Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 22, 2023

Hope makes life.”
–James Oliver Curwood (The Valley of Silent Men)

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”

–1 John 5:4 (NLT)
———————————–
Woe is me, I just got a hang-nail, oh, woe, woe–whimper, whimper. What happens when there is a real dilemma, when there is real danger? Where is the faith that you once talked about? Don’t you trust God? Now, that is a little far-fetched, but maybe again, not so much. We fear and lose faith over simple things. When trouble arises, how do you handle it? With whining and crying or with stubborn faith?
Years ago I had a very good teacher under my supervision. She was a teacher of first-graders and she was constantly telling the kids how great God was. How that God would take care of them in every circumstance of life. That God was always there for them, to just trust Him. A tragedy came into her life and she completely fell apart. She was weeping and crying in the classroom, so much so that the kids were afraid and crying with her. So much for her testimony of faith! I had to send her home until she could gain control over her emotions. One incident destroyed a year of example. George Morrison said, “We help people by what we do. Perhaps we help them more by what we are.” The teacher was good at helping her kids, until the storm came, then it seemed she lost her faith.
Who are you then? What do you do when there is that dark hour, when things are the darkest and the storm is seeming ready to wreck your life? Look at the situation that Paul found himself in. The storm was raging and was so bad that the captain of the vessel ordered everything to be thrown overboard. For three days, it raged and it looked as if everyone aboard would die in the storm. Then Paul spoke up–“Therefore, take heart, men, for I believe God…” (Acts 27:25, NKJV). The King James renders it, “Be of good cheer…” What? When everything is falling apart, I am to be joyful? What? I’m about to die and you are telling me that everything will be alright? Yes! And guess what? The attitude and assurance of Paul changed the thinking of the sailors. “Faith radiates the atmosphere of hope.” (Morrison) The presence of strong faith affects others even in the midst of peril.
Be strong in the turmoil, be strong through the pestilence. Be strong when it seems that everything around you is tumbling. Live out your faith in the storms, through the battles. Be strong when others cry in terror and weep in despair. Look at this verse again from the Amplified, “So keep up your courage, men, for I believe God and have complete confidence in Him…”
Not only that, smile in the midst of the storm. It has been said that the smile of Dwight D. Eisenhower was infectious. In the midst of battle, in the midst of decision, Ike would smile, and that smile flowed through the room lightening the mood and giving hope to his comrades. There is a story of an ocean-liner caught in the fury of a tremendous storm. Men were panic-stricken, women screamed–and then, the captain smiled. He radiated the faith behind that smile for he knew that the ship could weather the storm and thus brought good cheer to everyone on board. (Morrison)
James tells us to, “count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” In other words, when the storms come, and they will, be brave and radiant when things are the darkest. It will have an impact. It will strengthen those around you and give them hope. You want to be of help to others, then smile through the storm. “A strong faith is the secret of all helpfulness.” (Morrison) It is your faith and how it is presented that brings the victory that overcomes the world.

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 21, 2023

The gunsmoke was still in the air after the attempt of Lige Donor to free his brother, Clem, from jail. Young Lucas had been shot, and was perhaps dead. Lige was dead, killed by the hands of his brother. Now, let’s go back to those thrilling days of yesteryear to see what Miles will do after all this calamity.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Clem Donor was sitting on the floor holding the head of his dead brother in his lap. He was weeping not only due to the fact that his brother was dead, but that it was Clem that forced the action. They were fighting over the pistol when it when off sending a bullet under the chin and through the head of Lige Donor.

“Marshal,” cried Clem, “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I told Lige to leave, but the boy had already been shot.” Clem sobered up for a minute from his emotional state staring straight into my eyes. “Was the boy dead?”

“I don’t know. Sheriff Gold picked up the body so fast and was out of here before I had time to check.”

Donor began to weep again. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way. It was just to be a simple holdup, take some money and go south toward Santa Fe,” he paused to wipe the slobber off his mouth and chin. “None of us had ever kilt no one before, not me, not Fred, not Lige. Why, did it happen this way?”

