Spreading the love of Jesus...the Cowboy Way!
CAMPFIRE MESSAGES from Pastors & Ministers of ICCAN
Come sit around the campfire and
let the Word of God speak to your heart.
Comment
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Comment by Lynn D. Walker on October 7, 2011 at 8:07am
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: This is the day that the Lord has made!! Are you rejoicing and glad that it is His day? If not, release all of your worries and cares to Him. God is abundantly present in your life and you must learn to Trust Him. Instead of regretting and resenting the circumstances of your life, count your blessings and thank God no matter what your circumstances are. Trust God and fear not! He is like a strong tower that you can run into and rest in His Peace. ~Pastor Lynn
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FROM THE PASTOR'S PORCH: Act Naturally or Supernaturally??
Do you ever have any bad days? You know, the kind of days that just don't work out and everything goes horribly wrong from the way that you had it planned out.... all perfect?? We all have days like that don't we? Sometimes I think I have more that my fair share of 'em too! Well, knowing that we all have these times that are far from perfect, the real question is how do we handle it; how do we respond? Let's take a look at what happens when we, as the song goes, "Act Naturally".
Well, the first thing I used to do (and still do on occasion) when I don't get my way and things are not going well is I work up a good case of mad, and then I go to complaining. Funny thing about complaining is once you start complaining it seems like everytime you open your mouth it just leads to more complaining. Now Satan wants you to believe "the squeeky wheel gets the grease", but I'm hear to tell you the truth. All that complaining does is put your life in a downward spiral. The more you complain the steeper and more slippery it gets and if you don't realize what's happening and throw on the brakes, your life is headed for a big old CRASH!! STOP COMPLAINING!!! Doin' what comes natural is NOT a good plan of action. Let's take a look at the Supernatural way of handling this situation.
First and foremost, take it to the Lord. That's right, cry out in the name of Jesus for help and PRAY. When you have lost control of your life, you must go to the one who is in control of everthing, including your life. The next step is to TRUST God for your salvation. I don't care how big your problem is, it is not as big as your God. Your richest blessing may be just around the corner; out of sight. That's why we must walk (live) by Faith (Trust) and not by sight. This doesn't mean we just close our eyes and run around blindly like the village idiot. It means subordinating your problem circumstances of this visible world to the invisible yet all powerful King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Shepard of your Soul! Now to really throw on the brakes and stop the downward spiral of your life.....be THANKFUL. Thank God for everything, even though is seems very unnatural....even irrational; but slowly this will help you to Ascend and get back to the abundant life that God intended for you to be living in the first place. If you choose to handle problems supernaturally, it will lead you to experience the unfathomable PEACE that Jesus said he would leave just for you!
So, are you going to act naturally or supernaturally. One leads to chaos and destruction; the other one leads to abundant life and Peace that passes all understanding. The choice is yours. Please read Psalms 13 over and over until you get it right.......that's what I did. ~Pastor Lynn
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: The good Lord is always with us and watching over us. His Presence with us is a Promise....forever. We don't have to worry about the future because He is already there. God is not limited by time and space or anything else like we are. The future is in His hand alone, and He releases it to us on a daily basis. That's why Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow". From God's viewpoint, the past is forgiven and the future is certain so we don't have to worry about either one! Use your energy to see and do all there is TODAY while staying focused on His Presence and you will have ABUNDANT life, which He also has Promised. ~Pastor Lynn
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October 5th, 2011JUST FOR TODAY: A motorist, after being bogged down in a muddy road, paid a passing farmer five dollars to pull him out with his tractor. After he was back on dry ground he said to the farmer, "At those prices, I should think you would be pulling people out of the mud night and day." "Can't," replied the farmer. "At night I haul water to the mud hole."The moral to this story is this: No matter how dry and desolate your life may be, God will always provide a way for you to prosper. Stop complaining about your problems and be industrious. Cry out to God for Help, Trust Him to provide your Salvation, and then be Thankful for whatever and however He meets your need. Please read Psalms 13. ~Pastor Lynn
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Comment by Pastor Lynn Kirkland on October 5, 2011 at 11:38am
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What Measuring Stick Are You Using?
By Pastor Lynn Kirkland
Acts 2:47b “…every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.”
Wow! What a time that must have been! Every day people were being saved. Every day people
were being baptized. Every day people were being added to the church.
