Charlie was talking to one of them taking McCall’s body to Parker’s undertaking services, and was just entering the doorway. Doc had already come in to sit with Molly and me. Marta was busy cleaning up the tables where customers had been sitting before exiting the back door. If they came back, she’d just give them a fresh plate.
“Have a seat, Charlie, I’ll get you some coffee,” I said with a laugh. “What were you doin’ hidin’ behind that tree?”
“That’s because he’s not a fool like you!” exclaimed Doc. “He has some sense! What do you mean walking down a street with a man shooting at you?”
Molly’s eyes widened the she remarked, “You did what?”
I couldn’t figure out all the uproar. “I just reckoned it was the straightest and fastest way to get to him,” came my response.
“Hmpf,” grunted Doc. “A good way to get yourself killed, is what it was.”
“Well, I didn’t, and it all worked out,” I responded. “Any pie to go with this coffee?”
There was another “hmpf” from Doc, and Molly just gave a deep sigh looking at me with malice. I turned my eyes upon her, “What?” Her frown slowly turned into a small smile.
“Marta, could you see if there’s some pie in the kitchen?” asked Molly.
Charlie interrupted, “Hon, bring me a piece, too.”
We sat there sipping our coffee in the silence that came suddenly. We were thinking about what happened and what could have happened. Thinking about how the good Lord takes care of us.
“He said it was for the money,” I said breaking the short silence. “I didn’t know the man, but I vouched for him. Never heard anything bad said against him.”
Marta was bringing our pie, holding it out for us to see. “Chocolate and butterscotch,” she offered with a smile. I reached for the butterscotch.
“Sit with us Marta,” Molly requested. “Pour her some coffee, will you please.”
Getting up I reached for the pot filling a cup for her, then refilling everyone else’s. “Are you all right, Marta?” I questioned.
She nodded, the gave a small smile. “Senor Miles, did I ever tell you that you live a very, shall I say, exciting and charmed life?”
That made me smile, so I nudged Molly with my elbow. “See, told you I was charmin’.”
“Oh, brother,” grunted Doc, “you’re making me sick.”
He started to get up then saw Foster and Newsome enter the diner. “Don’t reckon they’re coming in to eat,” he declared, then turned back around in his chair.
I sat there, pulling on my moustache, waiting to see who would speak first. Both were good men, but followers. Neither was bold, so I wondered who’d take the lead. Doc welcomed them and offered them chairs.
“Let me get you some coffee,” I offered.
“Nah, nah, we’ll only be a minute,” stated Newsome.
They looked at each other. “We heard you’ve arrested Martin Olson. Is that correct?” inquired Foster.
“That’s correct,” responded Charlie. “He attempted to murder a federal marshal, my friend and hopefully yours. Fortunately the shotgun wasn’t loaded or he wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
They jerked their heads toward Charlie when he spoke, they looked at each other again. “On top of that we have a signed affidavit.”
“Is McCall dead?” inquired Newsome.
“Yes,” started in Molly, “he…
Interrupting her, I said, “I killed him as he was shooting indiscriminately in the diner bring several citizens into risk.”
“So, it was in the line of duty?” asked Newsome.
I glared at him, “What are you gettin’ at?”
He pulled on the edge of his collar. “I, uh, uh, we, were just…”
Author: Ira Paine
Echoes From the Campire
If he be a man indeed, he must always go on, he must always endure.”
–Louis L’Amour (Galloway)
“You said, ‘Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.’”
–Jeremiah 45:3 (NKJV)
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In Psalm 39, we see David trying to cope with some situation that has brought him severe distress. Maybe it was one large event or a series of setbacks. Whichever, he is not handling the situation very well. He goes so far as to blame God.
8 – Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the taunt of fools.
9 – I am speechless; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.
10 – Remove Your torment from me; I fade away because of the force of Your hand.
11 – You discipline a man with punishment for sin, consuming like a moth what is precious to him; every man is only a vapor. Selah
12 – “Hear my prayer, Lord, and listen to my cry for help; do not be silent at my tears. For I am a foreigner residing with You, a temporary resident like all my fathers.
13 – Turn Your angry gaze from me so that I may be cheered up before I die and am gone.” (HCSB)
One of the things David does here is to recognize his need to talk with God. Many when faced with unsettling situations get bitter and turn from God. David continues to pray, seeking the Lord. He does not try to hide from God as Adam did in the Garden, but earnestly seeks for the Lord to hear his prayer.
This Psalm is different from others for David does not end on a high note. He is so overwhelmed in his despair and depression that he says, at least don’t be angry before I die, then you can leave me alone. George O. Wood puts it this way, “The final sentence in this psalm shows us that we can sometimes get up from a place of prayer without real victory or without good theology in our heads and heart.”
