Month: August 2022

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He must do much and live greatly in little time.”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Desert of Wheat)

       “Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, ‘Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.’”

                    –Exodus 9:5 (NKJV)
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               “Now it came to pass, when the TIME had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”
                                       –Luke 9:51(NKJV)

               “Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient TIME.”
                                       –1 Corinthians 16:12 (NKJV)

                “To everything there is a season, a TIME for every purpose under heaven.”
                                      –Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

Notice the emphasis on the word “Time.”  We often look at time with contempt.  “I’m out of time.”  When I coached basketball, when the game was close and towards the final buzzer I kept noticing the time.  I would find myself checking out the time clock.  We don’t do that much in life, but there is a point when we are finally, surely, out of time.  We don’t measure our life by time, but in a sense it is.  We have a breath, a gasp, then nothingness and we’re out of time.  Solomon and James would liken time to a vapor.  It rises for a moment, then is blown away by the wind.
       We cannot hasten time nor can we stop time; it marches ever onward.  We take pills, have surgeries to stop the progress of time, but in reality it takes its toll.  Look in the mirror, I dare you, and you can see the effects of time.  Throughout life we may have missed an opportunity because we didn’t think the time was right.  We may have missed an important appointment because we wasted time and were late.  What is the old saying, “Time stands still for nobody.”
       Be sure of this, in all of the hustle and bustle of life.  In the midst of the hurrying and scurrying we cannot hasten time, it moves one second at a time, never faster, never slower.  One thing, however, you can count on is that the “Lord keeps all the great opportunities and appointments in His own hand.” (Joseph Parker)  He’s never late, nor is He ever early.  He never misses an appointment and His schedule is right on time–all the time.  If we could but learn to trust Him, leave things in His hand yet do our part as much as we humanly can, these would run smoother and better for us.  Parker states, “If we could but know our limitations and quietly work within them, we should live in a holy and quiet sanctuary, we should not attempt to hasten anything.”  We would leave the clock in the hands of God.
       We must realize that in our life there are opportune and inopportune moments in life.  It is more important that we allow our lives to rest in the providence of God’s timing.  (I use that concept lightly for we must realize that it is us that lives and works in time; God is outside of time.)  Do not attempt to be a little god and hasten the coming of an event. Christmas will not get here any sooner even if you celebrate it every month.  We dare not tell God to do this and do it at such-and-such a time.  Leave it in His hands.
       The conveniency of time is something that we take ever so lightly.  Let me give an example by Joseph Parker, “Men can make it convenient to go to church, or they can make it extremely inconvenient to go and hear the word of the Lord.  There are times, of course, when circumstances do seem to combine against the most honest desire, but there are other occasions when we can so arrange matters as to make our convenience the standard of divine purpose.  Let every man examine himself…”  We can arrange things to make it more convenient to go, or we can arrange our schedule making it inconvenient to go.  We can make time to pray and study the Bible, or it can become an inconvenient nuisance to us.
       “O the danger!  The temptation!  The pits that lie hidden on life’s rugged road!” (Joseph Parker)  Do we dare take the next step, or do we say that we will wait for a more convenient time?  That hedge that is in my way when I go to study my Bible, should I cut it down now, or perhaps, wait for a more convenient time?  The question becomes–what is a more convenient time?  The time is before you, choose therefore, the right time.  Let me close with some a final admonition from Parker, “I will trust in Christ, I will say to my Savior, Still lead on; through desert or through gardenland, still lead on; through deep waters, through rocky places, still lead on; through flowery gardens, through balmy air, across velvet sward, still lead on; and let me do nothing before the time.”

