Month: June 2025

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If her smile and beauty, and personality wasn’t enough, she could bake a pie. It wasn’t heaven, but it was right close to being such.”
                    –Ken Pratt  (Wilmore)

       “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

                    –Psalm 100:5 (ESV)
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          God is good!  –“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His faithfulness is everlasting.” (1 Chronicles 16:34, NASB)
     This is probably the most important date in my life.  I purposely used the term, “date” for several reasons.  First of all, this date is the date my life changed drastically.  Of course I realize that my birthday is an important date, because without that date, today, June 11, could not have happened.  This day, fifty-fours years ago, Annie and I tied the knot.  When the preacher, Annie’s brother Jon, pronounced that we were man and wife my life completely changed!  It wasn’t a slip-knot, nor a hangman’s noose, but the knot has held through the many years of marriage.  As I used a verse from Ecclesiastes, a triple-braided cord is not easily broken (4:12), Annie and I believe that is the case in our marriage.  She with her faith, me, with I hope my guidance, and then we add the third cord–the Holy Spirit.
     Some may disagree with this being the most important day.  They might say the day I was born-again is the most important.  That would be true, and that is why I used the term “date” rather than “day.”  I was raised in Sunday School and the church, my Grandma and Aunt made sure I knew the Bible stories and learned Bible verses, therefore it is hard for me to pinpoint one day.  I do remember that it was when I was nine years old during Vacation Bible School that I made an open, public confession of the Lord.  
     It was this day, for the better, that I was a changed man.  Many things changed, for one I was no longer a fast driver.  I realized that with my life I now had many various other responsibilities and a wreck and/or death would be disastrous.  There were other things along this line that I had to change.  Later, because of an injury and back surgery I refrained from sports and other similar activities because, in reality, the injury was harder on my wife than it was on me.  Yes, I was in pain, but she had to dress and undress me, drive everywhere, change the method of eating and location.  It was hard on her, therefore I didn’t want to put her through that again.  For better or worse.  So, see, the Lord was so good to me as He gave me a wonderful partner in life.  Plus, as Ken Pratt says, “How a woman could make something as simple as a piece of pie taste so good was beyond him.”
          God is good! –“…No one is good but One—God.” (Mark 10:18, HCSB)
     Besides being good to me by giving me a wonderful wife, God has also granted me ten years since my heart attack.  It was ten years ago this last Sunday that I rode in an ambulance to the hospital.  I had, what felt like a fist slam into my chest.  Annie and I were planning on driving to Maryland the next day when it happened.  The doctor said it was a good thing I came to the hospital for I would not have survived had it happened on the highway.  I had a 100% blockage.  
     Between a good doctor and the good Lord, they fixed me up; at least good enough for ten years.  I leave the rest in the Lord’s hands.  How long do I have left, I don’t worry or fret over that, all is well and in the hands of a good God.  So I am grateful to Him for this ten-year anniversary.
       God is good! –“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8, NKJV)
     Forgive me for being personal in this morning‘s devotion.  I don’t do it often, and I reckon since I am writing it, I can write about myself once in a while.  I recently turned seventy-five, another anniversary of sorts.  For the Lord has added five years to my allotted time on earth.  We read in Psalms, “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty…” (90:10, NLT)  Pappy, Annie’s Dad, lived until he was 96, so he was granted many years beyond the allotted seventy.  I wonder, as he did, what the Lord has for me in the years to come, whether they be few or many.  My service to the Lord has certainly had to change.  I am no longer as mobile, agile, or hostile (?) as I once was, and am more on the fragile side.  I try to study, write and for sure do more praying to keep some sort of ministry going to others and to myself.  I don’t worry about tomorrow, I learned way back in my childhood days to trust in the Lord.  Throughout my life, in troubles, failures, victories, celebrations that I never lost my trust in Him.
     Listen, if you didn’t get anything from this devotion this morning I hope you were able to grasp hold of this — The Lord sure is good!

