Month: April 2026

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The flashes of lightning lit up the trail and the cliffs above us brighter than the brightest day. An instant later, a cacophony of thunder clapped all around us, frightening the mules, shaking the ground and reverberating through the trees. Each strike left a man feeling fragile, helpless, as if he lay upon the anvil of God, spared once but just as easily struck down at the next bolt.”

                    –G. Cameron Cooke (Trail of the Gunman)

       “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
                    –2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)
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     We really cannot even begin to imagine what it was like before creation.  Back in infinity and eternity before God spoke the cosmos into existence, what was it like?  In reality, my friend, it really doesn’t matter.  During this period (I can’t use the word time, for it had not been created yet) there was God, and there was–God.  I do not believe that it was total darkness for all there was, was God and God is light so perhaps it was total light.  The light of God, light unbelievable.  Where there is God, there is light.  I don’t believe darkness appeared until creation.  We read in Genesis, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (1:1-2, NKJV)
     Something to ponder, and here’s something else.  This darkness on the face of the deep, was it without light or was it dark because it represents evil?  It was before the creation of light and He divided it from the darkness on the first day.  One other thing to add to your pondering is that every day, God saw that it was good–except the second day.  The day of the firmament separating there was no pronouncement by God that it was good.  Hmmm….  In this regard Joseph Parker states, “Our wisdom is like a tree growing only questions.”  Don’t be fretting over it, certainly don’t lose any sleep or grow an abundance of grey hair.  But even in these questions, our ponderings if you will, know that we can never understand them with our puny little finite minds.  “The mysteries of the creation are but shadows of the mystery of the Creator.” (Parker)
     A hike in the midst of God’s creation.  Oh, the splendor of a hike in the world around the high lonesome where the trail leads to a high altitude mountain lake just filled with trout.  The serenity of that blue mountain lake, the thought of trout for supper, or perhaps breakfast.  Look around at the majesty, the mountains–the natural altars of God.  Maybe the hike has led through a copse of aspen in the fall with their golden foliage quaking in the breeze.  Glance upward through the golden spires and it might be a dream of the pathway into heaven to those streets of gold.
     Ponder Eden, that marvelous garden.  Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon?  Ponder that magnificent sight if you will.  Ponder the view of water roaring over Niagara.  Know this, all of the wonderful creation on earth had to be worthy of the Creator’s work.  It wasn’t just throwing a dab of paint on an endless space in a vacuum.  It was in the mind of God–the time, the setting, the creation itself.  
     But hold on!  This marvelous creation, the work that came from the lips of God.  No matter what you or I have seen or been, it is not enough.  Glance at the sun that routinely “comes up” every day set forth by the physical laws of nature–created and put in motion by God.  All of this–all of it, is not match for the sight of God Himself.  That is why there can be no graven image of Him.  Who can see Him in all His glory?  Parker says, “The most intellectual conception of God would seem to me to be that God cannot be intellectually conceived.”  We cannot see God!  We cannot fathom the fullness of God!  How then do we recognize Him?  Only by the heart.  “God is great and we know Him not.” (Parker)  That is unless we are born again and have a new heart.  Then we can know a tiny piece of God for “as Christian believers, GOD is in every part of our life; He has manifested Himself to us; He has taken up His abode with us.” (Parker)  
     Oh, what a marvelous thought, one that is too grand for me to grasp.  “Though our minds cannot grasp His infinity, our hearts can feel His love; though our imagination cannot search His understanding, our conscience can respond to His righteousness; though we cannot explain, we can pray.” (Parker)  Take time today, and often through the journey of life to think grand thoughts of God.  Know that He fills and satisfies; that He comforts and inspires.  We cannot understand so we must bow before it.  We accept Him by faith for we want to please Him.  We are eternally thankful for who He is.  He is the all completeness of righteousness; holiness and unapproachable in His wonderful, yet terrible light.  But never forget this my friend, He is also our heavenly Father in whom we can go to with any issue, problem, and sometimes just to sit and be with Him.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He wasn’t half as smart as he thought he was, and that wasn’t half as smart as he bragged he was.”
                    –Robert Peecher (Along the Restless Trail)

       “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.”
                    –James 3:5 (NKJV)
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     “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” –Proverbs 10:19(NKJV)
     “Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin.  Be sensible and turn off the flow!” –Proverbs 10:19(NLT)

