The Saga of Miles Forrest

Well, Marshal Forrest,” came the cry from across the store.  “I was wondering if you would ever come in here again.”  Darnelle started for me, and after giving me a hug, she continued.  “I hear that you’re going to be city marshal on a permanent basis.”
    I laughed a little, “So that’s what you hear?  What else do you hear?”
    She gave a wry smile before answering, “I know that Stanley Offut wants you, and so does Mr. Parker,” then with a giggle she added, “and we all know that Mr. Newsome, bless his soul, will vote with the majority.”
    “I stopped by to see how Wilson was doin’.  What does he think about all this, or has he been able to say anything?”
    The smile fell from her face.  “Uncle is doing some better.  He can shuffle around the room if he has something to hold onto.  He did manage to mumble out some sounds, ‘Not Que’ and that was all I could make of it.”
    I pulled on the end of my moustache.  I always liked Wilson Foster.  Sure he would get on my nerves now and again, but overall he was a reputable man.  “Give him my best,” I said before leaving, “I mean that.”
    The small smile came back, “I know you do.  Where are you headed?”
    Giving a short grunt I said, “Time for the showdown.  Meeting with Judge Klaus, the council, and Queens.  I pray that it goes smoothly.”
    As I came to the entrance I heard her say behind me, “Don’t be such a stranger…please.”
    Without turning I gave a little wave then went on out to the boardwalk.  I stood for a moment looking up and down the street.  It was then I noticed Skinny Green leaning against a post.  “Skinny!  What are you doggin’ me for?”
    He seems startled, then straightened up, at least as much as I’ve ever seen Skinny straighten.  “I’m a detective,” he boasted.
    I took a couple of steps toward him, causing him to step down off the boardwalk into the muddy street.  “Detective, huh?  Tell me about it.”
    Scratching the top of his head, then wiping his hand down his face he answered.  “Man said he’d give me five dollars if I’d follow you.”
    “That so, what man?” I inquired.  “Why did he want you to follow me?”
    With a shrug of his shoulders, he simply replied, “Don’t know.  Just told me to follow you.”
    “Well, this is as far as you follow me,” I declared.  “I have a meeting in the courthouse with the Judge, that is, unless you want to see the Judge.”
    “No, no, that’s fine,” he stated, but a frown came on his face.  “I hope the man pays me.”
    “Skinny, when were you supposed to meet this man?”
    He shrugged again, “Don’t know, he said he’d find me.”
    “Get on then,” I barked, the stepped off the boardwalk to head to the courthouse.
    When I got there Stan Offut was the only one there with Judge Klaser.  After I greeted them, Offut handed me a telegram.  It was from Marshal Blasco in Denver.  “Deputy will arrive for prisoner.”  He was always short with his telegrams.  He didn’t say when, and I had to assume it was Sam Smith he was referring to.
    Newsome came in next with Mike Queens by his side.  I thought that a mite strange.  A few minutes later Paul Parker arrived.  “Gentlemen, you may all be seated,” stated the Judge.  “Let’s get this meeting started as I have to work on tomorrow’s docket.  Mister Newsome, since you’re the new head of the council go ahead.”
    “Uh, well, there’s been some discussion with Mr. Queens since I last talked with Marshal Forrest.  He’s, uh, well, agreed to a compromise.  Mateo Ramirez can stay on as deputy.”
    That caught my attention as well as the Judges.  “So then, what is your vote, Mr. Newsome?”
    He was fidgety, but blurted out, “Mike Queens!”
    “Newsome!  Perhaps you don’t remember what happened with McCall as marshal,” I challenged.  I really didn’t care if I was marshal or not, but I didn’t want to see the citizens of the town harassed by a hardcase wearing a badge.
    “What are you insinuating?” snarled Queens.
    I stared at him.  “Queens, I know your kind!”
    “See what I mean?” blurted out Newsome.  “This is what we get from Marshal Forrest.  He’s brutal…a, a beast!”
    I looked at the other two councilmen.  I knew both men well, but they were new to the council, and Offut was only filling out the term of Foster.
    “Since, I’m voting for Mr. Foster, I assume he would go along with Newsome,” piped up Offut.
    My attention went to Queens when Judge Klaser asked Parker, who bluntly stated that he would vote for me.  Queens eyes widened briefly, the narrowed glaring at Parker.
    Shaking my head, I stood.  “Guess that settles it.”  
    I started to walk out but upon passing by Queens he grabbed my arm.  “I’ll settle with you later,” he promised with a sneer.
    “Let go, or you’ll never use that hand again!” I ordered.
    He released my arm and I continued on my way out the door.  Queens jumped up, “Tough guy, I’ll make sure I settle with you…”

