Month: December 2023

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
 I sat there, cradling my coffee cup in both hands staring into it.  “Miles, why do you have to go?”  I didn’t hear the voice until it was repeated again and I was nudged in the side by Molly’s elbow.  “Why is it you that has to go?”
       Slowly I turned my head to look at her.  “Because it’s my job.  Because Judge Klaser ordered me to,” I replied, then brought the cup to my lips to finish what was left in it.  “Charlie has to go to Silverton to check on things.  Mateo is needed in town.”
       She got up to get the coffeepot from the stove behind me to refill my cup.  “Doc, what about you?  Want some more?”
       Doc Jones shook his head and covered the cup with his hand, “No, no, that’s enough for me.”  
       He watched as Molly refilled my cup, then spoke up.  “Couldn’t the Judge bring in someone else?  Or why not wait for the Tumbleweed Wagon?”
       I took a sip before answering, it was hot!  “That’s just it, there is no one else, I’m here.  Plus the wagon from the prison will not be around until March, that’ll will put the burden on the Durango taxpayers.”
       Taking a deeper draught, I then continued.  “Besides, the Judge says that if nothing goes wrong I should be back by the end of next week…by Christmas for sure.”
       A groan escaped from Molly, “Miles, something always goes wrong.”
       I gave a little shrug.
       Todd Johnson had been convicted earlier in the week and sentenced to thirty years in the state penitentiary over in Canon City.   I would take him by train as far as Pueblo, then from there by stage.  Yes, it all seemed so simple, but I will have to say that Molly was right–something always seemed to come up.  Johnson had promised that I would never get him there, that his friends would free him.  Well, they might try, but he’d never go free.
       If he still had men out there, I had my doubts.  So many of his so-called deputies had been killed, and others had left for parts unknown to keep from getting arrested.  Sheriff Gold was heading up there today to check on things.  Knowing the city fathers, they may have already appointed another marshal.  It was known that marshals in Silverton didn’t stay around long.
       “Oh, Miles,” started in Doc as he got up from his chair.  “Come on by the office before you leave.  Collins wants to see you.”
       “How is he Doc?” inquired Molly.  
       Doc Jones shrugged his shoulders, “Not good.  I took a third of his face off, and it looks like I might have to amputate one foot.  He was in bad shape, and gangrene had already set in.  I just didn’t get it all with the first surgery.”
       “Poor man, crook as he is.”
       “He brought it on himself,” came the words from my mouth.
       “That may be so, but it is still horrible,” came her tart reply.
       As Doc was walking out the door he met Parson Chapman entering.  They greeted each other and Doc stepped out in the light snow that was falling.  The preacher came on over to our table.  Molly was already up, grabbing a cup from the counter for him.
       After greeting, he took off his coat then sat down.  “Are you excited about the Christmas program at the church?” he questioned with eagerness.  “It’s going to be a festive time celebrating the birthday of our Lord.”
       “Oh, thank you,” he said as Molly placed the coffee in front of him.  “Plenty of carols, and the display of the nativity.  Molly, you are going to make several pies for the occasion?”
       “I’ll have plenty of time to do that since Miles will be gone,” she sputtered.
       A quizzical look appeared on the Parson’s face.  “Gone?  Gone on Christmas?”
       “I’ll be back for Christmas,” I replied.  “I have to take the prisoner to Canon City.”
       We chatted for a spell, then I said that I needed to take some food up to the jail, plus go over to see what Collins wanted.  Marta had a tray waiting for me.  “Send Lucas down and I’ll have something for him,” she informed me.  I gave her a nod, and said thank you.
       Carrying the Greener and tray was no easy task, but I went over to Doc’s office.  I placed the tray on the desk and Doc motioned for me to come into the room where Collins was lying.  Upon entering I heard, “Marshal, give me your gun…”.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He had been stung to his soul by his realization of ignorance.”

