Author: Ira Paine

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things.  I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.”  –Ecclesiastes 7:25 (NLT)
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     I watched as Mateo lifted his gun to fire as I was right behind him.  Slowly he lowered the gun, shaking his head.  “Too dangerous a shot in town,” he declared, clearly frustrated.
    Glancing down the road where the rider went I quickly went over to where I could see clear tracks, then turned to hustle up to saddle Star.  When I was sheriff I always kept a horse saddled, just in case, but being a Deputy U.S. Marshal and now a Colorado Ranger, there was no need.  No need, until today.
     “Tell Molly I’m goin’ to get Star, then head after him,” I informed Mateo and I rushed on up the street.
     It was a good forty minutes before I was on the road.  I stopped in front where I could look down at the tracks once more.  Mateo came out to join me.  “Tell Molly I’ll be back before dark.”  I gave Star a nudge, and he took off.  That horse likes to run, and I let him for the first couple of hundred yards, then slowed him down not wanting to miss in case the rider turned off the road.
     It was one thing to shoot at me, but what he did was downright reckless shooting through the windows of the diner.  One thing became clear with him doing that was that he had no real regard for life.  The tracks were clear and we were a mile from town, so I became much more cautious.  My eyes began to take in the surroundings, the trees, the rocks, the shadows, possible places for an ambush.  
     In the distance I thought I heard the evil cackle of laughter.  It had been some time since the Pale Rider had stalked me so openly.  I know that he was behind every attempt on my life, but this was blatant.  I remembered the calming words of the Savior coming back to me.  That nothing would happen to me until it was time for me to go to glory.  The problem is that I didn’t know which time that would be.  It caused me to smile though.  I knew that He was in control and I had nothing to fear from the sinister forces of evil.
     Looking down, I no longer saw the tracks of the big palomino.  Had he turned off and I missed it?   Quickly I glanced at my backtrail.  I could now be the one who was being followed.  I brought Star to a halt.  There was a small arroyo back a short piece; he could have moved off the road there.  I turned Star to go back and look over the area carefully.  At first glance, I saw nothing, but then noticed that a bit of dirt had fallen from the small bank.  It might be nothing, but on the other hand.  I urged Star down into the arroyo and headed on downstream.  I figured it would eventually go into the La Plata River, but I wasn’t planning on traveling that far.
     I brought Star to a halt after traveling about twenty minutes in the arroyo.  Tracks moved out of the arroyo to the west.  They were not clear, but they were recent, so they had to have been made by the person I was chasing.  Dismounting, I ground reined Star and moved up the bank to peer over it.  Someone could be sitting there just waiting for my head to appear.  I could see that another was moved down to connect with the arroyo I was riding in, then above that wash was a large group of boulders.  After surveying what was in front of me I moved back down and mounted Star.  I decided not to ride out, but to continue to follow the arroyo.
     When I came to the fork where the dry wash entered the arroyo, I reined Star in that direction.  I stopped, thinking I had seen movement up in the large rocks.  Whoever it was would be expecting me from the front, but I had now flanked him.  I dismounted again, this time pulling my rifle from the scabbard.
     After a short distance, but seemingly a long time, I was fifty or so yards away from the boulders when I spotted the palomino.  Then…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A man’s needs run accordin’ to the country he’s in and the job he has to do.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Tall Stranger)

       “Stand firm then,.. with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
                    –Ephesians 6:14-15(NIV)
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          “God blesses those people who make peace.  They will be called his children!” –Matthew 5:9 (CEV)

