Month: May 2019

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The thing that shows the man is his willingness to accept responsibility for himself and his actions.  Only a tinhorn blames what he is on his folks or the times or something else besides himself.”
                  –Louis L’Amour  (Tucker)

       “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”
                  –Jeremiah 10:23(NKJV)
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    Sure have been busy the past few days.  Well, let me put it this way, I’ve sure been doing some traveling.  We went to the ICCAN (International Cowboy Church Alliance Network) Spring Roundup in Dawson Springs, KY.  It was an interesting experience.  I met some good folks and the services were good.
    Then I heard that some good friends had sorrow brought into their home.  Both the husband and wife had their father die in the same week.  We headed to the funeral that we could attend over in San Antonio.  
    I also received a message that there is anti-Christ movement trying to get the cross down from the court house and stop the different Christian displays.  There is a meeting at the courthouse today, and if I’m feeling up to it I may attend.
    Now with all of that being said, I was trying to think of something to write.  Something that might encourage a poor soul who is down in the dumps.  I was looking through some material that I have collected over the years (oh, you can only imagine how much this ol’ boy has collected) and I came across this song we would sing from time-to-time in my home church when I was growing up.

          “I’m following Jesus one step at a time,
           I live for the moment in His love divine.
           Why think of tomorrow, just live for today,
           I’m following Jesus each step of the way.

           The pathway is narrow but He leads me on,
           I walk in His shadow, my fears are all gone.
           My spirit grows stronger, each moment, each day,
           For Jesus is leading each step of the way.”
                   –Redd Harper

    Listen folks, just walk each step of each day in His Word.  Dedicate each minute to Him, and you’ll be surprised at the out-come.  Whether you’re walking on a wide path in a lush meadow, or find yourself walking a narrow trail along the side of a cliff trying to get to your destination, take each step of the way with Jesus.

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I went on over to the telegraph office, and gave the messages to Stan Offut telling him to send any replies to me over to the diner with one of the boys.  As I stepped out, I hesitated, and decided to go next door.  As I walked in I got the usual greeting from Solly Vendor.
    “What is it this time, Miles?  Cigars or do you want a plug?” Vendor asked.
    “Right now Solly, some information,” I replied.  “Do you remember the fancy-dressed guy, I think his name was Merker?  Has he been in lately?”
    He took a couple of puffs on his cigar and then blew the smoke in my direction, gave a little cough and smiled.  “Sure, I remember him.  Good customer when he was around,” he paused to take another puff, then continued.  “He hasn’t been around recently; last time was probably close to two weeks ago, maybe three.”
    “You and he ever talk?  What’s your take on him?” I asked.
    He puffed some more then came from behind the counter and sat down in one of the chairs he has in his store.  “Just general chit-chat,” he said.  “You’re right about one thing, he dressed well.  I think he thought of himself as one of those fancy dudes from back east; the type that sit on committees or boards,” he coughed some more.  “On the other hand, he looked as if at one time he was a barroom ruffian, surely able to take care of himself if the need be.”
    “Thanks, Solly,” I said as I started to walk out.
    “Miles, I don’t think he likes you,” he said, this time blowing smoke away from me.  “He muttered something once, about ‘that guy Forrest; ruined a good thing.’  Then he seemed to catch himself and put the cigars he just purchased in his pocket, and walked out.”
    “If he comes in again, let me or Sheriff Gold know immediately, will yuh?”  Just before I walked out the door.  “Sol, you better stop that smoking.”
    He smiled, then coughed a couple of times, the smile now gone.  As he gave me a wave I walked out.
    It was a nice day.  It would have been a day, many years ago, that I would have saddled up and rode out up the canyon just to enjoy the breeze coming down from the high peaks.  Glancing up the street, I could see Johnson, lying on the boardwalk at the jail.  Then I turned back toward the diner.
    Walking in the crew was sitting around the table, laughing, and then I saw it–each of them had a piece of pie.  Walking toward them, they didn’t notice me, nor was there a place at the table for me.  Marta was sitting in my spot, in my chair, by the stove.  I took a chair at the next table.
    There were customers at two tables in the place and right after I came in one man got up to leave.  No one got up to clean off his table.  They were enjoying each other’s company.  Marta, at that time, seemed like her old self.  Glancing up I saw Anihu standing at the door of the kitchen with hands on hips and smiling.
    “Oh, hello Miles,” said Edith, finally someone saw I was there.
    Marta looked my way.  I could see her begin to get up so I gave her a big smile and nodded at her.  “Take it easy folks,” I muttered, “it’s just me.”  
    I stood then, going over to the shelf to pick up a cup.  Before I got to the stove, I reached down and squeezed Marta on the shoulder.  “Sure good to have you back.”  Then filled my cup with coffee.
    Peering over her shoulder, I made the comment, “What’s that you’re all eatin’?”
    “Nothing,” replied Charlie and I looked down and his plate was clean.
    “You all are disgustin’,” I remarked and went back to where I was sitting.
    Molly didn’t seem to want to leave Marta’s side, but she did turn and wave to Anihu, and hold her, now empty plate up.  Anihu smiled and went in the kitchen.  A few moments later she came out and waddled toward me, holding a plate with a piece of pie in it.
    Placing it in front of me she gave a slight curtsy and said, “For you, Senor Forrest.”
    “Sit down,” I said.  She hesitated, so I had to say it in a little more commanding tone.  “Sit down!”  Then I stood and went for another cup filling it and bringing it to her.  
    “Did you eat a piece?” I asked.
    “Si, in the cocina.”
    I was cutting my first piece of pie; it was chocolate, when in through the door came young Henry.  “Mister Offut said get this to your right away!”
    He handed me a telegram from the warden of the prison.  I reached in my little pouch that I kept in my vest pocket and flipped him a dime, and he was off, back out the door.
    “Myers released a month ago….Stop….reported headed to Pueblo.”

