Here we are again, Pard.  A day the Lord has made, good strong coffee, and a friend to start it off.  Oh, Talleyrand?  Well, Pard, he was one of them “frogs” from years gone by.  I jist thought I’d add some sophistication to our conversation.  One thing ’bout ol’ Talley–he was a survivor.  Yep, made it through that there French Revolution, and yuh talk ’bout liberal thinkin’, the Reign of Terror, Napoleon’s reign, and was at the Congress of Vienna after ol’ Nap was exiled.  I’m sure he was a bonafide conniver of the first order.

     Ahhh, good coffee.  With all the happenin’s of the past week, yuh jist gotta enjoy what yuh have whilst yuh have it.  I think it was James Michener, who by the way migrated to Texas, who said, “War makes good men better and bad men worse.”  In other words, it brings out the best and worst in men.  Pard, with the devastation that’s been happenin’ an’ especially here in Texas we’re a-seein’ that.  Tragedy brings out the best in men and also the worst.  People are doin’ all kinds of good in the aftermath of that terrible floodin’ that took place.  People are givin’, donatin’, and jist a-gettin’ out an’ workin’.

     Yeah, but Pard, there are those jerks, usin’ this catastrophe for political means, for evil, for lyin’ and tryin’ to get their agenda followed.  Some of them are public officials who ought to be jerked by their suspenders an’ thrown on their can out in the street.  Blame throwin’ and outright lyin’, whilst not carin’ ’bout those who died nor their families.  That’s outright evil.  An’ leave it to the media, those loud-mouthed liars whose father is the devil himself.  Instead of soothin’, they’re a-throwin’ gasoline on the fire just to be gigglin’ at the flare up.  Fools!

     Now, Pard, I’ll admit there are some good folk in the media, but for some reason their voice ain’t as loud.  Add to that the anti-law, those lawless people who are attackin’ our policemen, federal agents, and border control.  I hand it to them, they’ve got the patience of an oyster.  Lawlessness–Pard, there’s comin’ a day when the “man of lawlessness” will be takin’ over.  Sure glad I’ll be up eatin’ at that glorified supper in heaven.  It’s a-goin’ to be chaos down here on earth when that’s a-takin’ place.

     Until then, Pard, we’ll go onward and upward ev’ry day.  Enjoyin’ our coffee when we can, stayin’ alert always, and bein’ the good folk that the Lord intends us to be whilst we wait His comin’.  Yuh ride straight an’ sit yur saddle tall, an’ if’n yuh do that yuh most likely won’t forget to keep yur Bible near, yur gun oiled and loaded, and checkin’ yur cinch.

     Vaya con Dios.

                    –J.V. James  (Old)

 

That’s what I’ve been doin’ Pard, sittin’ and contemplatin’.  Thinkin’ of the foolishness and the stupidity of those out there protestin’ and riotin’.  Most are paid, most are socialist in nature, most favor anarchy, most are shiftless bums wanting to complain, magnify the flaws of the country.  They riot but do nothin’ to help the country.  They murmur, but they are not grateful for all this country does and stands for.

     Take a sip, ignore my agitation.  Guess that’s what Moses saw when the people complained about the bounty that God had waitin’ for them, but didn’t want to take to task the burden of facin’ the “giants.”  

     Pard, I was contemplatin’ the 4th of July and the freedoms that we have in this country.  Then my mind went to the word, “redeem”.  According to Vine, and I’m gettin’ a little scholarly on yuh, the term means “to buy out, especially of purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom.”  We have been redeemed of all iniquity.  Think of it Pard, redeemed means to free men from lawlessness, the bondage of self-will which rejects the will of God.  But we must know that redemption, true redemption only comes through Christ.  And one day, Pard, when we get to glory, we will have complete redemption.  No more frustrations over the fools about us.

     That’s what I’ve been ponderin’, that and sittin’ down to enjoy our time together and the coffee; of course, the coffee.  I’ve been ponderin’ that most of us do not understand nor fully realize how good we have it in America.  I’ve been ponderin’ the redemption of God that is offered to all, an’ then why, oh why, don’t the fools out there realize that it is there for them.  Guess that’s why they’re called “fools.”

     I was sittin’ there, drinkin’ my coffee, and the words of that wonderful hymn came up on the music I was playin’.  Ponder them, and try to get a glimpse of what the Lord has done for us.  

           “Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

          Pardon there was multiplied to me;

          There my burdened soul found liberty,

          At Calvary.”

Ol’ William Newell was on to somethin’.  Liberty comes only through the redemption provided by Christ on the cross at Calvary.  Whew!  What a thought!

     Well, Pard, time to be a-leavin’.  I’m glad to see yuh still have all yur fingers; yuh mustn’t’ve not shot off any firecrackers.  Yur gettin’ smart in yur old age, why I saw that when yuh mounted yuh even checked yur cinch.

    Vaya con Dios.

                     –Nathan Wright  (Marshal Warrix)

 

Mornin’ to yuh, Pard, grab a cup, the coffee’s hot and waitin’ to be drunk.  Get yurself ready for I’ve got some sermonizin’ for yuh.  Mercy, for sure there’s a great day a-comin’.  I don’t know exactly when, but something has to give sooner or later.  Take a sip first, that way we’ll start with something good.  Ahhh…

     First, Pard, I know my ol’ stalkin’ grounds has gone to pot, go ‘head an’ laugh that’s an intended pun.  Yep, thinkin’ they’re bein’ progressive and wise my home state of Colorado has a law that bans sex-exclusive spaces.  Go ahead, slap yurself upside the head.  I’ll tellin’ yuh what I read.  But let me give yuh a glimmer of hope.  A Christian camp won a lawsuit against the state when they said that boys would be allowed to stay in the girls’ cabins.  Man cannot continue to be ignorin’ God’s moral laws; it’s like tryin’ to slap Him in the face.

