Training for the Cross - Journal

Men's Bible Study

2012-01-13T21:33:00.002-07:00

Our men's Bible study has gotten so big (praise God!) that we are moving it to the Homedale Friends Community Church. Come join us at 6:00 am Wednesday mornings for great teaching and fellowship!
(The church is located at 17434 Highway 95, Wilder, ID.)

Good Communication

2011-07-18T16:40:00.003-06:00

Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say (Isaiah 28:23).

3 Factors of Communication
1) Feel
2) Timing
3) Balance

* The rate a person is able to move toward perfection rests entirely upon these three factors *

"Feeling" of the Horse

Ray Hunt said, "You can't buy it and I can't give it to you." You can read all the books in the world, have people tell you what "feel" is, and see people that ride through "feel," but you will never have it until you experience it. It can only be achieved between you and the horse. People can help you position yourself so that you and the horse are in a situation to experience "feel," but ultimately it is between you and the horse. If you can't feel when things are perfect, how do you expect to attain perfection?

Often perfection will pass by in a split second and then vanish. A person needs to recognize these split seconds and relieve the applied pressure. It is through receiving relief that the horse develops the desire to stay in perfection; then the seconds can be multiplied to minutes. A 30-minute ride with 2 minutes of perfection is better than a 3-hour ride with no perfection. The 2 minutes may be multiplied. However, the 3 hours without perfection will lead to an unwillingly submitted horse.

True Unity: Willing Communication Between God and Human

The title of Tom Dorrance's book is "True Unity: Willing Communication Between Horse and Human." The editor Milly Porter stated, "From the beginning of time, history has been sprinkled with individuals who, because of something unique in their personalities, take the very ordinary in their environments and see in it, or do with it, a little more than others seem to have gotten from the same opportunity." Tom was definitely one of these individuals. Tom's teachings, both directly and indirectly have had an enormous impact on people around the world. Tom did not do an incredible amount of traveling putting on clinics, but his teachings have spread like wildfire, through many of his students.

Nearly 20 years ago, Tom said, "It will soon be 27 years since I first met Ray Hunt – that has been another fortunate experience of my life. I have never experienced anyone who could pick up on the slightest clue and build on it in the right direction in such a short time." Ray Hunt, one of Tom's best-known students, took what Tom gave him and shared it with people for over 40 years.

What was it that Tom possessed, that not only helped people to realize how to get along better with their horse, but to live a better life? People who worked around Tom not only said that their horsemanship improved, but they became a better person. So what was it? I believe it was a combination of things. The times that I was around Tom, I was too young to realize and appreciate the gift he had with horses. I just remember him being one of the most caring men I have ever met. He not only had a gift with animals and especially horses, but a gift with people.

Tom had an incredible memory, and a God-given ability to feel a horse and read a person. However, I believe that Tom's greatest gift was his heart. Tom had a soft heart and that is why people and horses were drawn to him. What made Tom truly unique was that he had Christ-like qualities. I do not mean to take away from the legacy of Tom Dorrance, but the reason his teachings were successful, was because it was the way God intended it.
God told me once, "If you have a little piece of God in this world, you will stand out; if you get a little bigger piece of God, you will be set apart; the more of God you receive in this world, the more of you will depart from this world until you are no longer in this world and are with your Father in heaven." Whether a person is a Christian or not, if they possess any of Christ's qualities they will stand out in this world. A person that is humble, caring, patient, unselfish, and trustworthy will easily stand out in the world we live in today.

Tom could communicate with horses, but he had trouble trying to get people to find that same communication. It was only when the person's heart changed that they could find what Tom had been trying to show them. The person had to set aside their selfish ambitions and look at things from the horse's perspective. There were some things however, that Tom could not teach; "feel, timing, and balance." These were the backbone to what Tom tried to get across to people, and without that backbone, they could not progress. Without it, communication between horse and man is very limited.

Feel, timing, and balance cannot be comprehended from intellectual knowledge, but must be experienced. The same is true with God and words such as: revelation, manifestation, and glory. I majored in Equine Science in college and earned a Masters in Equine Science. I have learned anatomy and physiology, reproduction, lameness, conformation, forages, genetics, management, and nutrition. All of these have helped me to understand the makeup of a horse and their character and management, but none of this has helped me to "feel" of the horse. This is something that I will only understand through experience.

We can go to church and learn the makeup of God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We can read the Bible and listen to sermons to understand the character of God; however, we will never truly know God, until we experience Him. This can only happen through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The frustration that Tom experienced in trying to help people communicate with the horse is the same frustration that God has with us. Tom says in his book, "If I could tell people, just go through the motions here, and then they could pick this up and do it, I wouldn't do anything else, but work with people and horses; but there is something more. It is something that has to come in the unity between the horse and the rider."

God tried to get people to have closeness with Him by going through the motions. He gave Moses a list of laws and told him exactly what they must do to have closeness with God. However, unity could not come through willpower or head knowledge; it had to come through the death of Jesus Christ uniting us to the Father. By accepting Jesus into our hearts we become children of God, uniting us with the Father. Then the Holy Spirit is able to communicate the will of the Father, and He is able to direct and lead us. God leads us through the Spirit, and we are able to experience Him in greater ways the more we operate through the Spirit.

If Tom could have gotten everyone to operate through "feel," instead of willpower, they could have had the unity that Tom had with horses. However, many people had the habit of operating through willpower. People would come to Tom and he would show them what was holding them back from "feeling" of the horse. They could feel what Tom was talking about, and experience closeness with their horse when they were with Tom. It made sense and felt good, but when they left his clinics they would slide back into their old way of trying to make it happen. When they were in the clinic environment it was easier to operate through feel, but when they left and returned to their jobs, the environment changed. They then had trouble keeping the soft "feel."

This is no different than our lives with the Lord. If we go to someone who is living their life through the Spirit, they can show us what is holding us back from "feeling" the Lord. When we are with them it is easy to operate in the Holy Spirit. However, when we leave and return to our jobs we find ourselves in a different environment and slip back into our old way of doing it by our willpower.

This is why Scripture tells us: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). God knows that it is hard to walk in the Spirit when we are baby Christians. That is why He tells us to assemble together. "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20). God tells us when we are babies we need milk, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready" (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). This should be the job of our pastor; a man that is acquainted with operating in the power of the Holy Spirit and can help us mature in Christ. If our pastor is only teaching on the character of God and is not helping us experience God (soft feel), our lives will often slide back into operating through our own willpower.

Tom was probably one of the greatest people to learn how to experience a soft feel from, because Tom always operated with a soft feel. The results were evident with any horse that he worked, as well as the people that he helped. Tom did not just talk about the power of having feel, timing, and balance; the evidence could be seen through what he could accomplish. I did not get an opportunity to spend time learning about "feel" from Tom, however, I have learned a great deal from people that have spent time with him. It is from these people that I have seen the powerful results in their horsemanship and they have helped me experience the results that can come from "feel." It is easy to see if someone is operating with feel, timing, and balance, because it will be evident in what they can accomplish with their horse. The same is true for someone who is operating through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told His disciples, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12). Jesus told them they would do "greater works than these" because He was going to the Father and was going to send the Holy Spirit.

In Acts Jesus told His disciples, "For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5). "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit came on the apostles, and they began to speak in other tongues "as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2:4). The men that had just crucified Jesus were at the Pentecost and were in disbelief of the power of God working through the Holy Spirit. Peter stood up filled with the Holy Spirit and in a few paragraphs Peter's words cut through their hearts and they asked what they must do. Peter told them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Scripture says that over three thousand were saved that day.

We may think that we have a tough crowd to try to get saved, but I am fairly confident we will not come across a crowd as tough as the people at the Pentecost. These were radical religious people who had just crucified Jesus. However, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and with God talking through him, his words pierced their hearts. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12).

The Holy Spirit brings power to our lives, and if we are walking in the Spirit, God's power will be evident through us. "So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers" (Acts 16:5). People were drawn to the early disciples because they could see the power of God on them. People were drawn to Tom because they could see the power of a soft feel. Scripture says, "That we will judge them by their fruit." "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:19-20). Jesus told His disciples when they received the Holy Spirit they would receive power. I am not talking about selfish power, but power for the kingdom of God. Jesus told them they would do greater things than these. Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead and that is what the disciples did once they received the Holy Spirit. Jesus and the disciples also possessed a supernatural love that only comes from God and the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the power that is available once we have learned to become united with God and walk in His spirit.

People were drawn to the disciples because the power of God was on them. People wanted to know what was different about them, and the disciples told them it was Jesus and the Holy Spirit living through them. They wanted to become born again and receive the Holy Spirit. In this same manner people were drawn to Tom, and wanted to learn how to "feel" of the horse.

In order to have unity with our horse, we need to learn how to operate through a "soft feel." If not, we then try to do it through our own willpower. The same is true with the Lord. In order to have unity with Him, we must learn how to let the Holy Spirit operate through us. It is when
we are not continually striving to know God more, and lose the hunger for His presence, that we find ourselves trying to do it by our own willpower. If we want to know how to be united with our horse, we wouldn't go to someone who has only read books on horse behavior. Instead, we would be drawn to someone who attains unity with their horse and can communicate with them. Then they could help us communicate with our horse and eventually gain unity. The same is true in our spiritual life. When we are baby Christians, we need to make sure that we find people that are not only familiar with the character of God, but have experienced God and are acquainted with walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. People that communicate with God can help us communicate with Him and eventually we can gain unity with our heavenly Father. We can gain True Unity: Willing Communication Between God and Man.

God Bless,
Wade Black

(exerpt from "Returning to Eden - True Unity & Willing Communication" by Wade Black)

40 Days to the Trainer Bible Study

2011-07-12T12:43:00.001-06:00

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand (Matthew 13:10-13).

Join us tonight at 7 pm for the "40 Days to the Trainer" Bible study, at Homedale Friends Community Church, 17434 Highway 95, Wilder, ID. Everyone is welcome!

For more detailed information, see the Bible Study page by clicking HERE.

40 Days to the Trainer

2011-06-30T13:35:00.005-06:00

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Come join us for the "40 Days to the Trainer" Bible study! We will be meeting Tuesday evenings at 7 pm, at Fran Lane, Wilder, ID. Everyone is welcome!

The "40 Days to the Trainer" Bible study uses horsemanship, ranch roping, rodeo, and stockmanship parables to help us hear the Lord better, to fan into flame and direct our spiritual gifts, and to find the line we were predestined to travel. The goal of this Bible study is to set a solid foundation in a believer's life of "who they are in Christ," and help the believer draw closer to becoming one with Christ. Just like with a horse, the best way to become one with God is to set out to do a job together.

For more detailed information, see the Bible Study page by clicking HERE.

College Course & Certificate

2011-05-15T14:35:00.009-06:00

"Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." (Proverbs 4:13).

Stop by Martin Black's booth at the Jordan Valley Big Loop Rodeo (May 20, 21, 22) for more information on the new College Course & Certificate program offered by Training for the Cross, LLC.

Training for the Cross offers a new College Course and Certificate Program in Applied Animal Behavior & Livestock Skills!! Four separate classes: Horsemanship, Roping, Stockmanship, and Rodea Style Branding, offered beginning Nov. 1st, 2011. For a detailed syllabus and description, see the College Course page by clicking HERE.

Willing Submission

2011-01-11T15:36:00.001-07:00

"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart." (Job 22:21-22).

"Willing Submission" or "Seeking Relief"

1) The horse chooses to do the job.
2) Set it up so the horse would have it no other way than to do what you want to do.
3) Horses are driven by comfort. Make it comfortable to do the job.
"Make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy" (Ray Hunt).
4) In this way the horse and person become partners. The horse has a choice.
5) Requires patience, timing, and feel.
6) A person can ask a lot more of a horse once they have submitted willingly.
7) Willingly submitted horses try to please their riders.

In order for you and your horse to move together in perfect unity to accomplish a job, the horse must first act with "Willing Submission." My definition of "Willing Submission" is: When a request is made the horse willingly performs the task requiring little to no pressure; it is the horse's idea. After initial contact the horse performs the task on a loose rein and with no leg pressure. If it is truly the horse's idea we should not have to drive them to do the job.

To achieve Willing Submission with my horse, I start with what I call Stage 1 (stopping the inside front foot and walking the other feet forward around it). When a horse stops driving forward with the inside front foot and walks the other three feet around the inside front foot with willing submission (loose rein and no leg pressure), they have totally submitted their driving factors/life to us. If they were driven by self-preservation, or seeking comfort and companionship away from us, their hindquarters would be driving them forward. We can disengage the hindquarters, but the driving factors are only submitted when the inside front foot stops moving forward. In Stage 1, the hindquarters will step sideways and then the outside front foot must step forward, then the hindquarters, then the outside foot and so on. If the inside front foot moves back or sideways, you have too much pressure on the rein. If the inside front foot moves forward, you have too much life and need a little more rein pressure.

Willing Submission can be applied to our lives. Once we have learned to totally submit our driving factors with willing submission, then the Lord can give us direction. Often even though we may want direction and be seeking direction, until we have totally submitted our driving factors, it is difficult to hear the Lord speak. When we attained salvation we achieved Stage 1, we totally submitted our driving factors with willing submission. We were no longer driven by our self-preservation and seeking comfort and companionship anywhere but "in" Him. We had total confidence in Him and our energy (motivation and determination) was pointed entirely to Him. It was at that moment that you were in perfection. You were cleansed from all your sins and they were as far as from the east is to the west; "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalms 103:12).

