The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
How wonderful to be wise, to be able to analyze and interpret things.  Wisdom lights up a person’s face.”  –Ecclesiastes 8:1 (NLT)
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     His gun was clearing leather when I hit the ground.  Immediately I kicked out hitting his knee causing him to lean my direction, then I struck with my fist to the spot where my bullet had taken him.  The impact and the pain caused him to drop to the ground and he released his grip on the pistol.  My hand came back bloody.  Unless I could get him down from these rocks he most likely would bleed out.
     Picking his gun up from where he dropped it, I stuck it behind my gunbelt.  “Mister, if’n you don’t cooperate, there’s a good chance you’re gonna die here in these rocks.”  He was still quite pale from the blow I had given him.  “You have a name, I don’t like to bury men without knowin’ their names.”
     “Sims,” he said, finally gaining control of himself.  “Luke Sims.”
     I shook my head slightly as I tried to remember his face or anyone by that name.  Nothing came.  “Why are you stalkin’ me?  I don’t know you from Adam.”
     “Get me down from here and I’ll tell you.”
     He was in no condition to bargain, so I simply told him, “You’re going down, either alive or dead.  It really don’t make any difference why you’re after me.  I, at least won’t have to be worryin’ about you any more.”  I paused, letting him chew on that for a few seconds.  
     “I’m a-hurtin’,” he proclaimed with a grimace.
     Giving him a half-grin, I simply replied, “I can imagine.  Now you can bleed out, or we can get you down and perhaps you’ll have a chance to live and go to prison.”
     He held out his hand to me, so I could help him to his feet.  There was a little path down to my right which we started down with him going first as there was room for only one person at a time.  The path came out where he had his horse tied.
     “You have anything in your belongin’s that I can use to bandage you up?”
     “There’s a shirt that you can use,” he muttered.
     I went over, first emptying his rifle, then thrusting it in the scabbard.  Then I opened his saddlebags finding the shirt.   I folded it over a couple times, leaving the sleeve dangle to use to help tying it in place.  The shirt he was wearing was plastered to the wound, the blood beginning to coagulate.  I would leave it up to Doc to take care of that and I placed the shirt over his wound and tied it down tightly in place.
     “Think you can ride?” I asked, and he knew that the alternative would be to tie him belly-down.
     He put his boot in the stirrup.  “If you give me a boost to get in the saddle, I can ride.”
     A few seconds later he was in the saddle, leaning over to ease the pain in his side.  “Hold on, my horse is down in the arroyo.”
     Ten minutes later we arrived.  I handed him up the reins as I went down into the arroyo to get Star.  As soon as I reached the bottom, I heard a “harrup” and Luke Sims took off over the desert land.  I didn’t rush, I mounted Star and we went back down the wash until he found a place where he could climb out.  Reaching the top I could see Sims thirty yards away, weaving in the saddle.  
     Patting Star on the neck, I said, “I don’t reckon I know what he’s tryin’ to do.  Let’s just mosey towards him and keep watch.”
     It wasn’t long, maybe twenty seconds, he…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

No new land is gained without blood and suffering.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (How the West Was Won)

       “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.”
                    –Philippians 1:29 (NIV)
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          “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  –Matthew 5:10-12 (NASB)

