Wednesday 1 September 2010

Fire! Fire! Fire!



I hate - fear - fires. They are vicious and deadly, plus very destructive. I have had bad experiences with deadly fires. I have watched them destroy homes and even been to fires where loved ones have lost their lives. Our reactions tell us to flee a burning fire - but we sometimes make foolish decisions to return - go back in.

At work one time we had a major fire. We lost the entire building, but evacuated over 750 employees. I was responsible for the decisions made until the fire departments arrived. I actually had to lock the doors to keep people from going back in! One employee forgot their car keys and wanted to go back in and retrieve their keys. I posted one of my employees at the door just in case someone was still trying to get out.

Horses have a fear of fire. If in the wild, they will try to put distance between them and the fire. If domesticated, a horse may try to return to their stall - for security, even if the barn is on fire. Actually willing to put their bodies at risk.

We sometimes return to the same sins that have beset us in the past. You would think we would learn or use good judgment - we don't always do that. But we have a heavenly father who still forgives our foolish choices. I am so glad He comes into that burning barn and leads us out - now STAY OUT!

18 comments:

Parsley said...

WOW! This is great! Spirit inspired!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Parsley - Fire scares me! It has given me some fears that I struggle with - long story. Part of that story is that I was a pall Bearer for a 2 year old child who died in a house fire - I was about 12 at the time - real cute - a child pall bearer. I hate fires.

If only I hated sin with that passion.

Scott Bliss said...

Amen, Jim! Fires can be good, such as providing heat in the cold. and they are mostly bad, causing major danger and distruction to a person, personal effects, and property. Just like sin it can be detroys, not just the individual, but others connected to the person. May we all be like you did during a fire, posting someone at the door to help someone out of the fire, and try to keep someone from going in. I choose to "STAY OUT"!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Scott - thanks for the comment! We need to be alert to fires - and to sin. Stay out of both.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

That is a wonderful post. I have seen examples of horses fighting to stay in their stalls with the barn burning around them. That is us humans too sometimes. We like our comfort zone, what we are used to even if it may not be healthy for us.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Michelle - sometimes we get too comfortable around sin. I listened the other night as some of my Christian friends discussed a TV series they like to watch. As i was watching the news advertisements for the series came across the screen - sick! To me it was porn. We don't even recognize sin anymore - FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!

Technonana said...

So soo Happy That JESUS saves us from the FLAMES!!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Yes Ma'am Nana !! I am glad He is there warn me about running back into the areas of my life that I should not!

mandy said...

Wow Papa... I've never, thankfully, experienced a fire - never been around one that's been out of control or that has destroyed something unwantedly... My dad used to "burn our fields" at the beginning (or was it end?) of summer, and we would "help" by getting out there and staying away from the embers while our parents just raked the fire in the direction they wanted it to go.

They told me fire wasn't safe, but I've never actually seen how unsafe a fire can be. I'm going to be thinking about this now. Thinking about this a lot.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Mandy - if you ever get the chance to walk into a home that has been destroyed by fire - do it. You will realize how fragile material possession are and even life itself. Yet sin does the same thing but more subtle.

Ed said...

I have no personal experience with deadly fires, or horses for that matter. I have been burned by sin on more occasions then I care to remember. I doubt even a big "Stay Out" sign would have keep me away. LOL

Sin is very tempting. Even after it has burned us. As you say, faith can give us the strength to resist. Faith can lead the way but we have to make the decision to go in the right direction.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Very well said Ed! We get burned usually because of bad choices - decisions.

Hey, be careful this weekend! You have a major storm a brewing!!

CrossView said...

Yep, fire is scary stuff.

You said; "If only I hated sin with that passion" but then you were upset by what your friends like to watch. So at least you hate your friends' perceived sin. ;o)

Indian Lake Papa said...

I don't "hate" my friends, I don't "hate' television, but I do hate the sin that seems to vie for our attention and our souls.

And - I hate wild uncontrolled fire. It is very scary stuff.

Life Adapted said...

Eternal fire, that's what scares me. I'm scared for all the souls that will forever burn because they haven't made the decision for Christ. I'm afraid of fire here on earth, too! Be safe!

Blessings!

Indian Lake Papa said...

LA - that is a good point - eternal fire! There are too many people running head long into that eternal fire - ignoring the screams of death already there!!

Annesphamily said...

My daughters co worker fell asleep and had a candle burning. She had no renters ins. and burned her apartment down! She had the pajamas on her back. I am hoping lots of folks rally to help her as she has nothing! Pray for Maureen. I fear fire and water. I once lost a car in a flash flood. It totaled the engine!I was scared stiff and a nice guy in a red truck drove up next to me and told me to leave the car and grab my purse and hop in. He drove me to my office and drove away. I am sure he was an angel. Thanks for posting this, I wish I hated sin with a passion too. I need to come over more often. I need to constantly surround myself with more Christians. I work with such difficult non believers. It is so hard dealing with it day by day. Prayers. I need prayers daily. I pray for you and your sweet wife too. God Bless you both! Anne

Indian Lake Papa said...

Anne - fire is awful, deadly and unforgiving! just like sin!!