Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on November 4, 2021

A man who lives like I do has good ears and eyes or he don’t live at all.”

–Louis L’Amour (We Shaped the Land With Our Guns)

“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

–2 Corinthians 6:14 (NASB)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World

Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)

Friends, look around–look at the turmoil, fear, and torment that many face. Look on the faces of your neighbor or colleague to see if you can find hope. Ahh, it is so wonderful that as children of God we have an assurance, a hope that the Holy Spirit is with us–He is our “Comforter,” in these trying times until death or the return of the Lord.

“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has give us of His Spirit.”
–1 John 4:13 (NASB)

“And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
–Romans 5:5 (NASB)

This is the nature of the Christian life. We are of the Spirit. Because of that we see life differently than those in the world. We have a different perspective and a different lifestyle. Our aim is to please the heavenly Father. We understand that we should live a righteous and moral life, and that we have a relationship with God because we are part of His family. We abide in Christ and He abides in us. WOW!
When we were born again, we were placed in a relationship with Jesus. We possess a Christian life, eternal life, and begin to see things through the eyes of the Spirit. This does not come immediately–sooner for others than some. It is a growth process just as in any relationship. It comes through knowing His Word, through obedience to His will, through being nurtured and molded by the Holy Spirit.
Give yourself a little test to see how much you are abiding in Christ:

1) What are the things of greatest concern, of greatest interest to you?
2) Do you rush for the Bible the same way you rush to listen to the news or to social media?
3) Are you concerned with the health of your soul? Do you exercise it; eat properly?
4) How well do you know God? Do you know Him better than entertainers, sports figures, or others in the news?
5) Are you interested in eternity, or is your mind on earthly things?

Friends, children of God — this is enough for this morning. We are to abide in Christ. We are to let the Holy Spirit work in and through us. I will close and say for you to contemplate on the following:

“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have seen in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
–Philippians 3:17-20 (NASB)

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on November 3, 2021

Perhaps all our lives defy understanding without knowledge of context.”

–Stephen Bly (Throw the Devil Off the Train)

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.”

–Habakkuk 3:19(NLT)
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I don’t understand! I don’t understand why there is so much suffering in the world; yet at the same time I do realize it is because of sin. I don’t understand why this person dies, while another lives; yet I do realize that God is sovereign. Sickness, suffering, sorrow, terror, hatred, bitterness, depression, and on I could add to the list–what a world we live in today; yet it all goes back to the sin issue. Sin, the issue that man does not want to deal with; yet at the same time it is what Jesus came into this world to defeat.
There is an old hymn, written during the Depression (wouldn’t that be an interesting study–to look at the songs written in the church during the Depression), in 1937 by W.B. Stevens. Bad things happen to God’s people. Trials, temptations, testings come in one form or another. Why–I don’t understand?

“Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long,
While there are others living about us,
Never molested tho in the wrong.”

Sounds like the Prophet Habakkuk questioning God. Why do the wicked seem to prosper? Why does it seem that God’s people seem to suffer? When are You going to do something about it, God?

“When death has come and taken our loved ones,
It leaves our home so lonely and drear;
Then do we wonder why others prosper,
Living so wicked year after year.”

I don’t understand! Yet in our walk with God, He assures us that He is with us, that He cares for us, that He will be with us in all the situations we face in life. This song, “Father Along,” has in recent years been much maligned. It is said to be a dirge, a song that depresses, yet when I look at it, read and contemplate the words, what I see is the answer to, I don’t understand. I see hope and faith in this song. The words of the Prophet again come to mind: if there is nothing left, if my bones are decaying, if I see distress upon the land, though there is pestilence and famine–“Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:16-19)

“Faithful till death said our loving Master,
A few more days to labor and wait;
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing,
As we sweep thru the beautiful gate.”

One day, and I’m not sure we’ll understand it all then either, but we will not care. Our focus will be on the Lord as He calls us home. Ahh, the word “home.” This world tries to hold us, tries to test us, and often we get tempted to build a permanent dwelling here. But listen! Our home is being hammered right now on the streets of glory. One day…

“When we see Jesus coming in glory,
When He comes from His home in the sky;
Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion,
We’ll understand it all by and by.”

Farther along we’ll know all about it,
Farther along we’ll understand why;
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,
We’ll understand it all by and by.”

Grasp hold and hang onto that one phrase–“Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine.” Don’t get down, look and focus on Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit truly be your Comforter. In the midst of the cloudy days, continue to live in the sunshine. Don’t let the devil steal your joy, your peace, your faith. One day…

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on November 2, 2021

That was a mighty fine breakfast,” said Rev. Chapman heartily. “Mighty fine. Betty and I are so grateful for friends like you and Miles.”

Dale Chapman and his wife, Betty, had accepted our invitation for breakfast. We don’t often get to see his wife except for church on Sunday and then we just greet her as we know other folk want to speak to her. The preacher had come in and done a good job since taking over for Rev. Robinson.

“Well, it’s nigh until noon,” I informed them then reached for the coffeepot sitting on the stove to refill our cups.

For that I received a frown from Molly. “Miles, don’t be exaggerating. It’s barely ten o’clock. Besides, you know we had to wait until the rush was over so I could join you,” she said, then turned to Betty. “It seems like I never get to chat with you, Betty. We need to make some time every week or so to see each other.”

That brought a smile from Betty. After I finished pouring the coffee I glanced around the room. At one table sat Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher. Bill took over the feed store after Kohlmeyer sold out. His wife, Wanda, was a thin, fairly attractive woman with blond hair. She worked along with Bill with her doing most of the bookwork and billing. At another table were four, out of work miners. They had come down early for the winter months. I hadn’t spoke with them yet so didn’t know if they had a claim or worked for one of the large mines.