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
–Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
     Beavin stood there with eyes wide open.  Then he blurted, “I don’t know nothing about marshaling.  I’m a miner!”
     I eyeballed him, “You know right from wrong, don’t you?”
     “Yes, but…”
     “But nothing, you can handle this.  Just use common sense, be firm.  Your job is to keep the peace and the people safe.  Do that and you don’t need to know all the details of the law,” I paused letting that sink in.  “The fine points of the law will come, but right now we need peace in this town.”
     He ducked his head, then lifted it speaking, “I’m not much good with a pistol…”
     I held up my hand to stop his talking then went over to the wall where there were rifles and shotguns.  Grabbing one of them, I brought it over to him.  “All you need is this.”  I held out a Baker Three-Barrel Gun.  It had two 12-gauge barrels with the third barrel chambered for a .44-40 cartridge.  If I didn’t have the Greener it would be my gun of choice.
“You don’t have to know how to use a pistol with this.  It works simply–point and fire.”
     Glancing at his arm, “Take off that sling.  If you don’t need it tomorrow, you don’t need it today.  Take hold of this fine weapon, get a feel of it,” I smiled, “you’ll do all right.  I’ll be back within the week to check on you.”
     Charlie started to object, but I glared at him and he quickly stifled his objections.
     Osain was starting to come around.  “Can I hire my own deputies?”
     I looked at Charlie, then answered, “As long as they understand they work for the law, and that either Sheriff Gold or myself can fire them at any time.  I don’t want any high-minded men thinking that a star gives them the right to bully.  Understand?”
     He nodded.  “I’ve some Welsh brothers who are down on their luck.  Good men, mind you.”
     “They’ll listen to you?” I snapped.  “I told you I don’t want no bullies!”
     “They’ll listen,” then he smiled.  “The pay will help feed their bellies.  Plus Rhodri has a family, it will be a welcome sight for him to bring some bacon home.”
     Glancing over at Charlie, he gave a little nod.  Then he added to the conversation, “Tanner’s a nervous sort.  Keep him as the jailer and he’ll be okay.”
     “Sheriff, you want to swear him in?” When Charlie was doing the honors I went over to the desk where I found one badge in a drawer.  Placing it on the desk I went to the back office where I found several more.  “Plenty of badges,” I told him, but remember, you have a budget.”
     “Beavins, fines collected go to the town treasury, however, your office will also get a percentage of them,” Charlie paused, “Just don’t overdo it.”
     “Marshal, Sheriff, I got the message.  All I can tell you is that I’ll do my best.”
     I nodded, “That’s all anyone can do.”  Then I added, “If you’re a prayin’ man do it, if not I’d start.”
     Turning my attention to Charlie, “Well, Sheriff, do you think you can manage to walk to the train station?  I’ll guard the prisoner while we amble down.”
     “We’ll leave as soon as Tanner gets back.  I want to tell him the situation.  What about Smith?”
     “It is my thinkin’ that we’ll leave Smith here until I return.  Hopefully Judge Klaser will have the trial and hangin’ before the week’s out.”
     We left within the hour, giving the reins to Osain Beavins and his men.  Hopefully they could keep the lid on the town.  McGinnis complained from the start until we boarded the train.  He complained that he couldn’t walk that far, then he complained about the hard seats on the train.  He hollered once that he was bleeding and when I replied that maybe he’d bleed out on the way down and we could just pitch his body over into the canyon he quieted down.
     So far, neither Sheriff Gold nor myself had seen anyone who looked like they might be one of McGinnis’ men.  Charlie was holding up good, but there was that feeling…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If you can’t see the difference between real life and modern froth, I’m sorry for you.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Lost Pueblo)


       “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'”
                    –Revelation 5:9 (ESV)
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What type of song do you sing?  What melody is in your heart?  That’s where I keep most of mine for to hear me sing would be like the sweet sound of a cat who has just had her tail squished over by a rocking chair.  F.B. Meyer states that, “new songs are demanded by new mercies.  Let us give God freshly broken loaves for His table.”  I like that.  As God gives us new mercies and new blessings we should be singing songs about those.  That’s what David is doing in Psalm 144, read it with this in mind, a new song makes sure that our praise doesn’t grow stale. (Wood)

          9 — I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
        10 — The One who gives salvation to kings, who delivers David His servant from the deadly sword.
        11 — Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood–
        12 — That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style;
        13 — That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
        14 — That our oxen may be well laden; that there be no breaking in or going out; that there be no outcry in our streets.
        15 — Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD!  (NKJV)

