Month: February 2024

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
We stopped by the McClure place on the way home.  Doc checked Linda and her new baby, then patched up Frank’s wound.  With that stop it was dark when we rode back into Durango.  The lights were out and except for a few places the town was dark.  I knew the saloons were probably open, but they were up a couple of blocks and then down the street.
       There was a light in Solly’s place and one in the diner, but I knew both were closed.  I stopped there and told Doc to go on home.  I knew he was frazzled and when he dismounted and started walking in the snow towards his place, he stumbled and fell, being stiff and half frozen.  I told him I’d take his horse on over to Vexler’s along with the others after dropping the bodies off at Parker’s.
       I glanced in the diner and saw Molly at the window.  She waved, then motioned for me to come down to the diner.  I tipped my hat and nodded, then headed up the street to Parker’s shop.  Paul had been the undertaker for several years now.  The sign in front of his shop read, Mortuary and Cabinet Maker.  I had to bang on the door several times before he answered.  He told me to take the bodies around to the back where he had a shed attached to the back of his shop.
       He had pulled on a coat, and met me.  “Got some stiffs for me,” he cackled, then added, “the pun intended.”  The bodies were not only stiff from being dead, but frozen from the cold with no blood circulating in their bodies.  “I’ll keep them outside and get caskets ready for them tomorrow.  Do you know who they are?”
       “Either myself or Doc Jones will be up tomorrow to give you some names.  Let me know the cost.”
       “Don’t know when I’ll get them buried,” he answered.  “The ground is too frozen to dig right now.”  
       I nodded, thinking that I wouldn’t want his job.  ‘Course he’d hire out the digging, but it would be quite a job even when it began to thaw.  After unloading, I then headed up to Vexloer’s.  The big door at the livery was closed, but I knew Moses would be up and most likely propped up by his little stove.
       He opened the big door and I led the horses in.  “You can have the tack, and I’ll talk with you later about the horses.  Take care of Star and Doc’s horse will yuh?”
       I saw him look over the horses then scratch his chin.  “Marshal, you used to think about raisin’ horses didn’t yuh?” he asked, but before I could answer he continued.  “There’s a couple of fine lookin’ mares there that would make a match with that thoroughbred stallion of yours.”
       Glancing over at Star, I looked at the two horses Moses was speaking of.  “Maybe,” I muttered, “but right now I’ve got to get on down to the diner.”
       It took a little time walking through the snow and ice.  It had warmed up just enough and for time to pass that some of the snow melted, but now with night and the temperature dropping it had turned to ice.  The door of the diner was unlocked so I went on in to find Molly putting some wood on the stove.  I also saw that she had the coffeepot on the stove and was warming up a plate of food.
       I took off my heavy coat and she came over when she saw me to give me a hug.  “Brrr, you’re cold.  Come sit by the fire.  I kept some of those enchiladas that you like warm for you.”
       First off, she poured me a cup of coffee.  It wasn’t fresh, but it was hot.  She was right, I was cold to the bone.  Then she placed a plate of enchiladas in front of me covered with sauce and onions.  On the side was a mess of pintos.  “Eat up, Mister,” she said, jokingly.  “That’s supper tonight and tomorrow night.  We haven’t been busy, but Emelda made up a bunch of enchiladas.”
       She poured herself a cup of the strong brew and sat down beside me.  While I was feeding my face, she was watching me.  “Rough time?” she inquired as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.  “Here, use the napkin.”
       I squinted up at her with a pretend frown, but then I just had to smile.  I sighed, “Rough time.”
       The last bite of beans was on my fork when she got up and headed for the kitchen.  “I didn’t forget you,” she said as she left.  A few minutes later she came back with a large piece of butterscotch pie on a plate.  With the heat from the stove, and my stomach now feeling warm from the food, I was in a much better frame of mind and soul.  But when she brought out that piece of pie.  Well, now there’s a woman that knows her man!
       There was only one lamp burning, off on the counter where you enter the kitchen and it was turned down low.  The only other light came from the stove.  She put her hand on mine as I ate at the pie, sipping coffee between bites.  “Want to talk about it?”
       We sat there, pretty much in the dark while I told her of Doc’s ordeal and what happened in the cabin with the Goss gang.  She told me that she let Marta off today so she could take tomorrow off.  “I know it’s too cold to do much, but I reckoned we could just stay around the house.”
       “Sounds good,” I replied.  “I will have to go down to Parker’s for a few minutes, but I want to talk to you about something anyway.  Moses mentioned that…”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He wasn’t a quitter. Until the end, fail as he might, he would be in there trying.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Proving Trail)

       “‘But the word of the LORD endures forever.’  Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”
                    –1 Peter 1:25 (NKJV)
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Have you ever seen a map of modern day Israel and the countries around it?  A small piece of land surrounded by enemies.  Even within those enemy countries there are other foes such as Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and others that vow to destroy Israel.  However, as we see in Psalm 108, God is in control and has parceled out the land.