However, just like a young horse it does not take long for those driving factors to come back in and start driving us away from the Lord. No, the driving factors must be resubmitted and resubmitted and resubmitted all day every day until they no longer come back in. That is what we have to do with our horse and that is what the Lord showed me I must do with my life, to be a true disciple. Once the Lord showed me this concept of how limited I am to do a job with my horse when they have not submitted their driving factors, I began to realize how much I was limiting God in using me as a true disciple. Oh sure, we can contain our self-preservation with a strong mechanical foundation (going to church, reading our Bible), but we will never be a true disciple until we get rid of our self-preservation and seek Him for comfort and companionship daily.

The most important thing is to learn how to submit your driving factors. If you are like I was when the Lord started showing me this, it is going to be very difficult. Although I tried to read my Bible daily and attended church whenever I could, I was amazed at how much I operated in my self-preservation (thoughts of I, me, we, or us). Just like our horse, we need to learn how to submit our driving factors. The tough part is to try to stop the forward motion, to stop your driving factors from driving your mind away from God. God showed me that I need to do this the same way I get a horse to do it.

When I first begin to teach a horse to submit their driving factors it is all mechanical. A horse that has never been touched before I will rope around the neck and whenever they turn and face, pointing their driving factors to me (Stage 1), I will give them relief. Eventually they learn that they cannot breathe unless they have their driving factors pointed to me (this is what the Lord did to me). Then I work closer and closer, decreasing the energy and increasing the confidence in me, teaching the horse to keep their driving factors pointed to me. Then I put a halter on them and teach them Stage 1 (submitting driving factors) with a halter. Then I wrap the lead rope around my saddle horn, put the flag over the horse's withers and ride to their tail. The horse is snubbed to my saddle horn and cannot get away. When I bring the flag into the horse, the horse's self-preservation tries to drive the horse away, but he hits the end of the lead rope and submits his driving factors. Eventually as the energy decreases, confidence is gained and the horse is no longer bothered by the flag.

The horse also learns that under high stress situations when self-preservation is at its highest, they can always submit their driving factors and get relief. If I do not have a saddle horse, I will tie them to a solid post and drive them forward until they hit the end of the rope and do Stage 1 submitting their driving factors. I then give them relief when they turn and face me. I pet them between the eyes, walk around straight behind them and do it again. Eventually as the energy decreases and confidence is gained, they learn to submit their driving factors and trust me in their blind spot. They learn to stop the forward motion and pivot around the inside front foot before the slack even comes out of the lead rope. It is easy to see how Stage 1 brings direction (suppleness through the poll and loin) in this drill. Apply the same concept when you get on the horse's back.

A person can apply the same concept of getting the horse to point their driving factors to you, in the round pen. Brian Neubert explains this very well on his website and there are several people that have "round pen ministries" relating getting a horse to "turn and face" to our life with the Lord. The parable is that the round pen is the world, we are the horse and God patiently waits in the middle. God applies slight pressure when we are focused on the distractions of the world (outside the pen) and we get relief when we turn our focus to Him. The end result is our driving factors pointed to God and no longer seeking comfort and companionship with the world. The round pen ministries are a great demonstration of how we can find peace and contentment in this life, through submitting our driving factors. They are a tremendous tool for bringing people to the Lord and work wonders; our ministry however is focused more on the next step. Now that we have submitted to the Lord, how can we learn to ride in absolute perfection where horse and person, man and God truly become one? Now that we have submitted in the round pen, how do we stay submitted once the gate is open?

Ask the Lord to give you a solid post to keep your self-preservation from having a runaway. Just like your horse, the more times you can keep your driving factors submitted, the more confidence (faith) can be gained in God and the flags will soon have no effect.

When working with a horse that is filled with self-preservation I like to work with them in a solid round pen. Do the same thing with your mind during the early stages; build a strong round pen for your mind. The more people that you put around yourself that are seeking the Kingdom of God, the easier it is going to be to keep your mind from running off. The more time you keep your mind on Him, wanting to know Him, the Holy Spirit will begin to decrease your energy and increase your confidence in Him. Once you have a solid Stage 1 with willing submission, peace and direction will follow right after. Treat your mind just like the horse's hindquarters. Our mind is constantly in self-preservation, running off and seeking comfort and companionship away from the Lord, if we let it. Learn to double your mind. Ask the Lord to give you something to double your mind around. Pray to the Lord, "Lord my mind is running off; give me something to double it around." Think of your favorite Scripture, or something He has shown you in the past. Start praising Him and thanking Him for everything He has given you. Ask Him to remove your self-preservation and wash you of your sins. Do whatever you have to do to keep your mind on Him. As your focus begins to shift from self-preservation to feeling the comfort and companionship of the Holy Spirit, just continue to think about Him and the presence of the Holy Spirit will get stronger and stronger. Pretty soon your mind will become totally submitted, you will be at total peace and your mind will become consumed with the Lord. This is what it means to have a solid Stage 1; totally submitted driving factors. Once a person learns to find this place on a daily basis, your life will never be the same again.

Learn to submit your driving factors, be softened by the Holy Spirit and then receive direction like Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Elijah fell before the Lord a helpless wreck, fully submitted his driving factors and then the Lord spoke to him. If you are tired of waiting on direction from the Lord, instead of waiting on the Lord to get through your driving factors, try totally submitting your driving factors, laying everything at His feet.

Here's a Quiz to help you check your progress in attaining Willing Submission:

The thoughts in my head and desires in my heart naturally line up with the Bible (New Covenant) (Hebrews 8:10).

All day I am about my Father's business (Luke 2:49).

In every thing I do, I work at it with all my heart as if working for God, not for man; because I know it is from the Lord that I will receive the reward of my inheritance (Colossians 3:23-24).

I serve only one master, I do not get caught up in the world and worry about money (Matthew 6:24).

I look to my heavenly Father and only Him, nothing is tying me to this world (Matthew 19:21).

My focus all day is to store up for myself treasures in heaven, not on earth (Luke 2:49).

(excerpt from "Foundation for Perfection: A Guide to Discipleship" by Wade Black)

Humble Yourself

2010-11-14T11:06:00.002-07:00

"His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love" (Psalm 147:10-11).

Foundation for Perfection

2010-09-28T13:03:00.013-06:00

"The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29).

On Thursday, Sept 30th, Wade will be in Montana picking up horses for the Foundation for Perfection Training program. It's not too late to send your horse for some practical job experience! If you're interested, or have any questions, click here to fill out the "Contact Form."

Wade Black riding a client's horse, Alvord Ranch

Your horse can gain this invaluable experience!

Only The Truth Is True

2010-08-31T14:00:00.007-06:00

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal" (Isaiah 26:3-4).

Photo by Chrissy King, NV

I'm preparing for my Jr. and Sr. High Sunday School class and wanted to share with you the theme we will be starting in September. "Only the Truth is True." It is a simple statement. My goal with this theme is for my students to understand the truth of God and His Word. Anything that doesn't line up with His Word is simply NOT true. The Bible, God's Word is TRUTH!

We tell other believers or nonbelievers this, but too many times we allow Satan to rob this truth from us or we simply don't stand on it. What truth are you not standing on today? This morning, mine was that I wasn't trusting God with EVERYTHING!
I recognized it when I was praying while I was getting ready this morning and asked, "Lord, please give me a scripture to build my trust." To be honest, I thought of some scriptures in my head and thought, "Well, that is probably what I needed." However, I wasn't any more comforted, nor felt any more trusting. I knew in my mind that I could trust God, but I didn't have peace. I got online to check my email and one of my devotionals was on trusting God! The scripture was "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal" (Isaiah 26:3-4). It was awesome! God gave me exactly what I needed. He met me where I was at this morning. I am so thankful to Him that He is faithful even when I am not! Where are you today? What do you need? Jesus knows and wants to bless you and speak to you. Go to Him!

Please pray with me.

Lord Jesus,
I come to you empty. Lord, you know my every need and my concerns. Lord, I lay them all at your feet and ask that you would give me truth today. That I would come to you and be fed by you. Give me faith to trust you with every area of my life. Thank you that you are a real and living God and that you can be trusted. Thank you that you care about me, and you are wanting and asking me to come to you. Thank you that you give peace that surpasses understanding! I praise you and thank you for your faithfulness! In Jesus precious name, Amen!

Amaia Black

Driving Factors

2010-08-23T15:40:00.004-06:00

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Photo by Kim Stone

In order to have any hope of getting rid of the resistance that is keeping us from perfection with our horse or with God, we must understand the horse's and our own driving factors. I teach that horses have 3 primary driving factors and 2 underlying factors.

Primary Driving Factors: Self-Preservation, Comfort, Companionship
Underlying Factors: Confidence, Energy

Horses are constantly seeking comfort and companionship. As long as horses are comfortable they are happy, and like any herd animal, horses seek companionship. Whenever they lose confidence in someone or something, self-preservation (fight or flight) kicks in. If they did not have this instinct, predators would have eaten them a long time ago. There are two ways to get rid of your horse's self-preservation; either by increasing their confidence or by decreasing their energy. Self-preservation is engaged when a horse loses confidence, so by increasing the confidence in a person or situation, self-preservation will be reduced.

Energy is the equivalent to motivation and determination, and enhances whatever driving factor the horse is displaying at any given time. When a wild mustang stallion loses confidence in someone or something, they are going to be driven by their self-preservation to fight (strike, kick, bite, etc.). The higher the energy level, the more motivated and determined they will be to fight. A horse that is in good condition and healthy is going to be highly motivated to fight, while a horse that is thin or sick will have little motivation or determination to fight. When a yearling colt loses confidence in someone or something, they are going to rely on their self-preservation for "flight" instead of "fight." They will try to run from danger to seek the comfort and companionship they have with the herd. The higher their energy level (body condition, high energy feeds), the more motivated and determined they will be to run from you and seek comfort and companionship somewhere else. As we decrease their energy, we decrease their expression of self-preservation, which opens the door to increase comfort and companionship when presented in the correct manner.

The same thing is true with us. As long as we have confidence in our own self-preservation or our own ability, we limit God's ability to use us to do a job. The more energy we have pushing our self-preservation, the tougher it is. God does the same thing with us that I do with a horse. I make it tough for them when they are in their self-preservation, and easy when they turn to me for comfort and companionship. As the energy level decreases (confidence in their ability) they find confidence in me and their self-preservation leaves. God does the same thing with us to build confidence in Him. Jesus said, "In me you will have peace, in the world tribulation" (John 16:33). In the Greek, the word "tribulation" can be translated "pressure." To teach my horse to stay out of their self-preservation, I use pressure and relief. God does the same thing with us. In Him is peace. How do we know we are in our self-preservation unless God puts a little pressure on us when we are "in" ourselves?

Let’s identify your driving factors.
What is your primary defense mechanism, fight or flight?
When you lose confidence in a situation, or if someone hurts you, which of these do you do?

1) Get mad and want to verbally or physically hurt the other person; or

2) Run away, want to hide from the danger, seek comfort and companionship with someone, or something safe.

By identifying your self-preservation, you will hopefully learn to identify it and stay out of it. Just like your horse, the longer you spend in your self-preservation, the harder it is to build confidence in the Lord. Confidence (faith) eats self-preservation and self-preservation eats confidence. It is very difficult to offer direction to a horse that is in their self-preservation. Trying to force them to do something will only bring resentment. If we want direction in our life, or to eliminate the resistance in our life, we must learn how to get out of our self-preservation.

Which driving factor is your energy (motivation and determination) currently fueling? Where do you find comfort; thinking about yourself, someone else, or God?

1) Self-Preservation – Primary thoughts throughout the day are consumed with I and me.

2) Companionship – Primary thoughts throughout the day are consumed with someone or something else; employer, co-workers, friends, spouse, kids, parents, etc. Or worldly TV, computer, magazine, radio, etc.

3) God – Primary thoughts throughout the day involve God.

I am not for one second trying to tell you that you should not think of others. A husband should think about his wife, a parent better think about their children, an employee about their employer, and so on.
But, we can serve God and live our life at the same time. By drawing closer to God, we can become a better parent, spouse, friend, employee, etc. By getting out of our self-preservation and learning to seek Him for comfort and companionship, we can find the peace that is "in" Him.

Jesus was in this world, but not of this world; this should be our goal. After spending most of my life trying to learn how to ride in perfection with a horse, I can experience it more regularly now. After working on it with just me and the horse, I can now feel this perfection while I am doing jobs. I have learned how to feel the perfection in a horse that I am riding, while talking to someone standing on the fence and listening to the radio, all at the same time. This is what Jesus had from a heavenly perspective and this is what the early disciples had as well. Jesus was "in" His father while healing the sick, confronting Pharisees, and teaching His disciples all at the same time. Jesus and the disciples had a close and intimate connection with their heavenly Father while doing a job, and this is what He wants for us as well. ".....He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do....." (John 14:12). You may think I am crazy, but the Lord has shown me how we can experience this in our lives. However, just like the horse we don't start out by doing jobs. We start out by finding the perfection, by finding how to stay "in" Him and not falling into our self-preservation. When I try to do a job with a horse with a weak foundation, I often get into wrecks and the same has been true in my life.

