Month: June 2023

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It was amazing, the things that creep into a fellas’ thoughts when he’s locked away from the light.”

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Crazy Jack Daggart)

       “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
                    –1 John 1:7 (NKJV)
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Have you ever been so tired that you can no longer walk?  Maybe you think so, but in reality you can take another step, then another.  I remember the time that my whole family went on a seven-mile hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.  We carried in our lunch, and had quite the day, but on the way out, the trail seemed to get longer, the steps harder.  It was because we were tired, and the altitude was affecting us Texans.  One more step, not much further.  Then Annie exclaimed, “The parking lot!”  I hated to speak the truth.  “That’s the lower parking lot, ours is about a quarter mile up toward the lake.”  She groaned, “I can’t make it.”  It hit her when she looked that we would have to hike back uphill to get to our vehicle.  Don’t fear, she made it, but I did walk behind her, pushing her along the way.
       So what hinders our walk to the royal city of God?  We’re climbing higher, so perhaps the altitude.  Hmmm, did Moses notice the altitude when he met with God on the mountain; did his legs grow weary?

               “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us….  Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”
                         –Hebrews 12:1, 12-13 (NKJV)

       We have not lost our way, we are just tired, worn out from the cares of the world.  Worn out from the constant fighting.  Keep going–“Endurance is a key indicator of spiritual fitness.” (Alistair Begg)  We need to be like the writer of Psalm 119 who said that “my soul clings to the dust…and melts from heaviness.”  What is the answer?  Why is the one seeking after God so disheartened?  He prays that God will “enlarge my heart.”
       In my reading I came across some pertinent words from that noted preacher of the early 1800s, Charles Bridges.  During his time on earth he was a well-recognized preacher of the Church of England.

               “Thus by the shackles of sin, unbelief, and self-righteousness, we are indeed ‘sore let and hindered in running the race set before us.’  The light is obscured.  Faith loses sight of its object.  What otherwise would be a delight becomes a weariness.  Obedience is irksome; self-denial intolerable; the cross heavy.  The heart is, as it were, ‘shut up, and it cannot go forth.’  Faith is so low:  desires are so faith; hopes so narrow, that it seems impossible to make progress.  Frequent defeats induce despondency.  The world is resorted to.  Sin ensnares and captivates.  Thus ‘we did run well; but we have been hindered.'”

What is the remedy?  Endure in praying.  Endure in the reading of God’s Word.  “I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.” (Ps 119:32, NKJV)  Hope, faith, in the One who cares for you.  He will uphold you when you can no longer lift your foot for another step.  Take inventory and do not fall into the snares of the devil.  Don’t turn to the world in your despondency, but wholly lean on the arms of Jesus.

               “O soul, are you weary and troubled?
               No light in the darkness you see?
               There’s light for a look at the Savior,
               And life more abundant and free!

                    Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
                    Look full in His wonderful face,
                    And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
                    In the light of His glory and grace.”
                            –Helen Lemmel

