Month: January 2023

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
The man was leaning toward one side, and grimaced as he took a step.  As he got to the table where we were sitting he opened his coat revealing a rifle cocked and ready to fire.  Nodding at Molly, he said, “I hear that you’re the proprietor of this establishment.”
       Molly nodded, then the man continued.  “I don’t want to hurt anybody or cause any trouble, but I’d like some grub for me and the boys to take along with us,” there was a pause.  “And I hate to have to ask, but I want all the money you have on hand.  It’s nothing personal, mind you, but me and the boys are in a bad fix.”
       I noticed all the time he was talking to Molly, but he kept his eyes on me.  “Now, Marshal, I know that you’re a-hankering to pull that hogleg you’re carrying.  Please don’t.  I really don’t want to bloody up this establishment needlessly.”
       “Mister, what’s your problem?  Maybe I can be of help.” I replied, placing both hands on the table.  Looking around the room I saw where the men were placed.  There was no way I could get all three men.
       He laughed at my suggestion.  I continued to talk as Molly got up and went to the kitchen.  “If you’re hurt, this here is Doc Jones.  He’s a fine doctor.  If it’s your soul that needs healing, the other man seated here is the Rev. Chapman.  Between the three of us we should be able to help in one way or another.”
       “Marshal, you’re mighty considerate, but there’s not much any of you can do to help the likes of me or the boys.  As soon as we get a bite to eat, the money, and some food to take along we’ll leave your fair town.”
       Molly had Emelda bring out three plates of biscuits covered with gravy.  The man by the kitchen motioned for her to set one on the table in front of him, then told her to take a plate to the man at the door, and one over to the table next to us.  He then sat down placing his pistol on the table and began to eat.  The man at the door did the same while the one talking with us stood there watching and waiting.
       “What’s your name, Mister?” I asked, wanting to know who was holding a gun on me.
       A slight smile came to his face.  “Fred Dover, Marshal.  It mean anything to you?”
       I nodded my head.  “I’ve heard the name.  Robbed a bank up at Gunnison and another toward Montrose.  What I don’t understand is why did you come back south and not keep goin’ into Utah?”
       “The boys, Clem and Lige Donor, wanted to see their home down near Santa Fe.  Plus my bones don’t cotton to cold weather.  Usually warmer down toward New Mexico.”
       The other two ate in a hurry and were now back on their feet.  Emelda and Molly had packed three bags of food for them, placing them on the table by the man by the kitchen who I assume was Clem Donor.  Molly had a small sack of money that Dover motioned for her to place on the table by his plate and told her to sit there.  He glanced at the other two and they had their guns out.  Dover laid the rifle on the table picked up the plate and began to shovel the food into his mouth.
       When he finished, he nodded at Molly thanking her.  “Sorry folks for the inconvenience, but we have to run.”
       He started to back out, then gave out a shrill cry of pain, falling to the floor.  I jumped to my feet, pulling my gun as Clem Donor hollered, “Fred!”
       Fred Donor was on the floor curled up, his face etched in pain.  My gun was on Clem Donor.  I yelled, “Lige, don’t do anything stupid!”
       When I said that I saw him out of the corner of my eye…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Our senses are fragile things, dainty things, occasionally trustworthy, yet always demanding of perspective. Our senses need horizons, they need gauges, they need rules by which to apply themselves, and in the sand storm there is no horizon and there are no rules.”

                           –Louis L’Amour  (Last Stand at Papago Wells)

       “Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.  Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent….”
                         –Hebrews 6:11-12(NLT) 
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Psalm 89 is one of those special psalms which should be contemplated and meditated upon.  It is powerful and one that should stir our very souls.  Today’s portion holds some vital truths that we would do to get into our hearts and minds.

          8 — O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O LORD?  Your faithfulness also surrounds You.”
          9 — You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.
        10 — You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.
        11 — The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
        12 — The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.
        13 — You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
        14 — Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face.
        15 — Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!  They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.
        16 — In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted.
        17 — For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted.
        18 — For our shield belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.  (NKJV)

Grasp the thought of verse 8–faithfulness.  It has been translated “steady” or “faith” in other portions of the Old Testament.  Faithfulness is at the very core of God’s character!  He will not try to do what He promises like we humans do, but He is mighty enough to do them.  He doesn’t need helpers.  Oh, He might use angels to help, He might use us as His instruments, but none of us are capable of keeping the promises of God.  
       There are other characteristics of God we see in this portion:  righteousness, justice, unfailing love, truth.  Think of this–characteristics of God that we can count on.  When things seem to be falling apart in our lives or in the world around us we can rely upon the character of God to see us through.  Just realize that God can do only that which is right, just, equitable, and fair.  We can trust Him!  We can count on Him!  He will never fail us!
       One great theologian, Alexander Maclaren said that verse 15 should be paraphrased thusly, “Oh!  How blessed are the people who are sure that they have God with them, and who, being sure, bow before Him in loving worship.”  Are you sure?  As His children we can be sure that He is steady; He is faithful.  He will guide and care for us, and will be that shield when the enemy attacks.  “As we steadily trust in God’s steadiness and faithfulness, we find life, even when the powers of death surround us.  He holds us up in his mighty arms, and he will not let us down.”  (William Petersen)
 
               “Firm as His throne His promise stands,
               And He can well secure
               What I’ve committed to His hands
               Till the decisive hour.”
                        –Isaac Watts

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It wasn’t a minute he was back with two cups of coffee. I was relishing a cup. He let me take a few sips; it was hot, strong, and black. ‘Ahhh,’ came a sigh from my being.”