In order to have a strong foundation we must get control of our driving factors. Getting control of my driving factors has had an amazing impact on my life, and has had an amazing impact with my horses as well. Controlling the driving factors is the most important thing in having a foundation for perfection and eliminating the resistance with your horse, or in your life.

God Bless,
Wade Black

Now Ponies, Don't You Worry

2010-08-15T10:56:00.008-06:00

You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor (Job 11:18-19).

Wade Black, Ray Hunt Memorial Clinic, photo by Allison Ballinger

Allison Ballinger put together 4 fantastic slideshows of pictures she took from the 2010 Ray Hunt Memorial, accompanied by music. Visit Cross B Photography to take a look and listen! They are beautiful!

Ponies
By Jeffrey Bullock

Somewhere out on the prairie
Is the greatest cowboy that's ever been,
And when he lays his hands upon the ponies
They shudder with an understanding skin.

And he says, "Ponies, now ponies, don't you worry,
I have not come to steal your fire away.
I want to fly with you across the sunrise,
Discover what begins each shining day."

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalm 51:10-12).

Rodeo Season Begins!

2010-07-18T18:20:00.006-06:00

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).

Wade Black, Philomath Rodeo, photo by Jones Oliver

Once, at a rodeo over the 4th of July weekend, during the bull riding they set off some fireworks, and I remember watching a particular firework go off not far from the chutes. There was one spark that came away from the rest, shot clear up in the air and veered off straight behind the chutes. I continued to watch it, and it fell down to the stripping chutes, not 10 to 15 feet from where I was standing and exploded. It did not hurt anyone, only startled everyone, and got everyone's attention. The Lord then told me, "Works of fire." The Holy Spirit is a consuming fire, "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire" (Deuteronomy 4:24), and the Lord was showing me that He wanted to unleash His Holy Spirit behind the bucking chutes.

The Lord then gave me a vision in which I was making a perfect saddle bronc ride, with Jesus riding behind me. I then saw myself back behind the chutes talking to people about the Lord with a Bible in my hand. He gave me this scripture, "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them" (Ezekiel 2:3-5). When the Lord had given me the vision and the scripture, I questioned Him wondering what I would say and if I was the right man for the job. The Lord immediately gave me Exodus 4:11-12, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." After the Lord gave me the second scripture, I figured the first one was not a mistake and the Lord must have known what He was doing. It sounded good to me and I am excited to be an instrument of God behind the rodeo chutes.

~ Wade Black

So far this summer Wade has ridden broncs and ministered behind the chutes at Nyssa and Grangeville, ID; Sedro Woolley and Vancouver, WA; and Sweet Home, Philomath, and Baker City, OR. More rodeos are in store, so stay tuned!

A New Thought Process

2010-07-05T16:26:00.044-06:00

No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better (Luke 5:39).

Wade Black, Alvord Ranch

What is the Problem?

"I can't get my horse to do........A job."

Two ways to solve the problem:

1 – Traditional way	2 – Alternative way
How can I make my horse do the job?	How can I help my horse do the job?
*Slave Mentality	*Partnership Mentality
How can I make him do the job?	Why does he not want to do the job?
Focus on...	Focus on...
1) Foundation of Maneuvers	1) Willing Submission
2) Direction and Life	2) Good Communication
	3) Driving Factors
How can I move the horse's head and neck, shoulders, and hindquarters in the direction I want, with the speed that I want in order to accomplish the job?	Why does the horse not want to do the job and what can I do differently to help him want to do the job?
Focused on Job Completion	Focused on True Unity (Perfection)
Run the risk of unwilling submission which leads to...	How can I help him do the job?
1) Lack of communication 2) Self-preservation 3) Disobedience	Once the horse has willingly submitted his will and we are operating with good communication...
Guaranteed Resistance	Then we are in a position to teach him to do the job. Then we work on building a.... 1) Solid Foundation of Maneuvers 2) A balanced direction to life ratio
Level of Resistance is determined by....	Remember the three stages of training a horse:
1) Intensity of job 2) Energy level of horse 3) Patience of person	1) Setting a foundation 2) Using jobs to build the foundation 3) Using foundation to do a job

*Fewer Problems and No Resistance because the horse wants to do the job and understands how to do it.

Exerpt from Wade Black's book "Returning to Eden."

Stay tuned for future posts on Willing/Unwilling Submission, the 3 Causes of Resistance, the 4 Factors to Eliminate Resistance, and the Solid Foundation of Maneuvers.

Your Horse Needs Real Job Experience!

2010-05-10T21:27:00.020-06:00

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right (Proverbs 20:11).

Wade Black & John Schutte, Alvord Ranch

~ We still have some openings for Montana horses for August/September 2010 in the 2-month "Setting and Using Jobs to Build the Foundation for Perfection" program.

~ This program combines the "Foundation for Perfection" with practical job experience for your horse (ranch work like branding, roping, working cattle, etc.).

~ Cost is $1,500 for 1 horse for 2 months.

~ The cost includes training, feed/board, and transportation (from Montana to Idaho, to ranches in Idaho and Oregon, and back to Montana).

~ If you're interested, or have any questions, click here to fill out the "Contact Form."

Your horse can gain this invaluable experience!

What is Faith?

2010-05-05T13:06:00.016-06:00

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Photo by Heiko Rodde

If I tell a child, "Just have faith, and have faith that I'll take you to get ice cream when I'm done working," or something of that nature, and then I don't - after a while the child loses faith, they won't believe me. I can tell them and promise, but unless I do something as a father to persuade them to have faith in me again - why would they believe? Just because I told them to?

In my mind, isn't that the same with our Heavenly Father and us? If He doesn't woo us, or persuade us with a divine experience either inside of us or a supernatural one around us, how then can we have faith? Faith to me, without His persuasion, is just something I have to work at, and by itself gets tiring and my human nature will decide I'm not getting anywhere. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Where do I get the substance of things hoped for if He doesn't show me some signs, wonders, and miracles? Don't tell me those things are irrelevant, because they are what give us hope. To see the supernatural happen!! Is that all of God? No. But they are of God!

Where do I get the evidence of those things not seen without experiencing something I've never felt before inside my being, a change, a hunger, a breaking? His grace covers everything we do, but don't tell me that He doesn't allow trials and tribulations to happen in our lives, and not expect a change. What the heck are the trials and tribulations for, if we are not supposed to draw closer to Him and allow Him to persuade us, allow Him to show us who He is?

If you think that the trials and tribulations are not His doing, that they are a result of our sin, then why did Satan have to get permission to assault Job? And how big is God? Is He actually in control of everything? Have you decided to put a limitation on His power? Are you now going to say that you can drag yourself out of your sin, without His help? His grace is always there, but we have to want it! We have to cry out for it. His grace is sufficient for me. That's why I keep going back to it, because He's there with it!

Ty Van Norman

40 Days to the Trainer

2010-04-30T10:40:00.007-06:00

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).

You are invited to participate in a new Discipleship Training program offered by Training for the Cross!

The "40 days to the Trainer: Discipleship Training" is a 7-week course using horse parables to better understand the "pattern" of the tabernacle and the significance it plays in a believer's life. Moses was given a pattern when instructed to build the tabernacle, and it was this pattern that took the Old Covenant priest into the presence of God. This same pattern can take ALL believers into the presence of God in the New Covenant.

They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (Hebrews 8:5).

The pattern given to Moses in the Old Covenant can serve as a copy (model) to help take us into the presence of God in the New Covenant.

For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence (Hebrews 9:24).

The priest could not just walk into the presence of God with out preparing himself first under the Old Covenant, and neither can we in the New Covenant. The 40 Days to the Trainer program uses horse parables to show us how to enter the Holy of Holies, receive direction from the Lord, find the line we were predestined to travel that brings glory to God, and fan into flame and direct our spiritual gifts.

40 Days to the Trainer: Discipleship Training
- 7-week course (May 10th to June 21st, 2010)
- Seven Weekly Meetings
- First meeting: Introduction to 40 days to the Trainer
- Following six meetings: 40-day discipleship training
- If interested, read Pages 4 to 11 in the "Foundation for Perfection: A Guide to Discipleship" then come to first meeting Monday, May 10th at 7:00 p.m.
- First week: Read "Foundation for Perfection: A Guide to Discipleship"
Day 1- pages 12 to 21
Day 2- pages 22 to 35
Day 3- pages 36 to 42
Day 4- pages 40 to 52
Day 5- pages 52 to 65
Day 6- pages 66 to 76
- Second week through Seventh week:
- Read 1 chapter of "Returning to Eden" daily
- Follow "Foundation for Perfection: A Guide to Discipleship"
- Attend 6 weekly meetings: Mondays 7 p.m. (If Mondays won't work for you, let us know through the contact page, what days would be better)

Therefore, brethren having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-22).

You can print the 2 books from the website yourself, or you can purchase them for $25 (covers just the cost of printing). If you are interested in participating in the "40 Days to the Trainer" discipleship program, please fill out the Contact Form on the Training page to let us know. Include the day/time that would work for you.

Ministry Trip to Central Asia

2010-04-16T12:46:00.008-06:00

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else (Isaiah 45:22).

(This is a revised version of a post we took down due to fear of retaliation against ministry workers on site in Central Asia. The names and identifiable pictures have had to be removed.)

Tanner is one of our Animal Science students, and a MSU football player, who has a real heart for building the Kingdom of God. He is generous enough to share his experiences from a football ministry trip to Central Asia.

It isn't possible to fit on a page or even twenty what an outstanding experience God blessed us with in Central Asia, spending a week ministering to the people.

Lunch with Central Asian friends

To help
you understand it would be best to take a glimpse at the culture. People from Central Asia think very differently than Americans as a result of different upbringings, religions, and governments, etc. In most cases if you are born in Central Asia you are born a Muslim. It might as well be a race. It goes on your driver's license, and is assumed unless you go through the trouble and much disgrace of noting otherwise.

Interestingly, the same can be said of their thoughts that American is equal to Christian. However, it's very important to understand that if someone finds out you're a missionary or doing church work you can immediately lose all credibility, as the accusation and assumption will immediately follow that you work for the CIA, are funded by the government, and are there to take over the country. Without exaggeration this is what the media has put in many of their heads. Our opportunity to build relationships, make friends and share the gospel therefore lay with the hopes of a great unifying force called American Football.

We spent our precious time with university students, mostly football players, during the day on their campuses building relationships, comparing cultures, and most importantly trusting, praying, and waiting for our Sovereign Lord to move. Practices came at night because of traffic and didn't get over till after midnight. Conversations sometimes quickly gravitated from culture and sports to more serious topics of eternity or even Christ Jesus. But, God doesn't often move people who are so rooted in false religion or the lies of the prince of this world, from A-Z in a week. Hence, God will save these men in His time, but it is of the utmost privilege to be used in His plan of deliverance!

One of the most incredible visits I've had concerning the cross of Christ was our last night with three college age men and women, two of whom were English majors in school and knew their bible from a religion class and enjoyed talking about it. As they smoked and drank Pilsner, God allowed us to tell of His plan of salvation again and again to Muslim, agnostic, and apathetic students! A place where I wouldn't dream of doing ministry in the states. Glory be to our Savior!

Along with three MSU football players from central and southern Montana, God sent 6 young men from a large southern US university, two of whom played football, and two ex-professional football players. One of whom was the only NFL player ever from Central Asia, and played for the Steelers for 13 years, was a 6-year team captain and 2-year probowler. He also happens to be a convert from Islam to Christianity. You can image the profound impact a man of faith on an NFL platform had with 60 young Central Asian football players.

In a country where a visa is difficult to maintain and the word missionary is never spoken out loud, our Father has richly blessed (and wore out) us with an opportunity to speak into young people's lives the love and grace available to a cursed people all because of the blood of the Lamb.

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Mat 26:28).

It's my sincerest hope that God would begin to break each of your hearts more and more for the lost people in Central Asia, the Middle East, and on the farm next to you.

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7).

Tanner sleeping in NYC airport...exhausted

Tanner J. Ripley

Comforting Words or Words from the Comforter?

2010-03-21T18:24:00.014-06:00

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3).

2010 Ray Hunt Memorial Clinic

Are you receiving your daily bread from Comforting Words or from Words from the Comforter?

Comforting Words can come from a lot of different sources, such as friends, family, your preacher/pastor/priest, studying the Bible, books, TV, magazines, a billboard, bumper stickers, even a stranger on the street. Words from the Comforter can only come from the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. These can come directly from the Comforter through an audible voice, a thought put in your head, a vision, a dream, a scripture revealed, or the Comforter can speak to you through someone or something like any of the sources mentioned above.

The means through which the words are delivered doesn't determine if they are Comforting Words or Words from the Comforter. The way you tell is by the fruit the words produce in your life. Often you won't know if they are Comforting Words, or Words from the Comforter, until the seeds have been given a chance to bear fruit.

How to judge the fruit:

Comforting words have the potential to bring life for a time, but if they are not continually spoken, they will become empty.

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience (Eph 5:6).

Words from the Comforter always bring life, transforming the recipient into a different state where life is a constant reality and where death can not go.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).

Comforting words slightly push us forward out of the state we are in, but must continually be spoken to keep us from sliding backwards.

For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd (Zec 10:2).

Words from the Comforter involve a transformation process where we are changed into something different and do not return to our old state.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).

