Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on April 1, 2023

It was the coffee I was going to miss the most at the cafe, I knew that right now. This was some good coffee. The stuff I made was terrible. I was surprised every time I stirred it and it didn’t eat up my spoon.”

–Patrick Lindsay (Dead Man’s Treasure)

No, Pard! I wasn’t referring to yur coffee. But to tell yuh the truth it could do some improvin’. Go ahead, don’t shy away from my brew; it’ll tickle all the way down yur gullet to yur gizzard an’ if yuh have enough of it, yur toes might even tingle. Is the coffee in the bean or the brewin’? Now that’s somethin’ to ponder. Is it in the water or in how long yuh set it to brew? My ain’t life full of questions?

Speakin’ of good coffee, we’ve had a week of good friends from the past. It started last Saturday with the celebration of life for a person from our church forty years ago. We saw several of the ol’ crew. Then the other night some dear friends were in the area from San Antonio. Yuh know, and I’m goin’ to say somethin’ here, so hang onto yur cup handle. I’m a-thinkin’ that good friends are even better than good coffee. Coffee can make yuh feel good in yur inner parts, but good, solid friends can make yuh feel good in yur soul and spirit.

Notice I’m stayin’ away from all the politickin’ and publicizin’ and media spoutation. The coffee is too good to spoil my gizzard with the lies and doin’s of the media, and the politicians. When are we ever gonna realize that we live in a world of lies, evil, deception, an’ wickedness? But Pard, go on take another swaller. Sure does make my heart good to see yuh enjoyin’ my coffee. But what I was gonna say, we need to realize that this ol’ world is an evil place, but I recall the words of that ol’ preacher-man John that, “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.” It’s found thar in 1 John 5:19.

So don’t be surprised at what’s goin’ on. Don’t be a frettin’ over the future. Don’t get yur gizzard all riled because of the sickenin’ folks and lifestyle yuh hear and read about. Just keep prayin’, keep readin’ yur Bible, keep raisin’ the younguns right. Have yur gun oiled, loaded and ready, keep a smile on yur face. Enjoy a cup of coffee, and be sure an’ check yur cinch.

Vaya con Dios.

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 25, 2023

He stopped talking and seemed to be grateful to just sit and sip his coffee for the moment.”

–Nathan Wright (The Return)

Sorry for my mutterin’ and shakin’ my head when yuh came in. The coffee’s hot, come on in and get a cup. While yur a-pourin’, I’ll say out loud what I was mutterin’ — Pard, there’s strange things happenin’ in the land. Go ahead and take a sip, while I tell yuh what I was ponderin’. Strange! Strange, ’cause it’s unnatural, plus the fact that’s it’s downright immoral.

What am I talkin’ about? Let me take a swaller, and I’ll tell yuh. I don’t watch the news as it gets the bile a runnin’ in my gizzard, and seldom read the news for it causes my liver to quiver, but I came across a couple of things this past week. The fellow’s name is Kirby and he’s some kind of spokeman, maybe for the Department of Defense. He made the followin’ statement, “LGBTQ+ rights are a core part of our foreign policy.” My mercy, Pard! What happened to Biblical morality as bein’ a core part of our foreign policy? Sendin’ out missionaries…?

I need another swaller ‘fore goin’. I saw a photo and my ol’ gizzard jumped up in a conniption fit. Thought I was goin’ to spew it out like the Lord said He would do in regard to the lukewarm church in Revelation. The “thing’s” name is Leigh Finke and it was named the “Woman of the Year” for Minnesota. My, my, it/he/she was prancin’ around with pink hair, earrings a-danglin’, and lipstick. Talk about depraved minds. Makes me wonder, how long, Lord, how long?

If’n that wasn’t enough to get my innards all riled up, we have to be concerned about the bankin’ system. Pard, they’re after yur money, but more than that they’re wantin’ to set up a system. A no-good system at that. Good ol’ Ted Cruz is tryin’ to combat it by introducin’ a bill to prevent the government from establishin’ a central bank digital currency.

Pard, the “mark” is comin’ sooner or later. Sure ‘nough makes a body want to have their guns clean and close t’ hand, as well as their soul clean and ready for the comin’ of the Lord.

Well, all of that bein’ said, I made it through the week. That’s enough of that stuff. Where are the prophets? What has happened to the pulpit? But, all that cryin’ aside, it has to be. All these things must come to pass before the trumpet sounds, but I think the ol’ archangel is gettin’ ready to shout. Pard, yuh be sure that yur spiritual cinch is tight for there may be a whirlwind before the blast of that trumpet.

Vaya con Dios.

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 18, 2023

There was a small fire on the fireplace hearth and a pot of coffee suspended from the crane.”

