Month: February 2026

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Indeed, a fool’s laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire.  This also is meaningless.” –Ecclesiastes 7:6  (NLT)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
     Lucas was standing at the corner, touching the edge of the building that the bullet hit.  As I approached, he smiled.  “What are you grinnin’ at?” I barked, touching my arm where there was a splinter.  Good thing I was wearing my heavy coat, so it didn’t penetrate deeply, if at all.
     “Senor Miles, aren’t you glad we prayed?  Otherwise…” he let it drop but pointed to the piece of wood in my arm.
     I wanted to act grumpy, but his smile won me over and I just replied, “You got a valid point there, son.”
     “Any tracks?”
     “Too many,” I responded, “I only know which direction he went.  Listen, we’ve made the rounds.  Why don’t you go back to the office, Mateo will be there soon.  I’m goin’ on down to the diner to get some breakfast and coffee.  After Mateo relieves you, come on down and I’ll buy you breakfast.”
     He smiled, “And maybe a piece of the Senora’s pie?”
     As I entered the diner, Molly was cleaning off a table at the front.  “I take it the shot didn’t hit you?” she said knowingly.
     How did she know?  I raised my arm to show off the piece of woodwork in my arm.
     “Oh, Miles.  Better go see Doc,” she reckoned while shaking her head.
     “Nah, I don’t even think it broke the skin.  Here, let me get off this coat.”  It was then that I felt a tug on my arm and some pain.  “Hold it, grasp the sleeve whilst I pull out this splinter.”
     It wasn’t long before she was doctoring up my arm.  I was right, the splinter was barely in, just enough to make it bleed some.  While she was bandaging it up, she asked, “Did you see who did it?”
     I reached for my coffee cup while shaking my head.  “He was gone by the time I dared poke my head around the corner.  I followed him up to Moss’ corrals, then I saw which direction he went, but didn’t bother to try and follow any tracks.”
     It was then that the door opened.  In walked Lucas and when he came to the table, he smiled and pointed.
     “Why’s he smiling?” asked Molly.
     “Oh, don’t pay the smart-alek any mind.  The sight of blood makes him giggle.”
     She frowned looking at me, then back to Lucas who was now taking his seat.  “Senora Molly, the big jefe said he would buy me breakfast and, that you might have a piece of pie for me, por favor,” snickered Lucas with that big grin plastered on his face.
     That caused her to laugh.  “Any particular type of pie?” she asked, placing her hands on her hip to feign exasperation.
     He smiled again, “No, Senora, I know whatever you make it is, uh, delicious.”
     Molly turned to walk to the kitchen, when Lucas spoke up, “But I am partial to chocolate.”
     After she entered the kitchen, Lucas turned to me.  “Senor Marshal Miles, I…”
     I stopped him holding up my hand.  “Stop the ‘Senor’ stuff.  It’s Miles or Marshal.”
     He looked at me, “Oh, Senor, I cannot call you by your first name.  You are much older than me.  It wouldn’t be right.”
     I frowned, then he continued, “There is something you might want to know.  One of the rifles…”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I could have unsaddled his horse for him, but that was something a man did for himself.”
                    –Elmer Kelton  (Eyes of the Hawk)

       “For His anger is but for a moment. His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
                    –Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)
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          “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” –Matthew 5:4, NKJV

