Author: Ira Paine

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

                         –Larry McMurtry  (Lonesome Dove)

       “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
                         –Psalm 118:8 (NKJV)
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I started reading the Letter to the Hebrews to begin the year.  Now, I don’t consider myself a biblical scholar by any means, but I think that when a word is repeated several times we should look at it.  The term “better” is mentioned nineteen times in the New Testament, thirteen of those times in Hebrews.  I want to take a look at these verses and let you ponder them this Wednesday morning.

      1:4, “Having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”  Think of this–the Creator of the angels, came to earth as a man, and became lower than the angers, and now has gone back to His rightful position in glory.
     6:9, “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.”  I remember when as a kid I would do something not so pleasing, Dad would give me “that look” that said I thought better of you.  The writer here has that same look however not in an accusing manner, but knowing that we are capable of better things.
     7:7, “Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.”  How are you at blessing others?  
     7:19, “For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”  Wow!  We now have a better hope to live this life–Jesus Christ.  We also have that better hope that awaits us in eternity.
     7:22, “By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.”  For sure!  The Law made us realize that we needed a Savior.  Jesus is that new covenant.
     8:6, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”  
     9:23, “Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”  Christ is the better sacrifice–the final sacrifice for sin.  However, we should also be a living sacrifice and better because of the Holy Spirit within us.
     10:34, “For you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.”  
     11:16, “But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”  There awaits for us a home far better than anything here on earth.
     11:35, “Women received their dead raised to life again.  Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.”  Hold on, hold on, no matter what, hold on for there is a better resurrection, a life eternal with God.
     11:40, “God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”  In Christ, life is much better.
     12:24, “To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”  The sacrifice of Jesus, is much better; it is final, than any blood offering.

I hope to take more time studying this as I get to that portion of Scripture.  I’m taking it slowly, trying to digest what the writer is saying and how it applies to me.  However, with the word “better,” and what is on the surface of these verses I can begin to understand Paul’s view.  
               “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”  (Philippians 1:23, NKJV)

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Doc was sitting there waiting for Molly to answer him.  I pulled out her chair for her to sit down, while she pulled off her coat.  She winked at me then took a sip of the coffee I had poured for her.  I could see that Doc was getting agitated waiting for Molly to answer.
       “Oh, I’m sorry, Doc, did you ask something?” she said with a slight giggle.
       “Young lady, you know good and well I asked you something!  Now, if I may ask, and if it is any of my business, why did you go see Lester Morris?”
       It was then I decided to pipe in, “Molly, as ornery as Doc is, I’d just not tell him.  For that I received a scowl.
       “I was waiting until I could tell you and Edith at the same time.  “I’m giving thirty percent of the diner to Emelda.  I’m just going to work the books and do the ordering.”
       “Well, why didn’t you say so instead of playing around?  What does she think about it?”
       Molly glanced over at me.  “I haven’t told her yet.  I thought that we could all get together after the supper rush and I’d have her sign the papers.  Morris said he could be here then, and I want Charlie and Marta here after all she is part owner.  I’ve already shared it with her.”
       “Yes,” Doc nodded for her to continue.  “She didn’t know what to say.  She said it was too much, that I didn’t have to do it.  I told her if I had to do it, I probably wouldn’t,” then she laughed, handing me her cup to refill.
       Doc scratched at his ear, then on the side of his cheek.  “Let me get this straight.  You’re semi-retiring,” he said, pointing at Molly.  He then squinted his eyes to look at me, “And you’re retiring.  Have I got this right?”
       That brought a loud guffaw from Molly.  She started to reply when Doc held up his hand stopping her.  “What I want to know is, who will make the pies?  And you, you have no right to quit the calling that the good Lord has placed upon you.  So what if you’re a little heavier because of the lead you’re carrying in you,” he snickered, “they might even start to bounce off.”
       “What’s that I hear about retiring?”
       Rev. Chapman had walked up on us and none of us saw him approach.  “Sit yourself down, let these two tell you some of the foolishness that they’ve been thinking up,” quipped Doc.
       Molly proceeded to tell him the plans for the diner.  He nodded his head several times and once in a while smiled.  “That sounds wonderful, Molly, but I do have to ask, who will make the chocolate pies that I so favor?”
       That brought another laugh, but then the preacher grew solemn and stared at me.  “However, Miles, I trust that you have done some serious praying about your decision.  I believe the calling of an officer-of-the-law is almost as important as that of a minister.  You have better be sure you’ve heard from the Lord before doing so,” he admonished, almost making me feel guilty.
       I explained the situation to Parson Chapman.  He nodded, listening quietly and seriously.  “I can understand some of that reasoning, but hasn’t the Lord always pulled you through?”
       “There’s one more thing I think you should consider,” he began when three men walked through the door.  I was no longer listening to the preacher, but my instincts honed in on those three.  Two stood close to the door, while the third walked toward the table where we were sitting.  I loosened the thong from the hammer of my pistol and pulled it from the holster keeping it under the table.  Something wasn’t right…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Seems to me a man has trouble enough in this world without borrowing more with careless words.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Mojave Crossing)

