Principles part 7

Matthew 7; 15-20

Jesus Teaches about Fruit in Peoples Lives

" Watch out for false prophets. They come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thisles? Like wise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree can not bear bad fruit, and a bad tree can not bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus by their fruit you will know them.

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False profits were common in the old testament times. They prophesied only what the king and people wanted to hear, saying it was Gods message. Well they are still around. Jesus says to keep a eye out for them who sound religious, but are spurred on not by him but by wealth, power and fame. You can usually spot them, they will down play Jesus and glorify them selves.

It takes to mind kosha weeds, you have one look at the stuff, and from the outside it looks great, " imagine the tonnage you'd get " yet nothing wants to eat it. In the fall you look at your corrals that have 6 foot kosha gowing in it and think " that will make good shelter for the calves" and once it gets cold, yeah its making good shelter, but you can't find your sick calves. I guess they don't call it a weed for nothing, cause about all that it is good for is making more kosha, and burning your farm down.

Principles part 6

Matthew 7; 13-14

Jesus Teaches About the Way to Heaven

" Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

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How do I get to see Jesus? My son asks. That is a real good question, and simple. By loving him, by believing him, seeking him, making him number one in your life.

The more and more I study the bible the more and more I'm convinced that is the only ticket. Even before Jesus came there was the law, and really there was salvation through faith. I look at the major men of the O.T bible Abraham, Moses, and David, they all had trouble adhering to the law- they weren't perfect men, and they knew it.Yet they had faith that moved mountains and men. They went to heaven because they had faith. It's the world that has made it hard to get to heaven, we have put are own spin on it. The world has put together a lil' list in our heads saying if you want to get to heaven you must, do this, that, and this other thing. In main streamculture there is very lil knowlage of the bible, witch just happens to be Gods word. If you really get into the word you'll find all that God wants is us to love him. Love him and see where he takes you, You'll probly find yourself going to church instead of going to the bar. You'll probley find yourself saying Jesus Christ in a different way.

You'll probley find yourself loving your spouse in a way better way.

See being a believer in Jesus Christ is'nt a list of do's and don'ts. It's a built in desire,to be like him. It's a built in desire praise him. Your freed from the law natrualy, and you are shown love ten times more then you thought possible.

The gate that leads to eternal life is called narrow. This don't mean it's a obstacle course to be a Christian, but rather there is only one way to be with God, and few decide to walk that road. Believing in Jesus is the only way we get to heaven, because he alone died for our sins and made all our screw ups right before God. Living his way is not popular. But it's true and right. Thank God there is a way!

Principles part 5

Matthew 7;7-12

Jesus Teaches About Asking, Seeking, Knocking

" Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

" Which of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.

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Last night I was talking to my mother in law Bernice, If you have read any of my writing, we don't have the typical son in law/ mother in law relationship- I love her like my mother, and she loves me like her son. She is a lady of the word, and lives each day for the lord, Honestly I over time have given her more then enough reason's to hate me, but she doesn't, she prays for me, she forgives me, she honestly lives each day striving to be more Christ like. Bernice's life has never been a bed of roses ,there have been many bumps in her road, she was abandoned by her mother, yet raised by her grand parent, who showed her Christ and taught her how to knock ,seek, and ask. She has lost two son's, under contsant spiritual attack from a side of her family that is into traditional medicine, Elana and I have giving her stress beyond stress,she has diabetics and a heart condition. But she still looks up, she still prays everyday, she has been given almost every reason to dougt, but still believes.

Last night she started talking, telling me stories, and tellin me the way. She really hit on a important point; It's not enough to just believe, you have to work on it everyday, make him first, in all you do, Pray to him and only him for everything. So many out there say " I gave my heart to Jesus " Yet forget about him when times are good or even when times are bad. Jesus is there for anywhere anytime and about everything. "Pray" she says. " Give everything to Jesus" she says. She is so right, I know I go on an on 'bout this, but we as people get such crazy ideas in our heads, we just assume that we know everything, we know what's best for ourselves. We think we are independent, some even think we're bigger then life. But the simple fact is we are just simple frail shell.

Why is it such a big deal to ask God for help? Is it a big deal for your son to ask you to help him do his pants up? No it's not, we all love are children and want to take care of them, even if it's something as simple doing up the top button of there wranglers.

As people we all struggle with many things. Merely just providing for a family is a chore, that we stress and worry and spin our wheels at. Did you know God has all the answers? He made us, he knows every hair on are head, he know what we need an how to get it. So why don't we ask for help? Is it pride or ingronince? Do you think he doesn't care? Do you care if your sons barn door is open? Yes you do, even something as small as that that wont hurt him in a 100 years you care about. So why wouldn't God care 'bout you? Truth is He does, He wants to Help. We just have to ask for it .

