Monday Video - Simon's Cat

We're on a cat theme -- last Monday's video was Catcaboodle about the man who loved his 150 or so cats.

Today's Monday Video is a cartoon from a man who truly understands a cat's true nature.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflections - "But I NEEEEED That"

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. " (Luke 12:27-31)

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

OK, food, drink, shelter, clothes -- I think I can categorize these things as needs. But where is the line between needs and wants?

I need food to survive -- but do I really need a chile cheeseburger from Sonic?
I need drink to survive -- but do I really need an iced mocha from Starbucks?
I need shelter for protection from the elements -- but do I really need the nice house we have now?
I need clothes for modesty -- but do I really need those running shoes from Zappos?

What about our horses, stable, truck, trailer? Do we really need them -- probably not. They're definitely a want.

Surely my computer is a need. How can I live without the Internet and e-mail? Probably pretty well, so I guess it's really a want, darn it.

The dictionary defines need as 'anything that is necessary, but lacking' and want as 'a specific feeling of desire.'

So, a want is a feeling and a need is something that is necessary. By implication, a want is something we desire, but it's not necessary. We can live without it. We cannot live without a need.

So, God will take care of my needs, but does he care about my wants? I think he does -- to a point. And I believe we define that point. Today at church, we watched a short video that had a central point: "Use your money (goods, etc) in such a way that it is plain to the world that it is not your treasure. Your real treasure is Jesus Christ."

As any good father I believe God wants us to be happy -- but not at the expense of our holiness, our relationship with him through Jesus Christ.

As I sit in our nice house, I'm grateful that it's a gift and it in no way defines who I am. When I ride Morgunn, I'm grateful that he's a gift and he in no way defines who I am.

I am defined by my relationship with God through Jesus -- that and nothing more is my greatest need and want.

Icelandic Heaven for Gletta

I drove Gletta up to Gulnare, Colorado yesterday. Gulnare is 8 miles West of Aguilar which is halfway between Trinidad and Wahlsenberg. Fortunately, we had an uneventful trip.

We met Gletta's new owner, Andrea Brodie, and her partner, Loren. They are both nice folks and Andrea is a vet and an Icelandic Horse breeder. Her first comment when she saw Gletta in the trailer was, "She doesn't look like she's 27 years old."

We all jumped into my truck and drove Gletta over to their pasture where they keep their 'boys,' their geldings. When they saw the truck and trailer driving up they all came running.

Here are some pictures of Gletta entering her new home and meeting the 'boys.'


Then we walked Gletta over to the pasture where the mares, the 'girls,' hang out. On the way we had to cross over a small river that runs through the property and provides water for the horses. We spotted a couple of small bear tracks from a young bear who probably came during the night to get a drink. Andrea also said they have a herd of elk that come to browse in the pasture. I would love to see Gletta's face the first time she sees a herd of elk.

Loren took Gletta up into the pasture so she and the 'girls' could meet. There were also two foals who were interested as well.

Loren took off Gletta's halter and she was on her own.


Things were pretty calm and then someone must have said something. It's a horse thing.

Then everyone settled down again.

Gletta and one of the foals seemed to hit it off and the mother mare didn't seem concerned at all.


Here's a longer view of Gletta's new home. Andrea and Lorne have about 120 acres and each pasture is about 20 acres -- and full of grass. The 'boys' are in the foreground. Gletta and the 'girls' are in the back. The lone horse at the fence line is Andrea's stallion checking out the new girl in town -- but in vain because Gletta is too old to be bred.

This second 'letting go' was hard again for Betty, but her decision to let Gletta go to Andrea and her place in Colorado was a good one. When we leave next Friday to visit our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Fort Collins, Colorado we'll be able to stop so Betty can see Gletta's new home for herself.

Gletta will have a good life being a horse and, when Andrea has company who wants to ride, Gletta is one of the riding horses she now has available to her.

It seems to be a good match for everyone. Enjoy your new home Gletta. You deserve it.

Tuesday Odds and Ends and Equestrian Exercises

Exercised this morning and then went to Galloping Grace Youth Ranch. Had a great time as usual.

