Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 12, 2026

This is the first time I saw the sunrise today! And every sunrise is a gift from the creator!”
–B.N. Rundell (Washita)

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
–John 8:12 (NIV)
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Holy moments, holy experiences–a special time when we should be in wonder. I can recall a few wonderful spiritual experiences in my life. When was the last time you had one or recognized that you were in the midst of one? Max Lucado defines one this way, “When your world touches God’s world, the result is a holy moment. When God’s high hope kisses your earthly hurt, that moment is holy…. What matters is that holy moments occur. Daily.” Ponder that!
I am going to use much of Max Lucado’s description in this wonderful, holy moment. Read slowly, read thoughtfully.
“It happened this morning. Right after you awoke. Right there in your house. Did you miss it?
“The alarm rings….You’ve already hit the sleeper button three times; hit it again and you’ll be late. You’ve already asked for five more minutes…five different times; ask again and you’ll get water poured on your head.
“The hour has come. Daybreak has broken. So, with a groan and a grunt, you throw back the covers and kick a warm foot out into a cold world. You lean up and sit on the edge of the bed and stare at the back of your eyelids. You tell them to open, but they object. (The moment isn’t holy yet, but it’s almost here.)
“You stand. At that moment, everything that will hurt during the course of the day hurts. It’s as if the little person in your brain that’s in charge of pain needs to test the circuits before you make it to the bathroom. Back pain?–Check. Stiff neck?–Check. High school football knee injury?–Still hurting. Flaky scalp?–Still itching. Hay fever reaction?–Achoo! With the grace of a pregnant elephant, you step toward the bathroom. You wish there is some way to turn on the light slowly, but there isn’t. So you slap on the spotlight, blink as your eyes adjust, and step up to the bathroom sink.
“You are approaching the sacred. You may not know it, but you have just stepped on holy tile. You are in the inner sanctum. The burning bush of your world. The holiest moment of your life is about to occur. Listen. You’ll hear the fluttering of angels’ wings signaling their arrival. Trumpets are poised on heaven’s lips. A cloud of majesty encircles your bare feet. Heaven’s hosts cease all motion as you raise your eyes and…
(Get ready. Here it comes. The holy moment is near.)
Cymbals crash. Trumpets echo in sacred halls. Heaven’s children race through the universe scattering flower petals. Stars dance. The universe applauds. Trees sway in choreographed adulation. And well they should, for the child of the King has awakened. Look in the mirror. Behold the holy one. Don’t turn away. The image of perfection is looking back at you. The holy moment has arrived.”
Holy? Look again, you look anything but holy, at least in your mind. But ponder! We read in Hebrews, “Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (10:14, NIV) “Underline the word perfect. Note that the word is not better. Not improving. Not on the upswing. God doesn’t improve; He perfects. He doesn’t enhance; He completes.” (Lucado) But note also, “being made holy.”
We try to cover our imperfections. Bumps, pimples, moles, scars, wrinkles and we do it in various and sometimes ingenious ways. Get this, when God sees us, He also sees Christ. Paul tells us, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3, NIV) We are hidden in perfection–the perfection of Christ.
Lucado goes on with his imagery. “No wonder heaven applauds when you wake up. A masterpiece has stirred.”
That holy moment has occured this morning, and ponder–it happens every morning. When we wake up a child of the King has awakened!
“Oh yes, oh yes, I’m a child of the king
His royal blood now flows in my veins…”
–Cindy Walker
On top of that, know that this day is special. The Psalmist wrote, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (118:24, NKJV) This day, right now, this moment has been given to you. All that comes your way this day is from the Lord or has been allowed by Him. Nothing on this day has slipped His notice. He has given this particular day, and all others, to His child. So in one way, as we worship in truth, every moment is a holy moment. The words of Joseph Alleine come back to my mind, “Let us live this one day well!”

(Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, 1991)

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 11, 2026

As a man, you have the responsibility to lead, teach, cover your family with your life. If you fail in this, you fail as a man.”
–B.N. Rundell (The Trail to Retaliation)

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
–Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
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Proverbs 10:12:
“Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” (NKJV)
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (ESV)

Bob Beasley simply puts it like this, “Sin separates us from intimate fellowship with both God and our neighbors. Love reunites in its perfect bond.” We read in Peter that “love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8). Now, don’t get the wrong idea. Love does not hide sin. As we repent, love covers our sin (atonement). This verse does not deal so much with our salvation as with relationships. The New King James Study Bible states, “This verse describes interpersonal relationships, not salvation. When people respond in love to each other, they cover over the sins, or offenses, that would otherwise come between them.”
Right from the beginning when Adam and Eve sinned, “their bond of intimacy slipped away” (Beasley). They realized their shame and tried to cover their sin. They knew that some type of covering was needed. God had to intervene and in His love, “covered them with the skins of animals, slain in anticipation of the One who would be slain for their salvation and eternal unity with Him.” (Beasley)
We must also not get confused over the term “love.” Superficial, pseudo-love is worthless. The term is thrown around very loosely today. Love is not happiness; oh it can bring happiness, but love is commitment and sacrifice. It is not self-serving, but serving, the giving of self. This is the love that covers offenses. Fausset declares, “Love does not condone sin, but takes no notice of a friend’s errors.” It is important to understand that a relationship is involved.
Look at our country. There is much hatred and it has stirred up much strife. It keeps, what Charles Bridges says, “alive rankling coldness, disgust, dislikes.” There is no forgiveness, no love, but only anger and strife. This hatred is insatiable, hate breeds hate. Know this, as J.L. Flores points out, “hatred is blind” it strikes out at whomever is in its way. Hatred indeed stirs up strife even within the calm, decent person. The serene, peaceful lake only requires some disturbance to stir up the mud lying at the bottom. “Malicious hatred will but incite to more sin.” (Flores) The calm person to whom hatred is shown all of a sudden reacts because of the stirring, the strife.
Though love covers all offenses, at least it tries to, but remember that even though love attempts to end the strife and hatred, the person must be willing to accept the love, the covering, the pardon that is offered. There are some who enjoy having a bitter spirit, some who live to stir up hatred. I reiterate that this love does not deal with salvation but with relationship. We often take 1 John 1:9 out of context and apply it to everyone. John was writing to Christians, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NKJV) This is relational. We are children of God, therefore He is there to hear our repentance and to forgive. His great love covers all offenses.

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 10, 2026

Don’t long for ‘the good old days,’ for you don’t know whether they were any better than today.” –Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I stayed with the Jorgensens for a couple of days. My head had stopped pounding on the day I left so I took that as a good sign. I found that they had moved from Wisconsin to make their fortune in the gold fields. Ha, like many before them, they learned that it was not to be. Anders had a good head on his shoulders, and I found him to be a God-fearing man raising his family in the fear and admonition of the Lord. He quickly saw that mining was not for him or for his son, Axel. Nor did he like to expose his wife and daughter to the vices so prevalent in the mining camps.

He purchased half a dozen guernsey cows from a friend back in Wisconsin and was now operating a small dairy farm. I asked why he didn’t move closer to Durango as there would be a larger market for his goods. He smiled, “Ja, and more work, and more worries, and more stress. No, I’m satisfied. I pay the bills with what I make, I am content and what more could I ask for. The Lord, He is good to us. Ja?”

Axel took milk to Mancos twice a week to a grocery there who bottled it then sold it to customers. Anders gave or sold the rest to neighbors around. He had a nice family. Axel, a hard worker, Britta who never lost her smile and the fine cook in his wife, Tuva. I told him that whenever I came this way I would stop in to see them.

“You go to look for this man who shot you?” asked Anders as I was cinching up Hawk.

“Not directly, but I will search around the area where you found me. I don’t know much about him except that he rides a palomino. There are few of those in this country, so I’ll sure keep my eyes out for one.”

I mounted, then tipped my hat and smiled at Britta and Mrs. Jorgensen. Axel shook my hand, and I thanked them all for the care they had given me. “We’ll be prayin’ for you,” cried out Mrs. Jorgensen. “You are doing the Lord’s work, keeping the scoundrels and riff-raff at bay.”

“I could surely use plenty of those,” I replied, waving then giving Hawk a nudge with my heel. I had the reins of the pack mule in my hand and we moved back down toward the road. I looked back to wave once more. The Lord had that family ready and waiting for me and I thanked him as we went up the road.

There was no sign left of the man. I didn’t figure it was worth the time to check the area for a casing, so we headed on towards Cortez. The man most likely went back to Durango, but I would be wary on my travel, especially if I saw a palomino.