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

We had ourselves a fine day and a half, so there wasn’t any cause to complain…and who would a body complain to?  The last I’d heard the weather was created by the same one that created all of us.  Well you ain’t likely to hear me tell Him, He ain’t doin’ it to my likin’.  Nope…”
              –Lou Bradshaw  (Agular)

    “Jesus therefore answered and said to them, ‘Do not murmur among yourselves.'”
              –John 6:43 (NKJV)
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Disbelief, murmuring, complaining, ungratefulness, throw those attitudes away from you.  There is too much at stake to be ungrateful to the Lord for His keeping hand.  One of the main reasons that Israel wandered for forty years was their complaining.  No, learn to be grateful despite the gloomy weather.  It is only gloomy because you say it is.  God has allowed this day, no matter the weather, to be a part of your life.  Why should we complain about it?
    Remember Job?  He wanted an audience with the Lord; a court session.  When the Lord finally came to Job, Job has nothing to say when God looked at him.  “Who are you?” asked the Lord.  That’s all it took.  No matter the weather, the circumstance, the even, we should look unto the Lord.  Take a glance and ponder the following:

         “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”
                        –John 17:13 (NKJV)

We are to have joy.  Happiness should abound.  Now, they are not always the same, but often they are entwined together.  Jesus says that His joy is to remain in us, and one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy.  Look at a few things that joyful, happy people have in their lives.  (Thanks to Carlos Murphy for some of these ideas).

    1)  They are rarely the richest people.
    2)  They are not addicted to worldly fun. (ouch, did that touch a nerve?)
    3)  They enjoy the simple things.
    4)  They don’t waste time thinking about greener pastures.
    5)  They do not yearn for yesterday or tomorrow.
    6)  They savor each moment.
    7)  They enjoy their work, families, and things around them.
    8)  They are adaptable, they can bend with change, enjoying the contests of life.
    9)  They know how to live in harmony and are at peace with themselves.
   10)  Their eyes are turned outward.
   11)  They have great capacity to love.
   12)  They walk in the presence of the Lord.  “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, NKJV)

That’s probably enough to ponder for at least a week, but I’m going to throw in one more little tidbit.  The author of this is unknown but take time, in light of your situation, to contemplate.

         “Oh, let us rejoice in the Lord, evermore,
             When darts of the tempter are flying,
          For Satan still dreads, as he did of yore,
             Our singing much more than our sighing.”