The Saga of Miles Forrest

Howdy, Parson,” I said as Rev. Chapman approached where I was sitting at the table.  “Let me get you a cup of coffee.”
He sat down as I went to the counter for a cup then poured coffee from the pot that was sitting on the stove behind me.
    After I set the cup in front of him, I went to the corner where the kitchen began.  “Molly, the Preacher is out here, I’m sure he’d like a piece of pie.  Come on and join us for a few minutes.”
    I had just barely set myself down when Molly came out from the kitchen with one slice of pie for the parson and a cup of coffee for herself.  “Hello, Brother Chapman,” she said cheerfully then sat down looking at me.  “Don’t give me those forlorn eyes.  You had a piece not twenty minutes ago.”  She turned to the preacher, “Hope you like butterscotch.”
    He sort of stammered a thank you, saying, “Well, I wasn’t expecting this, but I’ll greatly enjoy it.”  He bowed his head for a short prayer with Molly joining him.  I learned many years ago to practice what the Good Book said, “to watch and pray.”
    “Mmmmm, this is delicious, Sister Forrest,” the reverend declared.
    After taking a couple of bites, he sipped his coffee.  “Parson,” I began as he lifted the cup, “the coffee is always on the stove if you ever want a cup.”  I took a sip myself, then wiped my moustache with the back of my hand for which I received a frown from Molly.  “Now, I’m a-takin’ it that you came to see me and not just eat pie.”
    He gave a broad grin, then shoveled another forkful of pie in his mouth.  I watched him, then turned to look at Molly who was also watching with delight.  She was the best pie-maker I ever come in contact with and that even included Momma who could bake a pie.
    Reverend Chapman finished his coffee, then cleared his throat a couple of times.  I offered him another cup to which he shook his head.  “I heard you were going into the mountains and I wondered if I could tag along.”  It was not a question, nor a request.  It was more an indication that he was going.
    “I’m goin’ up on a manhunt; it might not be pleasant.  Plus, a storm could come in and it could get mighty cold.”
    “Do they have a church in Silverton?” he asked ignoring what I had told him.  “I haven’t been up there yet, and I figured going with you would be safer, plus you could tell me about the country and the town.”
    I glanced at Molly, her cheerful face now gone somber.  Sighing, I said, “Why not.  I’m goin’ to get my horse now, the train leaves in an hour.”
    He had a confused look on his face, “Horse?  I thought you said train.”
    “I’m takin’ my horse, Hawk, up with me.  I might need to check some of the communities in the area.”
    “You’re going after the man who shot Mateo, aren’t you?” he asked interrupting me.  
    I nodded, then added, “I’m also lookin’ for a man who goes by the name of Frank Black.”
    The Preacher stood up to come behind me.  Placing his hands on my shoulder and that of Molly he began to pray for God’s will to be done, for our protection and Molly’s safety while I was gone.  When finished he declared, “I’ll see you at the train station.  Sister Forrest, thank you for the delicious pie and company.”
    We watched him walk out the door and through the window saw him pick up a small bag along with a heavy coat.  He was prepared for the trip.  I had to smile and looked at Molly who was just shaking her head.
    “Miles, it unsettles me when he calls me “Sister.”  I don’t feel as old as that makes me sound.”  That brought a chuckle to me but she continued.  “You be sure to get him back here by Sunday for service.”  With that she got up, bend down to give me a quick kiss on the cheek.  “You be careful,” she muttered then left for the kitchen.
    Within the hour I was watching as Hawk was loaded on the train.  I was anxious to be riding him up in the high country again.  It had been a while.  As I was watching two men walked up to me.  One continued on to load up a horse while the other man stopped to talk with me, so I turned to greet him.  “Hello, Mr. Thompson.”
    “Mind if my man, Langston, goes up with you?  He might be of help.”
    “He can go where he wants, but I won’t have him ridin’ a vengenace trail for you,” I said staring into the eyes of Thompson.
    He replied with a nod, “he only wants to help.”
    It so happened that Kyle Langston, the Reverend, and I were getting on the train at about the same time.  I sat down by a window and as the train pulled out of the station I saw Mateo, on his crutches walking along the platform.
    “What is he doin’?” I wondered…

Echoes From the Campfire

A man’s life was full of trouble and full of question—and so it was like relief to stand up to certainty, to know that he was in front of reality.”
              –Ernest Haycox  (Man in the Saddle)

    “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.”
              –Proverbs 24:10 (NKJV)
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Slavery is still around today.  In fact, there are more slaves today than ever before in history.  It is mostly referred to now as human trafficking.  However, there are other forms of slavery besides being owned by a person.  Psalm 49, speaks to the issue of “slavery”, or look at it this way, “Do I own, or am I owned?”  Today we look at verses 1-9 to find an answer to that question.