Marta was waiting on them and seemed to ignore us. Charlie had come back a day from Silverton saying that Masterson had everything under control. Mateo came back from his county rounds and would be in town for the elections with Charlie. I hadn’t been able to talk with him much about Marta, then again, it was none of my business.

“Pastor,” began Molly interrupting my thoughts. “Marta and I usually have a dinner for all the down-and-outs for Thanksgiving and was wondering if you and Betty would like to be involved. We usually start around ten in the morning and serve until six in the evening. I thought we could have some singing and maybe a short message from you sometime during the day.”

I was watching the preacher get excited. I knew he played the guitar. “Great! We would love to. I’ll bring my guitar, and Betty can play the accordion. Oh, and we’ll help with the serving,” he looked at me. “What?”

“Just smilin’,” I replied. “It’s always a good time. Rain, shine, or snow, we’ve done it for several years.”

Molly had gone to the kitchen and brought out pie for each of us, that made my smile grow larger. “Miles, aren’t you spoiled by her pies?” inquired the preacher.

I grinned at him, “Yes, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.”

Picking up my fork I cut into a piece of apple pie and was lifting it to my mouth when Lucas barged through the door. “Senor Marshal Miles, come quickly,” he gasped out of breath from running. “There is trouble at the voting.”

I thrust the piece in my mouth, put on my jacket and grabbed the Greener then followed Lucas to the polling center. Charlie was between two groups of people–a large contingent from the Mexican town and a group of the local citizens. There was a Mexican man getting up from the ground. I saw that Charlie had an axe handle in his hand and was reaching for his handcuffs.

“What’s the problem?” I asked Charlie.

Before the sheriff could answer Frankie Volder spoke up. “These here Mexicans are trying to vote. They ain’t got no right.” Volder was a part-time laborer for the railroad loading and unloading supplies, along with being a general troublemaker. “Sam was trying to stop them when the sheriff interfered.”

“You want him, Marshal? He committed a federal offense,” said Charlie.

“You can’t do this, I was only exercising my rights!” hollered Sam Tipton. “They shouldn’t be allowed to vote.”

“Give him here Sheriff, I’ll take him over to the jail.” I looked around at the crowd. “Use that axe handle if you need to. I’ll be back as soon as I lock him up.”

I shoved Tipton in front of me. I was only a block away from the jail. About half-way there I heard shouting from the crowd I had left. “Lucas, take him on up and lock him up. Leave the cuffs on until I get there.”

Rushing back I saw that Charlie had begun to swing the axe knocking a couple of the protesters on the ground but he was being overrun. Lifting the Greener up I thumped the first person I came to on top of the head dropping him. It was mayhem, so I decided I needed a little attention getter. I fired one barrel into the air. Everyone stopped, sudden-like.

Seymour Clevenger was the clerk and he had a pistol out carefully guarding the votes that had been cast. The Mexican contingent was slowly moving away back toward their section of town. “Sheriff,” I hollered, “get them back here.”

Turning my attention to the rest, I then leveled the shotgun on Frankie Volder. “The rest of you go stand on the boardwalk behind you. We’ll vote one at a time, under my supervision. Volder, you first, then get out of town! If I see you around after you vote I’ll arrest you for vagrancy.”

I pointed toward the voting area with the Greener. There was some argument coming from the Mexicans and Charlie, but I saw that he began to do the same on his side of the street. After Volder voted I motioned for him to get and then stopped the next person who was coming forward. I nodded at Charlie and he sent forth one of the Mexicans. We continued that the rest of the day until it was time for the polls to close. The tension had ceased after Volder and some of his cronies left, but I noticed that there were several of the Mexicans standing who had not voted. Since they were in line we had to let them vote, so we allowed them to come in groups of three. In a half hour they were finished, the poll closed, and time for Clevenger and Judge Klaser to count the votes. Charlie and I would stay around until all votes were counted.

An hour later, we had the victor…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on November 1, 2021

He was thankful for the years behind and hopeful for those yet to come.”

–Louis L’Amour (Taggart)

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

–Colossians 3:15(NKJV)
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Something to ponder on. What would you have Tomorrow, if all you had was what you thanked God for Today? Go ahead, let that swirl through your mind until it gets down into your soul. This is November and a month where we finally remember to be thankful. We have so many blessings given to us every day, yet seldom do we take the time to thank the Lord for them, or we just take them for granted. Most of the time not willfully, but we don’t stop to think of all that God has done for us each and every day.
Psalm 66 invites us to see the works of God. That means in nature, in the lives of men, and in our own lives in particular. Before looking at the first part of this Psalm, think again of what you thanked God for yesterday. Imagine if that was all you had today.

1 — Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
2 — Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.
3 — Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
4 — All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah
5 — Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
6 — He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him.
7 — He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah (NKJV)

Twice we see the term “Selah.” Come think on this or simply WOW! Sometimes we need to stop and think of the Lord and praise Him for who He is. We need to stop and be grateful for what He has and is doing for us. This is a Psalm for when things are going well–a time when we often forget God. We tend to remember Him in the tough times, when we need His help, but for the everyday good things, the normal routine of life we forget that He is there as well.
Take time as you read this portion not to think of when the Lord took you through the tough trials and obstacles of life, but think just for a few minutes on what He does for us day-by-day, hour-by-hour. Rejoice in who He is. Contemplate on His goodness to you. Learn to say, WOW! for He is awesome and marvelous. And don’t fret about tomorrow, don’t be anxious about the world situation, concentrate this day on knowing that God is there–right now with you. WOW! Then we can go into tomorrow with the confidence that He will be there as well and knowing all that He has provided for us today.

“Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.”
–Bernard of Clairvaux