Author: Ira Paine

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven….  A time to tear and a time to mend.  A time to be quiet and a time to speak up.  A time to love and a time to hate.  A time for war and a time for peace.”  –Ecclesiastes 3:1,7-8, NLT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     “Darnelle!” exclaimed Charlie, “What’s wrong?”
     A strand of hair came out from her scarf and she was in the process of putting it back in place.  “Do you know who came by to see me?”
     Before anyone could answer, she continued, “Micah Teeter!  He had the audacity to come by the store.  He asked if I remembered him.  I just stared at him, then stated that he looked vaguely familiar.  I could see that it angered him and he started towards me when the man with him touched his arm.”
     “Any other threats?  Did he say or do anything?” questioned Charlie.
     She took a deep sigh, composing herself.  “No, he just startled me, that’s all.  I sure wasn’t expecting to ever see him again.”
     Charlie looked from Darnelle to me.  “Do you think he’s behind the attacks on you and Molly?”
     “Attacks!  What attacks?  What’s happening?” asked Darnelle in astonishment.  
     I proceeded to tell her of the recent events, her eyes widening in concern with my information.  “So, is he responsible?” she asked.
     “Teeter is a coward.  You remember how he ran.”
     “Senor Miles,” interrupted Lucas with a quiet voice, “many times it is the coward who fires from ambush.  He is also the type of hombre that is angry with himself and will take it out of someone else.”
     All three of us turned our attention to Lucas.  “Such wise words from a young man,” stated Darnelle.  “Miles you ought to listen to him and go arrest Teeter.”
     “Now hold on there, all of you,” barked Charlie.  “I’m sheriff here and if there’s any arresting to do it will either be me or Mateo.”
     It became real quiet for a few seconds.  “Charlie, I’m not going after Teeter,” I paused to let the words take effect.  “However, if he threatens or hurts any of my friends I will have a conversation with him.”  
     He gave a nod, understanding my feelings.  “Miles, don’t make me have to come after you.”
     “Right now I have to get this telegram off to Marshal Blasco.  Come on, Darnelle, I’ll walk you back to the store.”
     She adjusted her scarf, then pulled her coat on tight.  It wasn’t that cold outside, but the wind would bite right through a person.  As we were walking, Darnelle asked, “So do you think it’s Teeter that’s harassing you?”
     I didn’t answer right off, I had to mull it in my mind for a few moments.  Stopping on the walk before stepping down to cross the street, I said, “Darnelle, I think there’s a good chance he’s involved somehow.  He doesn’t have the smarts to plan anything, but then again he is the type to bushwhack a man.”  
     We started on again.  “I’m wonderin’ who the other fellow is.  There’s somethin’ about him, I can’t quite figure,” I told her as we walked up to the store.
     “Miles!” exclaimed Darnelle, pointing.
     In red paint was written on the window of the door, “Stay away from Forrest!”
     She looked up at me, concern etched in the wrinkles of her forehead.  “What do I do?”
     I smiled at her, “Stay away from me.  But I’ll stay around to walk inside the store after you unlock the door.  Make sure there’s no boogerman inside.”
     “Miles, this is no laughing matter.  Someone is out there.”
     She was right.  Someone was trying to get my goat.  I’d keep my eye on Teeter and his companion for I was sure they were somehow involved.  Hopefully, I would get some kind of answer from Blasco, so after I made sure there was no one in the store, I wandered on over to the telegraph office.  “Send this out, will you Stan?  As soon as an answer comes back get it to me pronto.”
     He read the note, then proceeded to tap it out.  After it was sent he turned to me, “What’s this all about, Marshal?”
     “That’s what I’m tryin’ to find out,” I said, turning to go.  “Remember to get that reply to me as soon as it comes in.”
     Coming back out of the office I saw the man with Teeter standing outside the Gilded Bar.  When he noticed that I was watching him, he went inside.  I had half a mind to go find him, but what good would that do?  I looked up and down the street then started back down to the diner.  Looking down I watched where I stepped, then smiled.  “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord,” came to my mind…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

But this here country has a pull on a man. You get to looking at the mountains, and at the stretches of wide-open, empty land…and it gets to you.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Reilly’s Luck)

       “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom should I be afraid?”
                    –Psalm 27:1 (HCSB)
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     The 19th-century writer, Barton Bouchier, said:  “God’s own people–his chosen–he led through the wilderness; and this because ‘His mercy endureth forever.’  It is one of the Lord’s sweet truths that so perplex those that are without, but which are so full of consolation to his own children, that the wilderness and mercy are linked together by God in indissoluable union here.”  The next portion of Psalm 136 looks at the history of Israel and God’s mercy/love, but when reading think of your own history.