“Clem, when a person turns towards evil ways, there’s no tellin’ what may happen. A lie becomes a landslide, a holdup becomes a murder. Why, because of evil,” I paused to look him in the eye. “If you had not tried to rob the diner, your brother would still be alive.”

He dropped his head continuing to weep. “I need to get you back into your cell,” I said and started to reach underneath his arm to hoist him up.

“Marshal, could I stay with Lige until they take him away?” he pleaded. “I won’t try anything.”

I didn’t reckon it would do any harm, Parker would be here in a few minutes. It was then I heard the shuffling outside the jail. Folks were trying to peer inside. All I felt was disgust as I went to the door and slammed it in their faces. I even hoped that perhaps a couple of them snoopers got their noses smashed up some.

It must have been ten minutes before Parker arrived. He had to push people away, many were gawking through the windows trying to see a dead man, lying in his blood on the floor. I gave a wry smile, as the undertaker of death arrived at the same time as the giver of hope in Rev. Chapman.

Parker had two men with him carrying a stretcher and he quickly had them take the body of Lige Donor out of the office. I pulled the parson to the side while Parker did his work. He pronounced the body dead, then the men left. I didn’t move as Clem slowly pulled himself to his feet and went back to his cell dragging his feet. He shut the door then went over to the cot and slumped down on it.

I could see the concern in the Parson’s eyes, so I briefly told him what happened. He grabbed my arm with his hand. “The man is distraught, Parson,” I said quietly.

“No wonder,” came his soft reply. “May I go speak with him?”

Nodding I told him he could go in the cell with Donor. I’d stay in the office until things settled down. I didn’t hear what the preacher was saying. He was holding onto the hand of Donor, and after a short while, he began to pray with the man. I turned to look out the window, thinking I should give them some privacy. I knew for a fact that only the Lord could help the poor man.

Ten, maybe fifteen minutes later, I saw Alejo, Mateo’s oldest son running toward the jail. By this time the crowd outside had dispersed, and he came on through the door. “Senor, Marshal, come quickly. Lucas…”

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 20, 2023

I chose not to quit, not to let bad luck beat me.”

–Ty Murray

“I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”

–Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)
—————————————
I smile when I read someone who agrees with me. Really when it comes to the writings of Paul, Peter, James, and the others, I should be more humble. It is good, however, when my mind and spirit is united with the writers of the Bible. That is the Holy Spirit working. Contemplate the words of Steven Lawson before we look at the first portion of Psalm 92. “Worship is a lifestyle, a continual experience of magnifying the glory of God. This adoration should be carried out through a Christian’s actions, thoughts, and words. Wherever we are, that place should be transformed into a palace for praise. Whatever we are doing, that activity should be a platform for worship. Ceaseless praise, all day every day, should be a living reality to every believer.”

1 — It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2 — To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night,
3 — On an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound.
4 — For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
5 — O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.
6 — A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this.
7 — When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever.
8 — But You, LORD, are on high forevermore. (NKJV)

