Month: May 2025

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.  But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.”  –Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NLT)
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     “I let them take me!” he cried.  “Just like a greenhorn, I let them take me.”  He moaned, grabbing for his badge.
     As soon as his hand touched it, I thrust mine forward to hold it against his and the badge.  “Don’t,” I commanded, “let it there for a moment.  Feel the heart beat under the badge.  That’s Charlie Gold, Sheriff.  That’s who you are Charlie, and at this point in time that’s where the Lord wants you.  Feel the beatin’.”
     His eyes caught mine and I could see them watering up.  “Charlie, you couldn’t have stopped it.  There were too many and they were waitin’ for you.”  I removed my hand when he took a big sigh.  
     “You did it,” he murmured.  “You put them away.”
     “I had the surprise effect on my side.  Plus the Lord wasn’t ready to call me home yet.  He still has some rough edges He wants to work off of me.  And while I’m a preachifyin’ I’ll tell you this.  He knew what was happenin’ and for some reason He allowed it.  Now it’s up to you to sort through all of that and try to come up with some kind of conclusion.  Why did He leave you alive?  I’ll tell you, Sheriff, you’ve still got work to do!”
     I looked over in the cell where McGinnis was lying unconscious, then glanced at John Smith who was on his side facing the wall.  I couldn’t tell if he was sleeping or ignoring our conversation.  “Tanner!” I hollered.  “You have any coffee made?”
     There was some kind of comment from the outer office that I couldn’t make out.  “Tanner!”
     He poked his head in the doorway, “I’m makin’ some now Marshal.  It’ll be ready soon.”
     Turning my attention back to Charlie I asked, “You hungry?”
     He shook his head, which I didn’t pay any attention to.  “I am.  Sure wish I had a piece of Molly’s pie.  It wouldn’t make any difference what kind.”  That got a little chuckle from Charlie.  “An’ I reckon you’d like Marta to serve you a piece.”
     “I could eat a piece of pie,” he muttered.
     “You rest, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”  I got up and went out where Tanner was busy with the coffeepot. 
     “Any place close to get something to eat?”
     Tanner said there was a greasy kitchen across the street.  That usually appeals to my gizzard.  He said he’d have the coffee ready by the time I got back.  I needed to send a telegram to Molly, but that would have to wait until the morning.  I’m sure Marta wanted to know something about Charlie as he hasn’t contacted her in a couple of days.  I ordered up three bowls of chili, one for Tanner and one for Charlie in case he changed his mind about eating.  
     When I came back Tanner looked grateful.  He seemed the sort that lived on grease.  The chili wasn’t bad, somewhat on the hot side, but that was all right.  I enjoyed the peppers that the cook used, but I wasn’t too sure as to what kind of meat was in it and I knew better from past experiences not to ask.  The eatery was kind enough to let me take three small buckets of food out as I assured them I would bring them back in the morning.
     Charlie at least tried to eat a few bites, but then handed me the bucket telling me that he was tired.  I knew he needed his rest, and when Tanner asked if he could have the rest of Charlie’s chili I handed it over to him thinking that Charlie wouldn’t eat cold chili.  I’d get breakfast down at the hotel where I usually stayed when I went out to send the telegram in the morning.
     The rest of the night, Tanner slept in the only open cell, while I leaned back in the chair propping my feet on the desk.  I pulled my Bible from my saddlebags reading one of my favorite chapters from Psalms, that being 91.  After reading it quietly to myself, I thanked the Lord for His protection from my enemies and that no harm befell me in the performance of my duties.  It wasn’t arrows flying at me, but there was plenty of lead.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it.  My marks and scars I carry with me, to be witness for men, that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder.”

                    –John Bunyan  (Pilgrim’s Progress)

       “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”
                    –Psalm 116:15 (NKJV)
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          “The tumult and the shouting dies;
              The captains and the kings depart:
          Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
              And humble and contrite heart.
          Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
          Lest we forget–lest we forget!”
                    –Rudyard Kipling

MEMORIAL DAY!  What does that mean to you?
     It is a day that we remember the sacrifice of those who paid with their lives the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  And no, it is not wrong to remember those who gave their health, bodies: physical and mental, and time to serve their country.  Often we get Memorial Day mixed up with Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day.  That’s also all right.  Our servicemen and women have given for their country from those conscripted to those who made it a career.
     In reading this past weekend there were two phrases that kept coming up.  Perhaps it was just for me, but I’ll share them with you.  First, “lest we forget,” the emphasis of the above poem by Kipling.  The other “have not died in vain.”  Oh my, does that ring within my soul today and in the current world in which we live.  Our military is in a mess.  Let us go back to the words of that first great commander of American armies, George Washington.  “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.”  Those words are as true today as when Washington spoke them in his Farewell Address.
     Listen, there must be a higher truth of morals and sacrifices are demanded.  If a person is to “give his all” then there must be a higher truth than what we have thrown at us today.  Trying to drive into those who are to hold a sacred trust the concept of multi-gender, trans-gender, and any other ridiculous genderism is a farce and does nothing more than demine the concept of faith that those who sacrifice must have.  Preferred pronouns have no place in the service, in fact, there is far too much time dealing with this pseudo issues than in preparedness.

          “Beneath this wooden cross there lies
          A Christian killed in battle.  You who read,
          Remember that this stranger died in pain;
          And passing here, if you can lift your eyes
          Upon a peace kept by a human creed,
          Know that one soldier has not died in vain.”
                   –Karl Shapiro

     There is that same danger in regard to our faith.  Complacency and compromise in the name of toleration is undermining the faith and truth of God’s Word.  Do you take the time to remember?  “This is my body, which is for you:  do this in remembrance of me…  This cup is the new covenant in my blood:  do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25, NIV)  In remembrance…!  We are in the midst of forgetting, not only our moral roots but also our spiritual ones.  Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we read, “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (vs 29, NIV)   In remembrance so that these honored dead will not have died in vain; in remembrance so that the Lord will not have died in vain in our soul.
     This day should be a sobering reminder that there have been multiplied thousands who have died for our freedom.  But also, remember that the King of glory came to die for us as well.  Lest we forget….Lest we forget!

