Holiday Christmas-alation

With everyone getting so twisted about the Christmas - Holiday debate, it's time I offer a brief insight into the mind of the"Cowhunter".

 With so many evil events going on in our country lets put aside all the verbal wrangling and political posturing; instead let's become neighbors sharing joy and a season that represents giving and the gift of hope. A season that represents the best in man-kind....

Tiz the season, ...no? I am so tired of hearing about one group stomping on Christmas and wholesome family values and traditions or another group shouting, "it's a Christmas tree!" or "say MERRY CHRISTMAS!" The latest thing I heard was employees boycotting an office party event because they don't celebrate Christmas. No alchohol just food, sodas and sweet tea. Association is not affirmation. You're not compromising your values or condoning a belief by being freindly or lending your attendance to a gathering at the very place where you work and mingle with other people. In fact it's the exact opposite if we believe in values and our fellow-man then grab a plate, sit next to a friend and talk about your children or your family.

With all the turmoil going on in our world today why wouldn't you want to take time out of your day, sit with your co-workers or next door neighbor for that matter, and enjoy some good food and even a couple of free hours on the company clock.

We see the tradegy brought on by a life filled seperation and division. Let's not duplicate that pattern by isolating ourselves when we should be encouraging one another; if just by our presence and participation.

Put a smile on your face and great one another as humans should with character and goodwill. Let that be a gift you freely give to someone that passes you in the mall or in line at the store. Just as the gift of Christ was given freely to every person on earth. So, Happy Holidays, Merrry Christmas, Happy Hanukka, A Joyous Season, Feliz Navidad and anything else that may be appropriate, you know what I mean.

That's my Tip of the Hat for today.

New Year New Yawn

Could you watch it? The memorial service from Tucson, Arizona of the January 8th shooting at a political gathering that killed six people, was televised yesterday. I couldn't watch it. It was on the TV but just couldn't bring myself to listen or see the images. A very tragic event.

Instead I went outside and watched my son and his friend sled down our hill. The joys of my family are made in memories every day. My daughter who is bored from the snow-days just wanted to get out of the house, so we put dry clothes on and went to the mall to walk around. Living in Asheville is challenging because our two children grew up with neighbors right across the street to play with. Not so where we live now. But I am proud of the way they have adapted to the area despite the cultural differences.

Strength comes in various forms. During an open house at my daughters school one of her teachers commented as I walked through the door "You're a large, tall man, I wouldn't mess with you". It was a funny comment because I don't see myself that way, but it helps with the guys that want to date her. My philosophy has always been that our family draws on our collective strength and we draw strength from our faith in God.

My wife is source of great strength and inspiration with a strong faith. The snow continues to fall, the temperature will be well below freezing but the sun is shinning and the best is yet to come.

Trail of Tales

When we first moved here to Asheville to start Land of the Sky Cowboy Church I did it with much prayer and discussion with my family and other ministry leaders in the Cowboy Church community. We didn't just decide one day to do it, we planned it and followed specific steps to plant a church. As we began our new work here in Asheville it became apparent that many of the people in leadership in the cowboy church community here in North Carolina and Asheville were not as willing to help as we thought or even as they had said. This began to play out with posturing and rumors being said about me.

It's a well known fact that the other cowboy church here in Asheville has been very distant towards us, even as we have tried to reach out and bridge any misconceptions or hurt feelings. In 2009 I even tried for a few weeks to meet with these pastors and cowboy church leaders to arrange a meeting only to be totally rejected, I have the emails to show for it. Reaching out we only got our hand slapped for trying. Not what I was expecting nor has any of it been Christ like or even biblical. It resembles something like high school where you have to walk on egg shells and not make someone upset or you won't get asked to the prom. We've been rejected by groups because they said we were not "church like enough" and rejected for not being "cowboy church like enough". All the time asking for help and leaders to be a part of the ministry.

So lets go to 2009, we are meeting in Madison County, NC and a cowboy church that is located 45 minutes west of us begins a partnership at a rodeo just 2 miles from where we are meeting, the same county. I call and ask the [astor of the other church if we could help out since it is right in our back yard, we get a resounding no! At the same time a rumor begins that me and someone in the rodeo committee have had words with each other. I call the pastor of the other Cowboy Church that the rumor is coming from and ask why this is being said, the pastor confirms the rumor and I try to tell him that me and the person he says that I have had an argument with have never met. It never happened. So I take it one step further I go to the person who I supposedly had an argument with and even he says that we have never had words or argued before. Strange, I think to myself, why are people trying to do this to me and my family. Still no one asks us to help at the rodeo that is just a few miles from our Cowboy Church. It's almost like a competition not ministry.

The reason I say these things is that the rumors and misinformation continue against us. Since then the cowboy church that was coming into our area has now begun to meet right where we were meeting. And not once did these people from this Cowboy Church ask us to get involved or help out in any way. If we are brothers in Christ were is the unity. It only seems like discord and rivalry.

