Month: July 2023

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A man can’t take back a mistake that bad. But he can grow with it and live better for it.”

                    –T.V. Olsen  (“They Walked Tall”)

       “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.”
                    –Ecclesiastes 7:5 (NKJV)
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It has often been said that “the good is the enemy of the best,” but is that always true?  It depends much upon circumstance and context and perspective.  You can never do gooder, but you can be better; neither can you be bester.  On the other hand there are so many who are satisfied with the good.  That’s why there is so much mediocrity in our society.  Why can’t a person strive to be better?  Why can’t they become the best?  There are many reasons, but one is that good is good enough.
       But what about God?  He cannot ever be better for He is already the best.  In another way, we have often heard the expression, “God is good–all the time; and all the time–God is good.”  There is nothing half-hearted with God.  There is nothing mediocre in God.  He cannot be any less and He cannot be any more–He is God.  
       In studying Psalm 119, I am seeing that the Psalmist has said that “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (119:71, NKJV).  That is so contrary to much of today’s preaching and thinking.  Affliction is good?  Read the writings of Paul and Peter and they say the same thing.  Now, let’s go on to verse 72, “The law of Your mouth is better to me…”  Affliction is good, but the law, the commandments, the Word of God is better.

               “A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.” (37:16, NKJV)
               “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.” (63:3, NKJV)
               “This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.” (69:31, NKJV)
               “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (84:10, NKJV)
               “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”  (118:8, NKJV)
               “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” (118:9, NKJV)
               “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.” (119:72, NKJV)

       We need to be careful of our thoughts and our priorities.  I might say here, you’ll do this if you know what’s good for you.  Live for the Lord, it is better by far than anything the world has to offer.  In fact, the world is the enemy of God, so if we desire the things of the world we are degrading, not becoming better.  Better life than death, both in the physical realm and the spiritual.  
       We work as unto the Lord, therefore, we do the best we can.  We walk through this life the best we know how.  Can we do better?  Most likely, at times, but we strive to do the best, we try to better ourselves.  Contemplate the above Psalms today and throughout the week.  See what is “better.”  See how to become “better.”  Along the way, in the school of God, we get better.  The writer of the book of Hebrews said, “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.” (6:9, NKJV)  There are “better” things that accompany salvation.  We find them as we go through the school of God and life.  Oh, and don’t forget that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22, NKJV)  Have you noticed that obedience is mentioned so much in regard to true worship and life with God.  Better than sacrifice; if you love me keep my commandments–obey.

