Month: June 2026

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Obey the king because you have vowed before God to do this. Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and don’t take a stand with those who plot evil. For the king will punish those who disobey him.” — Ecclesiastes 8:2-3 (NLT)
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     “So, are you all packed and ready to go?” inquired Betty Chapman before taking a sip of tea.  Betty didn’t drink coffee, so Molly made the ladies a pot of tea while we all sat around the table.  It was the Preacher and his wife, along with Doc and Edith.
     Molly reached over to pat Betty on the hand.  “I’m packed,” then should looked over at me.  “I just hope he remembered to get me a ticket.  The state provided for him.”
     I gasped, then proclaimed, “I knew there was something I forgot to do!”  
     “Oh, hogwash,” muttered Molly, “I know you have it in your vest pocket.”
     “Miles, what is it that the governor wants you to do?” questioned Parson Chapman.
     Shrugging my shoulders, I answered, “I have no idea.  I had a telegram waitin’ for me when I came in with my prisoner.  ‘Get to Denver…Governor wants us. –McBride’  I was told that the governor comes up with whims now and again.”  I paused, turning my attention to Doc.  “I talked with Charlie.  He said he would deal with the prisoner.”  I stopped to take a sip of coffee.  “By the way, he hasn’t regained consciousness, has he?”
     “He lost a lot of blood, and that falling off the horse didn’t help him either,”  replied Doc, who put a grin on his face.  “If he wasn’t so badly hurt I’d chuckle some knowing that he fell off into a patch of prickly pear and cholla.”  He pointed a bony finger at me.  “Miles, if you weren’t leaving I’d have you over to pick all those spines off him.  I spent over an hour getting them out.”
     I shook my head slightly.  “Luke Sims.  You don’t recall anyone by that name, or at least the last name?” I asked Doc.
     He pulled on his ear, “Not that I can recall, and his face isn’t familiar either.”
     “Well, if Charlie can come up with a reason or a name, have him send me a telegraph.  We’re staying at the Windsor Hotel.”
     There was some friendly chatter going on, mostly the men with the men and the ladies held their own conversation.  The train was leaving at six o’clock that evening.  I had been able to secure a berth for Molly should she want it.  It would take us about a day to get to Denver as we had to make a couple of changes along the way.
     Doc smiled, “I hear you have Enrique working now, taking care of your horses.  What is he nine, ten?”
     “Doc, he’s fourteen now.  And you know that Alejo is working full time for Bert Winfield?”
     “No!  I can’t imagine him being that old,” he muttered, shaking his head.
     I looked at the clock.  “Molly, we’d best be sayin’ our goodbyes and head towards the station.”
     We started to stand, and the preacher interrupted us.  “I think we should have some prayer over our good friends that the Lord will keep them safe on their journey.”  There was agreement and we stood around the table holding hands while the preacher prayed a sincere prayer.  Afterward, he came to give me a big hug.  “Be safe…I’ll be praying.”
     I grabbed the Greener and then reached for Molly’s arm.  “Are you really going to take that shotgun to Denver?” asked Edith, with a frown on her face.
     Giving my best grin, “I wouldn’t be caught without it.”
     “Perate!’ came the voice from the kitchen.  “Perate! I am coming.”  Emelda rushed out from the kitchen with a bag of sandwiches and other delights for our trip.  “For you,” she said seemingly embarrassed.
     “Let’s go,” I spoke to Molly.  “Let’s see what the Lord has for us.  Who knows…?

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A tough man has to win and lose. He had to come up after being knocked down, he has to have taken a few beatings, and know what it means to win the hard way.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Showdown at Yellow Butte)

       “They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.”
                     –John 15:21 (NIV)
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               “God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers.  Be happy about it!  Be very glad!  For a great reward awaits you in heaven.  And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.”  
–Matthew 5:10-12 (NLT)

