Author: Ira Paine

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Then I realized that God allows people to continue in their sinful ways so he can test them.  That way, they can see for themselves that they are no better than animals.”  
–Ecclesiastes 3:17, NLT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     I glared at Tanner, “Where can I find McGinnis and this so-called Kid?”
     A look of fear came across his face and he had trouble answering.  “You can stay here, I won’t need the help from the likes of you.”
     Then I heard a sound from the area of the cells, then Doc Minton hollered, “Marshal, get in here!”
     Charlie’s eyes were open, moving about frantically.  “Miles,” he groaned out a whisper.  “They tend to stay in the Glass Slipper.”  He closed his eyes and I thought he had gone back to sleep.  Just as I started to rise and go out.  “Miles,” came the moaning voice again.  “Be careful…”  He wanted to say more, but passed out.
     Reaching down I patted him on his good shoulder, “I will Charlie, I will.”
     “Marshal,” came the voice of the doctor, “did you look closely at this wound when you dressed it?”
     I gave a little shrug, then answered, “I was more concerned with getting him patched than doin’ a thorough examination.”
     “For your consideration,” he began, looking up from Charlie, “he was shot in the back.  I think he was trying to warn you.”
     That would be Charlie.  “He goin’ to be all right?”
     Doctor Minton stood to his feet, then looked me up and down.  “He’s lost a lot of blood, but he should be all right barring infection.  I’ll come back by tomorrow to check on him.  If he comes to see if you can get him to eat.  He needs to build up his strength.”
     I went back to see Tanner as the doctor was putting his coat on and putting his tools back in his bag.  He nodded to me as he went to the door and stepped out.  After I got my directions, I followed behind him.  He was halfway down the street when I noticed that a man seemed to be following him, walking on the other side of the street.  I glanced up towards Blair street and my destination, but figured I should make sure the doctor got home safely.  I began to follow, at a distance, staying mostly in the shadows, not hurrying but keeping my attention primarily on the stalker.
     The man stopped at the entrance of the store next to the corner as the doctor crossed the street and moved northward.  I slipped into the alcove of a business, watching.  A few seconds went by, then I saw the man slowly move to the corner to peer around, then he continued on.  I made my move to cross the street, glancing backward to make sure I wasn’t being followed.
     I was reminded of a rat, the way the man darted here, then over there.  Quick moves, not the kind one would make if they were truly good at following.  In my mind, I thought of him as a runt, for he was not a big man.  I breathed a prayer, as I continued to follow him. 
     Doc reached his office which included his home upstairs and went in.  The man I was following pulled his gun moving closer to the structure.  He didn’t bother to check if anyone was following as he stepped up on the porch.  I now hurried to get in position.  Holding the Greener in my left hand, I pulled my pistol.
     As the man reached down to turn the knob, I hollered from the edge of the property, “Hold it!  Put the gun down!”
     He turned, pointed the gun at me…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Where trails are, men may go; and where men go there is often death, and the buzzards have a pact with death.”

                         –Louis L’Amour  (The Broken Gun)

       “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
                          –Hebrews 7:25(NKJV)  
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     The words of George Whitefield are appropriated for Psalm 140, “Let us never despair while we have Christ as our leader!”  The NIV starts with the words, “Rescue me…”  It is almost a frantic plea.

          1 — Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,
          2 — Who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war.
          3 — They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips.   Selah
          4 — Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
          5 — The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me.    Selah
          6 — I said to the LORD:  “You are my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
          7 — O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
          8 — Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further his wicked scheme, lest they be exalted.    Selah    (NKJV)

