Month: May 2022

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Luciana, I don’t know if I’m cut out for this job,” announced Mateo as he sat on the floor in front of the fire with his wife.  The nights were still cool so he made a fire in the little fireplace.  They didn’t have any furniture except for a couple of chairs but he wanted to have Luciana sit with him.  The two boys, Alejo and Enrique, were already in bed.
       Mateo looked worn and ragged.  He had been in Telluride for a week and had arrived home just in time to help his wife send the boys to bed, standing in the doorway listening to them pray.  When Luciana came out he just shook his head then headed to the fireplace.  “Husband, sit down, I will get us some coffee.”
       “No, come and sit beside me.  I don’t care for any coffee tonight, I have too much on my mind,” responded Mateo.  He gave a little grunt then a small groan as he sat on the wooden floor.  Luciana came to him, with a light blanket.
       They were quiet, Luciana waiting for her husband to talk.  She didn’t want to prod him, but she wondered what had put him in such a mood.  He was always positive, enthusiastic, especially about his job, but with his coming home from the trip to Telluride he was morose, quiet, and depressed.  She took him by the hand and they watched the flames flicker.
       “I killed a man from ambush…” he paused.  Luciana gripped his hand tighter.  “It was that bounty hunter and he had Miles pinned down,” he said in a whisper, pausing again to gather his thoughts.  “I normally don’t like to tell you these sort of things, but…then there was a fight in Telluride.  I was jumped by a couple of men.  I, I had to killed them both.  They came out of an alley, yelling for me to go back to Mexico.  They were drunk, and if they hadn’t shot at me I would have walked on by.  Luciana, I am an American.  I was born in this country.  I know little of my parents’ life back in Mexico.”
                                                                                                    * * * * *
       Charlie had just left for Telluride; it was his turn to make the rounds there, plus he needed to check up on the report from Mateo.  It wasn’t that he doubted Mateo, it was simply proper procedure.  Mateo had arrived yesterday, and I hadn’t had a chance to thank him.  
       Doc Jones was sitting with me after Charlie left.  I’d left Hoffner with Cecil Thompson.  Thompson said that he’d care for him since he was one of his hands.  For a gruff old man he had some tenderness hidden in that heart of his.  I’d left the body of Malone with Paul Parker, the undertaker.  Mateo shot him in the leg and I was ready to bring him back to town, but he let out a terrible scream after I tied him to the saddle.  Right after that he died.  I reckon Mateo’s bullet must have hit an artery and he bled out.
       “Have you seen Rev. Chapman yet to tell him about his cousin?” inquired Doc.  
       I sipped my coffee.  “He was relieved saying that after this Sunday’s service he would ride out to Thompson’s to check on his cousin.  He asked about the wanted poster on Clyde.  I told him that I sent telegrams to the local sheriff and also to the state.  I would have to leave it in their hands.”
       “Why are men so evil and vindictive?” asked Molly as she took a chair at the table.  I got up to get her a cup of coffee.  It was always pleasing to me when she took the time to sit beside me and share a cup.  There was only a couple of out-of-work cowboys finishing their breakfast in the diner.  Marta wasn’t feeling well so Molly told her to take a day off and rest.”
       “Molly, I’ve thought about that numerous times,” muttered Doc, scratching the side of his head.  “In my work, I see a lot of the consequences caused by evil men.”  He rubbed down his chin a couple of times.  “Wears on a body sometimes.”
       The front door opened and we all glanced toward it.  “Luciana!” exclaimed Molly.  She surprised us all for she very seldom came down to the diner.
       She strode directly to the table.  Doc stood, pulling out a chair for her to sit while I got her a cup of coffee.  She thanked us, then sighed.  “Senor Miles, Doc,” she paused, putting her hand in Molly’s.  “I’m worried about Mateo.  I know you are his friends…maybe you can help him.”
       Luciana proceeded to tell us about her conversation with Mateo and about her concern for him.  “His mind,” she said, touching the side of her head.  “It is messed up.  He is thinking of quitting as deputy.”
       I thought of his limp from being shot.  Perhaps, he is getting around well enough.  Doc spoke up, “Did something happen to him?  Was he hit on the head?”
      Tears formed in her eyes.  “No, he was hit in the heart.”
       Molly glanced at me, nodding her head.  She understood what Luciana was saying.  I had gone through the questions many times in our life.  Was the job worth all the trouble, the killing, the shooting, the fear?  Before I could say anything, Molly said, “Let’s pray right now for Mateo…”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Most men doubt their own abilities. You don’t. It’s no wonder they want to keep you around. It keeps them from having to worry about failure all the time.”