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
In his visit to Silverton, Miles had uncovered some abnormalities.  His plan was to report them to Sheriff Charlie Gold when he returned to Durango thinking it best that the sheriff should handle them.  After he had a confrontation with Marshal Johnson he was followed by one of the Marshal’s deputies.  When speaking with Jakub Brewlinski and the Wells Fargo agents, he found that there was an attempt at extortion.  The locals refused to discuss the situation.  Now, while walking back to his room, he noticed not one, but two deputies watching him.  Join me in another exciting tale from yesteryear in the Saga of Miles Forrest.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
       I had decided to go back to the Wells Fargo office to see how Morgan was doing, but that was soon placed aside as I turned my head to see the deputy who had been following me rush at me.  I sort of stooped down a bit, then when he got to me, I raised up swinging the Greener connecting with his jaw.  I heard a crack and he went down with a thump in the street.  
       The man from the alley then came at me, his gun already drawn.  I wouldn’t have time to draw mine, if he planned on firing.  I didn’t see the third man; he had been in the alley across the street.  His gun roared.  Ignoring the deputy who was coming at me, I pulled my pistol, then fired at the man who shot.  Bullet hit flesh and I saw him stumble, then on his knees pushed himself back into the darkness of the alley.
       The third man stopped, still holding his pistol.  I wondered at the delay, but I had already shot one deputy, so I turned to face the other.  He raised his hands; I don’t likely know the reason why since he had the drop on me.
       “Don’t make sense killing a U.S. Marshal,” he declared.  “Can I come check on Jack?”
       “Holster your gun,” I commanded.  “If you think you have a chance, feel free.”
       He placed his pistol in his holster then slowly approached me.  I nodded toward the man lying in the street.  The deputy stooped down to examine him.  “You walloped him good, Marshal.  I thought his head was goin’ to come right off his shoulders.”
       “He’ll live, but he’ll be eatin’ soup for a while,” I said then went to him, grabbed the back of his collar.  “Come with me!”
       I pushed him down the street toward the Wells Fargo office.  I reckoned I’d be able to talk with him there.  He stopped to point toward the other alley.  “I need to check on Phin.  I know you shot him,” he cajoled, then softened.  “He could be dying.”
       “Tough choice, he made,” I remarked, then pushed him forward with the barrel of the Greener.
       Arriving at the Wells Fargo office, I opened the door allowing the deputy to enter.  He went straight to a chair while the agent, Barnes, stood there with his mouth open at the intrusion.
       “Morgan not around?” I was concerned about my friend.
       Barnes shook his head.  “His head was hurting, and when he tried to walk, he was too unsteady on his legs.  Dale took him home and was going to stay with him through the night.”
       I nodded, then went to see my culprit.  “You got a name?” I snapped.  “I want to remember you when they send you to the pen in Canon City.”
       He turned white as a sheet.  “Prison?”
       “Assault on a federal officer, part of a conspiracy with intent to kill.  I’d say you’re looking at a minimum of ten years.”
       “There wasn’t supposed to be no shootin’.  I don’t know why Phin pulled his gun to shoot,” cried the deputy.
       I touched his cheek with the Greener pushing his face to look at me.  “Seems to me that you had a gun in your hand as well.  What would you have done if I had decided to shoot at you first?”
       He swallowed deeply a few times and I thought he might pass out.
       “I recall that the Good Book says, “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:  and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.”  I stared at him, but he couldn’t maintain eye contact.  “Looks as if that stone is ready to smash you.”
       “We was just followin’ Marshal Johnson’ order,” he said, when through the door burst Marshal Johnson…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The bank of clouds now swept hugely out of the western sky. Its front was purple and black, with gray between, a bulging, mushrooming, vast thing instinct with storm. It had dark, angry, threatening aspect. As if all the power of the winds were pushing and piling behind, it rolled ponderously across the sky. A red flare burned out instantaneously, flashed from the west to east, and died. Then from the deepest black of the purple cloud burst a boom.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Riders of the Purple Sage)

       “The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.”

                    –Psalm 77:18 (NKJV)
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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it is hard to praise God?  Perhaps a storm or battle you are going through and you just cannot praise God.  When that occurs, remember, we praise Him for who He is.  Someone said, “The situation does not dictate to us what to do…  We don’t focus on the surrounding difficulties, but to what God says.”  G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “The fixed point in the universe, the unalterable fact, is the throne of God.”  Keep that in mind as we look at the first part of Psalm 97.

          1 — The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!
          2 — Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
          3 — A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about.
          4 — His lightnings light the world; the earth sees and trembles.
          5 — The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
          6 — The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory.  (NKJV)