I happened to be talking to my eldest granddaughter the other night.  She told me that she has been spending more time listening to others; it’s amazing what you can learn.  I simply replied, “wise thinking.”  It’s right out of Proverbs.  There is much danger in the way we talk, the tone of our talk, and the words that come out of our mouths.  The purpose and motives of our speech must also be taken into consideration.  The words of James should ring out, “So, then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (1:19, NKJV)  In fact, he gives the warning, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (1:26, NKJV)
     Have you ever thought, “I wish I’d kept my mouth shut,” or “I wish I hadn’t said that”?  The tongue is important.  It is a medium of expression and communication.  It is of value to express needs, wants, and desires.  It is needed in many types of transactions.  But there is also a time to keep silent.  Your tongue is a prime example of who you are, James continues to say, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (3:10, NKJV)  Bob Beasley tells us, “As the old self in use is crucified, and the new self is given a new desire and perspective, we should produce godly speech.”
     Before speaking out we should ask ourselves:  is it kind, is it true, is it profitable, is it necessary, is it godly?  This does not even include cursing, profanity and the like.  The theologian Samuel Miller said, “A man of inordinate talk runs inordinate risk.”  His words may come home to roost.  And know this, that words most often will not change a hard heart or a hard head.  “Silence is wisdom when we feel that speech would be useless to convince.” (Flores)  There are some people you could not convince no matter what you say.
     A word of warning can be seen in the example of Aaron and Miriam when they spoke against Moses taking an Ethiopian wife.  They became very arrogant, and spoke very rudely and sarcastically.  God became very angry with them, and came down calling Aaron and Miriam to Him.  We read this account in Number 12, “So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed.  And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow.” (9-10, NKJV)  Aaron reacted and said in verse 11, “…we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned.”  The words went up before God and caused Him to become angry.  Think of that–our words can make the holy Almighty God angry.
     One more little thought.  Some people just talk to be talking.  Ever been around them?  They say very little with all their verbosity and with little regard to who they were speaking or what they were saying–they just babbled on.  Their words are like “a sword in the hand of a madman.” (Flores)  On and on and saying nothing.  Perhaps you have been in a meeting where the same person keeps repeating the same thing and the meeting is going nowhere simply because they cannot keep a bridle on their lips.

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
So don’t be too good or too wise!  Why destroy yourself?  On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either–don’t be a fool!  Why should you die before your time?”  –Ecclesiastes 7:16-17(NLT)
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     The heavy snow never came but there had been a light, cold snow for two days.  We arrived in Durango right after dusk the second day.  I stopped immediately at Doc Jones office.  The man that I was told was Davy Logan, was as pale as the snow that dusted his coat.  He looked more dead than alive, but he wasn’t stiff.  I untied Billy Blackhand so he could help me get him off his horse and into Doc’s.  I’ll give that young buck credit, he didn’t whimper or cry out the whole way.  That busted up arm must of hurt something fierce.
     I didn’t bother knocking, but turned the knob on the door and kicked it open.  I just hoped Doc was in.
     There was a short scream.  “My land!  Oh, what do we have here?”  Edith came to her wits.
     “Where’s Doc, this man’s bad hurt.”
     “What?  What is it?  Miles, is that you?”  I heard a voice coming from the other room.  “You gave Edith quite a scare, say…  Well, bring him in and lay him on the table.”
     When we placed Davy Logan on the table, he groaned.  That was the first sound he had made.  Perhaps it was because it shifted his arm into a different position.  I had tied it tight against his chest, but didn’t know what to do about the bone.  I covered it the best I could and had to use a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.  I did my best to loosen it from time to time, but with the looks of that bone sticking out I don’t think he’d be able to keep that arm anyway.
     “Sit down out there!” I ordered Blackhand.  I went out to the office and this time I used my handcuffs and hooked him to a chair.  He could escape, but he’d have to drag that chair with him.  I just hoped that he honored his friendship with Logan enough to stay put.
     Going back into the operating room, I saw Edith helping Doc remove the Indian’s bandages.  “Miles, hold him while I cut this off….”  Then he muttered something I couldn’t make out and was shaking his head.  When they finally cut off my makeshift bandage off his arm and cut off his shirt, Doc looked at the wrist, the hand dangling there, the fingers white the blood having drained from them.  “My, my…” he muttered.  “He’s more dead than alive.  You were smart Miles to use the tourniquet.  I couldn’t have saved his arm, but he might live, but he’s going to be in a lot of pain.”
     He looked at Edith, who had turned some pale herself at the sight.  “Miles and I can handle this.  Why don’t you go tell Molly that he’s back in town.”
     An hour later Davy Logan laid in the bed unconscious, missing his arm from the elbow down.  Molly had sent someone up to the jail, but when they tried to take Blackhand he put up a scuffle.  I had to leave Doc for a moment to tell Lucas to let him stay.  He told me that they had taken Hawk up to the cabin, fed and rubbed him down, and the other two horses over to the livery.
     We left Davy lying there, sleeping, more dead than alive.  Doc joined me with Billy Blackhand.  “Your friend is in bad shape.  There’s a good chance he might die,” Doc explained to him, and when he said that Billy glared at me with vengeance in his eyes.  “Miles, why don’t you get your prisoner fed and taken up to the jail.”
     “No!  I will stay with my friend!”  I looked at Doc who gave his head a slight shake.
     “There’s nothing you can do for him.  Tell you what.  You eat, get a good night’s sleep and I’ll see that the Marshal, uh, Ranger brings you down in the morning.  Don’t worry I’ll be with him through the night.”
     He wasn’t happy but he acquiesced and went peacefully.  It was cold, with a few flakes still falling.  I thanked the Lord as we started walking for holding off the storm.  “Who is that you talk to?” questioned Billy when he heard me.  
     “I’ll tell you all about Him when I get you tucked in your cell.”  
     Passing by Solly Vendor’s tobacco emporium, he rushed out without a coat.  “Miles, a man was asking about you.  He rode a palomino…”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

