Author: Ira Paine

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Hollowness is perhaps the worst emotion a man can feel.”
                   –Kenneth Pratt  (To Kill a Dragon)


       “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord I will seek.'”
                    –Psalm 27:8 (NKJV)
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To think of God is overwhelming.  Yet, by doing so, by contemplation on the great “I AM” we become closer in our relationship with Him, and are more able to cope with this world.  Contemplate then, on the Almighty.  We have had a brief, little study the past several weeks on the person of God, along with a few of His natural and moral attributes.  I would encourage you to continue to study them, and more, deeper.  However, do not let the infiniteness of God discourage you.  

          “Can you search out the deep things of God?  Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?  They are higher than heaven–what can you do?  Deeper than Sheol–what can you know?  Their measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.”
                    –Job 11:7-9 (NKJV)

No, we cannot grasp completely who God is.  We cannot fathom His character and personality because of the purity of it.  But, we must try.  Charles Spurgeon said, “Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued, investigation of the great subject of Deity.  The most excellent study for expanding the soul is the science of Christ and Him crucified and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity.”  This study should teach us humility, caution, and reverence.  However, it is our duty and obligation to know Him better.  Spurgeon continues, “There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity.”
     So much of our thinking regarding God is superficial.  And truly, we cannot know Him fully.  One day we shall Him face-to-face; yet He will still be the incomprehensible God.  No wonder man cannot look at Him and live for He is holiness.  He is infinite in His attributes; He receives nothing, nor is limited by any other power.  True happiness consists then only in the enjoyment of God.  S. M. Leckeredge said this,

          “I wish I could describe Him to you.
          He’s indescribable because He’s incomprehensible,
          He’s irresistible because He’s invincible.
          You can’t get Him off your hands,
          You can’t get Him off your mind,
          You can’t out live Him
          And you can’t live without Him….”

     “The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” (Shorter Westminster Catechism).  We cannot glorify Him if we do not know Him.  We cannot enjoy Him and His fellowship unless we take the time to learn of Him.  John tells us that we are to worship Him in “spirit and truth [reality]” which means our everyday life. (John 4:23)  He is the Supreme Sovereign of the Universe.  WOW!  Think on that!  Then add to it that He watches us, He sees every breath we take, He knows every thought and step we take.  His eye is ever upon us.  It is overwhelming; yet it is comforting.  “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17)