Well just recently I got a call and was told that the pastor of the Cowboy Church that has now set up shop right next to where we were is telling everyone that I have lost my ministry license. The part that strikes me is that now matter what happens this church is doing everything they can to try and start rumors. It is sad to hear and it grieves me because Christ is not in any of this, it's the posturing and personal agendas that are in the front row.

We have asked other ministry leaders to step in and assist with these challenges but everyone has a hands off approach, no one wants to get involved even when it is in direct opposition Gods word. This has had a profound effect on my family personally they have seen things that I never thought we would experience in any ministry especially the cowboy church. Personally I've never seen anyting like this. Where ever I've messed up I'm willing to take responsibility for but this has gotten so far out of hand it's almost childish. In a word my family has seen the dark side of ministry. Please keep us in your prayers, we can't change people or years of tradition but God can break hearts and change lives. He knows the inner workings of all of us and in the end God desires that we come before Him humbly and with Christ in our heart.

Red Brick Church

Do you think the church of 2010 is relevant today? You know the one, a red brick building that's been there since "19 something", and each Sunday there are 10 or 20 cars in the parking lot that could park 50 or 60. It's the one you remember from your childhood, the organist and pianist played each week and hymns were sung with every ones face buried in a songbook. It's "church from 1974".

If you walk in that church today it looks like, sounds like and operates like it is 1974. There may be 4 young families there only because they are related to someone in the church. The rest of the congregation is slightly older than retirement age. Does this sound familiar yet? This church is run not by the pastors leadership but by a few local families and if the pastor or staff do anything that doesn't fit into the "1974" model he may be a sermon away from getting kicked out. Another unemployed, young pastor. Seem familiar?

I'm not writing this to upset anyone but rather to hear your feedback.

The New Testament Church which Christ ordained is very different from most churches that are operating today. I see churches dying on the vine every day and the congregations that are the stewards of theses churches letting them fade into the past by not embracing the communities within their ministry. A lack of real leadership and vision.

Would Jesus accuse us of being "graves full of white washed bones"? Ill equipped to reach the communities around us.

Recently Earl (GPS Outdoors) and I were camping and ran out of fresh water. Since we were next to a large river we refilled our canteens with the cool, clear, rushing water within easy access of the camp site. Now, did I drink this water directly from the stream? No! If I did Earl would have to carry me out (not an option) or end up being air lifted out. It's a pretty river but not for drinking. Instead we used a water purification system to make this water drinkable and quench our thirst. The same may be true of many of the congregations today. Hearts are hard and proud. Only one person can wash us clean and purify us. Jesus. Do you hear what I'm saying?

God doesn't like proud or hard hearts. That's our will. How will He work if the church is an institution more concerned about individual feelings and traditions or how long this family has been in this church? Many of these places are almost empty today, I know I've been in them and the congregation sits distant and with arms folded not wanting to hear "that kind of music or a message like that"! Alot of church administration today is like trying to drink that water from the river, it may look good; cool and clear, but if you try it without being prepared it'll make you sick.

So tell me, what do you think? Where is Gods word of salvation in Christ going to be preached? That's His will. Can the Red Brick Church survive?

Lie'n Around

It's funny what happens in the life of a pastor. We work for little pay, or at least I do, put up with churhces that have us come and speak to their congregations but somehow forget to send us an honorarium that we agreed upon. It causes stress on me because I don't want to be a bill collector but I end up having to ask churches to pay me what we agreed upon. Then they don't want to pay.

Then there are those that think a pastor is the kind of guy they can walk over with no consequence. If I disagree with someone then I must not be the kind of pastor I should be. Recently I heard "you call yourself a preacher?" This came from a man who claimed to be law enforcement because when I challenged him to produce his credentials he refused. He did it to intimidate me but it didn't work so he has to find a way to get back at me, kind of like two boys on a playground. He may not do that again.

Does being a pastor and doing Gods will mean being a passive man and letting people walk over you.

As a pastor I have a family to care for bills to pay and try to lead people in worship. The problem lies with the human condition. Just because you claim to be someone doesn't mean that I automatically accept your claim. During a recent incident someone got involved in a conversation I was having on the phone. A lady just walked up and got in my face. So, I asked them to please mind their own business. But they continued to get involved. It was really weird. Since that happened all of a sudden I hear back that I cursed people out. Wow! It never happened but someone started the rumor. So not only does someone poke their head into my business now the same person has to make up a lie to make it sound better for there purpose.

I'm amazed that the same people will be in churches this Sunday, sing hymns, pray and look at you and smile. But God is not present. Maybe it's just Western North Carolina but our hypocrisy has no boundary.