I’m afraid that “every day” I read some article, somewhere, that tells us the church of today is
dying.
Many of the articles use terms like “traditional church”. They also refer to the “contemporary church.” The problem with these terms, I have learned, are that they are very misleading and sidetrack us from the real problem. You see, these terms refer to a style of worship or type of music not really to the church itself. We then get caught up in our likes and dislikes and never get to the real problem of the institutional church, a term that I have come to prefer when talking about the church of today.
The institutional church does have problems and it is dying at the rate of about 10% a year. The really, really good news is that God’s church, the Bride of Christ, is alive and well! I talk to believers every day. People are being saved every day. They are just not becoming part of the institutional church. They are becoming part of God’s church!
I’ve had the pleasure over the last nine months to be a part of a training group for church planters known as the Cypress Project. The Cypress Project trains church planters and assists new church plants in getting started. They have caused me to look at the church differently and to use different methods – not necessarily new – just different. I just finished reading an article entitled Changing Metrics by Pat Springle. It is subtitled “The Benefits of Measuring Devotion and Obedience, Not Just Numbers”.
We get too involved in counting nickels and noses as a measure of success. This causes us to end up with a larger group of professing, but oh-so-shallow, Christians. We attempt to get them in, keep them in, and teach them how to give regularly, so that we can get them to heaven. What we end up with is a group of people with “fire insurance” at best and maybe many that profess but are not true believers.
Springle says we are preaching only two chapters of a four chapter gospel. For many years we have preached that man is a fallen being and in need of salvation. And this is true. But it is only part of the truth. He says the four chapters are that man is made in the image of God. Therefore, there is some good in everybody if we just look for it. Man did fall from his created position as we stated above. And, man is in need of salvation (and can’t save himself). The fourth chapter is that of healing and transformation. We have to have change in our mind and body. There has to be commitment.
Oops! Did I use the “C” word. We just want to join a church and everything be alright. We don’t want to change anything or certainly not be committed to anything. Besides, this sort of talk runs people away from church. We can’t get our numbers up to where they need to be if we talk about such things.
John 6:60 Many of his followers heard this and said, "This teaching is too hard. Who can listen to it?"
John 6:66 Because of this, many of Jesus' followers turned back and would not go with him any more.
Like they used to say on Hee Haw, “Same song. Different verse.” Sometimes it seems to me like we have not learned anything in the last 2,000 years. If we measure the success of our gatherings in changed lives, commitment to the kingdom, and love for each other [and others] instead of counting nickels and noses we may see the Lord adding to our group every day those that are being saved.
In closing I would like to challenge you to answer some questions”
1. What sort of measuring stick do you use to determine success of your church?
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
October 5th, 2011
JUST FOR TODAY: Always remember that God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He is Lord of everthing that is and everything that will be. Even though He is so vast and huge, He choses to live in the tiny hearts of mankind! Be in awe of the Power and the Glory of His Spirit within you. This Holy Spirit is your teacher, your helper, and your comforter; all you have to do is ask. Don't ever neglect the Holy Spirits Power in your life, even when the way looks easy enough for you to go it on your own. This is when you are in the greatest danger from satan's lies. Pride goes before the Fall!! Trust Him in ALL things.... big or small. ~Pastor Lynn
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
October 2, 2011
JUST FOR TODAY: God did not call us to witness or preach merely to impart information. After this comes prayer and longing to see transformation. I started out preachin' scared to death; then I got to where I loved to preach; now I just Love the people that I preach to. I pray that revelation from God's word will bless you and change your life forever. I thank the good Lord and all of you for allowing me to be your Pastor. ~Pastor Lynn
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But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
— Psalm 5:11 (NIV)
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: What are you thinking and how are you using your mind? God created your brain so that you could know Him as your closest friend but also your sovereign Lord. We can be intimate with the Lord and still not lose sight of His Majesty. We are the only creatures capable of recieving God and responding to His Presence. The human mind is one of the greatest things that God ever created. It would certainly be a shame if you didn't use it for it's primary purpose....and that is knowing Him. ~Pastor Lynn
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Comment by Dr. Bob Rawson, FCH Director on September 29, 2011 at 8:07pm
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Sometimes we have every reason to be bitter. The circumstances of life has dealt a ton of harshness for us to handle.
Every person will be confronted with the reality that life is not fair. There will be harshness that can harden our lives or elevate our spirits to reach for our goals and dreams with greater determination than ever.
