Month: October 2024

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
There was movement in the brush alongside the creek and I had left my rifle in camp.  I reached down to ready my pistol when a tan blur jumped from the bush.  I started to draw my pistol, but it hit me before I could get it out.  Knocking me backward, the pan flying in one direction landing on some rocks making a racket.  But then…that was it.  I looked to see what had happened.  It was a cougar, but I guess he decided that I wasn’t going to be that tasty a meal.  Reckon I surprised him, and he jumped at me then took off up the side of the slope.
     I breathed a deep sigh, then said, “Thank you, Lord!  You have definitely delivered me from the lion.”  It was then I felt a pain in the top of my left arm.  I looked at my shoulder, saw the jacket was ripped and there was a small stream of blood.  A few inches to the right and it could have been my face, or worse, my neck.  To look at the arm better I needed to get back to the fire for better light.  It was then I remembered to find my little pan.
     Picking it up, I thought that maybe it was the sound of that pan hitting the rocks that scared off the lion.  Then I chuckled, who was I kidding?  It was the Lord for sure.  I hadn’t had an encounter with Him for quite a spell.  Of course, I hadn’t been out by myself in the wilderness very often either.  I remembered the times in my life that He appeared at my campsite, giving me comfort and direction.  There was that one time when I found a can of salve left from one of the encounters with him.  I sure wish I had some of that now as my arm was beginning to hurt.
     Arriving back at camp, I fed several small branches into the small fire to build it up.  I pulled off my jacket so I could look at my arm.  There was a slight gash with blood seeping from it.  Nothing serious, in fact my shirt and jacket probably saved it from being much worse.  “Need to be more careful, Miles,” came the voice.  I jumped, looked around.  Nobody was there.  “You know better than to be that careless in the woods…”  
     There was no one there, but the voice, I had definitely heard it.  I smiled, He was there all the time.  “Yes, Lord,” I said in a whisper for some reason.  “I know better, and I’ll be more careful.”  There was no reply.
     I picked up my rifle, and the empty pan as I had forgotten to put water in it, and headed back to the stream.  Several minutes later I had the pan on the fire and water was boiling.  Soon I would have a cup of coffee to get the morning started on a better note than it had been.  But then, I thought, it had started on a good note.  There was the hand of the Lord on me as He protected me.  What could be a better start to the day?  
     As I was sipping on the coffee and waiting for the rest of the chicken to heat, I thought that every day the Lord is with me to start it off.  I just don’t often recognize that He is there.  After eating, I went to the stream to wash as much blood from my jacket as I could.  Molly would be able to mend it when I got home.
     I had a small bait of oats which I gave Star as I saddled him.  When he was ready to go, I let him finish eating while I had a final cup of coffee then put out the fire.  It was time to be on down the road.  I was hoping that today I would catch up with Martin.  I wasn’t hankering to be out too long on this trip.
     Star was moving at an easy lope, and it was moving close to noon when I came over a little rise to be greeted by the sight of buzzards flying overhead.  I stopped to see if I could spot something that they were sighting in on.  I wished I had brought my field glasses, but I didn’t even think about packing them.  I just wasn’t used to being on the trail, and was a little lax.
     I rode Star down the hillside, walking him while I pulled the Greener from my scabbard.  That was one thing I hadn’t forgotten.  I normally travelled with a rifle and the shotgun.  In my line of work, it pays to be well-armed.  There were several large boulders ahead which I saw would be a good place for an ambush.  While I wasn’t expecting one from Martin, I still rode slowly into those rocks.  Renegade Apaches was on my mind.
     To my right I saw a buzzard on the ground coming from between two large boulders.  I halted Star, dismounted and walked toward the bird.  I waved the Greener and he squaked but flew away.   Slowly I crept through the opening.  At first glance I saw where there had been a fire, then to my chagrin I could see the birds feasting on…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The reason must be that in the development by the desert, in the case of these few men who did not retrograde, the spiritual kept pace with the physical. It means these men never forgot, never reverted to mere unthinking instinct, never let the hard, fierce, brutal action of survival on the desert kill their souls. Spirit was stronger than body.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

       “Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”

                    –Isaiah 35:6 (HCSB)
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                   “Glad tidings of comfort and joy
                   Comfort and joy,
                   Glad tidings of comfort and joy.”
                          –unknown

When I began to study and read Psalm 126, the above carol came to my mind.  This morning be sure and take time as you read to think of all that the Lord has done for you.