     I ended last week’s study with this quotation by Thomas Watson, “Put a cross in your creed.”  It’s easy to talk, but when the rubber hits the road what will you have?  The cross is not an easy thing to pick up and there must be serious consideration when doing so.  But, why me Lord?  
     There are various reasons for suffering and persecution.  One of them is that it proves loyalty.  What does the Christian life cost you?  A young Christian girl in Nigeria refused to marry a Muslim man–she had her hands cut off.  We are so fortunate in America, despite the issues that media brings to us, that we often forget the persecution in other countries.  However, we are beginning to see it happen, even in so-called sophisticated nations.  How loyal are you?  Maybe not in death, but in life.  Do you wander and stray?  Do you compromise?  Has the subtle persecution gotten to you?  Thomas Watson declares that “Persecution is the touchstone of sincerity.”  If persecution does come to you do not run and hide but stand firm in your faith, and say, “Now God be thanked who has matched us with this hour.” (Rupert Brooke)
     You want to be close to God, have a relationship with Him?  Then don’t be surprised if persecution comes your way for the prophets before you were also persecuted.  You can now travel the road of prophets and saints that have gone before you.  What a road, what a testimony they left.  What will yours be?  A third reason for suffering is to share in a great occasion.  William Barclay states, “To suffer for the right is to gain a share in a great succession.”  Paul walked this road, as did Peter and the other disciples.  Augustine, Polycarp, Luther, Tyndale, Bunyan, and so, so many others.  The road is well trod, and there are plenty of signs of those great saints, both known and unknown, that have been left along the way so that we can bolster our courage and take heart.  If there is a crucial moment in your life, know this, there will be a great occasion following.  Also be aware that you are making things easier for those who are to follow.  “To suffer for the right is to gain a share in a great succession.” (Barclay)
     Today is the day of salvation.  Today is the day to prepare.  Tomorrow might bring great suffering, prepare now.  No, don’t live in fear of tomorrow.  Don’t be a prepper in the sense that you can do anything about it, but do prepare.  Study the Beatitudes, they will help you greatly in this.  Get your spirit in tune with that of the Holy Spirit.  As Thomas Watson tells us, “A wise pilot in a clam, will prepare for a storm.”
     (To let you know our study in the Beatitudes will have to take a detour as I’m going on vacation.  I will try to get some note out while away and we’ll get back to our study when I return home.  I don’t want to take my books and research with me on my trip.)

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He gathered wood while I sliced bacon from a slab and placed it in a skillet, then poured ground coffee into a pot.” 

                    –Elmer Kelton  (Other Men’s Horses)
 
     Mornin’ to yuh, Pard, glad yuh were able to stop by.  Got to have yurself some good coffee.  Pard, the thought jist came to my mind.  What kind of coffee do yuh drink durin’ the week?  Do yuh make it yur ownself, or does the missus, or do yuh go out to some coffee shop?  I reckon for sure, that if’n yuh don’t make it yurself, it’s sorta diluted some.  No matter, always glad to have yuh come ’round.
     I read somewhere or heard someone say, that “Coffee is like a journey through time:  with a single sip, I can relive distant memories and create new experiences.”  My mercy, ain’t that the truth, ‘specially now at my age.  Why I sits in my chair a-lookin’ out the window at the woods and ponder all sorts of memories.  Ol’ Kelton brought one to my mind.  I remember the first backpackin’ trip Annie and I took.  It was up in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and that was back before passes, and reservations, and no cookin’ over campfires, and all that nonsense that has come about because folks don’t know what they’re a-doin’ in the woods.  We camped jist below Blue Lake right at timberline.  Plenty of wood there.
     We only had time to spend a couple of nights, but I recall the marmots yippin’ in the evenin’, and the rush of the stream by our camp that came out from under a snowbank.  Water, oh my, it was cold, but it shor did make good coffee.  Chilly nights even though it was summertime because of the elevation.  The area shore has changed since that hike back in 1974.  Whooeee, that’s a long time ago, amigo.  Annie still insists that I put the iron skillet in her pack.  🤠  
     I wrote the grandkids the other day in a mornin’ note I send them, that the Lord had given them another day to be writin’ their life story.  Yuh realize that we all do that, one day at a time, one hour at a time.  When we get to the end of our time here on earth, most of us will have quite a book.  Some of yuhs, could write a best seller with yur life.  All I know is that the Lord has been faithful and good to us, that I had a wonderful travelin’ pardner through most of it.  Yep, Pard, it could’ve been better, but I’ll take what the Lord has handed out and allowed.
     Ahhh, shor is mighty tasty this mornin’.  Maybe the missus will be up in a bit, an’ she’ll get the biscuits a-goin’ and some gravy.  That’s the normal Saturday breakfast.  If’n we drink the whole pot, I’ll get another one started right away.
     Bein’ tryin’ to stay away from all those liars and woke media folk, and politicians.  Yet, I like to know what’s goin’ on, but it’s hard to tell the truth or the lie.  Yuh want to believe the news, but half the time they’re a-lyin’ jist like the others.  Yuh see a liar, yuh know where they’re from–the ol’ devil himself!  Some of the stuff happenin’ is atrocious.  Injustice, pseudo-justice, mockery of the law and the truth.  Pard, some of it jist jerks my jaws.  Why I read where this one gal said that the Native Americans and blacks were the original inhabitants of this country?  Did she make it past second grade history?  “Nough of that, I’m not gonna get my gizzard riled this mornin’ as I want to be all settled for breakfast.
     Yuh be havin’ a good day, an’ a good week.  Remember, yur writin’ yur life story, so make it a goodun.  Keep lookin’ where yur a-steppin’, I don’t want no root or one of the devil’s snares trippin’ yuh up.  Ride with a smile, knowing that the good Lord is with yuh, and for mercy’s sakes, be a-checkin’ yur cinch.
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Every day, you’re making choices. Every one of them either helps you or hurts you. Every friend you make, every word you speak, every dollar you spend…it’s all leading you further out one trail or another. You gotta stop staring at your nose and start watching the horizon.”

