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
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
2010 - It's a brand new year!
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
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
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Springing into the Summer Months!
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
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
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Announcement: A New Column
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
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
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Being "resourceful" in challenging times ...
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!
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