Out our way, a common joke was the bumper sticker put out a few years ago for Montana that said, “There’s Nothing Here.” While supporting my ministry in Havre I worked the 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift at Walmart, and it was always fun to hear...

Many of the ideas and Scriptures used in this article are from the book “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn. As we press on in our study of Heaven we should remember that Paul said that he desired to depart and be with Christ. That notion is foreign to...

You know, Lord, I’ll bet all of us pretty well remember when we were little kids our mama would sneak into our bedroom to check to see if we were asleep, or for sure, to check in on us when we were sick. That’s what parents do, right? Sometimes...

Out our way, there is something special about the end of the trail. After a hard day of riding in some often tough country, there finally comes the time to finish and head for home. If there was ever a time I did not need spurs or a quirt with Doc i...

I so enjoyed the Lenten Season Article No. 1 in last Friday’s Havre Daily News, an article written by Pastor Maggie Lewis. In it she reminded us that this “going without” during the Lenten Season is not really about the food or whatever else...

You know, Lord, not everyone experiences being homesick. Who would have thought that homesickness of a child was homage, respect and praise of a good home life? Such seems to be the case. Thinking way back on school classmates making fun of homesick...

Some Christian denominations follow a seasonal calendar that includes Christmas and Easter and a lot of other special days and events in between. Lent is the 40 days — not including Sundays — that come before Easter. It starts with Ash Wednesday,...

You know, Lord, going through an old “salted away” pile of papers, it sometimes is fascinating to see what had been stashed. Up popped a poem by Phil Perkins, date unknown. Let’s see what he has to say. Ready? “My daily wish is that we may se...

Lent is a season in the life in the Church when we observe the forty days leading to Jesus’ death on the cross. It began this week with Ash Wednesday when clergy all over the world dispense ashes — usually made by burning the palm fronds...

Out our way, one discovers that there are many trails to follow and not all lead to where you want or need to go. I certainly got mixed up more than a few times and I suspect I was smarter than the cows we had to move, although at times I think...

You know, Lord, many towns have a center where kids of all ages can go after school to do a multitude of activities, including homework. They’re there until someone picks them up to go home. While at these centers, paid staff and volunteers get to...

We look at clouds most every day; we may see “angel hair.” Clouds block the sun; they might bring rain or snow just everywhere.   Our “mate” is there, they see both sides, mirage may be a “wall.” We look around and watch clouds move;...

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. I learned this bit of wisdom when I was in early grade school, coloring a calendar for the transitional month copied onto a piece of green paper. My teacher explained how this meant that typically...

Out our way, Charlie trusts me to ride drag when we are pushing the herd. It is not only because he can ride flank and point far better than I, but because he knows I have learned to be patient. As you may recall, on my first roundup in Wyoming, one...

Out our way, Charlie on Jet and me on Doc loved to ride the Tiger Ridge and work cows. But only in the good weather. Come February when the Alberta Clippers rage and the cows are calving, we were well content to stay inside and let other roam the...

Snowmen got made, crooked or straight, and two were rather wide. What fun to be outdoors that day and view the countryside. Laughter, snowballs, oh, what a day to play in fresh white snow. A game, a race, how about snowballs? You catch the one...

Many of the ideas and scriptures used in this series on Heaven are taken from the book “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 states “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” In many of my sermons I instruct the listeners to not...

You know, Lord, there’s a cute story about a young couple shopping in a second-hand store. The gal was looking for a frying pan like her grandmother had used. They passed several departments. As the gal passed the stuffed animals, she said, “Oh,...

One of my favorite books/movies that I have always returned to throughout various chapters of my life is “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. In the middle of personal crisis, she embarks on three different journeys in order to find herself. F...

Out our way, Charlie and others said that when you take to hard riding, it is not a question if you will get hurt, but when. My pard was badly hurt in a wreck when Freckles was spooked by a dog coming suddenly out of the tall grass while he and...

You know, Lord, many folks get depressed during the cold winter months. But here’s a good word: did we know that praise combats depression? It’s been suggested that we count our blessings; let’s give it a try. Following is a list of just a few...

Out our way, one learns to listen to the wisdom of those who know what they are doing. It saves time and possibly some broken bones. Charlie taught me that when first approaching a herd of cattle that have been out on their own for a time, one goes...

Here it is, February already! I wonder how folks are doing with their new year’s resolutions as they apply to physical training or exercise? I also wonder if followers of Christ have made some resolutions with regards to godliness training? The...

We woke to see the shining moon and smell the Winter Air. We checking the stars and wispy clouds, but we know you’re not there.   You flew away, left us behind — Oh! What a time to go! You flew away, that’s what you did, but oh, we miss you...

Out our way, the noise in town can be distracting. Kids gunning pickup trucks at 70 mph in a 25 mph zone, the heavy trucks along the highway, the freight trains that ply the Hi-Line section of track hourly, all contribute to the noise. No wonder...