John 20:29 reads, ". . . Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
The other readings for today can be found here, but before you head over there, remember that we are the lucky ones.
Some may wish to have lived in the times of Christ, but are we that strong. Are we able to follow the 'new guy' with all our hearts, all our souls and all our minds. Or would we be standing on the sideline quietly watching as Christ was put to death?
Those who were living good lives, not rocking the boat, but not taking action to follow Our Lord. Where are they now? I wonder where I would have been. Where would you have been? Quien Sabe?
We don't have the benefit of "seeing". We still have to make that decision - Do we stand on the sideline?
But, we have the benefit of years of Christian influence, teachings and traditions. We are the lucky ones. Though we have not seen, We Believe.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
The Struggle
His phone rarely rings. He has it set to vibrate first and he usually catches it pretty quick when it starts to go off. Today was no exception and it was Mike Powers on the other end. He let Morgan know that there was a cow down in the creek on his place. He wasn't sure if she was the only one, but he knew there was at least one down there.
Dad let Mick and Dick know and they penned the remuda horses. Those are the horses in the front trap that we use to work cattle. Everybody got saddled up and loaded up and they headed to the creek. It takes a while to get back there.
Once they arrived, it didn't take long to find her. Dick was on a big sorrel that he calls Hercules. He struck a trot toward the big brehmer pulling his rope down with Mick and Morgan just a few strides behind him.
That's when it got interesting.
Hercules all but disappeared.
When you grow up between two large creeks, you are taught how to deal with quicksand at an early age. Dick stepped off quickly, got horizontal and rolled out of there. By then Mick and Morgan were part way in it as well. It pulled on their horses pretty bad but they skirted it enough to not go down... for the moment.
As Dick tried to get Hercules out of the quicksand, Morgan and Mick went to that cow. Morgan roped her and the little grulla he was riding went down. That quick sand was all over. Morgan was lucky though that he had the bank on one side and he just stepped off. The little mare had a fight on her hands though.
Of course, horses don't really have anybody to teach them about quicksand. What they do have is instinct. They'll fight it, but they know when they're fighting a losing battle. They'll quit and get real still when it starts to pull on them too hard.
The little mare Dad was on did just that. She was fighting it, but she was going the wrong way. Her and Hercules both were pushing themselves toward the middle of the creek. See, the slope heads downward into the creek so that seems to be the path of least resistance to them. It's not.
Dick had dug around Hercules enough to get him unsaddled and was trying to coax him out of his predicament.
The grulla mare, on the other hand was in a little different situation. She fought into the water and evidently thought that it was still quicksand. She had laid down and quit. Completely quit. She was still tied off to the Brehmer at this point, and now she was floating down the creek like a dead fish. She wouldn't swim 'cause she thought she was still in the sand.
Well, Mick and Dick had gotten Hercules pointed toward the bank finally and were letting him catch his breath. Morgan was waiting for his mare to feel the bank so that she would hopefully stand back up. She wasn't going far since the brehmer cow was in the quick sand too now, like an anchor for Dad's grulla, four-legged bass tracker.
She finally did find the bank and get up. The crew was back in business. They dug around the cow a bit and then Mick and Morgan pulled her to the bank. Dick was still dealing with his sunken comrade.
He was pointed the right direction but not trying anymore. So, a little incentive was needed. By incentive, I mean nylon incentive. And by nylon incentive, I mean he had to wear his ass out a little with his rope to get him to try some more. He did. And he got out. Finally.
For one cow, it was a long drawn out ordeal. But it was called a success.
I wonder sometimes if I'm in quicksand. Do you ever get that feeling? Sometimes you think you're headed in the right direction and you struggle and struggle so sure of yourself. Then something, or someone, changes your direction. Probably the work of Our Lord. You probably think they're crazy. You may even resent them. They might even have to wear your ass out a little in order to get you going again.
Remember that you can fight the wrong way for only so long. Sometimes you have to take someone else's lead and change direction. Trust them to get you to the bank, even if they're whipping your ass to get you there. ;)
Dad let Mick and Dick know and they penned the remuda horses. Those are the horses in the front trap that we use to work cattle. Everybody got saddled up and loaded up and they headed to the creek. It takes a while to get back there.