       In these verses we see clearly two attributes of God–His sovereignty and His omnipotence.  The Lord reigns!  Many people do not like the doctrine of the sovereignty of God, but in reality this should give great comfort to the child of God.  He is in control!  Lawson states, “God actively, moment by moment, rules over all things for His own glory and for the good of His people…”  
       We live in a chaotic, confused world where it appears to our finite, human mind that God does not control nor does He care about the affairs of men.  Evil abounds, and sometimes our own lives spin so much we think we are riding in a tilt-o-whirl.  Other’s actions sometimes affect us, and we wonder where God is, and yet, we are told to praise Him.  Praise Him for who He is, praise Him for His sovereignty, praise Him that He cares for you.  Don’t look at the evil, the raging tempest, or the fierceness of the battle, but look at the throne.
       Notice the foundations of His throne–righteousness and justice.  When we seemingly think evil is winning and in control–look at the throne, the foundation consists of justice.  God will judge.  Keep your focus heavenward, look at the throne.  Look at His power.  Contemplate on this Psalm; read Revelation 1–get a firm view of the throne.  The “fire” represents the divine wrath and fury that goes before God.  When we read the prophets, we see that the Day of the Lord–the day of judgment will be a fearful and mighty thing.  In the midst of calamity we are to declare His righteousness.  F.B. Meyer said, “The strain of ‘Hallelujah’ is impossible till it can be said in the heat and universe, ‘The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.'”
       So in the hard time, in the midst of the turmoil of the storm, in the fog, fury, and ferocity of the battle–KNOW–that God is in control.  He is on His throne and nothing escapes His attention.  Give praise for who He is.  Praise Him for His sovereignty, righteousness, and justice.  Praise Him for His omnipotence and that He cares for you.

               “Before Jehovah’s awful throne,
               Ye nations, bow with sacred joy,
               Know that the Lord is God alone;
               He can create, and He can destroy.”
                         –Isaac Watts

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He sat the meal on the table in front of me and then poured a cup of some of the best coffee I had ever tasted; it was so strong it probably didn’t even need the cup.” 

                    –Nathan Wright  (Chester’s Last Ride)
 
Come on in, Pard.  Let’s have some coffee together and jaw some.  Hope yuh had a good week.  Yuh know, for sure, Big Brother’s watchin’ us.  I don’t have no doubt ’bout it!  My eldest daughter sent me some coffee as a gift, and the next day my facebook is full of coffee ads.  How in the world do they know?   Hmmm, perhaps that feminine AI that lingers in the house tells them–Alexa.  But she can’t see…or can she?  No matter, so far the coffee’s been delicious, ahhhh.
       Notice that we have progressed, Pard.  When Heather moved back to Pennsylvania she left us her microwave.  Now I don’t use it much, but I do like popcorn.  Annie will use it to reheat coffee.  Why just the other day she put instant coffee in the microwave and almost went back in time.  Whooeee, good thing I was standin’ near.  I grabbed her to jerk her to keep her in the present.  Those contraptions are dangerous, next time yuh see me, if’n I’m not careful I might be glowin’.
       Pard, we need to laugh once in a while.  If’n yuh don’t think so, just take a look in the mirror.  I just published my latest book, Stiles of Laredo, and have started on another.  I have to stop and think when I use set, sit or sat, lay or lie.  That brought to my recall a story by LeRoy Brownlow.  
 
               As a young minister, Grandpa preached a trial sermon in a village church, hoping to be called to that pulpit.  Later the officials met with him to question his abilities.  Wanting to be sure they got an educated man, they, with the help of a school teacher, had worked up a few special questions to test him.
               The lead man, with an air of scholarship, began:  “Preacher, would you say a hen sets or sits?”
               The young sage from the hills answered:  “I don’t care whether she sits or sets.  What I’m interested in is:  When she cackles, is she laying or lying?”
               There were no more questions.  He got the job.
 
Yesiree, Pard, in this crazy, insane, confused world it’ll do us good to smile once in a while.  Life is serious business, always has been, but I’m tellin’ yuh right smartly that there’s little to smile at with the foolishness of the idiots around.  That’s why when we get the chance we need to smile.  Ol’ Solomon said that laughter was madness, and it doesn’t accomplish anything.  In fact, when yuh read Solomon’s view of laughter it is distressin’.  However, a merry heart is like medicine; it does good.  See, what he is tellin’ us?  There is a difference between the foolishness of laughter and the heart of joy caused by trustin’ in the Lord.
       Ponder that whilst yuh take that last sip.  Pard, I’ve got to tell yuh the truth, if’n yur saddle slips, an’ yuh fall off on yur noggin’ I might just have to laugh at yur foolishness for not checkin’ yur cinch.
       Vaya con Dios.
 
(Story about Grandpa taken from A Time To Laugh)