Author: Ira Paine

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people in Israel.” 
                      –Luke 2:30-32 (NIV)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     Rev. Chapman was waiting at the entrance to the church.  As was his custom he stood by the door to greet and if need be pray with those who came by.  He always had his hand out ready to shake, and Betty, his wife was there by his side with a smile.
     “I heard about your accident,” he said to me.  I could see that he wanted to smile, but he managed a straight face.  “Looks like a catamount really worked you over.”
     “Preacher you done let loose with a fine sermon, now don’t be overdoin’ it out here,” I tried to look mean as I said it, but who knows how I looked.  At least my eyes were open now, well, one was still partially shut.  I was still in quite some pain and moving mighty slow.
     Betty elbowed her husband, then gave me a smile.  “Miles, I am so sorry.  Is there anything we can do?”
     “Talk with Molly.  If’n there’s anything she could tell you.”
     The preacher put his hand on my shoulder, then looked straight at me.  “Seriously, Miles, if there’s anything we can do.”
     I nodded, then put on my hat.  “I know Parson.”
     Molly held me by the arm and we moved slowly and surely down the steps and on down the hill.  I was hurting by the time we reached the road.  Looking out before me, I found myself shaking my head.  It was five blocks on down to the diner, or about the same up on and around the hill to the cabin.
     “Hey, old man!  You need a ride somewhere?”
     Doc came up with his buggy.  “Jump in!  I’ll get you home.  Edith is staying with the Chapmans for dinner.  They are planning something for the kids next week.”
     He was smiling.  If he wasn’t my close friend I could be angry.  “Doc you don’t have to be so cheerful about my condition,” I said as I attempted to climb into the buggy.  “Give me a boost Molly.”
     She didn’t bother to look around to see if anyone was looking but put both hands on my behind and gave me a good shove.  Oh, did that hurt, but I was in the buggy and trying to get situated.
     “Come on Molly, there’s enough room for you.  We’re not going that far,” remarked Doc.  I grabbed onto her arm, as she put her foot on the step and moved into the buggy.  She looked at me, and I could see that she was worried about sitting on my legs.  One of them had taken quite a beating and there were several lacerations on it.  
     I gave a half smile, “Sit lightly.”
     When Doc saw that we were settled, he gave a click on his tongue and snapped the reins.  The old horse of his started plodding down the road then up the hill and around the curve.  I wouldn’t have made it to the cabin if I had to walk it.
     Molly jumped off when he stopped at the cabin door, then reached to help me down.  Kinda of embarrassing, to say the least.  She was in my customary position to aid her.
     “Miles, you have a week and a half to heal and be ready for Christmas,” barked Doc, but not unkindly.  “I’ll come by when I pick up Edith and check on those wounds.  You rest, those ribs won’t mend if you keep moving around.”
     “Thanks for the ride, Doc.  Now, if you’d quit flappin’ your jaws, Molly could get me inside where I could rest,” I snapped right back at him.  Then I gave him, or attempted to give him a smile.  “The coffee’ll be on.”
________________
 
P.S.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Miles and Molly.  There most likely will not be another segment of the Saga until 2025.  Until then, you be happy, walk with the Lord and be alert.  Be on the lookout for my new novel — Lawman.  It is about the life of Miles Forrest.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

God’s plan. Man sees only what lies behind him. God sees what lies ahead.”
                    –Elmer Kelton  (After the Bugles)


       “…Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.  Amen.  And I have the keys of Hades and Death.”
                    –Revelation 1:17-18(NKJV)
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     This Psalm is a messianic psalm which we see in the second portion of Psalm 132.  The throne of David, the power of David–Jesus is the one who will sit on that throne and all power is His.

          10 — For Your servant David’s sake, do not turn away the face of Your anointed.
          11 — The LORD has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it:  “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body.
          12 — If your sons will keep My covenant and My testimony which I shall teach them, their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.”
          13 — For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:
          14 — “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
          15 — I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
          16 — I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
          17 — There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed.
          18 — His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”  (NKJV)

David, that sinner, that murderer, that adulterer…but look, “for Your servant David’s sake.”  George Knight says, “The psalm is saying…that the hope of Israel rested, not on any particular pious acts of the sinner, King David, but on the…promise of God.”  It is important, that despite the acts of David that he had a heart that yearned for God.  God looks beyond David though to a greater King that is coming.  God remembers His promise to David which will be fulfilled by Jesus Christ.  Do you not see then, why Christmas is so important?  We are also remembering the promise of God to David.  The throne will be forevermore secure.
     As we look ahead, with the words of this psalm, we are reminded that God will not only place His Son on the throne, but that He will provide for His people.  Not the Jews only, but all who are a part of the kingdom of God, all who will truly celebrate the birth of the eternal King this December.  His people will be blessed, they will be fed, they will be clothed, they will be nourished as Jesus sits on the throne.  Great joy should be ours for this promise, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come; Let earth receive her King…” (Isaac Watts)
     Yes, celebrate the birth of the King of Glory as He came to earth, but also remember the promises of God concerning the King.  He came once to redeem mankind; He is coming again to take His chosen ones home to glory; home to the place He has prepared for them.  “He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove…” (Watts)  In this season and throughout life, be faithful and obedient until He comes.
 