          10 — To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, for His mercy endures forever;
          11 — And brought out Israel from among them, for His mercy endures forever;
          12 — With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for His mercy endures forever;
          13 — To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, for His mercy endures forever;
          14 — And made Israel pass through the midst of it, for His mercy endures forever;
          15 — But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for His mercy endures forever;
          16 — To Him who led His people through the wilderness, for His mercy endures forever.  (NKJV)

     We have a history.  It includes the Old Testament, but the crucial point is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  “Skeptics can argue about the miracles of turning water into wine or feeding the five thousand, but somehow the body of a crucified rabbi disappeared, and his followers were willing to die for the historical fact of the Resurrection.  Without that historical grounding our faith makes no sense.”  (William J. Petersen)  
     As the Lord was with Israel in guiding and protecting them, we too can be assured that He will do the same for us.  Why?  Because His mercy endures forever to His children.  If you are sinking into the slough look up and see that His arm is outstretched; reach out and take hold of it and let Him pull you to safety.  If the way in front of you seems overwhelming be assured He is there to divide the sea if necessary.  George Wood states, “Likewise in your life, He thrusts aside whatever would prevent His purposes from being attained.  In His time, He removes them all.”  Our hope is in Him, therefore we should trust and obey Him.
     God is willing and able to show His love toward His people, and that includes you and me.  His love, His mercy is everlasting and we place our hope and faith in that fact.  Think of the amazing power of God in keeping Israel, then look at your life and see how God has brought you forward to this day.  That phrase, “His mercy endures forever,” includes not only the past, our history, but it points forward to a grand future.  This phrase should give “us strength for the present and hope for the future.” (Petersen)  
     Have you found yourself in a wilderness?  Look at how God kept His people during those forty years.  Thirsty–the rock spewed  forth water and the bitter waters became sweet.  Hungry–food was provided daily.  Look at the clothes of the Israelites, they didn’t wear out.  Yes, there were problems, yes, there was punishment, punishment that brought death to those without faith.  But He kept His people through all the trials, troubles, and turmoils of the wilderness and He is doing the same for each one of us.  Petersen writes, “Let’s face it, our love does not endure; His does.  Because of this, we can confidently hope in another resurrection–our own.”

               “I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
               Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.
               I love to tell the story because I know ’tis true;
               It satisfied my longings as nothing else can do.”
                        –A. Catherine Hankey

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The kitchen was lighted by one coal-oil lamp, and the table was set for breakfast with a blue and white checkered cloth. I got the coffeepot and a cup and went to the table.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Man From the Broken Hills)
 
Mornin’ to yuh, Pard, come on in this kitchen, the coffee’s hot and strong.  Trust yuh had yurself a good week.  I’ve kept some busy with the family and all that goes on.  Whooeee, today is a big day, one that’ll never pass this way again.  The middle granddaughter becomes officially a legal adult.  My doesn’t time fly!   
     Ahh, that is pretty good coffee this mornin’ if’n I do have to say so myself.  Yur too busy guzzlin’ yuh don’t have time for compliments.  Pard, let me tell yuh something.  I read, and there’s so much with the politikin’ that I’m not sure if’n it’s true or not, but I read where there is a Congressman, one of them bureaucrats without much sense, who has filed articles of impeachment against President Trump.
     First of all, his constituents should take him out behind the woodshed and smack some of that silliness out of him, and anyone else who would go along with such nonsense.  Hold on, I need a swaller.  Ahhh, let me tell yuh Pard, to have another impeachment is a travesty.  Sometimes the spirit of slap comes on me and things just jerk my jaws.  To impeach would for one thing be a waste of time.  ‘Course that’s what many of these big-mouthed bureaucrats want–waste time.  They don’t know how to do any real work and that includes their politikin’.  Waste time of a fool’s errand when they should be workin’ to solve the problems of the country.
    Another thing, it’s a waste of the taxpayers’ money.  Wastin’ time is wastin’ money.  Big salaries for wastin’…  An’ Pard, let me give yuh another reason.  That’s just poor stewardship of the peoples’ trust.  Yep, wastin’ this and wastin’ that on a somethin’ that isn’t goin’ to happen.   Folks who are elected are supposed to be smart, but this fool is only a smart-alek.  Doesn’t he know how many votes it takes for a conviction?  
     Pard, there’s folks that are upset over bein’ let go from their jobs.  They were livin’ on easy-street, but now they have to produce more than just spiel their words.  Yuh know if yuh throw a rock in a pack of dogs the one who yelps is the one who was hit.  Just like these bureaucrats who haven’t produced in the last four years–they’re doin’ some yelpin’.  Those out for selfish-gain are hurtin’, and more than that the Lord is lookin’ down watchin’ the proceedin’s as well.  Read the prophets and some of the indictments the Lord has against those in charge is just that–selfish-gain, along with cruelty, false scales, risin’ prices that affect the common folk and poor, economics that take a toil on the needy.  Yep, there’s a lot of yelpin’ goin’ on.
     Well, ‘nough of that speechifyin’.  The pot’s empty, my jaws are relaxed from the coffee and from the yappin’.  Oh, Pard, one more thing.  If’n yuh listen too much to that woke stuff, pretty soon they’re be a-tellin’ yuh that yuh don’t have to be a-checkin’ yur cinch.  Don’t believe such stuff.
      Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Stubborn, some might say. Set on livin’ their dreams, even when those dreams sometimes take a turn more akin to nightmares.”
                   –Wayne D. Dundee  (Dismal River)