                    –John Deacon  (Conn 2)

       “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
                    –John 14:27 (NIV)
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I haven’t written anything regarding a hymn at midnight recently.  I have had several, thank the Lord.  Usually if I wake during the night there is one on my mind.  However, there was one on my mind the other night when I woke.  It’s a grand old hymn, but not old enough to be included in my book of hymns.  (By the way, if you haven’t purchased one I’ll include this little ad here.  Great little devotional, New Trails Through the Old Hymns.)  But back to the subject.  This hymn was written in 1958 by Stuart Hamblen and is very appropriate for believers in this day.
     There is a narrative in John that I want to mention first.  Jesus had told His disciples not to let their hearts worry.  We live in an age where there is terror, economic woes, racial unrest, and on I could go.  Don’t let your heart be troubled!  Then one of the disciples, Thomas, asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (14:5, NIV)  It doesn’t say this, but perhaps Jesus gave him “the look.”  You know what I mean, then slapped the side of his head in wonder.  He answers Thomas, along with the other disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (14:6-7, NIV)  
     Philip, in an almost commanding manner, says, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  Again “the look,” along with this answer, “Don’t you know me, Philip (or whomever is reading this), even after I have been among you such a long time?” (14:9, NIV)  There is so much more in this powerful chapter, but this is enough to understand that we are to trust in God.  Trust in Him, until that day He calls us home.

               My heart can sing when I pause to remember,
               A heartache here is but a stepping stone.
               Along a trail, that’s winding always upward,
               This troubled world, is not my final home.”

     Listen, and you better get it resolved not only in your heart and mind, but also in your actions.  The troubles, the pain, the heartaches, the suffering that you have felt and endured along with all the issues in the world–they are but stepping stones upward to glory.  It’s a trail, one that leads us to heaven, and it may be rugged at times, there may be obstacles along the way, some skinned knees and some deeper wounds, but it takes us home.  And know this as well, it’s always upward.  It does not take us down to the pit, but leads us upward.  This world is not our final home so don’t become settlers–we are pilgrims.

               The things of earth will dim and lose their value,
               If we recall, they’re borrowed for awhile;
               And things of earth that cause the heart to tremble,
               Remember there, will only bring a smile.

     Too many people are concerned more with their goods and possessions.  They are in the process of settling in this old world, as Lot did in Sodom.  They are temporary, get it?  By death or by rapture, you cannot take them with you.  Understand the importance of what Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, NIV)  How long have you been a Christian?  Don’t you know Him yet?  Come on “Philip.”  Why tremble here when there is something awaiting you in heaven, in the presence of Christ?
     I had not known of a third verse, but came across the following:

               This weary world with all its toil and struggle,
               May take its toll of misery and strife;
               The soul of man is like a waiting falcon,
               When it’s released its destined for the skies

Are you ready for that day?  Are you ready to take your flight into the heavenlies, into the place that the Lord has prepared for you?  Then get the right attitude.  Take each step with confidence.  Realize that He is there and you can trust Him on each step of the trail that’s “winding always upward.”  Don’t get caught up in the cares of this world, don’t let the things of this world take your eyes of Jesus.  Sing, if it’s only in your heart–the day is drawing closer,

               But until then, my heart will go on singing,
               Until then, with joy I’ll carry on,
               Until the day my eyes behold that city,
               Until the day God calls me home.