You said the finest men had been those who had fallen low and had risen. You said you had faith in me! You made me have faith in myself!”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Light of the Western Stars)

       “This testimony is true.  Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.”
                    –Titus 1:13 (NIV)
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          “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  –Matthew 5:7 (NLT)

     We all, at times, have desired mercy.  I suppose that sometimes we received it while at other times…well, you know what happened.  You may have remembered your parents saying, “This hurts me more than it does you.”  So, you cried at the top of your lungs, “Show Mercy!”  I won’t get into it this lesson, but sometimes deserved discipline is showing mercy.
     One definition of mercy is the manifestation of positive good.  This is a characteristic of genuine disciples.  Arthur Pink writes, “Mercy is an essential feature of that holy character to which God has inseparably connected the enjoyment of His own sovereign kindness.”  As we show mercy, it makes us more conscious of our indebtedness of Divine grace.  One of David’s psalms says, “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” (Psalm 37:21, NIV)  Giving does not have to include money, but it often does; when we give we can be showing mercy.  Some folks need money, others might need a helping hand, while others might need a pat on the back.  Mercy can, and is shown, in various ways.  See, when we show mercy we are reflecting the abundant mercy that is found in God.  Pink states, “The mercifulness of this fifth Beatitude is that spontaneous outflow of a heart that is captivated by, and in love with, the mercy of God.”
     Note this, that mercy is not a duty, not a drudgery, or at least it should not be.  “Mercy is to be exercised cheerfully, to demonstrate that it is not only done voluntarily, but that it is also a pleasure.” (Pink)  Wow!  Let that soak in for a few moments.  How do I then show this cheerful mercy?  First of all we are to be merciful to the souls of others.  Someone has referred to this as “spiritual alms.”  The soul, the eternal spirit of man, is what is of most importance.  Mercy should flow to them first, and at times as Jude states, “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude 22-23, NIV)
     Mercy is advising and exhorting sinners.  The early church father, Augustine said, “If I weep for that body from which the soul is departed–how should I weep for that soul from which God is departed!”  Which is the most important in the light of eternity?  Weeping at the loss of a loved one, or weeping because a loved one is away from God.  Who needs more mercy?  
     Mercy is then advising and exhorting sinners.  It is reproving sinners, and as Thomas Watson states, “do not let them go to hell quietly.”  Telling people of sin is not unloving; it is showing mercy.  Today there are many out there who are mercenaries and not ministers.  Do your job, whatever the means, to reach those who are lost and are greatly in need of mercy.  Watson warns us regarding “Evil ministers are such as having no affections to the souls of their people.”  No word to them of repentance.  No warning regarding their lifestyle.  No care given to them because of the evil way they live.  See mercy might have to be tough to pull and snatch them out of the fire.  “Unmerciful ministers who, instead of breaking the bread of life, fill their people’s heads with any speculations and notions; who tickle the fancy–rather than touch the conscience, and give precious souls music–rather than food.” (Watson)  Listen, “Ministers should be stars to give light, not clouds to obscure the truth.” (Watson)  
     Ponder this, “How dangerous is the leprosy of the head!”  The mind being eaten away by sin, doubt, need, evil, darkness–and what are we doing about it?  Evil and contentious ideas creep in destroying the foundation of truth.  How much should we then be showing mercy to those we know in this situation?  I will say, that often times we are not in a position to show objective mercy, but we can always show mercy by our prayers.