Life does terrible things to some people. It actually does difficult things to each and every one of us. Somewhere along the road we are going to have to learn how to handle the rough spots and the detours. We have to face disappointments, disrupted plans, and unrealized dreams. Life is unpredictable. Sometimes we have to settle for a "maybe". The Bible understands that. Paul, writing in his Corinthian letters, reminds us that our vision is limited. He says that it is like looking through a dark glass. All we have is partial vision. The time will come when everything will be clear and we will know, as even God now knows us. But the time has not yet come. That's really difficult for some of us to cope with. Things seem to constantly interrupt our plans, goals and cause us to live with the harsh side of life. How can we deal with or handle this harshness of life?
There are four suggestions I might offer as to how we might respond:
We need to acknowledge the hurt, the harshness, and the helplessness. Don't live every day
in despair and bitterness. Remember, the Apostle Paul shared: "We are afflicted in every
way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, struck down, but not destroyed."
Keep a balanced perspective and see what can be seen and salvaged. Our faith enables us
to walk through the valley of dark experiences--not to camp out for the rest of our life in this
place of despair and fear.
Be part of the solution. Do what you humanly can do. Do not feel the harshness of life and
hide behind a mask of self-pity, doubt and heartache. Don't suffer from the "I Can't Do
Anything" syndrome. Jesus never said, "That's it! I quit! I resign my Messiah-ship!" Not
even on the Cross. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ declares to us that no matter how dark
it is we do not ever need to give up.
Believe deeply in the sovereignty of God in all circumstances. Even in the darkness"God is
in control." We must always keep focused on God in every circumstance. God's focus is
always on us.
I always liked this poem which makes a point about how we need to make our response:
Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl,
One was an optimistic soul;
But the other took the gloomy view,
"I shall drown," he cried, "and so will you."
So with a last despairing cry,
He closed his eyes and said, "Good-bye."
But the other frog, with a merry grin,
Said, "I can't get out, but I won't give in!
I'll swim around till my strength is spent.
For having tried, I'll die content."
Bravely he swam until it would seem
His struggles began to churn the cream.
On the top of the butter at last he stopped
And out of the bowl he happily hopped.
What is the moral? It's easily found.
If you can't get out--keep swimming around.
Don't give up--even when it is hard to see that you are making any progress--because by your determination and witness you may be in the midst of turning cream into butter.
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Comment by Jeff Hildebrandt on September 29, 2011 at 12:51pm
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Regrets
What would you do if you only knew
what happens an hour from now?
What would you say if you knew that today
would be your last chance somehow?What would you do if it came down to you
to witness and gather a stray?
Would you truly confess if you knew it would bless
some soul that had lost its way?What would it take for you to forsake
your cozy and comfortable place?
Who would you tell to keep them from hell
and show them the way to God’s Grace?What would you do if it really were true
God’s harvest would happen today?
So what makes you think, in the time of a wink
their life won’t be taken away?What would you feel if those what-ifs were real
and you never did witness or pray?
Would you always regret the chance you’ll never get
to help them avoid judgment day?What will you do knowing God expects you
to be bold and to speak without fear?
Will you speak up in love, share the Truth from above?
Cause the truth is, God’s judgment is near.Jeff Hildebrandt © Sept 28, 2011
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: When we become "Christians" and are no longer considered "sinners", why are we still so good at it. I guess the only thing stronger and bigger than the ugliness of our sin is the Power and Immenseness of God's grace. How do you think God would respond if you asked him, "how sorry do I have to be for my sin???"...... "Oh, stubborn child...sorry enough to stop it!"
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
September 26, 2011
JUST FOR TODAY: Do you need encouragement in your life?? Then take the time to encourage someone else who needs it worse than you do. Do you need healing in your body? Then take the time to pray for family and friends that are sicker or hurt worse than you are. Do you need someone to Love you? Then Love God because He Loved you first and Love other people because God said to. What ever it is that you need....then plant the seed. Will you reap what you sow?? Absolutely!!! ~Pastor Lynn
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: In the name of Jesus, Lord please forgive us for judging other folks when they hesitate, trembling in fear over some task or circumstance that might seem easy to us. Remove the Pride that causes us to worry about what other people think about us and makes us try to impress others. Lord, help us to simply Trust you and stay focused on YOU and the path that you have set before us this day. Amen. ~Pastor Lynn
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
FROMTHE PASTOR'S PORCH: God speaks through the Church
I know that most of you will have a hard time believing this, but at one time in my life I had a very serious drug problem. Yes, it's true; my Momma drug me to Church!! Do you remember those days?? I know it's been a long time for some of you, but try anyway. Remember when your parents used to drag you to Church? Back in those days, Church was not an option; it was a way of life.