It is hard for you to deal with life? Do the problems of the day aggravate you, whether they be at work, at home, or at school? Perhaps more time is needed for the Lord. Perhaps more of our lives should be dedicated to Him. Hmm, perhaps we need to realize that everything we do should be unto Him. George O. Wood asks the following, “When was the last time you woke up in the morning with good thoughts of God’s love and bedded down at night thinking of His faithfulness? Have you lately sung for joy at the works of God’s hands? Have you paused to celebrate the sky, birds, flowers, forest, sea, grass, the butterfly as expressions of the Lord’s artistry, power, and love of beauty; or gladdened yourself by praising Jesus for what He has done for you?” Go back and read Psalm 92:1-5.
Friend–it is good to give thanks to the Lord! It is reasonable and right. Just think of His faithfulness, in the small things as well as in the great things. He is devoted to His children. Let me give a simple, little illustration that happened to me on Friday. The family went to Washington-on-the-Brazos and Kimberly purchased some earrings made from cow horn. Annie put them on and she noticed when we got home that somewhere one was lost. We looked through both vehicles and couldn’t find it. I went out the next morning, praying to the Lord for Him to show me where it was. It was drizzling rain, and I drove into the parking lot, got out of the truck, looked to my right and there it was. See He cares for the little things in our lives. Verse 4, in the NLT is translated, “You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me!”
Ah, but then there is the senseless man–one who is dull or stupid, a brute beast (Ps 73:22). This man does not know the ways of the Lord nor does he care to know them. They are fools–they are wicked. They just don’t “get it”. That’s one reason there is so much hatred, evil, and perverseness today; people do not care to understand the ways of the Lord. They are fools to reject such a great salvation that is provided through Jesus Christ. These, “because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18, NKJV) are fools, they are senseless. They may spring up around you “like weeds” (NLT) but they are soon to be destroyed.
Having trouble? Burst into song. I do it ever so often, despite my “wondrous” tonal quality. Come, let’s be like Martin Luther when he said, “Come, let us sing a psalm and drive away the Devil.” A song of praise to the Lord will do more than drive the devil away; it will change your mood, change your attitude. Oh, the problem may still be there, the storm might continue to raise, but the perspective in facing it has changed. Cultivate a spirit of praise and thanksgiving and open your eyes to the thrills of a life with God (Petersen).

“O Jesus my Savior, with Thee I am blest,
My life and salvation, my joy and my rest;
Thy name be my theme, and Thy love be my song;
Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my song.”
–unknown

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 18, 2023

There was a small fire on the fireplace hearth and a pot of coffee suspended from the crane.”

–Ernest Haycox (Canyon Passage)

Mmmm, mmmm, let that aroma just flow. Take a whiff of that coffee ‘fore yuh go to guzzlin’ it. Enjoy sippin’ it whilst I tell yuh a story. Remember when yuh were a kid, and fairy tales were told to yuh, like “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick…” and “Mary, had a little lamb…” and “Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep…”? I don’t know why, but “Wee Willie Winkie” used to scare me.

Hold on, I need a swaller, ’cause of what I’m gonna tell yuh. I read ’bout a fairy tale bein’ told by the Pope. Yep, that’s right, that fella that sits over in the Old Country in that place they call the Vatican City. But here’s the tale, that he spoke the other day. Once upon a time, that’s me tellin’ the story ’cause all fairy tales start out that way. The old man on the throne who is the supposed, and self-proclaimed mediator before God spoke these words, “Hell is not a place.” Say hold, on Pard, that ain’t the end on his tale, he went on, “It is a state, there are people who live in Hell continuously.” Hmmm, maybe he finished with and “they lived happily ever after,” but Pard that ain’t the way it is.

Now, I agree, up to a point that some folks have a hellish time here on earth, but it ain’t a fraction of what it will be if’n they go on down the road to Perdition. I may be a dumb ol’ fence post, but I reckon the good Lord knows a bit more than the Pope and He sure ‘nough declared there is a Hell. Now, I’ve heard that talk before comin’ from folks, but it shows to go yuh that even a religious leader can be an out-and-out fool. Yuh know, if’n yuh read the prophets, Isaiah, Amos, and the like yuh’ll see that the priests were fools back then as well, leadin’ the people into false worship. If’n people believe that they’re so blind they couldn’t see through a bobwire fence.

Looks like we each got a cup a piece left in the pot. Go ‘head an’ pour yurs, then yuh can fill my cup up. Ahhh, mighty tasty this mornin’. Let me go on pontificatin’ — I used that word a purpose. Ol’ Haycox mentioned the hearth. That’s where the coffeepot goes, well, maybe not literally, but figuratively. The hearth is made by the woman of the home, she makes it comfortable, she nurtures the kids and even the husband, she keeps it warm with her love. Yep, the hearth warms the home and it comes from the heart of a wife and mother. Now, I said this, to let yuh know that my wife has made our house a home, and it was her birthday yesterday. Sure been a grand ride livin’ my days with her. She’s one reason that I check my cinch before mountin’, I gotta keep myself safe so’s I can be providin’ and protectin’ her. An’ maybe if’n I give her a wink, there could be a pie in my future.

Vaya con Dios.