Month: June 2026

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
I discovered that God created people to be upright, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”  –Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT)
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     There was a reflection of something, rifle barrel perhaps?  Leaving Star in the arroyo knowing that he could not be seen I moved along the wash around to the back of the boulders where the mysterious man waited.  There were  forty yards between the wash and the boulders.  If the man should look back over his shoulder he would surely see me.  All that there was between me and the rocks was a few clumps of yucca.  I moved slowly, for I knew rapid movement tends to draw attention, moving from plant to plant.
     Reaching the boulders I now had another dilemma.  The man was in front, half-way up in the rocks.  From where I was I could not get to him.  The rock where I was standing was too sheer to climb.  I decided to move to my left hoping that there may be a way up.  
     I was just a little ways around the rocks when a small slide of gravel came down.  Natural, or was the man moving or just shifting his position?  I could possibly make it up into the rocks but not holding the rifle.  Besides, it was too big for use in these rocks.  Setting it beside the rock, I frowned.  I would have to use both hands to climb, leaving me vulnerable.  Did the man know I was there?
     Quiet was the word.  Taking off my boots, I climbed with sock feet, praying as I hoisted myself to a level where three of the large boulders came together.  He had a rifle so I knew he would be in the same dilemma, not able to move it quickly among the rocks.  Moving between two of the boulders, I looked up and saw a boot, worn from wear.  It moved causing more gravel to fall, this time down on me.  Realizing I couldn’t go that way I turned to move off to my right.  Stopping I looked back with a smile.  I had an urge to shoot him in the foot, but I let it pass.
     My gun, still in the holster, as I moved trying to find handholds to pull me up.  If I could get up, I would be slightly above him.  That’s where I wanted to be.  I gave a silent grunt, while pulling myself up.  Keeping close to the rock I slid around where I could look down.  The man was in a little culvert between two rocks.  I didn’t recognize him.
     Quietly I pulled my gun, “Mister, if you don’t want to meet your Maker real quick, I’d drop the rifle.”
     He jerked, surprised by my voice.  There was no movement, but I could almost feel the screws turning in his head.  “I wouldn’t,” I warned him.
     It was to no avail.  He turned, firing, but his rifle barrel glanced against the boulder causing his shot to go way wide.  I fired, hitting him in the side, turning him.  He tried to bring up the rifle–I fired again this time hitting the receiver slamming the rifle from his hands.
     He realized then, without the rifle, that it was no use.  Putting his hand to his side, he removed it bloody.  “You’ve played hob!” he exclaimed, slumping down to sit beside the rock that had been in front of him.
     Holstering my gun, I slid down the rock to where he was sitting.  He saw that I did not have a gun in my hand.  I was helpless while he went for the one in his holster…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A man wants to see his neighborhood clean. People have got a right to live in peace.”
                    –Ernest Haycox  (Alder Gulch)

       “If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”
                    –Matthew 10:13(NKJV)
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          “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”  –Matthew 5:9 (NLT)

