News you can use
News you can use
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1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the Apostles ... At the round up and drives. Out our way, as I have explained before, the folks in back who push the herd and eat the dust, are usually the least skilled and hands. Given the woke media's fascination with sexual deviations, to say I rode "drag" is often misunderstood by urban folk; so now I simply refer to my normal position on roundups and cattle drives as that of the "dust eater." Interestingly, some of you have...
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26). "Pastor, I made a big mistake in my prayer life," said the parishioner. "I asked God for something, and I got it!" "I shouldn't have prayed that way," comments, another parishioner. "I forgot to add, 'If it be Your will, O Lord.' I was concentrating on what I wanted!" How often we misunderstand how to pray and what to pray for. We err when we...
You know, Lord, it might be fun to go back in time (for a short time) when life moved at a slower pace. We'll leave behind: high speed internet, cell phones, telephones, T. V., GPS and electricity. Back then, for us, was daily chores: milking cows, gathering eggs, cleaning chickencoop and barn, slopping pigs, feeding bucket calves, hoeing garden and plum trees, cooking meals from scratch, and in Autumn, making jams, jellies, canning fruits, vegetables and meat, making soap,...
Three little girls ran down a block, said Grandma was the best! They'd sing and play, read some and dance, then sit down for a rest. Their Dad and Mom encouraged them, they knew Grandma loved girls. Gram helped them pick out pretty clothes and loved their long blond curls. They always loved when Grandma read, for that they'd sit and wait, She'd talk with them, and then she'd read - her reading was so great. She told them just WHO JESUS was, and how to find Him, too. They...
Let's face it, we've all faced some dreadful days lately. Don't even try to deny it. As I write this, voters have yet to go to the polls. Even today, I dread going to the mailbox only to find it stuffed with paper representations of money well wasted. I dread answering the phone when it nags in the evenings. I dread turning on the TV at home, turning on the radio in my car, even checking my e-mail that's spattered with click-bait political ads. And I'm convinced that you...
You know, Lord, a quick glance at the large colorful thermometer by the Beauty Shop shows "how the weather is doing", as weather is one thing most folks love to talk about, besides grain prices and grandkids, this thermometer 'sort of' lets you know "how the weather's doing." While chatting, Joni said, at the beauty shop the other day, conversations about church, café, kids, clothes, were quickly put aside, once the weather of the day and week started to be discussed. We...
Romans 13:12'The night is far spent and the Day is at hand' Out our way, in addition to being a local pastor, I got to live a lifelong fantasy as a cowhand from time to time, riding with my Pard, Charlie, as we moved Big Mike's herd on Tiger Ridge up in the Bear Paw range. Like many kids, I wanted to be a real cowboy when I grew up - and while I never got that wish, I came close when I mounted up ole Doc and rode with Charlie to push cows. Now as anyone who rode with us or...
[Psalm 146] The nation goes to the polls on Tuesday. Here are some helpful ideas that come from a surprising source: an ancient composer of songs. After a long and brutal race for the White House, we need a few laughs. Presidential campaigns have become a slugfest, and most of us are not feeling particularly lighthearted as we prepare to enter the voting booth. But regardless of what happens on Election Day, the earth will keep turning, the seasons will change, babies will be...
You know, Lord, in a few days a 'time-change' is coming up - like when we get up and when we go to bed. Not everyone likes to deal with 'Time Change'! Oh - it probably only affects people; it probably doesn't 'bother birds, beasts, beavers or bears' - 'nor the chickens', one gal added. But remembering WAY back when we were kids at home and had to 'help' do the chores; milking the cows, for a while, we got a bit less milk in the milk bucket but the cows soon 'adapted' to the...
I usually try to use the Scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday as a source of inspiration when I have the opportunity to supply an article for the religion section of the Havre Daily News and that is what I am going to use for this week also. The Scripture readings for this Sunday come from Jeremiah 31: 7-9, Hebrews 5: 1-6 and the Gospel reading is from the Gospel of Mark 10: 46-52. Jeremiah is speaking to a people who have fallen into old ways of idolatry which led to...
Acts 3: 19-20 'Repent, turn to God, and He will forgive your sins and send you times of refreshing' Out our way, even on the higher levels of the Tiger Ridge, it gets hot in the summer when working cows and riding fence. I confess the smell of horse sweat is sweet to me, but when I curry and comb Doc down after a ride, I can tell he isn't a big fan of being sweaty. Fortunately, the owner of the barn, corral, pasture and paddock I use for Copper installed a walk in shower for...
You know, Lord, while walking by a group of ladies, one spoke a little loudly saying: "I'm not just a warm body!" That heated comment in a small group was a few church gals; they probably had a few MORE comments but - what, for goodness sakes, is wrong with having a 'warm body'? Don't we all have a warm body? If we take a moment to THINK ABOUT IT, we're all "just warm bodies" doing various acts of volunteer service as unto to You, Lord. Nevertheless, that comment brought to...