Warning of Satan's Schemes:

Once a person hears the Words of the Comforter and is transformed into a different state (freedom), Satan does everything in his power to deceive that person into being drawn out of this state of life and liberty, and into the state of death and bondage where Comforting Words must be spoken daily to keep the person alive.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph 6:11).

What are you being fed?

Are you living on Comforting Words that are going into your head and keeping you alive? Or are you living on Words from the Comforter that are going into your heart and transforming you into a different image, the image of Jesus Christ?

Do you act more like Christ today than yesterday? This week from last week? This year from previous years?

Words from the Comforter involve transformation into continual peace and liberty. Comforting Words involve a process that moves from motivation, to depletion, depression, rededication, and back to life, motivated by comforting words that will run dry again repeating the process. Comforting Words are like taking an Advil when you get a headache. Words from the Comforter are like realizing the reason you have a headache is because it's 5:00 p.m. and you haven't eaten since breakfast. Comforting Words will treat the symptoms; Words from the Comforter are the cure for your life.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (Jas 4:7).

Good luck and God Bless,
Wade Black

This blog has moved

2010-03-18T16:30:00.001-06:00

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At His Feet

2010-01-08T15:48:00.026-07:00

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!" (Revelation 1:17-18)

Photo by Mary Williams Hyde

A late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Praise God, at least He knows what I'm doing when it seems to me like I'm just wallowing around in myself.

A lot of things have changed since the last time I was truly available to the Lord. At times, as I struggle to have a deeper relationship with my Lord and Savior, I seem to run into those conflicts of the soul and spirit. Thank God that He is in control and all I have to do is wallow around until HE BRINGS ME OUT OF IT!

Have you ever noticed that at times God gives you an idea, through the Holy Spirit, and you know it is truth and may be a new revelation to you, but you feel you haven't quite got a full grasp of it yet? In the meantime, the Lord puts someone in front of you that was rather unexpected and they seem to need or be struggling for the very thing that He just let you in on a while before. The coolest part of that is that we didn't have to go find someone to share with, He provided that, and in the process of us sharing, the Holy Spirit is truly our Teacher and reveals what we're speaking in more detail. Even to the point of conviction or edification of our own understanding, so that all parties become blessed. Amazing and Awesome to me!

With the New Year there have been some changes in my little family's life that I believe have started a new chapter in more ways than I am probably aware of yet.
In November, Ronda, the girls, and I left the ranch in Nevada and moved to Idaho. That is a huge change for me, as well as my girls. God is doing a mighty work in my remaining family there and I was hindering that for now. He opened up a way for us to move to an empty house that a friend and brother has here.

The only reason I've shared any of this is not really for what I'm doing, but for what God is doing with me and in me. PRAISE GOD!

It amazes me how at times I can be so submitted and pliable to the Holy Spirit to teach me and help me, and a month later wake up and realize that somewhere along the line I lost focus and have pretty much been running on my own strength, in a way useless to God. Thank God sometimes He shortens the chain and it doesn't take too long to hit the end of it and be snapped back into His reality.

About a week ago, God brought to my attention that I'm not exactly walking completely in His will, and therefore, I'm not truly in His presence. When we were in Nevada, I had been praying for direction. I had been telling Him that I wanted everything He had for me, that I wanted to give Him all of me. I desired His best for me even if that meant giving back some of His blessings.

Praise God! He opened a door and my friend had an empty house to move into, when He saw it fit for us to move. I really never thought I would do this, seeing as how the last year with the Lord has been so filled with Him, but some how on the move up here I put Him on the back burner. And yep, I'm sure I left Him simmering. Forgive me Lord! Praise God for His GRACE!

I didn't even feel the need to call upon the Holy Spirit to feed me or teach me.
Why?
Because God was sending us to Idaho and His timing is perfect!

An empty house!
Hey, we were in need of a house.

A job?
We'll worry about that when we get there. Thank God for an open door and a house. Let's get packed and move!

After about a month of moving, back and forth between states and holidays, Ronda and I came up with a brilliant new plan. We'll take the month of December off! A great plan, had I used it to benefit my spirit more than my flesh. I went to ropings and saw friends I hadn't seen in a while. All the time my conscience was on being a good example of Christ. I hadn't forgotten about Him completely!

What I didn't realize until just hours ago, it seems, is that He's upped the ante!

Now I have time on my hands. I don't have a day full of jobs that we'll never get done in a day, day after day. I had learned to stay focused on Him throughout the day because that was my escape from never being caught up with our work. I just praised Him, did the work we could, and went on in His bliss.

Haa! Now I have no work to speak of. So it should be simplicity, sublime, right? WRONG!
Now my mind, out of desperation, is waking up 4 hours before daylight, just to pace back and forth with a cup of coffee in my hands, realizing that I could step out the back door and spit on three different neighbors' property, and I begin to make up things that we need to work at figuring out.
What do I want to do when I grow up?
How are we going to make a living? Etc...
The thing that cracks me up is that, I STILL DON'T KNOW!

Here is what I do know.
God's timing is perfect!
He moved us down here!
Had a house waiting!
I got to spend more than a month with my girls uninterrupted because of work, some times pushing Ronda's sanity, I think!
We found a church and bible study that feeds me and challenges Ronda and I!
I lost my way and got stuck trying to make plans in my own strength!
When I try to press in or seek His presence it just felt dry, until 2 days ago!

Other than a small testament that you may be able to relate to, most everything up to this point is irrelevant compared to what I would like to share now.

As I've shared in the past, scripture and the revelation He gives us is all woven together, kind of like a ball of yarn, one thing leads to another. I'm going to attempt to try to make this simple without too many rabbit trails.

I said before that I felt like all I was getting was this dryness when I tried to press in and enter His rest. I believe the reason was that in the process of moving, I not only put Him on the back burner, but I may have moved the stove to the back yard.

Revelation 2:4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."The word "left" means "to send away or to neglect."
I had done that and He had that against me.

How now do I fix that?
Revelation 2:5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--- unless you repent."

Where had I fallen?
What is the first works?
Matthew 22:37 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
Matthew 22:38 "This is the first and great commandment."Mark 12:30 even adds not only our heart, soul, and mind, but with all our strength. "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment."
Wow, that sounds like something that we might have to put forth some effort to do!

There are a few things that I would like to expound on before we finish the rest of Revelation 2:5. The first works, if some of you got lost in my thinking, is to love our God, our Lord, our Savior. The word for "love" there, if I understand correctly, is agapao, the verb or action of the word agape. If you remember from the previous discussion a few months ago, this love is the type that we cannot achieve without the Holy Spirit, without Helper, without the Spirit of God!

Bare with me here, because we're going to get off on a bit of a rabbit trail, but I promise I'll wrap it all up as the Spirit leads me to.

Do you remember the scripture where Jesus speaks about a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand? (Luke 11:14-26) He's talking about being demon possessed, which I don't believe is possible for a believer. However, what the Spirit revealed to me through that scripture is that in Luke 11:23 "...he who does not gather with me scatters."The move up to Idaho had scattered me, not to the point of no return, but to the point of losing focus on loving on Him. I wasn't loving Him with all my strength, because I had shifted my focus from Him to what He had set in motion! That dryness that I was feeling was there because I had let something other than loving Him take up residence in a house that had been put in order prior to that (Luke 11:24-26).

So now what?
Well, the rest of Revelation 2:5 answers that!
Repent!! And return to those first works.
LOVING ON HIM!!!
Loving on Him is key as we'll find out, because He states (remember this is Christ speaking in Revelation) "or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place."

Wow, does that mean He's going to come and snuff us out?
Ahhh yes, in the sense that in Matthew 5:14-16 and Luke 8:16-18 you are no longer effective for the Kingdom of Heaven and in Matthew 6:22-23 you would no longer have spiritual eyes to see with, but slip back into seeing nothing of God's reality.
Repent! Repent! Repent!

So hopefully you followed me up until now, because I have one more example, I pray, that will help us realize the importance of just loving Him, and lead to another piece of our flesh being nailed to the cross.

In Luke 10:38-42 we meet Martha and Mary. It says that Martha pretty much busies herself with serving the Lord, basically being a good hostess to her guest. Mary on the other hand just plops herself down at His feet and listens to Him talk, probably as He taught His disciples, leaving Martha to do all the work.

In Luke 10:40 we see that she is distracted with much serving and finally loses it, and demands Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus in a loving tone (I believe) says "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things." He states a fact that we can gather from previous verses and our own experience. Then Jesus defends Mary.

Why?
Because of all the things that were needed, Mary had found the best one and that was at His feet loving Him, hanging on every word!

If we might take this a bit farther, as I was writing this down my eyes were opened a bit more. So for the sake of revelation, PRAISE GOD, let's say that Martha represents our soul, which is either led by our carnal desires or by our spirit, and Mary represents that spirit inside of us, that pure seed.

Now look at the scripture again, Luke 10:38-42.
In verse 38, notice that Martha (our soul, led by the flesh) invited Him in because she knew that is what she should do because of who He is.

In verse 39, what did Mary (our spirit) do? She immediately began to worship and love Him.

In verse 40, Martha (same one as before) after welcoming Him in, began the task of serving and busying herself with those things that SHE THOUGHT would be important to Him. To the point that Martha (same one) tries to throw a guilt trip on Jesus because Mary (our spirit) is worshipping instead of scattering herself all over the place trying to serve Him.
Don't you think that if Jesus had asked Mary to get Him something she would have leaped up and done so? The difference is Martha was trying to do it in her own strength, and was getting worn out, where Mary could have done it filled with the joy of just being in His presence.

It's becoming apparent to me how important it is to start the day at His feet as Mary did, before we start doing those tasks that Martha had put in front of herself. When we do this, it is easier to go throughout the day doing the tasks God has prioritized, and our spirit can stay at His feet loving Him!

Those desires of our soul must come into line with our spirit; Martha must sit down with Mary and find rest, so that Mary can lead Martha to do those things which Jesus desires.

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for Your grace. I thank You that You allow us back even after we've neglected You. Thank You that the more love we give to You, the more love You give to us. Lord, I pray that eyes will be opened and hearts softened when this is read and that your anointing would go forth and minister to those that can receive it. May You create in us a hunger to ante up when the stakes get higher.
Amen

WARNING: Please take everything you read and hear concerning my Lord before Him and get His opinion of it. I share those things that He has revealed to me at this time, but I reserve the right to change my opinion as He brings me into an ever deepening and revealing relationship with Him!

Ty Van Norman

Learning To Love

2009-10-12T13:36:00.007-06:00

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).

The Californios - Photo by Mary Williams Hyde

Greetings, fellow lost and seekers of His righteousness!!!

Thank God that the time that I have been away from the keyboard this last month or so has brought about some new revelation to some old trials that I seem to deal with in my flesh on a daily basis. Thank God for His love which defines His grace and mercy, or is it the other way around?

So, love for one another.
What is that?
How do we get that?
Why is it easier to have compassion for some and not others?
First of all what is love?

One definition of love is 'ahab,' (ah-hahv). To have affection for someone, to like, to be a friend, love romantically, love of ideals or pleasures (Psalm 97:10).

Another is 'phileo.' It has a similar meaning as the first: to be fond of, cherish, take pleasure in, have a personal attachment for (John 21:15).

Another is 'agape.' It means an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable good will, always seeking the best for another, no matter what. It is self giving, asking nothing in return and doesn't consider the worth of its object (Romans 5:5).'Agapeo' is the verb of 'agape' or the act of it (John 3:16).

So, here we are back to the question of: Why is it easier to have compassion for one and not so much for another?

We see that the definition for love in Psalm 97:10 is a description of a general love we have for those things we desire or appreciate. The same with 'phileo,' it is a love by chance. I love God, I love my wife and children, my mom and sister. I love a good steak, I love the feel of a good horse under me or an easy swinging rope etc..... Are you getting the picture?! These things are all love that we can experience and feel of in our FLESH! So even in our flesh we are capable of love by chance to a certain degree.

'Agape' refers to a love by choice, to the will rather than the emotion. It does not need chemistry, affinity, or a feeling. John 3:16 starts out with, "For God so loved (agapeo) the world...."

That means He loves everyone unconditionally that He created. Even the person we see in our work or down the road or around the corner, who through the eyes and understanding of our flesh may be a dork or doesn't fit in to our presence or is different in appearance or even may go to a different church or have a different gift or talent or, better yet, doesn't worship like we do.

How long is our nose or has it become the plank that protrudes from our eye? Haaa, we often think this is just for unbelievers and yet there is no reason for them to be aware of it. This is for us, who claim to have a love ('agape') for God, but can only by chance muster some 'phileo.'

Ohhhh, sweet Jesus, a REVELATION!
Then are we capable of 'agape' in our flesh?
NOT A CHANCE!
How then are we capable of 'agape' or 'agapeo'?

Ahhh, there it is, the heart of our topic today.
It has to be a surrendering of our will! Something that in our flesh we are not capable of. This surrender can only take place by the help of the Holy Spirit.

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Jesus is not speaking of 'phileo' here, He is speaking of 'agape.'
If this is a new commandment, how then are we to attain it?
We know that we can not fulfill the law.
This then separates 'phileo' from 'agape' and flesh from spirit.
If we can not obtain this love in the flesh, then the only way we can accomplish it is through the Spirit. It then has to become something we desire by a surrendering of our will.