Echoes From the Campfire

Learn to see what you are looking at.”
              –Louis L’Amour (The Cherokee Trail)

    “Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.”
              –1 John 4:1 (Amplified)
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Richard Lindsay, a voice I respect and trust, wrote a good synopsis regarding prophecy and prophets on Facebook.  If you can grab hold of it, do so.  But I want to echo some of what he said, and add some to it.  I am not going to repeat what he has said, except where it fits in my thoughts.
    In recent weeks and months there has been much clamor in churches and in the media regarding prophecies.  Some of it was true, time will tell, some of it was misguided, and some outright bogus.  First of all, let me say that I believe there is the office of the prophet in the New Testament church.  This is clear in Ephesians 4:11-12.  The purpose of the office is to equip and edify the church.  
    We often have the wrong idea of the role and function of a prophet.  Prophecy is simply “telling the truth.”  In that definition I would hope and pray that each Sunday when the message is pronounced from the sacred desk that the minister is in a sense giving forth prophecy–telling the truth.  A prophet is not a soothsayer, nor a medium with the spirits.  He speaks for the truth.  Most of it is for the current day, some may be for the future.  Let me, at this point, pass on some of the words from Richard Lindsay.

         “There are several classes of ‘prophets’ within the gathering of believers.  There are the genuine speakers of prophetic words from God Himself that serve to strengthen, guide and direct the body.  There are categorically identifiable false prophets who have malicious motives with what they say, claiming to be the voice of God.  There are wannabe prophets who think the office of Prophet is something to be sought after, but clearly are not called of God to prophesy.  Then there are prophets who may have heard something or other from God and in their exuberance to inspire, added elements of their own making to the ‘prophecy.'”

    God does not want us to be confused.  Check all prophecy, first of all against the Scriptures.  If any part of it is contrary to what the Word of God says, discard it immediately.  Second, and this is the hard part–wait.  Much futuristic prophecy has a waiting period.  How long the wait?  We are still waiting for much of the biblical prophecy to come to pass.
    One more thought, or question:  Does prophecy always come to pass?  Hmmm, I believe there is an “if clause.”  Let me give you two examples.  God came down to visit the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to see whether He should destroy them or not.  Now, there is much to say about these verses (Genesis 18-19) but He does tell Abraham that He will not destroy it if there are only ten righteous people living there.  Think of that–ten!  Will judgment fall upon America?  In some ways it already is happening, in other ways, it might depend upon how many righteous are living here.  With that, if the Rapture would occur tomorrow, how many righteous would there be?
    A second example is found in Jonah 3:4, “Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, ‘Forty more days, and Nineveh will be overthrown.'” (NASB) Nothing was said by Jonah about repentance.  However, the people repented, God heard their cry and did not destroy the city.  In my mind there is the “if clause” of repentance.  God had compassion because of their repentance.
    Do not disregard the voice of a prophet, however, be much in discernment over what they say.  Not only their words, but the prophet themselves.  What I have seen in studying the scriptures and those I have witnessed in my life who were “prophets” is that they are humble people.  They did not choose to be a prophet, but did so at the calling of God.  So don’t heed every voice that cries, “Thus says the Lord.”  Know the Scripture, be full of the Holy Spirit, then you will not jump to conclusions and you will know the true Word of God.

