Writings of a Cowboy

Ranch Hand

2010-06-29T16:45:00.003-05:00

I was asked today, by a job hunter I was working with, just "why" I had "ranch hand" job experience and info in the Work in Texas.com job site database?

Well, I told her, I was desperate ... and I apparently have a lot more experience than even I knew I had. You see, I grew up a cowboy. I worked with horses and cattle, and helped my Dad run a 675 acre ranch in West Texas. There was lots and lots of cattle work, some farming, implement work, and just about anything you can think of.

I was actually surprised, once I began answering the questions, as to just how much I "had' done back then.

Do I miss it? Oh yes!!

Domain problems - Never would've happened in the Old West!

2010-05-05T13:07:00.003-05:00

Well folks, I messed around and let my domain expire!
When I contacted 'em about getting it back, it was gonna cost me about $80 for each one! One is the WritingsOfACowboy.com and the other is the .org of the same name. The redemption period had expired before I realized it, and it was $80 per domain!

I decided to wait it out until the domain went back "public" so that anyone could get it, and hope and pray that the Internet Vultures didn't scoop it up! Well folks, they didn't!

We got 'er back now ...
and the forwarding should be in effect in the next 3 days! (it takes time for domain name servers to talk with one another and share information)

Look for some more publications real soon!
Meanwhile, if you just can't wait ...

Use this URL: http://writingsofacowboy.blogspot.com

Thanks ya'll!!

- rich -

The Medicine Man

2010-04-20T13:31:00.002-05:00

There comes a time when a cowboy needs answers. Most men will not ask for help, but will mutter through and deal with an issue until it gets really bad. And that is what I've been doing ... muddling. I've been staring at the problem and avoiding the answer that I knew was inevitable. You might say that I've got to go to the "medicine man" to get my answers!

In the old days, a cowboy who was in good standing could go to the tride and see the "medicine man". His more popular title was the "Holy Man". The Holy Man was the man who spent almost all of his time seeking the "Great Spirit". Now, because this Holy Man did not know Jesus in his heart, he was not always enlightened. But surprisingly enough, even if he did not know Jesus, the Holy Man who spent that much time in seeking God, had wisdom! And there were some who "had" encountered God because they sought Him with a pure heart! God honored that, and they "knew" what it was like to spent time before the Great Spirit. These Holy Men often had an earnest heart, and because they were truly "seeking" the Father, in whatever way they knew how, God would meet them halfway. And the Holy Man? He got his answers!

There are stories handed down in the Indian tribes that tells of "the great ones" of long ago. One such person was a man called "Mee-sis". We pronounce it today as "Moses". That's right! The Indians knew about Moses! How do you think they knew? Well, if Jesus showed up to set Saul straight so that he could find his calling and his purpose in life as "Paul, the apostle", don't you think that the Father would send Jesus to his people here in what we now call America? Well He did, I assure you!

My medicine man, by the way, is Jesus. That's right, I figure if I go to "Him" then I wont' get off on some journey or head down the path to the dark side, following a wrong trail. Besides, Jesus won't make me smoke that "peace pipe" thing they sometimes use! I'm not into those kind of visions ... but I do see visions, folks! I do see visions.

The "Great One" has been calling me to worship. He has been calling me to minister. And I have been waiting, because I did not have the people, or the funds, or even a place to meet ... but His Spirit keeps calling me, and drawing me ... and the calling will not go away! I somehow knew it all along, but I let my beliefs stop me. I believed that I needed "things" to make it happen.

An old wise one by the name of Oral Roberts (yes, he had Indian blood too!) used to say, "Dig a hole. God will fill it!" The wise one is right! If we will be obedient to what God has called us to do, then as we "act" on His command, the provisions will begin to come. Jerry Savelle puts it this way, "If it's mean to be, then it's up to me." I believe that! If God has called you to do something, just because it's not falling in your lap doesn't mean it wasn't God! He asked "YOU" to do it ... so if you don't "get started", nothing will ever happen!

My new phrase? God tells us that He will direct our paths. He will guide us. But He also tells me that a "parked car" is going nowhere. What does that mean? Have you ever tried to steer a car while it's parked! It takes all of your strength (unless you're using power steering) just to turn the wheel! But, if you'll begin to move, and begin driving, the steering gets much, much easier! And, if you're "moving" then God can guide you. Why? Because without "motion", there is no "path". God did promise that He would "guide your path".

So, the words from the Great Spirit, and my Medicine Man, is this:

"I have called you for a purpose and a vision ... the sands of time are falling, and time is growing short. The son is old in the skies, and the night time is coming. You have a purpose and a calling, and it is not YOU who are waiting on Me, but "I" am waiting ... waiting on YOU my son, and my daughter, to "step out" into the thing in which I have called you to do.

Stop waiting. Stop waiting for these things that you feel you need. They are but tools in the hands of the craftsman. But you, when you begin to work, can do a-ny-thing. Anything, my son and my daughter, you can do anything ... only believe. Believe in Me and go forward!"

Now, go in peace ... knowing that the Father is waiting on you!
He's counting on YOU ... to get it started! Once you begin, HE will finish it. He will finish the work that He has called YOU to begin!

So, podner ... it's time to "saddle up and ride"!

Make me proud!

Learn from the Caterpillar, and the Butterfly

2010-03-24T21:18:00.002-05:00

To an old Indian friend ...
It's been a while since I heard from you. Like the hunter who comes down from the mountains in the springtime, after a long winter, sometimes we just have to take time to renew old frienships, break out the peace pipe, and talk of the winters hunting.

We don't know each other that well, and though we have never formally met, my heart dances to the music in your words when you write, about nature, and about the ways of the man who enjoys God's wonderful creation. Thank you for your gift.

I, my friend, am in a time of change, when the things that once worked for me in the job market are no more. It is my time to learn from the caterpillar. At some point in his life, he must regroup and consider a new way of life for himself. He builds for himself a cocoon, and gets alone to ponder the changes of life he is facing.

When he is done, and Spring once again appears, he emerges a new creature, and discovers that his life is a beautiful thing! With the things he has learned, and with what he has now become, he finds that he is now a different creature, more beautiful than he was before! And in the midst of all these new discoveries, he finds that he can now fly! So the things that once were obstacles to him, and the things that he once feared, he is now able to soar over, like the eagle! Even the things that were once problems to him now all seem so small to his eyes, as he now flies overhead, passing them all by, with never a care in the world about them.

I must learn the way of the caterpillar, that I too might become like the butterfly, and discover the beauty like he has seen, in my world too! I too must learn to fly like the eagle, and soar over what once was my problems, and my fears, and let them be my concern no more!

Thank you again for your words, and for being a friend to a cowboy you've never met.

-rich-

Spring Valley, Texas - the Old West Town!

2010-02-04T09:12:00.006-06:00

I've got a vision ... a dream, for a large ranch. I'd like to get a few hundred acres outside of town (far outside of town) and I want to build an old west town on it. It want to locate it near the railroad, where the old steam train still runs, on occassion.

I'd like the railroad to run through it, or have a track that re-routes "to it", so that folks could come out on a special excursion to see the old west town. It'd have a working livery stable, with horses and tack (saddles, bridles, etc.) that you could rent, if you didn't have a horse. If you did, you could "drive out" and trailer your horses.

You have to park your vehicles at the entrance, and either ride your horse into town, or take the stage coach that occasionally drives through the parking lot. That way we'll have none of those new car things on our streets! But coming in on the train would, in my opinion, be the cream of the crop! While there, you'd find a restaurant (or several), a hotel, a barber shop, a telegraph office, a local newspaper office, a sheriff's office, and of course, the livery stable. There would also be saloons, though I haven't figured out how I'm going to set this up ... there ain't gonna be no alcohol available in this town. You can also find a general store, a gift shop, a clothing store (western clothing of all kinds), and even a bank! And let's not forget the doctor's office too!