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
The next couple of days I went from store to store interviewing the owners.  A few were cooperative and agreed to witness, but asked that their names not be released until the hearing.  Fear welled up in the face of most of them.  It’s amazing how fear can dominate truth and doing the right thing.   I reckon that’s true in our individual lives as well, old slewfoot allows something to come up and we get fearful and anxious over it and forget to trust in the Lord.  
       Then there were those who outright refused.  That caused me some concern for they wanted to know who was going to help me.  I also wondered if some of them, the saloon owners for example, might not be given a kickback.  It was clear however, that there was extortion going on, but there still was no link to Grady Stinson and it seemed that no one heard of him either.  I still thought there was some kind of connection, that Knaught knew him, but then he could have moved on to someplace else.
       Right now I could connect it to Knaught and his roughnecks.  I had taken some time away from Socorro and rode up the road to send a telegram to the Territorial office of Judge T. L. Norris.  I didn’t want to send it from Socorro, afraid that the message might get into the hands of Knaught.  Judge Norris would be arriving today to listen to witnesses and take depositions.
       It was around 10:00 that the train arrived and I waited for the judge to depart.  I noticed that I always had someone tailing me at a discreet distance.  This morning, however, I saw that it was Deputy Case.  His arm was in a sling, but he was still doing his duty for the marshal and Knaught.  I had never met Judge Norris and only heard a few things regarding the man.  He was said to be firm yet fair.  I knew he was working closely with Governor Wallace in cleaning up the outlaw problems and range warfare.  It was Marshal Wilcox who suggested I contact him.
       We shook hands and I immediately could tell he was a no-nonsense type of guy.  He did smile when I introduced him to Elfego, telling the Judge that he was my right-hand man.  I didn’t mention how he snuck my gun from the holster during the shoot out.  
       “Where can I hold the hearing?” were the first words after our brief introduction that came from his mouth.  I had asked him if he wanted to eat, but he simply replied, “Just keep the coffee on.”
       I offered to carry his valise, but he wouldn’t let me.  I had secured the use of the church from Rev. Sinclair.  The Judge would use his office and the witnesses could sit out in the sanctuary.  Elfego and the Reverend stayed with those in the sanctuary and I went in to act as bailiff for the Judge.  Parson Sinclair said he would make sure that there was coffee.
       Most of the witnesses were very nervous, they knew that they could expect reprisals for their testimony.  The Judge knew what he wanted to ask, and barked out the questions, and wrote their answers.   He would then give the paper, have the witnesses check over it, then he said they could add any comment they wanted to the bottom, then sign it.
       The Judge wanted to work through lunch to get this over.  It was near two o’clock that Elfego came to the door when Mr. Farnsworth, the blacksmith, walked out.  “Excuse me, Senor Judge, marshal, but there is someone out there not on the witness list.  I see him around, sometime, but he doesn’t have a business in Socorro.”
       The Judge nodded at me, “Check him out.  I’ll take a break until you find out who he is.”
       I stood at the entrance to the office with Elfego as he pointed at a man, wearing a gun in a cross-draw rig standing by the door.  He was scanning the few in the sanctuary and when Farnsworth went by him he stepped out in front of him.  Farnsworth would stomp the stuffings out of him, but I saw the man put his hand to his gun.
       “Get out of the way!” I hollered as I started running for the two men.  Farnsworth turned his head to look at me, and felt the gun in his side.  He slashed down with his hands before the gun went off, then fell to the floor.  I drew my gun, seeing that the man was bringing his gun up to shoot at me.  I stopped, fired twice, and the man crumpled to the floor.
       Reverend Sinclair was rushing to the men, when I yelled for him to stop.  I wanted to make sure that the stranger was in no shape to shoot the preacher.  When I got there I nodded at the preacher.  The man seemed dead, but then I saw a flicker in his eyes and a smile, or was it a grimace?   Sinclair was checking out Farnsworth.  The quick movement on his part saved his life.  The bullet discharged and drilled a hole in the floor next to his right boot.  A second later he would have been gut shot.
       Within seconds, the Judge had joined us and Deputy Case came through the door, gun in his hand.  “You’re under arrest!” he hollered, then he looked at the man with me.  “Who is this man?”
       I hadn’t holstered my gun, so I brought it up right in front of the deputy’s face.  Pointing it at him only a few inches away, I commanded.  “Put your gun away!”  
       The deputy seemed confused as well as frightened.  He knew from past experience that I was no one to fool with.  The Judge stopped any indecision and put the confusion at rest when he ordered.  “Marshal, take this man back to the office.  I want to question him.”  Then he turned walking back toward the office.  
       By this time the Parson had helped Farnsworth to his feet, and was quietly talking with him.  Probably about his mortal soul and how he almost met his Maker today.  A couple of people started to get up and leave, but the Judge stopped at the office and sternly reprimanded them, ordering them to sit back down.  I had Deputy Case by his good arm and was directing him to where the Judge would question him.  
       Before entering, I stopped Case making sure he had no other weapons on his person.  “Be sure you are respectful to Judge Norris,” I said with a smile…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

But the difficulty with a memory is that it doesn’t operate the way a body wants. Seems contrary as all get out, and when you want to remember a particular thing, that idea is shunted off to one side.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Lando)

