–Louis L’Amour  (Down the Long Hills)

 

Pard, let me rattle yur ears some while I bring the pot over to the table.  I just heard last weekend from the sweet gal that posts my articles on my website that number 2000 was posted.  Whoopee, that’s a lot of words.  Say Pard, yuh ever been to my site?  Give it a try sometime.

       Ahhh, the taste of good coffee.  Pard, all of those words are for a purpose.  I pray that they help someone along the road to heaven.  Maybe encourage someone, or help them gain strength, perhaps even someone might come to know the Lord.  My books, yuh know, whatever I make goes right back into the Kingdom.  That’s why I write, to be of aid to the Kingdom of God.

       Elections are happening, that final day is coming closer and already the rats are a-scurryin’ around.  Shame we need politicians.  Most of them don’t try to help the country or fulfill the obligations of their job, they’re just rats livin’ off the refuse of the common folk, chewin’ and bringin’ disease.  My hat’s off to those honest folk, and prayers are with them.  Pard, if’n yuh read the Prophets yu’ll see that God has plenty of judgment for those in leadership who are there for selfish gain.  Go ahead, read them and yu’ll see.  Woe to those who use their position to lord over others wrongfully and do not abide by God’s moral code.

       My land, that pot went fast.  I’m only on my third cup–yuh must have been guzzlin’ why I was explainin’.  Well, that’s all right, there’s plenty of work to be did today.  Say, yur ready for the devil’s night on Monday aren’t yuh?  Wish we could just throw that “holiday” in the trash can.  We need to be on guard, protect the younguns from all that evil as much as we can.

       Be seein’ yuh, Pard.  Oh, aren’t yuh glad I have cups for yuh to drink from?  It’s been along time since I’ve had to drink from the pot or a pan that’s been on the fire.  But one does what he has to.  Be wary on yur travels this week.  Give yur hoss a breather now and then, but always check yur cinch before mountin’ back up.

        Vaya con Dios.

                         –Louis L’Amour  (The Key-Lock Man)

 

Pard, can’t get the words out of my mind.  Go ahead, the coffee’s on the stove.  Those words by that ol’ Wyoming cowpoke LeDoux keep singin’ in my mind, “I can’t ride the broncos anymore…”  Yuh remember it?  “There’s a lot of parts on me that don’t work no more.”  My aches and pains remind me of those days, and my land, let me tell yuh that I even have to hang on to the rockin’ chair.  Sometimes it gets to movin’ an’ I’d swear it was tryin’ to throw me.

       What’s yuh smilin’ about?  Jist you wait, one of these days yu’ll be ridin’ that wooden frame.  They’ll probably have to add a seatbelt to keep yuh in that chair.  Nah, just kiddin’ with yuh, drink yur coffee.  By lookin’ at yuh, I reckon yu’ve got at least fifty or sixty miles left in yuh.  At least yur not out runnin’ with the rats.  Oh, and speakin’ of rats, remember election time starts next week here in Texas.  We sure want to keep home and hearth safe for there’s a push to bring in those fuzzy thinkin’ liberals.  Wish we could throw all those ideas in the trash can.  Once a people move away from God…well, it’s easier to keep moving thataway.  

       Ahhhh, that coffee’s good this mornin’.  I’m not doin’ any worryin’ over the outcome.  The Lord’s in charge anyhow.  My mercy, though, ain’t the country goin’ crazy?  All kinds of shenanigans happenin’.  Need to pray for an awakenin’ like the such that’s happened before in this country.  That’s the only way to keep from the Lord’s judgment.

       Say, Pard, yuh be doin’ right!  The road is still before us, we just don’t move as fast as we used to on it.  But those words by LeDoux keep ringin’, “Well a man can’t spend his life in reflection, just thinkin’ about the way things used to be…”  Yeehaw, hang on Pard, the Lord is gettin’ ready to ride!  Yuh best check yur cinch now.

         Vaya con Dios.

                     –D.C. Adkisson  (The Shepherd)

 

Been sittin’ here waitin’ for you, Pard.  Nope, not wastin’ time, honin’ the kitchen knives while waitin’ for yuh to ride up.  My mercy, did you realize this is the first time we shared coffee on a Saturday mornin’ this month, an’ the month is half over.  I don’t know if time flies or not, but it sure does scurry along right quick like.  Be right with yuh, I’ll pour yuh a cup while’s yur gettin’ settled down.

