–Cliff Hudgins  (Grandpa & the Kid)

 

Another year, Pard, glad yuh could make it into this one.  A person never knows what waits ahead of them.  Fact is, I may have made yuh tea this mornin’ instead of coffee.  Ha, ha, if’n yuh believe that yur coconut is all messed up.  ‘Course that wouldn’t surprise me none with the times yuh forgot to check yur cinch.  Drink up, take a long swaller, coffee is good ‘n’ strong this mornin’.  Need to start the year off right an’ sippin’ coffee sure puts us on the right track.  

     Let’s see, bombing, terrorist attack, shooting, murder, hmmm, seems like 2025 is similar in nature to 2024.  Things are no different than in other times in history.  There have always been terror, turmoil, mayhem, and ruthless leaders.  But, Pard, here’s the thing I’m a-seein’.  There have been Hitlers, Stalins, Mao, Pol Pots and all sorts of evil men, but the difference is that most of them came from pagan and heathen countries.  There could be the exception with Hitler and Stalin, but by the time they took over their country was mostly apostate.  

     Say, that is good coffee!  One more swaller an’ I’ll continue.  Ahhh, the ol’ gizzard is right happy this mornin’.  Back to my speechafyin’, what I’m a-seein’ is that these things and the dropping of biblical morals, and the rise of abominations in this country is somewhat different.  This country was founded as a “city on a hill”; to be an example, to be established on Christian principles and morals, to present the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to send missionaries with this gospel throughout the world.  It has done a good job in that respect.  Now, that doesn’t mean we haven’t done some things wrong, in fact, I’ve a notion that there were traps set out by ol’ slewfoot to get this country off track.  But now…my mercy, we’re in a mess.  A good revival is needed, no, an awakenin’ is needed.  I was readin’ the other day from 1 Corinthians, “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning…”  We have the beginnin’ of an opportunity to do so.  Time will tell what the bureaucrats and the preachers do.  Some of those preachers are so wishy-washy, not wantin’ to preach the whole gospel.  Mercy…I think of ol’ John the Baptist, or Amos, or Elijah, or some of the other propets.  I reckon they would have words for some of those behind the pulpit.

     Pard, we’ll keep ridin’ up that gloryland trail.  Yep, onward and upward.  Pard, whatever this year brings, we’ll be on guard and will stand firm in the faith.  Ready, for the attack–ready for the return of the Lord Jesus.  Yuh be havin’ a good week an’ take care of that noggin’ of yurs.  I reckon with all the knots on it, yur hat size is two sizes larger than a few years back.

       Vaya con Dios.

                    –Brad Dennison  (Wandering Man)

 

Here it is, Pard.  We knew that this day would one day arrive and thar ain’t nothin’ we can do ’bout it.  We just have to take it as it comes; it’s the last Saturday of December, that means the last Saturday of 2024.  Ponder that, Pard.  It means that this is the last Saturday we’ll be sharin’ coffee and palaverin’ ’til next year.  So yuh had better enjoy that cup.  Drink it with kind affection.

     Pard, we all should be takin’ time in the next few days to reflect back on the past year.  It’s gone, but what we need to do is remember the lessons that hopefully were learned, and store the grand memories it provided.  Yuh can’t be goin’ back to relive any of it, an’ that’s a good thing.  Last year was and is just that–last year.  Tomorrow is where we look now, but not too closely or too far ahead.  The ol’ ‘postle James warns us not to count your chickens before they hatch.  Actually he put it a little more clearly–“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'” (4:14-15, NIV)

     Pard, go ‘head, finish that cup an’ I’ll pour yuh another.  See, the Lord doesn’t promise us another cup next Saturday in 2025.  Now, get this, He is not against plannin’ ahead or workin’ out a schedule; in fact, we should do that.  But He is tellin’ us that thar ain’t no guarantee that it will come to pass.  Things happen along the trail…  One thing that is a guarantee an’ that the Lord will be travelin’ with us through 2025 an’ will be keepin’ us just like He has in all the past years.  Some folk didn’t make it to see the comin’ of the new year, an’ there will be those who will not see 2026, but the good part is that the Lord is with us in life and in death, and all the junk in between.

     Plan then on bein’ here next Saturday.  The Lord willin’ an’ the creeks don’t rise I’ll have the coffee on.  In fact, even if’n the creeks rise an’ don’t wash us away I’ll have the coffee on.  Thing is Pard, will yuh be here to join with me?  Plan to be here, an’ that means checkin’ yur cinch, but leave it in the Lord’s hands.

     Vaya con Dios.

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Conagher)

 

That’s the way it is, Pard, with life, with coffee, with Christmas, that is — we might mutter a thanks, but we really don’t look up from what we’re a-doin’, especially since most have a phone in their hands.  But Pard, we should really take time to say thanks–thanks to the good Lord for His blessin’s; thanks to Him for the gift of His Son on that night so many years ago.  Yuh know He could have let man go on to his destruction, but instead he provided a Savior.

     Joseph, and especially Mary, were weary from their travels.  The day had been long, the animal was tired, and now they couldn’t find a place to stay.  Go ‘head, Pard, yuh can be drinkin’ whilst I’m talkin’.  The was finally a place found, not really conducive, but it got them out of the elements.  Joseph got Mary all situated, as comfortable as she could be in her situation, then proceeded to take care of the donkey, put some hay in the manger, where in a little while he’d be layin’ the heavenly child.

     I don’t know if Mary was ponderin’ these things in her heart right then, or whether she was just wantin’ the baby to be born.  Sometime during that night, she delivered.  The baby was born and was named Jesus!  There doesn’t seem to be any hoopla in the stable, maybe it was a silent night, ‘ceptin’ of course the cryin’ of the baby.  ‘Course He could’ve been unusual, as He was, an’ “no cryin’ He makes.”

     Ahhh, that is good coffee this mornin’, ha did yuh thank yur ol’ fence post, the coffee-maker?  Nah, but don’t be frettin’, I know that down in yur cold heart that yur thankful for those few swallers.  Ha, good to be sharin’ with yuh.  Now, back to the baby Jesus.  It may have been quiet in the stable, except for the sound of the animal eatin’, but somewhere, not far away the shepherds heard a commotion, “Glory to God in the Highest!”  Pard, that must have been somethin’!  When they heard the news they took traipsin’ off to find the baby an’ when they arrived He was lyin’ in a manger.  The faithful donkey had eaten his fill, Joseph probably cleaned up around it and replenished the hay and the shepherds found Him lyin’ there.  Now, for sure, Mary begins to ponder.

     Little was known about what would happen to the Babe.  He was Immanuel, He was to be the Savior of the world, but unless one really understood the words of the Old Testament they didn’t know all that awaited the Child.  There must have been thousands of angels around that stable in the spirit realm.  Here was the Lord God incarnate, helpless as a baby with Joseph to protect Him.  Pard, I’m just wonderin’ if ol’ slewfoot was around to take a peek.  It would have been a sight for him as well.  

     Pard, the coffee’s gone, that means yuh got to be along yur way.  It would do us all good to ponder the birth of Jesus in our hearts and minds.  Don’t be so distracted by yur marbles rollin’ in yur noggin’ that yuh forget to check yur cinch.  Yuh do that an’ yuh might be doin’ yur ponderin’ from the hospital bed.  Hmm, we sure need to be ponderin’ the Lord before we get ourselves in that situation.  Be havin’ a Merry Christmas!

       Vaya con Dios.

                    –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.