I'd like to make all of this available to Christian groups that could come out ... a kids summer camp, winter camp, a spring break camp, seminars, 'n such ... The church house at the edge of town could host the smaller groups. The larger groups 'd have to take the stagecoach, or ride their horses, or horse-n-buggy's, to the ranch. There, we'd have a large tabernacle, a large dining facility, a bunkhouse (where the working hands live), outhouses, and basically a working ranch! The ranch hands would be folks who've come out there to live. Be in guys who were living off of the streets, orphans, etc. They'd all be welcome here. We take 'em in, they work for/with us on the ranch. We provide them with 3-squares (3 meals-a-day) and clothes, and a little spending money. They would have a place to live, and folks that love them and care for them.

The ranch would also have a large bunkhouses for the kids going to summer camp, winter camp, or spring break camp, and for folks who have come out for weeklong or weekend seminars. During kids camps, these would be segregated, boys vs girls bunkhouses. The kids would learn to ride, to care and feed horse, to work cattle, and about cowboy principles and the behavior of a gentleman and a lady. Church meeting's at the tabernacle would be regular and frequence, and counselors would be readily available in both bunkhouses, and throughout the ranch.

On the road from the ranch to town, and around those parts, you'd have road signs like in the old days. The roads would pretty much be dirt roads, like in those days, with an occasional road intersection, and signs directing you to the town, or to some other area of the ranch. These could be a ficticious nearby town, or an Indian reservation, where an Indian village could be constructed, if the interest and support are there.

I'd also like to have an area where they could go fishing! A stock pond, or lake, river, etc. Something along those lines. For swimming, I'd like to have a swimming hole just outside of town. It needs to look like a naturally occuring spring, or stream, so the bottom and sides would have to be made to look natural - not the usual concrete. This one could be called "Hot Springs", or something similar, and could be "heated" during the cooler times of the year. This area would have wooden logs built into picnic tables, and large treed areas where folks could ride, or hike, out to the area for a swim and a picnic! We could even have a changing room for men, and one for women, that is styled similar to an outhouse. Of course, there would have to be outhouses here for folks who "had the need".

The difference in these outhouses is that these would actually have toilets and sinks, with running water. An emergency "old western style" telephone would be there on one of the walls, should someone need. You don't have to know any numbers. You just call the local operator, to get anywhere. The operator could get some help out there, should a need arise.

The ranch would have a large swimming hole, a pool, geared for the kids and for large groups during seminar times. The ranch would also have buckboard wagons, buggies, and even a conostoga wagon for trailrides, with the "kitchen" included! Campouts would be offered, where we sleep outdoors, by the fire, and do things a great deal like in the old days.

Look for this vision on my website at: richallcorn.orgI will be posting it up soon, and developing it as it comes to me, in hopes to some day soon bring it to reality!

*NOTE: These ideas, dreams, and plans, are the creation and design of Rich Allcorn, of Rich Allcorn Ministries, and are therefore protected and proprietary writings.

written by Rich Allcorn
©Copyright - April 2001, Richard A. Allcorn

It's Been Raining A Lot Lately

2010-02-04T08:23:00.004-06:00

It's been raining alot lately, and I am loving it!
Now these are not the heavy rains, mind you, or the torrential downpour that creates massive floods 'n all, but this is the pleasant, little drizzle ... the gentle rain, that cowboy stories and dreams of country living are made of!

The temperatures have been around 50degrees, give or take a few. This makes it nice and pleasant ... not cold, but not warm either. You could sit by a fire in this weather and enjoy the sound of the wood burning, and the crackle of the fire, along with it's gratifying warmth. When it's too hot, you really can't enjoy the fire. When it's too cold, you're "huddled" by the fire, reaching into it's flames, trying to thaw out your fingertips! THAT is not that much fun either! But the 50's? It's just right.

I've been working a part-time job in town here, as the times dictate, where the folks who are managers 'n such have got no earthly idea how to deal with people. This frustrates me! You know, cowboys are not known for their tolerance to ignorance and stupidity. We have a world of patience with someone who can't help it, but when their the way they are because they choose to be, and ain't got no better sense to change it (or improve themselves) ... well, that's another matter altogether!

It's that sort of situation where I've been working. Now I love the people, but these folks are in such a darned hurry that they forget that they are dealing with real live folks here! These are people, who are laying their life on the line, as they go into surgery, trusting that we at least have got some idea of what we are about to do, so that their physical problem can be fixed! And the fellas that do the surgeries ... they're pretty darn good at what they do! I'm impressed. But these folks that do the office work ... these managers I've been tellin' ya' about ... they are horse of an entirely different color, and I ain't talkin' about the color of their skin either!

It's days like these, that I look out of the big plate glass windows and I see the rain, and the fog, and the cloudy skies, and I think ... I wish ... that I could be sittin' atop a horse, naturally wearing my slicker ('cause it'll stop the wind and the rain) and hat, and as I sit there under a large tree up on the hill, I can hear it now ... the sound of the rain, dripping off of the tree leaves high above me ... and the sound of the gentle rain as it falls ever so softly onto the winter grass that is still green, thanks to these mild days we've had this winter.

You can hear the peace of all that God has created, as you hear the gentle sound of the rainfall. Occasionally, the horse will stir. And when you readjust yourself in the saddle, there is that oh so wonderful sound of the leather ... it's just plain peaceful!

A Word about Rich ...
and Spring Valley - the Old West Town!

I continue to write, columns, blogs, and on my book. When I finish it I really hope it does well, 'cause I've got more to write, already queue'd up 'n ready to get down on paper. I'd like to be able to make lots and lots of money at this writing thing. You see, I've got a vision ... a dream, for a large ranch. I'd like to get a few hundred acres outside of town (far outside of town). I want to locate it near the railroad, where the old steam train still runs on occassion. And I wanna build an old west town. I'd like the railroad to run through it, or have a track that re-routes "to it", so that folks could come out on a special excursion to see the old west town.

It'd have a working livery stable, with horses and tack (saddles, bridles, etc.) that you could rent, if you didn't have a horse. If you did, you could "drive out" and trailer your horses. You have to park your vehicles at the entrance, and either ride your horse into town, or take the stage coach that occasionally drives through the parking lot. That way we'll have none of those new car things on our streets! But coming in on the train would, in my opinion, be the cream of the crop!
While there, you'd find a restaurant (or several), a hotel, a barber shop, a telegraph office, a local newspaper office, a sheriff's office, and of course, the livery stable. There would also be saloons, though I haven't figured out how I'm going to set this up ... there ain't gonna be no alcohol available in this town. You can also find a general store, a gift shop, a clothing store (western clothing of all kinds), and even a bank! And let's not forget the doctor's office too!

I'd like to make all of this available to Christian groups that could come out ... a kids summer camp, winter camp, a spring break camp, seminars, 'n such ... The church house at the edge of town could host the smaller groups. The larger groups 'd have to take the stagecoach, or ride their horses, or horse-n-buggy's, to the ranch. There, we'd have a large tabernacle, a large dining facility, a bunkhouse (where the working hands live), outhouses, and basically a working ranch!

The ranch hands would be folks who've come out there to live. Be in guys who were living off of the streets, orphans, etc. They'd all be welcome here. We take 'em in, they work for/with us on the ranch. We provide them with 3-squares (3 meals-a-day) and clothes, and a little spending money. They would have a place to live, and folks that love them and care for them.

The ranch would also have a large bunkhouses for the kids going to summer camp, winter camp, or spring break camp, and for folks who have come out for weeklong or weekend seminars. During kids camps, these would be segregated, boys vs girls bunkhouses. The kids would learn to ride, to care and feed horse, to work cattle, and about cowboy principles and the behavior of a gentleman and a lady. Church meeting's at the tabernacle would be regular and frequence, and counselors would be readily available in both bunkhouses, and throughout the ranch.