Drove over to our vet's office this afternoon to pick up the Coggins Test and Health Certificate for Gletta so I can legally drive her to Colorado tomorrow. I may or may not have a post tomorrow depending on what time I get home, but I will have some pictures of Gletta's new home by Thursday at the latest.

Betty's still gone and I still miss her.

I ran across these Equestrian Exercises yesterday and wanted to share them with everyone. If you're involved with horses, you'll see the truth in these exercises. If you're not, maybe it will help you better understand those of us who choose to spend our lives with horses -- or maybe it won't help at all.

Here they are, starting with exercise #10:

10. Drop a heavy steel object on your foot. Don't pick it up right away. Shout, "Get off, Stupid, GET OFF!"

9. Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice "relaxing into the fall." Roll lithely into a ball and spring to your feet.

8. Learn to grab your checkbook and write out a $200 check without even looking down.

7. Jog long distances carrying a halter and a carrot. Go ahead and tell the neighbors what you are doing - they might as well know now.

6. Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling to a halt. Smile as if you are having fun.

5. Hone your fibbing skills: "See hon, moving hay bales is FUN!" and "No, really, I'm glad your lucky performance and multimillion dollar horse won the blue ribbon. I am just thankful that my hard work and actual ability won me second place."

3. Borrow the US Army's slogan: Be All That You Can Be -- bitten, thrown, kicked, slimed, trampled, frozen...

2. Lie face down in a puddle of mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself, "This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience, this is ..."

1. THE NUMBER ONE EXERCISE TO BECOME A BETTER EQUESTRIAN:


Marry money.

Monday Video - Cats and More Cats

Betty and I have always loved cats. We both grew up with a cat in the home. Betty's cat was Calico and my cat was Oscar. At one time we had three cats.

However, here's a guy who has taken his love for cats to a new level.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflections -- Sin

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Sin -- now that's a word you don't hear that often. When was the last time you had someone come up to you and use the word 'sin' in a sentence?

For the most part, the word sin is usually confined to churches and not that often any more.

What is sin? Both the Hebrew (Old Testament) and the Greek (New Testament) words for sin literally mean "to miss the mark." The Greek word in particular is used as an archery term -- to miss the bulls eye."

God has a bulls eye, a mark, for my life -- his will for me. Any time I miss his mark, I choose not to follow his will I sin. We tend to think of sin as when we do bad things (see Seven Deadly Sins above), but any time I choose what I think is good instead of God's best for me I miss the mark -- I sin -- and, according to Paul's letter to the Romans (above) the wages I earn each time I miss the mark is death. It may not be physical death, but any time I choose my way instead of God's, my will instead of his, my sin is a cancer in my spirit.

Now what? Unfortunately, this is a problem I can't fix. All I can do is accept the second part of Paul's verse above -- accept God's gift of life in Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-18)

If that's the what, then what's the how?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9-10)

Sounds too simple, doesn't it? We confess (agree with God that we missed his mark) and he forgives and wipes us clean. Yes, it's that simple.

I also love what God does with our sins.

...You have loved back my life from the pit of corruption and nothingness, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. (Isaiah 38:17 Amplified Bible)

He loves us back from our life of sin and throws our sins behind his back -- they no longer come between us and God. We can once again embrace each other in love.

Not a bad deal.

Saturday Voice - I Miss Betty & Happy Birthday Chris

Betty left this morning on a Southwest flight to Nashville, Tennessee through Kansas City, Missouri. As I write this she's sitting int he Kansas City airport waiting for her flight to Nashville.

She's going to be with her sister Margie who had a serious automobile accident a little over two weeks ago.

It's a good thing she's doing, but the house is awful empty without her -- so is my life.

I'll manage, but I don't like it.

On the flip side of today, it's our youngest son's birthday today. Chris was born August 1, 1971 while I was still in the Navy. Our ship was coming home from our around the world cruise and we were in Rio de Janeiro when Chris was born. I didn't see him for the first time until he was about two weeks old.

He's grown up to be a good Christian man, good husband and good father to his adopted son, Javier Benavides.

We're blessed to be his parents.

Happy Birthday Chris.