Author: Ira Paine

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have.  Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind.”  –Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
     “It was a grand day!”  I announced solemnly.
     “Yes, it was, thank the good Lord,” agreed Pastor Chapman.  “Whenever we work for the kingdom it is a grand day.”
     There came a chuckle from Charlie, “Now don’t you go preachifying to us, Parson.  One sermon a week is enough.”  That brought a laugh from all of us around the table.  Our little group met after church on Sunday to eat the leftovers from Thanksgiving and to discuss how the day went.  No elk stew was left but there was enough venison chili to go around feeding all of Mateo’s family, Charlie’s, Doc and Edith, Preacher Chapman and his wife, along with Molly and myself.  Molly had a couple of mincemeat pies hidden that she had made yesterday, and of course, the coffee was on.
     I looked at the crew, and then my eyes went to one newcomer.  “Copper, you did a right fine job.  How’re you feelin’?”
     He smiled at the remark then answered, “Doin’ fine, a little tired, but, uh, Marshal, can I ask a favor?  Please call me Boyd, or Finegan.  Copper was part of my old life and as the Preacher-man said, old things have passed away, all things have become new.”
     Nodding at him, I held out the coffeepot, “Want a refill?”
     Copper, or now Finegan, willingly held out his cup.
     The group was growing, growing up.  There was no one in the jail, so Mateo locked it up so Lucas could be with us.  Why, just a few years ago, he was working around town doing odd jobs, and now, my land, he was a full-fledged deputy marshal.  There were smiles on everyone’s faces and I’m not sure that it was because of the pie, but from the joy of the Lord.
     Doc held out his cup, “Go ahead, give me some more of that hideous stuff.”
     I was in the midst of pouring when there came a banging on the door.  I stopped mid-pour to look at Molly who had gotten up to go answer.  “Hold on, let me get it!”  I didn’t want her to answer the door not knowing who it could be.  After all, from my experience there have been some mighty strange, rough, and evil people enter through that doorway.
     My hand was on my pistol, ready to pull it if need be.  I opened the door.  “My mercy, what in the world…”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If women are the spoils of barbarous conquerors, they are also the sinews, the strength, the soul of defenders.”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Desert of Wheat)

       “Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.  The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!”
                    –Psalm 118:15 (NLT)
——————————
I am going to only look at another portion of Deborah’s hymn/song.  You can go back and read all of it at one time.  But pause to think of what is happening; it would be good to read Judges 4, then come back to Deborah’s Song.  The people were living in fear.  William Petersen says, “Fear paralyzes; faith frees.  And a fearless faith inspires others.” Keep that in mind as we read the next few verses from Judges 5.

          12 — Awake, awake, Deborah!  Awake, awake, sing a song!  Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!
          13 — Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; the LORD came down for me against the mighty.
          14 — From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek.  After you, Benjamin, with your peoples, from Machir rulers came down, and from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.  (NKJV)

     Fear had paralyzed Israel, that is all except for a woman named Deborah.  Deborah was not the one to lead the armies; it was to be Barak, but he too was frightened and was not up to the task.  Finally, he said he would not go to war unless Deborah went with him.  Deborah, obedient, went with him into battle and the Lord brought about a great victory.  As we read these verses and the rest of the song, we note that there were some of the tribes that did not follow her.  Perhaps it was because she was a woman, and whoever heard of a woman leading an army into battle.  Perhaps it was because they were too afraid.  Either way, they simply were not obedient to the call of the Lord.
     We read in Judges 4:14 where Deborah said to Barak, “Up!  For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand.  Has not the LORD gone out before you?” (NKJV)  Get this!  The Lord has already paved the way for our victory if we would but take the step to follow Him.
     There is one more little section I want to draw your attention to simply because I like the little rhyme, “Jael, drove the nail.”  