This is a very important principle to remember, and keep to your heart. Why is it that the simplest things are the hardest to remember?

Principles 4

Matthew 7;1-6

Jesus Teaches about Criticzing Others

" Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look for a speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, ' let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you'll see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye.

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

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I have to be completely honest what comes to my mind when I read this scripture, is the three stodges building corrals with chain saw's, and afterward administrating first aid with the same tools they first got hurt by. Curly trying to stand deathly still, While Moe waves a 65L huskavirna around his head, yelling at curly " Stay still you nuckle head I almost got the sliver out!" And Larry getting clothes lined by the 2x6 sticking out of moos eye socket.! It's a dangerous picture. But really in a lot of ways not to far off most of the work sites I've been on.

I'm pretty sure that Jesus never intended this to be a work place safety lecture. What he was meaning and I'm more then guilty of this , don't judge others. Brings to mind something that Alvin had told me. "It's sometimes more important to error on the side of grace then to be right" When he told me that, I'm not sure what we where talking about, but it was almost a riddle for awhile, How can that be? Your either right or your wrong there is no grey areas in correctness is there? Well there is, sometimes people need to figure out there wrong on there own.

Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct rather then judge. The traits that bother us most in others are often habits we don't like in are selves. Our untamed bad habits in ourselves and behavior problems are the one we often want to change in ourselves. If your ready to criticize someone else first try and judge yourself, do you deserve the same criticism? Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.

Jesus's statement," do not judge " is against the kind of hypocritical, judgment attitude that tears down others in order to make the other feel good. Yes we need to judge but in a discerning way rather then a negative way.

Ten Commandment's Cowboy style

# 1 Just one god

#2 Honour yer Ma & Pa

#3 No tellin' tales or gossipin'

#4 Git yer self to worship meeting's

#5 Put nothin' before God

#6 Mo foolin around with another fellows gal

#7 No killin

#8 Wacth yer mouth

#9 Don't take what ain't yer's

#10 Don't be hankering for your buddies stuff

Now is that a whole lot easier to understand, I didn't now what covete really meant till I read this. Thanks to the Cowboy trail church web site/

You can cheack them out if you go to www.rideawidecircle.com thats Chris and Sharky website if you look in there long enough you see a link on your left hand side called cowboy church, then on the screen you'll see some pics and some writing saying cowboy church click that and it should bring you to www.cowboytrailchurch.com or you can just click on the address's here if your not up for the senic trip.

Principles part 3

All throughout the gospels Jesus says again an again " I tell you the truth". That is one thing nobody can argue. The only people that I've ever came across ( including myself not so long ago ) that do dare to question the word are people that have really never read the word and people that make their minds up upon hearsay and what they see in the media. I know I probley go on way to much 'bout how the media will warp even the simplest biblical idea into fear, and misunderstanding. Way before I was saved their was always talk 'bout the book of revelation, ( I myself still have not studied completely, so you may want to take this with a pinch of salt) Media and the world just seemed fixed on the predictions of the end of the world; The End of the World= The Rapture, I really don't want to fully start tearing apart the book of revelations, maybe latter, I just want to make a simple point: Yes it is going to be the end of the world......... As we know it, it's actually the birth of a much better world, a true kingdom of God, I can't wait to be honest with you! I'm sort of skippin off the topic again or rather the point I'm trying to make, Get into the word! Get to know Jesus and what God is really telling us.

John 10;7-10

Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out , and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

What is God telling you there? To myself he's saying; " Don't worry trap you know me I'm not a lair. Believe in me and I'll be there for you. Wacth out for the coyotes out there, they'll only hurt you, I'm here for you so you can have a good life.

He tells me the truth, sometimes the truth hurts. The biggest point I'm trying to make is there is His will, and His word. They are found in prayer, Fellowship and in the pages of His sword. More often then not your not going to find them on the silver screen, in the local hotel, or in the pages of hustler, playboy, or cosmo. A lot of all those places, people and articles even if they are based on his gospel is crap from the enemy, that is intended to scare , push or confuse the seeker away from His truth. Lately in the media there is a lot of talk 'bout the rapture, a lot of fear, Most people think there is going to be a nuclear holocaust, really if you don't know the bible it's a scary thing. But the fact is and Jesus has said so you know it's the truth all the believers will be with him at this time. Remember John 10 verse 9 "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved". So what are all these movies and articles talking 'bout. Do you think that the enemy may be working behind the camera a lil? Really who in there right mind would want to give there hart and soul to Jesus only to become micro waved shake and baked dinner? No one, and that's not the way Jesus rolls. When He says you'll be saved you are going to be saved, there is no grey areas!

