Who’s Watching

Their seats were probably the best in the house because they aren’t big on showing up late, ever. They aren’t big tiedown fans, but had heard that with the list of World Champions and NFR Qualifiers that were coming this was going to be a who’s who. Plus, they knew the producers of the event. So, they loaded up and headed for Hondo.

Well, it didn’t take long and the roping was in full swing. They were having fun, but she was taking everything in around them. And that’s when she saw them. Not too far from her and her husband, she thought she recognized one of them, but she wasn’t sure which one it was.

Like a child who knew for sure what hand it’s in, she wanted to run over there with a big smile on her face, point and say, ” You’re Mick or Dick aren’t you. You’re them. Well, one of them. I know it. I saw you riding a scooter at HEB! … or your brother. ”

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My uncles are famous. They are being recognized in public. Sorry, Mick and Dick. I should re-title this Web site – “Los Cuates Famosos” It seems that people enjoy the Thursday Stories more than anything else and to be perfectly honest, they probably get more out of them spiritually as well.

See, life comes at us hard. And it’s difficult to keep Christ at the forefront of our minds, our words, and hearts when we keep our spiritual life separated from our daily activity. The spiritual posts here on Spiritual Horseman probably get filed away under “prayer life”… if they get read at all. But, the Thursday Stories get filed under “daily activity”. They’re fun, but they’re unique. Blessed with starring lineups like my twin uncles, dad and grandfather who bust their asses everyday to make their part of the world better. I can’t ask for a better example to look to and so I’m going to try to share more of it with you – the readers of Spiritual Horseman.

So, you never know who is paying attention to you. Maybe readers, maybe fans, maybe your son, your nephew, or your grandson. Maybe there is only one who is watching you. But there is always one. So, plunge headlong into each day knowing that God is with you. And the rest…

They’ll enjoy what they see.

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Some Background:

My wife and I recently produced an event – The Namgis Premier. It was a Tiedown Calf Roping and all of the proceeds were donated to MS research and patient care. Well, this short story happened at the event. A friend of ours spotted Mick and/or Dick and wanted to meet them. She did not recount this story until after the event, so we had know way of making the introduction. But, she did say that, “He was smiling, with this mischievous look on his face.”

Yep… that’s them.

Mick, Dick and Morgan – sorry if you get spotted in public and end up having a thirty minute conversation about a horse that kicked you, a cow that hooked you, or a scooter that you backed into the wall.

You never know who’s watching…

_____ of the Apostles

Worldwide, what are the 10 most read books measured by books sold regardless of genre (fiction, nonfiction etc)?

1. The Bible.
2. Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung (Little Red Book)
3. American Spelling Book by Noah Webster
4. The Guinness Book of Records
5. The McGuffey Readers by William Holmes McGuffey
6. A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard
7. The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care by Dr. Benjamin Spock
8. World Almanac
9. The Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
10. In His Steps: “What Would Jesus Do?” by Rev. Charles Monroe Sheldon

Just a little trivia for you.

Here’s another one that most of you probably already know. The Bible is actually many books.

And the one that’s been weighing on me lately is the Acts of the Apostles. It’s not the Apostle’s Journey, or the Teachings of the Apostles. It’s not the Philosophy of the Apostles, or even the Prayers of the Apostles.

It’s the ACTS of the Apostles.

Why have we even heard of Christianity?

Because many years ago, a man left his home, his family and his career. He found someone in a town that he did not know. And then he proceeded to tell that person that his best friend that just died… is the Son of Man.

The ACTS of You… How is that one going to read?

The Hard Part…

Living on nothing is not the hard part. It’s not working from dark ’till dark. And it’s not being unappreciated.

The hard part is dealing with those who lie down and beg from, criticize and complain about those who have stood up and decided to be apart of something greater than themselves.

God Bless all of you who choose to stand.

All In . . .

He’s just staring, seemingly at nothing. He stares toward his cards but they’re face down. What’s he looking at? There’s a nothingness in his eyes. He looks up slowly. Still displaying a there’s-nobody-home-look on his face. Then, he reaches up with both hands and methodically pushes all of his money to the center. He’s all in.

And still nothing.

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This could go either way. Unless you have a serious problem (you might want to check here ) you know that even with pocket aces, you have a very good chance of losing everything.

“Yea, well I don’t ever do that,” you might say. Or, “People who take that much risk are foolish, ” may sound a little closer to home.

Well, with cards, you may be right. But life is different. Character is built on the cornerstone of faith. And faith puts you all in. The definition lets you know that you’re trusting in something you don’t see, can’t measure and may never truly understand. Ever.

Simon and Peter walked away from their careers. James and John stood up, bid farewell to their own father and poof… they were all in. What if Jesus Christ had not turned out to be Our Lord and Savior?

That’s how society thinks today – “How stupid will I look if this doesn’t go like I expect.”

Well, what would the world look like if they hadn’t left everything they knew to follow Christ?

Take a chance every now and then to go all in. It’s bad for your nerves and grey hair, but it’s good for your soul.

And you’re not all in if there’s a bail out plan. If you know that the only way out of the flames is to succeed, Then you’re all in. Enjoy the adventure.

Thought about becoming a priest lately?

What?!?!?

Um… Not really, No.