       “‘Be angry, and do not sin’:  do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”
                    –Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV)
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There are times in our lives when everything seems to be going all right.  Life is hunky-dory; it’s like eating a hot dog, fully-loaded at a baseball game.  Then you get sloppy in your eating.  A bit of mustard and ketchup fall onto your shirt, then on the next bite a glob of onions and relish join the already forming stain.  Not all is lost for you scoop up the onions, relish and some of the mustard on your finger, glance around and finish eating it, but the stain is there and most likely forever visible.
       When we read Psalm 81, we see the same thing.  We see that the people are called to worship.  Everything seems to be going smoothly…

          1 — Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
          2 — Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute.
          3 — Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
          4 — For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob.
          5 — This He established in Joseph as a testimony, when He went throughout the land of Egypt, where I heard a language I did not understand.
          6 — “I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the baskets.
          7 — You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.      Selah
          8 — Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you!  O Israel, if you will listen to Me!
          9 — There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god.
         10 — I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”  (NKJV)

Stop!  From worship, God then brings forth warning and reinforces previous instruction.  Listen!  Listen!  Notice the emphasis, we are to listen to what God is saying.  If you remember Meribah was a place of testing–quarreling.  There were arguments, fightings, but today we should look at it in the manner of attitude.  What is our attitude like toward God?  Do we go about our day, in ease, skipping along thinking all is okay?  Perhaps we go to church and worship, sing, clap our hands, but it has become perfunctory.  Israel was upset with God because of the lack of water.  We perhaps get upset with God because our soul is dry.
       Thirsty, we forget God’s provision for us in the past.  Hungry, we look at the shirt and see a stain–why did God allow that to happen?  Doesn’t he care for me any longer?  “Meribah did not just occur in the wilderness–it’s a perpetual test.  At every juncture in life we are called upon either to trust God or go our own way.” (George O. Wood)  We are not to lean upon our own understanding, but fully trust the Lord in each and every step that we take.  Put away your gods (i.e., money, power, career, bank account, ,etc.)  Don’t depend upon the god of self to get you through or the stain will remain.  Go back to your trust in God; it is He who rescues you.

                    “When Israel out of Egypt came, they left the proud oppressor’s land
                    Supported by the great I AM, safe in the hollow of His hand.
                    And all things, as they change, proclaim, the Lord eternally the same.”
                                  –Charles Wesley

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I had learned not to turn down a cup of coffee. I figured the boiling coffee would kill anything in it.”

                         –D.C. Adkisson  (Trouble at Gregory Gulch)
 
Cup’s on the table, sit yurself down and I’ll get the pot and pour yuh some.  I know Pard, yur like me in that way, yuh seldom turn down a cup of coffee.  Why I’ve even been known to drink Starbucks if given to me, but this ol’ fence post won’t be buyin’ any from that company.  No siree, not with their outspoken liberal ways, not to mention the price.  
       Pard, I’ve had some bad tastin’ stuff that people pawn off as coffee and I’m not talkin’ ’bout the cinos either.  Church coffee, for instance.  Most church coffee is like flavored water.  It may be hotter than the dickens, but it’s so weak why if I didn’t know better I’d think they just dipped some beans in, stirred it around, then took them out.  Now I do have to give some credit to ol’ Mike in San Antonio.  He made some good church coffee, ‘course he spent many years in the military.
       Like the thought written above, I reckon that when yur out on the trail and yuh don’t know what yur drinkin’ if the coffee’s hot enough and strong enough it’ll kill most of the bugs that might have gotten into it, includin’ those invisible ones.  Yuh better look close at it though what you thought was an unground coffee bean that came out the spout might have been a roach.
       Take a deep swaller–ahh, good and satisfyin’ ain’t it.  “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good,” that’s what good coffee reminds me of.  There may be counterfeits and weak Christians running hither and thither, but give me the satisfying Word of the Lord.  Some want it watered down and I reckon it’s ’cause they have a weak constitution with no gumption or fortitude.  What happens to those weaklin’s when the hard times really hit?  Some wander all around, tastin’ here and tastin’ there and are never satisfied.  That’s ’cause there is no taste or little of it.  They are “social drinkers,” walking around, noddin’ their heads and greetin’ folk with a cup of see-through coffee in their hand or, Lord forbid, a cino.
       Well, Pard, yuh be havin’ a good week.  Don’t drink any weak coffee nor take any wooden nickels.  Be wary of yur surrounds and sit tall in the saddle.  Oh, and don’t be forgettin’ to check yur cinch before mountin’.
       Vaya con Dios.