Most of you probably have never heard of Wild Bill Elliott.  He was one of my favorite cowboy actors from way back.  He had a saying that he used in most of his movies, “I’m a peaceful man,” but he inevitably found himself in all sorts of trouble.  However, in the end, he did bring peace.  To continue our study in this Beatitude, I want to start with a quotation by Thomas Watson, “Peaceableness is the ensign and ornament of a noble mind.”  It is honorable to try to bring peace, but the problem is how, and then we have already discussed that peace is not appeasement.
     A peace-maker seeks to establish right relationships.  We know that in this world there are trouble-makers and there are peace-makers, though the former have the latter greatly outnumbered.  For sure as we look around us and at the news in our country and other nations there are those who would destroy peace.  They belong to the devil and his dark world.  As Christians, we should seek to be peaceful, but as Watson reminds us, “Handle a briar every so gently–it may scratch.”  There are those who do not want peace, and Paul gives this advice, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18, NIV)  The key, “if it is possible.”  Listen, peace must not be bought with the sale of truth.  “Truth is the ground of faith, and the rule of life.” (Watson)  Martin Luther proclaimed, “It is better that the heavens fall–than one crumb of truth perish.”
     A peacemaker–a child of God.  That is because they are doing a God-like work.  Remember, first of all, this is for the spirit and soul.  Are you bringing peace to your soul?  To the souls of others?  It is not necessarily physical peace.  The real peacemaker has a deep inner peace that goes beyond understanding.  When God sees them working, exhorting, attempting to bring peace, as J. Vernon McGee says, “God shall own them as His own children.”  When we are born-again, we have the Fruit of the Spirit residing in us, Love, Joy, PEACE…, therefore by the actions of believers they are tokens, witnesses that they are the sons of God by doing all that is possible to bring peace.  Again, I emphasize, that means bringing others to a knowledge of Jesus Christ.  That is primary!  
     Jesus Christ, the Son of God, what is one of His titles?  Do you remember?  The Prince of Peace.  Yet He proclaimed in Matthew, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (10:34, NIV)  As discussed, this is not literal violence but a dividing of those who would accept Him (and have peace in their soul) and those who would reject Him and fight Him.  Be a compromiser you will not have peace, you will not belong to Him.  Complacency, selling truth for comfort and “peace” in this world, rather than peace in the soul and in eternity.  One more thought, those with the peace that the Lord has given them will love to be with other “children of God.”
     I wrote a few words from an old hymn last week, “Peace, peace!  wonderful peace.  Coming down from the Father above….” (W.D. Cornell).  If we have peace, that means we rest in His arms, we have a calm assurance in our soul.  If there is something raging in your heart and mind give it over to the Lord and grasp hold of His wonderful peace.
               “Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
               What assurance in my soul;
               On the stormy sea,
               Speaking peace to me,
               How the billows cease to roll.”
                     –Mannie P. Ferguson

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It was well known about the town that the sheriff made coffee strong enough to rattle a skeleton’s gizzard. Not only did he make it strong, but he left it simmering on the wood stove in his office all day.” 

                    –Lynette Bonner (Honey From the Rock)
 
Mornin’ Pard, jist take a looksee at the calendar.  The year’s most half over, and the longest day of the year is approaching.  My, what has taken place already in this year.  The world is in turmoil, jist a-waitin’ for the man of lawlessness to appear.  I find myself lookin’ up waitin’ for the trumpet sound.  Well, let’s be grabbin’ yuh a mug, and I’ll be pourin’ yuh a cup.
     Have yuh been noticin’ how so many angry folk there seem to be out there?  Yep, plenty of hostility, that’s for sure.  Yuh know, if folks would jist accept the message of Jesus this ol’ world would sure be a lot better.  Yuh know, I’ve heard, of course the media stirs, that some folk say that Islam is a peaceful religion.  My, my, are they duped.  They don’t know the teachin’s of Islam or its history or they wouldn’t be sayin’ such things.
     All sorts of anger, an’ folks will use anything to vent it.  Right now the hot term is “racism.”  My word, I read where someone said that serving milk (white milk) in school cafeterias is racist.  That one made me scratch my head.  Pard, in this time of turmoil yuh need to be stayin’ close to the Lord.  See, you and I’s a-knowin’ that real peace is in Jesus, not in what the world offers.  Why, that’s one of the reasons why I have yuh over.  Sit down, Pard, drink some coffee.  It’s like an antidote one of them high-cost doctors would be offerin’ yuh, but I give it for free.  Take a seat–the coffee is perkin’.  Things will be alright, have a cup, and let’s talk about more pleasant things.
     Ahhh, but that’s good coffee this mornin’.  Speakin’ of hatred, we all know where that comes from.  Yep, yuh got it Pard, from the depths of the Pit.  It’s from ol’ slewfoot himself projectin’ his hatred of the heavenly Father onto man.  If’n he can’t get a person to be hatin’ God, he’ll get them to hatin’ God’s great creation of man.  What is it the Bible says, “Hate stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” I’m a-thinkin’ that’s found in Proverbs the tenth chapter.
     Try to be neighborly as yuh can.  I know the days are gone when yuh can leave the pot a simmerin’ on the stove and go help yurself.  Yep, it might be strong, but it’s the purpose and thought that counts.  Grandma always had a pot brewin’ jist in case someone might stop by.  Neighborly, friendly…
     But that don’t be meanin’ yuh should go off half-cocked.  Yuh be movin’ about waryly ’cause there is evil out there.  Yuh never know where it might be lurkin’ so yuh gots to be prepared and ready.  Gun’s oiled and loaded, I assume.  Prayed up, an’s while yur a-doin’ that keep yur eyes on the eastern skies, I’m a-reckonin’ that the Lord might jist be comin’ right soon.  Don’t be fallin’ off’n yur hoss ’cause yuh didn’t check yur cinch, and always be ridin’ with the Spirit.
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If he is a man, he will stand up for what he knows is right.”
                    –Samuel Ben White  (Guthrie’s Cowboy)