Once they arrived, it didn't take long to find her. Dick was on a big sorrel that he calls Hercules. He struck a trot toward the big brehmer pulling his rope down with Mick and Morgan just a few strides behind him.
That's when it got interesting.
Hercules all but disappeared.
When you grow up between two large creeks, you are taught how to deal with quicksand at an early age. Dick stepped off quickly, got horizontal and rolled out of there. By then Mick and Morgan were part way in it as well. It pulled on their horses pretty bad but they skirted it enough to not go down... for the moment.
As Dick tried to get Hercules out of the quicksand, Morgan and Mick went to that cow. Morgan roped her and the little grulla he was riding went down. That quick sand was all over. Morgan was lucky though that he had the bank on one side and he just stepped off. The little mare had a fight on her hands though.
Of course, horses don't really have anybody to teach them about quicksand. What they do have is instinct. They'll fight it, but they know when they're fighting a losing battle. They'll quit and get real still when it starts to pull on them too hard.
The little mare Dad was on did just that. She was fighting it, but she was going the wrong way. Her and Hercules both were pushing themselves toward the middle of the creek. See, the slope heads downward into the creek so that seems to be the path of least resistance to them. It's not.
Dick had dug around Hercules enough to get him unsaddled and was trying to coax him out of his predicament.
The grulla mare, on the other hand was in a little different situation. She fought into the water and evidently thought that it was still quicksand. She had laid down and quit. Completely quit. She was still tied off to the Brehmer at this point, and now she was floating down the creek like a dead fish. She wouldn't swim 'cause she thought she was still in the sand.
Well, Mick and Dick had gotten Hercules pointed toward the bank finally and were letting him catch his breath. Morgan was waiting for his mare to feel the bank so that she would hopefully stand back up. She wasn't going far since the brehmer cow was in the quick sand too now, like an anchor for Dad's grulla, four-legged bass tracker.
She finally did find the bank and get up. The crew was back in business. They dug around the cow a bit and then Mick and Morgan pulled her to the bank. Dick was still dealing with his sunken comrade.
He was pointed the right direction but not trying anymore. So, a little incentive was needed. By incentive, I mean nylon incentive. And by nylon incentive, I mean he had to wear his ass out a little with his rope to get him to try some more. He did. And he got out. Finally.
For one cow, it was a long drawn out ordeal. But it was called a success.
I wonder sometimes if I'm in quicksand. Do you ever get that feeling? Sometimes you think you're headed in the right direction and you struggle and struggle so sure of yourself. Then something, or someone, changes your direction. Probably the work of Our Lord. You probably think they're crazy. You may even resent them. They might even have to wear your ass out a little in order to get you going again.
Remember that you can fight the wrong way for only so long. Sometimes you have to take someone else's lead and change direction. Trust them to get you to the bank, even if they're whipping your ass to get you there. ;)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Stand for what is right.
Lynn Cadell is a humble gentleman from South Central Texas who enjoys a good team roping when he can fit it into his schedule. Neck surgery placed quite a restriction on the movement of his neck permanently making him a heeler rather than a header.
Lynn attended the San Antonio Stockshow and Rodeo this past February during the Select Sale. The San Antonio Select Sale is an auction held by Dale and Donna Segraves where 300 registered quarter horses and paint horses are sold to the highest bidder.
Well, Mr. Cadell hadn't planned on buying anything, but when the gavel dropped on a good looking young buckskin filly, he was the highest bidder. And he was psyched. She was nice and he picked her up for what he thought was a bargain.
Evidently, the owners thought so, too. Lynn went and paid for his new filly, signed the ticket, and eased back to her stall to get a good look at her. There he was met by the should-have-been-ex-owners who asked him what he was doing. I wasn't there, but I can only imagine Mr. Cadell in his most authoritative effort coming off more inquisitive than anything else as he told them that he was looking at his new horse.
"We didn't sell her, " they told him.
"Well somebody did because I've got the signed ticket right here, " Lynn said.
