Month: June 2022

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Ryan turned to face Mateo.  “Just who do you think you are?” he snarled.
       Before he could answer, Frank Connors drew his gun and fired.  Mateo wasn’t expecting it from him, as his focus was on Cade Ryan.  The man was drunk, and a good thing for Mateo as he felt the bullet whiz by his face.  Drawing his pistol he returned fire hitting Connors directly in the chest, the bullet knocking him down.  Ryan turned to look at his friend lying there on the ground already dead.
       “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!” hollered Ryan, his hands out in front of him away from his gun.  He started to stoop down by his friend.
       “Don’t move!” ordered Mateo.  Ryan seemed not to have heard.  Mateo fired into the ground between the two men.  “I said, don’t move.”
       Ryan, visibly shaken even though in a partial stupor, stood back up.   “With your left hand slowly remove your gun,” commanded Mateo.  “Use your thumb and finger only.”
       Despite the shape he was in, Ryan was able to complete the action.  Mateo then nodded toward the man lying on the edge of the boardwalk.  Ryan moved down to check on his partner.
       “Alejo, go fetch Doc Jones!” ordered his father.  He didn’t hesitate, but took off running, meeting the doctor about half-way down the street.
       By the time Doc got to the scene, Mateo had picked up both of the guns.  He didn’t seem to be shaken, but almost in a trance.  Before Doc even stooped down to pronounce the man dead, he went to Mateo.  “Come on, man, snap out of it!” barked Doc Jones.
       Mateo jerked, then vigorously shook his head several times.  Doc gave him an intense look, then went to the man on the street.  He felt for a pulse knowing that there would be none then looked at the man on his knees by the dead man.  “Is he dead?” questioned Ryan.
       There was a small crowd gathered around.  Doc Jones glanced up pointing at a man.  “Go get Parker!”  He stood up waiting for Ryan to get up instead the man threw himself over the body and began to weep.  “I’m sorry, Frank.  I’m sorry.”
       Enrique had moved over to stand by his brother, Alejo and Mateo walked over to them giving them both a big hug.  Reaching down, Doc Jones picked up Ryan under the shoulder helping him to his feet.  He looked around, spotting Mateo with his two boys and walked over to them.  It was then he saw the badge on Mateo’s shirt.  
       “Sheriff, can I have my gun back?”
       “You leaving town?” returned Mateo.
       Ryan gave a slight nod.  “I’ve no place to take him for burial.  Will you see that it gets done properly?  There’s some money in his vest pocket to pay for it.  His name was Frank Connors.”
       Mateo emptied the cartridges from the pistol before handing it back to Ryan.
       Ryan reached out, took the gun, and holstered it.  “Am I under arrest?”
       “Leave town,” came Mateo’s reply.
                                       
                                           * * * *
 
       I got off the train at the last stop before Socorro and rode in just a few hours before sunset.  Taking Fred over to the livery I paid for a stall and feed.  After getting him settled I took my saddlebags walking up the street looking for a place to stay.  A youngster strode out toward me.  “Senor, may I help you?”
       I said youngster, but he was up in his teens.  A good-looking kid, thin, hair combed and seemed good-natured.  “I need a place to stay, and then some good food.”
       He smiled then pointed.  “There are two hotels across the street from each other.  I would recommend the one on this side,” he said pointing.  “No bedbugs.  As for a place to eat,” his smile seemed to broaden.  “If you like Mexican, I would go to Miguel’s cantina.  His wife is a mucho good cook.”
       Flipping him a quarter I started to walk off, when he pulled at my shirt sleeve.  “Senor, I do not accept your gracious gift,” he said, handing me back the quarter.  He stared at me for several seconds and then our eyes made contact.  There was something special about this boy.  I nodded, taking the money and putting it in my vest pocket.
       I continued on up the street, and coming to the hotel I went to one he advised.  After checking in and getting my room, I came out to find him standing, leaning against the hitching rail.  “Let me introduce you to Miguel,” he said to me.  “That way he might add some extra frijoles to your meal.”
       We walked to the cantina and he took me up to Miguel.  “This is Miguel,” he said beginning his introduction.  “And you are?”
       Miguel already had his hand out to shake mine.  “Name’s Miles Forrest, and I hear you have good food.”
       “Si,” he responded, then pointed to a table.  
       Walking over to it, I sat, then pointed at the kid and ordered, “Sit, and order us something good.”
       He smiled, took a chair and said, “I will order the best of the house…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

 You old men are a different breed. I can’t even think the way you think. You smell danger five minutes before it happens. You make a lifetime of decisions in a split second of terror that would freeze most men. Then you put it all behind you with a joke. You go on back to living as if you haven’t just teetered on the brink of eternity.”

