Posts
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Young Pro Team Roping Camp
This week I am in Graham Tx. for the Young Pro Team Roping Camp. This is one of my favorite camps that I have the honor of being invited to speak.
What is the Young Pro? In the NBA and the NFL they take the rookies and spend a week preparing them for the pressures and temptations related to the field of work they are going into. This is the same principle with a different foundation, Jesus. The entire camp is biblical based and spirit filled. YPTRC covers rodeo subjects such as finances, relationships, horsemanship, sponsorship and professional clinicians. Then it covers spiritual subjects such as choices, dating and successful marriage, following Christ and living a spirit filled life.
A lot of the National Finals Rodeo team roping contestants are here. Ropers like Clay O'Brian Cooper, Rickey Green, Clay Tryan, Travis Tryan, Allen Bach, Caesar Delacruz, Rope Myers and many more.
There is also great spiritual directors here also. Pastors like Randy Weaver, Trey Johnson, Tom Underhill, Me and others.
Today I will talk to the students about dating and marriage. I talked on this subject 10 years ago, and they have asked me to speak on it every year since. This group of young men and women are more mature than most people their age. They are hungry for both rodeo direction and spiritual direction.
I also have a side agenda. My friend Zack Burkett lives here and owns a hunting ranch 12 miles from the arena. Soooooooooooo! I might go deer hunting on my time off. "Through me in that Brier patch." More to come!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The 248 Ghosts in Walmart
My trip to Walmart recently started off business as usual. I was not excited, in the least, about going. Heather had to pick up a few things and some of them were heavy so I went to help out.
I was tending to my own business when I could sense, "them","The Others", "Ghosts", "I see dead people", ok, ok enough with the ad lids. It was as if I knew there were people, but I just did not see them. Have you ever had that experience at Walmart, so many people you just don't notice them anymore? Let me go on.
I probably would have got in and got out that day if it was not for the way my day had started. I specifically prayed for people that morning. People in Lea County, people in our community, people in our neighborhood, people to come to our church. Then I found myself in the middle of Walmart not caring about..."people".
I had a thought. I would start my Walmart trip over again, and count every person I see. I went back to the front doors of Walmart and started to count every person who I ran into. 4,5,6,7.23.24.25...109,110,111. The counting continued right up to the time we checked out and walked out the doors. How many do you think I counted in a 1/2 hour visit to Wally World? 250 faces that I would have never noticed. However there was another shocking numerical fact. Out of 250 people I only knew 2.
If you know me you know I like people. I am a friendly guy, good natured, kind, even loving. This quick census made me really evaluate a side of me I am not to comfortable examining. I remember my reaction to some folk, now forced to look at them. I had no desire to even know them. There were others who I would notice based just on how they look or dress.
What would be your reaction if a random trip to Walmart would show that you only knew 5% of the most visited place in your community? Questions came to mind. Am I stuck up, a snob? Am I raciest or maybe just racial? Prideful, arrogant or self-centered might be a way to describe you.
My conclusion, YES and NO. The thing is, this is how all of us can be described. Its when we get an opportunity to self evaluate our lives we become the people we really want to be.
Here are a few ways to help in this area.
1. Walk with your eyes open.
The guy doing 45 in a 65 is not a Ghost. He is actually a bad driver who has problems of his own. He is a "people" you prayed for this morning.
2.Enlarge your circle of Love.
This might even include people who don't share the same beliefs as you. They are still "people" you prayed for this morning.
3.We can't help everybody, but one person can make a difference. Number 16:48
Story: An old man was walking along the ocean beach noticing the millions of starfish that had washed up on the shore from the storm the night before. He thought how sad it was that the starfish were unable to get back into the water and now was ding due to the hot sun. Then he noticed a little boy picking up Starfish and throwing them as far as he could back into the ocean. One by one he would through them back into the ocean. The old man grouchy said to the boy, "Young man, there are to many of them. How could you ever make a difference?" The young boy reached down and picked up another starfish, rared back and through it as far as he could back into the ocean. The boy then looked at the old man and said, "I made a difference for that one." The old man picked up a starfish and through it back into the ocean.
