Boy, you’d just be a tasty morsel for them wolves,” joked Burnett as Lucas stepped up on the train.
His eyes widened and he jumped the last two steps into the car.
“Miles, what’s wrong with him?” asked Burnett as Molly stepped aboard. “I was only joshin’ him.”
“For some reason he’s deathly scared of wolves. Take it easy on him,” I replied.
Theo clasped me on the back. “Sure didn’t mean to be upsettin’ him.”
As I entered the car Lucas was kneeling on a seat, looking out the windows. Molly was moving through the car looking for Charlie and Marta.
“Lucas,” I said standing behind him. “Marshal Burnett was just kiddin’ with you.”
“Miles,” came the voice of Molly. “Back here.”
I hustled on back toward the end of the car. There were some hurt folk in there, maybe a dozen. It made me wonder how many were killed in the explosion.
Molly was stooped down and bent over Marta. “Hey there, Miles,” Charlie said softly.
Reaching over I touched the side of his face where he had a nice gash. “You need to get this sewed up Charlie. Hurt anywhere else?”
He stood up while Molly was checking Marta. “Here,” he pointed to his side. “I was shot.”
“Shot!” I exclaimed. “I thought it was an explosion.”
“Someone was out there waiting,” uttered Charlie. “They seemed to know who I was.”
I looked down at Marta. “How’s she doin’?”
“Not sure; we need a doctor,” he paused, then sighed. “I don’t even know if one’s on the way or not.”
Molly stood up next to me as Theo also came up bringing Lucas with him. He nodded at me to reassure me that everything was all right between him and Lucas.
“Theo, do you know Sheriff Gold?”
“I know him now; didn’t know he was a sheriff though,” replied Theo.
Molly interrupted my introductions. “Her pulse is strong, but she’s hurt.”
“The explosion was a couple of seats in front of us. It threw her up over me. I think she hit her head on one of the seats behind us,” he answered nervously. “I can’t seem to keep her conscious.”
“She must have what Doc Jones is callin’ a concussion,” I offered. “Is she sick to her stomach?”
Molly grabbed hold of Charlie’s hand. “Her arm is for sure broken, and maybe a couple of ribs. I…I don’t know if there are any internal injuries. Has she regained consciousness at all?”
“Now and then. I try to get her to drink some but water is scarce,” he said. “There is water down the ravine in a creek, but it’s quite a haul. I thought about going down, but I don’t want to leave her.”
“Charlie, I’m going to see if I can round up some buckets. Since Molly’s here now, we can make a trip to the creek. I imagine there’s others thirsty.”
“I will help!” Lucas informed us. Just as he said that, a wolf let loose with a howl.” Lucas cringed, but stood firm with a fierce look in his eyes.
Turning to Theo I asked, “How many dead?”
“Five, they were sitting right over the blast. Miles, I just can’t figure it. There was nothing on this train worth taking,” he answered shaking his head.
“I don’t understand it either, but I think it was to get revenge on me.”
“You!” he exclaimed, “why you weren’t even on the train.”
Pointing at Charlie then to Marta, “But a couple of close friends were. Theo, did you know that Charlie was shot?”
He jerked his head and roared, “I had no idea! Do you think they’re still lurking?”
Shrugging my shoulders I suggested, “Theo, see if you can find some buckets and we’ll make a trip to the creek before dark. While you’re a-doin’ that I’m gonna take a look-see out there. Lucas, you stay here with Charlie until I get back.
“Miles,” said Molly grasping my coat. “You be careful!”
Givin’ her one of my winsome smiles, “Aren’t I always?”
The wolves began to howl as I turned to walk out of the car…
Month: January 2019
Echoes From the Campfire
Can’t ignore it [the past]; can’t forget it. What you can do is move beyond it.”
–L.C. Matthews (The Promise)
“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.”
–Galatians 6:7-8 (HCSB)
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Pardon me friends, but somehow I went from Psalm 11 to Psalm 13 completely skipping over 12. I’ll remedy that this morning. So let’s take a look at this set of verses (from the HCSB). See how close they resemble life today.
1 Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race.
2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully.
4 They say, “Through our tongues we have power; our lips are our own—who can be our master?”
5 “Because of the oppression of the afflicted and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place.”
6 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.
7 You, Lord, will guard us; You will protect us from this generation forever.
8 The wicked wander everywhere, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.
I get sick of the media with their “flattering lips.” They let them flap continually, saying very little truth, but speaking empty, hollow words. These are people without integrity who seek only their own agenda, their time of fame and glory. G.K. Chesterton cried, “From sly speeches of men, deliver us.”
David is bemoaning the fact that there are no faithful people left. The RSV puts it this way, “Faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.” He sits there, crying, “oh what shall I do?” His life has taken on hopelessness and God doesn’t seem to want to answer. The voices speak flattery and falsehoods, who do you trust? This side says this, and then the other refutes it–where is the trust? If is often easy to identify with this aspect of David’s life.