       What’s that?  Yuh broke a tooth.  My land, how did that happen?  Cherry pie?  Ah, one of the cherries still had the pit.  Well, ha, that the pits!  Get it, sort of a pun.  Someone didn’t do their job completely and left a pit for yuh.  Some fool is probably sittin’ somewhere a-grinnin’ wonderin’ who bit into the pit.  

       We sure had a time visitin’ kin along with stayin’ with the daughter and her family.  We saw most of Annie’s kin while back East.  It was good for her and a treat for our youngest granddaughter Julee.  She was our travelin’ pard on this trip.  All the granddaughters have now made a trip with us.  Too bad the grandson is not around–we’d take him out West an’ start makin’ him a buckaroo.

       I notice that broke tooth didn’t hinder yuh from downin’ that coffee.  Hang on, more’s a-comin’.  Pits are like those hidden obstacles that come our way in life.  The pie looks invitin’ and most surredly is delicious when “CRACK!”  There goes the tooth.  Now, that’s not life-threatenin’, but it sure is annoyin’.  I remember once when I broke one.  The tooth didn’t hurt but it left a jagged edge and no matter what, my tongue found it and wore a sore on it.   

       Just like the devil–throw something we aren’t expectin’ just to annoy us.  We are bought by the blood of Jesus, but he still does his best to kill or cripple us, and if nothin’ else to just annoy us.  Then he goes off somewhere in a darken corner and smirks.  But Pard, I know an annoyance like a broke tooth, or twisted wrist, or stiff neck won’t keep yuh from doin’ the work of the Kingdom.

       Let’s finish up the coffee so we can be about doin’ the Lord’s business this day.  First off, right after giving some serious attention to the coffee, yuh check yur cinch.

       Vaya con Dios.

                    –Elmer Kelton  (The Smiling Country)

 

Ponder that some, while I pour yuh a cup.  Pretty close to bein’ true, and let me tell yuh another thing.  I’ve tasted some coffee that was pretty near to bein’ dishwater on its ownself, not even bein’ cold.  How some folks can ruin such a delightful beverage is beyond understandin’.  Cold coffee–not fer me, unlessin’ that’s all there is.  An’ if’n it’s cold, a person can always pour it in a pan and place it on the stove.

       Taste that!  Don’t burn the hair offen yur tongue; it’s hot!  Ahhh, pure delight.  Makes unwanted company tolerable.  No, Pard, not meanin’ you, but I’ve had to sit through meetin’s in my time, and do some visitin’ with unsavory types that it was only coffee that helped me through.  Go ahead, yuh can probably take a deep swaller now.

       Yuh heard about the Queen.  Finally went to meet her Maker and the real King of the Universe.  From what I have been able to tell, she was a good woman and a believer.  She shore did live the life.  A stabalizin’ factor with the countries on the continent.  No one can fill her shoes, but we need to pray that Charles stays with the Lord and continues to be a conservative voice.

       Pard, yuh realize that it is the Lord who establishes governments and kingdoms.  Sometimes, in fact most of the time, we don’t understand his workin’s, but He establishes thrones and who sits upon them.  Part of that is to give people the kind of leadership they deserve.  A people who act the fool will get a foolish leader–just look around you.  One of these days, and this ol’ fence post believes soon, the kings of the nations will run for a hidin’ pace.  The true King will appear and they will be afraid, and will go to war against Him.  Oh, foolish men!

       Coffee’s gone already?  My, we must have been thirsty this mornin’ doin’ all our contemplatin’ an’ rememberin’ the Queen.  Maybe she and Granny are sippin’ a cup of heavenly tea (yeah, I said it, I’m not sure how much the Queen enjoyed coffee), perhaps Mary and Martha are involved with the conversation.  Is she in heaven?  Pard, from what I understand she claimed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ so she’s gonna be there.

       Pard, yuh be havin’ a good day.  Next week, the wife and I along with the youngest granddaughter are travelin’ the steel mount for Maryland.  Hopin’ to be stoppin’ off to see relatives in Carolina.  Yuh can be singin’ that song, “Wouldn’t it be finer, just to be in Carolina in the mornin’?”  But while yur a-singin’ it, don’t neglect to check yur cinch.  I won’t be here to remind yuh.  Be sayin’ a prayer for us.

        Vaya con Dios.