I had been over this road many times when I worked for Wells Fargo. Not much to this country, so I wondered why some Navahos were being attacked. I needed to find out more of the story. When I arrived at Cortez, which now had a saloon with a sign attached noting that there was a cochina inside, a trading post, and a small livery attached to the stage station. The last time I was through this way there was only the stage station.

It was just after noon, so I rode up to the saloon. I hoped to get some food and possibly some information. There was no need to take Hawk and the mule to the livery as they had been living high with the feed from the Jorgensens. I stopped, took a step to my right, but looked down first. Letting my eyes adjust I thought back to the time in Texas where the saloon had a rattlesnake in the corner of the saloon. It made me think of Elias and Hidalgo.

There was a couple of men sitting at a table, eating. I walked up to the bar where there was a man, maybe forty years old or so. He was a short, stocky man with a scar on his face from older days in his life. He was dark complected, Mexican or Indian, I couldn’t tell. He didn’t say anything, just nodded as I approached.

“I’d like something to eat,” I said.

Pointing to the tables. “Take a seat,” he replied with a Spanish accent, then he hollered out, “Maria!”

The menu was stew, chili, or carne guisada. I figured the meat was all goat, so I ordered the guisada. The meat was slim, but there were plenty of onions, peppers, and tomatoes in the sauce. I took a tortilla and spooned some of the mixture in it then rolled it up. Maria stood by watching me take a bite. After chewing and swallowing I smiled. It was not Emelda’s but it was good and quite spicy.

“Don’t go,” I uttered as she turned to leave. “I’m looking for some information regarding some Navaho who were killed near here.”

Her eyes widened, and she began shaking her head…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 9, 2026

It struck her suddenly and strangely that to know the real truth about anything in life might require infinite experience and understanding. How could one feel immense gratitude and relief, or the delight of satisfying acute hunger, or the sweet comfort of rest, unless there had been circumstances of extreme contrast?”
–Zane Grey (The Call of the Canyon)

“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.”
–Isaiah 49:13 (NKJV)
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“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” –Matthew 5:5 (KJV)

The term “meek” is a study in itself. As we study this verse be aware of the complete definition of the term. I would advise you to read Psalm 37 as we study this verse. Zenas Bicket explains “meekness. “Meekness is the clothing of a servant. It is the opposite of all that is presumptuous, forward, and self-asserting. It is freedom from the loathsome disease of pride. It is the expression to men of a spirit that has surrendered voluntarily its claim to independence and has humbled itself ‘under the mighty hand of God.'” J.B. Phillips in his translations identifies them as “those who claim nothing.” In reality, what do we really have, what do we really own, what will we take with us to the grave? Hmmm…

The term, “praus,” was a grand ethical word to the Greek mind. It was someone who was a master of self, someone who had self-discipline. In other words, one must exercise self-control to be meek. Part of the meaning is attitude; it means “contentment of mind.” The meek person is content, he does not strive for more, not greedy, not covetous. The meek person is “one who is not always interested in one’s rights.” (F.B. Meyer) The meek does not clamor, “I have my rights!” for he realizes that he is a servant of the Most High God. He has given himself completely over to God and is not completely God-controlled. The meek does not whimper, whine, murmur, make excuses, or complain but has himself under control–forbearance under injuries and provocation is part of his character. According to John Stott, “Meekness is a true view of oneself, expressed in attitude and conduct with respect to others.”

We read in Proverbs 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” One of the first things required in meekness then is to understand who you are, then give yourself to the Lord. “Meekness therefore requires such a true view about ourselves as well express itself in our attitude toward others.” (D.A. Carson) It is not a lily-livered person, in fact, the opposite for the meek person knows how to act and because of that he will inherit the earth.

Perhaps a better, more literal breakdown of the verse is: (William Barclay)

–“Blessed is the man who is always angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong time.”

–“Blessed is the man who has every instinct, every impulse, every passion under control. Blessed is the man who is entirely self-controlled.”

–“Blessed is the man who has the humility to know his own ignorance, his own weakness, and his own need.”

–Full verse: “O the bliss of the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time, who has every instinct, and impulse, and passion under control because he himself is God-controlled, who has the humility to realize his own ignorance and his own weakness, for such a man is a king among men!”

The meek person is a true disciple, a true student of his Teacher. “God-given meekness,” states Arthur Pink, “can stand up for God-given rights.” David tells us in Psalm 25, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” (verse 9, KJV)