On the road from the ranch to town, and around those parts, you'd have road signs like in the old days. The roads would pretty much be dirt roads, like in those days, with an occasional road intersection, and signs directing you to the town, or to some other area of the ranch. These could be a ficticious nearby town, or an Indian reservation, where an Indian village could be constructed, if the interest and support are there.

I'd also like to have an area where they could go fishing! A stock pond, or lake, river, etc. Something along those lines. For swimming, I'd like to have a swimming hole just outside of town. It needs to look like a naturally occuring spring, or stream, so the bottom and sides would have to be made to look natural - not the usual concrete. This one could be called "Hot Springs", or something similar, and could be "heated" during the cooler times of the year. This area would have wooden logs built into picnic tables, and large treed areas where folks could ride, or hike, out to the area for a swim and a picnic! We could even have a changing room for men, and one for women, that is styled similar to an outhouse. Of course, there would have to be outhouses here for folks who "had the need". The difference is, these outhouses would actually have toilets and sinks, with running water. An emergency "old western style" telephone would be there on one of the walls, should someone need to call the local operator to get some help out there, should some need arise.

The ranch would have a large swimming hole, a pool, geared for the kids and for large groups during seminar times. The ranch would also have buckboard wagons, buggies, and even a conostoga wagon for trailrides, with the "kitchen" included! Campouts would be offered, where we sleep outdoors, by the fire, and do things a great deal like in the old days.

Look for this vision on my website at: richallcorn.org
I will be posting it up soon, and developing it as it comes to me, in hopes to some day soon bring it to reality!

*NOTE: these ideas and dreams are the creation and design of Rich Allcorn, of Rich Allcorn Ministries, and are therefore protected a proprietary writings.
©Copyright - April 2001, Richard A. Allcorn - All rights reserved.

Writings of a Cowboy
written by Richard A. Allcorn © Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved.

For additional information on Rich Allcorn,

please consult his online profile on Linked-In:
my personal online profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/richallcorn

For additional information,
please consult the following websites: my personal website: http://www.richallcorn.org

additonal writings: http://www.richallcorn.com/writer
our church website: http://www.wordchurch.info
our favorite cowboy church: http://www.wccowboychurch.org

2010 - It's a brand new year!

2010-01-22T11:03:00.009-06:00

I can now say that I know what it's like when a man has worked a ranch for years, and put his blood and his sweat into building it into something, only to find hard times come up and force him to make a change ... a change that he is maybe not ready to make.

This has to be what it was like for cattle ranchers, years ago, when the need for cattle began to change. It just wasn't "profitable" to be a cattle rancher anymore! And things began to "dry up". The market changed. Even "cowboy'in" changed! These new fangled contraptions they called a "car" began to emerge, and the horse and the wagon were beginning to become obsolete!

I am finding today, after over 23 years in the computer industry, while working as both a consultant, and as employed, that this phase of my career, working in the computer technology field, is over. Oh sure, I have a lot of knowledge in the area, and I know things other folks would love to know, don't know, or need to know ... but finding a company that wants somebody like me (and is willing to pay for it) is a task that now has taken over 2 years, with no fruit. And I am growing weary of looking. I have a lot to give, but no place to "give it", at least where I could earn a good living ... in the computer field.

What did the cowboy do back then? When the way of life that he was used to began to dry up and fizzle away, right before his eyes ... what did he do? I'm sure the first thing he probably did was to take a long ride, on horseback, and see the countryside once again. Sometimes that's all a man needed to cheer him, and help him to come back revitalized! But in this instance, and in this situation, I think that "hope" is what was really needed!

Hope is a funny thing! If you have hope, you can stare down the world, as they take your car, your home, and all that you have, but only if you have true hope - only if you "know" that tomorrow, they'll be bringing it all back, because you've got a solution! You've got an answer! You can "see" the light at the end of the tunnel! You - have - hope!

But, there has to be an answer, a vision, a "dream" ... for a man to follow. He has got to see a light wayyyyy up there, at the end of the tunnel, or he will begin to lose hope. The quest is ... to find that hope! He must find that answer, that solution, that will bring him up and out of the tar pits that he now struggles with as he is making his way through!

"So, what 're ya' gonna do, cowboy?", you ask.

Well, for one thing, I'm going to continue writing!

If I keep writing, maybe one day I'll have something to publish! It's be nice to show a bunch of folks on this blog who "follow" it, and the many others that I write. It'd be nice to make a living at writing. So, at least with the writing ... I continue.

I have a book that I am working on now. It's called "the Prophet". It is a book about the five-fold ministry office of a prophet. I think it's time that a series of books on the 5-fold ministry be written so folks who are wanting to learn more will have a set of books to refer to. I plan to cover practical uses, practical application, and what the Bible says about the offices. What is a prophet today? What do they do? What is their temperament? What makes for a successful prophet?

I have noticed that today, we have kind of re-written the way God laid out the church to be. In the five-fold ministry, for instance, where is the Bishop? He's not in there - not in the five-fold ministry. Do you know why? Because the Bishop is among the "staff" of the church. He serves with the Elders, the Deacons, and those who help in the ministry of the church. His position is "under" the authority of the pastor. His job is as an administrator. He helps to administrate the church, and the different areas of ministry that it supports. But never, ever would he be "over" a pastor in authority!

Today, however, we are seeing an ever-growing trend of pastors who are laying down their five-fold ministry title as "Pastor", and are taking up the title "Bishop" in its place. This is not at all in line with scripture. A pastor can be a "bishop", in addition to his duties and position as a pastor, but a bishop cannot be a pastor! A bishop is "under" the authority of a pastor, and NOT the other way around!

But man has begun to write his own title and create his own structure, when the Bible clearly lays out the organization of the church in a different manner. I plan to cover these different offices, and then cover the church staff positions and motivational giftings, which would include among the deacons and elders, the position of administrator, or "bishop". We must get back to "Bible basics" in the management of the church, and in how we do things, if we ever expect God to honor what we are doing. We must go back to the instructions of the Chief.

So, that's where I am on the book writing. I am making good headway on it, so look for it soon. I plan to be finished, at least by April, so that I can have it reviewed, and critiqued by my peers. Look for my book, "the Prophet", to come out some time in the fall of this year (2010).

As far as the other question?
I'll have to let ya' know ...

Written by Richard A. Allcorn
© Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved.

For additional information on Rich Allcorn, please consult his online profile on Linked-In:
my personal online profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/richallcorn

For additional information, please consult the following websites:
my personal website: http://www.richallcorn.org/
additional writings: http://www.richallcorn.com/writer
our church website: http://www.wordchurch.info
our favorite cowboy church: http://www.wccowboychurch.org

Springing into the Summer Months!

2009-05-27T14:57:00.000-05:00

Well the trees are greenin' up, 'n all the shrubs, bushes and vines are all looking their very best, thanks to the rains we've received in the past few weeks! Thank God for such a wonderful blessing! Oh, you can water your yard all day long, but just one dose of a good rain and the difference is obvious! It's the minerals in the water! It makes all the difference in the world.

I've now got to trim a few trees as their getting mighty anxious to overshadow my cooking area on the back porch! Now that's totally fine by me, as long as I've got some working room ... but some of these are just not high enough yet. They'd make great shade if they were taller. But such is the concerns and the considerations of the homeowner. Trimming, painting the house, replacing the fence, fixing the gates, replacing the pool, and getting a new roof (after the hail) ... ahhhh, the duties of owning a home.

It's not real big deal when you've got money coming in ... a steady, regular salary, two incomes, etc. But what if one of those stopped! What if you had to make "changes"? What if your 2 income family suddenly changed to a 1 income family? Tough huh! And yet I am seeing folks dealing with that very thing every day!

There are more and more "Dads" taking their kids to school now. What's wrong with that? Well, these Dad's don't look like their dressed to go to work ... big difference. I see them doing their morning runs now ... at times they'd normally be stuck in traffic on the way to work! I see them at the grocery store, at the schools pulling a "watchdog duty" (Dad's at school for the day) ... but deep down, I know what's going on. Like the season, times are changing.