               “Peace, peace!  wonderful peace,
               Coming down from the Father above….”
                    –W.D. Cornell
Are you a peacemaker?  Are we to make peace with everyone?  Remember, peace is not the same as appeasement.  And yes, we should attempt to make peace with everyone as much as is possible.  Notice that the blessing is on the peace-maker, not necessarily on the peace-lover or the peace-keeper.  The action is on the making–but not taking action could be piling up trouble for the future.  William Barclay gives us a stern warning, “Peace does not come from the evasion of issues; it comes from facing them, dealing with them and conquering them.”  See, peace often comes through struggle.  “The peace a godly man seeks is not have a league of amity with sinners” (Thomas Watson).
     Paul reminds us, and it is something that tends to be forgotten, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony (peace) is there between Christ and Belial?  What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, NIV)  How does one have peace with the enemy of our souls?  It is not possible, nor should it be attempted.  Peace at any cost is appeasement.  There is a time to stand.  Watson states, “We are to be civil to the worst–but not twist into a cord of friendship.”  Someone has said, if a man has the plague we will be helpful, but also careful not to spend much time in his company.
     The greatest peace that anyone can have is peace with God.  Allowing the soul to be at rest in the knowledge of Him and His salvation.  Peacemakers are those who beseech sinners to be reconciled.  It is impossible to make peace with others without being at peace with God and self.  But then, sometimes being a child of God enrages those around them, thus cutting off peace between them, but not, peace with God.
     No matter how hard we try, no matter what we do, the Bible clearly states that, “‘There is no peace,’ says the LORD, ‘for the wicked.'” (Isaiah 48:22, NIV)  They will never have true, lasting peace in their life or in eternity.  Now is the day of salvation–now is the day of peace with God.  Peace comes when people accept the good news presented to them.  Paul writes, “…How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15, NIV)  We are to bring the news of peace, we cannot force peace upon the people.  Abraham Lincoln said, “Die when I may, I would like it to be said of me, that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”  A man of peace who had to administrate the most deadly war in our nation’s history–quite ironic.
     Again, I must remind you that the Beatitudes deal primarily with the spiritual.  Yes, we should try to bring peace to those around us, but know that peace in that context was primarily for the soul.  In fact, the early church thought this verse was meant to be purely spiritual; making peace in one’s own heart and soul.  The inner conflict must first be dealt with.  Only when the heart is wholly given to God can a person be at peace.  
               “What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace
               Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
               So secure that no power can mine it away
               While the years of eternity roll.”
                        –W.D. Cornell (2nd stanza)

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

She fetched a flat-bottomed gray enamel cup from a plain open-fronted cabinet nailed to the wall. She turned with the coffeepot in her hand.”

                    –Elmer Kelton  (The Good Old Boys)
 
Come on in, Pard.  What’s the ol’ sayin’, “another day, another dollar”?  Well, here we are, let me look yuh over.  Yur sure not wallowin’ in the money, so I reckon, it’ll be more like “another week, another dollar in the hole.”  Be that as it may, the coffee’s on and it’s sure ‘nough hot.  Plenty strong too, yul be a-likin’ it.  
     Pard, I was thinkin’ of the above that ol’ Elmer wrote.  I wonder, over the years, jist how many times, my wife poured and brought me a cup of coffee.  My mercy goodness, I can’t begin to count, not ‘nough fingers and toes.  Sure have been blessed!
     I don’t know whether yuh’ve noticed or not, but there are plenty of confused folk.  Some of the things that spew from their mouths, an’ some of them are supposed to be learned people.  If’n a person don’t know whether they’re a male or female, they’re downright confused, delusion has set in.  Whenever I see folks so profoundedly confused, I think of what the ol’ Apostle wrote, about God is not the author of confusion ; it’s His nemesis the ol’ devil.  An’ let me be tellin’ yuh Pard, a little bit of confusion can go a long ways.  Why some preacher, Presbyterian in name, said, “Blessed are those who end pregnancies, for they will be known for their lovingkindness.”  Murder is lovingkindness?  Confusion–demonic is what it is.
     Pard, I won’t ever try to be confusin’ yuh.  Tellin’ lies, and worse–believin’ yur own lies, that’s what some of these folks are doin’, they’re bein’ led like a bull with a nose-ring.  Jerk on that thing, an’ they’ll move right along.  Another preacher from a Lutheran church said, that gay sex is holy.  Now, I’m not goin’ to get into that subject, except to say, that no it’s not holy–it’s an abomination to God.  Seems to me that we’re jist a-beggin’ for the wrath of God to come down on us.
     So, Pard, what do we do?  Well, first of all, yuh drink yur coffee, don’t want it to be a-wastin’.  Second, we do what we can do where we are with what we’ve got.  Don’t give into lies, don’t give into false prophets, preachers, and gain-sayers.  Smile at someone durin’ the day, they may need it.  Yuh know, the Holy Spirit can work through a smile we give, or a bit of kindness we show.  Doesn’t have to be grandiose, jist, plain, simple, and honest.  Make sure yur kids and grandkids see what’s right, and what’s wrong.  They live in a world that is attackin’ them from all angles, so be a straight-ridin’, straight-talkin’, straight-livin’, Bible-totin’ cowpoke showin’ them younguns how a person is supposed to live. Be sittin’ tall in the saddle, don’t be waverin’ an’ acceptin’ the sort of foolishness and wickedness that is bein’ poured out as truth.
     Coffee was good an’ is gone.  Company was good an’ now yuh have to be gettin’ on down the road.  Be prayin’, be watchin’, be lookin’ up for our redemption is comin’ closer every hour.  Don’t be kickin’ up the dust as yuh ride away, an’ of course yul check yur cinch before yuh mount.
     Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