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Marshal Johnson and his deputies seem to be getting the upper hand.  Their lawless deeds have moved into outright violence.  The problem is that the townsfolk will not testify against them for fear of retribution.  Somehow, Miles, Charlie, and Mateo must find a way to bring this corruption to justice.  Join with me now as we look into the life of Miles Forrest and those wondrous days of the past.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
       The three law officers from Durango were sitting in the Wells Fargo office, joined by Agent Morgan Appleby who had recently been beaten close to death by an unknown group of assailants.  “Tell us what you know,” Miles said nodding at Mateo.
       “From what I can tell is that most of the residents and merchants, at least the ones I conversed with, look at Johnson and his office as a type of insurance policy.”
       “Extortion!” exclaimed Charlie Gold,  “Don’t they know the difference between insurance and extortion!”
       I looked at Charlie, “Let Mateo finish.”  I should keep quiet, after all this is Charlie’s jurisdiction.  Theoretically, I was a deputy under him for this trip, however, if need be my badge would trump his.
       “I talked to Mary Anders.  She and her husband Ben own a saloon, ‘Ben and Mary’s Emporium.’  I had already been thrown out of ‘Belle’s Place’ cause I was a Mexican, but Mary didn’t seem to mind,” Mateo informed us.  “I’m surprised that there aren’t more Mexicans working in the mines.  Plenty of other groups, especially Irish, German, and Welsh.  There’s a little Mexican camp to the east of town, that’s where I stayed each night.”
       “All right, back to Anders.  What did she say?” asked Charlie impatiently.
       “I heard her talking with one of her bartenders about a couple of men who died last winter.  I didn’t pretend I wasn’t listening, but when she said they were left handcuffed outside I questioned her.  I said, ‘Senora, you mean they were left outside in the freezin’ weather?  Handcuffed?”
       She looked at me, not certain whether or not to continue talking, especially since I was a Mexican.  “Mister, if you plan on staying around here this winter you better watch your Ps and Qs.  Johnson wouldn’t care whether you froze to death or not.”
       I gave her a puzzled look, “You mean he wouldn’t even put them in the calaboose?  Out of the weather?”
       “That brought a loud, very unlady-like snort from her.  ‘Mister, they’d let you freeze solid, like they did to poor old Dixie.’  Mentioning his name brought a tear to her eye.  That’s when the bartender spoke up.  ‘Yeah, he was a nuisance at times, but he really was a good sot.'”
       “Do you think she or the bartender would testify?” I asked.
       Mateo shrugged, “Maybe.”
       “But that should be part of the public record.  There should be an obituary, a coroner’s report, a newspaper article–something!” stated Charlie.
       I was just getting ready to respond when two men, wearing the stars of a deputy, walked into the office.  “Appleby, have you given any more thought to our last discussion?” asked a fairly large man.  He had longish dark hair come down from under his hat, but was otherwise clean of any facial hair.
       Morgan stood to go meet him.  “I already told you, and Johnson, that Wells Fargo doesn’t give in to blackmail or extortion!  Now get out!”
       The man grinned for a moment then it turned into a snarl.  “It’s Marshal Johnson, and you can put it down in the books under, ‘Incidentals.'”  Both he and the man with him laughed.
       The rude man looked over at Courtney and Barnes.  “It’d be sad if an accident happened to one of your agents.  I mean, didn’t you fall and seriously hurt yourself a week or so ago?”  Laughter again.
       I stood up to stand beside Morgan.  “Mister, I’d call that a threat!  You got a name?”
       “Who are you?” he asked, but I saw movement from the man with him.  He recognized that I was the one who was delivering Devlin out of town when he was shot down.
       “I’ll just call you Dummy, then!  That’ll make a nice marker on your grave.”
       He started for his gun, but I had moved a few steps closer and beat him to the draw, crashing the barrel of my pistol down across his head.  He went down with a thud.  The other man kept his hands well away from his gun.  I smiled, “You want a thump as well?”  I queried, then added.  “You got a name?”
       “Joe Foslin,” he replied.
       I nodded toward the man on the floor, “And him?”
       “Tioga.”
       I wasn’t concerned with Foslin, so I turned my head to Charlie and Mateo.  “Does Tioga ring a bell with either of you?”
       “Thurman Cavendish, goes by Tioga,” recalled Mateo.
       That brought a smile to my face.  “See ya, Foslin.  I’ll keep this here feller in cuffs.  Oh, and if you want to shoot him, he’ll be cuffed to the post outside.”
       Foslin stumbled out, but as soon as he hit the boardwalk he burst into a run.  I turned to Charlie and Mateo, “Think they’ll get my message?”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The sun, the rain, the wind let nothing alone, but they worry at it, smooth is and rough it again until it is their own. I was like that, myself. A man shaped by storms and hot suns, but most of all by the storms I kept buried inside.”

                     –Louis L’Amour  (The First Fast Draw)

       “And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’  Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water.  And they ceased, and there was a calm.”
                    –Luke 8:24 (NKJV)
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Let me start off with an encouraging word from Steven Lawson, “Even in the midst of their darkest hours, believers always have a steadfast hope in God.”   We have a hope that is unshakable and unassailable.  “No matter how black the night, no matter how raging the storm, one’s hope in the Lord should remain strong.” (Lawson)   As we look into Psalm 102, keep that in mind.  This psalm is one of an afflicted man–woe is me.  He is in distress because of his affliction; he is faint and weary because of his trials.