I work in the IT field ... you know, computers. I've got more diversified talent than most folks you'd ever meet ... and yet, I'm in the same boat as those other guys I just mentioned. What is one to do? Well, as the cowboy would say ... while tipping his hat back, it's time to take another trail! If the path you've been following is always leading you in the wrong direction, it's time to choose another trail.

My wife and I were visiting some apartments the other day with a friend of ours. She's staying with us for a month - in between apartments - and will be moving in at these new ones in June. These are nice apartments! They've got everything I think my wife could ever ask for in a home, from the decor to the layout ... these guys are the "cats meow"! The utilities are a fraction of what we pay now, the cable is free, the add-on's (Internet, etc.) are not much more, and the amenities are excellent! My favorite is that the place is not full of young folks who have no respect for property, peace and quiet, and atmosphere. These residents are top notch!

What happened next just took me totally by surprise! We were just looking through the model 2 bedroom unit, when all of a sudden I found myself thinking about moving into one!! The scary thing was, there was such a peace about it all. I struggled to find a way to throw this out to my wife ... and finally I just said, "These look like they'd be real nice to live in!" My wife responded, "Yeah, she's gonna love it here!" I got bolder, "I was referring to us." And to my surprise, SHE had just had the same feeling of peace about the whole thing, even before we talked!

We discussed it more, and as I began to explore the situation I realized that the Holy Spirit was preparing me ... preparing me for a decision of "change". You know change is good! Anything that is alive changes ... if not, it's dead! God taught me that! So, does this mean that we are about to go through some change?

For years, God has been after me to get involved in ministry ... full time! The problem I have had with that is that I am concerned about being able to provide for my family. Now, I find myself in a situation where I really have no choice - I HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE! I have to make a big career change. I might as well move in the direction that God has been wanting me to, right?

Well, I know that if I'm going to be involved in full-time ministry, and actually "DO" the things He's been laying on my heart to do, then I'm going to have to be able to provide for myself ... and not just "get by" either! I'm going to have to make "good money" at something! So, with the seasons that are changing ... now I too, must change.

In the Old West:
In the days of the Old West, things were not too much different then ... when times got tough, the men had to find "something", something different that they could do! The difference is folks stuck together more then. It was a "survival" thing ... you're out in the wilderness! There are no unemployment lines to bail you out. You needed your neighbors, and they needed you!

One big difference is, if things got really rough, you could load up the wagon and "camp" until you found something! It would be much like us all selling the homestead and loading up the motorhome and heading off to find something. You had a little more freedom in how you worked with your situation.

For example, your "motorhome" didn't need gas ... just "grass". You didn't have to pay a monthly insurance fee to drive it, you didn't have to register it every year, and you could park it just about anywhere you wanted to! Your vehicles, the horses, were reliable. Your only real expense was food! And that was not done by headin' t' the nearest McDonalds! You just build a fire, and dip into your stores of flour, beans and such, and make your dinner! Granted, its nice to be able to reach in the fridge and grab something, but all of that luxury costs you something! It costs you big time!

After talking about all of this I think I need some time to think, to consider, and to understand what God is doing, so that I am on-track with HIS plan. Since I'm off in my imaginary "lah lah land" already, I might as well enjoy it, right?

So hold that thought! I'm going to saddle up my horse, and ride off to some nearby hill, and think. As the gentle breeze meanders up through the trees, and the peaceful sound of the river nearby adds a certain peace to the setting, I will sit there in the saddle and watch the horizon as the sun begins to set. Nothing but the sound of the leather as I reposition myself, and of course the occasional low of a cow way off in the distance. The sound of the river off in the distance, the breeze, and the gentle setting of the sun ... and I listen. I will listen for that small still voice that has always so suredly guided me when I needed solid, sure direction. I will wait ... for Him.

See ya'll again next time!

Written by Richard A. Allcorn
© Copyright 2009 - All rights reserved.

For additional information, please consult the following websites:
Personal website - http://www.richallcorn.com
Additional posted writings can be found here - http://www.richallcorn.com/writer

Announcement: A New Column

2009-05-21T14:07:00.001-05:00

Folks, I plan to continue with WRITINGS OF A COWBOY, and will mostly like begin to post to this on a weekly basis. I have up to now, been learning the "blog world" and how it works. There are registrations to do, domains to build, websites to create, profiles and info to make available, and then you've got to push these references all out to the search engines! It's "work"!

Nevertheless, I've come up with a new topic for the "techie" side of folks ... it's called

I'M GOING MOBILE!

When you get a minute, go out there and check it out! I've written the first of many articles to follow on the subject of working-at-home, the technologies involved, and virtual or "mobile" computing! I am sure you're gonna love it!

If you ever forget how to get to these, please just go to my website at:

http://www.richallcorn.com

and select on the option "Writer" in the left column. Or you can go there directly by using the URL:

http://www.richallcorn.com/writer

Either of these will get you to my "Writer" page, where you will find the icons on the right column to go to this column or the one on "Going Mobile".

Remember, if you like either one of these, select the link that says you can "follow" these. You will then be notified when a new post comes available!

I appreciate all of you who have been reading the Writings of a Cowboy!
Send me your feedback ... I'd love to hear from you!!

In the Old West:

I would sit down and manually "write" these articles, and then I would have to take them to the local post office and mail them to a publisher. Once there, they would be sent to the printers for preparation, type setting, and publishing!

Ok, ok, there are a few things that are better about today's society and it's technology, but I still hold that a lot of that has been more of a hindrance to man himself than an aid to his development.

Folks, I've got some steaks cooking over the fire and they've gotta be tended to!
Ya'll go out and check out these new articles!

Make me proud!

Written by Richard A. Allcorn
© Copyright 2009 - All rights reserved.

For additional information, please consult the following websites:
Personal website - http://www.richallcorn.com
Additional posted writings can be found here - http://www.richallcorn.com/writer

Being "resourceful" in challenging times ...

2009-04-08T17:39:00.000-05:00

I got tired of my "online resumes" not ever making the "hiring firewall". In networking, a firewall is a software means by which a hacker "hits a brick wall" so-to-speak, when he attempts to infiltrate your network. It's a "safe system" that protects your inner network - your LAN, from would-be attackers on the outside - the WAN. (LAN=local area network, WAN=wide area network) Another networking term you'll hear is the "DMZ", a term taken from the Korean war days which refers to an Internet connection that is "unprotected". The "firewall" is the system that protects or stands in between your LAN and the folks who'd like to get into your system on the outside WAN. 'Nuff about networking education now.

When you apply online, you are now (in almost all cases) required to basically re-create your entire resume, from scratch, on the website. This format usually forces you to conform to the "chronological order resume" format - your jobs are listed in most recent first, and so on.

Now this works fine for folks who are gainfully employed, but if you've had to 'step out' of your career field and take on a "put food-on-the-table job", your resume could be set up for trouble!

For example: Let's say you are a computer guy - like me. You've worked in computer consulting and you have a lucrative business in support various large companies and working for various contractors who "sub" you out. In a nutshell, you're "doing good"!

Then 9-1-1 hits! Now, all of a sudden, IT folks (like yourself) who are full-time employed are being laid off! They in desperation begin to use their skills in the free-lance consulting field (YOUR field) to make ends meet. The results? Your market is now "flooded" with IT folks! YOU can't find work now - you have to compete with all the rest! So, you take an 'alternative' job. I'm not talking about a gay job, folks - c'mon! An alternative job meaning that you are working at something "different" ... something "NOT" in the IT field. You become a Real Estate agent, or a NEXTEL Sales Manager. And, as a result, your family continues to eat. Good, right?