I see this Psalm as one about reality, about life. We pray and hear nothing from the Lord. Life, our situation, goes on with no answer. But there is something here–we see the faithfulness of God for despite David’s situation, and the seemingly no answer, God was there. That should give us hope, as David confessed in verse 7, “Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.”
“I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown.”
–Harriet E. Buell
Coffee Percs
The sky was just beginning to lighten in the east as he stepped out on the porch of his large ranch house carrying a tin cup of coffee.”
–Gary Church (Fate Rides a Tall Horse)
There yuh are. Wonderin’ when yuh were stoppin’ by, thought mebbe the roads were washed out. This ol’ fence post was smart enough to stay a few extra minutes under the covers with that storm we had.
Say, are yuh used to the “new normal” yet? Here, take this cup; it might not help yuh see more clearly, but yur gizzard will sit up an’ smile. Have yuh heard some of the baloney that’s being spouted? My mercy, some of it is beyond foolishness. Why that group of four, women I guess they are, want to take property away from owners. Hmmm, now don’t that sound a bit like full-fledged communism?
Just hard to believe. We spent years in a Cold War with some hot spots like Korea and Vietnam to fight such idiotology, now there are members of Congress spouting it. There are some cryin’ for sharia law–God rest those souls who sacrificed in Iran and Afghanistan.
But I don’t mean to be moanin’ the blues over the idiocy that is among the bureaucrats, I want to enjoy my Saturday coffee, maybe sigh a few times, and remember the day. You do know what the day is? Armed Forces Day, in fact, the whole month is Armed Forces Month. This is the day we salute those presently servin’ in our military. Today, especially, we should offer a prayer of thankfulness to the Lord for those currently servin’ this great country. And contrary to some, this country is great. Remove the influence of the United States from the world scene and it would be more of a mess than it currently is, of course, that is the agenda of some.
So Pard, let’s finish this pot of coffee so yuh can get back to doin’ the new normal. Problem for me, I didn’t even know what the old normal was. That’s one good thing ’bout bein’ an ol’ fence post.
Yuh be checkin’ yur cinch now, hear! The new normal don’t change that a bit.
Echoes From the Campfire
God never said believing in him would ensure your life didn’t have struggle. He never guaranteed that you’d be without pain or suffering. All he guaranteed you was that during those times, he would be there with you.”
–G. Michael Hopf (Last Ride)
“Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”
–Psalm 46:2 (NKJV)
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There are some things I just don’t understand. For instance, why are Christians, born-again believers, living in fear over this virus? Now, that is not to say that this isn’t a serious situation, but where is the common sense mixed with faith that should be seen in Christians? Do they not know their God? Do they not trust in God? I am not saying to forsake common sense, but don’t live in fear!
“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
–Matthew 10:30-31 (NKJV)
The idea of Christians living in fear has always bothered me. I am not a fatalist, but I do believe that God has everything under control including this virus! It really all goes back to: who do you trust? I believe it must be God-led, for in my devotions this week I came across part of a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon. Ponder his words; see how they fit your life.
“Other men shake because they think this is all chance. We, however, believe that the tempest is in the hand of God, and we can confide in our God in the midst of the storm. It is for us to be peaceful and calm. Why should we shake? In all convulsions in the world, in all temporal distress and danger, it is for us to stand calm and collected, looking boldly on. Our confidence should be very much the same–in comparison with the man who is not a believer in providence… . We are to say, ‘I know God is here, and I am His child, and this is all working for my good. Therefore, I will not be afraid, though the earth is removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.’
“There is never a reason to be frightened at every little thing, to always imagine the worst is coming, and to live in dreadful fear. If you have evils today, do not multiply them by fearing those of tomorrow… .
“If good things come, thank God for them, but do not set your heart upon them. If good things go, thank God that He has taken them Himself, and still bless His name. Bear all. He who feels that everything that comes to pass is according to God’s will has a great mainstay to his soul. He need not be shaken to and from by every wind that blows…”
There is a virus among us. There is no doubt of that. But in the midst of the virus there is something even more sinister that’s being fueled by the media and the liberals and that is a pandemic of fear. The purpose–control. Satan brings fear, he brings confusion and chaos, and as soon as the Rapture of the believers takes place he is ready to take over. Remember the words of Jesus that were a prelude to the ones written above: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul…”. (Matthew 10:28) If we go to the grave via the virus, we shall rise in victory on that day when the trumpet shall sound, but do not spend your life behind a mask living in fear, and do not be deceived by the words of men.