What’re friends fer but to go to?”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Mysterious Rider)

       “If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.”
                    –Ecclesiastes 4:10(CEV)
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The blahs, the mulligrubs, and how about the mubblefubbles, they come to us all from time to time, and for various reasons.  They may come because of the weather, an issue that has to be faced or was faced, or the failure in a person’s life because of sin.  I know the feeling; at times I awaken from my peaceful nightly slumber, walk to the bathroom, then look in the mirror.  Not horror, but I am confronted by the image of an old fence post, splinters, edges worn, cracks in the wood, and quickly, if not careful and not leaning on the Holy Spirit, spiritual blahs can set the tone for the day.
     Perhaps you get up, and you feel like a Mack truck has smashed into you and run you over, physically and/or spiritually.  You moan and groan, and try to pick yourself up from the pavement of life.  While you are doing that may I remind you of the words of Paul, “Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26, NASB)  Make those groanings into an altar, moan then with reverence.
     Maybe your day has started out well.  You’re singing a song as you walk along and some of you might feel so good that you’re ready to tip-toe through the tulips (or at least clog in the kitchen).  Then you slip.  Down the muddy bank you slide right into the much of “Pilgrim’s” slough of despond.  The slime covers you, the quicksand of despair and evil holds you and tries to suck you deeper into the slough, the stink of the bog already reeking in your nostrils.  No hope, no help–woe is you.  I will tell you friend, look up.  There is a nail-scarred hand reaching down.  Hope, relief, redemption is there–just grasp the hand.
     My mind goes to Samson.  What comes to your mind when you first hear the name?  Strength?  Deliah?  Failure?  Here was a man, chosen by God to be a judge over Israel.  A valiant man, a man of unparalleled strength when the Spirit came on him, but also a weak man who could not control his passions and lusts.  Gary Inrig points out, “He was a man with a passion for freedom in the middle of a society committed to compromise.”  With his faults, with his failures, he was a fighter.  No one came to his aid, and in fact, his own people bound him and gave him over to the enemy.  Compromise?  More like treason.  We know of his failures, of his flirting with disaster and eventually weakening, but for a moment, think of the possible times of victory in his mind.  There are a couple of verses we often overlook when reading about Samson and they are important for they say the same thing.  When that happens in Scripture we ought to take notice.  The first is Judges 15:20, “And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.”  It is repeated in Judges 16:31, “He had judged Israel twenty years.”
     In the midst of the enemy, he judged.  Twenty years mind you.  We know almost nothing of the events of those twenty years except some exploits by Samson.  Yet he was a judge, there must have been some victories, some reason for the Lord to put him in that position for so many years.  Perhaps we get a glimpse on it in Hebrews, “For the time would fail me to tell of …Samson…who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” (11:32-24, NKJV)  Whew!  Is that enough to get our attention?  In the midst of the enemy, Samson judged.  I wonder, perhaps could Samson have flitted through David’s mind when he penned, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (Psalm 23:5)
     So when the blahs, the mulligrubs, and even the mubblefubbles come, when the moans and groans come, when you find yourself in the stinking slime of despondency remember…  Again I say remember,
          “Oh yes, oh yes, I’m a child of the King,
          His royal blood now flows in my veins,
          And I, who was wretched and poor, now can sing–
          Praise God, Praise God
          I’m a child of the King.”
                –Cindy Walker