Well that went totally of topic I had wanted to continue on in Matthew on the beatitudes maybe next time, I think this is still a principle and something that one should maybe spend some time on, in daily living what are we basing are desicisons on is it the world or is it his will?

The Good Fences

Sunday was the first Cowboy inspirational night. It was great Bryn, Sharky and Chris are hilarious. It really started bringing back memories for myself, we gottoo talking 'bout my past in In Inner Mongolia and my experiences cowboying over there. If you haven't meet Bryn before, well he's buckaroo through and through, not unlike myself years ago before I wandered into the oil pacth ( still undecided weather it was a good move or a bad one).
I remember back in my pre-Mongolia days, Just hating fences, and wishing I lived two hundred years ago.
Mongoia sure was a attitude adjustment for me, after a year and of half of waking to cattle being miles away from where we left them, I didn't mind fences, and really respected my grandfathers. Living in these day's it's pretty easy to reminisce 'bout the good ole day, that we didn't live.
Just thinking of how hard it was to look after cattle with out fences, just makes me so thankful for the fences' that I have Jesus in my life. It's really hard to get your head around the idea that Jesus keeps the fences up for us, just the same as we do for our cattle - for are own well being. He explains it best I think.

John 10; 7-18

Therefore Jesus said again. " I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; who ever enters through me will be saves. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief only comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

" I am the god Shepard. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

" Iam the good Shepard; I know my sheep and my sheep know me and I know my Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my father loves me is I lay down my life- only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Last night before we went to bed I was just in total amazement how great life really is! The guy's I'm working with really bring back a lot of memories of what I was. None of them are rotten people but I'm pretty sure that very few of them know really Jesus. Many of them, think fun comes in the form of drinkin and drugs. Many of them have a strange idea of what believer is. They think I don't cuss, drink, and do drugs because I'm not allowed to, but that isn't the case- I just don't want to. Why would I? It's a lot like sitting at a table with a real big rib eye steak, a stuffed potato with all the fixings and having a conversation with your bestest friend, and having a some grubby stranger come up and invite you outside to dig through the dumpster for scraps. What would you rather eat? Kind of a easyone eh? I'm not proud to say but it took me nearly 30 year's to figure it out.

Revelation 3;20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

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Oh yeah I was talking 'bout fences. Yeah I like them in a lot of ways, They keep your critters from wandering away to far, they keep your neighbors critters off your grass. But mostly fences today are a real good tool in stewership ( rotional grazing ) and a must have if you want to calve in April.

When I read John 10; 7-18 I just can't help but relate to Jesus, he's kinda like the great cowboy in the sky, constantly cheackin' his pens, pullin the sick, healin the blind and lame ( treating our foot root and pink eye ). Alvin Penner, a real good friend of mine explains it like this, " I don't mind bein' compared to a sheep aslong as I'm in Jesus's flock" ( sorry Alvin if I may have misquoted you but I'm sure I got pretty close) And I agree I'd even where wool and bah (he He).

Have you ever seen the old renegade cow's? You know the ones that take the herd on a stampede any time your gathering when you get within a mile of the corrals at weinin' or branding time? The ones that if you manage to get in them same corrals are only in for seconds before their clicking their heels on the top plank of your five foot corrals? Them ones that have a horn curled and growing in the side of their head, and you can't get anywhere close to them to cut it off short of roping them out of your pick up going 60 miles a hour tying fast an hard to your bumper and slamming on the breaks? ( I'm sure any one that's been around have seen them an probly roped a cow from a truck weather they'll admit it or not).And all you want to do is help them, maybe give them some ivomic, lance a boil, treat there foot root etc- Them ole' renegades do test the patience. Well I was one of them cow's you couldn't fence me in. Why? I'm not really sure, Jesus, I had no idea who he was, I thought religion was all 'bout rules. I didn't know how green the grass was. My life was a rollercoster, up and downs , lefts an rights. Their was no peace in this ole boys life.......Then Jesus came along and I opened a door to him, he just want's the best for me no matter what ever I've done, he's there, with the good stuff. Inside his fences there is nothing but green grass stirup high! But there is fences, there is gates there is real good water! I'm not sure what came first the Chicken or the egg. But I'm sure that Jesus invented the correl, from the outside lookin' in there is a lot of weird things happenin in there. But from the inside looking up he does everything for are own good.... Praise Him!!!