I was tending to my own business when I could sense, "them","The Others", "Ghosts", "I see dead people", ok, ok enough with the ad lids. It was as if I knew there were people, but I just did not see them. Have you ever had that experience at Walmart, so many people you just don't notice them anymore? Let me go on.
I probably would have got in and got out that day if it was not for the way my day had started. I specifically prayed for people that morning. People in Lea County, people in our community, people in our neighborhood, people to come to our church. Then I found myself in the middle of Walmart not caring about..."people".
I had a thought. I would start my Walmart trip over again, and count every person I see. I went back to the front doors of Walmart and started to count every person who I ran into. 4,5,6,7.23.24.25...109,110,111. The counting continued right up to the time we checked out and walked out the doors. How many do you think I counted in a 1/2 hour visit to Wally World? 250 faces that I would have never noticed. However there was another shocking numerical fact. Out of 250 people I only knew 2.
If you know me you know I like people. I am a friendly guy, good natured, kind, even loving. This quick census made me really evaluate a side of me I am not to comfortable examining. I remember my reaction to some folk, now forced to look at them. I had no desire to even know them. There were others who I would notice based just on how they look or dress.
What would be your reaction if a random trip to Walmart would show that you only knew 5% of the most visited place in your community? Questions came to mind. Am I stuck up, a snob? Am I raciest or maybe just racial? Prideful, arrogant or self-centered might be a way to describe you.
My conclusion, YES and NO. The thing is, this is how all of us can be described. Its when we get an opportunity to self evaluate our lives we become the people we really want to be.
Here are a few ways to help in this area.
1. Walk with your eyes open.
The guy doing 45 in a 65 is not a Ghost. He is actually a bad driver who has problems of his own. He is a "people" you prayed for this morning.
2.Enlarge your circle of Love.
This might even include people who don't share the same beliefs as you. They are still "people" you prayed for this morning.
3.We can't help everybody, but one person can make a difference. Number 16:48
Story: An old man was walking along the ocean beach noticing the millions of starfish that had washed up on the shore from the storm the night before. He thought how sad it was that the starfish were unable to get back into the water and now was ding due to the hot sun. Then he noticed a little boy picking up Starfish and throwing them as far as he could back into the ocean. One by one he would through them back into the ocean. The old man grouchy said to the boy, "Young man, there are to many of them. How could you ever make a difference?" The young boy reached down and picked up another starfish, rared back and through it as far as he could back into the ocean. The boy then looked at the old man and said, "I made a difference for that one." The old man picked up a starfish and through it back into the ocean.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Weekend Reflection
This was an amazing week.
*First I thought that the MISSION DRIFT was a success. The ministry heads shared their vision and new ideas. Way to go everyone. You had some great "idears".
*Cigi and I were able to rebuild the sound booth. We made it more work friendly. I really appreciate our sound people. Cigi, Mike, Ray D., Abby and Loray do a great job backing me up on my sermons.
*"Blessings" has heaters! Well they are hanging at least. Bill Gray and the RR pipe crew are hard at work getting gas and electricity to the heaters so we can get some heat.
Blessings is also pinking away. Every Friday at (9:00 am) were having a blast with "Blessings Kids" come help.
*NMJC RODEO TEAM was out and lending a hand at blessings Friday. They are also exercising the horses on the weekdays.
*SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE was over 100 people. 103 to be exact.
*MONDAY SERVICE had a low adult crowd, but Cigi had a big crowd for youth group. Cigi and I have a running joke. If the Youth out number out Adult Monday night group they get the church and the adults get the house. We will see.
*Thanks to Crill for filling in the sound booth Monday night. Good to have Charlie P. back ushering. He has been gone for a job he was doing. Kacey did a great job leading worship. Thanks for the commitment K. Mark and Roan got a new greeting system working. Team Work makes the Dream Work.