                    –Larry McMurtry  (Lonesome Dove)

       “And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled?  And why do doubts arise in your hearts?'”
                    –Luke 24:38 (NKJV)
————————————-
Over the last several decades there has been much talk of faith.  Super-faith, hyper-faith, great-faith, and so on.  If those with the so-called hyper-faith do not receive what they want, or prayed for, or lived to get, does that mean they don’t have the faith?  A friend of mine who started a large church in Brooklyn for kids was once told that he had very little faith.  He related to me that he thought he had great faith in that God met all his needs.  No, he wasn’t driving a BMW.  No, he didn’t live in a mansion, but only a small apartment.  No, he wasn’t eating lobster or filet mignon, but was eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
       My friend lived by faith, but people often doubt.  Even John the Baptist questioned if Jesus was really the Messiah.  When doubt enters the mind we need to go to the Word of God.  We need to look at the “heroes” of the faith.  We need to review the great acts of God in history and in our own lives.  F.B. Meyer said, “Melancholy and depression are apt at putting questions but faith has an answer ready.”  Today let’s look at another psalm by Asaph, Psalm 77, and see what the Spirit is saying to us.

       1 — I cried out to God with my voice–to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me.
       2 — In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted.
       3 — I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.     Selah
       4 — You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
       5 — I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
       6 — I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.
       7 — Will the Lord cast off forever?  And will He be favorable no more?
       8 — Has His mercy ceased forever?  Has His promise failed forevermore?
       9 — Has God forgotten to be gracious?  Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?    Selah
      10 — And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
      11 — I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
      12 — I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.”  (NKJV)

     Sometimes life can cause a person to panic.  I know of those who have had “panic attacks,” sometimes for no seeming reason.  If that happens it most surely is the work of the devil.  He thrives on making the child of God panic; that’s when we need to remember the Words of this Psalm–“I will remember.”  Satan wants to destroy our hope, but we need to sing, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…” (Edward Mote)  
     When we feel comfortless that is the time we need to call on the Comforter.  Notice the term, “Selah.”  When we become downtrodden too often we think and ponder upon the wrong things.  “Selah” means to think on this–not the problem, not our sorrow, not our weakness, not our doubts, but think upon the person of God, His miracles, His keeping power and the wonders He has wrought in the world and in our lives.  Remember the right times and the right things.  George O. Wood puts it this way, “You must turn from focusing on your own life to recalling what the Lord has done for you…  If you permit your memories to dwell exclusively on your own hurts you will never find your way out.”  So practice focusing on the Lord.  Focus on His character, how He has dealt with you.  Take your eyes off the situation–the doubts–and look to Jesus for He is the answer.

               “He who ‘mid the raging billows walked upon the sea
               Still can hush our wildest tempest, as on Galilee;
               He who wept and prayed in anguish in Gethsemane,
               Drinks with us each cup of trembling, in our agony.
               Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.”
                               –A.B. Simpson

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He settled back to drinking coffee. He was a coffee drinker, and he liked it black and bitter.”

                       –Louis L’Amour  (Conagher)
 