Well, an interesting bit of trivia has come to my attention today. Catholic church leaders actually hold the office of Presbyter. The use of the word priest for Christian ministers appears to have arisen only at the end of the second century, at first for bishops only; but by the time of Saint Cyprian, in the mid-third century, it was applied to presbyters also.

Evidently, they are simply known as priests because they do what priests should do. They teach and provide guidance. For we are all called to be priest, prophet and shepherd.

So, always find the good in life and share it with others.

It’s that sharing part that’s difficult isn’t it? Will they think I’m a nut-job? Will they laugh? Will they even care?

That’s evil whispering in your ears. Trust me, you’ll be a breath of fresh air to all those around you. So, open up. Share.

That’s what priests do.

It’s not about walking on water.

The Little Fat Monsignor is crushing it this week.

The use of miracles like walking on water and multiplying loaves in an effort to draw us to profound truths excites me to know end.

We all remember this story. Why?

Because Christ walks on water for cryin’ out loud!

Well, the person responsible for pairing today’s gospel reading with today’s first reading is definitely someone I would like to meet.

From the first reading:

There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

From the Gospel reading;

They had all seen him and were terrified.
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were completely astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves…
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

The disciples had been sent ahead while Christ dismissed the crowd that they had just fed. I’m sure they were not pleased about giving away all of there food. They were concerned about the weather, and now they thought they had seen a ghost.

So, they were a little bit resentful, scared and worst of all, did not recognize Christ when they saw Him.

This sounds like every day for me.

It all boils down to fear. They were afraid. We all are. And fear closes our minds and opens the floodgates of mistrust, jealousy, greed etc. etc.

Remember, Christ will always ‘get in the boat with us’. Everything will calm down.

It’s not about walking on water – It’s about walking with Christ. Knowing Him and His works when we see them will remove fear from our lives and allow us to accomplish all that he has in store for us.

It’s not about multiplying loaves.

The multitudes gathered and Christ fed them.

“They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.”

When Mark 6:34-44 gets read, the above quote is so out of the ordinary that we seem to focus on the multiplication of loaves rather than what really is happening here.

The little fat monsignor strikes again.

The first reading from today sheds some light on what’s really going on.

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God.

Christ asks the disciples to “Give them some food yourselves”. Back in those days, everyone traveled with food. There was no EZ Mart on every corner of each town you went through. Of course some carried more than others. And some carried none at all.

So, the real miracle was getting all of those people to feed one another. It’s not about multiplying loaves, but sharing them with one another. With whom do you share your daily bread?

Are you there?

She’s black and tan. The color pattern is a perfect reverse from the well known Black Mouth Cur. She is tan where they are black and black where they are tan.

And her name… Well, we all call her “That black jip that came from Jason Enick”

Seriously?

Yep, every time she comes up in conversation, that’s her name. We don’t know her well enough to name her. She doesn’t hang around the main pens here at the ranch, and she is never at the dog pens either. Her home is with the horses. The remuda horses stay in what we call the house pasture. It’s the pasture where my grandfather’s house was built and where they still live to this day. The horses are sometimes found on the South end of the pasture by HWY 202. Sometimes they are back by the dump, or around the dog pens, or over by the hay barn. Where they are, that’s where she is. She never runs with the other dogs unless she is working cattle.

And she is GOOD at working cattle. She goes to them hard, and calls off easy. She loads. But only if you start to load the horses. There’s no use in trying to catch her. You’ll just waste your time and hers. When you pen the horses she comes too. And she loads when they load.

It’s odd, but I promise you she is confident in her circumstance. She will allow you to be very close to her. But try to pet her and you’ll find out just how confident in her decision to be “human free” she really is.

She knows where she fits in this world. Her ‘friends and family’ may think she’s crazy. But anyone who knows her, knows where to find her.

One of the recent readings reminded me of this interesting dog down at the ranch. Part of the reading read:

“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

The popular sermon regarding this reading about Jesus learning his strengths and staying behind in the temple usually revolves around the idea that we should strive to get to know Jesus better. Or, take the reading as an opportunity to think of ourselves less and consider the position of others more.

However, I propose that it’s a chance for us to look within ourselves. I’ve been involved in many conversations that deal with the direction of an individuals life. I’m not sure why I seem to be a target for such conversation, but I consider it an honor to discuss such things. I wish this scripture had come to me before now. This is why… No one can answer the question regarding your path in this life other than you. And you can’t do it without God. And the only way you can know it’s right is if you know who He made you to be.

What makes you… you?

Who is it that you truly believe God made you to be? Don’t you dare get negative and start thinking about why you’re not there yet. Just consider the passions with which He blessed you – the skills He saw fit to grant you in your daily life. What are they?

Where would a person with those passions, that skill-set be found?

Are you there?

Merry Christmas

Rich, poor, happy, sad, together, apart… May God Bless You All!

What are you afraid of?

Are you dreading that promotion talk you have scheduled with your boss?

Are you dreading making that appointment?

Maybe your position is up in the air. Maybe you are just wondering where you’re going to get the money you need to just get by.

Are you worried about your children, your parents?

This time of year, that should be relaxing and full of joy, always seems to fill up with busy work, deadlines and commitments. They worry us, stress us and …

They distract us.

Only you know the particular things in your life that your fears and worries disguise and cause you to forget or push aside.

Guess how many verses there are in the bible that include the words Fear Not

365

One for every day.

That’s right. Three hundred and sixty five verses exist to let you know that if God is with you… Who can be against you?