Author: Ira Paine

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on

As Moser put pressure on the stirrup as he began to mount I saw a slight giving.  Luciana must have felt it for she pushed against the saddle throwing herself off to the right.  When she did that the saddle came off on top of Moser; Mateo didn’t tighten the cinch.
       When Luciana went off the side, I rushed forward, leaping up to grab the man with Enrique pulling him, Enrique, and saddle off his mount.  The horse kicked a couple of times then ran off.  As I struggled to get up from underneath the load, I heard shots, then the sound of horses running away.  Glancing up, I saw the third man fleeing on horseback down the street.
       Getting to my feet first, I saw the man beginning to rise.  I saw the Greener laying at my feet.  Quickly I picked it up, then gave the man a thump on the head.  Mateo had come up, followed by Doc.  They were bending down next to Luciana.  I heard a groan from her as Doc began to check her over.  Enrique had scrambled up and rushed to his father, putting his face into Mateo’s chest, slightly sobbing.    
       My eyes moved over to Moser, on the ground, not moving.  I assumed he was dead.  With Luciana falling off the other side of the horse, Mateo took a chance and fired, the bullets striking Moser in the gut, then a second one in the neck.  He died quickly.
       Mateo and Enrique stooped down next to Luciana, who was conscious.  Doc Jones muttered something to them that I didn’t catch, then got up to approach me.
       “He dead?” he questioned pointing at the man on the ground.  I lifted the barrel of the shotgun to my head motioning that I gave him a little tap.  “How about you?  You all right?”
       I nodded, then asked, “How’s Luciana?”
       “She may have a broken arm, but other than that she’s fine.  A little traumatized, but she’ll make out all right.  I told Mateo to take her down to the office where I can examine it more closely.”
       By this time Mateo had helped his wife to her feet.  He looked my direction and I nodded.  “Go ahead, I’ll take this miscreant to jail, and check on Alejo while I’m there.”

       Reaching down I grabbed the man by the back of the collar to pull him to his feet.  He was moaning and whining about his head hurting and that he had his rights as a citizen.  I didn’t pay him much mind as I pushed and prodded him toward the jail.
       “Lucas!”  I hollered entering the office.  “Open a cell, I’ve a customer for yuh.”
       I could hear the cell door opening then saw Lucas holding the door open.  I pushed the man on through and then went in behind him.  He started for the cot, but I banged him on the knee with the Greener.  “Nope, not until I get a few answers from you.”
       When I swung the shotgun up to hold it on my shoulder his eyes widened.  I reckoned he thought I was going to kabonk him one on top of his old coconut and he threw his hands up over his head.  “Yuh got a name?”
       “I don’t have to tell you,” he muttered, still wide-eyed.
       “Nope, but it’s easier to do while yuh have some teeth,” I replied, giving him a quick smile and moving the shotgun slightly.  I wasn’t going to knock his teeth out, but there was no need him knowing it.
       “Hendricks, Ben Hendricks,” he gritted.  “Why’m I in jail?”
       Now, he had to be kidding me, or was he that that stupid.  “For starters, kidnappin’, then resistin’ arrest,” I informed him.  “When I get over to the desk, I’ll think of some more to add to the list,” I paused to let that sink in, then added, “‘nough to put you away for ten years or more.”
       “Where’s Moser?”
       “Why thought yuh knew; he went out and bought himself some real estate, small plot, but it’ll fit him right proper.”
       “That Mex kill him?” he snarled, until I brought the Greener down to lightly thump him on the noggin.
       I moved up close to him.  That’s Marshal Ramirez to you, now who was the man that rode away?”  When he didn’t answer I gave another little thump.  He still didn’t answer, just moved away until he was hugging the wall.
       Turning away from him, I walked out of the cell locking it.  “That’s all right, I’ll be bringin’ Amos Martin to visit yuh, and I just hope that the woman survives,” I added to give him something to gnaw on.
       “No, you can’t…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

His trust in me was measured by my abilities to follow through, produce, and not give in when things were tough, or times were bad.”

