Author: Ira Paine

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Trouble is brewing, tensions are rising, and it looks like things could boil over in Durango.  Alejo has been beaten up by Frank Moser and Miles is on the hunt.  Javier and Agatha are hiding out in the church and waiting for the time they can leave for his job down near Taos.  Join with me now in another exciting tale from yesteryear in the Saga of Miles Forrest.
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       I pounded on the door of Martin’s Hardware hard enough to rattle the glass.  I knew he was in there because there were lights on.  Upon receiving no answer, I pounded on them again and heard a voice, “We’re not open yet, come back later!”
       One more time I jarred the door, then stepped back ready to kick it in, when a scowling Amos Martin opened it hollering, “I said, we’re not open yet.  Oh,…”
       I didn’t let him finish as I jammed the barrel of the Greener in the pit of his stomach, bringing an “ooof” from him and pushing him back.  I followed with another jab, then another until he was back inside his store.
       “Forrest,” he began, with pain in his voice along with venom, “there’s no call for that!”
       Giving him one final jab, I replied in outrage, “And there’s no call to be beatin’ up a kid!”
       The only expression I got from him was a little widening of his eyes.  He may not have done the deed, but he knew about it.  “Where’s Moser?”
       “Forrest, I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re talking about,” he muttered, the venom still in his voice.
       Not saying anything, I replied by sweeping a dozen or so glasses off the counter near me with the Greener.  After that I stepped to where there were a half dozen lamps placing the Greener on the edge of the counter next to them.
       “You’ll pay for the damage!” he barked.  I tapped one of the globes, not hard enough to break, but he got the idea.  “Moser’s not here!”
       “You’re ’bout the lowest cur I ever did see!  Sendin’ a man to beat up a kid.”
        He let out an oath.  “Big deal, he’s only a Mex…”.  I didn’t let him finish, but swung the Greener catching him on the jaw, staggering him.  Lifting the barrel I was ready to thump him a good one, when he whimpered in pain, “I don’t know where Frank is right now, and that’s the truth.”
       “Why’d you send him to beat up the kid?  Face up to Marshal Ramirez yourself, if you have an issue with him.”
       He was rubbing the side of his face where the barrel of the Greener had landed.  “I just told him to rough him up a bit, give the Marshal a scare, not to beat him up.”
       I moved closer to Martin, bringing the shotgun down to my side.  “You don’t know Marshal Ramirez very well.  You’re fortunate that I got here before he did.  Now, listen, and yuh better get this through your thick skull.  If that kid is crippled or has any other threatening injuries, I’ll be back and do the same to you.”
       “You can’t threaten me like that,” he muttered.
       “No threat, just a fact,” I stated.  “Whatever happens to the Ramirez family, or for that fact, anyone else in the Mexican quarter of town, I will hold you personally responsible.”
       I turned to walk out, then stopped, smiled then took a swipe at his legs with the Greener catching him on the shinbone.  It was not hard enough to break it, but it would hurt.  Instead of going out the front, however, I moved to the back.  Moser and another had left on horses and by chance they might be in the back of Martin’s store.  Upon getting outside, I did see the tracks but the horses were gone, moving down the alley toward the river.
       Moving through the alleyway back towards the jail, I began to shake my head and whisper, “Lord, you’re goin’ to have to help me.  The ol’ anger was buildin’ up an’ it was all I could do to hold it in.”
       Doc Jones was coming out of the cell where Alejo was lying.  He looked over at me, “He’ll be alright, but he’ll be hurting for a week or so.  Maybe a couple of ribs broken, but mostly bruises and scrapes.  He’s resting right now.”
       “Lucas, you stay with him,” ordered Doc Jones.  “Miles come with me, let’s go down to the diner.  I want to talk with you.”
       We walked outside and just stepped down off the boardwalk into the street heading for the diner when we heard shots.  They were coming from the barrio…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A man…should be like iron, not steel. If steel is heated too much it becomes brittle and it will break, while iron has great strength. Yet it can be shaped and changed by the proper hammering and the right amount of heat. A good man is like that.”

                         –Louis L’Amour  (The Iron Marshal)

       “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
                         –Romans 8:29(NKJV)
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Remember the little saying that was used so often that it became trite?  “God is good–all the time, and all the time–God is good.”  It became a device to get people’s involvement, and was used by some a little too often.  However, it is true.   In Psalm 111, we see the goodness of God displayed.  