     We need to understand, as John Stott reminds us, “Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value systems.”  Light versus darkness, the kingdom of God versus the world system, Christ versus Belial.  Know this, the more conformed to His image the more persecution.  Since you are living right, the evil of this world despises you.  “Those who hunger for righteousness will suffer for the righteousness they crave.” (Stott)  The reason being is that you affect those around you; you show light upon their dark world, and the Spirit within you condemns their actions.  Arthur Pinks says, “Those who perform their Christian duty condemn those who live to please self, and therefore, evoke their hatred.”
     Most of us in the United States will not face the persecution of torture and death as in some countries.  The attack is severe in many countries and we need to be praying for our family in the Lord.  History has also shown us the persecution of the past.  William Barclay tells us of Nero’s persecution:  “Nero wrapped the Christians in pitch and set them alight, and used them as living torches to light his gardens.  He sewed them in the skins of wild animals and set his hunting dogs upon them to tear them to death.  They were tortured on the rack; they were scraped with pincers; molten lead was poured hissing upon them; red hot brass plates were affixed to the tenderest parts of their bodies; eyes were torn out; parts of their bodies were cut off and roasted before their eyes; their hands and feet were burned while cold water was poured over them to lengthen the agony.  These things are not pleasant to think about, but these are the things a man had to be prepared for, if he took his stand with Christ.”  Mercy….the Lord had to give them the gift of martyrdom to accept such torture in His name.
     That is why we are told to “count the cost,” when we accept Christ.  We are so blessed in our wonderful country, but there is a time when the whole world will wage terror against those who claim the name of Christ.  I read from Acts, “Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.  ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.'” (14:22, NIV)  The early church father, Tertullian tells the story.  “A man asked, ‘What can I do?  I must live!’  Tertullian’s answer, ‘Must you?'”  In the midst of persecution we see, “The way to heaven is by way of thorns and blood.” (Thomas Watson)  
     No matter the type of persecution, no matter the era in which we live the question remains–Christ or Caesar!  Or, in our safe lives, it might be Christ or career.  Christ or wealth.  Christ or …?  As a soldier of the cross we should not get comfortable in worldly comforts.  There is the choice; it may not be live or die, at least physically, but it is whom or what do you live for?  Arthur Pinks says, “Let not the soldier of the cross be dismayed because the fiery darts of the wicked one are hurled against him.”  And I will remind you we are to pick up our cross daily.  It may be one of martyrdom.  We say we believe, then “put a cross in your creed.” (Watson)
     Persecution means “to vex or molest.”  It can come in many forms, some which I have mentioned in torture and death.  However, most of what we face in our country is that of verbal abuse.  Yes, in some places, and for some people it comes in the form of harassment, troubles, and actual molestation of some sort.  The murder and slicing of a person’s character is often the target.  Perhaps we ought to be more proactive in our witness.  I recall the words of Sitting Bull when he went into battle, “Today is a good day to die.”  Spiritually we have already died to the old life, so expect to face new battles, new foes, new enemies.  Today, you may die, so I would ask, are you ready?

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I started off with a cup of strong black coffee. I never did like anything in my coffee to cover up the flavor of the coffee.”

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Ace High)
 
Don’t yuh be a-frettin’ Pard, I ain’t gonna say nothing about cinos.  See, I reckon there’s all sorts of people out there, some good, some bad, some weird, and some look like they came out of a horror movie.  That means some like good, hot, strong, black coffee like it was meant to be.  There are others who aren’t so hardy an’ need something to sweeten them up along with their coffee, whilst others need some of that moo juice.  Now I won’t go so far as to say that almond milk is acceptable, ’cause I’ve never seen a way to milk an almond.  Then there are the moderns who need their cino.  But let me be tellin’ yuh right now, yuh gonna get the pure stuff this mornin’.
     Hope yur week went well.  Did yuh realize that summer begins tomorrow?  Been gettin’ hot here, but then again it’s wakin’ us up for summer; it is Texas after all.  Pard, that means that the year is half over.  Yur still here, yuh might not look like much, nor have much to be showin’ for it, but yur here.  That says somethin’.  Yur rememberin’ to check yur cinch and the good Lord is takin’ right good care of yuh.  I’m reminded of one of the Psalms, 116 if I’m correct where it says, “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”  That’s our purpose and our plan.
     There’s so much stupidity and evil out there, blatant and in yur face an’ a-sayin’ that it’s okay to live an’ think the way they do.  It sorta riles my gizzard, so I’ve stayed away from most of it this week.  I know we need to be keepin’ up with the world in which we live, but my mercy, a person can only stomach so much of it.  The old bile gets to movin’ around makin’ me want to a spewin’ my innards out.  Folks tend to forget that we’re made in the image of God.  I know, I know, that is speakin’ of the spiritual, but let me tell yuh–what’s inside shows forth on the outside!
     Coffee tasted fine this mornin’ but I need to be up an’ a-movin’.  Daughter is havin’ a breakfast brunch for Fathers’ Day, so got to get the ol’ steel mount on down the road.  She found some rhubarb so Annie’s makin’ a rhubarb custard pie along with a coconut cream pie.  Pard, let me tell yuh I’m already smackin’ my gums thinkin’ about it.  The little ol’ pie-baker still has it.  Kimberly is makin’ the biscuits an’ Annie will be makin’ the gravy so it’ll be a grand time.
     Pard, yuh be doin’ what I said, walk with and before the Lord every step of the way, no matter the weather or the trail.  Yuh can’t do nothin’ ’bout the weather, so if’n the rains come jist be sure to have yur slicker handy.  Ha, ha, ha, that reminds me–seems like I always pack the slicker away so’s when I need it I have to get wet to get it out.  And the trail, why jist keep yur eyes out for the snares of the devil.  Don’t be jist a lookin’ at the ground, there’s li’ble to be some hostiles or catamounts in the rocks and trees, so yuh’s be careful travelin’.
     Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Evil always smiles when it thinks it’s won.”