Lynn was upset at this point, but just like SO MANY other good Christian people, he let it go. So, the people who brought the horse and didn't follow the proper procedure to pass on the sale got to take the horse back home. And the people who held a sale, sold a horse, and completed paper work for the sale of the horse didn't have to do anything. And the man who did everything right . . . got screwed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herman Rose of 7HR Quarter Horses was at this sale as well. He was on the other end. He consigned a very nice two-year old son of Smart Chic Olena. The colt was the third high selling horse of the sale and the highest selling two-year old. Congrats to Mr. Rose.
Well, not so fast. Mr. Rose got a call almost thirty days later. The new owners claimed that the horse only had one testical. They had a vet, Dr. Keller of Sonora, inspect the colt and declare that both visually and by palpation, it was determined that the horse had only one testical.
Segraves called Mr. Rose and he quickly let them know that he would take the horse back. He told Mr. Segraves that he had not inspected the colt and that he honestly had no idea. I'm sure Segraves had heard that before. Long story short, the horse was returned.
BUT, that's not all. The colt has two testicals. The whole situation turned on it's head when the colt arrived back to 7HR Quarter Horses. You can easily see both testicals when you're just standing next to the horse. I've seen them. We were on location taking pictures unrelated to this situation for Mr. Rose's website when he asked me to take a look.
So . . . The guy who paid for the horse, took him home and manipulated medical information on the animal got his money back. The auctioneer who sold the horse, provided all the legal paperwork to make sure that this doesn't happen and allowed it to happen anyway got off free and clear - again. And the man who consigned one of the best horses in the sale and bent over backwards to be helpful when he thought he was in the wrong . . . got screwed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, Our Lord instructs us to be humble and contrite. However, we forget that He also asks us to stand for something. For Him. It's not our job to be humiliated, but to have humility. We aren't here to cower to the unrighteous in an effort to be meek. We are here to discipline the unrighteous and yet not lord it over them, but be merciful.
Proverbs 10:17 "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray."
Work to stand for what is right even if it means conflict. Most Christians are humble people and if they stand to benefit, they feel like they are taking advantage of the situation. However, by allowing the unjust to benefit from their ways, we are actually leading them astray.
Lynn attended the San Antonio Stockshow and Rodeo this past February during the Select Sale. The San Antonio Select Sale is an auction held by Dale and Donna Segraves where 300 registered quarter horses and paint horses are sold to the highest bidder.
Well, Mr. Cadell hadn't planned on buying anything, but when the gavel dropped on a good looking young buckskin filly, he was the highest bidder. And he was psyched. She was nice and he picked her up for what he thought was a bargain.
Evidently, the owners thought so, too. Lynn went and paid for his new filly, signed the ticket, and eased back to her stall to get a good look at her. There he was met by the should-have-been-ex-owners who asked him what he was doing. I wasn't there, but I can only imagine Mr. Cadell in his most authoritative effort coming off more inquisitive than anything else as he told them that he was looking at his new horse.
"We didn't sell her, " they told him.
"Well somebody did because I've got the signed ticket right here, " Lynn said.
Lynn was upset at this point, but just like SO MANY other good Christian people, he let it go. So, the people who brought the horse and didn't follow the proper procedure to pass on the sale got to take the horse back home. And the people who held a sale, sold a horse, and completed paper work for the sale of the horse didn't have to do anything. And the man who did everything right . . . got screwed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herman Rose of 7HR Quarter Horses was at this sale as well. He was on the other end. He consigned a very nice two-year old son of Smart Chic Olena. The colt was the third high selling horse of the sale and the highest selling two-year old. Congrats to Mr. Rose.
Well, not so fast. Mr. Rose got a call almost thirty days later. The new owners claimed that the horse only had one testical. They had a vet, Dr. Keller of Sonora, inspect the colt and declare that both visually and by palpation, it was determined that the horse had only one testical.
Segraves called Mr. Rose and he quickly let them know that he would take the horse back. He told Mr. Segraves that he had not inspected the colt and that he honestly had no idea. I'm sure Segraves had heard that before. Long story short, the horse was returned.
BUT, that's not all. The colt has two testicals. The whole situation turned on it's head when the colt arrived back to 7HR Quarter Horses. You can easily see both testicals when you're just standing next to the horse. I've seen them. We were on location taking pictures unrelated to this situation for Mr. Rose's website when he asked me to take a look.
