Author: Ira Paine

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born.”  –Ecclesiastes 5:15 (NLT)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
     We had just finished a fine diner with Reverend and Betty Chapman after church services.  She prepared a wonderful fried chicken dinner along with pickled beets and baked beans.  She profusely apologized for not having any potatoes, but the season was past and they didn’t have any in their root cellar.  Molly was the pie baker, but Betty Chapman was known for her cakes and she outdid herself with a chocolate cake of which we were now partaking in the living room.  
     “Miles, I hope my coffee suits you.  I know you like it strong.  I don’t make it often as I prefer tea,” she paused to look over at Molly.  “Would you care for a cup of tea or would you prefer coffee?”
     “I don’t often make tea just for myself, so if you don’t mind I share your tea.  Oh, and I might say, that’s an exquisite tea set.”
     “You’re kind,” replied Betty.  “It belong to my mother who died just before we left St. Louis to come here.”
     Now, I don’t mind a cup of tea now and then, but I do prefer my coffee.  I could see the Parson watching me as I took my first sip.  He was grinning so I reckoned I should say something.  “Not bad, Betty, not bad at all.  I can drink this.”
     She gave a little chortle, “So you can drink it.”
     “It goes well with this delicious cake,” I quickly added.
     “Well done, well done, Miles,” enjoined the Parson.  “Now what it this I hear about a new position?”
     I quickly finished the cake, then held my cup out to be refilled which brought a smile from Betty.  I took a sip, to wash the rest of the cake down my throat.  “That’s what I want to talk with you about.  It’s with the Colorado Rangers and I would be in charge of this district.”
     “So what do you want from me?” he asked.  “It seems that a door is open.  Why are you hesitant to step through it?”
     Glancing over at Molly I answered him, “Well, it will take me away from home more often, but not as long.  As a marshal I could be away for longer periods.  This would be a circuit similar to what a sheriff does with the county.”
     Rev. Chapman looked over at Molly.  “And what do you think?”
     She sighed before answering, “I have the same concerns as Miles.  The pay is steady, but knowing him he would take it seriously,” she paused to smile at me.  “Overall, I think he would be home more.”
     Laughing, I interrupted, “I should have partnered in with Lot Smith with the wild horse business when I had the opportunity.”
     “Miles,” began the preacher, “we don’t live in the past with regrets, but look to what the Lord has for us in the future.  I hesitate to say anything for if it doesn’t work out I don’t want you saying that the Rev. Chapman told me to do this or that.”
     We all chuckled, but I told him that he had no worry regarding that.  Since he was our pastor we thought we should run the idea by him.  “One other thing, I could be called to Denver once in a while, something that I don’t relish.  For sure whenever there is an election of governor.”
     “I will say this…there is a door open and the Word of God says that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by him.  However…”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Nor could he bear to leave the lands of immense distances, the purity of the air, the vast sweep of the mountains, plains and forests, the smell of his lonely campfires, the feeling of a good horse under him, and the song of the lonely winds. It was in his heart now, in his blood and bones, and in all the convulsions of his brain.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Rider of Lost Creek)

       Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!   Selah”
                    –Psalm 24:10 (ESV)
———————–
What did Paul and Silas sing while in prison?  What was it that caused the bars to shake so hard that they broke open?  We know it was the power of God, but was it their singing of His praises that brought it on?  Perhaps it was like this little song that is found in Philippians 2:9-11.  Some call it the “Hymn on Christ’s Exaltation.”