          “Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne;
          Hark!  how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own;
          Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
          And hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.”
                   –Matthew Bridges

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Putting on more coffee I sat back, watching the fire, but far enough away from it to be out of sight.” 

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Silver Canyon)
 
“Christmas time’s a-comin’ — Yeehaw!  Get yurself ready, Pard.  And no, we ain’t gonna have no eggnog, nor some fancy-dancy punch, but good ol’ black coffee.  Pard, yuh might remember the times when we spent the night drinkin’ coffee and eatin’ donuts in our fellowship.  Now, let me set myself straight.  I don’t mind eggnog, as long as it’s tasty, and I’ve had some decent punch over the years, but overall, nothin’ beats a good, strong cup of coffee.
     Hey, Pard, drink up, that coffee is roasted right here in Coldspring.  Yep, the good folk at Spring Ridge Roasters do a fine job…ahhh.  That’s good stuff.  Don’t let it burn yur guzzle when yuh swallow or yu’ll not be fit for all the Christmas cookies and other goodies that are comin’ up.  
     Sure hope yur keepin’ things in proper perspective this special season that we celebrate the birth of our Lord.  Things in the heavens must have sure been in a commotion that Christmas so many years ago.  I read something just the other day, and though it ain’t real Christmasy it has a good message.  “You can water a cactus, but don’t expect it to grow roses.”  Ha!  Don’t be expecting no fancy presents from me despite the fancy wrappin’.  
     Sometimes we give a good gift, but with wrong motives.  Why, I know folk who give just so they’re accepted instead of just bein’ themselves.  Some folks give ’cause they haven’t given anything all year.  Others will give thinkin’ that it will make the past all better and bright.  And there are some who give because they don’t know to give of themselves.  Then there are some who give just ’cause they enjoy givin’.  Yuh know, that last one sorta fits our heavenly Father.  He gives blessin’ after blessin’ after blessin’…  And the best gift was that of His Son on that first Christmas.  A gift that can never be matched!
     Yuh be havin’ a good week, Pard.  Keep smilin’….hmm, let that be a gift to someone along the way.  
      Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Whenever feelings and truth come into conflict, truth must win. Otherwise, folks won’t even know what’s real anymore, and the whole world will fall apart.”
                    –John Deacon  (Kip)

       “He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment.”
                    –Ecclesiastes 8:5 (NKJV)
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          .20 — Wisdom call aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. — NKJV
                   Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square. — NASB
                   Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice. — ESV
          .21 — She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words. –NKJV
                   At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings.  –NASB
          .22 — “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?  For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.  –NKJV
                   “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?  And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge?  –NASB
                   “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?  How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?  –NIV
          .23 — Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.  –NKJV
                   Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.  –NASB
                   If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.  –ESV
                   If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.  –NIV

Wisdom, as Bob Beasley puts it is “the very voice of the God of creation.”  It is up to each individual to heed this call, to listen to His voice, but sadly many choose not to hear.    Paul tells us in Romans 1:20, that because they do not listen to the voice of God, this voice of wisdom, “they are without excuse.”  “The words of God make people wise unto salvation, but even the knowledge of this higher level of revelation is despised by fools.” (Beasley)
     “Simplicity is stupidity” (J. Vernon McGee)  In other words the question is, “How long will you be stupid?”  You can’t live in a fool’s paradise for the day is coming when there will be a reckoning.  Warren Wiersbe says, “Fools enjoy their foolishness but don’t know how foolish they are!”  Listen!  Wisdom is calling; it is shouting.  There is the opportunity to turn and God’s words will become known and real.  The warning is clear:  Listen to wisdom!  Get rid of your stupid, simple ways.  Someone has rightly said, “You can fix ignorance, but stupidity is fatal.”  At the end of chapter 1 we read, “For the turning [lit. waywardness] away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.” (NKJV)  As J. Verson McGee says, “It is spiritual suicide to turn from Christ.”
     The voice of wisdom cries when the child races into the street without looking.  “Danger!  Stop!” shouts the words of a frightened parent for they know the child is not trained, but is foolish.  The child doesn’t listen, the consequences…  As a parent will cry out in warning, so did/do the prophets.  “Say to them:  ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.  Turn, turn from your evil ways!  For why should you die, O house of Israel?'” (Ezekiel 33:11, NKJV)
     Wisdom cries out to the simple, those unwary and easily misled.  This person has no foundation, no experience, no training.  Wisdom cries out to the scorner; the one who is indifferent to the parent’s love and mocks them openly.  The scorner is active against good.  William Arnot writes, “Scorners love scorning.  The habit grows by indulgence.”  The voice of wisdom cries out to the fool.  This is the one who would rather stay in their sinful state.  They love moral darkness rather than light.  These people should heed the following:  “Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid.” (John Wayne)
     It is wisdom we listen to as we walk through the streets.  It is what guides us in this journey of life.  Sin is trying to get in, but we see wisdom trying to reach out–and if need be, shouting at us.  Listen to the voice of wisdom, not that of impertinence, arrogance, hatred, and lies.  There is no excuse for not hearing the voice of wisdom.  Note the story of the ten virgins, five were foolish and were not prepared and were not invited into the marriage supper.  Don’t be unprepared, “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NKJV).