Don’t Fence Me In!

Don't Fence Me In

I live in North West Arkansas which is known for the beautiful Ozark mountains. There is a lot of beautiful county. But there is something else that NWA is known for…I call it urban sprawl. Where there were once pastures full of cattle and horses there are now asphalt parking lots and shopping malls. I suppose some folks need places to shop. But I need a place where I can saddle up and ride amongst the cattle without hearing the constant roar of traffic. I need a place where folks still wave at you when you drive to town.  My roots involved living on a ranch where my work day started with saddling up a horse and riding the beautiful country to check the cows.  It was a rural lifestyle that I appreciate now much more than I did back then.

Now I live on 5 acres next to a busy highway, as I am writing, the sounds of motorcycles and vehicles with no mufflers are invading what should be a quiet home.  We have a huge yard but when we decide to go outside to work in the yard or to play we literally can not hear each other becasue of the traffic.

Now I’m not trying to complain about our current living situation.  In fact I feel very blessed.  We lived in an apartment complex before the Lord provided this house that sits on 1 acre and has 4 acres of pasture for our horses.  Thank you Lord for what you provided!  But I still have this suffocating feeling of being fenced in as urban sprawl has taken over.

I think it’s O.K. to feel this way.  After all, God created Adam and Eve and put them in the middle of the Garden of Eden.  The Garden of Eden was not a nice little quaint flower garden with a bird bath in the middle and a park bench or two to sit while you feed the pigeons.  When you think of the Garden of Eden think of Yellowstone National Park on steroids.  This is where God intended man to live.  No noise except the sounds of birds animals, water and wind blowing through the trees. It is a place where never is heard a discouraging word as folks talk and laugh together

So I believe in that in each of us God has put this “homing device” to call us back to Eden-like conditions.  This is why you find flower gardens on the roof tops of tall buildings in the concrete jungle.   This is why cowboys feel fenced in when their space is being gobbled up by developers.  So they yearn for open spaces.  This cowboy’s prayer is that God will cut the fence and let this cowboy and his family get back to Eden where there is land lots of land neath the starry skies above…

But no matter where you are in the city or the country that is where God has you for now.  So bloom where you are planted and whereever you are always ride tall in the saddle!

Pastors Wanted!

God is up to something BIG with the cowboy church movement. Just in Arkansas there are at least 15 new cowboy churches and at least 5 more groups that want to start one. That is amazing considering that over 3 years ago there were 0. (as far as I know)
God is calling men that are able to relate to the cowboy culture to lead these churches. Are you one of them? If you sense God may be leading you in this direction, shoot me an email at tim@crossbrand.org

Prosperity Continued

“Give a thousand dollars to this ministry and God will return back to you 100 times.”

If I had one dollar for every time the above statement or something similar has been repeated on the airwaves I would be able to give away thousands of dollars!

It’s what is called “prosperity teaching”  The problem with this type of prosperity teaching is that it does not come from the Bible.  Let’s try to have a clear understanding of what God desires for us to understand about prosperity when it comes to his material provision. 

Let me first ask you this question.  “What is the cause of poverty?”  Think about your answer before you continue to read.

Maybe you answered, poor economy, drought, cattle markets down, stock market crash, or unemployment.  I want to submit to you that none of these are the cause of poverty.  These factors may cause you to be broke but not to live in poverty.  You say, “Whats the difference?”  In my way of thinking poverty is a mindset or way of life.  Being broke however is a bump in the road, a temporary setback.  It can happen to folks with a sound biblical financial plan.  It can happen because of circumstances beyond our control.

We can go into great detail about the causes of poverty but for the sake of keeping these blog articles as brief as possible I want to list a few of what I call poverty principles.  If you practice these principles you will live in poverty.

Poverty Principles

Laziness

This one pretty much explains itself.  

Proverbs 6:9-11 (New International Version)

 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
       When will you get up from your sleep?

 10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
       a little folding of the hands to rest-

 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
       and scarcity like an armed man.

                                                                        

Coveting

Coveting plays a huge role in poverty.  You want stuff that you can’t afford.  But you “Have to have it!” So what do you do?  You do the no money down, no interest, no payment for 6 months thing. 

After a while it catches up with you. 

 

Self Defeating Thoughts

There are plenty of these thoughts that contribute to poverty.

Untrue thoughts like, “Money is evil,”  “Rich people are greedy,” “I will always be poor,”  “I do not deserve to make over $__________ a year.

Thoughts are powerful.  If these thoughts have been ingrained in our mind then we will actually engage in behavior that ensures we will live in poverty.  I know of people that when they get a large amount of money they try to spend it as quick as they can.   Why?  Because they have programmed themselves to not have money.

 

Poor stewardship

Many people that live in poverty do not understand the principle of stewardship.  Good stewardship is understanding that everything they have came from God.  And God is allowing them to use it.  So since God actually owns the stuff we have we are merely God’s property managers. 

It is a fact that God will bless those that practice good stewardship with his stuff.  What does good stewardship look like?   Be generous and share, don’t waste, save, invest, give back to God at least a tithe. (10% of your income)  That means if you make $30,000 then at least $3,000 should be given to the church.  (And no God will not guarantee that you will get back 100 times that!)