Coffee Percs

He had a frying pan and coffeepot in his saddle roll; and some bacon and a can of beans.  He boiled up the coffee, fried the bacon and heated the beans in the frying pan’s grease.  Having no other utensils, they took turns at the frying pan, using their pocket knives, and drank the coffee straight from the pot.”
            –Ernest Haycox  (Saddle and Ride)

Git yurself in here, Pard, before the hostiles see yuh.  I’m bein’ overdramatic, but yuh never know, there might come a day when we’ll be declared the hostiles.  Right now there are some sayin’ that folks such as you and me need to have our brains deprogrammed.  Hmmm, I don’t recall havin’ them programmed the first time.
    Speakin’ of hostiles, I have a print hanging up in my office by Fred Deaver, titled, “Hostile Sound.”  The ol’ boy sittin’ by the night’s fire hears somethin’ and is reachin’ for his Hawken rifle.  He was ready, alert, as we all should be, not just because the days are gettin’ more evil, however that is reason enough, but because the Lord instructed us to walk in this world, alert, wary, with courage and integrity.
    How’s the coffee?  It’s all the way from that country of New Guinea.  It and Kona are my two favorites.  Don’t pay the price of Kona only on rare occasions, but New Guinea, made strong, and drank black will sure enough help get yuh through the day.  Did yuh read what that ol’ boy Haycox wrote?  I’ve traveled many a mile with a coffeepot in the steel mount.  Stopped several times along the way to boil up a pot, plus kept it in case of desperate times.  When I lived up in northern country a person might not know when they might get caught in a blizzard.  I had some sterno, a little stove, coffee, water, and a pot to brew it up–just in case.
    Blizzard–kinda of what the bureaucrats are in now.  They can’t see their way to do anything but what is contrary to God’s Word.  They wander around gropin’ in the fog of the storm.  The ol’ guy they put in charge is a real case of lunacy in charge.  Be alert pard, there’s hostiles.  
    One thing, for certain, even with the nut and in the highest office of the land, he is allowed to be there by the Almighty, and for a reason.  Yuh know that could be scary if it wasn’t for the Almighty bein’ in charge.  ‘Bout like ridin’ out into a blizzard without checkin’ yur cinch.
     Vaya con Dios,

Echoes From the Campfire

I was always told to look hard at what you can see, but harder at what you can’t see.”
              –David W. Bailey  (Jericho James)

       “And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?'”
              –Luke 24:38 (NKJV)
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Don’t let one event overwhelm you, or let one day dictate your life.  When you do that you are saying that circumstances control your life.  A failure or victory does not say who you are in the long haul of life.  Let me draw your attention to the last verse of that great hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” written by T.O. Chisholm.

         “Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
          Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
          Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
          Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!”

    God is with you, therefore, there is peace for this day.  Jesus even tells us not to worry about tomorrow, that there is trouble enough for today (Matthew 6:34).  However, in regard to tomorrow, have hope for He will be with you as you enter a new day.  When we believe in God we are not becoming people of renown faith, but rather we are grasping hold of His faithfulness to us.  We are certain of Him!
    We are not to let life overwhelm us.  It seems that is the lot of many, “Woe is me.”  This is not proper in the life of a Christian.  Instead we are to face life holding on to His hand.  Part of our problem is that we look at the events of this life rather than looking at things with eternity in view.  This world is transitory.  Everyone is only passing through this life on the way to eternity.  Everyone!
    As believers in Jesus Christ, we are but strangers here.  Pilgrims moving on to a heavenly city where we will spend eternity.  Lloyd-Jones writes, “Life in this world can only be viewed truly in the light of the next world…  Whether we like it or not, life itself has a way of forcing us all to consider what lies beyond it.”  This is not escapism, but a real way to look at our lives.  Things that come our way can make us either bitter or better.  
    Lloyd-Jones says, “The most important thing for us to concentrate on is the life of the soul.”  Since life is uncertain, since there are calamities, accidents, disease and pestilence, terror and war, we have to realize that it is the soul that is important.  The soul goes on and on and on…  Concentrate, therefore on the inner life, the life of the soul.  Maybe we spend too much time looking at the evil side of the world.  Look at how the media is focused on the negativity, the wickedness, and the sordid.  Perhaps we should be looking forward to our new home.

         “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”  –Psalm 23:6

Heaven, the place where God dwells, the place where Jesus went to prepare a place for us.  Heaven, the home of the soul that is born-again.  In the midst of the political whims of the bureaucrats get a view of your new home–heaven.  Look at the news and we can become alarmed.  Disappointment is sure to come if we look to the world for answers.  Happiness and joy is only but fleeting if we depend upon material things.  But our home is in heaven.  Because of that we can live this life with joy unspeakable.  Hmmm, I wonder if the Lord, being a carpenter and is building my home, uses golden nails?