When I began to ponder both of these questions in the middle of the night not so long ago, I was suddenly struck by how similar my thoughts and actions are on both. Do I act like a Christian? Do I live like a Christian? Do I know the rules that God has placed on my life when I accepted His gift of eternal life? Do I need to grow more in His teachings and spend more time in His Word? Do I need to better display the fruits of the Spirit? As I think of all that I am, and all that I need work on, the answer is a resounding “Yes”. I do truly love the Lord and know and believe that God sent His son to earth to die on the cross for my sins and if I only accept His love and gift of salvation, then I will be able to spend forever in heaven in His presence. What could be more wonderful than that?
Then my mind turns to my passion in being a cowboy action shooter, or in my case, a cowgirl action shooter. When I am playing this game that I have grown to enjoy so much, do I act like a cowboy shooter? Do I know the rules that are in place for this sport and for my safety and enjoyment? Do I display behaviors that tell others around me that I am practicing the “spirit of the game”? Have I taken steps to be assured that I am not a stumbling block to others as we participate, and do I play fair? Do I need to better my skills and broaden my understanding? And, do I need to learn more of how to become a better shooter? Again, I hear a resounding “Yes” to my questions.
Have you ever been around someone that talks a good game about their cowboy shooting exploits, but when it comes down to it, you ask yourself, have they actually experienced every aspect of the emotions, the settings they claim to have shot in, or some other reality that we so often get wake-up calls to while participating on the firing line? It is then you say to yourself, “Well, they may be a shooter, but they are not a cowboy action shooter.” They demonstrate that they do not even posses a basic knowledge or understanding of what it means to be on the firing line experiencing the pressure of an actual cowboy competition. Sadly, some of these folks are so busy trying to impress others of their great knowledge and abilities, they totally miss the reasons we are there. Instead of wanting to grow in this sport, they would rather make excuses for why they are there and for their poor performances. When you break it down and question their motives for even being there, it usually comes down to this statement, “Well, he may be a shooter, but he’s not a cowboy action shooting competitor”. Sadly, some of these folks passing judgment on others are the very people that are in a decision making roles for our clubs.
Is it the same with Christians? How many folks do you know that claim to be a “Christian”, but yet they are not even recognizable as such? They do not know God’s Word and what the rules are for living as a Christian. They display the sin of Adam (selfishness), rather than the “Fruits of the Spirit”, love and respect, which contributes to our inability to recognize them as Christians. They can be described as Paul says in the New Testament, (1 Tim 5: 13 They get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house (club to club). And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.) Do we not witness this in our cowboy clubs? How sad that so many other shooters become hurt and discouraged by these less-caring and selfish participants and end up just drifting away with little to no notice of their absence. Far too often these very folks claiming to be servants of the Lord are not that at all. They posses the same sin as the boasters we find on our posses from time to time. Telling us all how to do it, when they are revealed to be nothing more than fools.
Let us, as true Christians, guard against being a braggart, or one to cause another to stumble when we are shooting in a match. Rather, let us be encouragers, cowboys and cowgirls that build each other up. We may not be in the company of true Christians while on the firing line, and that is the case more often times than not, but we need to remember “we may be the only Jesus” they will ever see.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Closure
I think its called closure. It is that sense of satisfaction that comes from successfully completing a difficult task.
Several weeks ago I agreed to work up a long range load for a good friend and fellow cowboy shooter. His tool of choice for this little choir was a replica sharps in 45-70 caliber. Just looking at the gun I knew first off it needed long range sights. I figured I could order and install the sights, work up several loads of differing powder and bullet weight. With a good set of sights installed all that was left to do was go to the range and pick the one that shot the best. I’ve done this many times and was not anticipating anything challenging. Boy was I ever wrong! That was six weeks ago and today I finally found the sweet spot.
I loaded heavy bullets and light bullets. I loaded lots of powder and just a little powder. I loaded fast burning powder and slow burning powder. In all of this I could have done better damaged to the paper target with a shotgun than I did with this rifle. I just could not get the thing to put two shots on the same piece of paper. All I managed to do was identify what loading the gun did not like.
A couple of days ago I was giving the gun a thorough cleaning when I noticed some leading in the barrel. What was lead doing in the barrel? I checked the rate of twist. I slugged the barrel and found the lands barely marking the bullet. I went back and reviewed every load, every sequence of shots. Could it be I was dealing with a slightly oversized barrel? If the barrel and bullet do not match, upon firing the bullet does not seal with a good fit in the lands and groves allowing hot gases to escape around the bullet and melt some of the lead as the bullet make it way down the barrel. The answer was right there in front of me all the time and I just couldn’t see it.