                    –Chris Mullen  (Rowdy: Wild and Mean, Sharp and Keen)
 
        “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.”
                    –Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV)
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               “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow…”  –Bill Gaither

I trust that you had a grand Easter weekend…took time to reflect upon the cross and Christ’s sacrifice–then rejoiced on Easter, the day of resurrection.  We have a glorious hope; it’s a shame that those in the world shun it, shame it, mock it and some actually blaspheme it.  They want hope and peace, yet when it is offered it is spurned.  Because He lives we can truly live – Psalm 112.

          6 — Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
          7 — He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
          8 — His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
          9 — He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor.
        10 — The wicked will see it and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.  (NKJV)

       Because of Christ we can take a firm stand in Him and His Word.  Being deeply rooted, we will never be shaken!  “He is not given to panic or overreaction in the face of adversity.  Rather, he is marked by stability and strength of heart.” (Steven Lawson)  Read those words carefully.  They are words whereby we can walk through this world with faith and strength and courage.  Bad news may, and will come, but we do not have a bad report.  We trust in the Lord, just as the psalmist did.
       I really like, “his heart is established…”.  It is steadfast; it will not be moved; it is anchored to an infinite, unmovable God.  In this we have security, for our heart is established by God; it is no longer subject to the whims of the world or our own emotions.  George Wood puts it this way, “Look at the images of security–never shaken, remembered forever, no fear of bad news, steadfast heart, trusting in the Lord, no fear, triumph over foes.”  He knows, we know, that God will deal with our problems and our foes.
       The one who is steadfast, who is secure, will be a giving person.  Remember, giving is not always monetary.  Giving can be of time (important), resources, knowledge, or even a smile.  Take a moment and think how you may give.  I had a wonderful professor, Dr. Holsinger, who told me that he was not physically able to help others or do missions trips, but instead he would give of his knowledge, wisdom, and expertise to students by teaching a class without pay.  That should give us hope, because as we “age” and go through this life things change.  Our means of giving and helping might have to change as well.  However, it is well to remember that, “Charity empties the heart of one gift that it may make room for a larger.” (Joseph Parker)

               “A whispered word may touch the heart and call it back to life.
               A look of love bid sin depart and calm unholy strife.
               No act falls fruitless; none can tell how vast its power may be.
               Nor what results enfolded dwell within it silently.”
                         –unknown

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He leaned against a rock and sipped the scalding coffee. It tasted good, and he took his time with it, relishing each swallow.”

                        –Louis L’Amour  (High Lonesome)
 
Pard, how many times have I done that?  Leanin’ against a rock, or back propped up against a tree.  Sometimes just sittin’ on the bank of a lake fishin’, or ’round the campfire–mornin’, noon, night, or anytime in between.  How many cups have I shared with pards over the years in similar circumstances or just as we are now, sittin’ ’round the kitchen table.  Good times, good fellowship, good coffee.
       I often think of that Saturday after the crucifixion, the day of quietness, at least in the natural realm.  Just think, Pard, those ol’ boys, and the ladies around them thought they were alone, that their world was a-endin’ when in fact it was really just beginnin’.  Once, in the eyes of the world they were common people, but now, though they didn’t realize it yet, they were children of the King–royalty.  If’n ol’ Peter would’ve known that then, whooeee, but the Lord knew they had to go through a time of mournin’, of drought, of missin’ His presence.
       Let me be passin’ on a story I read this past week.  Sorry, the source slips my feeble mind, but I want yuh to be thinkin’ on it.  Go ‘head take a deep swaller, I’ll wait ’til I see it runnin’ down yur gullet.  Here goes–  There was a Navajo Indian in Arizona on whose land oil was discovered.  He became a very wealthy man, but wealth did not change him.  He went on livin’ just as he was before.  The money piled up in the bank, but every now an’ then the old man would visit the bank and say to the banker, “Crops all dried up; sheep all dead; cattle all stolen.”  The banker knew exactly what to do.  He would take the old man into the vault, sit him at a table and place several bags of silver dollars in front of him for him to count.  After a while the man would come out and say, “Crops fine; sheep all alive; cattle all back.”  
       Good coffee…oh, let me tell yuh the jist of the meanin’.  See, if’n Peter had realized that Saturday, that dark, quiet, and fearful day, that he was buildin’ up an account in the heavenly bank, he wouldn’t have been so fretful.  Pard, we can do the same.  If’n yuh get down and out, yur lower lips sore from yur boots a-steppin’ on it, go count yur blessin’s in yur heavenly account.  My, don’t yuh know we have resources that we haven’t even considered.
       Yep, Pard, tomorrow is what is called Resurrection Sunday, so today, instead of mopin’ ’round, drink some coffee an’ start lookin’ at yur blessin’s.  The Savior has done risen, there’s no need to be wonderin’ ’bout that.  He’s alive, today an’ forevermore!
       Now sayin’ that, don’t go out an’ be doin’ somethin’ stupid with the Lord’s blessin’ and for mercy-sake, check that cinch before mountin’ or yuh just might wind up sittin’ next to yur heavenly account.
         Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