       “From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.”

                    –Isaiah 1:6 (ESV)
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         “Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.”   –Isaiah 1:4 (NKJV)

         “Doom! Sinful nation, people weighed down with crimes, evildoing offspring, corrupt children! They have abandoned the Lord, despised the holy one of Israel; they turned their backs on God.”   –Isaiah 1:4 (CEB)

Read those verses a couple of times.  The NIV translates the first word as “Woe.”  Woe to us if we do not recognize the meaning when God uses this term.  I am borrowing heavily from Ray Stedman this morning.  The words that he writes regarding this Scripture, the condition of Israel at the time, and thus we can easily take it and apply it to our country and our individual lives.
     “Every breath we breathe is by the mercy of God.  Everything comes from His providing hand.  But man ignores and turns his back upon all that, and then goes about saying that only man matters.  That is incredible blindness.” (Ray Stedman)  Let’s view this verse a little closer, bring it home.  Israel is infected with sin, a fatal virus.  If we thought COVID or polio or smallpox was bad–sin is much more terrible for it not only destroys lives and nations, but also destroys souls.  People try to disregard sin as archaic, old-fashioned, but it is real.  “There is a taint, a poison, spread throughout the whole human world, that causes even our efforts toward good to merely create new problems.” (Stedman)  We want our way–self-centeredness, selfishness.
     Sin brings a heavy burden, not only upon the individual, but also upon a nation.  Just look at the problems our country is facing and it has divided the nation, the creation of another problem.  The burden is heavy–child abuse, domestic violence, divorce, human-trafficking, drugs, abortion, and on the list goes.  People think they have the solution, and they do if they turn to Christ.  But instead they think that man is all-knowing and can solve the problems that come about because of sin.
     We bow to the steel monoliths, the technological advances and say, “Look at us!  Aren’t we something!” and we cannot come to an agreement that sin is the problem.  Man is unable to solve the problems that are caused by sin.  We see in the verse above that man passes on “their evil tendencies to the next generation.” (Stedman)  Stedman continues to say, “There is a strange conspiracy, prevalent in politics and education, to keep God out on the fringes of life, to never mention His name or acknowledge His presence.  Any effort to insert Him into public affairs meets with tremendous resistance.  People have turned their backs on the living God, and do not like to acknowledge that He has any part in human affairs.”
     Resisting God, rebelling against His laws and commandments, and forsaking His name and will have caused them to actually blaspheme the King of heaven.  Man has spurned and abandoned, even to the point of despising Him.   Isaiah says that “they turned their backs on God.”  “People are alienated from God and therefore from each other.  History confirms that when you lose God, you lose man as well.” (Stedman)
     Verse 5 shows the utter foolishness–the stupidity of mankind.  “Why do you invite further beatings? Why continue to rebel? Everyone’s head throbs, and everyone’s heart fails.” (1:5, CEB)  How many times does God have to strike us to get our attention.  I used the illustration many times:  A person runs as hard as he can to get out of the room and smashes into the wall, knocking himself silly (more silly).  He gets up, moves slowly back across the room and runs again, smashing into the wall.  We who are watching are perplexed at what is taking place, as is God who watches our silly actions against Him.  The man pulls himself together, gets ready to run, when someone taps him on the shoulder and suggests, “Why not try the door?”  What a suggestion!  What a solution!  Then why do we not turn back to God?  What a solution!  We have turned our backs on the Lord; sooner or later, He will turn His back on us.