I ordered some 405 g. bullets sized to .459 inch, loaded them up last night and went to the range this morning. I cannot describe the feeling I had when the second bullet keyholed the first. I moved the sight and the point of impact actually moved like it is supposed to do. Thank you Lord for allowing me to see what was right in front of me. Sometimes you just have to return to the basics to clear up vision problems.
Several weeks ago I agreed to work up a long range load for a good friend and fellow cowboy shooter. His tool of choice for this little choir was a replica sharps in 45-70 caliber. Just looking at the gun I knew first off it needed long range sights. I figured I could order and install the sights, work up several loads of differing powder and bullet weight. With a good set of sights installed all that was left to do was go to the range and pick the one that shot the best. I’ve done this many times and was not anticipating anything challenging. Boy was I ever wrong! That was six weeks ago and today I finally found the sweet spot.
I loaded heavy bullets and light bullets. I loaded lots of powder and just a little powder. I loaded fast burning powder and slow burning powder. In all of this I could have done better damaged to the paper target with a shotgun than I did with this rifle. I just could not get the thing to put two shots on the same piece of paper. All I managed to do was identify what loading the gun did not like.
A couple of days ago I was giving the gun a thorough cleaning when I noticed some leading in the barrel. What was lead doing in the barrel? I checked the rate of twist. I slugged the barrel and found the lands barely marking the bullet. I went back and reviewed every load, every sequence of shots. Could it be I was dealing with a slightly oversized barrel? If the barrel and bullet do not match, upon firing the bullet does not seal with a good fit in the lands and groves allowing hot gases to escape around the bullet and melt some of the lead as the bullet make it way down the barrel. The answer was right there in front of me all the time and I just couldn’t see it.
I ordered some 405 g. bullets sized to .459 inch, loaded them up last night and went to the range this morning. I cannot describe the feeling I had when the second bullet keyholed the first. I moved the sight and the point of impact actually moved like it is supposed to do. Thank you Lord for allowing me to see what was right in front of me. Sometimes you just have to return to the basics to clear up vision problems.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Cause and Effect
Have you ever noticed that generally speaking, those who should know; don’t? I was reminded of this caveat recently on the subject of prayer. Attend any evangelical worship where public prayers are offered extemporaneously and listen to the words. Most folks could not voice a prayer if the phrase “Thank You” was removed from their vocabulary.
I participated in the babysitting chores with the grandchildren this past week. Business took our son out of the country and with three small children our daughter-in-law needed a little help. It was a good reminder that our children need to be taught not to be selfish. It is definitely a dominant trait in the nature of Adam. Selfishness is the first characteristic of Satan. It was selfishness that led the angel of light to seek the glory that was God’s alone. It is selfishness that causes my four year old grandson to attempt to hold many more train cars than he can ever possibly control, and then become excited when one of his sisters touches another one. Selfishness, it is the worship of self; me first, everything else after that.
Take a brief inventory of the daily little difficulties we confront every day and consider how many of them are caused by selfishness. Drivers running red lights are caused by selfishness. That driver feels he has more of a right to be in that intersection than you do and asserts his feeling by forcing you to wait on him. Speeding is another example. You are expected to obey the laws regulating speed but he is in a hurry. His need is greater than yours. Make a list and consider how many items are fundamentally motivated by selfishness. The list is long and varied and can run from theft on one end to talking when we should be listening on the other. We must learn not to be selfish.
Study the prayers recorded in the Scriptures and you will quickly realize that our prayer is an element in our worship of God the Father. Prayer is the effect, worship the cause. In the same manner as a selfish nature (the cause) is revealed in running a red light (the effect), peace, harmony, comfort, and abundant blessings (effects) are ours by our personal worship (cause) in our prayers. Close personal conversation and fellowship with God is the effect, worship is the cause. You see, prayer is about God before it is about us.
I participated in the babysitting chores with the grandchildren this past week. Business took our son out of the country and with three small children our daughter-in-law needed a little help. It was a good reminder that our children need to be taught not to be selfish. It is definitely a dominant trait in the nature of Adam. Selfishness is the first characteristic of Satan. It was selfishness that led the angel of light to seek the glory that was God’s alone. It is selfishness that causes my four year old grandson to attempt to hold many more train cars than he can ever possibly control, and then become excited when one of his sisters touches another one. Selfishness, it is the worship of self; me first, everything else after that.
