Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on April 9, 2025

Travel in the desert cannot be haphazard.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Lonely Men)

“I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate dangerous animals in the land, so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest.”

–Ezekiel 34:25 (HCSB)
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“Life is a privilege which God wants us to value. When we turn from Him and pursue our own selfish desires, we lose sight of the sacredness of His gift.” (Dan Dick) With that in mind we turn to Proverbs 3:16-18 some reasons why we should seek and search and ask for wisdom.

16 — Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor.
17 — Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 — She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her. (NKJV)

The person who has discovered wisdom has found a priceless treasure. These are individuals who understand that happiness and peace do not come from the amount of wealth one has. They understand that the eternal is to be preferred over the temporal. “As a person comes to know God better he or she will avoid those activities which are self-destructive and unprofitable. The person receives a deeper appreciation of God in the world. Life becomes more meaningful and the person gains new understanding of what it means to be a success.” (Dick) Look at what God did for Solomon when he asked for wisdom, the ability to judge the people and discern between good and evil. God replied to Solomon, “And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1 Kings 3:13-14, NKJV)
Who does not want a pleasant life? Who does not want to go through this journey with peace? J.L. Flores reminds us that “There is a pleasure in the duties relating immediately to God.” Serving Him is in itself a pleasure. Robert South tells us that the pleasures from wisdom “never satiates nor wearies.” There is a calm assurance as we go through life. We are free from the company of anxious doubt, we are free to move about in our actions that are pleasing to God. We should also remember that “Wisdom of itself is satisfactory, as it implies a revelation of truth, and a detection of error to us.” (Isaac Barrow) Along with a pleasant life will come peace. Know that is not the peace from troubles and trials, but it is peace in the midst of them. “Wisdom makes all the troubles of life easy and supportable, by rightly valuing the importance and moderating the influence of them.”
The tree of life–that is abiding in Christ; it brings a pleasant and peaceful life, a foretaste of heaven so to speak. Note, however, that the tree must be taken hold of. F.B. Meyer states that a “tree requires careful tendence and bearing fruit for the patient cultivator.” In other words, after taking hold of the tree, there must be the vigilant care of it. Grasp hold, hand on, “Wisdom is a tree of life to them that ‘lay hold’ of her.” (Jermin) A little wisdom is like a little godliness–it does relatively little good. To lay hold takes work but the result is worth it. Giovannie Diodati, states that “True wisdom maintains man in the spiritual life of God’s grace, and the communion of the Spirit.” It is to have a conscious void of offense toward God and man. (Meyer)
Let us not forget those magnificent words of Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (1-3, NKJV) This is true wisdom, godly wisdom.
One other thought lest we forget that Jesus hung on a rugged cross–a tree, if you will. This is the true “tree of life”, the cross of Christ. It offers life, fullness of joy, and peace not only in this life, but eternally.

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on April 8, 2025

I said to myself, ‘In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.'” — Ecclesiastes 3:17, NLT

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Pull yourself together!” I ordered. “McGinnis and who else? And who is this McGinnis?”

“The Kid, he calls himself the Kid,” muttered Tanner, who was gaining control of his emotions. “Sorry, Marshal, it’s just that I’m the only deputy left, the other three are dead, and Marshal Peters was shot down right in front of me, and when the Sheriff tried to stop it, he was shot. I was fortunate to be able to drag him down to the office.”

I looked back where Charlie lay, “They’ll pay for this,” I promised, then told Tanner I was going for the doctor. He gave me directions and I heard the door being locked as soon as I left.

I didn’t try to hide myself. Some here in Silverton knew me, but since I had never heard of McGinnis or this Kid, I didn’t reckon they would know me by sight. My jacket covered my badge, so I walked normally to the doctor’s office which was a block on the other side of Greene Street. Silverton always had a need for a good doctor with the injuries that occurred to the miners, but in the past they didn’t last long, just a little longer than a marshal.

In front of a small house, there was a red cross and below it read, “Doctor’s Office — Zedekiah Minton.” Since it was an office I didn’t bother knocking and went right on in the entrance. There was a little room to my left with a couple of chairs, and to my right was another room with the door closed.

“Doc, Doc Minton!” I hollered. I was half-tempted to go through the closed door, but thought better thinking that he might have a patient in there. “Doc!” I yelled once more.

The door opened slightly and I saw part of a face peek out. “Have a seat, I’ll be right with you. I’m with a patient,” he informed me, then quickly closed the door before I could say anything else.

I didn’t bother to sit, but stood in the little entryway–waiting. It was a good ten minutes before the door opened again and out walked a young woman with a boy who could not be more than ten years old. The doctor was chatting to them. I tipped my hat and received a slight nod from the lady. “Now, remember to take that medicine with food,” admonished the doctor then patting the boy on the shoulder.

After escorting them to the door and opening it for them, he turned to me. “Now, what can I do for you?”

“Grab your bag and coat and come with me. Sheriff Gold has been shot and is in dire need of your services.”

He donned a coat that was hanging from a rack near the entry, then went back to the office to get his bag. “How bad is he?”

“That’s why I’m here, I need you to check on him. He was shot twice, once in the upper chest area and once in the head. I’ve got the bleedin’ stopped, but he’s needs your attention.”

He was ready to go. “He’s up at the jail.”

As we walked at a brisk pace, he remarked, “I heard shooting the other day, quite a bit in fact, but that’s nothing new in Silverton.” He stopped, I figured he wanted me to tell him more.