          “Soldier, rest!  Thy warfare o’er,
          Dream of fighting fields no more:
          Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking
          Morn of toil, nor night of waking.”
                    –Sir Walter Scott

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Sitting on the edge of his fire was a blackened coffeepot. It was a daily ritual, making and drinking coffee. A foot from the fire, resting on the ground, was his coffee mug. He drank from it regularly throughout the day. Every day.”

                    –Cotton Smith
 
     Greetin’s to yuh, Pard.  Coffee’s hot and strong, come an’ grab a cup.  Don’t yuh be bashful!  Trust yuh had a good week, no matter what though, it’s past.  Might be some consequences left over, but they’ll pass.  The thing is Pard, to face the day, and prepare for the future.  ‘Course we know that day might not show up, but we need to be ready if it does.  Same’s true ’bout the comin’ of the Lord.  It’s gonna happen, it might not be today, but we have our heart ready in case He comes tomorrow.
     Yuh know, seasons come and go, not only the seasons of nature, but of life and even in the short term.  Last night the middle granddaughter moved from the season of high school to the big adult world and the world of college.  Big change, but it is part of life.  Oh, not necessarily the college part, but the season of movin’ on with life after high school.  Boy howdy, I can remember that time.  I was ready to get on with the summer for baseball and then on to college.  I was raised right, and was ready to prove myself to the world.  It was time for me to be gettin’ on.  Long story short, I made it through–could have done better, but I made it.  Then on to the military, which I enjoyed.
     By the time I was headin’ for my Masters, I had my habits and routine down, and really enjoyed that work.  Yep, seasons come and go.  What’s that yuh say?  I’m in the season where I’m ridin’ my rockin’ chair now.  Pard, yuh best be careful or I’ll cut yur coffee rations.  Now, I’ll tell yuh the truth.  When I get up in the mornin’ to do my readin’ and studyin’ I sit in my rocker, drinkin’ coffee, lookin’ at the sun shine through the trees.  I’m not about to be thrown by that chair, but sometimes the readin’ stumps me or at least causes me to contemplate.
     Quit yur grinnin’.  But what I’m tellin’ yuh is that seasons come, and they go.  However, and get this Pard, get it good–the Lord is with us in all seasons of life, all seasons of change along the journey.  Our job is to be listenin’ to Him and obeyin’ His Word.  If’n we do that we’ll have a better time gettin’ through the obstacles on the trail and facin’ those fiery darts of the enemy.
     One thing I’ve noticed through the years of our partakin’ of coffee together.  No matter the day, the hour, or the season, I keep havin’ to reminding yuh to check yur cinch.  One of these days…   Well, we’ll leave it at that.
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

What a man knows isn’t important. It’s what he is that counts.”
                    –Jack Schaefer  (Shane)

       “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.”
                    –Psalm 27:13 (NLT)
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There are many things that I do not understand and the older I get it seems as if there are more of them.  I don’t understand when people say, “adulting is hard,” or “I have to adult today.”  Grow up!  A couple of years back I responded to someone on Facebook who I thought I knew.  Through their high school years they were one of the “whining babies” but a good student.  They wrote a whining note on Facebook to which I responded, “Get a life,” and received a scathing letter on messenger on her behalf.  Another one I hear quite a bit, “I’m so stressed out.”  My mercy, do you not have the Holy Spirit living within you?  
     I read the words of Jesus, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, NKJV)  More abundantly, not stress, not worry, but abundant life is through Jesus.  The abundant life that gives salvation, nourishment to our souls, healing for our bodies and minds, strength to face the problems of the day and life.  Why then do we whine and whimper?  
     Perhaps it is because we try to do everything in our own strength; we forget that we belong to the Lord.  Our confidence is in ourselves and when we fail, well, some just fall apart.  Shame…  Because of Christ and the Holy Spirit living within us and guiding us we should have confidence to face each day, to face each problem, to climb over each obstacle.  In Christ life is good.  That does not mean that everything in life is good.  Someone wrote, “Life is composed of both joys and sorrows, triumphs and defeats.  Yet when we consider all the experiences of life in relation to our love for God, life as a whole works out for our good.”  Paul reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NKJV)  Grab hold of those first few words–“We know that all things…”.
     I know of those who say that we can make it.  Have confidence in yourself; pull yourself up; take one more step.  Listen, without Christ that is a recipe for failure.  Oh, yes, we are to have confidence, but our hope is in the Lord.  We should have confidence–faith and trust–in our heavenly Father.  He is the One who has our future in His hands.  He is the One in whom we can depend.  Therefore, put your confidence in Him.  “Success or failure is not measured by a few outstanding or disappointing days, but by all the days of our life.” (Elijah A. Cockman)  
     Quit being a whining baby!  Be a man or woman of God!  Stand firm, and when having done all, continue to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)  Listen, through the exercise of our faith, God will take the events of each day and work them for our good.  But we must trust and not doubt.  We are to be joyful and not murmur.  Perhaps we should recall what happened to all the whining babies that Moses had to deal with.  If I recall rightly, they all died in the wilderness except the two who had faith–Joshua and Caleb.  Live your life abundantly in Christ.  The words of Thoro Harris should be ours as well:

               “Are you trusting Jesus, All along the way?
               Does He grow more precious To your heart each day?
               Are you His disciple?
               Test His Word and see,
               He will give the Spirit more abundantly.”