Take a brief inventory of the daily little difficulties we confront every day and consider how many of them are caused by selfishness. Drivers running red lights are caused by selfishness. That driver feels he has more of a right to be in that intersection than you do and asserts his feeling by forcing you to wait on him. Speeding is another example. You are expected to obey the laws regulating speed but he is in a hurry. His need is greater than yours. Make a list and consider how many items are fundamentally motivated by selfishness. The list is long and varied and can run from theft on one end to talking when we should be listening on the other. We must learn not to be selfish.
Study the prayers recorded in the Scriptures and you will quickly realize that our prayer is an element in our worship of God the Father. Prayer is the effect, worship the cause. In the same manner as a selfish nature (the cause) is revealed in running a red light (the effect), peace, harmony, comfort, and abundant blessings (effects) are ours by our personal worship (cause) in our prayers. Close personal conversation and fellowship with God is the effect, worship is the cause. You see, prayer is about God before it is about us.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Common Courtesy
Joyce Landorf Heatherley wrote a little book titled “Balcony People”[1]. Occasionally I find myself pulling it off the shelf and rereading her words. It’s a small paperback of only 69 pages; yet, it contains volumes on the subject of being an encourager. You see, there were days when folks lived from day to day with conscious, courteous consideration for the other guy.
Recently I have found myself thinking more and more of the demise of common courtesy. You remember that most recent of extinct dinosaurs? There were times even in our recent memories when folks went about their daily routine giving conscious thought about their neighbor. When someone exhibited some kindness in thought or deed the minimum accepted response was usually a kindly spoken, “Thank You!” The idea that one good deed deserves another was common and broadly shared. That idea has been changed to the philosophy that no good deed deserves to go unpunished.
We play our game in a time when there was a distinction between “men” and “gentlemen”, “women” and “ladies.” If we are attempting to be of the rough and tumble, quintessential frontiersmen type, we dress in course cloth, broad leather and heavy boots. We stick a big knife in our belt or boot, big guns on our hips, and attempt to chew and spit tobacco without getting sick. On the other hand, if we are attempting to emulate the more genteel, gentlemanly type, we wear softer cloth more finely cut, softer leather, a slimmer knife and, probably, smaller frame handguns. I’ve noticed there haven’t been many gentlemen on the firing line lately. This is made as obvious for their lack of manners as it is by their dress. Perhaps the “men” on the firing line would benefit by paying more attention to the “ladies” on the firing line.
It appears that in our game today, the drive to win has made a dinosaur of common courtesy. We forget too easy that for someone to win, someone has to loose. Where did they go, those days of conscious consideration for the other guy? What happened to those cowboys that when they won would shake the hand of the looser and compliment him on being a tough and good competitor? Today the street has been turned into a one-way avenue where everyone congratulates the winner and ignores the looser. This drive to win at all costs, this killer of consideration for the other guy has made a dinosaur of the honorable win.
I remember the times when it was fashionable to shake hands with the adversary on the firing line and to acknowledge the little courtesies with a “Thank You!” But, then again, I do have a lot of grey hair.
[1] Heatherley, Joyce Landorf. Balcony People. Balcony Publishing, Salado, Texas. 2004.
Recently I have found myself thinking more and more of the demise of common courtesy. You remember that most recent of extinct dinosaurs? There were times even in our recent memories when folks went about their daily routine giving conscious thought about their neighbor. When someone exhibited some kindness in thought or deed the minimum accepted response was usually a kindly spoken, “Thank You!” The idea that one good deed deserves another was common and broadly shared. That idea has been changed to the philosophy that no good deed deserves to go unpunished.
We play our game in a time when there was a distinction between “men” and “gentlemen”, “women” and “ladies.” If we are attempting to be of the rough and tumble, quintessential frontiersmen type, we dress in course cloth, broad leather and heavy boots. We stick a big knife in our belt or boot, big guns on our hips, and attempt to chew and spit tobacco without getting sick. On the other hand, if we are attempting to emulate the more genteel, gentlemanly type, we wear softer cloth more finely cut, softer leather, a slimmer knife and, probably, smaller frame handguns. I’ve noticed there haven’t been many gentlemen on the firing line lately. This is made as obvious for their lack of manners as it is by their dress. Perhaps the “men” on the firing line would benefit by paying more attention to the “ladies” on the firing line.