Christ's love is not capable or inspired by our human qualities or flesh, it is grace motivated.

If then this is a commandment and something we are to do in His name then, in John 14:14-18, Jesus says we are to ask it in His name and He will send the Spirit as our helper to abide with us and help us to accomplish God's glory.

We see an example of this in John 21:15 when three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him and Peter's reply is, "Yes, Lord I love You."
Jesus asked Peter if he had 'agape' for Him and Peter answered that he had 'phileo' for Him. 'Phileo' was all that Peter was capable of in the flesh, because he had not received the Spirit yet. Later in his writings, Peter makes reference to 'agape' and 'agapeo,' but it wasn't until after the filling of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.

In John 21:15, Jesus tells Peter to feed His lambs (meaning those that are new in Christ, new believers).
In verse 16, He says, "Tend My sheep" (take care of His people, meet their needs physically, just as He had). Notice He said sheep not lambs.
In verse 17, He says, "Feed My sheep" (meaning spiritually through discipleship and scripture). Once again He said sheep not lambs.
Do you see it!
Precious Royalty! Do you understand it! It is imperative that we see that there is a maturing here. As we look at verse 18 we see why.

In verse 18, "When you were younger (lambs), you girded yourself and walked where you wished (meaning we are operating on our own strength, equipping ourselves, doing what we please, fulfilling our own flesh), but when you are old (sheep), you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."

With that maturing we will surrender our will to that of our Father's (1 Timothy 2:8).
He will equip us and give us boldness (Acts 4:31).
He will care for our needs, give us strength to endure those tribulations, through the Spirit, as we surrender our will for His, glorifying Him (2 Thessalonians 1:4-5).
Without this taking place there is no way we can "Follow Him" as in verse 19.

Brothers and sisters, this wasn't just for Peter. This is for every one of us to FOLLOW HIM with every being of our spirit!
That can not be accomplished without a maturing of the Spirit within us, a surrender of our will, a crucifying of our flesh!

Father,
Thank You for Your wisdom. Thank You that Your Son could be our example of 'agapeo.' Lord, I lift up those that call you King, that you would fill us with a new desire to seek Your will for our lives and give us this 'agape' love for those around us that we might fulfill Your greatest commandment and glorify Your name in our maturity.
Amen

On a side note, when the Romans were getting ready to crucify Peter, he requested that he be crucified upside down because he didn't consider himself worthy to be crucified the same as his Lord Jesus.

May the maturity you find to FOLLOW HIM glorify His name as the Spirit anoints you with his love! (1 John 1:5, John 14:23-24)

Ty Van Norman

Two Robbers

2009-08-18T10:44:00.009-06:00

"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:39-43).

"Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him" (Mark 15:32).

Tuscarora, NV - Photo by Chrissy King

Greetings, fellow lost and found!

I was sitting here with a list of subjects to expand on, but with no definite direction from God. Then I realized it doesn't matter this time, because the list was given to me in the course of seeking His face. Just step in the water and let Him part it.

Have you ever noticed how one subject always ties you to another as we contemplate God's word and the Holy Spirit's teaching? Why is that? Maybe because that is completion; you can't have part of something without the one part existing and influencing the other part.

I don't believe that God wrote His word without every jott and tittle having a meaning or purpose. Nothing was written to fill space between two subjects.

That being said - let's step in!

As Jesus hangs on the Cross for the world's sin, there hang beside Him two men, both robbers. In Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32, scripture says that they reviled Him along with the multitude. Then in Luke 23:39-43, as one robber blasphemes Christ, the other rebukes him and asks him why he doesn't fear God when he himself is being put to death the same way. Then the good robber (if you could call him that) admits to their guilt and the justness of their punishment. Not only that, but he defends Jesus as being innocent, and then goes even further to ask the Lord to remember him.

What just happened? One minute this robber was a part of the crowd and the next he had set himself apart. I believe God allowed him to have a revelation. Remember, crucifixion wasn't a fast death. So he had been mocking Christ for probably hours with the crowd. I can imagine him getting quieter and quieter as his thoughts began to wander to what he had heard of this man beside him, this King of the Jews. Some time in those few hours there was an uprooting!

I'm sure there are many different ways this account could teach us. As I write this I see more of them.

Here is one thing God has revealed to me.

So how does this apply to us now?

On one side we have the old man representing our sinful, carnal nature, and on the other side we have the new man that just experienced a revelation. Jesus hangs between the two, the gateway to salvation and eternal life.

Those of you who know who Christ is, know what the old and new man are and the difference.

Romans 5:12 and Romans Chapter 6, speak of that. We often find ourselves struggling to keep from returning to the old man's ways. Paul talks about the battle between his flesh (the old man) and his redeemed new man, who walks according to the Spirit (Romans 7:13-25).

How do we crucify the old man as Paul talks about in Galatians 5:24? How do we nourish the new man Christ has made us?

We crucify one by feeding the other. Did you notice in Romans 7:23-25 that Paul talks of his mind? In Romans 8:7 it says that my carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God.

That tells me that I need to subject my mind to the things of God, because I'm not naturally going to do that.

You see, as we look at the two robbers, we see ourselves. We see on one side our natural, carnal nature, and on the other side, that self that had a revelation and became redeemed through Christ.

Does revelation stop there? It dare not! I believe we have to continue to have revelations of who God is and how He works in order to feed our new self. If revelation stops, the Spiritual growth stops.

Here is a revelation that God gave me as He began to mold me into something useful. My thoughts are not my own. They either come from the Trinity, my flesh, this world, or Satan (basically unbelief). Now if we go too far this could get complicated - for now, let's keep it simple. My thoughts are either from God or they are unbelief. I asked the Holy Spirit to reveal that unbelief to me and take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:4-6), and hold it up to the Cross. If it does not measure up to the Cross, I cast it down and move on. In doing so, I begin to subject my mind to the law of God. I set myself up for fresh revelation from the Holy Spirit.

What I put in my mind is what is on my heart and what comes out of my mouth. Jeremiah 11:20, 17:10, and Revelation 2:23 state that God will search our hearts and test our minds.

Matthew 12:34 states that out of the abundance of our heart our mouth speaks. If I don't fill my mind with the goodness of God, how can I have the mind of Christ? How can I have a sound mind? How then can I have that redeemed life that He has promised me? How can I experience Him in His fullness?

Father, I lift up those of us struggling between the old man and the new. I pray that we would begin to subject our minds to you, Lord, so that you could bless us with that revelation that stills our mind and stirs our spirit. Thank you, Father, for your Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. I pray that the power behind it may begin to sever the old man from the new man, so that we might walk with You in Paradise on a daily basis.

May God's revelation cause a revolution between our nature and our righteousness.

Ty Van Norman

My Brokenness

2009-08-07T10:26:00.006-06:00

This is just my opinion, but I believe that we have to experience God before He truly becomes real to us.

How do we experience Him?

One way is through our own testimony of what He has done in our lives or through someone else's testimony. We begin to experience God when we start recognizing His activity in our lives and in the lives around us.

Tuscarora, NV - Photo by Chrissy King

Have you ever had those days that just seem to be a struggle? Some days are just a constant fight for me to stay out of my flesh and fill my mind with God's goodness!

July 23 was my birthday! "A glorious and joyful day?" you might ask.

That depends upon how you look at it, in the flesh or through the Spirit.

It seems that I spent most of the day sacrificing my will for those of others I love, a good thing, but I did it with a beaten attitude. In a sense serving someone else because I knew it would honor God, but with no joy inside of me. Trying to press in, but being distracted in my spirit.

Couldn't God give me His joy?!
Isn't that a fruit of the Spirit?
Couldn't He see me in need and impart that to me?

Aaah! There beginneth the lesson, that day, for me.

After struggling all day I was on the verge of being spiritually exhausted, to the point of wondering if I was becoming depressed. (I know, not a Godly thought, but satan is predictable and he had to try.)

On the way home my wife, Ronda, asked me what was bothering me and without hesitating something deep within my spirit answered with, "I don't know. I just feel alone."

Haaa, there it was! Where did that come from!?
Well, in the process of making a short story long, I'll tell you.

We all know that life is unpredictable; it is full of ups and downs, good times and bad, and life and death. Those life experiences either draw us closer to our Father or we seek comfort in the wisdom of the world and its ways consume us.

My family has been in the business of raising horses and cattle for at least 5 generations, but over the last 3 years my partners in this have gone to be with our Lord and Savior. Leaving me to be, at times, overwhelmed with my responsibilities. When my father died, my brother and I took over those responsibilities. In December 2008 my brother left me alone here to deal with this without him. But in that process he left me with everything that now, I pray, defines who I am. Troy put me in the presence of my God in an overwhelming and glorious way through his death. (You might think that was rather sick to see it that way, but flesh and blood did not reveal that to me. I won't pretend to know God's thoughts behind His timing, but I do know that His timing is everything, it is perfect!)

Troy is my brokenness! God was preparing me, with my son's death in February 2006 and my father's death in April 2006, for what He was about to do to me through my brother's life and death in December 2008.

You see!!!! God became real to me in a powerful and glorious, super natural way in that hospital room! Not because of where I was, but because my brother was a righteous!!, redeemed!!, lover of our God!!!

I believe that some time in our life we will all, every one of us, experience a form of brokenness in our life that defines who we are in Christ. When that time comes which way are you going to turn? The world has many definitions for depression, but do they stand up to the power of the Cross!!?

I find myself revisiting my brokenness at times. Why?
"Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty; And before honor is humility" (Proverbs 18:12).
I cannot honor my God without humility first!
My brokenness then becomes a twofold blessing:

First it brings me to this humility! The realization that I totally depend on my God for everything, even my next breath! When I realize that I am nothing without Him then I am in a place where He can use me. I become available to Him.

Second, I then experience His fullness and power and my spirit screams with boldness, "But as for me, I trust in YOU, O LORD; I say, "YOU ARE MY GOD!!!!" (Psalms 31:14).

My prayer for you, beloved brothers and sisters, is that you would recognize your brokenness for what it can be. Use it to get into the presence of our God so that you can experience His powerful touch in your life and create in you a deep hunger for more of Him.

May your brokenness define God's work in your life through your declaration of it!!

TVN

Double Your Mind Around This!

2009-07-20T09:45:00.007-06:00

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).

A friend that was leading a bible study I went to this past week asked us a question that another person had brought to his attention. The question had everything to do with the topic that night, but was not the main subject.

Before I ask the question, I find it exciting how the Holy Spirit can take us to a whole new revelation of God's word when it is spoken.
In answer to Thomas's question in John 14:5, Jesus states in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Here is the question to you as it was given to me.
Do you believe John 14:6?
Do you believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? And that no one comes to the Father except through Him?

Oh Saints! As I ponder this I realize the question has weight to it, it has depth far greater than what our own understanding can comprehend. It was a question birthed by the Spirit to bring us to a realization of what He really is and who we really are in Him!

That statement (John 14:6) defines our whole being as a believer.
Without believing it, we then stand outside the temple gates unable to be forgiven, unable to praise, unable to sacrifice, unable to wash ourselves in the word, unable to experience the fruits of the Spirit, unable to worship, unable to feel His touch or hear His voice.

Where then does that put us?
What do you see in the people around you?
Who do you see in the people around you?
There are millions of lost people in this world, are you just a number?
I'll bet Satan doesn't even know my name, but God knows how many hairs are on my head and how many I lost yesterday!

Jesus said "I am the way (the only way to meet God), I am the truth (God's righteousness and all the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven are revealed), I am the life" (He gives us eternal life, but He also equips us and fills us with His life as we struggle here in this world). No one comes to the Father but through Him (we cannot even be in the presence of God or enter the Kingdom of Heaven without recognizing who Jesus is and what He has done).
We should find this encouraging, as believers, that we now have a purpose in life. You are one of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

This is my prayer for the week:
"Lord, that you might reveal your way, your truth, your life to me, so that I may walk in your will and spend time in your glorious presence. That you would unveil your word to me, so that your knowledge and understanding would become mine. Thank you Father that I am one of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, that I have a purpose through you."
Amen

I would like to encourage you to get into the word daily, if not hourly, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it and teach you from it. Expect to experience God the more you become available to Him. Start with John chapters 14-17.
May the wisdom you find in our Lord set you apart!

TVN

Cowboy Christmas

2009-07-12T10:58:00.034-06:00

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God (Luke 8:1).

Grangeville, Idaho - Photo by Ken Lund

The 4th of July weekend is often called "Cowboy Christmas" because of the many rodeos that are held. For lots of cowboys, the couple of days before and during the 4th of July weekend are fast and furious, and jam-packed with travel to multiple rodeos. Wade rode saddle broncs at three ICA (Idaho Cowboy Association) rodeos; Vale, OR, and Hailey and Grangeville, ID. He placed and took home a check in all three rodeos. Good job, Wade! Now that really was Cowboy Christmas! More importantly, he got the chance to mingle, meet, and share the Training for the Cross ministry with other cowboys behind the chutes.

Photo by Mary Williams Hyde

And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable (Luke 8:4).

Jesus spoke to people in parables, stories of common experiences that they were familiar with and could easily understand. Wade has common experiences with rodeo and ranch cowboys, and can speak about and demonstrate the Gospel in ways that cowboys respect and understand. This is what makes participating in rodeos such an important part of the Training for the Cross ministry. Those "behind the chutes" acquaintances and friendships can reach cowboys who would never step foot inside a church.

