News you can use
News you can use
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Psalm 121:1 - My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Indeed, He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. Out our way, you can learn a lot from watching cattle. Now that calving season is here, watching mama and baby bond is a marvel that most humans share in the delivery room at the hospital. There is a reason David, a shepherd, wrote so many of the Psalms. I never worked sheep, but I gather that while very different critters, they do share...
Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, you are all one in Christ Jesus." Out our way, many ranchers prefer one breed of cattle over the other. Some run Herefords, some red Angus, others like black Angus while others prefer Charolai. Although these days most cattle graze in fenced in pastures so they don't usually get mixed up, now and then it happens. I have shared before how Charlie and I were checking Big Mike's herd up on the...
A long time ago, in a city far, far away, my wallet was stolen. Inside that wallet were a few precious mementos: a pillbox from my beloved aunt, a post-it note from a dear friend, a meaningful bit of an old bulletin. The wallet was a connection to where my heart was, and it was stolen. A few days later, someone called me with good news: they'd found my wallet! When I picked it up from this Good Samaritan, I didn't care that the cash and credit card were gone - I'd expected...
You know, Lord, S.B. stopped over, wanting to share his birthday, and to chat about his family so - here goes: "One granddaughter worked in probation, another one was a wiz at computers. If our grandparents were alive, he said, wouldn't they be totally amazed at what their off-spring had accomplished as well as be proud of all things they can do? Some cousins have covered numerous occupations: farmers and ranchers north and south; engineers are east and west. One guy, an...
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence...
Isaiah 5:20-21 - "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Our our way, it's all two-lane roads. The road bed is made by digging a trench on either side and loading the dirt in the middle, packing it down, and usually laying asphalt on it. Now the ditches from which the road bed was made run along on both sides. Some call it a barrow ditch but others insist it is a...
You know, Lord, sometimes, friends share interesting things; This for Valentines Day! Just quoting: You should probably tape this to your bathroom mirror where one could read it every day. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true. 1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for. 2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way. 3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. 4. A smile from you can bring...
Here it is, February already! I wonder how folks are doing with their new year's resolutions as they apply to physical training/exercise? I also wonder if followers of Christ have made some resolutions with regards to godliness training? The Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement in his letter to his young pastor protege, Timothy. Paul writes: 1 Timothy 4:8: "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that... Full story
Luke 17:6 "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed ...." Out our way, we don't see a lot of celebrities, but one day a few years back I ran into "Will Smith." OK, not the real dude, but a look alike that came pretty close to the "Fresh Prince of BelAir." As some of you know, "Doc" has a girlfriend, a gorgeous auburn colored pinto named "Babe." She is a lot smaller than Doc, but she is as smooth-as-silk in her gaits and a good ride. Unfortunately, she was raised in... Full story
You know, Lord, when we ask You to bless us or to bless others, we are asking You to impart Your favor, protection and peace. Blessings prayed for others have a way of returning to bless the one who prayed. Yes, we are born to die and several folks we know, have recently passed on to You. Can't we just imagine how John kissed his son, Fred, tucked him into bed, and said, "Good night, and God bless you, my precious son." Then, years later, when Freddy was visiting his frail... Full story
1 Chronicles 7:14 "If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven,forgive their sin, and heal their land." Out our way, it is calving season. And new life begins again. It is also time for renewal as the summer pasture lies fallow and begins to be stored for the coming year when we move these calves up the ridge. We have taken the herd down below and the high country...
That special time of year has come once again ... it's the weekend of the 90th Annual Norwegian Lutefisk and Swedish Meatball Dinner at First Lutheran Church! Some of the first white settlers to this area came from the frigid and fishy shores of Scandinavia, and they brought their religion, food preferences, and work ethic with them - and not much else! This annual dinner commemorates those Nordic ancestors who made this prairie their home, where they worshipped, worked, and...
You know, Lord, 'twas fun checking February Calendar pages, seeing who had birthdays and who got married. We "knew" one child who'd been born on Valentine's Day! Neither of us knew anyone who claimed the eighth, 15th or 16th. But family and friends, loved ones, near and far were included! Alexia thought February was well-ordered, especially since she knew one guy in his late 90s. Her daughter peeked in - she'd been eavesdropping - she said, "Mommy, don't forget, we know a...
Just thinking, Lord, of some dear friends, who've simply gone ahead. Meaning family, neighbors and pals, they left us - joined the dead. We've fond memories of these dear ones and what they did while here; One Granddad did construction work; built 'much' within each year. A neighbor gal just loved to sew; she made most lovely quilts. Her garden too, a specialty, she never let it wilt. A Valley farm raised several kids; four kids just loved to sing! Played keyboard or stringed...