“When we get inside, I’ll explain more.” It only took us a few minutes to arrive at the jail. I banged on the door, and Deputy Tanner slowly opened it. I took the doctor right on back to where Charlie was. I got out of his way so he could work on Charlie and turned to Tanner.

“Now, where can I find this McGinnis and so-called Kid?”

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on April 7, 2025

It saves a lot of argument and trouble, and perhaps mistakes leading to greater violence, if folks know exactly where you stand.”
–Louis L’Amour (Killoe)

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

–Isaiah 58:11 (ESV)
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This morning we will finish our look at Psalm 139, and what a powerful portion it is. George Wood offers two suggestions regarding this portion of the Psalm. First, he points out that David asks God to look at the person who wronged him and that He should do something about them. Second, we see his spiritual maturity coming forth.

19 — Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
20 — For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21 — Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 — I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.
23 — Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties;
24 — And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (NKJV)

David desires a world where there is no more evil and wickedness. O what bliss if that could be true. That will happen only after the Great White Throne Judgment and the New Jerusalem descends from heaven. Until that time, wickedness will wax more and more–as the days of Noah. One thing we see in the first part of this section is David’s zealous loyalty to God. David could not bear to hear God’s name taken in vain and blasphemed. His name was being abused and it greatly bothered David. Yet, today, we see this happening even among the family of God. Shame! David said that he could not be accepting of those who despise God.
One thing that we should gather from this section that there is no place of neutrality toward those who attack God; they are to be counted as his enemies. “To oppose God was to oppose David” (Lawson) and so it should be with us. John tells us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15, NKJV) James exhorts us, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friends of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4, NKJV) Perhaps it would be good for us to read verse 19 from the NLT, “O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers!”
Yet, before we go further, we need to stop and ask God to search and judge ourselves. Explore my heart, he is saying, he wanted God to know his heart so God could make it known to him.” (Lawson) Have you ever thought why we need mirrors? It is to check ourselves, to see if there is a stray hair or a blemish that we don’t know about. Sometimes we need to take a closer look in the mirror, that is, we need to take a closer look in God’s Word and then ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what is wrong or what may be false in our lives. God, though infinite, is also very personal. Psalm 139 is a good psalm to read to take inventory of our lives. Steven Lawson states, “As we ponder the immensity of His greatness, yet intimately involved in a personal relationship with us, our hearts should be awestruck, even dumbfounded, that He should be so mindful of and involved with us.”
In closing I would add the prayer given by George Wood: “Lord Jesus, please dig into me. As You search, I ask You to carry away the thoughts, habits, and actions that offend You; and to repair the wounds that only You can heal. Thank You that although You know everything about me, You still accept and love me.”

“Lord, we thy presence seek;
May ours this blessing be;
Give us a pure and lowly heart,
A temple meet for thee.”
–John Keble

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on April 5, 2025

He took a sip of his coffee and nearly gagged. ‘This stuff ain’t coffee. I don’t know what it is but it sure ain’t coffee.’”

–Nathan Wright (The Return)

Whooeeee, I can understand that. Pard, yuh don’t have to be a-worryin’ ’bout my coffee. It’s sure strong enough to delight yur gizzard. But Pard, honestly, I’ve had some folk say that my coffee was a little on the strong side, they even went to add water to it. Now, the way I figure it, if’n yur gizzard ain’t stout enough, yuh can always add water, but what does a ‘poke do with weak coffee?

I remember one time, back a few years, I was in St. Louis. It was early mornin’ hours and I had a bus layover. I wandered about the city a spell, but then came back to drink some coffee. Yuck! Those old vendin’ machines made some of the worst coffee, but like the ol’ puncher said, the onliest thing worst than bad coffee is no coffee. I mean some machines and some folk make it so weak, and then yuh add the taste. Something that’s hard to describe….sorta like someone stirred it with their big toe. Ptui!

Pard, yuh remember ol’ Pole Vinski? I remember the tale he tolt of the ol’ cook on the trail, or maybe it was in the line camp. Anyhows, he didn’t keep cups around as they was always gettin’ broke, so he kept tomato and peach cans. There was this fella that came to the camp beggin’ for a cup, but if’n yuh can believe it, he wanted sugar in it. Ol’ Pole handed him the sugar tin and the guest poured a handful in his cup, then motioned for ol’ Pole to stir it for him. Yuh talk about gall. Ol’ Pole, not one to get riled, pulled out his gun and stuck the barrel in the can to stir it. Ha, the guest got the idea, and slurped that coffee right down.

Yuh know I had some things to say this mornin’ that came to mind this week ’bout some of the imbecilic things I’ve seen an’ heard, but they’ve done gone an’ slipped through my noggin’. But I will be tellin’ yuh this since I was talkin’ about coffee that’ll gag yuh, there’s some preachin’ services out there that’ll do the same. Well, I use that term preachin’ delicately. Folks want to be waterin’ down the truth just like they do their coffee. I call it “Cino” preachin’. Pard, yuh just can’t be followin’ Christ with cino religion, it’s got to be the real thing, strong and pure–undiluted. Yuh can’t get to those Pearly Gates with cino religion, there’s a price to be payin’ and a cross to be a-carryin’.

So take a sip, see if’n it ain’t to yur likin’. Ahhh, makes yuh want to get up an’ say “Howdy!” Pard, it’s gonna be a good day, as long as yuh remember to check yur cinch. Yuh best be on yur way an’ don’t be drinkin’ no watered down, toe-stirred coffee this week.

Vaya con Dios.