          6 — That Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your right hand, and hear me.
          7 — God has spoken in His holiness:  “I will rejoice; I will divide Shechem and measure out the Valley of Succoth.
          8 — Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the helmet for My head; Judah is My lawgiver.
          9 — Moab is My washpot; over Edom I will cast My shoe; over Philistia I will triumph.”
        10 — Who will bring me into the strong city?  Who will lead me to Edom?
        11 — Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?  And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
        12 — Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless.
        13 — Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.  (NKJV)

     We see this now as past deeds which the Lord has performed, but with that in mind we know…we know that it “also constitutes promises of present and future aid.”  (George Wood)  David knows the heart of God, he knows the character of God and that God can be relied upon.
     Edom, Moab, Philistia, where are they today?  God in His providence took care of them.  However, Israel is still surrounded by a host of foes.  They must always be prepared for an attack for their enemies desire to annihilate them.  There will come a day, not far off in the future, when it will seem that Israel will be downtrodden, but then the the Lord of Hosts will appear in the skies with the armies of heaven to deliver.
     This psalm, as with others, may also be taken personally.  What foes are you facing?  Is it habits, or finances?  Perhaps you are facing a terrific battle against foes at work, or persistent physical weakness.  It may be that great enemy–self.  “The very God who refuses to assist you when you are stubborn, rebellious, and self-willed turns toward you when you are vulnerable, humble, and penitent.” (Wood)  
     Our faith must be rightly placed; our heart must be humble and yearning to serve Him and Him alone.  When we repent we call upon God to act.  When we remember the promises of God, we gain strength.  We must have the courage to stand upon the Word of God no matter how trying the circumstances, no matter how impossible the task may seem, no matter what or how many enemies we may be facing.  Life comes at us, seasons come and go, battles ebb and flow, but the promises of God will never fail.  The words of Isaiah proclaim, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8, NKJV)

               “Conquering now and still to conquer, Jesus thou ruler of all,
               Thrones and their scepters all shall perish; crowns and their splendor shall fall.
               Not to the strong is the battle, not to the swift is the race,
               But to the true and the faithful, victory is promised through grace.”
                         –Sallie Martin

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The coffeepot was hot. The fire burned low, but there was a good bed of coals. He lifted the lid on the stove and added a few sticks from the woodbox. Then he took a cup, filled it with coffee, and went to the table.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Borden Chantry)
 
Is the weather suitin’ yuh now?  Well, no matter the weather, come on in an’ we’ll have some coffee together.  Pard, we’ve gone from a long, hot, dry summer to a really cold spell, then to a week of rain, where it’s now finally settlin’ down to some wonderful weather.  But don’t be countin’ on the weatherman.  I used to say that was the only job where people were paid to lie, but I’ve added a few more to the list.  Listen, don’t even be a-believin’ ol’ Punxsatawny Phil.  The furry booger has been know to lie.
       But whatever the weather, the pot’s on the stove, an’ if’n yur real nice, I’ll brew up some fresh an’ not give yuh the mornin’ leftovers.  Good coffee this mornin’!  Pard, I got up this mornin’, made the coffee, then sat myself down in my readin’ chair to watch gray light begin to appear.  I was a-sittin’ and a-contemplatin’ when I thought I heard horses movin’ into that heavenly corral.  Yuh think it could’ve been the foreman, Michael, telling Gabriel and the other angel hands to go gather up the herd?  So I contemplated that waitin’ for the sun to rise up through the trees.
       Then I started to ponder on the goodness of the Lord.  My, yuh sure don’t have to look far to see His goodness.  Take a deep swaller, an’ then tell me of God’s goodness.  He made the bean to grow on a bush, gave someone the work to pick them.  Somewhere’s down the line they were roasted just for you and me, then I finally brewed it up this mornin’.  God is good an’ that’s just a simple example.  Why, I looked in the mirror shavin’ yesterday and saw the lines of age etched on my face.  Some folk never get to be this old, so the Lord is good.  An’ those lines, well, Pard, that’s just experience showin’ through.  Yep, sure beholdin’ to the Lord for all His goodness to me all through the years.  Sorry, Pard, didn’t mean to go gettin’ sentimental on yuh.
       Pot’s empty, that means it’s time for yuh to be moseyin’ on down the road.  The Lord willin’ the coffee’ll be on for yuh next Saturday.  Yuh be havin’ a good week…say, see that’s another example of the goodness of God.  If’n we have a day in front of us it’s due to His goodness, an’ Pard, beyond that His mercies are new every mornin’.  Yuh stay safe, keep yur gun ready and yur life prayed up, an’ Pard, don’t forget to check yur cinch.  Don’t be fallin’ on yur noggin’ this early in the year.
        Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Sure can’t beat a crackling campfire out on the trail, for a fine place to talk about life and its unknown meanings.”

