Month: June 2021

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

We arrived too late in the evening for me to send a telegram to Marta. The place hadn’t changed much since the last time I had traveled to Farmington. That was about four or five years ago. A couple new saloons, some signs changed, more Anglo than in the past.

     I sat in the saddle looking around pondering the situation. The region was pretty dry, so that would mean a dry camp, or we could spend the night in the hotel.

     “Senor, is there something wrong? You’ve been shaking your head,” inquired Lucas.

     “No,” I replied with a laugh. “Just thinkin’ how my Molly has spoiled me over the years.”

     Now he gave a laugh. “That is for sure. She makes you a pie almost every day .”

     That deserved a scowl, so I gave him one. “Not every day!”

     My reply only made him laugh harder.

     “Let’s get the horses put up. Remember not to call me ‘Marshal,'” I ordered. “I don’t want anyone to know who I am.”

     At the livery the hostler looked us over. “What yur doin’ with a Mex kid?” he asked.

     I didn’t care much for his attitude, but I didn’t want to make him mad and not take care of the horses so I simply replied, “Travelin’.”

     “He is my uncle,” spouted Lucas. “His brother married my mother. They are dead–Apaches. He now is taking care of me.”

     The look I gave Lucas, well I hoped the hostler didn’t see it. “Lucas, you can sure tell a whopper,” I thought to myself.

     “Tough kid,” responded the man taking the reins of Two-Bits. “Apaches are mean critters. I had a run in with them when I lived down at Lordsburg. One reason I moved up to this part of the Territory.”

     I took care of Hawk while Lucas began to unload the pack animal, the hostler already had the saddle off Two-Bits. “All right to leave my gear here?”

     “Shouldn’t be a problem, though I can’t guarantee it,” he stated. “I sleep here and keep the door locked so reckon it will be all right.”

     He looked at the shotgun in my hand. “Yuh always carries that thing around?”

     Looking in his direction, I replied. “Can’t hardly go to sleep without it by my side. It’s just reassurin’ company.”

     Nodding, I put my hand on Lucas’ shoulder to guide him out. “Cantina across the street serves good food,” came a holler from back in the stalls.

     We ate then went to get a room at the hotel. Lucas had never stayed in one before so it was an experience for him.

     The night went by slowly, but I noticed that Lucas didn’t have any trouble sleeping. That’s just not right; he should have a guilty conscience for running off and telling that big lie to the hostler. Morning came and I reckoned the bedbugs didn’t get me. I woke Lucas and we went out to eat breakfast at the cantina; I had huevos rancheros on my mind. Well, they had eggs–they must have been quail or from pullets they were so small. But the tortillas, fresh side, and beans were good.

     From there we went to the telegraph office. Lucas stayed outside while I went in to send a telegram to Marta. At least I wouldn’t have to hear her chew me out. “Marta–Lucas is with me–I take care of him–Miles.”

     I paid the operator and as I turned I heard, “Kid, get out of my way!” Then heard the sound of Lucas bouncing off the office wall.

     Sighing I went out…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Never get in a hurry when you don’t have to. A man in too big a hurry makes mistakes he can’t afford.”

               –Elmer Kelton (The Buckskin Line)

 

     “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”

               –Mark 4:39 (NKJV)

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Life doesn’t always go the way we would like. For the most part, it is a series of up and downs; somethings things go smoothly while at other times the ride seems quite bumpy and full of obstacles. Our minds, being what they are, tend to remember the bumps more than the smooth ride. In fact, we are told to remember some of those hard times as a memorial. We just did that a few days ago, and yesterday we took time to remember D-Day; that day in 1944 when Allied forces came ashore at Normandy. Hitler’s might Reich was on the way to defeat. It would be another year, but the end was in sight.

     David saw that his enemies had set a trap for him. The road he was to take had a deep pit, but instead of trapping David, his enemies fell into the pit. Let’s take a moment to read the second part of Psalms 57.

 

         6 — They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

7 — My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.
8 — Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.

9 — I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.
10 — For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.

11 — Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory beabove all the earth. (NKJV)

 

     One of the most important things we can do is to learn that in the tough times, in perilous situations of life that we must continue to praise the Lord. Because of previous experiences, because of a relationship with God, because of God’s Word, David proclaims that his heart is steadfast. Out of that steadfast heart he sings and gives praises unto God. I like verse 8 in the New Living Translation, “Wake up, my soul!” Sometimes we have to tell ourselves to wake up. Maybe even slap ourselves a few times to help us get a proper perspective on the day.  

