–James Leonard  (The Good Guy)

 

Mornin’ Pard, little late this mornin’ sorry.  The ol’ bone are achin’ from a long drive.  Yep, sittin’ in the steel mount ain’t the same as it was thirty years ago.  But all went well.  The missus and I went over to Baton Rouge, to pay last respects and honor to one of my dear Pards.  Yuh remember, ol’ Grizz?  Yep, he’s the one always totin’ that rifle around.  Whooee, Pard, there are some stories to tell.  Well, he passed over the Great Divide an’ we wanted to spend some time with the family rememberin’ him.

     Events can sure get yur attention.  I’m reminded of ol’ Solomon when he wrote that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity.  Two weeks ago, we was a-celebratin’ a young couple gettin’ married, startin’ on the journey of life together.  Then yesterday celebratin’ the life of a man who has passed on through this life to glory.  That’s the way it goes, that’s the way it is.

     Say, Pard, don’t let my recollectin’ stop yuh from slurpin’ yur coffee.  Ha, one thing for sure, beats hotel coffee and road coffee. But at one stop to rest the ol’ mount there was a place with Community an’ they made it strong enough to suit my ol’ taste buds.  Ahhh, reminds me of the huntin’ camp I was in with Grizz.  We kept a Folgers can on the counter, but it wasn’t normally filled with Folgers.  Actually, when the can started goin’ dry someone would buy, usually Community, to fill it up.  One of the fellows at the camp said he only drank Folgers.  Ol’ Grizz and I smiled at each other.  We never could get the poor ol’ guy to believe it wasn’t Folgers.  

     Speakin’ of drinkin’ coffee.  The missus and I were eatin’ something they call breakfast at the hotel.  Now mind you, I was grateful for the vittles, but it sure wasn’t Annie’s home-cookin’.  Of course them there places play music, or somethin’ they call music.  I usually try to tune the sound out, but while I was takin’ a bite of eggs, one phrase made it into my mind.  Crazy phrase, but it shows the plight of some of our society.  “We’ll go get tattoos, and trash a hotel room.  I don’t want to be a one-man band.”  Sorry, Pard, didn’t know that’d cause yuh to sputter out yur coffee.  At least it didn’t come out yur nose.  But talk about nonsense and pure foolishness.  If that is what brings delight to a body, then he is indeed a wretched man.  Sounds like a man without much hope in his life and for certain the joy of the Lord ain’t there.  And not bein’ a one-man band.  Why, Pard, none of us go through life alone.  We either travel with the Holy Spirit by our side, guidin’ our steps, or ol’ slewfoot, the devil is walkin’ beside a person.  Yep, he’s just the sort that’d get a person to get a tattoo and trash a room jist for the fun of it.

     Time to be up an’ goin’.  Yuh be safe with yur walk this week.  I thought I saw a lump on yur noggin’.  Yuh didn’t forget to check yur cinch did yuh?  Slipped on ice, ha, well, we must be careful when we’re out a-traipsin’ about.  

      Vaya con Dios.

                     –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.