                    –J.V. James  (Oldest Trick in the Book)

       “When they got there, they saw that a charcoal fire was burning and fish were frying over it, and there was bread.  ‘Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,’ Jesus said.”
                    –John 21:9-10 (NLT)
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I want to start out today with a note from Vine.  “The worship of God is nowhere defined in Scripture.  A consideration of the verbs shows that it is not confined to praise; broadly it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement to God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done in such acknowledgement… To serve or to do service is rendered ‘worship.'”
     Pet Peeve #11:  When we have “worship service” in church.  Or sometimes we hear, “our time of worship is over.”  NO!!  That form of worship is over.  As Vine puts it, worship is not “confined to praise.”  
     When Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” (5:18, NKJV) he is speaking of worship.  Back to vine, it comes from the heart in thanksgiving.  Jesus told His disciples, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24, NKJV)  We worship from our heart, and we allow the Holy Spirit to worship through us.  But we must also worship in “truth.”  Truth means reality.  We worship in reality, in the reality of everyday life.  This is in service to God and to others in the name of the Lord.  Paul tells us what it is, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17, NKJV) and he continues, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23, NKJV)  Notice that thanksgiving is mentioned again, but all the emphasis on the phrase, “whatever you do.”  If we keep that in mind we will not wander from the path.  We will not get into things that are not godly for whatever we do it is unto the Lord–it is worship.
     I want to bring one more verse to your attention, Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (NKJV)  The NIV translates the verse this way, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–which is your spiritual worship.”  Are you beginning to get the picture?
     Now I want to bring us to Martha.  Poor Martha, often maligned, but let’s look at a verse more closely.  “Martha was cumbered about with much serving.” (Luke 10:40, KJV).  The NKJV puts it this way, “But Martha was distracted with much serving…”.  It is important to remember that a Christian is a servant, and therefore, they must serve.  It was not her fault that there was much serving.  Think of Jesus, her family, and His disciples.  “Much serving” was to be done.  Listen, we cannot do too much.  We must do all that we possibly can for the Kingdom.  Our hearts, our minds, our hands and our feet should be involved and engaged in the service of the Lord.  Martha was busy preparing for her Lord.  Spurgeon said it this way, “Happy Martha, to have an opportunity of entertaining so blessed a guest; and happy, too, to have the spirit to throw her whole soul so heartily into the engagement.”
     What happened to Martha happens so often to those in the ministry for the Lord no matter the level they serve on.  Too many often get caught up in their service.  Many ministers, and I hate the term, “burn out” in the ministry.  They either do not recognize it as a calling or they become “cumbered” with the ministry.  They get distracted in their service.  They forget that the focus should be on Jesus and not on the service.  “We ought to be Martha and Mary in one:  we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time.” (Spurgeon)  An example, Joshua never grew weary in fighting, but Moses needed two helpers to hold up his hands.  Communion with the Lord and service for the Lord should neither be neglected.  
     Our life is to be one of worship.  My Pastor, Mike Minter, said, “True worship is a life to be lived; a lifestyle.”  Don’t get caught saying that our time of worship is over, or that worship is for the church or other Christian activities.  No, “True spiritual worship is not a matter of special times and special places because it is of all times and all places.” (D.L. Moody)  It would do us well to remember that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore know, “You are always in a temple. Always worship.” (John Piper)  Don’t get caught up in saying that only the singing is the worship service, A.W. Tozer said, “If your life does not worship God, your lips do not worship God either.”  
     Enough of the writing and reading (oh, I will throw this in, my first unit when I taught apologetics was “Reading as Worship”) let’s get on with our lives and worship with them.  No matter the situation, no matter the issue, no matter the troubles at hand–worship “in spirit and in reality.”