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
It wasn’t unusual for men to buy dynamite since this was a mining hub, but it bothered me that three miscreants would be purchasing the goods.  Perhaps I was thinking wrongly, they might be working up in one of the canyons at a digging, but my gut instinct told me different.  I was hoping that Doc was right and a man would show up at his place in need of help.
     I stood back in the shadows of some pines at the little park about a block and a half from Doc’s office.  Darkness was starting to settle in as the last rays of the sun went down over the horizon.  Mateo, I was sure, had his position somewhere at the back of the office.  Now, we waited…but for how long?  I knew Doc was right, if that bullet hit the man in the hip or pelvis he was in a world of hurt.  Even if it hit only muscle, he would have lost a lot of blood.  But would they take a chance and bring him to the doctors; it was the only one in the area?
     Ten minutes later a wagon pulled up in front of the office.  It was too dark to recognize the man as he lumbered off the wagon and went to banging on Doc’s door.  In the quietness of the Sunday night, I could hear the man.  “Are you the doctor?” he barked.
     Doc’s calm voice responded, “I’m Doctor Jones.”
     The man turned toward the wagon.  “There’s a man hurt bad in the wagon.  I was ridin’ into town an’ happened to notice him lyin’ in the ditch.  I went to check on him, and when I touched him he began groanin’ somethin’ fierce.  I was most ‘feared to touch him, but I knew he’d probably die if’n I didn’t get him into see a doc.”
     Shuffling out to the wagon, Doc took one look.  “Let’s get him into the office so I can examine him.”
     The man put down the wagon gate, and I heard Doc ask him, “Do you know this man?”
     Quickly responding, the man answered, “Never seen him before in my life.”  Lifting the man out, Doc continued to ask, “You have a name?”
     There was hesitation, then the man stuttered, “Mark Barstow.”
     Doc looked up at him.  “Not sure if I’ve seen you before.  You work around here?”
     No answer came forth as they carried the man into the office.  When the door was shut I moved on over to the wall beside the office.  I could hear only pieces through the closed window.  I’d give Doc time to start examining the man then go in.
     “You’re right, this man’s in bad shape.  Left any longer and he would’ve died, might yet.”
     It was time for me to make my entry.  I entered nonchalantly.  “Evening Doc, I was makin’ my rounds and spotted a wagon in front of the office.  Anything wrong?”  I watched the man closely for any moves.  I did notice that he was some uncomfortable when he saw me enter.
     “Miles, got a wounded man here in bad shape.  Shot in the hip and I think his pelvis might be broken.  Bullet’s still in him so I’ve got to get that out,” said Doc all the time working on the man.  “Where’s Edith when I need her?” he mumbled.  “Mister, Barstow, right?” he questioned looking over at the man.  “I’m going to need your help.  Get a pot of water on that stove…I need it hot.”
     Barstow moved to find a pot and added some wood to the low burning stove while Doc cut away the patient’s clothes.  I stood there watching then asked, “Shot?  Where’d you find him?”
     “On the road in from Mancos,” replied the man, setting the pot on to heat.
     “What are you comin’ into Durango on a Sunday night for?  Everything’s closed except the saloons.”
     “Comin’ in for supplies, thought I’d stay the night then get them in the mornin’.”
     I glared at the man, then turned my attention to Doc.  “Think he’ll live?”
     “Tell you the truth, he’s in bad shape…lost a lot of blood. Listen, I’m going to need the two of you to hold him still while I dig for that bullet.  I don’t want any more damage to his pelvis.  He’s going to be out of commission for a long spell as it is.”
     Doc had his tools near him and picked up a scalpel.  He was moving it toward the wound when the man’s eyes opened wide and he hollered, “Bart!…”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Look to the hills. They are quiet. The storms sweep over them and are gone, and most of man’s troubles pass the same way. Whenever you feel that things are getting too much for you, go to the mountains or the desert—it smooths out the wrinkles in your mind.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Brionne)

       “Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths….”
                    –Isaiah 2:3 (NKJV)
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Being raised in Colorado at the foothills of the Rockies, Psalm 121 was one of my favorite Psalms.  This is a psalm of ascent, so perhaps the writer was looking upward at the mountain he was having to climb heading for the holy city.

          1 — I will lift up my eyes to the hills–from whence comes my help?
          2 — My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
          3 — He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
          4 — Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.  (NKJV)

     There is some controversy over verse one.  Some say, why look to the mountains, your help doesn’t come from them.  F.B. Meyer wrote, “We are all tempted to look at the mountains, to the creature rather than the Creator, to things and people beneath the heavens, instead of to Him who dwells above the heavens, in His infinite majesty, and to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth.”  However, in saying that, I want us to recognize the fact that in Scripture mountains often refer to the government of God.  Does the Psalmist look up, and he is right in looking up, to the mountains waiting for God to swoop down and rescue him?  Alexander Maclaren puts it this way, “I will look at the things I cannot see, and lift up my eyes above these lownesses about me, to the loftiness that sense cannot behold, but which I know to be lying serene and solid beyond the narrowing horizon before me.”  Barnes says that the writer is most likely looking toward the mountain where Jerusalem was built since that was where he was headed.  That was where God dwelled and therefore, that was where aid was expected.
     Either way, the writer realizes that his help comes from the Lord.  He knows that he is to lift up his eyes and not leave them downcast.  He makes an effort in the toil of travel, the troubles of life to lift up his eyes.  “Too often,” says Maclaren, “Christian men and women walk beneath the very peaks of the mountains of God, and rarely lift their vision there.  I think of Isaiah 2:2, “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills.  All nations will stream to it.” (HCSB)  
     The psalmist is assured of his faith–he know where his helps comes from.  He openly declares it, as the writer of Hebrews says, “So we may boldly say:  ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?'” (13:6, NKJV)  Do not look to the mountain as an answer, as an idol, but look to the God who created the mountain.  He is the solution to your fears and problems.
     In this dangerous trek, there was the fear of falling which could result in serious injury.  I remember one time running down Green Mountain, my foot hit either a rock or root and I went sprawling off the path.  I was bruised, scraped and had more than a few scratches, plus the fact that I was embarrassed for having fallen.  The psalmist didn’t want to fall on his upward journey.  A fall could mean a broken bone or even death.   What is it on your path that could cause you to slip?  Grief?  Depression?  Feelings of worthlessness?  Habits?  This writer had the assurance that God will not allow him to slip.  Matthew Henry writes, “He is always near his people for their protection and refreshment…  He will take care that his people shall not fall.  Thou shalt not be hurt, neither by the open assaults, nor by the secret attempts of thine enemies.”
     Rest assured my friend, God does not sleep.  He is constantly watching over us and if need be He will send His angels to bring us to safety, plus on our journey we have the Word of God as a “lamp to our feet and a light on our path” as well as the Holy Spirit as our Guide, our Helper in any difficulty or circumstance.

