of the Holy One, they scoff making themselves even more the fool.  Remember that “The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:3)  As the words of the old cowboy said, “You can fix ignorance, stupidity is fatal.” (Don Edwards)  Not only fatal in this life, but also in regards to eternity.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Age is a relative thing. It is character that matters.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Proving Trail)

       “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

                    –1 Samuel 13:14 (NKJV)
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I came across a little piece of advice while reading the other day.  “The two things in life you are in total control over are your attitude and your effort.”  Most likely it was written by that famous writer, “Anonymous.”  Then I looked at the second part of Psalm 95.  Verse 7, hits a person right in the face, “…Oh, that you would listen to His voice today!”  (NLT).

          7 — …Today, if you will hear His voice:
          8 — Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness,
          9 — When your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work.
        10 — For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, “It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.”
        11 — So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest.”  (NKJV)

There is that big word, “If”.  “If you will hear,” means that we are “to listen with strictest attention with a view to obedience.”  The first step in worship is to respond with submissive faith.  True worship must have as its components humility, and an obedient relationship with Him. (Lawson)  
       “Do not harden your hearts.”  There is a warning in these words, yet we also see grief hidden in them.  The Lord grieved when His people did not obey, and the hardness of their hearts caused Him to rise up in anger.  You remember the story of the rebellion of the Israelites when they would not heed the words of Caleb and Joshua.  They had a plumb, stinking attitude.  I’m sure the spirit of slap came upon Moses, when he asked, “Why are you testing the Lord?”
       It is a dangerous thing to “test” the Lord.  The people provoked His patience and He would allow them to wander, to stray in the wilderness for the next forty years until all of that generation died save Caleb and Joshua.  What a legacy!  It was like slapping the Lord in the face after seeing His mighty hand at work.  It was like the mouthy kid, that flaunts his arrogance and attitude at you.  Some people may claim that they know the Lord yet their hearts are hard–“they go astray in their hearts.”  It reminds me of the Pharisees and priests of Jesus’ time.  They thought they knew the ways of the Lord, but they went astray in their hearts, and truly did not know His ways.  What else comes to mind is when the Lord returns, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 7:21)  These people really never knew the ways of the Lord.  
       We worship God in spirit, that means with the proper heart attitude.  Our hearts must be prepared to worship.  Then we worship with our life–part of which is proper response to God’s word and living in right attitude toward Him.  Then and only then, will we finally enter into His rest.  Those will attitudes of a hard heart, of “I’ll do it my way,” of raising their first toward God will bring forth His anger an they will never enter His rest.

               “Fear not, brethren, joyful stand
               On the borders of our land;
               Jesus Christ, our Father’s Son,
               Bids us undismayed go on.”
                      –John Cennick