          1 — When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.
          2 — Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.  Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
          3 — The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad.
          4 — Bring back our captivity, O LORD, as the stream in the South.
          5 — Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
          6 — He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.  (NKJV)

I like the way the NLT translates verse 1, “When the LORD restored his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!”  Notice the exclamation mark.  Ah, “to dream the impossible dream” (Mitch Leigh), that is one thing but to live it is another.  Cyrus had done an unheard of thing; he was allowing captive people to go back to their homeland.  Remember this psalm was written on the upward climb to Jerusalem.  Tired and weary, was the composer thinking of the time when the people of Israel were slaves in Babylon, languishing and only dreaming of Jerusalem?  George Wood puts it succinctly, “Their freedom seemed like a dream (vs 1) that quickly turned to the reality of joy (vs 2) and grateful recognition of what the Lord had done (vs 3).”
     There was a song written a few years back by Dawn Thomas.  It starts out, “He’ll do it again!”  Friend, when you feel down and out, when hope is beginning to fade, that is the time to reflect on the goodness of God.  He is there!  I cannot emphasize that enough.  
               “Just take a look at where you are now and where you’ve been,
               Hasn’t He always come through for you?
               He’s the same now as then (Don’t you know God has not changed).
               You may not know how,
               You may not know when,
               But He’ll do it again.”
     We have a definite advantage for we have the Bible to look into; add that to our own personal experiences and we know, we see, and we are certain that God is with us and no matter the situation He is there beside us, walking us through the turmoil of life.
     The Lord is amazing and He has done great things.  He not only did them in the past, but He is doing great things for us and in us, and not only that, He will continue to do great things for us.  See, the past is important, reflect on the greatness and goodness of God that we see in His Word, but also in your own life.  “That sort of reflection doesn’t seep into our emotions unless we take time to let God’s Word speak to us about what God does for His people.  He delivers.  By faith, you place yourself within the company of those who belong to God, and you say, ‘He did not release only them.  My day is coming.'” (Wood)
     We see that the psalmist is concerned because of the desert, that rugged desert called the Negev.  When we think of the desert most likely the mind goes to water, or the lack thereof.  Walking this rugged trail, thirst can be a problem.  Looking at the desert it is dry and often we see our lives in the same situation.  But hold on!  There will be streams in the desert; keep trusting God.  Let’s look at those last verses one more time from the NLT.  “Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert.  Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.  They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”
    Yes, weariness comes to us all.   “You are in the moment between ‘great thing He has done’ (vs 1-3) and ‘song of joy’ (vs 4-6).  Get back on the trail.  Continue the upward climb.  Now is no time to quit.”  (Wood)

               “Low we bow before thy face;
               Sons of God, O wondrous place;
               Great the riches of thy grace.
               Father, we adore thee.”
                     –Samuel Trevor Francis

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Moving quietly, he fastened his gun belt and poured himself a cup of coffee and went out onto the porch.” 

                    –John Deacon  (Justice Returns)
 