The Amplified Bible has it this way, “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].”  Do not forget that the beatitudes deal primarily with the spiritual life of a person.  Yes, they do include the natural, but more importantly the spiritual.  Mourning, in general, is over the death of a loved one, but it also can mean the sorrow for sin or for condoning it.
     In this context we see that sorrow can be a source of blessing.  Blessed are those that mourn–a special kind of blessing from the Lord.  This is not carnal mourning; it is not primarily the loss of a loved one, but the loss of innocence, righteousness, and self-respect.  It is the kind of grief that has such a hold on a man that it cannot be hidden.  William Barclays puts it this way, “There are certain things which only the rains will produce, and certain experiences which only sorrow can begat.”  Or in the words of an Arab Proverb:  “All sunshine makes a desert.”  Tears may be involved for sure, but often it is the deep thought process and the grieving of the heart that is noted.  A deep sorrow over sin, a deep sorrow for hurting our heavenly Father.
     This beatitude is a sort of paradox:  happy are the unhappy.  This is the sorrow of repentance; it is a godly sorrow.  Grief, guilt, shame, are all present, then there is relief and rejoicing.   Notice that Jesus mourned.  He wept over the sins of others, over Jerusalem who would not receive Him.  What was His message to these?  Repent!  The man who is desperately sorry for his own sin and unworthiness needs to repent to experience the joy of the Lord.  “The thing which really changes men is when they suddenly come up against something which opens their eyes to what sin is and to what sin does.” (Barclay)  Thomas Watson tells us that, “True mourning begins in the love of God–and ends in the hatred of sin.”  Remember, it is not mourning for the dead.  John Chrysostom reminds us that “They are not blessed who mourn for the dead–but rather those who mourn for sin.”
     This is a war, a fight within man.  There is sorrow over sin, this inner war that can at times be grievous; it is the flesh versus the spirit.  It is a perpetual war for even after one is born again there is the fight with sin, the old man-flesh trying to regain its position.  We sorrow at our failings, our sins, our guilt now because we failed the Lord.  We now have a godly sorrow.  David wrote, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (Psalm 51:3, NKJV)  
     In the next few weeks we will continue to look at this beatitude.  In the meantime don’t be ashamed if you find yourself in spiritual morning.  Just to look at the news should bring mourning to our hearts as men and women turn their backs on God, mock His name and His holy standards.  When we sin, we fail to maintain the righteous ways of God, we should be in mourning.  Then, joy comes in the morning–we are blessed because of His great faithfulness and His wondrous mercy and grace.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He poured himself a cup of coffee. The welcome aroma of the fresh brew enveloped him, his mouth watering.” 

                    –Donald L. Robertson  (Stranger with a Star)
 
Pard, the stage is pullin’ up, an’ we’re nigh ready to be leavin’.  If’n yuh don’t make it in the next few minutes, the coffee’s sittin’ on the stove, yuh just need to be heatin’ it up.  I left yuh some, didn’t want yuh to go without.  Didn’t want yur feelin’s to be hurt all week goin’ without my famous brew.  Sorry I’m not around to put the coffee on, I knows yuh like to see me pourin’ a cup for yuh.
     I recall ol’ Abe sayin’ once, “If that’s coffee bring me some tea, and if that’s tea bring me some coffee.”  No wonder he became president, he knew what a good cup of coffee was.  None of that namby-pamby colored water.  As for tea, it has its place.  I don’t mind a cup now and then, but like one ol’ boy has written, “Tea is also brown and thin, and lacking in character.  It goes well with crumpets and doilies.  Tea is for lightweights.  Coffee is for the earnest, the committed.”  If my memory serves me right Ernestine Linck wrote that.  Listen, I’ve never heard anyone say that “tea is too strong.”  Or that “tea is strong enough to float a horseshoe.”  Tea is fine, in its place, but Pard, I’m a-knowin’ that yuh like yur coffee strong, bold, and black in the mornin’.
     The missus made up some tortillas, an’ I’m recallin’ my Grandma always pronouncin’ them Tor-till-las (and if’n yuh read my early books about Elias Butler, that’s what he calls them).  Some sausage and onions scrambled in with the eggs, and we’re ready to go.  Granddaughter’s birthday is this weekend an’ we’re headin’ up to see her in college.
     So as yuh head out into the week, don’t be settlin’ for no colored water professin’ to be coffee, nor for any of them cinos that mix in all sorts of silly stuff where’s yuh can’t even taste the coffee.  Why not just order fruit juice or a spinach smoothie?  In other words, don’t be playin’ with my coffee, an’ I knows yuh feel the same ’bout yurs.  Pard, so many in the church are that way ’bout what they’re wantin’ to hear.  I think they’ve got themselves a cino-Christianity.  Watered-down, flavored, not robust, not the real thing in other words.  Don’t be waterin’ down God’s Word, treat it like good and honest coffee–strong for the soul and gizzard.
     Stage is ready to be pullin’ out.  Yuh have yurself a good week in the Lord.  Be ridin’ straight an’ stittin’ tall in the saddle.  No cinos, be wary, carry yur Bible and gun so they’re ready to be used, for Pard, even though I didn’t see yuh this mornin’, don’t forget to be a-checkin’ yur cinch.  I want yuh around next week to be jawin’ with yuh.
     Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Most folks set their sights too high. They demand too much of life…. Let me tell you…the happy man is the man who is content with just what he needs…just so he has it regular.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Where the Long Grass Blows)                     