          24 — Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed is she among women in tents.
          25 — He asked for water, she gave milk; she brought out cream in a lordly bowl.
          26 — She stretched her hand to the tent peg, her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; she pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, she split and struck through his temple.
          27 — At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; at her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell dead.  (NKJV)

     If we are obedient the Lord will act on our behalf.  If we have the courage to take the step He will give up faith and then add more faith, until the victory is won.  It may not be the way you expected.  The Lord may have someone to “drive the nail,” or He may simply confuse the enemy but if we have faith, He will supply the means and the victory.  We either accept challenges that come our way with fear or with faith.  Let your faith inspire others.  

               “Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers rise,
               And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.
               Against the foe in vales below, let all our strength be hurled;
               Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.”
                           –John H. Yates

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Just around the corner,
There’s a rainbow in the sky.
So let’s have another cup o’ coffee,
And let’s have another piece of pie.”

            –Irving Berlin
 
Mercy me, Pard!  Looks like yuh ate the whole turkey and most of the dressin’.  Feelin’ poorly towards yur hoss this mornin’.  What’s that?  It wasn’t the turkey, it was the pie.  Well, I reckon I can understand that.  Whoopee, but wasn’t it wonderful at the camp.  The weather mostly was cooperative, and fellowship grand, and the food superb, especially that Thanksgiving dinner.  Yuh know, Pard, it makes me thankful that we live in a country that has time set on the calendar to celebrate a day of thankfulness.
     Oh, don’t let me forget the coffee, yur cup is there on the table.  Ahhh, good coffee, tryin’ something new, Lavazza Super Crema an’ I crunched up the beans this mornin’.  Smell it ‘fore yuh go slurpin’ it.  Mighty fine, mighty fine…
     Now, as I was a-sayin’, sittin’ ’round the campfire, drinkin’ plenty of coffee I was ponderin’ from time to time the idea of bein’ thankful.  My, there is so much, and we don’t think of half the things we should be thankin’ the Lord for.  Just think, we should be thankin’ Him for this gadget I used to grind the beans, and the pot I brewed it in, and the cup yur a-holdin’, plus the delcious brew itself.  When we get to thinkin’ rightly, we get to thankin’ rightly and more often.  
     I don’t want to be spoilin’ yur sippin’, but I saw where there are some fools, not ignorant, but downright moronic folk who think…no they don’t think, they say that Thanksgiving is racist.  One snip was sayin’ that it was the day that the Europeans started the conquerin’ of the Indians.  Yuh know, she should be thankful for the Europeans or she wouldn’t be here, livin’ in this country, and able to be spoutin’ her poor measly mouth off.   Yes, there were problems and wrong-doin’s by all parties, but there was so much happenin’ in the providence of God.  Just think, and be thankful, for all the millions that have come to know the Lord either directly or indirectly from those few that took a bold step in pioneerin’ this country.  Let’s drink another cup of coffee to them, I won’t be feedin’ yuh no more pie for a while.
     We’re headin’ into the wonderful month of December that will close out the year, but also brings us to an invitation to be celebratin’ the birth of our Lord and Savior.  Be thankin’ the Lord, not only for the Savior, but also that we take time to recognize the miraculous birth.  Ahh, so much to take in, so much to be thankful for.  Why, Pard, I’m thankful that yuh showed up today, an’ didn’t forget to check yur cinch.  Why with those Thanksgivin’ pounds added yur saddle for shore would’ve slipped.
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I sat down on the rocker and for a while just gazed at the moon, pondering the blessings and workings of the Lord.”

                    –D.C. Adkisson  (Redemption)

       “For your giving does not end in meeting the wants of your fellow-Christians.  It also results in an overflowing tide of thanksgiving to God.”
                    –2 Corinthians 9:11 (Phillips)
—————————
Sure been nice sitting around the campfire, drinking coffee, chatting with friends and family, and just enjoying God’s wonderful outdoors.  Relaxing, refreshing, renewing, and it causes the soul to contemplate the important things in life, not the frivolous, not the wants and desires, but what is truly important.
     I pause here to say that there will not be an Echo sent out tomorrow, nor probably Friday either.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving and be giving God the thanks and glory for there are many who do not have it as well as you on Thanksgiving.
     Here is a little something I found to tide us over.  I do not know the author but the thoughts are good.

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.
 
“Count your blessings and name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”  (Johnson Oatman, Jr.)