Be right with you, Pard.  I’ve just been thinkin’ and ponderin’ about things and people.  One of my ol’ saddle pards passed over the Great Divide.  He and I shared many a cup of coffee together and spent many a time jawin’ with each other.  Yuh know, we say we’re goin’ to pay our last respects, but that’s not true.  If’n they’re real friends we’ll go on respectin’, reflectin’, and rememberin’ them.
       Help me out, Pard.  Let’s lift our cups up high in ‘membrance of the memories of all our friends an’ family no longer around us.  They may not have passed on, but they are no longer a major influencin’ factor in yur life, though they once were.  People come and go an’ that’s the purpose of God.  Providence makes sure that there are those around us for a time and season.  They may last only a year or they may be there for several.  Others yuh lose touch with, but that’s not sayin’ they weren’t important in yur life at one time.  So here’s to all the friends and family that have touched me.  Ahhh, glad I made it strong this mornin’ for their memory.
       This here cup I’m holdin’ this mornin’ reminds me of my Mom and her family.  It came from the ol’ Jones’ Cafe in Boulder.  Foolishness that a cup filled with coffee can hold memories as well as a delicious brew?  Nah, memories come in all sorts of sizes, flavors, and aromas.  We don’t get stuck livin’ in the memory, but hopefully it makes us smile and remember.  I just received a note yesterday and it brought a smile and memory.  It’s nice to receive notes from those who helped yuh along the way, or maybe those yuh helped.
       Yuh be havin’ a good week.  Hope yuh enjoyed the coffee and don’t get so busy yuh forget to tighten yur cinch.  Be ridin’ easy…and wary, keepin’ yur eyes upon the eastern skies.
         Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It was just as beautiful as a copperhead snake and about as trustworthy as well.”

                    –Kenneth S. Pratt  (Legacies of Spring)

       “That we should no longer be children tossed to and from and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”
                    –Ephesians 4:14(NKJV)
———————————
How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World

Key Verse:  “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”  –1 John 5:19 (NKJV)

I can almost see Jude pointing his finger at the men who are trying to pervert the truth and warning them.  Not only is this small letter written as a warning to the Church, but Jude also warns those who are intent on harming the truth of God’s Word and destroying the faith of believers.
       These individuals thought of themselves as advanced thinkers.  They were more enlightened in regard to the truth.  They thought of themselves as the spiritual elite and were arrogant in their demeanor.  Jude issues warnings against them, and warns the Church.
       The first example Jude brings are those who brought the false report out of Egypt.  I say false report, not that the facts they presented were false, but in their lack of faith and the facts presented about God were false.  He was/is the God who delivers.  He was/is the God who provides the way.  William Barclay says, “It is the proof that even the man with the greatest privilege can meet with disaster before the end, if he falls away from obedience and lapses from faith.”  We do not focus on circumstances, but our focus is on the Almighty God.  Here they were, on the edge of the Promised Land, and they didn’t have faith enough in God to go into the land.  They then were sent into the wilderness wandering until the whole generation died because of their unbelief.  Warning!
       Jude then points to the fallen angels.  They, somehow, became filled with pride and lust.  They aimed for an office which was not for them.  In other words, they got too big for their angelic britches.  It seems that angels may be assigned specific ranks and responsibilities and they were not pleased with the position which they were given.  Verse 6, “An angels who did not keep (care for, guard, and hold to) their own first place of power but abandoned their proper dwelling place–these He has reserved in custody in eternal chains (bonds) under the thick gloom of utter darkness until the judgment and doom of the great day.” (Amplified)  These beings, refusing their assigned positions, are now in chains.  They went from once serving in the realm of light now they are in perpetual darkness.  Warning!
       The third example Jude uses to warn the false teachers is that of Sodom and Gomorrah.  These people practiced perversion and they indulged in it not concerned about the evil that they were doing.  In fact, they flaunted it, and made public their wickedness.  They had an unnatural desire.  This is the same thing that is seen in Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”  These people received the punishment of eternal fire.  Warning!
       These false teachers are sternly warned by Jude and by doing so he also warns those in the Church.   Jude continues with his message by saying, “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.” (vs 8).  The King James calls them “filthy dreamers”.  They claimed to receive special revelations and they became out of touch with reality.  They polluted the flesh, as was alluded to in verse 7.  “Those who walk in the flesh rather than the Spirit are actually involved in defiling or polluting their own bodies.”  (Paul A. Cedar).  In other words, they repudiated Jesus as Lord over their lives.  Warning!
       Watch then, do not be deceived.  Do not listen to those who proclaim a “new word.”  Stand firm in the faith guarding the truth and do not compromise that truth or become complacent in it.  Do not become curious about the profane things in the world.  Stay pure and holy and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit not false teachers.