       “But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
                    –Psalms 73:28 (NIV)
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               “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”
                          –Philippians 4:11(NKJV)

Paraphrase:  “I find a sufficiency of satisfaction in my own heart, through the grace of Christ that is in me.  Though I have not outward comforts and worldly conveniences to supply my necessities, yet I have a sufficient portion between Christ and my soul abundantly to satisfy me in every condition.”  (Jeremiah Burroughs)  We see that contentment is closely related to yesterday’s study regarding gratitude and thankfulness.
     I recall an old Gene Autry movie (yes, I know some of you don’t have a clue).  There was one scene that comes to mind.  An eastern woman was posing as a cattle rancher.  Gene asked her what kind of cows she raised.  She hadn’t a clue, then spotted a box of condensed milk that had on the label, “our milk comes from contented cows.”  She immediately said, “we raise contented cows.”  No clue, and more, we don’t have much of a clue today what contentment is.  We have the means, the availability, the goods, and yet we are probably the least contented people in the world.
     We have to realize that contentment is a soul business.  It is being satisfied with what God does; knowing you are in good condition.  External contentment doesn’t last long.  Man wants freedom, he claims that he is free, even in Christian circles, but they are slaves to their passions, their desires, their want of material things, and it doesn’t stop there as the next step is more, better, bigger, louder.  People stand in line for a movie, a game, a new phone.  The one who is discontented will also find that their heart is unruly.  They are not satisfied for any length of time with what they have, therefore it comes forth as anger, bitterness, and hatred.
     There is a need for the soul to be silent before God.  Yet so many prefer the noise of the crowd, the stadium, the concert.  No wonder they cannot have a quiet spirit.  No wonder they are in turmoil.  Jeremiah Burroughs says that, “Christian contentment is that sweet inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every direction.”  Contentment being a soul business is being satisfied with what God does; knowing you are in good condition.  The world seeks to deceive us by presenting contentment as having more than we already have.  We have not only enough, but we have all we need.  It is important as we go through this life that we realize the things of the world are temporal, they are but momentary and not everlasting.  We need to be good stewards in the things we already possess.  We need to fulfill our duty of serving God in the circumstances in which we find ourselves.  It is the battle between self-sufficiency versus God-sufficiency.
     Let me finish with some thoughtful words by Richard Dresselhaus.  Perhaps if we would evaluate ourselves more we might be more content.  He says:
          Gratitude–you can’t complain and give thanks at the same time.
          Grace–you can’t complain and still live in the fullness of God’s favor.
          Worship–you can’t glorify God while complaining about His ways.
          Service–you can’t have a positive impact on people…and be negative at the same time.
The words of the Amplified put it this way, “satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted.”  Learn to be thankful, learn to be content.  As these become part of your lifestyle and character then more will be added.  Know this, “It is possible to have enjoyment all your life if you take it from the hand of God.” (Ray Stedman)