–Nathan Wright  (The Pursuit)

 

Brrr, it’s cold, an’ I’m afraid it’s gonna get colder.  Coffee’s hot though an’ it’ll warm yur innards.  Say, Pard, next week is settin’ up to be quite a week.  Monday, a new President will take office.  Out with the old, liberal, wokeism and hopefully in with some type of genuine, get-down-to-business plan.  Let’s see what happens.  We have an situation given to us by the good Lord to get back to the foundations–let’s see.

     Feel that coffee workin’ its way down into yur core?  Ahhh, even in the midst of the storms, we can still share a cup of hot java.  Speakin’ of storms, that’s the second thing that’s settin’ up to happen.  Supposed to get downright cold here in this part of Texas, well, in fact most all of the state.  Predicticatin’ snow.  That’ll be all right as long as the electricity doesn’t go out like it did a couple years ago.  But we’ll face whatever comes with the Lord by our side.

     I remember a few years back when I told someone the cold makes my bones ache.  Why she almost threw a conniption fit.  She said don’t speak those words.  Now, I’ve been ’round long enough to hear hoo-doo and even some voodoo an’ that was what that was.  Listen, Pard, the holy Scripture is not hocus pocus.  We are to worship in truth, that means reality.  We worship no matter the situation, no matter if the bones ache or not.  Why that ol’ ‘postle Paul said that he bore the scars on his walk with the Lord.  He didn’t testify them away.  I saw that lived first-hand in the lives of my Grandma and Aunt Bern.

     Sure hopin’ I don’t have to get out.  Supposed to see the heart doc on Tuesday, that’s the day it’s supposed to snow.  Might have to change my appointment.  Not that I can’t drive in snow, but it’s the rest of these fools around here that concern me.  Yuh, be havin’ a safe week, stay warm, and if’n yuh have to go out in the cold and weather for land sakes check yur cinch.

     Vaya con Dios.

Never trust gas station java.  You can’t even trust most coffee shops if you truly enjoy a cup of good coffee.”

                    –Steven James (Rook)

 

Say Pard, I’m feelin’ like that ol’ balladeer, Willie — “I’m on the road again.”  Yep, the missus and I are headin’ for another weddin’.  Nice that some of the kids remember this ol’ codger and invite me to the knot-tyin’.  

     Yu’ll have to do with makin’ yur own brew this mornin’ unless yuh want to head down for some of that coffee James was mentionin’, but then yur taste bud are at risk, ‘long with some of yur vital parts.  Let me tell for shore, I’ve have some bad coffee while travelin’ on the road.  Nothin’ worse than motel coffee, whooeee, that’s bad stuff.  So Pard, be thinkin of me as I’m on the road.  I’ll start with a thermos but that’ll get me only out of town.

     I’ll leave yuh a couple of thoughts for yuh to be ponderin’ on.  Here’s a good un:  Yuh can’t always have a good day, but yuh can always face a bad day with a good attitude.  And I’ll leave yuh be with this one, Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.

     Yuh be havin’ yurself a good week, be wary, be on the look out, be readin’ yur Bible, and be a-checkin’ yur cinch.

      Vaya con Dios.

                    –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.