So . . . The guy who paid for the horse, took him home and manipulated medical information on the animal got his money back. The auctioneer who sold the horse, provided all the legal paperwork to make sure that this doesn't happen and allowed it to happen anyway got off free and clear - again. And the man who consigned one of the best horses in the sale and bent over backwards to be helpful when he thought he was in the wrong . . . got screwed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, Our Lord instructs us to be humble and contrite. However, we forget that He also asks us to stand for something. For Him. It's not our job to be humiliated, but to have humility. We aren't here to cower to the unrighteous in an effort to be meek. We are here to discipline the unrighteous and yet not lord it over them, but be merciful.
Proverbs 10:17 "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray."
Work to stand for what is right even if it means conflict. Most Christians are humble people and if they stand to benefit, they feel like they are taking advantage of the situation. However, by allowing the unjust to benefit from their ways, we are actually leading them astray.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Would you know Him if you saw Him?
Today's Readings confirm to us that although Christ has died, His love and works are still alive and well. The first reading tells of Peter heeling in the name of Christ.
The Gospel reading shares a story more similar to the footsteps on the beach story. Although Christ had just been crucified, He joined Cleopas and his companion on their way to Emmaus on the third day. The two disciples didn't recognize Him. He shared wisdom with them like they had never heard and yet they still didn't see Him.
Such is life. God puts people in our lives everyday. He works through them and we never recognize Him. Look for Christ in everyone. He's there. Thank them for the good that it is in them. It will do them well to hear it.
You know the drill. Most of the time we don't hear anything unless it's complaining. Let someone hear something else.
I'd share more about the readings from today, but they're so good you really need to read them for yourself. Go Here »
The Gospel reading shares a story more similar to the footsteps on the beach story. Although Christ had just been crucified, He joined Cleopas and his companion on their way to Emmaus on the third day. The two disciples didn't recognize Him. He shared wisdom with them like they had never heard and yet they still didn't see Him.
Such is life. God puts people in our lives everyday. He works through them and we never recognize Him. Look for Christ in everyone. He's there. Thank them for the good that it is in them. It will do them well to hear it.
You know the drill. Most of the time we don't hear anything unless it's complaining. Let someone hear something else.
I'd share more about the readings from today, but they're so good you really need to read them for yourself. Go Here »
Monday, April 13, 2009
Happy Easter! He is risen!
Hope everyone had a blessed Easter this year.
Please remember His love and self-sacrifice for each and every one of us.
Do something for someone that they don't expect. It will surprise and fulfill you more than them. I gaurantee it. :)
Please remember His love and self-sacrifice for each and every one of us.
Do something for someone that they don't expect. It will surprise and fulfill you more than them. I gaurantee it. :)
It Was Lost, But Now Is Found
The camera is back! Well, what was once a camera is back. It was found in the middle of the pasture, smashed. The memory card from within the case was able to be salvaged. Here are some of the pics from a Thursday when we branded some replacement heifers.
Branding Cattle at the O'Brien Ranch
The Man In Charge: J.M. O'Brien
Morgan O'Brien
I'm getting hooked on a little in the crowd pen and Kelley thinks it's funny.
So, of course Mick has to wave and tell me to take his picture.
Finally get away from her. Didn't even know this picture got taken until today.
OK, she's leaving, got to get back to work.
Morgan O'Brien branding.
The O'Brien Ranch cattle brand.
Mick and Dick O'Brien
Kelley O'Brien
Dick O'Brien
Cowboy in the Smoke
Jesse Gomez
Felix and JB
Getting everything done on eighty head of replacements takes some time. This crew has been doing it for quite some time though and we wrap it up pretty quick. For a run down on what's going on in some of these pics, go here to read about a branding day.
Branding Cattle at the O'Brien Ranch
The Man In Charge: J.M. O'Brien
J.M. oversees everything. Usually from his trusty Chevrolet.
Morgan O'Brien
Here, Morgan is branding a replacement heifer. She'll get dewormed by Kelley, vaccinated by Doc, tattooed by the vet tech and then out the front of the shoot she'll go.
I'm getting hooked on a little in the crowd pen and Kelley thinks it's funny.