1 Peter 1:3 - Believers begin a new life when they are born again by the Spirit Out our way, though spring is months away, we enter into the new season of life at the end of January and into February. The cold gets greater, the nights seem darker, and the sunlight just isn't as strong. To the rest of the world it is the "dead of winter." But for the rancher and cowhand, it is the life of winter ... for it is calving season. It will be months before the pastures are green and...
(Mark 2:13-17) It was only a few words, yet the man left the tax booth immediately. Mark records no conversation, no preaching, no confession of faith, but the response is as abrupt as that of Simon and Andrew and James and John as they left their nets or their father. See Mark 1:14-20). Why? Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), who was imprisoned and executed by Nazis, says that the cause behind the immediate following the call by response is Jesus Christ himself. It...
You know, Lord, Elvina, a supporting friend, stopped by, sharing some thoughts/actions, she'd been privileged to be part of; she thought she'd share: "You know, it snowed the other day so I shouldn't have been surprised when the snowplow guy showed up - mercy, he was good, he got everything done like I like and in hardly any time at all! He was fast; reminded me of me elder brother - point him to a job, off he went, got it done in no time and did it perfect. "You know, I'm...
This week we have celebrated the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" with breakfast and devotions at 7:00 a.m. each weekday morning at the St. Jude's Parish Hall. Each morning a different church provided the breakfast and the devotions: MONDAY - Van Orsdel United Methodist Church; TUESDAY - Havre Assembly of God Church; WEDNESDAY - First Lutheran Church; THURSDAY - Community Alliance Church; and FRIDAY - St. Jude's Catholic Church. Our central text from the Bible was Luke...
Zechariah 9:9-16 Out our way, most cattle now graze in fenced in pastures, and while not 100% free of predators, by and large the coyotes and lions in the area tend to steer clear. I have had run-ins with both over the years and found they have learned to respect humans. I have shared before my time riding in the sandhills of Wyo-Braska - the area where the Nebraska panhandle meets the eastern edge of Wyoming. I used to ride at the Empire ranch which was on both sides of the...
You know, Lord, good news or good messages abound. For example, unsettled weather plays havoc with roads so when family or friends have visited and we've all had a jolly good time, it's good news when they let us know that they've arrived safely back home. It's good news when tires only need to be rotated, not replaced or when Marylee's grades go up, or when friend Annemarie's blood tests come back with a good report, plus a dozen other pieces of good news that reach us. And...
Mathew 2:1-12 Out our way, Epiphany isn't as big a celebration as Christmas, but it is still important. It is the celebration of the coming of the "Magi" as commemorated in the hymn, "We Three Kings." Sadly, many people don't understand the significance. Briefly, most scholars attribute the title to a class of priests that were common in the Persian Empire. They were often used as advisors to the kings of that time due to their reputation of great knowledge of nature,...
Holiday - it's a word that originated from an old English word meaning "Holy Day." It's a fitting word for our end of December celebrations - no matter its old English or modern English contexts. But here in the thick of January, the glitter of Christmas has faded. The echoes of new year celebrations have diminished down a canyon of life moving on per usual. As lights disappear from the eaves of houses and the parched evergreens lean against back door steps, the extended hours...
You know, Lord, listening to some gals talking about their Christmas, even though most had already taken down their Christmas decorations, was interesting - they chuckled. "Jane" shared that she was so pleased to have gotten some cookies from a neighbor, and hoped she'd said "Thank you!" "Anna" mentioned the lovely bouquet she'd received from friends, way across the state! What a lovely surprise. She taken a picture to send, to show and thank them for the lovely bouquet; t...
Luke 1:46 - "For behold! Your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived in her old age and this is the sixth month of her who was called 'barren.'" Out our way, a cowboy's hat is a signature, autobiography, and ID all at the same time. Years ago, the cartoonist JR Williams had a comic - for which this column is named - called "Out Our Way." Many of his cartoons revolved around cowboys, and I especially remember one showing the cowhand Curly wearing and using his hat in all sorts of...
An annual event that our ministerial association sponsors each January is the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" Jan. 15-19, 2024. Each morning at 7 a.m., followers of Jesus Christ from our various churches in town come together for devotions and breakfast at St. Jude's Parish Center. I hope that you will be a part of this event. We always encourage those that have to get to work by 8 a.m. to go first so that they can eat and get on their way in good time... Begun in 1908,...