Amaia's faithfulness and companionship to travel with Wade to the rodeos is another display of what Paul calls "simplicity and godly sincerity" (2 Cor 1:12), Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Tit 2:12).

Even with the hectic pace, Wade and Amaia were able to watch the fireworks with Amaia's family, and Amaia was able to have a fun time with her beloved nieces and nephews.

Photo by Michelle Escujuri Larzelier

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15).

Both Wade and Amaia have "honest and good hearts" and surely are "bringing forth fruit with patience." Look for Wade in the saddle bronc at another ICA rodeo in Glenns Ferry, ID on Saturday, July 18th, 2009.

(Special thanks to Michelle Larzelier for her great photo of Wade and Amaia!)

Jordan Valley Horse Expo 2009

2009-06-26T14:02:00.032-06:00

And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; (Exo 35:31) And he hath put in his heart that he may teach...(Exo 35:34).

Photo by Ann Black Rutan

Wade has been given gifts in understanding and knowledge of horsemanship, far above the average cowboy or horse person. These skills are gifts from God, and are to be used for the benefit of others.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10, NIV).

Photo by Ann Black Rutan

Wade is also a natural teacher. He recently got the opportunity to instruct a horsemanship clinic at the Jordan Valley (Oregon) Horse Expo. Ann Rutan is the South Mountain Cowboys 4-H Club leader, and did a fantastic job organizing the Horse Expo. The free program included educational presentations made by a horse chiropractor, a veterinarian, brand inspectors, and a horseshoer. There was even an awesome tri-tip dinner for all to enjoy!!

In the evening, Wade and John Schutte co-taught a horsemanship clinic that included both basic principles from the "Foundation for Perfection," and cow working for the more advanced riders. A great time was had by all the participants and many lessons learned!

Clinic participants - Photo by Ann Black Rutan

John Schutte teaching cow work - Photo by Ann Black Rutan

Thank you God for giving us the gifts to serve you.

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it (Ps 90:17).

(Thanks to Ann for being our special Owyhee Country correspondent!)

Let Go and Let God!

2009-06-24T22:30:00.002-06:00

Wade's Uncle Joel has been visiting here in Montana. He's spending the summer training horses, and just got back from touring Yellowstone with some of his family. We've really enjoyed meeting him and hearing his great stories. Joel always has a positive outlook on life, and wanted to share this with you.

Let go and let God: Sing in your heart for God and "God's love."

Let go and let God! Let God come into your heart, your soul and your spirit. Let God's mercy and love take you over. Sing out from your heart and soul. Sing out God's love from the tip of your toes to the top of your head and everywhere in between. Sing out so that ALL WILL KNOW that Christ Jesus has come into you and that His love is flowing through you.

Enjoy the wonderful and awesome love of God!!!!!!

Rodeo Bible Camp

2009-06-01T14:51:00.009-06:00

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD (Psa 34:11).

Rodeo Bible Camps of Idaho, Inc., is holding a camp at the Council, Idaho rodeo grounds on Highway 95, from June 7 to 11, 2009.

Wade and Amaia are going to be serving as counselors. RBCI is a ministry of area Bible Churches, and was organized to introduce teenagers to Jesus Christ, to strengthen the faith of those already born again, to provide instruction in basic rodeo skills, and to give teens the opportunity to put their skills into practice by providing actual rodeo competition. (If you would like more information about this organization please contact Deidre Gestrin at 208-871-7150.)

The camp will be putting on rodeos Wednesday, June 10th at 6 pm, and Thursday, June 11th at 4 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend the rodeos and the awards ceremony. If you are in the area, please come out and support these young people and this important ministry.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deu 6:5-7).

On the Road for the Summer

2009-05-22T15:45:00.021-06:00

Wade and Amaia are in Idaho for the summer. They loaded up nine (yup, nine!) horses and headed to Homedale, which will be their base "camp." Here's Wade checking out all the features on the "new" trailer he bought. Looks like they're ready to hit all the brandings and do some day work!

One of the first stops was the Jordan Valley "Big Loop" rodeo. Wade was up Friday afternoon in team roping and Big Loop (horse roping). Ty was there as well. They all enjoyed the chance to see friends and family, and catch-up after a busy winter of hard work.

Photo by Ann Black Rutan

Wade rode in the Saddle Bronc on Sunday, and tied for 2nd/3rd/4th with a score of 74. Good job, Wade!

Wade has a particular call to minister and witness for Jesus Christ at rodeos and to cowboys. He has God-given gifts of horsemanship, roping, and bronc riding that allow him to travel and meet many who might not step foot in a church. Here is his expanation of his calling.

The Lord opened my eyes and showed me a vision concerning the hearts of the men behind the bucking chutes. The Lord showed me how many of them had received a little spark for Him, but the spark had never been fanned giving it the opportunity to grow. He told me to "fan the flame." The Holy Spirit is like a mighty wind and will bring life to a tiny spark, igniting an all-consuming fire. As the Lord began to speak to me giving me direction for my life, I became sanctified by the word of God, "For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer" (1 Tim 4:5), and empowered by the Holy Spirit. "For you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you" (Acts 1:8).

God has not called me to preach the Gospel, but to demonstrate the Gospel. I am only called to prepare the way for the Teacher. I am called to help people come into the fullness of the New Covenant and be taught by God. I am called to introduce people to the Holy Spirit and God has showed me He will do the rest. Just like a person must prepare a colt before he can start to communicate with them, I am called to show people how to prepare themselves so that they may start communicating with God. God wants to communicate with us, we just need to be "willing" and then able. It is so simple; the same things that hold us back from communicating with our horse are the things that hold us back from communicating with God.

Photo by Ann Black Rutan

Training for the Cross is on the road this summer working to act upon Paul's advice, "...Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it" (Col 4:17), and to fulfill Jesus' charge, "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee" (Acts 26:16).

We are all directed to be ministers of Christ, each in his own way, according to his own gift, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1Pe 4:10-11).

Branding

2009-05-21T12:27:00.007-06:00

Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep....(Exo 9:3).

One of our favorite "chores" is branding. Friends and neighbors come to help, and we get to have a part social, part recreational day while getting the needed work done.

Branding starts with gathering all the cows and calves, and then sorting the calves away from the cows. Sorting is fun work when it's done horseback. We run the cows through the chute and vaccinate them. Then the branding fire is started up, cinches checked, ropes uncoiled and swung, and the branding begins.

Branding is important, not only for the brand, which is the only legal identification for cattle, but also for the vaccines that the calves get. Waiting too long to brand can result in some sickness in calves that haven't been vaccinated yet. This year we kept having to put branding off due to wet, snowy, and rainy weather. You can't brand a calf if it is wet! Fortunately we haven't had much sickness in the calves, so the delay didn't seem to hurt. We finally got a beautiful, sunny day.

Since we had waited a while to brand, some of the calves were pretty big. Heading and heeling worked well for the bigger calves, and reduced the amount of help needed on the ground. Calves that were smaller were heeled. Two "wrestlers" on the ground were needed for the calves that were heeled. Each calf got two vaccines and any other individual attention it needed, along with its permanent brand.

Good horsemanship on the part of the ropers is important. That means watching the calf carefully and slipping your dally if it starts to choke. Being able to move your horse in any direction willingly is also important, for the welfare of the calves, but also to avoid a collision with the ground crew.

There is really much more to good horsemanship at a branding than you might imagine. Stockmanship by the ground crew is critical. Making sure that each calf gets all of the shots it needs, and that they are administered correctly, is important. Being able to work quickly so that the calves are not restrained any longer than necessary is also part of the ground crew's job.

Proper branding etiquette involves each roper also taking a turn "wrestling" or being part of the ground crew. That way everyone who wants to gets a chance to do the fun job, and improve their horsemanship skills and their horse.

Branding is fun, and would be impossible without neighbors and friends being willing to help! This makes me think of Paul's instructions to us about working together and helping one another.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another (Rom 12:10). That there should be no schism in the body; but the members should have the same care one for another (1Co 12:25). Nothing through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others (Php 2:3-4).

Update from Katie's Mission Trip

2009-05-20T13:29:00.019-06:00

We just got this update from Katie, our friend who is on a mission trip.

Merhaba! ("Hello")

Well, it has been about five days here in XXXXXXXX and I must say I am loving this city! There are so many people, and lost people who don't know our Lord at that. Our team is starting to really see the need for the gospel in this city. Today was our first day of outreach on the numerous campuses here. Sadly my project leader, Tristan, and I were turned away from a campus because of security reasons. We sat and prayed for a while and we have others coming back tomorrow to try again... Others on our team were able to get into conversations with students today and even got some phone numbers to hang out with them again. It seems as if making a decision for Christ among the students takes a great amount of consideration and time. It could possibly be a couple years after hearing the gospel that most of them will make a decision for Christ. However, God is capable of anything and He may change this trend that other missionaries have witnessed over the years. We are making connections with them so that they can get connected with Christians who are staying here long term. SO I'm excited to see the students God puts in our paths this week, and telling you about some of the conversations and how God is moving in XXXXXXX!

Our team I believe is getting even closer and we are enjoying each other's company as well as challenging each other in our relationships with one another and the Lord. We have the same goals and we are able to work toward it together.

We are asking for prayer for the students and among our team we pray that we can share the gospel with at least 200 students. We are praying that God will go beyond what we imagine and we are dreaming big! Please pray that God would prepare the hearts of the students so that they will be receptive to the gospel message. We would like prayer for our team that we can be bold in our conversations and allow students to understand His grace-filled salvation through the truth of His Word! We praise God for placing us in this city and giving us hearts for the people and for God's eternal Kingdom!

Well, we continue to have adventures like taking the wrong bus and thus causing us to have a 2.5 hour travel time instead of 1.5 hours, and standing most of the way with one very heavy grocery bag...! Live and learn! Or getting lost on our way to the boys' apartment a couple of miles away, we couldn't find the street. It would probably help if we could learn the street names. My team member Lauren just informed me how she was sitting in our flat (a very nice one) listening to worship music, eating a massive whole carrot, reading her Bible, sitting next to me,... and this will probably never happen again! I had to put some randomness in here somewhere! Oh and I had "doner" today...if you get the good stuff, it is one of the best cheap meals. A hogie with shaved meat, lettuce, tomato, ketsup, mayo and french fries (yes, I said french fries!) and it is only like 1-2 US dollars, for a whole sandwich! And I believe I had a very unique experience while sitting in an outside cafe, next to an abandoned house, listening to a lamb baaaahing in the yard, me drinking coffee and having quiet time, in the scorching sun, with no sunscreen for 2 hours, would be one of my most interesting experiences!... Well, no more randomness...!

Tesekular! (thank you) for all your prayers and support! More updates to come...!

In Christ,
Katie

Please continue to keep Katie and her team in your prayers.

Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations (1Ch 16:24).

And the gospel must first be published (preached, proclaimed) among all nations (Mar 13:10).

Foundation to Finish Clinics

2009-04-29T10:50:00.006-06:00

Beginning summer 2009, Training for the Cross will offer custom clinics combining Horsemanship and Discipleship training. We are willing to travel to your location to organize and present the "Foundation to Finish" program tailored to your specific needs.

If you would like to discuss the potential of a "Foundation to Finish" clinic for your barn, ranch, group or association, please contact us at Training for the Cross.

Katie's Summer Mission Trip

2009-04-21T11:43:00.019-06:00

We have a friend, Katie, who is making a mission trip with Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) this summer. Katie is very active with CCC, and here is her letter explaining her upcoming trip:

I am a student at Montana State University majoring in Animal Science, Equine Science option, with a minor in Psychology. Graduation is still a year and a half off, but I'm enjoying my current classes. Although challenging, I am working hard to get the most out of them! I am continuing to enjoy leading Bible study in the dorms through CCC. It has been a blessing to be in the lives of freshman women and to watch and encourage them to grow in Christ, as well as everything God has been teaching and revealing to me about His faithfulness, love and grace!

I have recently been accepted to participate in an international summer project with CCC, called Acts 29. Acts 29 takes place in the largest city in the Middle East and is geared towards reaching more than 400,000 university students in that city.

Our primary focus during the summer will be to reach Muslim students with the Gospel through various large group outreaches, building relationships with students, and also building our own relationship with the Lord through fellowship, weekly meetings, and Bible studies.

In order for me to take advantage of this great opportunity to grow in my faith, I need to raise $4,850 to cover the cost of my portion of the summer project budget. I'm asking people to consider partnering with me in two ways: one, by praying for me regularly, and two, by supporting me financially.

Would you prayerfully consider partnering with me to reach students in the Middle East this summer through prayer and giving financially? I'm trusting that God will raise up partners who will invest in my life and the lives of the students I will minister to this summer. Would you invest to help reach Muslim students for Christ?

If the Lord is asking you to give, please make the check payable to Campus Crusade for Christ. All of my support is due before our briefing on May 13th; I would appreciate if the Lord is leading you, to send your gift soon.

I want to thank you very much for your prayers, encouragement and support. I greatly appreciate you!

If you are interested in helping support Katie, you can contact us here at Training for the Cross.

Finding My Line......