          1 — Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to You.
          2 — Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; incline Your ear to me; in the day that I call, answer me speedily.
          3 — For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth.
          4 — My heart is stricken and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread.
          5 — Because of the sound of my groaning my bones cling to my skin.
          6 — I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert.
          7 — I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.
          8 — My enemies reproach me all day long; those who deride me swear an oath against me.
          9 — For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
        10 — Because of Your indignation and Your wrath; for You have lifted me up and cast me away.
        11 — My days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass.  (NKJV)

       Where are you God?  A question along with an exclamation.  I hurt, I fear, I’m in trouble, I’m in despair–where are you God?  George Wood writes, “When you are in emotional pain, there’s no ‘kairos’ [seasonal time]–your life is so burdened that each second seems as an hour, each minute a day, each day a month, and each month a year.  That’s why the Psalmist asks God to do something quickly–‘chronos’ [time that is the endless ticking of the clock] time is a terrible burden and tedium.”
       Read carefully verses 3-11.  Has that ever described your situation?  Perhaps that is the situation that you currently find yourself in.  There is a heavy physical and emotional toll upon the body.  “How awful to be in such desolation of soul and brokenness in spirit!” (Wood)  The writer of this Psalm was alone.  There was no help, no one to cry to, except the Lord and it seems that God has forsaken him as well.  What a terrible place to be.  It seems that weeping became his daily diet.  His life is passing and there does not seem to be any relief in sight.  “Gloom, despair, agony on me…”
       I know of people and have read of others that when great calamity has come that they shut down and shut God out.  This is seen especially when death takes away a loved one.  Anger comes out, they become bitter, and some even utter an oath against God.  They turn their backs on God, when they should be doing what this Psalmist is doing.  Despite his situation, despite seeming as if God has left him, he continues to cry out to Him.  Don’t lose hope in your time of need.  Don’t lose faith in the One who is there waiting for you to turn to Him.

               “We would leave, O God, to Thee
               Every anxious care and fear;
               Thou the troubled thought can see,
               Thou canst dry the bitter tear.”
                       –B. L. Gaskell

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A coffee pot was bubbling on the stove in the corner and he poured himself a cup, using a towel on the handle to keep from burning his hand.” 

                         –P. W. Moore  (Where the Trail Leads)
 
Pard, come in, the mornin’ is short, time for coffee and then off to do the chores of the day.  Been hot, but say, it’s summer and it’s Texas.  I rarely complain about the weather as it is completely out of my control.  Don’t burn yur lips, that coffee is hot.
       I was reading from that ol’ boy, Moore, and thinkin’ ’bout how many times I used my bandanna to grab the handle of a coffeepot.  Not sure how many more times that I’ll be doin’ that.  I’m sure up in heaven, that we’ll have a special angel pourin’ the coffee for us.
       Pard, we’re pretty blind when it comes to what’s happenin’ behind the scenes, not only in this country but around the world.  I’ve always figured that the United Notions has to be part of the end-times scenario.  I read somethin’ this week written by the head honcho of the UN.  Here’s what he wrote, “I propose that the General Assembly provide the Secretary-General and the United Nations system with a standing ability to convene and operationalize automatically an Emergency Platform in the event of a future complex global shock of sufficient scale, severity and reach.”  
       Now, that sure sounds like a sneaky way to gain full power.  What is a “global shock”?  Another pandemic?  Famine?  War?  Breakdown of the electric grid?  Hmmm…  The article had more regarding the possible crisis and results.  Yep, Pard, we are sure livin’ in the last of the last days.  Just think, that could be the last cup of coffee we share together.  Life and coffee are precious, but they don’t hold a candle to what the Lord has for us in glory.
       In the meantime, you be checkin’ yur cinch.  Yuh don’t want to go meetin’ the Lord ’cause yuh fell on yur noggin’.
       Vaya con Dios.