One of these heifers got to raking around on me in the crowd pen while I was waiting to send the next bunch through and Kelley thought is was alot funnier than I did.
So, of course Mick has to wave and tell me to take his picture.
There's always comedic relief when working at the O'Brien Ranch. I'm trying to get myself out of a bind and Mick is hollering for me to take his picture. Of course, if I was wanting to take his picture for real, he'd be running like I had the plague. Gotta love Mick and Dick.
Finally get away from her. Didn't even know this picture got taken until today.
OK, she's leaving, got to get back to work.
Morgan O'Brien branding.
The O'Brien Ranch cattle brand.
Mick and Dick O'Brien
THE BEST cowboy team I have ever seen. Yes, they're full of . . . um yea that. Yes, they like to give you a hard time. They usually can make up words to a song that is surprisingly good while they do whatever it is they are doing. And guess what, you will be in the song and probably won't be thrilled about what you are doing according to their Kristofferson-like verses. But, they can get it done. You name it. It gets done. Quick. Right. Every time.
Doctor Williams
Doc Williams headed to vaccinate the next one.
Kelley O'Brien
Kelley O'Brien deworming another heifer.
Dick O'Brien
Dick O'Brien holding a heifer for the vet tech. She'll give her a tattoo ID in the ear.
Cowboy in the Smoke
Branding iron smoke is a great filter for photography. This is Dick about to open the front gate for this set of heifers to go get with the rest of those that have been worked.
Jesse Gomez
Jesse opens the squeeze shoot after each set of heifers have been branded, dewormed, vaccinated and tattooed.
Felix and JB
Felix (left) and JB immobilize each set of heifers by closing the squeeze shoot and holding it until the crew is finished.
Getting everything done on eighty head of replacements takes some time. This crew has been doing it for quite some time though and we wrap it up pretty quick. For a run down on what's going on in some of these pics, go here to read about a branding day.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
What's a Seder Meal?
What's a seder meal?
That's what I was thinking when Fr. Ed introduced the idea in church a couple of weeks ago. It's a Passover celebration. A very structured ritual that plays out in the form of a formal dinner, the seder meal is essentially the method used by Jews and Christians to remember the oppressed, and pass down the beliefs and practice of love and compassion to the youth of their local communities.
Attending one is not unlike a large family get together. Everyone is well fed with children laughing and music playing. Except for one thing. The order. Everything has it's place. It's role for the evening. And every person as well. Seder in hebrew is translated as "order". Order is the theme for the night. And it's nice. We learned quite a bit and enjoyed a wonderful meal.
The main thing one should take away from this, though, is not to neglect your freedom. Remember those who have suffered in order to give us what we take for granted every day. Pray for those enslaved today. They exist. I assure you. Enslaved by addiction, illness, injury as well as oppression and false imprisonment. If it seems silly to you, it's only because we are so far from it. Even more reason to take a minute to reflect upon it.
Most especially remember Our Lord. He laid down His life for us so that we may enjoy eternal freedom.
And if you ever get the chance to participate in a seder meal, do it. You'll enjoy it.
That's what I was thinking when Fr. Ed introduced the idea in church a couple of weeks ago. It's a Passover celebration. A very structured ritual that plays out in the form of a formal dinner, the seder meal is essentially the method used by Jews and Christians to remember the oppressed, and pass down the beliefs and practice of love and compassion to the youth of their local communities.
Attending one is not unlike a large family get together. Everyone is well fed with children laughing and music playing. Except for one thing. The order. Everything has it's place. It's role for the evening. And every person as well. Seder in hebrew is translated as "order". Order is the theme for the night. And it's nice. We learned quite a bit and enjoyed a wonderful meal.
The main thing one should take away from this, though, is not to neglect your freedom. Remember those who have suffered in order to give us what we take for granted every day. Pray for those enslaved today. They exist. I assure you. Enslaved by addiction, illness, injury as well as oppression and false imprisonment. If it seems silly to you, it's only because we are so far from it. Even more reason to take a minute to reflect upon it.
Most especially remember Our Lord. He laid down His life for us so that we may enjoy eternal freedom.
And if you ever get the chance to participate in a seder meal, do it. You'll enjoy it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