2009-04-17T13:16:00.033-06:00

Photo by Sean Sperry/Bozeman Chronicle

On the occasion of passing my comprehensive exam and thesis defense for my MS degree in Equine Science, I thought I would reflect on my thinking at the time I applied for the MS program, and on what's to come in the future. Here's the essay I wrote to accompany my application to graduate school.

Historically, higher education is not something that my family has strived to achieve. I am a sixth generation rancher from southwest Idaho, and I come from a long line of distinguished horsemen. I have been raised on ranches and horses have not only been a valuable tool for my family but part of our livelihood. My great-grandfather ran more than 1,000 head of brood mares and the Black family has always taken pride in raising quality horses. My maternal grandfather took pride in riding quality horses as well and has had a substantial impact on the equine industry. It has always been a desire of mine to follow in my family's footsteps. Not only is the equine field something that I am familiar and comfortable with, it is part of the fiber that makes me the person I am.

Times have certainly changed from my grandfathers' and father's eras when it comes to the need for higher education. The equine field has shifted from agricultural to recreational. The opportunities for an individual with higher education in the equine field far exceed those that were available to past generations. Both my maternal grandfather and my father have traveled around the world educating people about their horses. Education is something that has always been a passion of mine. It has only been recently, however, that I have discovered I can take this passion and teach something that I have always loved.

I came to Montana State University on a rodeo scholarship and enrolled in the Equine Science program. I admit my initial incentive was primarily based on rodeo opportunities rather than academic goals. However, it did not take long in the Equine Science program to discover that I had made the correct decision, regardless of my original motivation. The Equine Science program offered me something far more valuable than athletic competition in rodeo ever could. The education I received from the program far exceeded my expectations and it was through the program that I discovered the possibility of teaching as a career.

Teaching is something that I have always loved to do and have been told I have a natural tendency for. Whether it was helping someone with homework, demonstrating a wrestling move, or showing someone a rope trick, I have always enjoyed the role of a teacher. However, before coming to MSU I didn't think teaching would ever become my career. After coming to MSU and taking classes in Equine Science, I realized I have discovered an area that I enjoyed learning about enough to make it a lifetime career in some capacity. I am also enjoying the opportunities I have been granted to teach a few classes at the univeristy level. Through teaching these classes I have discovered the equation for my future career: My passion for education and my innate love of the equine field create a career path I can follow for a lifetime.

So, now that I've passed this milestone on my path, where do I go now? I am going to tell you a little secret that the Lord showed me about how easy it is to find God's will for our life. I hope you are ready for this; it is the easiest concept and yet the most difficult task I have found in my life so far. Here is the secret to finding God's will for our life: Quit looking to where you think God wants you in the future and start looking to where God wants you today. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (KJV). Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (NIV, Matthew 6:33-34).

The Man in the Glass - Ray Hunt

2009-04-07T17:28:00.093-06:00

Photo by Mary Williams Hyde

Some of Ty Van Normans's words to the family at Ray Hunt's service in Mountain Home, ID.
I am not going to stand up here and talk too much about Grandpa Ray. You knew your Raymond better than I did. Besides it's not about what is in the box or that jar. It's about what that container couldn't hold.

The Man in the Glass (Anonymous)

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you're a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please - never mind all the rest,
For he's with you clear to the end.
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass.

(This was one of Grandpa's favorite poems, he recited it at nearly every clinic.)

Most of us have looked in a mirror some time today. What did you see? I'll bet you looked at your face or your hair, but how much time did you spend looking into your eyes? Why does that make a lot of us uneasy? Matthew 6:22 says that "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light." Meaning our eyes reflect what is going on inside of us. They're the windows to the soul. The next time you encounter that person in the glass, look them in the eye and see if they're driven by the flesh. Are your eyes dull with pain, anger, bitterness, deceit, doubt, hate, contempt, jealousy, fear or a haughty pride? Or do the eyes looking back sparkle with life, led by the Spirit and filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Are they filled with content confidence that you are right where God wants you and the type of person He wants you to be? This is where my Father has me today.

Ty's Eulogy for Ray Hunt

2009-04-05T21:00:00.015-06:00

Ty Van Norman spoke these words at Ray Hunt's funeral in Texas.

I am the eldest grandson of Ray Hunt. I live on a ranch in Nevada where my family has been ranching for generations. The area I live in has birthed some of the greatest horseman of all time: The Dorrance brothers, Lee and Clyde Revorse, Grandpa Ray, Horns, Jones and Marvels just to name a few. They all had an influence on men in the industry today. I consider myself privileged to have grown up there. I am merely a man, but I wouldn't do my blood justice if I didn't get up and share what's on my heart today. What I have to say may make some of you mad and some glad, but I am pretty sure you won't leave here the same as you came.

We are all gathered here today, to pay our respects to a man who loved horses. He defended what he was passionate about; that was his life. You could hardly talk to him about anything else. He was a master at what he did. I cherished the times I got to spend with him growing up. I only got to see him about once a year when I was young. I remember him and Dad sitting and talking horse. There were a few times we went fishing. Once Dad and he went to Alaska on a hunting trip; I still remember the stories. In the spring of '93 I got to go to Australia with him and travel up the East coast doing clinics. That was an awesome experience that would not have been possible for me, if it hadn't been for Grandpa Ray and Caroline.

Anyone who really knew Grandpa knew there was no nonsense around him; you did it his way. If you didn't, he would tell you exactly what he thought and he didn't care how it made you feel. I'm not saying that was right or wrong; that was Ray. Some of you I am sure he offended at times and encouraged at others. I'm not here to apologize or defend him. I'm here to remind you that he was a great man in the horse world, but he was still just a man. He struggled with the same things in life we all do. The way he handled them was his choice.

I see a lot of familiar faces here that also stand out in the horse world. A lot of you, whether you are aware of it or not, have a lot in common. I'm not talking about horsemanship. I'm talking of being held on a pedestal and the deception that comes with that position of God-likeness. I'm definitely not accusing anyone; least of all Grandpa Ray. That is not my purpose. My purpose is to give you warning of the position you hold. This is where my Father has me today. To remind you that we are just men that struggle in life and are presented with choices. Grandpa was a man that found a way to make a living using the gifts and talents God gave him.

My brother got to spend some time with Grandpa last winter and I remember him telling me that every thing Grandpa said was so true for the situation at hand. Grandpa's Cowboy Logic book is full of one liners that speak truth:

-Don't try to go through something bad and come out good....stop and start over. Facing death is unsettling to most of us. I'm not an expert on it, but I've seen some of it lately. (Just over the last three years Ty lost a son, dad, brother and grandfather.)

-You have to prepare to position for the transition. The transition for all of us at one point or another is leaving this life behind. Are you prepared?

-Adjust to fit the situation. You might have to adjust your thinking to fit this situation.

-Confidence is knowing that you are prepared.

-In John 14:6 Jesus states, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

-I'll tell you what happens before what happened, happened. God's Spirit moves, the truth is revealed, your spirit is quickened, you are called and you are given a choice; the choice is yours. Sin and death will lose its power and you will stand in the Supernatural Power of God.

To some of you this means nothing. And to some of you this means everything. Worship the God who made the man and use the gifts He has given you to glorify God, and He will give you life and life more abundantly. Romans 5:1-4 talks about the Glory of God and how we can change our history. As I said before, I am the oldest grandchild of Ray Hunt. That is why I am here on this platform in the boldness of the Holy Spirit to change my history.

We all have history wrong or right, good or bad; it is called character. Grandpa's character was his own and that's why we are here; to remember the man, Ray Hunt. Love him or hate him, you wouldn't be here today if he hadn't had some kind of impact in your life.

On behalf of my family - I thank you for coming and may God bless you.

Prayer for Ray Hunt

2009-03-30T19:00:00.015-06:00

I read this prayer at my grandfather's funeral in Texas.

Lord,

We gather here today to celebrate the life of Ray Hunt. As we come together for this celebration I would like to thank You for the many gifts you have provided for the occasion. I thank You for the gifts you gave my grandpa that he was able to share with the world. Gifts applied to horses but applicable to life as well. Through Grandpa's teachings, people around the world saw how man and horse could truly become one, and I thank You for this gift. I thank You also for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ that through His death and resurrection and believing in Him, man and God can also truly become one.

I thank You for the gift of feel, timing, and balance You gave my grandpa to show the world, the gift that could never be comprehended by head knowledge but had to be experienced between man and horse. Through this feel, timing, and balance man can communicate with the horse and keep them in our perfect will. I also thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit that too can never be comprehended by head knowledge but has to be experienced between man and God. Through the Holy Spirit we may learn to feel of You and learn to stay in Your perfect will.

Lord, I thank You for my grandpa and the gifts he leaves behind for me and for the world. I thank You that his teachings not only taught me how to feel of the horse and to have unity with the horse, but also taught me how to feel of You and to have unity with You.

I thank You for the many gifted people that have gathered here today to celebrate the life of Ray Hunt. I pray that these people would learn from my grandpa's teachings, what You have taught me. That is, the gift of applying Tom Dorrance's and Ray Hunt's teachings to their life and to experience "True Unity and Willing Communication between God and Man."

I thank You for my grandpa, Oh Lord.

I pray these things in Jesus' Holy name.

Amen.

Free Phil Wickham Album

2009-03-26T14:02:00.022-06:00

Phil Wickham, a Christian worship leader, singer, songwriter and guitarist, has made an entire album of his music available for free download. The album "Singalong" was recorded during a worship concert in 2008 at Solid Rock Church (Portland, OR). Phil plays acoustic guitar, and sings, with the crowd singing along, hence the album name. The album features many of his most popular songs including "Always Forever," "Cannons," "Desire," and "Divine Romance," as well as traditional hymns. If you haven't heard Phil Wickham before, he sounds a little like Chris Tomlin, and a little like Tim Hughes, but with more emotion. If you go to his website, you can watch several videos of "Singalong." It's a great worship album that just gets better the more you listen to it, and the passion from the crowd really comes through. I highly recommend it!

Bronc Riding Prayer

2009-03-19T16:58:00.020-06:00

The Lord is my strength and my shield; of nothing shall I fear.
He makes me to lie in green pastures and His presence grows near.

He breaths life into my body to bring glory to His name.
I am a warrior for Christ and rodeo is my game.

He guides me and protects me as I step into the ring.
A hedge of protection around me He'll bring.

Though lies may surround me about the fate of my ride,
But you chose my horse and in you I reside.

I know you are with me as I call for my horse.
You ride behind me to keep me on course.

Destruction pulls me forward, but on you will I lean.
My shoulders stay back and to you will I cling.

My faith is in you as I lift on my rein.
I lift to the heavens as I charge to the mane.

I hold tight to my swells like I do to your Word.
I cling to the truth in your promises I have heard.

My mind is in the middle and my spurs are a shark.
They keep reaching and striking for the perfect mark.

I am a warrior for Christ and rodeo is my game.
I spur'em for eight and give praise to your name.

By Wade Black

True Religion

2009-03-15T11:04:00.027-06:00

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27).

Here are some organizations that we feel do a great job of taking care of the physical and spiritual needs of children and families all across the world.

World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org/
Compassion International: http://www.compassion.com/
Life Outreach International: http://www.lifetoday.org/

Bronc Ridin' This Weekend

2009-03-12T12:39:00.026-06:00

Two bronc riding events are on the schedule for this weekend, March 13 & 14. Check out the Bronc Ridin' Invitational at Moses Lake, WA on Friday evening. It's held at the Grant County Fairgrounds Ardell Pavilion, and starts at 7 pm. General admission is $15.

On Saturday night the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR will host a showcase event for the World's Toughest Rodeo National Tour. There will be two parts, the Bulls & Broncs competition followed by the new Toughest Cowboy competition. In the Bulls & Broncs, bareback riders, saddle bronc riders, and bull riders will compete. A top-notch group of saddle bronc riders have entered, including Shawn Morehead (Bruneau, ID), Kayle Gray (Cheney, WA), and Ryan McKenzie (Jordan Valley, OR), who all finished in the top 10 of the Columbia River Circuit standings in 2008, along with Wade Sankey (Cody, WY), another outstanding bronc rider. The Toughest Cowboy competition has eight cowboys each competing in all three events. This is associated with the TV show "The Toughest Cowboy" seen on Spike TV on Wednesdays at 11 pm ET/PT. You can check it out at http://www.toughestcowboy.com/. General admission tickets are $18.

Wade will be riding in the Bronc Ridin' Invitational at Moses Lake, and in the Bulls & Broncs at Portland, so wish him good luck and safe travel if you see him there! Due to Wade's travel schedule, there won't be a horsemanship event at Kountz Arena this Sunday, March 15th.

Theory of "The Kingdom of God"

2009-03-11T12:24:00.024-06:00

I believe that there was perfection in the Garden of Eden and through sin, man got kicked out of that perfection. I also believe that it is sin that keeps us from perfection now, and through Jesus dying on the cross for our sins we can enter back into that perfection. We can "Return to Eden" where there is "True Unity and Willing Communication" between God and man.