     “Steven Lawson states, “The storms of life either make us or break us.  They either mold us into the persons God wants us to be, or they cause us to lose heart and crumble.  Fiery trials either drive the believer closer to God, or they drive him farther away.  But no one ever remains the same after experiencing a severe distress.  Affliction either softens the believer or sours him.  It either makes him better or makes him bitter.  This is the powerful effect of trials upon our spiritual lives.  All believers go through storms, but none pass through them unchanged.”  There are storms rising, the winds are building, the house is ready to crumble under the onslaught.  What house?  Why the house of your soul.  “Rescue me!”  
     When storms have come, whether wind, rain, or fire, there is always the situation that follows–scavengers.  Those people who will raid a person’s home after the storm has passed just to please their greedy, evil appetites.  People who don’t mind hurting others, and seem to delight in it when they are down.  “Deliver me!” from the hands of evil.  It is an urgent cry, almost to the point of pleading, “Do it now.  I need help now!”  The NLT says these people, “stir up trouble all day long”; the NIV translates verse 2, “who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.”  There are people out there who go about wrecking havoc throughout society.  Ruthless people who care nothing about the rights, feelings, and property of others.  And their tongues, oh my, they run their mouths continuously against you.  Poison seems to be injected into every word they spit out.
     These evil people have a hidden agenda.  They set hidden traps.  One of the most feared traps during the Vietnam War were punji sticks hidden in holes along the paths.  On top of that the enemy would coat these sticks with feces to bring about quick infection.  They laid the trap for the unsuspecting, but even the old veteran sometimes fell into one of them.  Close scrutiny must be given to the path we are traveling on.  One cannot walk through life complacent or wham!  They are jammed with a punji stick hidden by the enemy.  Another careless traveler has been waylaid.  David writes, “Selah,” at the end of this.  Just think on this…just think on what type of person this is.  Hmmm, we should realize that the enemy of our souls is not a gentleman, but a seething evil being who wants nothing more than to hurt, destroy, or kill you.  Think of that!  Don’t let it leave your mind.
     But then…recall the next words and realize that you too can say them:  “You are my God!”  Note that in “the midst of this difficulty, his faith was active and dynamic.” (Lawson)  No matter who is out there to get you, no matter what circumstances may come your way, the Lord God Almighty is there with you.  When someone tries to get you to respond in a like manner, don’t give them that satisfaction.  Stay above their antics, be aware of them, but don’t give in to them.  Go to God, ask Him to act on your behalf, He is able and willing to deliver you.

               “Through all the changing scenes of life,
               In trouble and in joy,
               The praise of my God shall still
               My heart and tongue employ.”
                      –Nahum Tate

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He drank the last of the coffee from the pot sitting beside the fire. If that fool don’t get back here soon, we’re goin’ to be hurtin’ for coffee. I don’t think there’s enough left to make even one pot. He better get back here today, ’cause he knows what I’m like if I don’t get my coffee.”
                    –C. Wayne Winkle  (Reno Gates)

 
     Pard, I made the coffee extry strong this mornin’ for what I’ve got to tell yuh.  Go ‘head, take yur first swaller, the a deep breath.  My mercy, some of the things I’ve read this week is beyond common sense, but then I don’t understand much these days nohow.
     Here’s the first one.  “Gen Z is getting ‘tramp stamps’ to feel more empowered.”  Goodness, why not just develop some backbone.  Empowered??  What does that mean?  It will give you the ability to get up for work?  It will give them ability to stick to a job?  Maybe, this is it, Pard, it will help them become a contributor to society.  Just a little tattoo will add to your mental and physical strength.  Deception!  I will never understand the attraction of a tattoo, and I just don’t know why a person would want to put graffiti on the temple of the Holy Spirit.
     Tolt yuh, we needed the coffee strong this mornin’.  Here’s one that’ll frizz yur hair.  Get yurself another swaller.  Pard, yuh tell me–tell me why four women sittin’ on with those long black robes on in the high court would want to vote to keep that heinous Venezuelan gang in the United States.  The five men upheld the President’s rulin’, but the women said they could/should stay.  Don’t make no sense for sure.  Those women aren’t interested in justice nor in protecting the public.  Yuh know, Pard, when I read Jeremiah, Amos, and the other prophets, one thing is clear – makin’ the judgment of God necessary.  That is the perversion of justice and the corruption of the legal system and purpose.  Sure, it was not the only thing but it is on the list.
     Here’s the last one, that’s enough for today.  That’s plenty for any day.  Take another deep swaller.  Oh, yuh need yur cup filled up first.  Here yuh go, now slurp away.  Number three for this week.  “Nextgen Sexuality”, a webinar about gender confusion and what to do about pronouns.  My mercy, this was under AG Youth Ministries.  Pard, we’ve come a long way an’ I’m ‘fraid it ain’t upward.  Why, right off’n the bat yuh can see it’s about confusion.  I tell yuh, Pard, God is not the author of confusion, to quote the ol’ Apostle.  Ol’ Slewfoot is that bein’, confusin’ the mind, confusin’ the life, confusin’ the truth.  Pard, if’n there’s confusion around be lookin’ for the ol’ devil.
     One more thing Pard since the pot is empty, and we’ve got to be on our way.  Stick to the doctrine of the Bible, don’t be led ’round by the nose and don’t be puttin’ no ring in it for someone to be grabbin’.  Many out there fit the bill–their thinkin’ became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened; claimin’ to be wise, they became fools.  Pard, drink yur coffee strong, keep yur mind on the Word, yur gun oiled, and check yur cinch and yu’ll be on the way to a good week.  Don’t be waverin’ or even totterin’.
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Sometimes people’s troubles are beyond their ability to deal with.”
                    –Jeffrey J. Mariotte  (Passage to Pedregosa)