               “What God’s almighty power hath made, his gracious mercy keepeth;
               By morning glow or evening shade, his watchful eye ne’er sleepeth;
               Within the kingdom of his might, lo!  all is just and all is right:
               To God all praise and glory.”
                      –J.J. Schutz

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

They enjoyed a last cup of coffee while the dark eased out of the canyons of the mountains way off to their west and slipped over the flat prairies.” 

                    –C. Wayne Winkle  (A Dangerous Beginning)
 
“Ridin’ down the canyon, to watch the sun go down; a picture than no artist e’er could paint.”  Sing along, Pard, for that’s ’bout as close as we can get to a canyon here in East Texas.  Reckon I could go up on the hillside to look out over the pasture land at sundown, that’s a right nice view.  But nestled in our little cottage in the woods we don’t have that view.  “Course the last rays of the sun filter on down through the trees; that’s right nice as well.
     Sorry, was thinkin’ ’bout that view, an’ most forgot yur coffee.  Since yuh don’t want to sing, sit down and I’ll pour yuh a cup.  Ahhh, that delicious brew, now if’n we could only be lookin’ down the canyon.  ‘Course the sun ain’t comin’ down, it’s just a-risin’ tellin’ us that there’s a new day approachin’ and that we need to be doin’ our best for the Lord.
     Did I watch the convention?  Pard!  What’s got into yuh?  Why should I watch a bunch of clowns?  Just watchin’ some of them makes the ol’ gizzard queasy.  Makes me think of the words of our Lord when he said that a group of people just wanted to carry out their father’s desires.  By father, He meant ol’ slewfoot hisself–the devil.  Remember, Jesus said that he, the devil, speaks his native language, for he is a liar, and no truth in him.  Why those folks are just carryin’ out his wishes, and who’ll become the recipients?  Yuh got it, us folk out here.
     Pard, yuh done got me on my soap-box.  Yuh drink yur coffee whilst I go on an’ say somethin’ else.  We’re headin’ down a wicked, evil way, an’ it has to stop or the Lord is goin’ to put a stop to it.  Hmmm, or maybe not, He often allows folks to get what they want; bad thing is other folk suffer right along with them.  But, Pard, unless the Spirit speaks to them they ain’t a-gonna listen.  They don’t belong to God so they ain’t gonna recognize His voice, nor do they want to.  They want to do what they want regardless of the right and wrong of it.
     Whooeee, Pard, yuh hang on to the truth!  Don’t let no woke person who’s really asleep turn yuh aside.  They ain’t got no more sense than God gave a rock.  Yuh right straight an’ true an’ tall in the saddle.  Yuh tighten yur cinch as yuh travel this road of life, enjoy the sunrise, the sunset, and good coffee.
       Vaya con Dios.