     Pard, take another sip, and I’m tellin’ this so’s yuh can watch yur backside in a crowd.  This here happened just last week.  Thank the Lord it wasn’t in our country, but if it can happen in France it can happen here.  I don’t know what these folks were thinkin’…well, they weren’t thinkin’ right that’s for sure.  Seems like 145 people at a music festival were stuck with syringes.  Authorities aren’t sure yet what was in those needles, but imagine idiots goin’ around pokin’ folk.  At the time of the article fourteen fools had been arrested.  Yuh see why I tell yuh to be wary when yur in a crowd?

     Whooee, Pard, then take a look at all the stupidity.  Duh, don’t folks know what the term “illegal” means?  Nope, yur right Pard.  It’s like callin’ my coffee–tea. Most of them are just riotin’ with no notion of what’s goin’ on.  Don’t any of them have jobs?  People are so moronic, they want to gripe, act like fools, but then when someone goes to stop them, they become the victims.  I sure do take my hat off to those officers and guardsmen that have to put up with such nonsense.  They must have some kinda special patience bone; I mean, I’d just want to slap them silly, maybe try an’ knock some of the foolish notions out of them.  Pard, I’m reminded of the words of our Savior when He said, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  Uh, that’s from Matthew 24.  Look it up, ponder it an’ see if’n it might not relate to all the evil we’re a-seein’ around us.  

     Coffee’s gone, it’s time for me to quiet my preachifyin’, but let me give yuh one more thought.  Pard, let me ask yuh, wasn’t it just twenty-four years ago nearly 3000 people lost their lives to attack led by Muslims in New York City?  Now they’re got this socialistic Muslim runnin’ for mayor.  Pard, sometimes the Lord allows our foolishness to punish us.  Some things are just too hard for my simple brain to be a-comprehendin’.  

     The mornin’s most over, the coffee is gone, an’ I know yuh gots to be leavin’.  Watch out Pard, don’t let no one stick yuh with a needle.  That could end up bein’ worse than yuh forgettin’ to check yur cinch.  For sure we must be travelin’ with the Lord.

     Vaya con Dios.

                    –Elmer Kelton  (The Pumpkin Rollers)

 

     Been waitin’ for yuh, Pard.  New coffeepot that the daughter gave me; makes a pretty good pot of coffee if’n yuh make it strong enough.  Now don’t go mixin’ it with anything; yuh know that ain’t proper in this kitchen.  Too strong?  If’n yuh must I’ll allow a little cow cream and sugar, but not cinos–yuh hear!

     Mixin’, something to be a-ponderin’.   There are things that don’t mix or if they do, they soon separate.  Vinegar and oil is good, but it won’t stay mixed for long.  Try mixin’ oil and water.  For sure guns and liquor don’t mix, especially in the camp.  One thing I’ve noticed over the last few weeks is that stupidity and violence don’t mix.  In all of my born days I’ve never seen such a gatherin’ of clowns and fools as I’ve seen in some of these so-called peaceful riots.  My mercy, and watch most of them, they’re belligerent until they face the law.  I recall ol’ Judge Dredd statin’, “I am the law.”  Well, no one can be a law unto themselves, for there is always a higher law and a greater Judge, and the more I see of the antics around the world, I know that soon there’s a great day a-comin’.

     Mixiin’, sometimes we try to mix the world into Christianity or we try to mix Christianity into the world.  Pard, it jist don’t work.  It’s one or t’other.  Like I wrote the other day, yuh can’t be mixin’ the things of the Holy Spirit with the things of the devil.  Yuh can’t be a-walkin’ on two paths at the same time.  Yuh need to take one, the straight one and stick to it come hades or high water.  Don’t be mixin’ yur mind with the ideas of the world, neither.  Hold fast to sound doctrine, that’s yur hope and walk.

     ‘Nough of that preachifyin’, let’s enjoy the coffee.  Ahhh, most things that are good are the simple things.  Like last Sunday, the family celebrated me bein’ around for ten additional years.  It was nice, simple, and sweet.  Yuh don’t need to be fanciful or have a lot of fru-frus, in fact, I’ll take simple anytime.  ‘Course I’m a simple sort of guy.

     Pard, did yuh stop to think?  Quit yur slurpin’ for a minute and ponder.  Yesterday was the first day of summer.  I know that some of the loonies out there go hug trees on the summer solstice, but there yuh go again mixin’.  I mean God is the creator, the creation is not God.  Yuh gotta keep ’em separate.  Pard, an’ if’n yuh hug a dogwood tree yuh’ll find that the bark is worse than the bite.  Hug it too long an’ it’ll rub yuh raw.  But again, what have we accomplished for the Lord this first half of the year?  Are yuh walkin’ rightly, ready, wary, and lookin’ upward?  

     Well, Pard, the pot’s empty.  Glad yuh stopped by for a spell; always good to see yur face.  At least I have someone who’ll take a listen to wait this ol’ fence post has to say.  Yuh know, Pard, life ain’t so hard if’n yuh trust in the Lord.  Oh, an’ for the likes of you, maken sure that yuh check yur cinch.  That reminds me, I was watchin’ the other day an’ this youngster didn’t take the time to mend his cinch and he went out a racin’ on his hoss, and well, yuh guessed it–his cinch broke and he fell on his noggin’.  Sure don’t want that to be happenin’ to you, why who’d come by and drink coffee with me?

     Vaya con Dios.