          9 — Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
        10 — That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
        11 — And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.    (NKJV)

I might add here that we need to understand that singing and music has evolved over the years.  It was more of a strum on a stringed instrument and then the voice in some sort of tonal quality would recite something.  Not quite the advance of the progressive chant of the monks (I’m being facetious).  
     Look at what is being said in those three verses!  Here is power!  Here is the rule of the sovereign Lord God Almighty!  Here is the recognition of His glory and deity!  William Petersen reminds us that “We say the three names–Lord Jesus Christ–very casually, almost as if we were talking about someone named John Henry Doe…  But if you were living in the first century, you would realize that there was nothing at all casual about the name.”
     Jesus was His given name, the Greek of Joshua.  It means “Savior,” and it was not uncommon nor unusual in first-century Israel.  Now add to that Christ and the name and meaning changes.  He is now Jesus, God’s anointed Messiah.  Peter proclaimed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’ (Matthew 16:16).  The Jews couldn’t quite handle that much less accept it, and it led to His crucifixion.
     To add the third name, “Lord,” would also get you into trouble with the Romans and other Gentiles.  “Lord” was an imperial title acknowledging the divinity of Caesar.  It could have also referred to other deities.  The name “Lord” was sacred among the Jews as well.  Jews would not use the name of Yahweh as it was considered sacred, so they often used Lord.  Now comes the clincher, when Christians spoke of Jesus as Lord they meant He was Deity Himself. (Petersen).  Barclay says that “When men worship the Lord Jesus Christ, they fall at His feet in wondering love.”  The words of Isaac Watts cause me to tremble in awe, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all.”  This is worship “founded, not on fear, but on love.” (Barclay)
     To be a Christian, from the first century until now, was to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!  A Christian believes that Jesus is who He said He was; it was to believe in the totality of the three names.  We need to ask, who/what is Jesus to you?  To me?  To all?  Is He the Messiah, God’s promised Redeemer?  Is He the Lord, the divine Son of God?  Get it right now!  “One day all of creation will bow before Him and acknowledge, with full meaning, that threefold name.” (Petersen)

               “One day all creation shall bow to our Lord,
               Even now, among angels His name is adored.
               May we at His coming, with the glorified throng,
               Stand singing His praises in heaven’s great song:
               Jesus, Jesus, Savior adored
               Of all men and angels, forever our Lord.”
                       –Dutch Hymn (translated by W. Kuipers)

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He pulled a rag from his coat pocket and used it to lift the coffee pot from the fire. He poured the hot brew into two tin cups, put the pot back in place, and then handed a cup to her.”

               –James Leonard  (The Good Guy)
 
Pard, there’s strange things happenin’ in the land.  And let me tell yuh something else, there’s a bunch of fools and I’m rightly thinkin’ some of them are demon possessed.  Oh, sorry, let me be fillin’ yur cup.  Don’t mean to be givin’ yuh the grief of my thoughts before yur coffee’d up.  How’d we get to the place where we’d pull such folk in office and then to see some folk there that don’t care a hoot about this country, an’ one of them’s runnin’ for mayor of New York City.  Oh, Lord, help us through the jungles!
     At least the coffee’s good, but don’t yuh see the connection.  There’s a bunch of them tryin’ to replace honest coffee with cinos–compromise on the taste, or give it a twang of something sweet.  Did yuh happen to see this?  I had to shake my head a couple of times.  One of the leaders of our country, in fact he ran for president said, “We’ve got to cut down on farming due to climate change or people are going to starve.”  Huh?  Stop farmin’ so people don’t starve.  Listen we’re a-headin’ for the pills of the Jetsons faster than we think.  In fact, with the help of AI soon we’ll be eatin’ something that tastes like beef steak only when yuh bite into the pill.  As one ol’ boy put it, the west wasn’t won by eatin’ tofu an’ a salad.
     Pard, when folks throw God to the wayside or forget Him altogether there is a price to pay, and we’re seein’ it now.  But Pard, just like yur drinkin’ good ol’ hot black coffee there’s hope.  God will bring a remnant through, and oftentimes He’ll use them to bring a revival.  But if not, the price will be terrible.  I saw a photo of an ol’ rancher that said, “We are livin’ in a day where people are proud of what they should be ashamed of.”  Gay pride, transgender or multiple genders and I’ve seen that yuh can even be changin’ gender back an’ forth as it suits yuh.  Warped, demonic, and yuh don’t hear many preachers takin’ a stand.  An’ let me tell yuh that’s one of the problems–the pulpit has let this country down.  Don’t be gettin’ me wrong, not all of them, some fine preachers are doin’ their job, they’re bein’ watchmen, but there’s a whole bunch that ain’t.
     Then when people runnin’ for public office say that others should be shot.  Why, that a threat!  Others won’t keep the people of their cities safe because of a political agenda.  Jeremiah, where are you?  Amos, where is your cry?  An’ let me throw something at yuh, one reason there isn’t a voice of a true prophet like in the Old Testament is that we have the Bible.  Preach and live the Bible and many problems will be solved.
     Whew, I’ve done did my spoutin’ for this mornin’.  But I see we still made it through a pot.  Pard, be warnin’ yur kids an’ grandkids, don’t let up no matter what, even if’n they get to whinin’.  It’s jist like me a-tellin’ yuh to check yur cinch everytime I see yuh.  It only takes one slip to put another lump on yur noggin’.  Be ridin’ tall in the saddle, keep yur gun oiled, and Bible handy.  No tellin’ what kind of varmint or demon yuh might be meetin’ on the road.
      Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Fear and faith couldn’t co-exist, they were like oil and water.”