                    –D.C. Adkisson  (Redemption)

       “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.”
                    –Revelation 22:21 (NIV)
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You remember it, don’t you?  That something called COVID.  Panic, fear, and stupidity marked it along with this one idea that most people overlooked–Power.  COVID gave power from international leaders, to national leaders, to store owners and even neighbors.  Don’t come near me without a mask!  I went to WalMart during the epidemic.  There was one way in and one way out.  I was stopped upon entering and told that I could not enter without a mask.  Now, that’s important to understand.  I could not enter a store without a mask.  I took out my bandana, put it on and walked in whereupon I took it off.  Someone questioned me, and I replied, that I was told I couldn’t enter without one on, but no one said I had to keep it on.
     Some stores had signs up, must wear a mask.  Some stores said that you had to go up one aisle and down another, while many dictated that you had to stand in certain spots to check out.  Safety–somewhat, but mostly POWER.  They were saying, we can do it, so we are.  Then there was the order to get vaccinated.  Some organizations, included the U.S. military mandated vaccinations against the virus.  Power!   Stores closed, especially restaurants, but even some churches.  My, my, what happened to faith and worship?  The reply, I can stream it, or watch it at home on TV.  Excuse, compromise, complacency–call it what you will.  On top of the COVID scare there came that dreaded fear of the people–no toilet paper.  There was a rush, I’m still shaking my head over it, a stampede to buy toilet paper.  Did we go crazy?
     Reading last night I was reminded of the words that John penned in Revelation:

               “He [False Prophet] forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.”  –Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV)

Want a snickers bar–get the mark.  Want to buy a coffee–get the mark.  Need bread, milk, or other food items–get the mark.  Got a cough, need medicine–get the mark.  Need medicine for a disease–get the mark.  Gas for the car–get the mark.  Do you begin to see how it will be during the Tribulation?
     I hear your thoughts.  You say that’s far off.  That’s in the Tribulation.  That won’t really happen.  Let me remind you of the control that those in power had during COVID.  Let me remind you of the words of Paul, “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7, NIV)  Look around you at what is happening and you will quickly notice that it is not totally hidden anymore.  Deception is among us.  It is spewing out lies, that good is bad and bad is good (as I wrote yesterday).  There is a person in Texas running for Senate who deliberately twists Scripture to fit his agenda.  He leaves out words, he adds works; it is no longer the Word of God, but the twisted words of deception, what Josh Howerton called a “serpentine theme.”  Beware!
     Listen my friend, deception means slavery.  David Jeremiah tells us regarding the False Prophet, “He uses religion to deceive the world, and once deceived, he uses the mark of the beast to enslave all people economically, forcing them to endure the unrelenting tyranny of Satan and the Antichrist.”  I will say it again, “the secret power of lawlessness is already at work.”  Food is expensive now, gas is expensive now, are you getting the picture?  What will it be like when you can no longer get necessities and service that is needed unless you have the “mark”?  You will be a slave to it.  “The fusion of government and religion puts the squeeze on anyone who refuses to take the mark, leaving them nowhere to turn.  No one buys their products or services.  Barred from employment and from shopping in stores or online, they face bankruptcy and starvation.” (Jeremiah)
     “The secret power of lawlessness is already at work,” and you better believe it.  Dear Christian, do not be deceived by the twisting of Scripture.  Do not be deceived by progressive culturalism and WOKE agendas.  Do not be deceived by the teaching of globalism, that all ways lead to God.  Stand firm on the holy foundation of the Bible.  We are not to live in fear in these times, we are to stand.  We are to exhort one another.  Read Revelation, it was not written to bring fear but to build faith.  Paul exhorts us in regard to the signs of the times that we are to “Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18, NIV).  We are to be like Paul and exhort one another by saying that the Lord is coming.  Lift up your heads, be ready, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NIV)  
     Today is the day of salvation!  Take advantage of it while you can.  Do not be deceived by the serpent and his servants.  Recognize the works of darkness, the secret powers of lawlessness.  Take heart, John writes this last promise of Jesus, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20)  To which we have the great, simple prayer of the early church, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”