Don't get Snake bit!!!

While nursing an extracted tooth and pinched nerve the last couple of days, I've been able to absorb some TV wisdom. While watching my modern hero -- The Turtleman ----(LIVE ACTION BABY!) I noticed a new series on the Animal Planet called "Snakeman of App." I was intrigued enough to watch. This show follows a guy who supplies serpents to local churches for revivals and special services. For those of you unaware of  "snake handlers," during a church service members will hold deadly snakes and sing and chant with the premise being that if they are "right" with God they will not get bit. It is supposed to prove their faith to observers. This set off at least 30hrs of contemplation on how far will people go to prove their right-standing with God to others??  There are other signs or "gifts" people claim to prove that they are one of God's elect as well but is it necessary??  The truth of scripture is this, We are justified by FAITH alone (Romans 3:22). That means that if I am walking through the woods and get tagged by a copperhead and die, It is not because I am outside the grace of God. It is simply God's Will for me to depart my earthly body in that manor. 

While less mature in my understanding of His Gospel, I would constantly want to prove to those around me that He chose me! If I had only received a certificate from God saying "I'm in" it would have been easier but we don't get a letter of acceptance with our salvation. We get something much better than paper. He gives us the ability to receive His word and Believe that His son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross that We may have everlasting life in Heaven with our God. Furthermore, I shouldn't have to prove my right standing with some worldly practice! With that said, If I have Faith, and it is alive and vibrant, You shouldn't have to look to deep to see that Jesus resides within me. Faith in its living form will produce works that will resemble Christ as depicted in the scriptures. Therefore, We must only Boast in Christ, that He is the source of salvation and He is the reason I have a right standing with God. Now on to these "works" mentioned. It should be my goal to do all things unto Christ due to the fact that I have Faith in Him. Some personal examples : I should feed and check cows everyday unto the Lord, I should maintain honesty in all business dealings unto the Lord, I should participate in organizations such as NCBA to protect my industry unto the Lord, I should honor and cherish Sami Jo unto the Lord and I should share the gospel of Jesus Christ unto the Lord. These are works rooted in Faith, for the Glory of God and only possible if Christ is at center of each. With this said, always remember that we are Justified by FAITH alone!! You can't do enough "good " things in life or dodge enough snake bites to get to heaven, all you have to do is Believe!!

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

(Psalm 1 ESV)

Until next time!

Yet another FORK in the Road!!

Wow, I am actually stopping for a moment to start a Blog... Never saw it coming!!  Let me introduce the purpose of these ramblings and why I found it prudent to take a left hand turn from my normal day-to-day. It has been my observation over the last couple years that I have become an dinosaur... Let me explain, I am a born again Christian who proclaims that Jesus Christ died on the cross as the propitiation (Romans 3:25)for my sin and I am justified by my faith alone(Romans 5:1-9)- which is God given, I am also a "young" cattleman in a sea of "old" cattleman who have very few behind them to fill their shoes, and I am a man struggling in life to grasps those things of TRUE value and not WORLDLY value. When I compile these traits into a stereotype, that seems to knock out 99.9% of the population (from my vantage point). With that said, why go the way of the Doe-Doe bird?? Why not go with the crowd and take the road most traveled?? AH HA!! It is my intention to tell you from time to time why I am like I am and allow you a view into the mindset of someone such as myself (from a safe distance) and to share the word of our Lord God with you !!
 A couple of things to take note of...  #1. My writing "style" may come off as being elementary to you-- That's for good reason --It is!!  I dare not do this for popularity or to make myself a false cyberspace image of being different than I am in real life.. #2 I was told by blogging officials to keep these post short and consistent. Let me be brief (LOL). I am long winded, I explore every avenue of a topic I feel pertinent and the only thing consistent about me is that I am inconsistent!!  Understand, I wake up every morning knowing something is going to break, something is going to get sick or something is going to cost a lot of money, there is nothing consistant about a cattleman's life nor do our "plans" often coincide with God's Will. Therefore, like with life these post follow the "I'll cross the bridge when I get there, and I'll fix it when its broke if He allows me to" schedule that I maintain. #3. I encourage feedback!! Tell me what your thinking, where I'm wrong and lets talk about it.. Lets learn together for the Glory of our God and the good of my industry.
 I understand that this may never be read and I am fine with that, but If it is - let me say this " Thanks be to God for you and it my hope that a picture of Christ is revealed through my thoughts and scripture that He allows me to bring forth to this page(Matthew 28:16-20)."

In closing, I thank you for your time -if anyone is there!!



I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

(Philippians 1:3-11 ESV)