But your resume, if you use the chronological format, is now going to show your most recent history as those "put food-on-the-table" jobs as your most recent employment, indicating to a search engine that you don't have the recent experience that they are looking for. As a result, you get passed by! YOU have just hit the "hiring firewall".

You see, your resume NEVER, EVER gets seen by a human being! The "filters" they use go through the resumes and in some cases even produce for them hard-copies to refer to, but these are of the chronological order - NOT your format you WANTED to submit! As a result, you don't make the cut! You - never - get - an - interview!

I got tired of this, so I recently prepared my resume in "my" format. I've put this one before folks who were execs, not looking mind you, but interested enough after seeing it that they wanted to talk to me! (even though they're not hiring!) I took "that" resume, and a chronological employment listing as an addendum, and a list of referrals to boot! I put all of these in a neatly paper-clipped format, and headed out!

I wore regular jeans, a fairly nice shirt, and an earpiece with cord, attached to my phone. I carried a clipboard, and I entered these big companies front doors. Normally, if I were the applicant, they'd refer me to the website to submit my resume and that'd be the end of it! Ah, but today, I'm not an applicant - I'm a "courier"!

I would approach the desk with a line something like, "Sir, I'm supposed to deliver this here ... your HR folks are expecting it ... something about an IT position ... I'm not really sure, I'm just the delivery guy." And the sweet sound of their response, "Oh, thank you sir! HR you say? I'll interoffice it right over." And "that" is how I overcome the "hiring firewall". I leave the building and head out for the next business. You've got to sow a lot of seed to get a harvest!

In the Old West days:
I'd put on a nice clean shirt, dust off my hat, and head into town. With clean hands and a smile, I'd waltz right in an introduce myself and the interview would begin.

I realize as big as we've become in some businesses that the scenario I just mentioned might not be feasible, but what about the HR department? What about the "hiring firewall"? Why do we have to be so "anti-social" in our hiring processes? HR, and dealing with HR, has moved from the original intent of "protecting individual rights and protecting the company" to a polite and politically correct way of being rude ... but we dont' say rude, we say "nothing person - just business".

When an accusation, for instance, is made against a worker by a customer, a formal inquiry is begun! I'm not talking a quick, "come in and let's talk" session where your boss asks what happened, you explain, and the problem is remedied. No, now it's more like an inquest ... a legal proceeding, where unless you are found flawlessly innocent, you are now guilty and we'll prove it somehow, given the time!

Whatever happened to honor? Whatever happened to the "human factor"? I urge you, if you are in the HR circles in your business, begin to ask yourself these questions. And take those dog gone blinders off of your eyes while you're at it!! Just because your boss said it's right doesn't mean it's right! Use your own common sense ... use the still small voice that God placed in your heart ... and ask yourself, "Is this the right thing to do?" Be careful, though ... you may be shocked when you take an honest look at how heartless and unfeeling you've become ... in the interest of being "politically correct" and following "corporate policy".

In the Old West, a man's honor was not for sale! Is yours? If I am ever in a position to have a large company, there will NOT be an "HR department" if I can help it! I think that the boss, the manager, the supervisor, over a particular department, should do the interviewing, hiring and firing for that department. I think that applicants should be allowed a chance to have their resume's at least 'seen' by the eye of a living, breathing human being. And I believe that if you don't think that I am doing the job right, you should have the backbone ... the sheer guts to look me in the eye and tell me so! Don't send some flunkie form HR down for a "exit interview".

In the Old West days, a boss had the backbone to talk to his people, face-to-face. He told them when they weren't doing right. He worked with them, and they worked together, and made it work! You appreciated your job, because you knew when you were appreciated! And you didn't have to run it by HR to see if you could have permission to give an employee a little something extra for a job well done!

Now you know the difference ... go out there and make a change!
Make me proud!

Times are tough!

2009-02-20T13:38:00.000-06:00

You know times have been tough here lately! If you've been in the job market at all, you realize that it "ain't no picnic" podner! I remember back before 9-1-1, I was working computer consulting contracts back-to-back. These were lucrative and easy to come by. Then "poof", 9-1-1. All of a sudden, folks get all weird about buying and the computer market goes South! Nobody is hiring, companies are laying off, and the guys who are getting "the boot" are becoming independent "consultants". You guessed it! "Hey! That's my job!" So, a beginning to a lul in my market began.

Just a couple of years ago, the computer market started to pick back up. Folks were getting over their fears (though I still can't figure what they were all about), and companies were "hiring" once again. One problem. Now, companies are using the very devices I've been supporting - computers - to filter and weed out their resumes "before they ever see them"! This is bad for me because the past several positions I've had were "put food on the table" positions, not necessarily in keeping with my skills or expertise. How did that affect me? My resume indicates that I don't have much "recent" experience in my career field!
Bottom line: I don't "make the cut" ... they never - see - my - resume!!

I realized that I had to think "out-of-the-box" and go for something else. Now, I'm an admissions clerk at the local hospital. I work the E.R. on some of the most unusual shifts I've ever worked ... but I'm getting paid! Oh, it's not my "IT pay" that I'm used to, but it beats drawing unemployment, and I'm thankful ... very, very thankful!

In The Old West:
When times got tough in the days of the Old West, a man had to do what a man had to do! Sometimes this meant getting a job working at helping a neighbor with his crops, or his cattle. Sometimes you hired on as a ranch hand on a neighboring ranch. And sometimes, if you really needed the money, you would ride into town and get a job. Perhaps a "sheriff" job? Of course now a days you have to go through all sorts of rigorous training, both physical and intellectual, to make sure you know the job. Back then, well, a sheriff didn't always last that long, so they weren't real picky ... if ya' know what I mean.

So what's different? Not a great deal, really, except that a man had a larger set of alternatives "then". He could hunt for their food. You could build things using the trees and such off of your land, and you could grow your own crops. You really did not have any need for things that would incur debt ... or did you?

Sadly enough, many times a new landowner had a "mortgage", much like what we all have on our homes today! A mortgage requires that you have money - denero, mula, cash-o-la? Know what I mean? There were regular "payments", just like we have now. And if these were not met, there was foreclosure, just like there is now.

So, was it better? Not really. What would have made it better would be if we were 'debt free', and didn't owe 'anyone' for our belongings! But then today, that is also a blessing! If you actually own your home, and your cars, and have no debt on them, then you have opened up a wide range of options for job opportunities that you can't consider otherwise ... because they don't pay enough.

Summary? Or as they'd say back then, "Hey Rich! Quit your jawing and get to the point!"

My point is this: God had it right all along. Owe no man nothing, except to love him.

If we would apply this, we would be more solid, less fearful, and less "trapped" by the trends and changes of the times. Is this easy? By all means, "No!" But then the walk of the righteous is never "easy". Oh Jesus said our yoke would be easy, and our burden light, but can you guess why? It's because you don't owe anyone ... any thing! You are ... debt free!

Make that your new goal!
... and make me proud!

Riding Horseback

2009-01-27T16:03:00.000-06:00

Riding horses and cowboys just go together! Of course, when the Old West began to change, a lot of that changed too! Many cowboys have now traded in their horse for a pickup truck. This form of transportation lends itself much better to ranch work than just a horse, but there are just some things that don't change!

I went to Houston again to visit family. It seems my niece's little girl was having a birthday party, and her "Auntie" and I were invited! My brother-in-law, Dan, is my nieces father. He and his wife Laura are always trying to get us to come out and she wants me to ride horses with her. She's into riding "English"! I always tell her, "Now Laura, cowboy's don't ride 'English' style." And she laughs! But this time, she had a western saddle and gear waiting for me, along with another horse (not English trained) they got for one of my nephews. Naturally, I was game.

So, I got to go riding this time! I had a good time! Riding horses is a favorite past time of mine. The horse they had me on was one they hadn't had long. After a little time in the saddle I realized that the horse was a bit "bridle-shy". We worked that out and the ride was on!