Mornin’ to yuh, Pard.  Coffee’s hot, black, and ready to pour so set yurself down; the cups are already on the table.  Sure ‘nough satisfyin’.  One of the few things that is anymore with all the foolishness of wokeism that floatin’ ’round.  Woke?  Hardly, more like fast asleep, not havin’ a clue, and the lackin’ of common sense.  Work ethic?  Gone down the drain, they depend on bail outs.  Now, listen Pard, I’m not against helpin’ someone out who’s needin’ it and is willin’ to take their part.  But handouts, cancellin’ debts, well, to my way of thinkin’ that leads to faulty character.
     My ol’ pard, Bob, wrote in his blog that he doesn’t fear what will happen in the upcomin’ election.  Yuh know, he’s right!  Me neither, God’s in control, however, I am a mite concerned over the future of this country and the life that lies ahead for my grandkids.  ‘Cuse me, need another swallow.  Ahhh… now I was a-sayin’ I know for a fact that the words of that song are true:  “Through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God.  Through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.” (Andrae Crouch)  That’s a fact, Pard.  No matter what God is there; He’ll see His children through.
     But that don’t be a-meanin’ that we should get all lackadaisical, in fact the righteous should be up in arms and a-showin’ them liberals and antichrists how the cow eats the cabbage.  Ha, haven’t thought of that sayin’ in years.  That was my Dad’s favorite.  And if evil continues and God’s children become the persecuted, then I’ll borrow from my Grandma, “Lord, help us through the jungles”.  We’ll need it for certain, and yuh know what?  He will.  Hmm, or perhaps He’ll come an’ take us home to glory.  Whooeeee, that would be something.  Think on election day that there are a mass of voters missin’…
     I’ve been readin’ ’bout Texas turnin’ blue.  Sure hopin’ not, but I’ve got the shotgun ready, and the pistol oiled and loaded.  My faith is in the Lord, an’ knowin’ that He’ll be with me and mine through it all.  Say, let’s finish this here coffee so’s we can get on with the chores of the day.  An’ Pard, we all better be checkin’ our cinches an’ that includes the spiritual ones.
      Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Man can get so hung up and uptight over the fineries and niceties of life that they forget that it is most often the simple things that truly satisfy.”
                    –D.C. Adkisson  (Redemption)

       “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”

                    –Psalm 19:7 (Amplified)
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I was sitting in my chair, after doing my morning devotions trying to decide on what profound thing I might come up with for my morning note.  I noticed that the temperature had dropped significantly, then looked out the window to see the tops of the trees swaying in the breeze.  Simple, but restful.  My thoughts went back to some of those cold mornings when I was a kid.  I’d go out and play in the snow and cold until my bones were near frozen, then come in and get in front of the furnace.  We had one furnace, located in the dining room for the house.  
     Simple, was life to be made so complex and complicated?  Or have we done it to ourselves?  I think of the words from Daniel, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and from, and knowledge shall increase.” (12:4, NKJV)  Knowledge shall increase, but what about wisdom and common sense?  Because of the foolishness of men and the constant running around there is little of that these days.  
     I think of the many campfires I have sat in front of watching the flames flicker.  And, now, I am thinking of the “echoes” left by those fires and so many other memories.  I have found that in the autumn years of my life I do more reflecting.  I had found that a person can sit and look back with regret, or they may look back with fondness.  Sure, there are regrets, but mostly my mind turns to fond memories–the echoes of the campfires.  I read again from my notes the words of Mother Teresa, “We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is the friend of silence.  See how nature–trees, flowers, grass–grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…  The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.  We need silence.”
     Activity, running to and fro, trying to make a dollar.   We do more to make a living that we do to make a life!  We hustle and bustle and break our backs and our shoulders droop with stress to get by when we should spend quality time with family and friends, and most importantly with our heavenly Father.   Then the moment comes when the family decides to get together, a vacation, but finally there is the time to escape the hub-bub of the busy schedule.  However, in the midst of it all, the planning, and the hopes, Bernard Brady points out, “In the process, however, they may still be so imbued with the sense of hurry and the thrill of travel that they actually lose what they came to find.”
     Stress!  That awful, seemingly too frequent a word used nowadays.  Why does life seem so stressful, at least to some?  Where is the peace, contentment, and joy of the Lord?  Perhaps life has become too complicated.  Perhaps we are searching, seeking, and trying to please the flesh and self and waste too much time, money, and effort on things that are not really necessary and in fact, take away from the necessary things that God intended.  A person can get so busy living their dream and trying to make it come true that it becomes more of a nightmare.  More and more we should heed the words from the writer of Hebrews, “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.” (12:12-13, NKJV)  
     Yes, sitting here that morning I allowed the “echoes” to come to me.  I sat and was joined by our “snow puma” who jumped in my lap and stretched out.  A simple thing–a simple pleasure that I was allowed to enjoy.  Ah, God is good and from Him emerges peace and joy and contentment and a sound mind and…