However, God finally speaks. He ignores David’s cries for Him to even the score; his pleas for retribution, but He does say He will arise and protect him. God is our protector no matter who is speaking. In this day when vileness is flaunted and God’s Word is scorned He will still guard those who trust in Him. God will keep us secure; count on it.
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to be like You–honest. Keep me from mistrusting everyone just because someone has let me down. I thank You because Your word can always be relied upon as truthful. I know you will keep me secure.” (George O. Wood)
Coffee Percs
On the way back to the kitchen, he replaced the shotgun on the rack in the hall. In the kitchen, the coffee was hot and ready on the stove. He took two blue enamel cups from the shelf on the wall and filled them with the streaming black brew.”
–C. Wayne Winkle (Frank Bannon–The Fixer)
I heard yur hoss, so I poured a cup for ya. Using that Black Gold from Folgers this mornin’, ahhh, sure delightful. I’m a little picky about my coffee as you know. I not one of those coffee snobs that can only drink certain types of coffee and in a certain way. Reckon my biggest complaint is that it’s usually not strong enough. I like to taste the coffee not just some flavored water.
Yep, I understand the thinkin’ of the person in the quote. The shotgun’s handy, and pistol if needed. There are crazy things now, yuh think, ha, it’s just gettin’ started. How about that young whippersnapper who thinks that small churches are a problem and that we should “unhitch” from the Old Testament? Now, he is supposedly more enlightened that we are, at least this ol’ fence post, and it is done in the name of being progressive. What about the Scripture in the New Testament that states that ALL Scripture is inspired? Ptui on progressive! That’s heresy.
Drink it down pard, for I’m just gettin’ started this mornin’. There’s another one of those progressive hot-shots who says that he don’t think we can be governed by the Constitution; it’s just too old. Ask him how to fix things, and he just haws around without an answer, but we need to get rid of the Constitution. He’s just one of those bureaucrats up in Washington. Then that other jasper who is goin’ to run for President, whose mother says that the defenders of the Alamo were only a bunch of drunks and crooks.
Gotta settle down, let me finish this cup, ‘fore I get too riled. Problem really is that the Old Testament and the Constitution doesn’t fit these progressive folks agenda. Listen, no matter what, truth is truth!
Say, I met with my new publisher. He seems like one of us ol’ codgers who realize the value of writing a good story and not getting “progressive” with it. If yuh are looking for my first book, the title has changed to “The Journal of Elias Butler.”
Yeah, I know, yuh gotta be headin’ on down the road. Yuh ride easy, now ya hear? Check that cinch, and keep yur gun oiled and ready. Sure to be readin’ the Bible, includin’ the Old Testament.
Echoes From the Campfire
On a late afternoon when the clouds gather around the peaks and the lightning begins to play its games over the mountain meadows, the high country is no place to be, but it can be spectacular to watch from a safe distance. At such times the hills can be alive with a sound that isn’t music, but it has a magnificence of its own.”
–Louis L’Amour (Passin’ Through)
Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.”
–Exodus 20:18 (NKJV)
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I’ve been in the high country during some of those terrific, magnificent lightning and thunder displays. It is a tremendous sight, awe-inspiring, but also frightening. The lightning flashes and then the thunder rolls shaking the very ground upon where you are standing. You must run from it to seek shelter, but you do not want to miss the spectacle.
I believe that is why when God speaks to us that it is usually in the small, quiet voice. If not, we would quake and not hear what He has to say, but be more interested in the grandeur which is displayed. If He spoke aloud as He did at creation we would not listen. One day we shall see Him as He is, and I believe hear Him when He speaks.
A trip to creation gives us a snippet of His voice.
“How wonderful, O Lord, are the works of your hands! The heavens declare Your glory, the arch of sky displays Your handiwork. In Your love You have given us power to behold the beauty of Your world robed in all its splendor. The sun and the stars, the valleys and hills, the rivers and lakes all disclose Your presence. The roaring breakers of the sea tell of your awesome might, the beasts of the field and the birds of the air bespeak Your wondrous will. In Your goodness You have made us able to hear the music of the world. The voices of loved ones reveal to us that You are in our midst. A divine voice sings through all creation.”
–Traditional Jewish prayer
Dare you take the time to visit, then do not waste it; take the time to listen. Listen to the song that comes by the wind through the leaves of the trees. Listen to the singing of the water as it babbles along in a small brook. Hearken to the call of the hawk as it courses through the sky seeking its prey. There are so many sounds. I remember walking up in Maryland. Suddenly, a loud “pop” as a high-powered rifle, only louder, cracked behind me forcing me to turn in wonder as I saw the trunk of a very large tree, shatter thirty feet above the ground.
Here is a little devotional study. Look at all the times that God met with people on mountains. See the characteristics of the event. For example, Moses in receiving the commandments; or the Mount when God spoke in the presence of His Son and Peter, James and John.