It appears that in our game today, the drive to win has made a dinosaur of common courtesy. We forget too easy that for someone to win, someone has to loose. Where did they go, those days of conscious consideration for the other guy? What happened to those cowboys that when they won would shake the hand of the looser and compliment him on being a tough and good competitor? Today the street has been turned into a one-way avenue where everyone congratulates the winner and ignores the looser. This drive to win at all costs, this killer of consideration for the other guy has made a dinosaur of the honorable win.
I remember the times when it was fashionable to shake hands with the adversary on the firing line and to acknowledge the little courtesies with a “Thank You!” But, then again, I do have a lot of grey hair.
[1] Heatherley, Joyce Landorf. Balcony People. Balcony Publishing, Salado, Texas. 2004.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Prayin'
I have taught the subject of Biblical prayer a number of times and I am still amazed at the number of folks who do not understand that prayer is about God before it is about us. I have a preference to reduce things to their lowest common denominator. This helps in understanding and definitely aids in communication. Biblically speaking, prayer is a form of worship. As His children, we are allowed into His presence only by His grace. Our first duty as we come into His presence is to praise Him. Remember that we praise Him for who He is. We give thanks to Him for what He has done – with us..
I like to refer to our prayer time as our personal battleground! Spending time alone in prayer with our Father will find you tested as never before. This is spiritual warfare, up front and personal.
We have several of our partners standing in need of our prayers. Intercession, the act of praying for someone else, is an obligation of our faith of the first magnitude. Prepare first by spending time thinking on the attributes of God the Father. Complete this sentence: “God is _______________.” Be prepared to control your thoughts. The enemy will attempt to lead you to think of other things. Be prepared for interruptions. The enemy will try every resource available to interrupt your time seeking the presence of the Lord. Remember, you are in the kingdom of the enemy. You will have to work at it. Never forget that subtlety is the first attribute of the devil. The promises of Scripture are true, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” He will flee, but not without a fight.
Remember Starry Knight as she continues to struggle with health issues. Dutch Dave now has her home. This in itself is a testimony of God’s goodness (an attribute). Praise Him for His goodness and for His continued grace on Starry and her family and pray for strength where there is weakness, and continued healing all to the praise of His glory.
Remember Tody Brown as she struggles with a troubled heart with family and job issues. Pray that God will lead her as she seeks that path solidly in His will and that she will be at peace in His will.
Pray for Don Stanton as he struggles with God’s call on his life and the effort to balance ministry and full time employment.
Personally, a heart felt “Thanks Partner” to Sawbone Dan for being an encourager. We all need balcony people and the words from your balcony were most kind when they were sorely needed.
Pray for our witness in this game we all love.
I like to refer to our prayer time as our personal battleground! Spending time alone in prayer with our Father will find you tested as never before. This is spiritual warfare, up front and personal.
We have several of our partners standing in need of our prayers. Intercession, the act of praying for someone else, is an obligation of our faith of the first magnitude. Prepare first by spending time thinking on the attributes of God the Father. Complete this sentence: “God is _______________.” Be prepared to control your thoughts. The enemy will attempt to lead you to think of other things. Be prepared for interruptions. The enemy will try every resource available to interrupt your time seeking the presence of the Lord. Remember, you are in the kingdom of the enemy. You will have to work at it. Never forget that subtlety is the first attribute of the devil. The promises of Scripture are true, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” He will flee, but not without a fight.
Remember Starry Knight as she continues to struggle with health issues. Dutch Dave now has her home. This in itself is a testimony of God’s goodness (an attribute). Praise Him for His goodness and for His continued grace on Starry and her family and pray for strength where there is weakness, and continued healing all to the praise of His glory.
Remember Tody Brown as she struggles with a troubled heart with family and job issues. Pray that God will lead her as she seeks that path solidly in His will and that she will be at peace in His will.
Pray for Don Stanton as he struggles with God’s call on his life and the effort to balance ministry and full time employment.
Personally, a heart felt “Thanks Partner” to Sawbone Dan for being an encourager. We all need balcony people and the words from your balcony were most kind when they were sorely needed.
Pray for our witness in this game we all love.
Refusing To Engage
It’s not unusual for me to be reading along in the Scripture and hit a passage that I have a negative, knee jerk reaction to. For example, Paul tells us Colossians 2:16 to “let no one judge you…” then he gives us a list that we are not to allow others to condemn us for either doing or not doing. How do you do that? How do I stop another from judging, or condemning, me if that is what he is determined to do?