       “Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!  Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.”
                    –Psalm 100:1-2 (NKJV)
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Here’s something that’ll tickle you going into 2023–“Life’s a mess and then you die.”  That’s from Psalm 88, but Psalm 89 has a totally different perspective.  The nation may be falling apart, stupidity may reign, but God is good and is faithful and bigger than our problems.  Look this morning at the first seven verses, oh, and it’s all right if you sing the chorus while you read.

       1 — I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
       2 — For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”
       3 — I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David:
       4 — “Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.”    Selah
       5 — And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
       6 — For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD?  Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?
       7 — God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.   (NKJV)

       How wonderful it is to know that we can always count upon the mercies and faithfulness of God.  He keeps His word at all times.  “God always stands committed to do what He says He will do.  He never forgets His word, never forfeits His promises, never violates His covenant.  Never does He pledge something and then fail to bring it to pass.”  (Steve Lawson)
       If you read the complete Psalm you will see the emphasis on the term “forever.”  God’s is faithful–forever.  God’s mercies last–forever.  F.B. Meyer states, “Mercy is a structure never done, layer on layer, story on story, tier on tier.  God’s faithfulness is sure as the heavens.”  God loves lasts–forever.  Because of the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness “we can live with solid confidence.” (Lawson)
       It is right that we should sing of God’s faithfulness.  I like what George O. Wood says, “Faith shines best when you declare God’s truth even though it contradicts how you feel.  God’s love stands firm forever, and His faithfulness is established in heaven itself.”  That’s one reason why God is greatly feared.  His faithfulness surrounds Him, what He said He would do, He will do.  He did it before and He’ll do it again.  His faithfulness to us is sound and sure.  Wood goes on to say, “The presence of faithfulness means God can be utterly relied upon.  The laws of mathematics, physics, genetics, gravity, and space all owe their existence to the predictability and dependability of God.  Indeed, faithfulness does surround Him.”  He is not going to take a vacation; He neither slumbers or sleeps.
       Throughout the new year make this a song from your heart.  “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing…”. Joy rather than despair, victory instead of defeat, peace instead of gloom.  God is faithful!

               “Be still, my soul!  thy God doth undertake
               To guide the future as he has the past.
               Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
               All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
               Be still, my soul!  the waves and winds still know
               His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.”
                         –Katharina von Schlegel

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

So I moved up into the cover, where I could build a fire, have some coffee, and take stock of the situation.”

                         –Lou Bradshaw  (Cain)
 
Hang on, Pardner, whoopi — Powder River let ‘er buck.  Here we come 2023.  Lookee ahead, the trail looks clear, but we don’t go gettin’ lazy on the trail.  Ol’ slewfoot might be settin’ a deadfall, or have some of his varmints layin’ in wait for us.
       The ol’ mule is packed tightly and we’re on our way, the Lord as our guide.  Don’t be frettin’, Pard, I’ve plenty of coffee packed.  Enough to get us to our first stop.  Yuh know, at the beginnin’ of each year’s trail, we need to stop an’ look over the land we’re gettin’ ready to cross.  Check our supplies, we don’t want to get caught without enough coffee or ammunition for we don’t know the twists and turns of the trail ahead.  
       Ahhh, be nice to just sit here and gather in the aroma of that brew–the taste ain’t bad either.  But the way is calling, time won’t sit still so we won’t neither.  Before we go to saddlin’ up, we should take a minute to think of those pards who’ll not be headin’ into 2023.  Some passed by the way.  The devil got them at last, ha ha, but death is only momentary ’cause the Lord throws us up right into glory.  He’s already traveled that trail and knows the way.
       Speakin’ of coffee.  Yuh remember that time up on the North Canadian when that rascal done shot up my coffeepot?  Not the Canadian?  Well, where was it then smarty-britches.  The Purgatoire?  Come to think of it, yur right.  We were a day or so from Las Animas.  We had to use my pan to make coffee.  Ahh, the memories of past years.
       So, Pard, as we travel remember this ain’t no tip-toe-through-the-tulips sorta ride.  It’s for eternity.  We need to be ready for anything that Old Scratch may have hidden for us.  He’s lurkin’ around; saw some tracks yesterday.  Yep, 2023, it’s ahead.  I reckon there will be the troubles and trials like any other year.  But we have to take the bad with the good if’n we’re goin’ to make it to Glory.  So hang on, Pard, the trail is looming in front us.  It’s time to tighten our cinches and be on our way.  Yeehaw!
       Vaya con Dios.