                    –Stephen Bly  (Shadow of Legends)

       “Because My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to worthless idols.  And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in pathways and not on a highway.”
                    –Jeremiah 18:15(NKJV)
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                    “Everyone who experiences God’s grace has an obligation to pass on what he knows.”
                                  –Eugene Peterson

I have been to many funerals–called celebrations today–and one of the major topics of discussion are the things that are remembered not only about the person, but about each other’s life.  Remember when so and so did this?  Remember that time when we…  The same is true at birthday parties, weddings, and anniversaries.  It is not only a time of gaiety, but also one of remembering past times.  Have you ever been to a reunion?  What is the purpose?  To see how you’re doing now, of course, but mainly to remember the days of yore.  The time before the wrinkles and the aches and pains that life has brought.  Today, we look at the first part of Psalm 78, Asaph wants to teach a lesson from the past.

          1 — Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
          2 — I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,
          3 — Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
          4 — We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
          5 — For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;
          6 — That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children.
          7 — That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;
          8 — And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.  (NKJV)

       Why is our country bent on destruction, on doing evil?  What has happened?  There are many reasons that we could point to, but I will mention a couple.  The pulpit quit preaching the entire Word of God focusing on pet verses, verses that tickled the ear of the listener.  Second, the home fell apart.  Divorce, dead-beat dads, no father in the home, and included in that is militant feminism–the role of the man, the father, being ridiculed and usurped.
       In my years of education, by looking at the child I could usually tell what the home was like.  Not always, for there are exceptions, but for the most part.  An unruly child usually meant there was trouble of some sort in the home.  Father image?  Ha, runaway dads, and sometimes even when they are home, they are not there.  Generations of children being raised without the proper role model of the father in the home.  They will get it from somewhere–mother, neighbor, entertainers, gang leaders, etc.
       The primary purpose of the family unit was to perpetuate the family and the goodness of God.  You are to trust God should have been taught in every household, but especially in those of believers.  Sadly to say, many of them went the way of the world.  Compromise, fun times, not times of instruction and discipline.  Anger instead of discipline.  Oh, and it is so easy to be complacent rather than fight the fight of faith to instill in the children the morals taught by God’s Word.  Add to that manners, courteousness, and honor.
       Study what happens to Israel following the reign of Solomon.  For the most part it is a disaster.  The nation torn in two, families neglected and torn in two.  The Word neglected when it was supposed to be paramount.  Now look at the United States.  Founded upon biblical principles, the Word taught in schools, yet now there is a mood of revisionism in the schools.  Do away with the Word of God, get rid of prayer–and look at what has happened and what is happening.
       The purpose of reunions, of reminiscing is not only to remember, but to pass on the knowledge of the Lord.  Trusting in Him is learned in the home.  Lack of hope looms in our society–look at verse 7, look at the charge, the challenge:  “That they [the next generation] may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.”

               “Come, and let us sweetly join, Christ to praise in hymns divine;
               Give we all, with one accord, glory to our common Lord:
               Hands, and hearts, and voices raise; sing as in the ancient days;
               Antedate the joys above, celebrate the feast of love.”
                         –Charles Wesley

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He drank his coffee slowly, studying the various men, watching the work, and enjoying the brief respite from what was to come.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (North to the Rails)
 