There is a big difference between starting and finishing the course.”

                         –D.C. Adkisson (Winter of the Wolves)

       “I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given me to do.”
                         –John 17:4 (NKJV)
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               “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
                              –Luke 22:42(NKJV)

Put yourself for a minute in the garden, not asleep like the disciples, but maybe behind a rock watching the agony of Jesus.  Have you ever really thought about what it was that caused this great agony?  Maybe it is not clear from the translation above, so let me give you Harbuck’s, “Father, if You are willing or if it pleases You, remove this cup [of agony] from Me.  Nevertheless, [it is supremely important that] not My will or My desire be carried out, but that Your will be carried out and accomplished.”
       We see the Father’s will and the cup.  This cup was a cup of agony.  “Jesus agonized over His approaching death and the effect of God’s wrath.  The cup is a figure of speech for wrath.” (NKJV Study Bible).  What was this cup?  Yes, death was there, but it was not necessarily death or the grave that brought about the agony.  Jesus wasn’t concerned over the grave, He knew that He would rise again.  In Galatians, we read, that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead (1:1)  Paul writes in Romans that it was the Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead (8:11).  Finally, Jesus had His own power to raise Himself (John 3:18).  The grave did not concern Him for He had power over the grave.
       Do not neglect this word “agony.”  It is definitely implied.  Jesus knew He would face severe physical torment.  Agony was the Greek word used of someone fighting a battle with sheer fear.  There is no hope against the torture, the pain–therefore, it is agony.  Vine states that the term meant, “severe emotional strain and anguish.”  At this moment, in that wretched time in Gethsemane, Jesus could have refused the cross.  Think of it, Jesus sweating and blood dripping.  Barclay puts it this way, “The salvation of the world hung in the balance of the Son of God literally sweated it out in Gethsemane; and he won.”
       They had sung a hymn before leaving the room, but now, in the Garden, the song had ceased and the agony began.  He knows He must go through with the Father’s will if mankind is to be redeemed.  He is to face the last enemy of life–death.  He knew He came to earth for this very purpose, but He also knows that He must face a terrible ordeal.  
       What was it then?  Agony of the soul.  Not only was there to be the physical pain, there was the emotional pain that would be attached to it.  Even more–the spiritual pain.  Yes, there is a pain of the spirit.  The holy One, the pure One, the righteous One was now to feel the touch of sin.  Not His, but the world’s–past, present, and future.  Paul writes, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV)  Even in this Jesus Himself did not become a sinner or that He was guilty of sin, but our sins, yours and mine, were imputed or attributed to Him.  Jesus, who walked among mankind, who saw the results of sin, who healed many who were sick that was part of the curse, who saw men die, now would not only see the results, but would feel sin.  The Holy One, received all the sins of the world upon Himself!
       Then He uttered those words; words that saw the redemption of mankind.  “It is finished!”  Redemption is here, the ransom has been paid, God’s justice has been declared and the wrath and punishment has been carried out.  Jesus declared it so!  “It is finished!”  Death came, the agony was over.  “Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2, NASB).  “…Jesus, the One Who is the Originator (Leader, Source) and Finisher and Perfecter of our faith, He, Who for the reason of the joy [of attaining the victory] that lay ahead of Him, endured the cross and ignored the shame…”  (Harbuck)  
       He faced all the agonies that came with the cross.  The enemy–Satan was there, the Father turned His back, sin came upon Him and He cried, not “woe is Me”; but “It is finished!”  I repeat–
            IT IS FINISHED!