     Every day is a new day–wake up! God’s mercies are new every morning–wake up! He has given another day to you–wake up! Face the day, whatever may come your way. The Lord is with you whether you are down in a cave, or upon a high summit overlooking a wonderful vista.

 

          “My heart is fixed on thee, my God!

          I rest my hope on thee alone,

          I’ll spread thy sacred truths abroad,

          To all mankind thy love made known.”

                       –Francis Wrangham

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

They gobbled their food like wolves, and when they drank their coffee, the noise they made was painful to her ears.”
                –John Fox, Jr.  (The Trail of the Lonesome Pine)

My mercy, Pard!  Take yurself a deep swaller before yuh hear this.  Go on, I hear yuh slurpin’.  Now swaller, I don’t want yuh to be spittin’ it out when I tell yuh that Kelloggs is puttin’ out a gay cereal.  Yep, all pretty colors for the little ones to see and drool over.  Then they have a pronoun lesson.  My goodness gracious, what is this world comin’ to?  The Lord up above lookin’ down on this foolishness surely can’t be happy.  
    With all this cavortin’ what comes to my mind, “As in the days of Noah,” and “as Sodom and Gomorrah went after strange flesh.”  How much longer will He withhold judgment?  Hmmm, take another swaller, while I ponder that for a minute.  The way I’m seein’ things, I think He is already in the process of judgin’.  The land has found itself in catastrophic condition since the first of the year, and I reckon it only will be gettin’ worse.  Something I once heard went like this, “Ignorance can be fixed; stupidity is fatal.”  Man, who thinks he is so enlightened, but in actuality is delusional thinks he has the answers, but in reality by forgettin’ God’s holy laws and values he is showin’ his outright stupidity.
    Pard, good thing I have yuh around to help get these problems settled.  Notice I said, settle, not solved.  There is no solution only in the good Lord.  Yuh stay ready, and we’ll continue to enjoy our coffee together and watch the stupidity of the world.  Whenever the devil takes over not only is there evil on the land, but stupidity takes over.  Morals and common sense go out the window.  
    I’ll give yuh credit Pard.  The only stupid thing I’ve ever seen yuh do was to forget to check yur cinch.  Yur Bible’s out, yur gun’s oiled and ready, but yuh have a tendency to mount without checkin’ that cinch.
           Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He was no diplomat.  He knew that right was always right, and wrong was always wrong.  And one did not make deals to skirt or avoid the two.”
              –William W. Johnstone  (Dreams of Eagles)

    “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
              –2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)
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More and more we need to be living in the Word of God.  There is a definite need to have it solidified in our hearts and minds as we face the onslaught of the world.  False teachers are on the rise, false ideologies are now being accepted.  I read recently that a third of Americans now aren’t sure that we should have been fighting against fascism in World War II with 14 percent saying it was an outright mistake.  Only 28 percent said that fighting against the spread of communism in Vietnam was right.  Should we then wonder why our youth are clamoring more and more for socialism?  It doesn’t make sense and it shows just how easy it is to dupe people.
    Genocide, euthanasia, murder, the false hope of socialism, and evil magnified seem to be all right in the eyes of the younger generation.  We shouldn’t wonder when the nation has sanctioned the death of millions of innocents through abortion.  When people are confused about gender, and forget the moral mandates of God, why not give in to the false ideologies that are offered?  Can we not now see how easy it will be for the powers of evil and the Antichrist to deceive the masses?
    The Bible is our lamp.  It is our guide?  Within its pages we find our hope.  It is full of promises that are ours.  Ponder the following by F.B. Meyer.

         “If a cluster of heavenly fruit hangs within reach, gather it.  If a promise lies upon the page as a blank check, cash it.  If a prayer is recorded, appropriate it, and launch it as a feathered arrow from the bow of your desire.  If an example of holiness gleams before you, ask God to do as much for you.  If a truth is revealed in all its intrinsic splendor, entreat that its brilliance may ever irradiate the hemispheres of your life like a star.  Entwine the climbing creepers of holy desire about the latticework of Scripture.  So shall you come to say with the psalmist, ‘Oh, how I love thy law!  It is my meditation all the day.’
         “The advantages of a deep knowledge of the Bible are more than can be numbered here.  It is the Storehouse of the Promises.  It is the Sword of the Spirit, before which temptation flees.  It is the all-sufficient Equipment of Christian usefulness.  It is the believer’s Guidebook and Directory in all possible circumstances.  Words fail to tell how glad, how strong, how useful shall be the daily life of those who can say with the prophet: ‘Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.”

In these evil times in which we are living.  These days of purposed subverting the Word of God, it is vital, no, it is the only hope that we have the Bible etched in our heart.  “I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.” (HCSB)