       “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
                    –Matthew 20:28(NKJV)
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               “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
               The emblem of suffering and shame….”
                         –George Bennard

     No doubt about it, the cross was horrendous with agony unimaginable, but it was not a great tragedy.  It was a great victory, especially for anyone who turns to the Christ of the cross.  That cross brought the mission of Christ to an end when He cried, “It is finished.”  His work was complete, justice was met, reconciliation with the Father was now available, the propitiation was done.
     There are many in Christian circles who shy away from the cross.  They do not want to speak of sin, shame, and guilt, or the wrath, anger, and justice of God.  Yet that is part of the purpose and great wonder of the cross.  Alistair Begg reminds us, “Any attempt to articulate Christianity that denies the centrality of the cross can never lead to saving faith.”  Sin had to be dealt with.  Justice was demanded.  Jesus’ death on the cross defeated the curse of sin and He accepted the justice of God and took the wrath of God for all of mankind.
     One cannot read the New Testament without coming in contact with the cross and the work done upon it.  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes, “The whole of the New Testament is proclaiming the blood of Christ, the death of Christ upon the cross on Calvary.  It is the heart and centre of the Christian evangel, the good news of salvation.”  
     Be careful, however, of making the cross an idol, a relic that saves you.  On the other hand, do not negate the purpose of the cross and what took place there.  “So you do not regret the cross, and you do not try to forget it or idealize it, or philosophize about it, and turn it into something beautiful and wonderful.  No, what you say is this:  I glory in it!  It is the means of my salvation.  It is the very way in which I am saved.” (Lloyd-Jones)  Jessie Brown Pounds penned these words to remind us that, “I must needs go home by the way of the cross, There’s no other way but this…”
     Perhaps we should heed more closely to the words of that grand old hymn by Isaac Watts:
                When I survey the wondrous cross,
                On which the Prince of glory died,
                My richest gain I count but loss,
                And pour contempt on all my pride.
What do you see when you survey the cross?  Do you see your sin?  Sin, a word that humanists try to avoid.  Do you shun the cross?  Is it just an ornament you wear around your neck?  Is it a symbol of your faith?  Is it a crucifix upon which Christ still hangs, redemption incomplete?  If so, how does it affect you?  Do you recognize the God-man Jesus on the center cross?  Listen, get this into your mind–the cross was not an accident.  It wasn’t just planned by the Jewish religious council or the Roman government.  Jesus’ life was directed to His fulfillment of the Father’s will.  Jesus came to give His life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28).  “Any man who is saved, is saved by the cross, and to be saved means that your sins are forgiven, that you are reconciled to God.” (Lloyd-Jones)