Later, after we rode a while in the arena, Laura rode up beside and asked me if I was up to riding off the property, out on the roads. My reply was, "If you're not too afraid that your ride will be too jumpy when the traffic comes by, I'm all for it!" She laughed, and off we rode! The boys were startled ... "Where are ya'll going?", they hollered. But it was too late ... two riders were off to adventure!

We had a good ride, leisurely going along, talking, and discussing the next time that my wife and I will be coming down to visit. I then told her, "You know what I like about the western saddle?" "What?", she asked. I stopped the horse and said, "Watch this!" I sat straight up in the saddle ... you know, like you do when you've been riding a long while, just to stretch your legs? Well, it makes the most wonderful sound as the leather stretches. "Do ya' hear that?", I asked. "Yeah", she said, and she replied, "English saddles don't do that." To which I replied, "Yes, I know. And by the way, I said, "THAT is a draw-back!" She busted out laughing!

I love the sound of the leather in the saddle when you're on a trail ride, or just sitting there on the open pasture, watching the cattle. It's a peaceful. It's just one of those sounds that only a cowboy would appreciate, like the low of cattle, or the rustling of the wind in the trees on a late afternoon. I appreciate Dan and his wife, Laura. Dan is becoming quite the cowboy himself. He too, is not into riding "English". Most importantly, though, he recognizes the behavior and traits of a gentlemen, of the character that goes with that, and of strong family roots ... all the traits of a true cowboy. I'm proud to call him my brother.

In the Old West:
First of all, the horse was the number one mode of transportation, for the rancher, the traveler, and for anyone who was not carrying a lot of 'stuff'. For those needing to haul hay, fence mending gear and wire, etc. a buckboard was used. This was the closest thing to a pickup truck that a cowboy had. It has a bench seat up front, and a "bed", like that of a pickup truck, and it was pulled by a team of horses. The "suburban" of this era had to be the covered wagon! It could carry just about everything you wanted to carry. Let me change that ... maybe this was the "MOTORHOME" of this era! I mean, let's face it ... you carried a place to sleep, to change clothes, etc., and with the "chuckwagon" box added to the back end, you now had a kitchen! This vehicle was usually pulled by a team of at least 4 horses. If you were carrying a lot of weight, you could either increase the number of horses you hitched to it, or use draft horses. These are the big horses you see Budweiser using on their parade appearances. These horses, when you got where you were going (with the covered wagon) could do a mean job of pulling a plow rig!

When traveling, the cowboy would often take saddlebags, a bed roll, a range duster coat, a canteen of water, and some beef jerky for the trip. The saddlebags were not the luggage of their day. They had luggage, just as we do! Saddlebags were more like a day pack, a small backpack, or an overnighter dufflebag. Most of what you had, you wore! The saddlebags would carry a few small items, some beef jerky (to eat along the way), a few small tools, etc., a change of clothes, but not much more. If this was going to be a long trip, you could always tie more on of your bedroll, or behind your bed roll, placed just behind the saddle. Their coat of choice was a range duster. This is a large coat, used to break the wind (when it was cold), stop the rain (when it was rainy or wet), and give overall warmth by retaining body heat in the wind, and for the cooler times of the year. This coat is perfectly suited to horseback riding. It has split portions of the lower half of the coat to compensate for straddling a horse.

We could talk more, about saddle types, and trip types, but all in all, the cowboy was an icon. Cowboyin' was a job ... working cattle, horses, trail drives, etc., but actually "BEING" a cowboy is another thing entirely! We're talking "code" here, ethics, principles, core values.
We'll cover that next time!

In the meanwhile, see ya' down the trail ...
Make me proud!

Saying "Goodbye" to an Old Friend

2009-01-10T16:05:00.000-06:00

I'm here in Houston to say "Goodbye" to an old friend ... 92 years old to be exact! His name is Joe. He was born in Mexico, and has lived over 30 years with his wife Rebecca. He's been like a second father to me. He's a friend I enjoy talking with, and telling stories to. He's a good story teller! He was here this morning, after a long restless night in bed, as we just very briefly got to talk. He squeezed my hand tightly. There was no need for words between us. We each knew how we felt, and what the other meant as well. Tonight, after a long afternoon of silent, deep sleep, he's coding ... no pulse, no heartbeat. My friend is gone.

Joe has, for many years now, wanted to go on to be with Jesus. He used to always tell me, "I'm ready to go to El Cajon-Cajon!" Then he would cross his hands over his chest and close his eyes, like he's posing for this casket mugshot! (He's a funny guy!) While he's got his eyes closed he opens them briefly, winks at me with a smile, and then closes his eyes again like he's lying there in a casket!

One thing's for sure ... Joe is ready to leave this world and go on home to check out his heavenly mansion! He "took care of business" long before now. I was there! We prayed the prayer of salvation together! I "know" he's saved! Joe's got his heart set for the promised lands ... where there are no cloudy days ... and where he won't have to have someone to help him when it comes time to go to out house!

In the Old West:
I sometimes think the Indians had it right when their old folks are ready to die. They say "Goodbye" to all of their loved ones. Then they gather all of what they want to take with them, and they head out of camp for their "last hunt".

My friend Joe had a number of things starting to quit working in his body. I don't want to live so long that I get to that stage. I've often wondered what I would do if I were in his shoes. Would I saddle up for one last ride? Maybe head out into mountain lion country on one last hunt? Or would I maybe like some of these old Indian Chiefs, climb up onto the highest mountain and fold my hands, facing with my jaw locked to the West ... to wait for what happens next?

If I remember anything, though it's that you always ... always respect your elders. I have the utmost respect for Joe. So, here's what we do. We saddle up Joe's horse, Mexican style. We throw a sarape (Mexican blanket) over the back of the saddle, like a bed roll. Joe then dons his cowboy hat. He shifts himself to make sure he's got a good seat in the saddle. Then, with a look of sobriety, knowing he's "ready", he takes one last look at us all. This is a one-way trip, and he knows this all too well. He waves one last "adios" to us all ... Then in true cowboy fashion, he turns away, and rides off slowly towards the hill country.

"Vio condios, mi amigo!", I shout out to him in Spanish ...
He turns back my way and looks at me for a moment. He wipes a single tear from his eye. The horse stirs as he clears his throat, as only Joe can do! He tugs on the reins to quiet the horse. After a moment of looking back at us one last time he reaches up, and with the style and finesse of John Wayne himself, he tips his hat like only Joe can do it. Then he smiles that big Joe smile! Then he quickly gets off a brief hand wave and turns again for the mountains.

"Adios Pappa." I repeat again, softly to myself, as my words fall to the quiet of the moment. Again to myself I say, "I'll see you again ... when it's time for them to send 'MY' saddle to the house, podner!"
As he rides on, the horse picks up his gate. A quick turn in through some trees ... and he's gone. Goodbye Joe.

Now let's celebrate Joe's departure ... in true Mexican style!
Make me proud!

The True Meaning of "Gentleman"

2008-12-17T13:18:00.000-06:00

In a group I am involved with on LinkedIn.com, called "Leaders and Thinkers", a question was asked if ... "one could be a gentleman, and a great leader at the same time?"

I read through the various comments and after digesting all the wonderful prose, I came up with this response ...

My Comment:
Perhaps we have a misunderstanding of what it means to be a 'gentleman'. Picture in your mind the cowboy ... the guy who says "Yes ma'am.", when asked a question by a lady. He knows to remove his hat when he enters someone's home, or when he is introduced to a lady, and especially when he leads in prayer. He understands that you hold a door for a lady. Chivalry is important. But I think what is being assumed here is that a "gentleman" is also a weakling.