How many of you are growing weary of the term “gamer” being thrown around like it is the greatest insult small-minded people can think of. Any cowboy who is not “casual” in his approach to this game we play is in jeopardy of being tagged a “gamer”. The problem with the folks hurling insults is the same as the folks passing judgment on your actions. They draw their conclusions from their private stock of prejudices. It is an individual thing.
There is a quirky thing about human nature. The more you attempt to convince folks that you are right in what you are doing, the more convinced they become that you are wrong. So how do you respond to these folks who are determined to pull you down to their level?
The truth is, you can’t stop them. If their glass is half-empty and they are determined to attack you, there is little you can do to stop it. However, you can not allow them to be successful. In verse 18 of chapter 2 of Colossians Paul instructs us not to let anyone “cheat you of your reward…” Here is a hint to the truth of living. We can’t stop them from trying, but we can stop them from being successful.
I spent close to 25 years of my life in law enforcement which I describe as being a professional fighter. I was paid to do whatever I could at the moment to restore turmoil to peace and tranquility. Sometimes doing this was little more than reacting to the selfishness of a person running a red light, you know, he has a greater right to be there than you do. At other times it was engaging in physical combat. (In those days we could do that) In every instance the option not to engage was never a consideration. I had to – it was my job.
Since retiring, I find myself more and more reluctant to engage when someone is taunting me or attempting to cheat me. I find it much more to my liking to follow the instructions of Jesus to shake the dust from my feet, turn and walk away without response. It’s tough to argue with someone when they’re walking away from you.
How many of you are growing weary of the term “gamer” being thrown around like it is the greatest insult small-minded people can think of. Any cowboy who is not “casual” in his approach to this game we play is in jeopardy of being tagged a “gamer”. The problem with the folks hurling insults is the same as the folks passing judgment on your actions. They draw their conclusions from their private stock of prejudices. It is an individual thing.
There is a quirky thing about human nature. The more you attempt to convince folks that you are right in what you are doing, the more convinced they become that you are wrong. So how do you respond to these folks who are determined to pull you down to their level?
The truth is, you can’t stop them. If their glass is half-empty and they are determined to attack you, there is little you can do to stop it. However, you can not allow them to be successful. In verse 18 of chapter 2 of Colossians Paul instructs us not to let anyone “cheat you of your reward…” Here is a hint to the truth of living. We can’t stop them from trying, but we can stop them from being successful.
I spent close to 25 years of my life in law enforcement which I describe as being a professional fighter. I was paid to do whatever I could at the moment to restore turmoil to peace and tranquility. Sometimes doing this was little more than reacting to the selfishness of a person running a red light, you know, he has a greater right to be there than you do. At other times it was engaging in physical combat. (In those days we could do that) In every instance the option not to engage was never a consideration. I had to – it was my job.
Since retiring, I find myself more and more reluctant to engage when someone is taunting me or attempting to cheat me. I find it much more to my liking to follow the instructions of Jesus to shake the dust from my feet, turn and walk away without response. It’s tough to argue with someone when they’re walking away from you.
CowboyPreacher.Com Has Changed
The enemy is alive and well. Hell has attacked CowboyPreacher.com through the forum, members and marshals pages and we have been inundated by inappropriate postings (selling, porn, etc.). In an environment which is focused on Cowboy Action and clearly Christian in nature, the filth became overwhelming. I found myself removing upward of 6 of these postings a day.
The changes we made are clearly visible. The new CowboyPreacher.com is bright, easy to navigate and clearly focused on praising the Lord. Gone are the venues used to compromise this ministry.
We are working hard to develop a “Prayer List” for those of you sharing our conviction in the power of prayer. Everything now is performed through the Email. Use the “Telegraph Key” and tell us what you think. Standing in the need for prayer? Use the key! I will personally respond to every message you send.
All to the praise of His glory …..Dogie
http://www.cowboypreacher.com/
dogie@cowboypreacher.com
The changes we made are clearly visible. The new CowboyPreacher.com is bright, easy to navigate and clearly focused on praising the Lord. Gone are the venues used to compromise this ministry.
We are working hard to develop a “Prayer List” for those of you sharing our conviction in the power of prayer. Everything now is performed through the Email. Use the “Telegraph Key” and tell us what you think. Standing in the need for prayer? Use the key! I will personally respond to every message you send.
All to the praise of His glory …..Dogie
http://www.cowboypreacher.com/
dogie@cowboypreacher.com
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