                         –D.C. Adkisson  (Redemption)
 
Whooee, Pard, it’s already two weeks into 2023.  Yuh must be doin’ good, checked yur cinch every time yuh mounted.  Proud of yuh, Son, yur doin’ good.  Another year in front of yuh, an’ if’n yuh keep practicin’ what yuh’ve been taught yuh just might make it ’til December, the good Lord willin’ and if He tarries.
       Some good, hot, strong coffee this mornin’.  Black, and strong enough to settle the gizzard.  What’s that?  Yuh was tempted last week to have a cino?  Or just some honey in yur coffee?  The thing is, did yuh succumb?  Temptation ain’t wrong long as we don’t play around with it, or give in.  Yuh picked up the bottle of honey an’ had to lick it from yur fingers didn’t yuh?  One thing, no matter how careful one is, if yuh pick up a honey bottle yur bound to get some on yur fingers.  That’s just the way it is.  Tastes good don’t it?  But it’s not for coffee drinkin’.
       Speakin’ of honey, I’m reminded of that ol’ song by Brother Graves, “Oh, there’s Honey in the Rock my brother, There’s Honey in the Rock for you…”  Yuh remember that?  Almost would get me cloggin’ in the kitchen, but ‘fraid I might throw out my hip.  
       The Lord sure is good.  Why, He’s allowed us to have some communion together, go ‘head taste that brew.  I guarantee it will delight you.  Ahhh, nice to sit and jaw a spell with yuh this Saturday mornin’.  It’s good to rest with an ol’ pard, drink some coffee, and ponder the goodness of the Lord.  Back to the Lord tarryin’ His comin’. . . I know He is patient and waitin’ for the last one to be saved, but my mercy, the things that are happenin’, well, He can’t be waitin’ much longer.  Did yuh hear ’bout the Drag Queen preachin’ in the church?  Shame, upon shame.   Makes me tremble to think of that.  
       But you an’ me, Pard, we’re goin’ to be holdin’ steady ’til He comes for us.  Went to the Doc as was told that my heart is still tickin’, but that don’t relieve the aches and pains.  In fact, the Doc said that I looked good on the outside, not to brag, but wasn’t so sure of my innards.  Right now everythin’ is still workin’ so I’m not goin’ to fret over it.  I’ll just put my trust in the hand of the Lord, sip some good coffee and enjoy my day.
       See yuh on down the road Pard, make sure yuh don’t take the wrong fork in the road.  Keep one eye on the eastern sky an’ the other on the horizon.  Don’t be goin’ cockeyed, but what I’m tellin’ yuh Pard is be ready.  The Lord surely is comin’.
      Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I don’t need to see the world; I just like to enjoy the moments each day brings.”

                         –Ken Pratt  (The Wolves of Windsor Ridge) 

       “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice!  Tell all the nations that the LORD is king.”
                         –1 Chronicles 16:31 (NLT)
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It had been my intention to write about Samson for this morning‘s devotion, but yesterday while driving on the winding road on my way to Coldspring a song came to my mind.  It has been at least fifty years since I’ve heard this song.  Why, oh why did it come to mind?  Perhaps the words are for someone that is reading this.  So we’ll leave Samson wandering the streets of Gaza, why he is there I don’t know, and look at the words of this song.  
       I looked in both the hymnbooks that I have from my youth, “Hymns of Glorious Praise” and the “Melodies of Praise,” and cannot find the song in either of those so it must have been in an earlier book.  It was written by Adger M. Pace in 1940.  I always thought the title was “Glad Day,” but have found that the original title was “Glad Reunion Day.”  

               There will be a happy meeting in Heaven, I know
               When we see the many loved ones we’ve known here below,
               Gathered on that blessed hilltop with hearts all aglow
               That will be a glad reunion day.

               When we live a million years in that wonderful place,
               Basking in the love of Jesus, beholding His face,
               It will seem but just a moment of praising His grace
               That will be a glad reunion day.

  That first day, immediately after the trumpet sounds, in the twinkling of an eye, things will have changed forever.  I almost wrote when time will be no more, but that is still in the future.  That time will come.  However, we cannot speak in eternal terms, for we do not have the vocabulary.  There will be no time, no day for there will be no night.  Time will have ceased and only the eternal ages will continue before us.  That won’t happen until the Great White Throne Judgment after the Millennium reign of Christ.
       In my mind, the song was called “Glad Day” and for sure that day in heaven with all of the saints and loved ones who have gone on before will certainly be a glad day.  But now, living in this world below–living in time, the time the Lord has given us–we should be able to sing “glad day.”  This is the day the Lord has given each of us and we should be living it the best we can for Him.  It should be a glad day no matter rain or shine, glee or sorrow, storm or fair weather for we live each unto the Lord.

                              A glad day, a wonderful day,
                              A glad day, a glorious day,
                              There with all the holy angels and loved ones to stay
                              That will be a glad reunion day.