*Tuesday morning - Just got through praying for our church. Every time I leave the Tuesday prayer I leave with an energy for what God is doing. SO PROUD OF OUR CHURCH!
*First I thought that the MISSION DRIFT was a success. The ministry heads shared their vision and new ideas. Way to go everyone. You had some great "idears".
*Cigi and I were able to rebuild the sound booth. We made it more work friendly. I really appreciate our sound people. Cigi, Mike, Ray D., Abby and Loray do a great job backing me up on my sermons.
*"Blessings" has heaters! Well they are hanging at least. Bill Gray and the RR pipe crew are hard at work getting gas and electricity to the heaters so we can get some heat.
Blessings is also pinking away. Every Friday at (9:00 am) were having a blast with "Blessings Kids" come help.
*NMJC RODEO TEAM was out and lending a hand at blessings Friday. They are also exercising the horses on the weekdays.
*SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE was over 100 people. 103 to be exact.
*MONDAY SERVICE had a low adult crowd, but Cigi had a big crowd for youth group. Cigi and I have a running joke. If the Youth out number out Adult Monday night group they get the church and the adults get the house. We will see.
*Thanks to Crill for filling in the sound booth Monday night. Good to have Charlie P. back ushering. He has been gone for a job he was doing. Kacey did a great job leading worship. Thanks for the commitment K. Mark and Roan got a new greeting system working. Team Work makes the Dream Work.
*Tuesday morning - Just got through praying for our church. Every time I leave the Tuesday prayer I leave with an energy for what God is doing. SO PROUD OF OUR CHURCH!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Mission Drift tonight!!!!
2009- Tonight is the first "Mission Drift" for the 2009 year.
I get the question all the time. "What do you guys need us to do?" That question is so much easier to answer at a Mission Drift.
If you are a new person at CJC this meeting is a must.
If you have any desire to get involved this meeting is a must.
If your clueless on how CJC operates this meeting is a must.
If you have attended CJC from its very inception this meeting is a must.
If you have no desire to live for Jesus, tell His story, love our world and make a difference
you might want to stay home.
Food will be provided. (Kendals BBQ)
Starts - 5:30pm
Ends - 7:00pm - (We will be respecful of your time)
Cya Tonight
I get the question all the time. "What do you guys need us to do?" That question is so much easier to answer at a Mission Drift.
If you are a new person at CJC this meeting is a must.
If you have any desire to get involved this meeting is a must.
If your clueless on how CJC operates this meeting is a must.
If you have attended CJC from its very inception this meeting is a must.
If you have no desire to live for Jesus, tell His story, love our world and make a difference
you might want to stay home.
Food will be provided. (Kendals BBQ)
Starts - 5:30pm
Ends - 7:00pm - (We will be respecful of your time)
Cya Tonight
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
A peek at our new website.
Here at the offices of COWBOY JUNCTION CHURCH we are hard at work providing our members and seekers the Gospel in a creative and unique way.
(however) Have you ever had one of those projects that is the kingpin that messes all your other projects up? CJC is not prone to theses encounters. Our website "is" something to be proud of. It has podcast, videos, up to date calenders, media, photo gallery, up coming events, etc..., but one little thing is messing it up. Our deepest apologies.
(however) We would like to give you a little taste of our new website. Here is the welcome video that we have completed. I think it does a pretty good job describing CJC, in one minute.
(however) Have you ever had one of those projects that is the kingpin that messes all your other projects up? CJC is not prone to theses encounters. Our website "is" something to be proud of. It has podcast, videos, up to date calenders, media, photo gallery, up coming events, etc..., but one little thing is messing it up. Our deepest apologies.
(however) We would like to give you a little taste of our new website. Here is the welcome video that we have completed. I think it does a pretty good job describing CJC, in one minute.
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