    1 – Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,
    2 – both low and high, rich and poor together.
    3 – My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart’s meditation brings understanding.
    4 – I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
    5 – Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.
    6 – They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
    7 – Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God—
    8 – since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying—
    9 – so that he may live forever and not see the Pit. (HCSB)

    Verse 1 begins with a cry for our attention.  I like the emphasis that the NLT places on the first verse, “Listen to this, all you people!  Pay attention, everyone in the world!”  The psalmist is trying to get our attention.  He has something important to say.  It is something like this, “live righteously, don’t try to accumulate for you can’t take it with you.”
    There is a little story told by George O. Wood that I like.  It speaks of a young wife sighing as she waved goodbye to some older wealthy friends–“Someday we may be rich.”  Her husband upon hearing this wisely replied, “Honey, we are rich.  Someday we may even have money.”  “Having money does not make you rich, nor does lacking money make you poor.” (Wood)  Where are your riches, your treasures?  In what “bank” are you placing them?  
    One thing in which I have succeeded is that I have successfully kept myself from becoming a millionaire.  I have found that my wealth is in my faith and trust in the Lord, my wonderful wife and daughters and now their families, my friends.  Wealth is in my memory of events, occasions, and sights that I have seen and experienced.
    Ponder carefully at verse 5 and think of life in this day.  So many fear, why?  What/Who are they trusting in?  No matter what happens around me, no matter how evil and sinful those around me are I trust in the heavenly Father and His provision for me.  None of those individuals can purchase my salvation, they don’t have the price, plus the fact that it was already purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
    When I see the audacity and arrogance of some of the rich, I breathe a sigh of relief.  Wealth is a commodity, but many have turned it into thinking it will provide for their every need, even to the grave.  David Allan Hubbard made this statement, “Wealth may deceive us into thinking we are self reliant.”  For sure, when the sod is thrown over us we will all be the same.  A person’s wealth can’t bribe God into a heavenly mansion.  Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.

         “From David’s lips this word did roll,
          ‘Tis true and living yet:
          No man can save his brother’s soul,
          Nor pay his brother’s debt.”
                  –Matthew Arnold

Coffee Percs

He stared into his coffee.  He held on to the fragile cup as if it were a last strand connecting him to reality.”
              –Henry McLaughlin  (Journey to Riverbend)

Heard yur jinglebobs, so I have coffee in hand ready for yuh.  Pard, it’s not early, but it’s still dark.  Yuh know what that’s a sign of don’t yuh.  Winter?  Nah, it means soon they’re goin’ to mess with the clock and turn it back.  At least it will be natural time.  People always think they have a better idea, and well, sometimes they do, but there are things that are best left alone.
    Just look at that coffee yuh hold in yur hand.  Just fine the way it is, but there are some that want to mess with it, add all kinds of contrary things to it.  My mercy, the way the world is, it’s nice to have something that is real, simple, and brings delight.
    Been ponderin’ this week.  The Lord shore is good!  Even with the mess that the world and the devil throws our way, we can depend upon the goodness of the Lord to override it.  Ha, and I even had a good chuckle when some of those pseudo-smart liberals laughed at the President when he said that coyotes carry children across the border.  It shows how “woke” they are when they don’t know what a “coyote” is.  Hmmm, Pard, you do know it’s not the howlin’ kind, nor ol’ Wiley either?  Just thought I’d check.
    Let’s finish the pot.  Ha, an’ just when yuh think nothin’ good can come out of Seattle, here we sit drinkin’ some of Seattle’s Best.  Not bad, not bad…  It’ll get yuh movin’ this chilly mornin’.  Yuh best be takin’ care.  Say, have yuh checked yur cinch lately?  It’s not gettin’ worn is it?  

Echoes From the Campfire

That’s what courage is all about.  You allow your character to control the actions, not your brain.”
              –Stephen Bly  (Throw the Devil Off the Train)

    “…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.  Grace be with you.  Amen.”
              –1 Timothy 6:20-21(NKJV)
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Many are scoffing, but let me tell you, God is not mocked.  I mentioned on Wednesday regarding the stand on abortion in this election, now I need to mention the concept of homosexuality and transgendering (if there really is such a thing).  These are an abomination to the Lord.  

         “But on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.”
                   –Luke 17:29 (NKJV)

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were despicable living in lust and lewdness.  When you go back to read the account it is easy to see that they were well on their way to being reprobate.  The lusted after the angels and demanded that Lot turn them over to them.  How did Lot reply?  Take my daughters instead but leave these alone (Genesis 19:1-11).  Unbelieveable!
    Look at a few more Scriptures regarding Sodom:

          “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked.”
                   –2 Peter 2:6-7 (NKJV)

          “As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
                   –Jude 7 (NKJV)

Don’t be misled or beguiled by the deceivers with the smooth-talking sounds of their lips.  When they proclaim that is just another way to express love.  First of all, they do not know what they are talking about for God is love and He does not approve of anything contrary to His character and His Word.  Secondly, it borders on blasphemy.  Look at the analogy of Christ with His bride, the Church.  In all instances the Church is referred to in feminine form.  Truly that is one of the real reasons behind the push of ungody feminism.  Notice, there is a difference between ungodly feminine agendas and those of the Proverbs 31 woman.
    Cast your vote in this election with this in mind.  The liberal-left is seeking to control the minds of your children, not only that to own their soul.  People who call good–evil and call evil–good are an abomination.  God gives them over to a “debased mind” (Romans 1:28, other versions refer to it as a “reprobate mind”).  Paul goes on to list their evils, but I want you to catch the last phrase of verse 32, “those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (NKJV).  
    If the liberal-left win this election watch out–the gay agenda will run rampant.  In recent years there has been a softening of the stance against the gay agenda.  Do not be misled, the devil wants to destroy your children and grandchildren.  Paul states that you cannot even approve of them.  “Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—” (1 Timothy 6:20, NKJV).