Our move to Asheville has been difficult over the past 3 years. The church planting experience has been met with many obstacles. As I have been studying and going deeper into scripture I discover that this is nothing new. The Bible says expect trouble doing Gods work. It feels like I've been beat-up and then kicked while I'm laying on the ground. If you know me, one thing you'll soon discover is that I don't quit and I will question your authority. The Bible tells me to test the spirit and many of the men I come in contact with have a questionable spirit.

It's not pride or arrogance but knowledge that drives me to feel this way. The knowledge and power of God being bigger than all the darts and lies that come my way. The Bible warns of slothfulness as a way to ruin. What I have experienced while here in Asheville is not a physical laziness but a mental slothfulness. Double minded Christians or people claiming to be but only having a convenient relationship with Christ. If it fits their agenda then they make it fit into Christ. Instead of Christ changing, the attitude is I'll make Christ fit into my life.

Yeah we all make mistakes, pastors included, but I have yet to understand the Christian just waiting to strike at the first sign of weakness. My spirit feels like a long dusty trail, little rest and even less food and water. Green pasture seems like a distant horizon.

Don't quit

Things don't always work out the way we expect. You can plan for every possible turn and twist and still miss something along the way. Does that sound familiar? I've heard that tape play over in my head a time or two. The good news is that in Gods timing success and failure can be measured by the service given for the cause of the gospel. We all want to see doors burst open and crowds of people showing up to ministry activities. When in reality it takes boots on the ground and time in the saddle to effectively share the Good News in our communities. I was watching a horse trainer working with young horse and someone said how long should it take to get this horse trained enough to ride. The trainers comment back was one of a wise cowboy, he said, "wet saddle blankets", or better yet time in the saddle. No magic training session or slick presentation can replace the time honored advice of hard work and commiment to solid ground work. It all comes down to "wet saddle blankets". You just have to get in the saddle and go.

In John 9:4 Jesus says "I must work the works of him who sent me".

There is a time when all of the fancy books and seminars are over and a time has come to place a boot in the stirup, swing you leg over the saddle, grab the reigns and give a kick and go forward. Not everything will come with a wrapping and a bow. The work of the disciple or minister takes commitment and a willingness to accept there are people that will oppose their efforts and there are people that will support them. But in either case it is the motivation of the worker that wells up deep inside and causes them to move forward or retreat at the first sign of discomfort. Our examples come from Christs' service. You can't seperate Christs words from his life, they were bound together even to the cross.

To a cowboy church planter that equates to miles on my Ford, to you it may mean time in Gods word or getting involved in a small group. I would challenge you to stop thinking about it and get to it. Those words of the trainer still ring in my ears, "wet saddle blankets".

Snow Daze

We finally got a sizeable snow fall here in the mountians today. It began Tuesday night just as I was feeding the horses. On the drive back to the house the snow was so heavy it looked like it was coming from under the car. It was dark and the flakes were huge. Everything got a white winter blanket, it was very pretty. I took this shot this morning about 9am, it was very peaceful but 10 degrees.

This morning the roads were white with a thick layer of ice covering the road. I had to venture out to drive over the farm to feed the horses. On the way over to the farm there are a couple of very steep hills and the icy conditions made it a slow drive. When I got to the horses the fields were white and untouched, the horses were waiting near a large Cedar tree. They just stood there in the 10 degree wind. I made sure they got grain and a large amount of hay, since the ground was frozen. I've got a tank deicer that keeps the water from freezing and since the tempurature isn't going to get above 28 today I'm glad I've got it.

We are going to get some more snow showers this evening but not quite the amount we had Tuesday. The roads are still pretty icy but with more snow on the way I'll bet the conditions will worsen tonight. The horses got a plenty of hay tonight along with grain and they will be nice and warm in the run in shed. The wind has to go around the barn and the run-in shed is on the opposite side of that so the horses are well protected from the cold and wind.

It's a winter wonder land here in Western North Carolina and I am looking forward to getting out and throwing a few snowballs tomorrow. I'm sure we will end up cancelling Cowboy Church this Thursday because of the ice on the roads. But we will be on for Sunday at 10:30 am. So if you are in Asheville stop by and visit with us.

Stay warm tonight.

See you on the trail.

Gravel Road

When is the last time you drove down a gravel road that you didn't know where it went? Or have you ever noticed when you drive down a familiar gravel drive you don't always hit the same hole twice. When I drive up the road to our house every now and then I hit a rut and I think "I don't remember seeing that in the road."

Some dirt roads are smooth while others have those chatter bumps that resemble speed bumps put really close together and if you drive around 35 mph you seem to skip across the tops but any slower or faster it will shake all of the loose change out from under your seats. And some dirt roads have large holes that seem to appear out of no where.