Here is a bigger motivator than that.  You are investing in eternal things and not temporal things

It shows God that you are a steward that is responsible and He can give you even more because you have proven yourself to be responsible. 

So it makes since to stay away from practicing these poverty principles and instead adopt the following prosperity principles for your life.

Prosperity Principles

Take initiative

You’ve heard the cliché “The definition of insanity is to continue to do the same thing and expect different results.”  You can take the initiative and choose to do something about your current financial situation.  Get a higher paying job if possible, go back to school or educate yourself on new investment opportunities.  A harsh truth to come to grips with is that many of us in America have chosen our level of financial prosperity by life choices we have made. 

Be cool with what you have

You can choose to not give in to coveting; you don’t have to have the latest do-dad or the newest pickup truck.  You don’t have to have the best roping horse, especially if it is at the expense of caring for your family.   Don’t get in debt over something you don’t need.  Give God thanks for what you do have and don’t covet after what you don’t have.  Be satisfied with your  “daily bread.”

Think God’s thoughts

You can choose your thoughts.  You can deprogram those self defeating thoughts.  And replace them with God’s thoughts.  You can choose to live by truth and faith in a God that is able to bless you beyond measure!

Be an awesome steward

Even when you are broke for a season you can still be a good steward with what you do have.  I can tell many stories of many people including myself who gave when they did not have much to give and God blessed them.  Why?  Because they are good stewards

 Wherever you are right now financially, whether you are broke or are living a lifestyle of poverty,  I encourage you to sit tall in the saddle.  Choose these prosperity principles.  God will take care of you.

Cowboy Camp and Bull Riding

New Friends

I want to write more on prosperity but I want to take a time out and use this space to talk about Cowboy Camp.  What is cowboy camp you ask?  CC is an intensive 4 day camp for teenage boys.  Most of these guys are city boys that are better at gearing up for Nintendo than saddling a horse.  Most of the boys are from single parent homes with little opportunities for positive male role models.   At cowboy camp they got a good taste of ranch life like feeding cattle, halter breaking calves, riding horses, pushing cattle through the chute, roping a dummy.  It was hard work but they loved it.   Even in the 96 degree heat.  When tensions got tight and skirmishes broke out, they learned how to deal with things from a Jesus perspective.  I have to be the first to admit.  I’m not the best at working with teenagers, but I saw how God has gifted men to work with that age group.  My brother Jonathan did an outstanding job.  He loaded the kids down with positive attention and affirmation.  Those kids left feeling 10 ft. tall.  After all, what gives you a bigger sense of accomplishment, halter breaking an ornery steer or going to a new level on the latest x-box game?               

Eric dispensing bull riding wisdom...is bull riding wisdom an oxymoron?

Then there is my friend Eric Moix.  Turns out he is putting on a bull riding school the next day after cowboy camp.  He asked me to help.  Once again I felt inadequate to relate with this age group.  But Eric put his heart and soul into these kids.  If they came believing they couldn’t ride, he sure helped make them change their mind of what they are able to accomplish.  He gave me an opportunity to share a message about keeping God first in everything.  I said a few things, but Eric has shown in a very real way that each kid is extremely valuable and can reach their potential if they trust in God and in their God given potential.

Thank the Lord for men like Jonathan and Eric.

You Have A Wealthy Father

What if you had a rich Dad who said I will give you anything you want? What if he said “Everything that I have is yours because you are my son/or daughter.” How would you like that? What if he offered you a huge ranch in your favorite part of the country? And on that ranch were plenty of cattle and the best cow horses to work them with? What if on that ranch were the house of your dreams with a swimming pool and a brand new pickup with leather interior in the garage? The refrigerator and pantry were always stocked full of food that your full time chef would have prepared at supper time. Are you starting to get the picture?
To make you appreciate it more; What if you were a homeless orphan before he became your Dad? One day he saw you rummaging through a dumpster looking for food and even though you were dirty and smelly, out of love and compassion he took you in, loved you, cleaned you up and adopted you as his very own child.
That would be cool but not very realistic is it? I want to show you something that is real and even better!
If you were to read the first chapter of a letter that God gave us called Ephesians you would discover some amazing truths about spiritual prosperity. Here are 3 of them

1. God has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing!
2. In love God adopted us!
3. God has lavished his grace on us, forgiving us of all our sins!

Realistically you and I were a homeless orphan. We were separated from God because of our sin. We were spiritually bankrupt. Yet even though we are filthy God took us in and adopted us. Because of his love God lavished his grace on us forgiving us of all our sin. (I love that word lavish don’t you? It means a heaping scoop full. More than enough. It’s not scraping the pot hoping to get enough. God’s pot is full and running over!) He is your rich heavenly Father.  He is a giver.   His desire is for you to experience all of his spiritual blessings. Some of which are grace, love, joy and peace. I call all of that spiritual prosperity.
Are you living your life expecting spiritual prosperity! Are you experiencing spiritual prosperity? No?
If not maybe at some level you are refusing what God wants to do in your life.  Imagine the orphan that was adopted but kept a distance from his dad because he still saw himself as a homeless orphan that surely this rich dad would not really love.  Given his past he just couldn’t expect or accept all the gifts that his new dad was offering.

