S P R I N G ‘13 T P • 1 S P R I N G ‘13 More than meets the eye in the rider, his horse, and his dog ~jason taylor, Pastor, Bar-None CC, Henderson, Texas; Vice President, AFCC In this life we only get a few friends, hopefully a good spouse and decent kids to travel with. To a cowboy there are a couple “Travelin’ Partners” that he must have: a good horse and a loyal dog. For the most part, a cowboy can make do if he has to with just those two Travelin’ Partners. No matter what wreck he gets in, a good horse will get him out. And no matter how bad he feels, or what’s broke, a good ol’ dog can make him smile. This was given to me at the graveside of a true cowboy. As the closing prayer was being said, in a cold drizzle, I looked out and there his horse and dog stood, staring at the wooden box that held their master’s body. Now, in, those two Travelin’ Partners who had gone as far as they could, God showed me the Trinity. The Father is the Master. The Son is the horse that hauled the sins of the world, and will come get us one day. The Holy Spirit is the dog. He will guide, guard and comfort along the trail of life. I pray this magazine makes the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit more reachable by folks in our culture, and helps unify His Body as we come to know one another better. T P • Mathew 28:20—I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right 1 up to the end of the age. (The Message) S P R SPRING ‘13 I N G ‘13 Page 1... Travelin’ Partners - Special meaning you might not expect in this time-honored trio Page 3... Old Dogs - Pups need veteran elders to become good, working animals Page 5... All Dads Under One Father - Roping Champion Joe Beavers tells the story of how his father showed him unconditional love Page 6... Buckle - Two young men find a lasting meaning to an act of great sportsmanship Page 8... Ol’ Blue - Story of the longhorn steer that had a big job, thought he was a horse Page 10.. Re-Cap: Men Make Men - Annual event draws a thousand men looking to be better fathersfathers toto betterbetter sonssons Page 14.. The Healing Box - Outlaw found more than he wanted when he got addicted to roping The feed in this magazine was sponsored in part by these fine folks. Travelin’ Partners is ©2013 by Cowboy Way Ministries, PO Box 4645, Longview, TX 75606-4645. For sub- scriptions, go to cowboywayministries.com/subscriptions. Travelin’ Partners is produced by Cowboy Way Ministries. Email all article and photo submissions to [email protected] . Content will only be T used as space is available, and may be edited for space, clarity, etc. Include information for proper credit with P all submissions. • 2 Spring 2013 – Volume 1, Number 1 © Beau Hague, H Brand Photography S P R I N G ‘13 Old Dogs ~Written by John Riggs, Host, “Cowboy Authentic” Photograph by John Riggs recently took a trip to video some Every once in a while an ill-tempered, God has called us to. It’s much easier Florida ranches and cowboys for slightly disgruntled mama would at- to ride around on the flat bed than I“Cowboy Authentic.” I had the priv- tempt an escape. The younger pups, to get off the truck and work a set of ilege of spending some time with the looking somewhat confused, paused ill-tempered old Brahman crossed Babcock Ranch cowboys who were momentarily as the older dog took cows. You’re going to get stomped, busy with spring cow-calf work. out in hot pursuit. The younger pups kicked and run over, but how else are watched, then quickly headed right you going to learn what you need to The cowboys who call the 90,000 acre behind their seasoned instructors. teach some younger pups who will Babcock Ranch home are cut from the Moments later, the disgruntled bovine one day takeTommy your Voelcker place? / V Photography same tough hide cowboys have come was high tailing it back to the bunch from for generations. Whether you re- with the old dog and pups right be- Old spiritual dogs must follow Jesus semble the rough-out side or are a lit- hind. Christ. He showed us and still teach- tle more smooth-sided, every cowboy es us how to be His dogs. So what are has the same grit, hardiness and pas- you teaching the younger ones that are sion for what he is and what he does. The question came to watching you? my mind, “Where are The deceptive beauty of the Babcock, If you’re still a pup, are you teachable with its palmetto flats, pine groves, all the ‘Old Dogs’ in and willing? Proverbs 4:20-27 says, year ‘round grass and gator-filled “My son, pay attention to what I say; swamps require gritty men, horses, the church?” listen closely to my words. Do not cattle and dogs to overcome the chal- let them out of your sight, for they I’m learning that, no matter how old I lenges of central Florida. are life to those who find them and get, I still need an old dog in my life. I health to a man’s whole body. Above need an old dog that’s been there and The Lord often speaks to me through all else, guard your heart, for it is the done that … someone who can give experiences in everyday life. He spoke wellspring of life. Put away perversity advice when things in life get rank and to me as I watched some dogs work from your mouth; keep corrupt talk try to bust out on you. a set of cow-calf pairs being brought far from your lips. Let your eyes look back from the working pens to the pas- straight ahead, fix your gaze directly America, where are your “old dogs”? ture they call home. before you. Make level paths for your We are in desperate need of some old feet and take only ways that are firm. dogs to stand up for our nation and Those dogs wadded the cattle into a Do not swerve to the right or the left; lead and teach others. Things are get- tight bundle, kind of like watching a keep your foot from evil.” ting rank and busting out. We need round baler make a bale. some men to lead others and gather Old dogs, it’s time to get off the truck this nation back as one nation under It was easy to spot the seasoned old and teach some pups to search for the God. cow dogs, the younger pups doing lost and bring back the strays. (Ezekiel their best to imitate what they were 34:16) Our churches are full of old dogs who T doing. School was in session, the old are content to sit on the back of the P dogs were teaching, and bovine was • truck instead of engaging in the battle 3 the topic. S P R I N G ‘13 Has God put a hunger in your heart to start a Cowboy Church? Ranchhouse Schools are like spiritual Chuck Wagons that fill you up with what you need to know to get a Cowboy Church goin’ and keep it rollin’! Sessions Learn a New Upcoming include: Testament dates: • Cowboy Church 101 church model Saturday, April 13th MILAM COUNTY CC • General Ministry Lunch provided Rethink how to “do” church 2100 N Hwy 77, Rockdale, TX 76567 • Youth/Children’s Ministry Contact AFCC Office 972-937-9979 Learn Biblical church • Administration structure Saturday, April 27th • Discipleship BRAZOS TRAILS CC 300 Sharla Smelley Road, • Outreach Weatherford, TX 76085 Contact Jimmy Holleman 254-717-2240 • How to reach the Saturday, May 4th unchurched in the Cowboy PRAIRIE TRAIL CC Culture 8550 S Broadway, Haysville, KS 67060 T Contact Chris Bray 940-867-5383 P • 4 S P R I N G ‘13 Just About Perfect ~Edited transcript by Traveling Partners Staff ofJoe Beavers, Roping Champion Tommy Voelcker / V Photography MATTHEW 7:11—IF YOU THEN, BEING EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN GIVE WHAT IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM! (NASB) It can be mighty hard to take some- did, but myself. The number one prob- Walter Beaver would say, “There was a one’s word for something if you lem with kids and everybody else to- good guy.” I told Brody, “You’ll never don’t know that person, or his rep- day is they want to blame somebody hear that about your dad. There’s gon- utation. Anyone can get up on a else, or something else. They want to na be lots of opinions, lots of stories stage and tell you things that may pawn it all off. and lots of bad things because your or may not be so. But when someone dad ain’t no Walter Beavers.” you know something about, even if My Dad was a Christian guy, a good it’s only that he’s a champion many Bible-knowledge knowing father, a But it never mattered to my Dad be- times over, tells you something, you good dad. He never raised his voice cause he loved me the way I was.