A gentleman is one who never starts an argument, but also one who does NOT back down when defending one's honor, or when standing up for what is "right". A gentleman is the epitomy of what a Christian should be, at least in their actions. He is courteous, respectful, considerate, and patient, but he is also bold and strong in the face of evil or adversity. He is quick to take a stand against a wrong doing on behalf of another. Words like "character", "integrity", and "principle" are not just words, but precious companions and integral parts of a gentleman's makeup ... of his being. He "is" these things. He's not perfect, and he will be the first to apologize when he's done a wrong ... but he is by all measures stable and solid where his beliefs and his principles are concerned.

In leadership, a true gentleman will "draw out" these character qualities in the folks that he supervises. He does this by example, by encouragement, and by personal friendly challenges, to entice the individual to embrace these principle keys to character.

[end quote]

In the Old West days ...
The phrase "gentleman" had a high meaning when it came to the conduct of a man. A "gentleman" would never been seen in a 'gentleman's club' because a "gentleman" does not go to such places. When one spoke of "adult conversation" in the Old West days, lewdity, foul language, and curse words were NOT part of the subject at all! An "adult conversation" would never allow such lack of character or immature behavior! "Adult conversation" simply meant that they were discussing things that adults talk about ... that children would simply not be interested in.

What has happend to the society of today? Where did our moral values go? And what happened to "standards" of character?

Food for thought ... that you can "ponder" as you pull a Mark Twain and smoke your pipe on the back porch, watching the sun go down.

Remember this: character, integrity, and honor, are things of value that must be embraced. They are jewels of significant value, oftentimes overlooked ... but that is another story!

Time to build a fire, and think back of the older days ... when men really were "men".

Goodnight to you all!
Stay warm ... and remember.
Make me proud!

A Cowboy Christmas Tree!

2008-12-12T13:24:00.000-06:00

Well, I finally found somebody that does "NOT" use the Internet to filter out resumes, and they actually take resumes the old fashioned way ... hand delivered. Why does this make a difference? Well, I got the interview! (smoke that in your pipe) I GOT THE INTERVIEW!

Furthermore, they are as we speak sending my info to the H.R. folks to determine a salary offering and tender me an offer letter! How's that for results? What does this mean? I think our new "e-submission" methods are not working ... at least for most. There are very, very GOOD people out there who are being passed by because some keyword didn't flag on a filter search.

But enough about that! While I was waiting in the lobby of this place, I was checking out their Christmas tree. (NOTE: it's not a "holiday tree", but a "Christmas" tree - just wanted to clear that up for you sensitive types that get easily offended). Yes, this was a traditional Christmas tree, a tradition that has been celebrated here in our country, our Christian nation, for generations!

Check this out though ... when I was a young cowpoke, my Mom and my Dad had a Christmas album (not a Holiday album) that we used to play. For you kids of the 21st century ... we used to play music on something like your CD's you use now, only we called them "LP's", or more commonly "records". Yeah I know, not that original huh. The "LP" stood for "long play". These records were bigger and played at a speed of 33rpms (most smaller records were called "45's" because they played at the faster speed of 45rpm). These "records" were placed onto a platter, commonly called a "turntable". Then an armlike device was placed upon the record, called a "needle", sometimes called a "tonearm". This was the part that took the sound from the record and amplified it so we could hear it.

Now, enough of the history lesson. This record album they used to play was called "Christmas with the Cartwrights". For you Bonanza fans, this should ring a bell! Yes, Ben Cartwright, and Hoss, Adam, and even Little Joe, were all on there! These are now available in CD versions! I have them! And if you close your eyes, you can picture the Ponderosa (their ranch) in the dead of winter, snow on the ground, and horse-n-buggy rigs all over the place, as friends gathered from all over to celebrate Christmas with the Cartwright family!

Through the course of events, there are old Christmas songs, hymns, and stories, that are told as they are decorating the tree, pouring apple cider, and singing Christmas carols! Man, if you're a "Christmas buff" at all, this is the album for a cowboy type! Now, back to my story of the tree at the hospital. It had "candles" on it! No, they weren't lit, but they had 'em! And they also had an "angel" at the top of the tree, liked they did back in the old days! Now, many folks use a star. No problem with either ... I just like the "Old West" way.

The Old West

"In the old days" ... as my youngest son, John, calls it (when his Dad was a kid) they used to go out and cut a real tree for the Christmas tree. It was usually a "fir tree". This tree was cut down with an axe, and tied off with rope to the horse, or sometimes thrown onto a wagon. Once back at the house, the tree (freshly cut) was set up in the home and made ready for decoration. The ball ornaments you see used today are very similar to what was used then, with one exception. Back then, balls were often purchased one-at-a-time. Each had a scene painted on it, or a message of something. Whatever the decor, each and every Christmas ball (not "Holiday ball") had a special meaning. It was purchased at a particular time, or given in memory of someone. The point is, they each had a "story".

And then there were the "candles". Since they didn't have electricity, and no one had ever heard of a 'string of lights', they put 'candles' on their Christmas trees. Now today, this would be considered very dangerous, but since the tree was "freshly cut" it was too green to catch fire. The candles were held in place by candle holders designed specifically to clip to tree limbs. These had to be properly placed soas to hold the candle "upright". Obviously, "lighting the tree" became a tradition as it takes a long while to light a well lit tree using candles! But imagine the wonder of it all when it was done! It's like making homemade ice cream! Homemade ice cream somehow tastes different when you've had to do all the work of mixing it up and turning the crank, and the whole process was a family affair! Everyone pitched in to help!
The Christmas tree was no different! It was a family affair.

This year, when you sit in front of your Christmas tree, on Christmas eve, and you look at all the lights, and the decorations that make it look so festive, take some time and watch the eyes of your children. Take a few moments of silence. Watch the light in their eyes as they gaze upon the tree! The love of a child, and the excitement of all the Christmas season can be seen in the gleam of their little eyes! Christmas is all about memories. Make some special memories this Christmas with your children, or grandchildren. Have them put up the video games, and turn off the TV, and share what your Christmas's were like ... with them. They will remember it for the rest of their lives!

Now, back to the Ponderosa! I rode in on horseback this year. It's kind of cold, but not that bad, really. My "Marlboro coat" keeps me warm. Because it's long, it makes a great "bun warmer" when you're riding in the cold. I take a moment and I thank Ben, Hoss, Adam, and Little Joe, for all the memories ... and then, like everyone who left before me, I wish them all a very Merry Christmas! Hoss says, "I'll see ya' out" and walks me out to my horse. As I step out into the snow, and mount up, the night is quiet. The moon's out tonight, and it lights up the countryside. Not a breeze to be had. It's going to be a quiet, thoughtful ride home tonight. I bid Hoss a good night, and ride off into the beautifully white, moonlit night. It's so peaceful.

Goodnight to you all!

Stay warm ... and remember.

Make me proud!

Monday's

2008-12-08T18:19:00.000-06:00

A Monday after a weekend has got to be the most routine day of the week. Nothing unusual seems to happen, except for out in Liberty Hill - that's the night they have their Cowboy Church! But basically the day starts, you go through it, and it ends. My day was more of the same ... looking for work, combing the Want Ads on the computer, checking the job sites, etc. A call from my mother-in-law for a trip to the grocery store, pick up the kids at school.

At the grocery store it's business as usual. Everybody's running around grabbing a few things for the week ... nothing big. Payday's coming up on Friday. That's when the big shoppers come out! Today, though, it's a day to get the items you forgot that you need for supper.

In The Old West:
Picture an Old West town, somewhere near 5:30pm. The streets are pretty much empty. Not much breeze blowing today ... gentle whisps of cool are in the air. Nothing to stir the dust, though. The sidewalks are almost empty. An occasional rider, or a wagon rig might pass through, but it's slow today. You wander on over to the hotel and head for the dining room to order up a cup of coffee.

As you sit down you notice maybe one other person in there, an older gentleman just passing through, having an early supper. Most of all , except for a little chatter coming from back in the kitchen, it's quiet. You finish up your coffee and toss a buffalo nickel onto the table. Even though it's just coffee, it's always nice to leave a little somethin' for the waitress.