I didn't really mind it all that much because we lived out East of Cement and my older brothers were gone when I was still just a kid; so I enjoyed getting to be around other kids at church. That was fun and so was the music. Oh, what great music!! Those of you that remember my Momma, Elma Walker, know what a great Gospel piano player she was. She didn't just play the piano, she kind of “romped” on it!! And then there was the guitar players; Pastor Eslinger, Hershel Warren, Lefty Shepard, and Donald Burns. I was pretty small when I joined in on my brother's old Washburn acoustic guitar. I must have been pretty annoying at the time because I came to Church one morning, and somebody had cut all the strings off my guitar!! I think they might have been tryin' to tell me something?? I didn't let that stop me; I just sat up there pretending to strum that old guitar just like it still had strings on it!! Yes, I'm sure glad my Momma drug me to church and I'm sure glad she drug my Daddy to church, too. I remember thinking how good it was to hear my Daddyfinally stand up and “testify” how much he Loved the Lord. Those were good times back then.
Going to Church is still a good thing. While it is true that we have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, that doesn't mean that we still don't need the church. There is no such thing as a “Lone Ranger” Christian and we are not to “forsake the gathering of ourselves together”. If you think you don't need the Church, you better get your manual and read 1 Corinthians 12: 7-31. The Church is the body of Christ and YOU need to be part of that body. God created the church as His “redemptive agent” in this world. He has a purpose for the Church, and He has a purpose for YOU in the Church!! God places every member in a church to accomplish His (not your) purpose through that congregation.
God spoke in Old Testament times through His prophets. He spoke to us in the New Testament Gospels through His son, Jesus Christ. From Pentecost up to this present time, God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit uses four “tools” to reach God's people. The Bible, Prayer, circumstances, and THE CHURCH!!! Friend, YOU need to be in Church!! There are many great Churches in Grady County and the Chickasha area, so you really don't have any excuse or viable reason for not being in a local Church. Take all of your arguments and reasons for not going to Church under “captivity to the obedience of Christ”. Obey the Lord!! Get off of your blessed assurance, shuck the mask Lone Ranger Christian, and get yourself to Church. God has some things He wants to say to you. If you don't have a Church home, please feel free to come visit COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH, 409
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[Jesus said,] "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful."
— Matthew 13:22 (NIV)
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
September 22nd, 2011
JUST FOR TODAY: God is your strength and your song. Since He is your strength, let him help you with all task that come before you. Because He is your song, He can give you Joy as you work with Him to accomplish His goals for your life on a daily basis. Humans are the only creatures God created that can think about the future. Don't misuse this blessing by worrying about tomorrow. If your thinking about the future, think about Heaven!! ~Pastor Lynn
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Comment by Tom Borror on September 21, 2011 at 10:31am
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Matt. 12:20 A bruised reed will he not break, a smoking flax will he not quench.The so called church is called an army. But it is the only army in the world that beats or kills it's wounded. The women caught in adultery in John 8. No question of her guilt. Yet Jesus didn't condemn her.
Maybe yours is not lust. How about doubt. We have Thomas. If not doubt then maybe it's dissappointing Jesus. Every one knows how dissapointing Peter was yet Jesus never condemned him. of all people Jesus let him preach on the day of Pentecost. How dare him do that. The so called church makes up it's own scriptures at least in deed. Jesus came not to condemn the world that's why he made the church. One of the greatest sins is be aware of none. Some people think that God only has grace & mercy for themselves and not for others.
He who shows no mercy shall receive no mercy.
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
September 21st, 2011
JUST FOR TODAY: Paul wrote that our troubles are light and momentary compared to the etenal glory being achieved by them. We need to look at problems from God's perspective and not let little problems cause us to lose our focus on HIM. Let the Light of God's presence shine on all your problems. The little ones will get an "oh well" and you won't waste the energy you may need for the bigger problems. You might be surprised how your Big God can make Big problems look pretty small. ~Pastor Lynn
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