       “Every day brings God’s salvation nearer. The night is nearly over, the day has almost dawned. Let us therefore fling away the things that men do in the dark, let us arm ourselves for the fight of the day! Let us live cleanly, as in the daylight…”
                    –Romans 13:11-13(Phillips)
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To review, the first woe was against materialism, the second against the lust for pleasure.  Now we come to the third woe of Isaiah 5:

          “Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart rope; that they say, ‘Let Him make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it.'” (5:18-19, NKJV)
          “Destruction is certain for those who drag their sins behind them, tied with cords of falsehood.  They even mock the Holy One of Israel and say, ‘Hurry up and do something!  Quick, show us what you can do.  We want to see what you have planned.'” (5:18-19, NLT)

     Woe to those who willfully sin.  They sin purposefully; it is a deliberate action, one of defiance against God.  They do not sin because they were tempted, but because they delight in sin.  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says, “They were going out of their way to sin, they were making provision for it, preparing themselves for sin and going out deliberately in order to find it.”  The flesh is bad enough to fight against, but these “stalk sin” as I put it.  They want sin, they produce it, they encourage it.  We even hear it from the media and from leaders in government.  Paul tells us, “to make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14, NKJV), but we see that these purposely are making provision for the flesh, in fact, even encouraging it.
     The term “draw” or “drag” indicates an out of deliberateness.  Israel had the law, the teachings of God, but their desire to sin was bad enough to overcome any law, moral code, or teaching.  They put aside any resistance to sin.  Know this, they were not ignorant of the truth, but “they were defying the great moral teaching of which they were heirs” (Lloyd-Jones).  Progressivism, cancel culture, WOKE — what are they but blatant, laughing, and mocking of the great heritage or moral righteousness that our country was founded upon.  We have a great heritage, but “we are drawing iniquity to ourselves.” (Lloyd-Jones)  The time in which we live we see the purposeful disregard of this heritage and the deliberate flaunting of sin.  
     Note also, the cord are vanity–worthless, hopeless, or as the NLT puts it “falsehood.”  No argument can hold up against the Word of God.  All they have is false and deceitful and delusional arguments.  Woe unto those people, for they are drawing sin with “cords that really are worthless.” (Lloyd-Jones)  We are warned in regard to this in Hebrews, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (3:13, NKJV)  Look at those on the news or social media–they actually believe they have the truth, their hearts being darkened to the truth of God’s Word.  Look at them as they goad others on and blatantly mock the Christian view.  “Sin never tells us a word about what we are to lose…  It takes from us the most precious things, and eventually leave us with the swine and the husks.” (Lloyd-Jones)
     These individuals grin and mock.  There is a complete absence of shame.  Ravi Zacharias tells us, “To remove shame is to perpetuate evil…  The loss of shame in a society is ultimately an attack upon all of civilization.”  We read the words of Jeremiah, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?  No! They were not at all ashamed;
Nor did they know how to blush…” (6:15, NKJV)  As the woe continues, we see them urging one another along.  They begin to mock God and His Word.  They are saying, “Let God do what He has to do,” not in repentance, but spoken in contempt.  Verse 19, in the TLB, “They even mock the Holy One of Israel and dare the Lord to punish them.  ‘Hurry up and punish us, O Lord,’ they say. ‘We want to see what you can do!'”  They are brazenly mocking the warning of God.  One writer calls it “defiant bravado.”  Can you imagine–challenging God to do His worst?  Lloyd-Jones cries out, “Oh the blasphemy and the arrogance and the madness of men and women in sin!”  The day is coming when God’s judgment will be poured out.  When He has removed the dear saints of His Church, His wrath and judgment will be poured out on the earth, upon those who willfully mocked Him.  It will be so bad that they will pray for the rocks to fall upon them to hide them from His fierce countenance and judgment.  While, now–today–they could run to the Rock of their salvation.  Accepting Jesus and putting aside their sin.  Repent of their blasphemy and arrogance and fall at the feet of the One who shed His blood for their salvation.  Do it so that the “woe” of Isaiah is not yours.