As Christ followers we are going to find the ruts in the road. Our lives don't become easier because we begin to live for Christ, however, we can live free from the constant striving for success and care that the world puts on us. A life with Christ at the center allows us to see the ruts and things that would distract us from living a life full of promise and hope. The promise Christ gives us is that of freedom from sin and hope for tomorrow. God wants the best for you and brings out the best in you if you allow Christ to work through you every day. Even though there are bumps and holes along the road of our journey Christ will lead you through if you let Him.

Planting with intent

North Asheville Baptist Church invited us to their Missions Banquet, which was Friday November 21. Two of our core members, Scott and Sally, joined us to help pass out information to the visitors at the banquet. We had a great time talking to a few people about Cowboy Church.
We have been talking to North Asheville about them becoming a local church sponsor.

We put together a short video from our weekend at the Southern Finals Rodeo for the event, so take a look and enjoy. We held cowboy church on Sunday before the rodeo and we had 100 people attend the service. Remember, Cowboy Church is more than Rodeos, we like and support all types of equestrian events, English, Hunter Jumper, etc. Our daughter enjoys English style and has done barrel patterns in her english saddle.

It is not necessary to be a pro rider to attend Cowboy Church. Romans 12:2 says be transformed by the renewing of your mind... By not allowing the distractions of the world to take you off track you can begin to understand Gods will for your life. Have you ever thought to yourself...how do I know what Gods will is for me? If you don't ever read your bible, participate in a small group bible study, or attend church you will never know. God wants the best for you and if you spend time with Him - His plan for your life will be revealed. Be intentional in your worship.

Join us on a Thursday night at 7 PM in Weaverville, please be our guest.

Giving Thanks

Welcome back, we've been out doing Gods work. This past summer was a challenge like no other. We were focused on the business of ministry and as many of you may already know isn't were God calls us. What I mean is God did not call me to the business of Cowboy Church but rather the delivery of His message through the Cowboy Church. I begin this series with a bit of disappointment, a group that wanted to fund our Cowboy Church at the last minute decided to not fund our Cowboy Church. They wanted us to take COWBOY CHURCH out of our name. This comes from a group of pastors that seem to be more focused on the business of church rather than the ministering of the Gospel.

Don't get me wrong I am not disappointed about any of the funding because God is in control and provides my families every need. It did break my heart because of the attitude with which they approached me. All we can do is pray for churches that are holding on to the traditions and things of the past. The bible says old things are past away, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

What kind of challenge is the greatest? Is it a physical obsticle that we must over come? Or a mental thought that takes up our waking moments? Each is something we must face but not alone. We can have challenges but the Lord must be our source for all answers. He gives us the abilities and capacity to evaluate the challenges in terms of understanding and acceptance. In turn we make a decision on how to handle the obsticle in our path.

Lean on Gods understanding today, make a concious decision to put His will first. I have first hand experience with this. When I try to do it my way and it is contrary to Gods will for my life it falls short of my expectatoin and when it is the way God has planed for me then it seems to be effortless in it execution. Thats a fancy way to say that it works out for Gods purpose.

You have a purpose and God wants to show it to you but you must give your life to Christ and ask Him into your heart today.

Wagons Ho

When is the last time you moved? I don't mean a job move, where a compnay pays the expenses and you have a job waitin' for you. Have you ever moved to a new town with nothing more than a dream and a plan to make it happen? That's church planting.

After planting a Cowboy Church in Kissimmee, FL we felt Gods leading and now we are in the process of planting a Cowboy Church here in the Western North Carolina region just outside of Asheville. It is quite an experience, we have visited a few churches and spoken to many pastors about our plans and just about everyone we have met has offered their assistance. One thing is for sure, though, not one of the churches we have visited have had anyone followup with us or come by to visit. Even the church I grew up hasn't called or come over to visit even after we filled out 4 Visitor Cards. That's not a complaint but an observation. It would have been nice if some of the people from the church would have stopped by and asked if we needed anything or just brought a plate of Grits over. Ha ha.

That to me is a good example of why church plants are so needed in this area. A church planter understands the basics of a servant heart. When Suzanne and I first got here we went by the church office, of the one I grew up in and where my Mom serves in the music ministry, and asked if there was a ministry in the church that could maybe give us a hand as we moved in, but their response was, "We really don't have anyone for that". If churches aren't able to reach inside their own community what good does it do to travel half a world away and build a building. We need to look at the needs around us.

I saw a friend of mine from Orlando here in Asheville at Wal-Mart and his first words to me were " we need to get people outside of the Stained Glass Prison." He's so right. The leadership in many churches seem challenged by church plants in their communities. Reaching the unchurched is not a subject I take lightly. Only with God leading us are we able to fullfill the work He has called us too.

Cowboy Church here in Ashveille will reach people that don't go to church now and become a ministry of example. The time has come to put all the teaching that we have learned in Sunday School, and Church to work in our neighborhoods where we live.