          5 — He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
          6 — He has declared to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
          7 — The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure.
          8 — They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
          9 — He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever:  holy and awesome is His name.
        10 — The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.  His praise endures forever.  (NKJV)

Review last Monday’s study on Psalm 111.  I want to start with verse 4 as we read His wonders are to be remembered.   “God’s works are identified as wonders, which are usual but which are beyond the ordinary course of events” (Steven Lawson).  When we see His wonders, we are left in “wonder.”  Then that verse states that God is gracious and full of compassion, therefore, He is very kind to you. (Wood)
     Verse 5 shows that He provides food for His people.  But it goes further than that, God sustains us (Wood).  He gives us our daily bread, and He also clothes us, provides us with the necessities of life.  Paul states that “God shall supply all your need…” (Philippians 4:19)  I like what George Wood says, “Because God remembers your hunger–for food, security, relationship, or fulfillment–He will provide the ‘bread’ on the day you need it.  Don’t panic that tomorrow’s bread is not yet on your plate.”  God is good!
     Look at what He does for us in verse 6, He enlarges us.  We are never diminished, but He is ever expanding the territory of our lives, enlarging the sphere of influence (Wood).  The enemy will try to lie to you, but we know that if we obey God we will never have less than what is needed.  God is good!  
     God is faithful, we can always depend upon Him.  He is there in the midst of every and any situation, and His works are “verity” (justice, truth, faithful).  He will fulfill His promises.  Lawson describes it in this way, “God’s acts are just, meaning always right and equitable.  Moreover, all His precepts are trustworthy, meaning infallible, dependable, and they will surely come to pass.”  He is not a tease, one who dangles a carrot in front of you, urging you to take a swipe at it.  No, He is faithful and will never lead into temptation or give an illusionary fantasy to guide you.  We can depend upon Him–for He is good.
     The greatest good He has for mankind is seen in verse 9.  His greatest work, His greatest gift–redemption.  God provides redemption for His people.  The NLT renders it this way, “He has paid a full ransom for his people.  He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever…”.  His work of creation is great; His miracles performed on our behalf make us wonder, but above all His greatest work was to provide for our redemption.  He is good–“holy and awesome is His name”!
     The wisest thing we can do is praise the Lord.  This reverential fear “the necessary prerequisite of all wisdom…”.  The sobering awe of God is the beginning of wisdom; that is, the starting point and first principle of wisdom.” (Lawson)  This psalm ends where it begins–praise the Lord!  When we look at the world, we know that God is sovereign.   When looking upon any and all situations of your life–know that God is sovereign.  God is working for you, and He is working through you.  It may not be apparent, and the end result might not yet be seen, but remember that He is faithful and dependable–He is good!

               “O give me faith, and faith’s increase;
               Finish the work begun in me.
               Preserve my soul in perfect peace,
               And let me always rest on thee.”
                          –Charles Wesley

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He filled those tortillas with fried bacon and beans prepared with just a dash or two of chili powder that he always carried. That, along with a pot of coffee, satisfied our stomachs.”

                         –D.C. Adkisson  (Mal de Ojo)
 
Mornin’, Pard.  Hope the coffee’s strong enough for yuh, this mornin’.  I’ve got a new blend, and only used it once so not sure how strong to make it.  I tried it once, and it needed a little more “umph” so I added another spoonful for the brew.  It’s from a local boy who’s startin’ a business.  I admire his gumption so I purchased a bag.
       Pard, the missus made some good gallimaufry this week.  Ha, yur reaction made me smile.  What’s that?  If’n yuh can’t pronounce it yuh don’t eat it.  Ha, don’t blame yuh there, Pard.  That’s a new term for me.  I was doin’ some relaxin’ readin’ this week, and it showed up.  When I looked up the meanin’ I found it meant, just like yuh said, watch out what yur eatin’ ’cause yuh don’t know what’s in the pot.  Really, it’s the same as hash, or what the Cajuns call gumbo.  Most folk don’t realize that gumbo isn’t necessarily what yuh find on the table of fine dinin’.  It’s whatever those poor bayou runners could find durin’ the day to throw in the pot.  Sometime yuh don’t want to know.  But mix it all together an’ usually it taste mighty fine.  I remember Pappy makin’ “camp hash.”  We were up at the fishin’ camp, and the last day, he threw everythin’ left in the skillet.  Not bad, not real cuisine, but it did the gizzard an’ other innards good.  Whether it’s gallimaufry, or gumbo, or even plain ol’ hash we need to be thankful.  Why, I recall one of them forty-niners back in Californy days askin’ a Chinaman was the food was called to which he replied “chop suey.”  The miner then asked, what does that mean in plain American?  “Hash,” came the reply.  So count yur blessin’s for the hash the Lord gives yuh.
       How’s the coffee, Pard?  Stout enough fer yuh?  Weak coffee would be tofu touted out makin’ believe it was steak.  Maybe next week we can discuss the new steak, if’n it can be called that, which is totally artificial.  Yuh think, it all started way back when they developed Astroturf for ballfields?  I remember Dick Allen sayin’ that if a horse can’t eat it he don’t want to play on it.  Artificial this and that, and now… Well, I’ll save it.
       I do want to mention, go ‘head, I don’t mind yur slurpin’ I can talk over it.  Tomorrow’s the missus’ birthday.  Whoooeeee, a milestone!  I surely thank the good Lord ev’ryday for Him a-blessin’ me with her.  By my side, now for the long ride.  The bumps in the road, and the long downhill stretches, she’s been a good un.  He knew good an’ well that she was the only one that could put up with me.  Oh, plus did I ever tell yuh, she can really make a good pie!  An’ I don’t want to be remiss, my youngest daughter celebrated a birthday last week.  
       Yuh be sure to check yur cinch, I want yuh back so’s I can bend yur ear some ’bout that artificial stuff yuh might have been puttin’ down yur gullet.  Until then…
        Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