–Ernest Haycox (Canyon Passage)

Mmmm, mmmm, let that aroma just flow. Take a whiff of that coffee ‘fore yuh go to guzzlin’ it. Enjoy sippin’ it whilst I tell yuh a story. Remember when yuh were a kid, and fairy tales were told to yuh, like “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick…” and “Mary, had a little lamb…” and “Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep…”? I don’t know why, but “Wee Willie Winkie” used to scare me.

Hold on, I need a swaller, ’cause of what I’m gonna tell yuh. I read ’bout a fairy tale bein’ told by the Pope. Yep, that’s right, that fella that sits over in the Old Country in that place they call the Vatican City. But here’s the tale, that he spoke the other day. Once upon a time, that’s me tellin’ the story ’cause all fairy tales start out that way. The old man on the throne who is the supposed, and self-proclaimed mediator before God spoke these words, “Hell is not a place.” Say hold, on Pard, that ain’t the end on his tale, he went on, “It is a state, there are people who live in Hell continuously.” Hmmm, maybe he finished with and “they lived happily ever after,” but Pard that ain’t the way it is.

Now, I agree, up to a point that some folks have a hellish time here on earth, but it ain’t a fraction of what it will be if’n they go on down the road to Perdition. I may be a dumb ol’ fence post, but I reckon the good Lord knows a bit more than the Pope and He sure ‘nough declared there is a Hell. Now, I’ve heard that talk before comin’ from folks, but it shows to go yuh that even a religious leader can be an out-and-out fool. Yuh know, if’n yuh read the prophets, Isaiah, Amos, and the like yuh’ll see that the priests were fools back then as well, leadin’ the people into false worship. If’n people believe that they’re so blind they couldn’t see through a bobwire fence.

Looks like we each got a cup a piece left in the pot. Go ‘head an’ pour yurs, then yuh can fill my cup up. Ahhh, mighty tasty this mornin’. Let me go on pontificatin’ — I used that word a purpose. Ol’ Haycox mentioned the hearth. That’s where the coffeepot goes, well, maybe not literally, but figuratively. The hearth is made by the woman of the home, she makes it comfortable, she nurtures the kids and even the husband, she keeps it warm with her love. Yep, the hearth warms the home and it comes from the heart of a wife and mother. Now, I said this, to let yuh know that my wife has made our house a home, and it was her birthday yesterday. Sure been a grand ride livin’ my days with her. She’s one reason that I check my cinch before mountin’, I gotta keep myself safe so’s I can be providin’ and protectin’ her. An’ maybe if’n I give her a wink, there could be a pie in my future.

Vaya con Dios.

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 11, 2023

I picked up some sticks for a fire and dug out the old coffeepot and coffee. Seems like I’ve had that pot forever, but really only a few years now.”
–D.C. Adkisson (Mal de Ojo)

Whoooeeee, Pard! This is a busy week. School’s out for one, but that don’t rightly affect me much anymore. Then there’s the birthday week. Yep, on Sunday we start the spring celebrations of birthdays with that of Kimberly’s. Then later on in the week will be Annie’s. Nope, I’m not bakin’ a cake. But, that’s not all. Just heading out for the countryside, the bluebonnets are amazin’, at least here in our part of Texas.
Seein’ those bluebonnets and other flowers rise up from the ground just has to bring a smile to the face. They only come ’round once a year, stay for a while then gone, poof, until next year. Makes me wonder how many times God allows the weeds to grow around us and we grumble and complain, but then all of a sudden, hidden in those weeds is a touch of color–they bloom into gorgeous wildflowers.
Now, Pard, get yuh a big swaller, ’cause this ol’ fence post just might beller out an’ sing. I was readin’ the other day, “The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land.” That’s verse 12 of the second chapter of Song of Solomon. But then I remember another verse, “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” That there is from the Prophet Isaiah. Those pretty flowers don’t stay around long. They bring us a smile but soon they fade away. See, Pard, we ain’t to be puttin’ our trust in this ol’ natural world. Not in yur life, for it might look good, but it’s only for a short season. But we should be holdin’ tight to the the holy writ. That’s somethin’ that yuh can be sure won’t be goin’ poof.

Yuh be hearin’ me Pard. Enjoy the bloomin’ of the flowers; enjoy the legitimate temporary things, but cling to the Word of the Lord. In the long run it seems that the Rock of Ages is more of a sure thing than them delicate flowers. Just like you? Pshaw, yur about as delicate as an old piece of leather the dog’s been a chewin’ on. An’ I might add, twixt as dumb, for I keep havin’ to remind yuh to be checkin’ that thar cinch of yurs.

Vaya con Dios.