Pard, come on in an’ pour yurself a cup.  The ol’ rheumatize is actin’ up lately.  Still able to mosey out to make the coffee as I knew yuh’d be comin’ by.  Strong enough for yuh today?  Hmmm, I wonder if I made it a little stronger I could use it as a liniment?  Someone said that my coffee was strong enough to remove a tattoo, so if’n that’s true it oughta work if I rub it into the hip joint.  Couldn’t do no harm, and might do some good.
       My Mom had a cup given to her by one of her bosses.  Inside, on the bottom, was written, “cup’s empty, back to work.”  Now, I think everyone should have a coffeebreak durin’ the day, but my mercy some linger over that cup like it’s Methusaleh’s gold.  By the time they get ’round to drinkin’ it the nectar is cold, and cold coffee…
       I’ve also watch those same folk linger just so they don’t have to get back to work.  That cup just seems to grab them an’ hold them back from gettin’ done what needs to be done.  Yuh know the good Lord gave us this day to be makin’ somethin’ of it.  He gave us the time so we could be gettin’ the chores done.  We aren’t to be lingerin’ ’round the pot, or the drinkin’ fountain, or sittin’ in the lounge when there’s work to be did.
       For sure that cup of whatever it is that some of them drink, cinos and the like, ain’t gonna be keepin’ them from meetin’ with the Lord.  We need to be ready to meet Him, and we need to be takin’ our work to Him.  He has saved us by His blood so that we can be doin’ His biddin’ here on earth until He calls us up yonder.  So, there’s no problem with us takin’ a few minutes to enjoy each others’ company, to enjoy the flavor of strong coffee, and to help the President solve his problems.  Thing is, he won’t listen to us.  Why, I bet, he drinks cinos, for sure he sugars and creams his coffee.  Ptui!  Lands sake, no wonder we have troubles.
       Pard, yuh be ridin’ wary.  The enemy is out there, just a-waitin’.  Don’t think for a minute that all the junk that is goin’ on is just physical.  No siree, there’s a spiritual element to it as well.  Some of it downright demonic.  Now, checkin’ yur cinch, that’s just something yuh should naturally do.  If’n yuh don’t and yuh fall on yur head there’s no one to blame but yurself–not the horse, not the saddle, not the cinch.
      Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He’s like a parasite tick that gets on a cow’s ear and sucks blood till it busts itself. He’ll use you for all he can get out of you and then complain because you didn’t give him more.”

                    –Elmer Kelton  (Shotgun)

       “In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you.  You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people.  Let your lives shine brightly before them.”
                    –Philippians 2:14-15(NLT)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World

Key Verse:  “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.”  –1 John 5:19 (NLT)

More and more I find myself thinking the words of that old song, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through…”  There’s not much here that makes me want to stay around to see evil abound.  More and more evil will be coming as the day approaches the appearing of our Lord.  Jude warns us that the Lord will come to execute judgment upon the earth upon the ungodly.
       Are there good people here, sure.  Are there those that want evil to stop, yes.  But there are many who are evil, those whose very thoughts and imaginations are evil.  Look around you and you can see them.  Here are some of their characteristics:
       They are grumblers, complainers, and murmurers.  The complain about the way society is, how unfair it is, and how wrong they are being treated.  They complain against God and His guidance.  These individuals are critical about life in general.  They love to disagree, they love to fight, and they live bitter lives.  They are complainers and about the only thing they will praise is more evil.
       Another characteristic is that they are faultfinders.  No matter what good someone might try to do, they will complain and find fault in it.  They would rather tear apart, than build.  They especially want the work of the Lord destroyed, and refuse to listen to anything that would build up His kingdom.
       They are governed by their own desires.  The Book of Judges says that men did what they thought was right in their own eyes.  The same is true of evil men today.  They can only see and adhere to their agenda.  God’s moral law, to them, is a burden and nuisance.  For them, it reins them in, and they wish to be cut loose to do as they wish.  Honor and duty have no claim on them and they mock such things.  There is no real sense of responsibility.  Why do you think they bounce from job to job?  They want the top pay to spend it on themselves in their lavishness, but do not want to accept the responsibility of the position.  They live and are controlled by their passions.  “I want, I want, I want…”  They are people who distort the truth, for the only truth they recognize is that which follows their opinion and agenda.  In the old days I would call them “boot-licking lackies,” for they try to flatter anyone who might offer them an advantage.

               “These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.”
                                  –Jude 16 (NKJV)

       These men are ungodly.  They are what John would call “antichrists.”  The do the work of their father the devil, and they not only do it they also delight in doing it.  Matthew Henry says that these type of people are those “who please their sinful appetites, are most prone to yield to their ungovernable passions.”  They do what they want, they go where they will, and phooey on anyone, especially Christians, who try to give them godly guidance.  
       Do not get caught up in the trap of complaining and grumbling.  The children of Israel were severely punished because of this attitude.  Paul says that we are to,  
 
               “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies.  Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.”
                                   –1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NKJV)

This is how we walk through this evil world.