                    –Zane Grey  (Under the Tonto Rim)

       “So that Satan will not outsmart us.  For we are familiar with his evil schemes.”
                   –2 Corinthians 2:11 (NLT)
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Many years ago I was dealing with a mother and her wayward, troubled son.  While counseling in my office, I finally said, “You need to put your son in God’s hands.”  I was shocked, it was early in my career, when she replied sharply, “I can’t do that.  I don’t know what God might do to him.”  If we cannot trust God, then we are indeed in bad shape.  He is fully trustworthy.  God is good and He is always faithful.  However, as this portion of Psalm 106 points out, we/mankind mistrust, compromise, worship false gods, give our children over to the world system, and shed innocent blood.  How can anyone, remember these are God’s people, get so far from God?  It all begins with disobedience.

          32 — They angered Him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses on account of them;
          33 — Because they rebelled against His Spirit, so that he spoke rashly with his lips.
          34 — They did not destroy the peoples, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them,
          35 — But they mingled with the Gentiles and learned their works;
          36 — They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
          37 — They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons,
          38 — And shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood.
          39 — Thus they were defiled by their own works, and played the harlot by their own deeds.  (NKJV)

       Oh, we may not place our children in reality upon the altar of Baals, but perhaps we do it more subtly.   We allow them to listen to the world’s music, spend endless hours on the phone, playing video games–are they not being sacrificed upon the world’s altar of entertainment and technology?  I am going to borrow a story from William Petersen to illustrate the idols that we so innocently play with.

                    After church on Sunday, the young couple climbed into their classy sports care and began the drive home.  “So what did you think about the pastor’s message?” the husband asked, turning on the radio.
                    “Well, it was interesting,” the wife replied, “but I don’t think it really applied to–ooh, turn the radio up, I love this song.”
                    “Don’t you love this car’s sound system?” he added as the music swelled.  “I paid an arm and a leg for this car, but it’s worth it.”
                    She suddenly thought of something.  “Honey, could we swing by my office?  I need to pick up some reports to work on this afternoon.”
                    “Working again?” he chided.  “You never rest, do you?”
                    “Well, I assume you want to keep making the payments on this car.  Besides, you work as much as I do.”
                    “Not today,” he countered.  “Football season is starting.  I’m going to camp out on that sofa all afternoon.”
                    “Oh, yeah,” she said, “I forgot.”  Then, as her favorite song ended, she asked, “So what did you think about the pastor’s message?”
                    “Well, it was all right, I guess.  But I wish he’d make it more relevant.  I just don’t see what idol worship has to do with us today.” (The One Year Book of Psalms)

       This portion of Psalm 106 is an indictment against the people of Israel, but read it again.  Is the finger pointing directly at the United States?  Have we, the people of God, mingled with the pagans and adopted their evil customs?  How much blood has been shed in the feminist pro-choice movement?  How much more will God tolerate?  How many sons and daughters have been given over to the pagan customs of our land?  Look at the curriculum being taught in our schools, look at how the media portrays gay rights and transgenderism.  We are sacrificing the blood of our sons and daughters.
       Verse 39, from the NLT — “They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the LORD’s sight.”  What idols are prevalent in America?  How about in your family?  In this wonderful Christmas season guard yourself that you do not fall into the easy trap of material idol worship.  Instead remember the word of the Lord, the value of family, and most of all, the reason for the season.  Do not allow yourself to be given over to idol worship at the altar of money, wealth, fame, career, sports and entertainment, and maintaining a certain lifestyle.  The Lord wants us to walk humbly in His sight.  (contemplate 1 Corinthians 10:19-22)

                    “His mighty works and ways
                    By Moses he made known,
                    But gave the world his truth and grace
                    By his beloved Son.”
                            –Isaac Watts

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I risked a small fire, and the coffee was like a gift from heaven.”

