There is a new church in town. It’s a bit different than your grandmaw’s. It’s a Cowboy Church! Instead of suits, ties and winged-tipped shoes, you are likely to see buckles, boots, hats, and jeans. Our method is certainly different but our message is the same ol’ story of Jesus and His love!
The first time I went west, I ended up in Texas, when I got there, I felt I wasn’t going anywhere, and I felt I had nothing left in me. I found myself in a little church, prayin, and askin for the man upstairs to guide me. I knew I was half good, but am I? Or am I mostly bad? Still struggling with the PTSD, I face everyday, I bring myself to my toughest of times, knowing that things are not ever really bad.
The first I ever heard this song was in that lil cowboy church in Texas, it made me feel like I was home, and finally right where I needed to be. I miss that church, and I miss the west. Only wish I’d had made it to Cheyenne.Maybe the good Lord willin, I will make it there someday, but in the meantime, I will continue living somewhere between Jesus,and John Wayne.
The Purpose of a Cowboy Church is to Impact the Cowboy Culture With the Gospel of Jesus, in hopes to keep the cowboy and cowgirl an honest fella. We continue to prey that we are “Somewhere between a cowboy and a saint, while crossing the open range, and always be somewhere between Jesus, and John Wayne.”
The Cowboy’s Ten Commandments are below, and if ya need a better way of livin’ well pick up yer bible, and head to the Cowboy Church. Live by these simple rules, and trust me, you will remember the experience forever.
Cowboy’s Ten Commandments
1. Just One God
2. Honor yer Ma & Pa
3. No Tellin Tales or Gossipin
4. Git Yerself to Sunday Meetin
5. Put Nothin Before God
6. No Foolin Around With Another Fellow’s Gal
7. No Killin
8. Watch Yer Mouth
9. Don’t Take What Ain’t Yers
10. Don’t Be Hankerin For Yer Buddy’s Stuff
History of Cowboy Church, across America:
Local Christian churches within the cowboy culture are distinctively Western heritage in character. A typical cowboy church might be in a barn, metal building, arena, sale barn, or old western building, have its own rodeo arena, and a country gospel band. Baptisms are generally done in a stock tank, or waterin troth. The sermons are usually short and simple. Some cowboy churches have covered arenas where rodeo events such as bull riding, team roping, ranch sorting, team penning and equestrian events are held on weeknights. Many cowboy churches have existed throughout the western states for the past forty or fifty years, however just in the past fifteen or so years has there been an explosion of growth within the “movement”. Prior to 1980 there were no less than 5 cowboy churches in Texas, now the number exceeds 200, and there are an estimated 750 nationwide. There has been no definitive group that established the movement; rather it seems to have had a spontaneous beginning in diverse areas of the country at nearly the same time. Some of these cowboy churches are an outgrowth of ministries to professional rodeo or team roping events, while the roots of many can be traced back to ministry events associated with ranch rodeos, ranch horse competitions, chuck wagon cooking competitions, cowboy poetry gatherings and other “cowboy culture” events.
So we hope to see ya, here or there, maybe in church, or on the range. No matter where it is, love thy brother, and treat each and everyone with respect. have pride in yourself, and never give up. God Bless Ya, all. Come on back if yer passin through Amen!
It is said that a cowboy must have a code, and without it he is nothing, but there is one more thing that is important to me, and most all cowboy’s, and that is how we feel about the rodeo in the sky. and well… Will we make it there? is usually a question we ask ourselves all of the time.
Every evening before I would ride I always said a prayer knowing that the grand father of the rodeo would always protect me from serious injury, and luckily it always seemed to work. My favorite prayer is the rodeo cowboy’s prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, as a broken ole rodeo Cowboy, I ask…
Heavenly Father, I pause at this time,
mindful of the many blessings you have bestowed upon me.
I ask, Lord, that you will be with me in the arena of life.
I as a cowboy of ethics, do not ask for special favors.
I don’t ask to draw around the chute fighting bull or horse, the steer that won’t lay, or to never break the barrier.
I don’t even ask for all daylight runs.
I do ask Lord, that you will help me live my life here on earth as a cowboy, in such a manner, that when I make that last inevitable ride, to the country up there, where the grass grows lush, green, and stirrup high, and the water runs cool, clear, and deep, that you’ll take me by the hand and say –
“Welcome to Heaven cowboy, your entry fees are paid.”
You see no matter how hard we are, no matter what our code, we also believe in something else, and most of the time ask for guidance in every challenge we face, even if it be a gunfight, we turn to a simple prayer that our weapon be faster than the outlaw we must face.
My only hope is that when I reach the rodeo in the sky that the heavenly father let my horse, and my best friend Apache in (My beagle I lost when I was a boy), for even though my entries fees are paid, I don’t want to go it alone up there, I just want to enjoy the rodeo with my pup, my pony, and me.
What is your favorite cowboy prayer? your code? and your last request?
I know for sure that I will be in “Amorillo by Morning”, and then off to Cheyenne. Amen…
Shotgun Bo Rivers 