                    –Dan Arnold  (Riding for the Brand)

       “‘Assemble the people, and I will give them water.’  There the Israelites sang this song:  ‘Spring up, O well!  Yes, sing about it!'”
                    –Numbers 21:16-17(NLT)
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                    “Spring up, O well, within my soul,
                    Spring up, O well, and make me whole,
                    Spring up, O well, and give to me
                    That life abundantly.”
                            –Phil Wickham

Joseph Parker writes, “The children of Israel had been having a hard time.  This is the way in which God makes men, by driving them from pillar to post, by making them live a long time in tents, and by commanding them to take up their tent and go on, no matter where; not for them to know, it is enough that God knows.”  A characteristic of the wilderness is the scarcity of water.  Now we see in Numbers 21:17-18, the digging of a well.  That takes time and effort, but the water was desperately needed.
     This time the water was there but the people had to dig a well.  It was dug by the leaders and nobles (interesting).  Moses didn’t strike the rock, there wasn’t a tree to cut down to make the water drinkable.  No, men had to get their hands dirty and dig into the dirt to dig the well that would bring the refreshing, reviving water.
     Take a moment and think of those who have dug wells to refresh and strengthen your life.  Parker says, “Woe to any nation that forgets the memory of its well-diggers.”  Digging a well requires effort.  Who were those who made the effort to dig wells for your life?  Who has encouraged you, who has strengthened you, who has taught and trained you?
     Teaching a child to read is digging a well (Parker).  Instructing them in the Word of God is digging a well.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were well-diggers and their stories we kept in front of the people to remember.  Remembering those who dug wells in the past is digging a well.  Then when the water gushes forth sing praise to the Lord.  When water is found and the soul is refreshed, sing a song of praise.
     One of the purposes of deconstruction (postmodernism) is to distort, obscure, destroy, or deny the well-diggers of the past.  Distort the exploits of Joshua, deny the courage of David, destroy the teachings of Paul.  “Give me liberty or give me death”–those words do not count for Patrick Henry owned slaves.  The “Star-Spangled Banner” must be discarded because Francis Scott Key owned slaves.  Washington, Jefferson, Madison were all slave holders, therefore their contributions are tainted.  Columbus, the exploiter of the natives, or the one who brought hope through Christianity, and a new world was founded that would change the globe.  Warp the purposes of the leaders, misrepresent the purposes and dwell in their faults but never in their faith.  Destroy the well-diggers.
     A final thought–open your eyes and see God.  See the well He has provided in your own life.  Drink from your own well; the water is provided.  Share the water with others in acts of kindness that may bring hope.  You are a well-digger.  Read the chorus above again.  The first part of it goes like this.
                    “I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me,
                     Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see,
                    Opens prison doors, sets the captives free.
                    I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me.”
     Hmmm, perhaps you will have to be like Isaac and uncover the wells of his father.