This is what I believe. Don't take this wrong, but it doesn't really concern me so much if you do not believe this. I do not feel the need to debate or argue my beliefs, because I am a Scientist. I have developed my scientific thinking through my education and by studying the Scientific Method. Scientists deal with things that are testable, observable, and repeatable. Scientists develop a theory and test it. If there is no evidence to support the theory, a good scientist throws the theory out and develops a new one. Scientists deal with facts and look at the evidence that supports the theory. This is what I have done in my MS research "Feeding Grain Decreases Training Effectiveness in 2-Year-Old Quarter Horses." A good scientist also does not try to force their audience to adopt their beliefs. They present the evidence and let people make their own conclusions. God has given me a formula (Foundation for Perfection) to prove this theory (Kingdom of God) and so far the evidence supports the theory. We can return to Eden and experience True Unity and Willing Communication with God. Until I have been shown enough evidence to disprove this theory, I will continue to believe this theory, test the theory, and collect data.

Here is the Scientific Method applied to my theory:

Observation and Question
- We (humans) are not perfect and we live in an imperfect world.
- Many people believe in a perfect God who created everything and controls everything.
- Can we as imperfect humans reach out from this imperfect world and touch the perfection of God?

Do Background Research
- The Bible says yes.
- I conduced 7 years of research studying the Bible and documenting my own observations and experiences with this question.
- My research resulted in a book "Returning to Eden: True Unity and Willing Communication."

Hypothesis (Educated guess about how things work)
- The Kingdom of God is at hand and through God's Son, Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can reach out from the imperfect world and touch, feel, and experience the perfection of God in His Kingdom.
- God is perfect and He created a perfect world (Garden of Eden). In this perfect world there was "True Unity and Willing Communication" between God and man, and between man and animals. Man and animals have "Driving Factors" and it is through these driving factors that man got kicked out of the Garden of Eden. It is through the full submission of these driving factors that we can "Return to Eden" and experience the "Kingdom of God" here on earth.

Test Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
- Experiment: Test the formula "Foundation for Perfection."
- Past Research: Equine study at MSU.
- Current Research: 40-day trial (Individual and Group Study).

Analyze Data and Draw a Conclusion
- Past Research: Increasing energy (underlying driving factor) during the early stages of training decreased training effectiveness in 2-yr-old Quarter horses by increasing self-preservation behavior, decreasing willing submission behavior, and causing an unbalanced life to direction ratio.
- Current Research: Follow the "Foundation for Perfection: Discipleship Guide." Record your results daily.

Communicate Your Results
- Past Research: Results suggest that during the early stages of training, training satisfaction may be reached sooner, if horses have a lower dietary energy level. (Published in Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci., 2008.)
- Current Research: At the end of 40 days communicate your results to the group if you feel comfortable.

If you do benefit from anything you've found on this website, we'd love to know about it. Send us an e-mail, whether it's about Horsemanship or Discipleship, let us continue to support you through prayer.

God bless,
Wade Black

Ye are of God, little children....

2009-03-02T13:42:00.029-07:00

and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

We had a great first Training for the Cross horsemanship event! Despite a chilly evening, the attendees enjoyed Wade's parables used to explain how to start eliminating resistance, and get their horses to willingly submit their driving factors.

Wade started with a brief description of his "Foundation for Perfection" program, and included many side by side comparisons of the relationship between our horse and us, and the relationship between us and God. He stressed that the three causes of resistance were self-preservation, lack of communication, and disobedience. And that both we and our horses are driven by self-preservation, and seeking comfort and companionship.

The riders started with ground exercises to begin learning the mechanical aspect of a Solid Foundation of Maneuvers. All participants did a great job of learning and practicing Stage 1, stopping forward motion and pivoting around the inside front foot. Stage 1 is the first step towards willing submission by the horse, where after initial contact, the horse willingly performs a task on a loose rein, and with no leg pressure.

Wade demonstrated total submission in his horse by laying the horse down completely, and compared it to our total submission to God. He pointed out the Greek word "worship" means to prostrate oneself before God.

The Sunday evening horsemanship meeting is going to be a regular event! Sundays at 6 pm, Wade will be available to help you with your horse at Kountz Arena. We hope to see you there! A big "Thank you!" to the Kountz family for the use of their arena!

God's Promises

2009-03-01T14:20:00.008-07:00

My sister sent this to me. I thought it might be a good thing to post since times are tough for so many people right now. These are the things God promises us. Lately I've heard from many people that God is a verb. I love it. He is real and at work right now! This is a collection of God's promises from scripture. My sister found it in a book she had in junior high called God's Precious Promises. I hope it will remind you of the hope we have in Christ Jesus and that He makes good on His promises!

This picture was taken when we were in China at the Great Wall. It amazes me that men built this, but what I find more amazing is God's creation and what He can do through us when we surrender our hearts to Him and put our faith in Him.

Jehovah is Promise
The compounded names of Jehovah God, translated The Lord, are promises.

The Lord provides. Gen. 22:14

The Lord heals. Ex. 15:26

The Lord protects. Ex. 17:15

The Lord sanctifies. Ex. 31:13

The Lord sends peace. Judg. 6:24

The Lord of hosts offers strength. 1 Sam. 1:3

The Lord is our shepherd. Ps. 23:1

The Lord is our redeemer. Isa. 44:24

The Lord is our righteousness. Jer. 23:6

The Lord is always there. Ezek. 48:35

God The Almighty is all-sufficient. Gen. 17:1

Jehovah is "I am that I am." God is all that we need Him to be. Ex. 3:14

Have a blessed Sunday!
Amaia

First Horsemanship Event of 2009

2009-02-26T12:43:00.015-07:00

This Sunday, March 1st will be the first TFTC horsemanship event for 2009. Wade will teach the "Foundation for Perfection - Learning to Eliminate Resistance When Doing a Job" program for working with horses. The program will begin at 6 pm at Kountz Arena on Stucky Road in Bozeman, MT. Afterwards there will be time for fellowship and to hear a brief introduction to the "40 Days to the Trainer" bible study program. Bring your horse for a great experience! We'd love to see you there!

Outside boys! Open the gate.....

2009-02-23T21:58:00.020-07:00

Turn us loose and hang on for the ride!

Nine years ago the Lord roped me around the neck and began choking me down trying to get me to turn and face for relief, to give Him my entire life. Finally after a couple of years of striking, rearing, falling down and trying to jump the pen, I decided He was not going to let up so I said, "Alright Lord, here I am, take ALL of me, use me, teach me, guide me."

The Lord then gave me Ezekiel 2, "I am sending you to....a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says.' And whether they listen or fail to listen - for they are a rebellious house - they will know that a prophet has been among them."

He showed me a vision of me talking to some cowboys and I said, "Lord I do not know what to tell them, what will I say?" I immediately heard Exodus 4:11, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

Within a few days the Lord showed me another vision. I saw myself riding out underneath the archway of one of the ranches I grew up on, the Wine Cup ranch in Nevada. Jesus was leading me and I couldn't have been more than about 2 or 3 years old. I was riding a little kid's saddle with stirrups that didn't even clear the saddle pad, on a big, old, gentle horse. I was not big enough to direct my horse so Jesus was leading me, to ensure that I kept following Him. As I rode out under the archway with Jesus leading me, I couldn't have been any happier. I remembered being an excited little kid thinking it doesn't get any better than this, riding with my Dad!

Jesus led me out under the archway and onto a map of the United States and then across the map. While He was leading me, I was bursting with excitement to be with my Father. I couldn't help but to point at Jesus and try to get everyone to look at Him. I was so proud to be with my Father. As He led me across the map, I began to get people to look at Jesus and other little kids started falling in behind us. The further He led me, I began to grow and mature in size, and more kids started following. The further we went, the older I got, and the older the kids got behind me, and the more little kids started following the string of people led by Jesus. Jesus was eventually leading a huge string of people on horses.

Over the past seven years the Lord has given me a message to deliver to cowboys and horse people. If you are interested in sharing in this vision, to use the teachings of Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt to bring people to a personal and intimate relationship with our heavenly Father, to help people see with new eyes (Mat 13:16) and follow Jesus (John 8:12), I would love to share with you the message that the Lord has given me, that together we may use horses to make disciples of men (Mat 4:19).

If you are interested in the message that the Lord has given me, we will come and start the "40 Days to the Trainer" program with you, teach you the "Foundation for Perfection" and apply it to your horses and your life. Training for the Cross will then be committed to lifting you up with prayer and support, that God may continue to guide you and direct you, that you may be equipped to take the message the Lord has given me, add to it as the Lord leads you and teach others around you (2 Timothy 2:2).

In my prayers lately I have been thinking that there would be no greater joy in this life than to have my business be about my Father's business (Luke 2:49). To be fully submitted and supple through every area of my life that the Lord could move me at any moment in any direction; to work as a true disciple of Christ. I prayed to the Lord asking Him if this was possible, if I could do this. He then had me write down what He had given me to let this happen and what I was still lacking.

This is what I wrote down:

What I Have
1) A calling/mission
2) Like Ezekiel, a specific message to deliver to a specific group of people
3) Gifts to deliver the message
4) Desire/passion to deliver the message
5) Like Paul, credibility and a platform to speak from
6) Support of brothers and sisters in Christ to deliver the message
7) A wife/partner who shares the same compassion
8) Interest/hunger of the people to hear the message
9) Promise that He will provide me with everything I need

Didn't Have
1) Faith to step out of the boat, to take the first step

The Lord has also been giving me another scripture, Luke 10:7, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." This has been a real struggle for me. I feel much more comfortable providing for myself and working for the Lord at the same time. However, the Lord has been showing me that He wants me full time and He will provide for me. I have no idea what this looks like; all I can say is that I am taking the first step.

I have a message. If there is an interest, through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ I will teach, comfort, and council who ever is interested in hearing it. As far as money goes, I thank the Lord that He promises He will take care of us (Luke 12:22-34).

I have prior responsibilities I must finish in February, March, and April. However, starting in May I will be free to go where ever the Lord would lead me. If you feel like the Lord is calling us to you, spend a little more time praying about it. Then feel free to contact us, so we can work out the details.

God Bless,
Wade Black

Glory to God

2009-02-22T21:31:00.003-07:00

Our God is so incredibly amazing, and worthy of praise and worship, to Him be ALL the glory. James 4:6 says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Please help keep Training for the Cross (TFTC) in God's grace and help us give the praise and glory where the praise and glory are due.

Zechariah 6:12 says, "Behold the man whose name is The Branch (Jesus); and he shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord. Even He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne."

Join with us in giving Glory to Jesus. The goal of TFTC is that Jesus will rise out of this ministry and He will bear ALL the glory! Help us in making sure that He receives all the praise and glory from the ministry. If God is able to use us to help you in anyway, it came from Him not us. Let's give praise to the Potter and not the clay.

Pride is something that I struggle with. Before the Lord got hold of me I always wanted to do something great with my life. After God got hold of me I wanted to do something great with my life for the Lord. However, through all that the focus was always on "me" and what "I" could do. This is just my self-preservation rising up and it has to go. Please help me in this area. Help me to stay out of my self-preservation. Please give ALL the glory to God. If I start stealing His praise and glory, it starts distancing us from Him, it builds pride in me and puts me in my self-preservation (thoughts involving; I, me, we, us).

I've worked with enough horses in their self-preservation to know that it is not fun. When I fall into my self-preservation, God has to hobble me, put me on three legs and I have to work twice as hard decreasing the energy fueling my self-preservation. Finally, when I have nothing left, He tells me, "Wade quit seeking the praise and approval from man, I have ordained you." Ordained: to place, in a passive and horizontal posture, different from an active and vertical posture, utterly prostrate (Greek definition). Meaning, I am nothing and He is everything.

God tells me, "Quit rising up in the temple and stealing my praise and worship" (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Paul tells us he had to die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31) and as he got rid of his self-preservation Christ was able to live in and through him (Galatians 2:20). I am sorry I am so weak and childish, but praise puffs me up (Colossians 2:18) and puts me in my self-preservation. Pride is one of the main things I have to try to kill off daily. Please help me in this area and give ALL the praise to God; in doing so we will both draw closer to Him. If you are appreciative of anything you receive from TFTC, let's praise God together, that we may both enter into His presence.

Thank you and God Bless,
Wade Black

I Want a Nap!

2009-02-18T21:17:00.028-07:00

We've spent the past week "doctoring" and feeding "Poco" round the clock. He's recovering from colic surgery and we're trying to transition him from very small, very frequent meals, to larger, less frequent feedings. Three weeks ago a large lipoma (fatty tumor) strangulated part of his small intestine, and surgery was necessary to remove the tumor and approximately 12 feet of intestine. He spent 2 weeks at Montana Equine vet clinc recovering in their "ICU," but now seems to be doing well at home. He has quite an appetite, is bright and alert, and his GI tract is working again! His incision seems to be the only problem area now. It's been swollen, still has quite a bit of inflammation, is sensitive, and has started to drain a little. Hopefully the oral antibiotics that he's getting twice a day will keep the infection under control.

Post-surgical equine care is a new skill that we're learning. It involves lots of work! We're still soaking the majority of the hay that he's eating for about 10 minutes. Even though the hay we're feeding is good quality, we've been trying to sort most of the alfalfa stems out. It's amazing that once you start handling every mouthful, how sharp and "scary" alfalfa stems become!

Poco's recovery so far is definitely an answer to prayer. It makes me realize how God cares for all of his creatures. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight" (Heb 4:13).

New Web Site Launched!

2009-02-05T15:19:00.003-07:00

We are happy to announce that we have launched our new website, and we invite you to peruse through what we offer. Hopefully you will find something today that will help you find direction in your lives. If you like what you see, please feel free to contact us and tell us about it.