Now think about this and answer yourself honestly.  At some level is that how you are relating to God? Don’t refuse his gift. No you don’t deserve it but that’s not a factor here. That’s why God calls it grace. Quit living like a homeless orphan. You are the treasured son/or daughter of God! You can’t get any more higher up than that!
Maybe you haven’t trusted Christ yet. Can I share with you one of my favorite verses in the Bible?
Here it is

1 Peter 3:18 (New Living Translation)
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

Gotta love it! Jesus came to bring you home. You do not have to be a lost, homeless, insecure orphan anymore. Trust Christ the one that came to save you.
Do you want that? …. I thought so.

Read this prayer. And if is sounds like something you want to do. Pray it to God. He is waiting

God, I know I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sin. I want to live in a relationship with you as my Father and me as your child. I know that Jesus died for my sin and I know that he rose from the grave and is alive. Today Jesus I am trusting you to save me. Come into my life. I want to experience the riches of knowing you as my Savior and Lord. Thanks for saving me. In Jesus name Amen.

Did you pray that prayer? If you trusted Christ today. Welcome to the family! Leave a comment or send me an email at tim@crossbrand.org so all who read can celebrate with you!

Be sure to look for more articles on living a prosperous life. We need to talk some more about living a prosperous life.

Ride tall in the saddle!

Prosper

What is true prosperity and why do some folks struggle in achieving it?
I took my 3 yr. old filly on a ride in the hills a couple weeks ago. She has had about 30+ days and is doing great. She has responded well to the bit and leg cues. That is in her favor. Here is why.
The bit and spurs apply pressure. When she obeys I reward her by releasing the pressure.
On this ride in the hills we rode to Little Sugar Creek in Missouri. When she got to the waters edge she stopped. Didn’t want to go further. I applied a little pressure with my spurs. I kept this up until she walked into the cool refreshing clear water. I rewarded her by releasing the pressure.
I read a verse this morning in 2 Chronicles 24:20. A prophet of God by the name of Zechariah had an urgent word for the people of Judah. This is what he said, “Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands so that you cannot prosper? You have abandoned the Lord and now he has abandoned you!”
Now Zechariah’s message was not welcomed. In fact they stoned him to death. They did not want to hear it.
Since they chose to abandon God, God abandonded them.

Just as I wanted to guide my horse to step into the clear creek and drink the cool refreshing water, God wants to guide us to step into refreshing prosperity. Spiritual prosperity where we are refreshed by his grace; Relational prosperity where we are refreshed by the love of others; Financial prosperity where we are refreshed by Him meeting all of our needs.
Yet some folks have chosen to resist God they are unnecessarily living with tremendous pressure! If they would only give to that pressure and submit to a loving God they could step into the refreshing prosperous plan he has for their life.
In my next few post I want to specifically address some areas where many of us are tempted to resist. My prayer is that we will feel the spurs digging in and give to the pressure. Just don’t stone me!
If you know of anyone that could use encouragement in seeking after God please direct them to this blog.

National Day of the American Cowboy

Merrill White participates in a Ranch Horse Competition at Cross Brand Cowboy Church in Bentonville, Arkansas held in conjunction with the 2008 National Day of the American Cowboy - photo by Greg Turner

This Saturday on July 25th our nation will observe the National Day of the American Cowboy. I know that the masses will have no idea and will carry on as if it were just anohter Saturday. To me it will probably be just another day as well. After all for me every day is the day of the American Cowboy. But it is nice that a resolutoin was passed in the Senate declaring it to be the NDAC. The preamble of the resolution encouraged Americans to observe this day by taking part in any NDAC activites in their community to celebrate this day. So if you take part in a rodeo, Cowboy poetry gathering, or just putting on your hat and boots be sure a say a prayer of thanks. Its a prayer I say often. “Thank you Lord that I get to be a cowboy.”

My first blog article

The purpose of this blog is to share about Cross Brand Cowboy church and my ministry in general. Cross Brand is in Northwest Arkansas, between bentonville and Pea Ridge. We meet on Sunday evenings at 6:00 We are teh only church that I know of in this area where some folks bring their horses to church. We even have a hitching post outside to tie them up.
We also have an arena where we have playdays, barrel racing, ranch horse competition and more. In the future we want to have roping and some day bucking chutes for bull riding.
Now our church is not about all of that stuff. We are about being who we are, folks that love the cowboy way of life, and worshiping in that context. It’s just nice to have a church where you can be yourself.

Tall in the saddle?

I tried to use the name cowboy church pastor or preacher.  Both were taken.  Then tall in the saddle came to mind.  So I used it and i think I like it best.  I like what it says.  What comes to my mind is, Be confident.  don’t go through life slumped over as if you are a victim of the troubles we have in this world.  there is a verse in Psalms that says something to the effect of “With my God I can crush an army.  With His power I can scale any wall.”  We can sit tall in the saddle becasue God is riding ahead of us, beside us and behind us!  So I hope this blog may inspire some to sit tall in the saddle and alway look out for those low hanging branches!