     Praise is an act of the will.  It is something that we do, not something that just happens.  Here we see David singing a new praise, or a new song expressing his confidence and trust in the Lord.  Look at what his song entails.  First of all there is the praise of victory because of his trust in God.  He will deliver us from the pestilence and the sword of our enemy, whatever form that may take.  Then we see that he is dependent upon the Lord.  Our praise should include our daily dependence on the Lord not only for the great victories, but for every blessing that comes our way.  Praise, then, should be continually on our lips, or at least in our hearts.
     Look at what David brings before the Lord.  He begins with family.  He hits on a key point and that is nurturing.  Children are not to be left alone, or to let media nurture them.  It is the job, duty, and obligation of the parents.  This is a battle for the State wants complete control over the children.  If you do not believe that look at the school curriculums.  Second, he brings up finances.  How will you make it through the day, how will you pay your bills?  The Lord will supply.  Look at the words of Paul, “…as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:10, NKJV)  Our hope, our trust, our faith is in the Lord–He is the One who will supply all our needs.
     Lastly he brings out the idea of security.  We live in a crazy, confused, and evil world.  Where is our safety?  It is in the arms of the Lord.  He is our Protector.  We have a calm assurance that He will protect and provide.  And I might mention that we should have our minds protected as well.  There is an onslaught of thinking out there that wants control of your thoughts.  Let the Holy Spirit guard your mind and that means you must get into the Word of God.  I like the way the NLT translates verse 15, “Yes, happy are those who have it like this!  Happy indeed are those who God is the LORD.”
     If you hear a bellowing, don’t worry; it’s not a buffalo groaning.  It my new song, a song of joy, blessing, and trust in the Lord.  Why it might even cause me to “clog in the kitchen” or at least “shuffle in the hallway.”  The Lord is good!  Sing about that, if you will!  We have a hope in Him.

               “We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,
               But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand;
               He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
               The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
               All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above;
               Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love.”
                           –Matthias Claudius

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He was waiting with a cup of water when the coffee began to boil. He poured the water in to sink the grounds, then dipped into the pot. He could barely see first light in the east.”

                    –Elmer Kelton  (Other Men’s Horses)
 
Come in this hyar kitchen, Pard.  Sit yurself down an’ I’ll get the coffee directly.  Go ahead, slurp on it.  Let’s get this first cup down ‘fore I unload what’s a brewin’ in my mind.  Ahhh, nothin’ like it, just makes the ol’ gizzard do flips.
     Yuh can keep sippin’ while I bring to yur attention something I saw this week.  Yuh know this ol’ world is upside down in its thinkin’ and livin’.  Sure glad there’s still plenty of good God-fearin’ folk around.  The Lord is always there, but I can feel in my bones something a-brewin’ up in the heavens.  Let me fill my cup and take a sip ‘fore I get started.
     Pard, I saw where a gay pride flag was raised over San Antonio City Hall.  Several writers were boasting that the city was declaring its support of diversity and equal and fair rights for all people.  However, in reading this, which by the way didn’t settle on my stomach so well, I didn’t see anything mentioned regarding moral purity, or God’s moral laws, or moral integrity.  There were plenty of statements beratting those who are intolerant.  I wonder, what would happen if the Christian flag was raised over City Hall?  What would be the response to that?
     Let me go on, get yurself another cup if’n yuh need it.  There’s a movement in the schools where the term “Family” is no longer to be used.  It has been determined that Family is a racist term that promotes “whiteness.”  The article further stated that the term “family” puts males in an authority position.  Duh….!  Course there could be a problem since there is one group in America where seventy-five percent of the households (I won’t use the term “home”) do not have a father.  The article indicates that it was the responsibility of teachers to help dismantle whiteness.
     “Chaos, confusion, bring it on”…is the chant of the lawless.  Can’t yuh just see ol’ Scratch a gigglin’ an’ cheerin’ them on?  John writes regarding many “antichrists,” but there will be one leader; one who will come forth in the midst of the chaos and confusion.  Pard, that day is approachin’.  Yep, there’s a great day comin’ and it may not be just bye and bye, but sooner than we think.  That’s why we have to be keepin’ our noses clean and ready for the comin’ of the Lord.  Yep, He’s a-comin’ back for His Bride, and nothin’ will be stoppin’ Him and then, oh my, the world will really see corruption, evil, and wickedness go on the rampage.
     Well, the pot’s empty, and the coffee in my cup is cold.  That’s what I get for a-preachifyin’ at yuh.  Yuh be havin’ a good week, ride straight and tall, keep yur bearin’ and be wary of yur surroundin’s, and keep yur gun and Bible handy.  Oh, an’ lest I forget, don’t be a-goin’ out without checkin’ yur cinch.  Yuh forget that and yuh might fall on yur noggin’.  That might cause yuh some confusion.
      Vaya con Dios.