You know, Lord, had to 'eavesdrop' a bit when a small group gathered. One lad said, "Auntie, some lady gave my mom a silly calendar with weird things written by each day. Mom opened it, looked things over, then started to laugh and said, 'Laddy, would you believe on your birthday, in March, it shows that your day, the 23rd, it's 'Chip and Dip Day' and neighbor, Helen's day, the 1st, is Peanut Butter Lover's Day.' And look at this, the 3rd - which is Uncle John's birthday, it...
Matthew 7:1 'By their fruits you will know them. Out our way, there is a lot of excitement and activity on the Tiger Ridge when the big cattle trucks arrive to move the entire herd to market. I have shared this story before, but I think it is worth repeating. As many of you know, Charlie and I rode for Big Mike's brand, working his herd. Charlie on Jet and me on Doc, we spent a lot of time checking the fence and the herd. But on this day, we were moving the herd to a stock...
After decades of progressive dissent, the leaders of the Christian Reformed Church in America finally took a firm stand against the Sexual Revolution. Not only did the 2022 CRC Synod, voting 123-53, condemn “adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography and homosexual sex,” it added the small, but influential, denomination’s long-standing teachings on these moral issues to its declaration of faith. The report added: “The church must warn its members that those who refuse to repent of these sins — as we...
Matthew 12: 28 'If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you' Out our way, you get to know some strange critters - and sometimes they get to know you. A friend of mine in "Wyo-Braska" (Where the panhandle of Nebraska and the eastern edge of Wyoming meet and blend ) owned the Empire Ranch that lay on both sides of the line. Cecil raised a variety of livestock - he had a small herd of Texas Longhorns, an Angus cow/calf operation, and a...
Several years ago, my family and I went for a vacation in Florida, where we spent time with our youngest son, who is stationed there in the U.S. Navy. While there, I spent a significant amount of time soaking in outside hot tubs. During one of those soaking times, I ended up conversing with two men about my age or older (mid-50s) about the value of U.S.A. citizenship. One man, Ivan, was an immigrant from Cuba; the other man, Pablo, an immigrant from Indonesia. When I asked...
You know, Lord, an empty bench in the Park, so - had to try it out. Beautiful day, kids played nearby, then a lady a young lad walked by, took the next bench, busy chatting, enjoying the pleasant weather and their 'time together'. The lad said, "Grandma, you'd have loved our lesson last Sunday. Our teacher posted several Bible verses. She said that the Lord had told her to help us kids to Make Him Known; it was fun, as most of us already knew John 3:16." Grandma smiled, said,...
As I am writing this article, my wife, Jan, and I are on retreat with six married couples. The purpose of this retreat is to continue to assist each of the husbands in their continued formation to become ordained Deacons in the Catholic Church. Jan and I are part of the formation team for these couples. This is the third cohort of men that I have had the opportunity to go through the formation process with and I am finding that there is one question that comes up in the mind...
Matthew 15:13-14 - 'Every plant that my Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them - they are blind guides. If a blind person leads them, they will both fall into the pit' Out our way, following the herd is not always a good idea. Out on the Tiger Ridge there are many cattle trails, and as I have noted before, the lead cow sometimes takes the wrong one and the rest of the herd follows. That is why Charlie rode point - not simply to guide but also to...
You know, Lord, just read a bit of praise by an unknown author, stating that we are all important, because we are God's creations and Christ loved us enough to die for us. It reminds readers that You, Lord, know our names and that You hold us fast in Your love. It also stated that when we appreciate the people God make us to be, we don't need the hollow honor the world offers. Oh, Father, thank You for Your unconditional love. It is much more satisfying than any honor any one...
A guy left earth - make his kids sad, they said, "Dad was the best." God gives us jobs, when done, He calls: "Come home, you need a rest. The guy has gone ahead of us, not just left us behind. Although we can't be with him now, he's in our heart and mind. He liked camping, dirt bikes were fun, a hero and great friend. Helping others, he did that, too, that all came to an end. Alone, but never quite alone - we face an empty chair. 'You sure are missed, we love you still - just...
Isaiah 33:6 'The LORD will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge: the fear of the LORD is the key for this treasure' Out our way, almost everybody carries a rope on their saddle and some really know how to use it! I know folks who can both throw the hoolihan and score points at the rodeo in regular calf roping. Others, like yours truly, can barely shake out a loop without tripping over the rope. But one thing we all share in...
On Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, at 7:30 a.m., students gathered at the flagpoles of Havre High School, Havre Middle School, and Chinook High/Middle School to enjoy donuts and juice AND spend some time praying for their schools. I had the privilege of bringing the donuts and juice for the Chinook High/Middle School gathering. I arrived at 7:30 a.m. I went into the school office to make sure our presence was known and welcomed by the school administration. We handed out...
You know, Lord, a friend shared something 'sweet', like chocolate. Emmy stopped over the other day, saying that she'd been craving something sweet; then remembered the delicious handmade chocolate bar several of her coworkers had given her for her birthday, last week. She'd only eaten part of it, went to retrieve if from the kitchen table where she'd last seen it. Oh! It wasn't there! She began to look everywhere for it - the refrigerator, countertops, dining room, bedroom, he...