As you step out onto the street, it's apparent that the sun's going down sooner today ... a sure sign that we're moving towards winter. The evening air is starting to cool. You know it's time to head home for supper. Nothing happening today in town, for sure. Charlie over at the 'livery stable has already got your horse ready. Things must be slow there too! Not much wasted on words here. A simple nod. He wishes you a good evening. You tip your hat. He smiles.

As you reach the edge of town and head for the ranch, you realize that you like these times of the year. All the chores are done! Most of the cows shipped out earlier today on the train, so you won't have to feed them for the winter. The extra cow hands left yesterday for some winter hunting. And you've got some free time to yourself!

It's just you and the wife now ... it's going to be quiet. All of a sudden there's an emptiness deep in your stomach, like the feeling you get when you suddenly remember that you forgot something. You know the feeling? You've forgotten something ... and it's fixin' t' come back to you, and you just know it's not good! "Oh no!" You promised your wife you wouldn't be late for supper! She was plannin' somethin' special! You guage the horse up to a trot. As you round the North end of town's trailhead, you can see the house ... smoke is already gently rising from the chimney. You'd better get a move on. She's already started cookin' supper! A gentle nudge of your heels, a simple flick of the reins, and like any good horse should, your horse is off to a run ... don't wanna be late!

G'night ya'll!

Don't forget to trim the lanterns.

Trying to find a job in today's society ...

2008-12-04T17:16:00.001-06:00

I think I've been on the unemployed list for almost 8 months now, and I don't think that there's anything else that you can go through that will make you feel worse. The thoughts that go through your head, like "You're supposed to be the provider for this household!" or "You can't even get a decent job like those other guys!". The devil seems to be really busy these days, and yes, he's stopped by my doorstep as well. My family is a big comfort, but it still hurts!

It doesn't help that you seem to spend most of your waking hours in front of a computer, applying to site after site, agency after agency, and they all want you to re-create your resume manually onto their site. This is supposed to be the automation age, right? What happened here? Why can't I just click on "APPLY NOW" like you do on one of the sites?

And then there's the long, long waits ... no calls, no interviews, and sometimes ... sometimes you even get an email letting you know that they're happy you wasted your time applying for the position, but they hired somebody else!

In The Old West:
In the old days of long ago, a man walked into a place of business and he got to talk to his would-be employer, face-to-face! He applied for a job like a man. He was treated like a man, too ... with respect. Today, it's "go out to our website and fill out everything, and we'll call you ..." only never to hear from them again.

Remember those days, when a hand shake was a hand shake? Remember when a man would look you in the eye when he talked to you? Nowadays, if you do this, people wonder if you're gay, or if you're trying to "put the mojo on them or something! But in those days when a man looked you dead 'n the eye, man you "knew" he was shooting straight with ya'! A handshake and a man's word was better 'n any contract or agreement on some piece of paper.

You didn't have a water bill, or a "bottled water" bill. You didn't have an electric bill, or a phone bill. You didn't have to buy gas ... you just needed to find some grass now and then. You pumped your own water from your own well. And you didn't need electricity. You used lanterns, a fireplace, a wood cookstove ... I think you get the point.

I guess we oughtta be thankful for all that we do have, but when the "income" goes wrong, it all comes tumbling down on top of ya'! And like it or not, today - like the days of yesteryear - the man is still expected to be, and rightfully so, the 'breadwinner'. He is the provider of the household income. And if he can't accomplish that, just like back then, he feels shame, and a loss of self-worth. It eats at him, and gnaws at his conscience.

But I still think I'd rather be living in some small town, out in the country, where I could go shoot something when we needed food, and I could "dig" if we needed water, and nobody had to interview me, or let some new-fangled computer "scan" my resume ... I'd just take care of business ... and keep my honor and my pride, and provide for my family.

Well, I think that's 'nuff for t'night ... ya'll!

The woodbox looks good tonight, no need for more.
Y'might take a gander at the barn door t' make sure it's shut tight.

Make me proud!

Those Were The Good Ole Days!

2008-12-03T20:59:00.000-06:00

I was working out tonight at the LIFETIME Fitness Center here in Austin Texas, and there was something different about the night. I was awful 'reflective' about stuff, ya' know? I began to look, as I'm starting off on my walk - gotta keep that heart rate up to keep in shape ... oh yeah, I began to look around at all the folks on these treadmill contraptions, and I began to ponder on how much man has changed!
(that's "me" up on the LIFETIME Fitness' Rock Climbing Wall!)

God has got to be somewhat proud when He looks at us! I mean after all, we came from a garden! We started walking barefoot and wearing nothing ... I mean nothing at all! We were naked! Now look at us! Each person here has their own style. That guy over there has dreadlocks ... now these look really cool on some folks. On others, well, it makes me check to see that I've got my sidearm handy! Anyway, some folks have got one hairstyle, or another ... this guy over here is wearing his style, she's wearing her style, that lady over there ... they've all got their own personal style in the gym bag they bring, the shoes they choose, the shorts they wear, their shirt, etc. and some even have a bandana on their heads! Now there's something that I can relate to - Indians!

Anyway, I look at these machines that we get on ... they're just plain fantastic! I set mine for "weight loss" ... (hold your remarks, please) it asks me how much I weigh, how old I am, how long I think I can stand it on this thing, and what my target heart rate is! Now there's something you can shoot at! I set my heart rate at 131, and my speed at a mere walk to town ... 2.5 mph, and we're off! This thing begins to increase my incline to get my heart rate up. You see, I've set mah pace, so all it's gotta do is make the hill I'm walking up steeper, or not so steep, 'til my heart rate gets to what these things call the "target zone". That's the ... (how did the Chief used to say that?) oh, yeah, the "happy hunting grounds"! That's where ya' begin to get a real workout! Your heart begins to pound in your chest, your arteries and veins begin to swell as the blood flows, and your body get's a workout!

I think back as to what it must've been like in the older times, what with all the living outside o' town 'n all. A good workout was loadin' up a few bales of hay into the wagon for the cows in the North pasture, or mending some fence the hard way - by doin' it yourself! A good workout was chasing down a horse you forgot to tie off when you dismounted, or finishing the repairs on the barn you've been meanin' t' do for months! You never had time to hop into your auto-mo-bile and fly off down the road to some place to work out! You'd had enough workout already, come supper time!

And think of all the things that this one machine does! It figures all your information, regulates the inclines to make sure you're getting a good workout, counting up the distance you've walked, and even counting the calories you've burned during your exercise! Like you'd know how many were good or not anyhow, huh!

But, we've come a long ways since the "good ole days" when life was simpler, things were not as fast-paced. Stress, for instance, was figuring out how you're gonna make sure you hit that rattlesnake on the first shot! (the one you didn't see when you stepped into the barn) I must admit, with all these modern contraptions we all enjoy, I think I'd still trade it all for a ranch out in the country, and hot cup of coffee on the front porch at the end of the day, as I sit there on my own porch and enjoy the quiet, whilst I watch the most beautiful sunset ever just take place right there before me! Yep, those were the good ole' days!

Oh well, it's time t' hit the hay!

Don't forget to bring in some extra wood for the cookstove, to make breakfast in the morning.
Make me proud!

Welcome to the Writings of a Cowboy ...

2008-12-03T10:14:00.001-06:00

I've often thought of what I would write about if I had a column. Then I realized that if I ever wanted a "column", I'd have to at the very least "start" writing ... something! These articles are cover the various things that we go through life with, and deal with, and relate them to a simpler life lived long ago. Life was not always better then, but it was certainly less complicated.

With that thought in mind, I urge you to read, enjoy, and share these. You can 'subscribe' to this blog, which means you'll get a copy of the latest posting each time it occurs. Not bad, huh! Just click on the Subscribe To option. I believe it's on the bottom of this page.

Thank you for stopping by! I greet ya' with a warm howdy, and a God Bless Ya'!

Make me proud!