There’s no enemy quite as bitter as a friend who’s turned against you.”

                    –Elmer Kelton  (Jericho’s Road)

       “Rise, let us be going.  See, My betrayer is at hand.”
                    –Matthew 26:46 (NKJV)
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“Beware the Ides of March,” so said the soothsayer to Julius Caesar, at least according to Shakespeare.  If you have read the play you know that this is the day that Julius Caesar was assassinated by the mob, led by his friend Brutus.  Brutus the betrayer.
     If you read Dante’s, “The Divine Comedy,” especially the section known as “The Inferno,” you will find that it was Dante who depicted different levels of hell.  Whether there are or not has led to much speculation and discussion, but it does lead to interesting reading, and it is thought provoking.  I do want to point out the lowest, deepest, most foul level, according to Dante, is that in which he placed, or saw, the most despicable sinners–Brutus and Judas.  Both known as the greatest betrayers in history.  Hmmm, wait a minute, that would leave room for one more, the greatest betrayer of all–Lucifer.
     Let me show you another betrayer; the one who betrays himself.  James speaks of the hearer of the word, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” (James 1:23-24, NKJV).  Many students that I knew kept a mirror in their locker.  I would ask them why they look at themselves each time they open their locker.  Did they forget what they looked like from the last time?  Perhaps a pimple popped up or they had something stuck in their teeth.  Why is it that we continue to go back to a mirror, is there something we didn’t see the first time?  Or it is that the mirror might be betraying us?
     The self-betrayer is a dangerous person.  He can easily ruin his own life by doing so.  Here are some examples of the person who believes lies about themselves.  (Borrowing from Richard Dresselhaus)  
               “I am unloved.  That’s a lie.  God loves you…and so do others.  I’m uncertain of my eternal salvation.  That’s a lie…as long as you are abiding in Christ.  No one can erase your name from the Lamb’s book of life.  I am unattractive.  That’s a lie.  God made you.  So fix yourself up…and live with confidence.  My life doesn’t count.  That’s a lie…if you are living a life of obedience to the commands of Jesus.  Life is unfair.  That’s a lie.  Live for Jesus…and life is good.”
This is a short list, and true, others are deceiving and betraying you by saying these things, but you are betraying yourself by believing them.
     Then I think of the times that I have betrayed the Lord.  It was Judas who betrayed Jesus to the guards.  John writes, “And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.” (18:2, NKJV)  Matthew depicts the scene this way, “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.” (26:47, NKJV)  Yes, it was Judas, one of the twelve, one who had walked beside Jesus, had shared food with Him, had slept around the same campfires.  But look at who he brought:  a multitude, the temple guards from the chief priests.  Were they not betrayers as well?  The leaders of the people; the ones to whom the people looked for spiritual guidance sent guards to arrest the only one who could actually do so.  Wasn’t that betrayal as well?
     How many times have I promised to do something for the Lord and failed–isn’t that betrayal?  How many times have I had to go to prayer in repentance?  Stumbling and falling along the way–the narrow way.  I said I would take up my cross, but there have been times I let it fall, and I pushed it aside.  Betrayal!  But there is something that John wrote; something that we should cling to when this happens for it is only real betrayal if we grovel in our sins.  It is only betrayal if we do not again pick up our cross.  John said, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NKJV)  Betrayal would be if we didn’t recognize our sin and did not go to the Master.  “[But] if we acknowledge and agree with God that we are sinners, He is faithful and righteous and will forgive us [of] our sins, and will cleanse us from every kind of iniquity and wrong.” (Harbuck)  
     That gives me hope.  We could stay in the dust and boohoo that we failed.  Or as many do, we could try to hide our sin, or say that it wasn’t really that big of a deal.  We read in Matthew that Judas was remorseful (27:3-5) but that is where is stopped.  He stopped with remorse and did not continue with repentance.  If we do the same, then we are betrayers as well.