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Teton)
 
“Christmas time’s a-comin’, Christmas time’s a-comin’…”  Coffee’s hot and strong, come join me.  Say Pard, just ’cause yuh ate the last piece of punkin pie don’t mean there’s not more on the horizon, an’ along with that there’ll be those Christmas cookies with all the sprinkly things on top.
       This is a wonderful time of year.  The lights, the bells, songs of yuletide dreams and carols of the wondrous love of God.  Food, goodies galore, and presents, and yuh best be watchin’ what’s over yur head it might just be mistletoe.  Pard, with all the fun and happiness and joy that Christmas brings it is also a solemn occasion.  It is a time of memories for those who cannot be with us or those who have gone on to their eternal reward.  It is a time that we should contemplate the greatest gift of all–the Lord Jesus Christ.  It’s hard to fathom the great love of the Father who sent His only Son for one main purpose–to redeem mankind.
       Woe is us, for we were lost but God in His love sent that great present.  Jesus wasn’t wrapped in those gorgeous papers that lie underneath the tree, but in swaddlin’ cloths.  And it don’t make no difference to me whether it was a wooden manger or a stone one, I’ve seen both kinds, that became His bed.  None of those fancy cribs, no warnin’ signs on the blankets or mattress.  My oh my, what would Mary think if she was livin’ today?
       How ’bout that coffee?  Made some of that special coffee roasted by my friends at the Spring Ridge Roasters.  Yep, Papua New Guinea.  One of my two favorites and I’m sharin’ it with my Pard.  Not much love greater than that unless you add an apple pie to the table.
       Pard, I want yuh to take extry careful care this season.  We want to enjoy all that the Lord has for us, and also the fellowship of family and friends, but yuh can’t do it if’n yuh fall off yur horse on yur noggin’ ’cause yuh didn’t check yur cinch.  Yuh probably will be out an’ about quite a bit, so be extry cautious.  Why today, already I had two different road hogs pull out in front of me, not obeyin’ signs, just ’cause they think they can.  So be alert, be wary, for some reason folks can get very unfriendly durin’ this most joyous time of year.
      Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Christmas is the day that holds all time together.”

                    –Alexander Smith

       “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
                   –John 1:14 (NKJV)
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          “Look, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome Day of the LORD comes.  And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.  Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
                      –Malachi 4:5-6 (HCSB)

          “Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”    
                     –Matthew 10:34(HCSB)

The first Scriptures were the last given to the Old Testament.  It contains both a promise and a warning.  Elijah will come before God judges the earth, but then there is the dire warning that unless hearts are changed that He will strike the land with a curse.  When I look at society today, I see a split in the homes, in the culture, and even within the church.
       Men denying their God-given roles; women usurping what men should be doing.  Why?  Not because of need, but because of rebellion.  Children listen more to their friends and that terrible tool–the phone more than they do to parents.  But then, what do parents tell their children?  How are they being led?  Are they listening to the wrong voices?  The last words of the Old Covenant come as a warning.  
       Then look at the words of Jesus.  The world is cut asunder by His words.  It is either accept Christ or deny Him.  Those who deny are listening to the wrong voices.  This is the beginning of the Christmas season; a time to look at the voice of the Lord through all of the joyous occasions that Christmas brings.  Think of it, the voice of the Lord had  been “silent” for around 400 years.  There were no prophets proclaiming, “thus saith the Lord.”  But in actuality God was not silent.  He was bringing about the greatest event in the history of mankind–an event that would forever change history and eternity, the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
       There are times in history when it appears that God is silent.  There may have been times in your life when it seemed that He was silent, or maybe put a better way, when you did not feel His presence for He is no longer silent.  We have the witness of the Holy Spirit and we have the written word of God from which God’s voice is heard.  However, note that whenever it seems that God is silent it does not mean that He is no longer in control.  “It should bring a great comfort to us knowing that His name is the Lord God Almighty; which means that He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe!  He keeps His promises and His Word will be fulfilled!” (Carroll Roberson)
       Christmas time was my Mom’s favorite time of the year.  Since this is the date of her birth, why not begin December with thinking of those silent times in your life before you realized the great truth about Christmas; that time when Jesus became real in your heart and mind.  Don’t get caught up in arguing about the right season and the exact date of His birth, but recognize that He came to save mankind from the dreadful day of the Lord that is coming.
       There is a peace–a peace that comes only from God.  Yes, a sword has been drawn and there are divisions caused by that sword, but do not let that trouble you.  Do not let the other factions distract from the truth of God’s Word.  Look back at that first night, the shepherds watching their sheep.  The angelic host rise up with the words:  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!” (Luke 2:14, HCSB)   Peace–to those whom God favors.  This Christmas season meditate, contemplate on the glorious coming of Jesus in the First Advent.