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Ain't it
Great to be a Cowboy!
"Ain't it great
to be a Cowboy!
Riding the
range,
Singing a
song,
Praising the
Lord!"
These
words have been on my lips for days now. It has become something of a theme song
at our Cowboy Adventure Camps - a
verbalization of praise and joy. Campers and staff have joined me in spontaneous
chorus throughout the day and night. It's hard to get those words off of my mind
- they are in our heart to stay!
"Ain't it great
to be a cowboy" is a phrase
taken from a song that comes from the pen of songwriter/extraordinary, Cowboy
Dennis Blankenship. Dennis ministered for us three times during our 2010 "Cowboy Adventure Camps." His songs are
original and built solidly on dispensational Bible doctrine which emphasizes the
truth of the Mystery - "Ain't it great to be a cowboy?" And, ain't it great to know Christ and
something about the Word of God; rightly divided?
I
encourage you to write to Dennis
Blankenship at: 391 Brighton Bunker Hill Rd, Brighton, IL 62012 to purchase
one of his CD's. You won't be disappointed! I guarantee it!
What a Full, Wonderful and Eventful Summer it has
Been!
1.
The Missouri Family Camp was attended by 180 people
who made it the largest attended Cowboy
Adventure Camp ever! In my opinion, however, it will not be the great
attendance that will be remembered but rather the great and powerful ministry
that took place, led by Les Feldick. Every aspect of the week (music, Bible teaching, food and
fellowship) was marked by the indelible blessing of God! This was a week that will not soon be
forgotten and was the way Christian fellowship used to be and the way it ought
to be! Praise God and give Him glory! A special thanks to all who joined hands
and heart with me to make this, unforgettable, ministry possible.
Joel
& Susan - Iris & Les Cowboy Canvas Cathedral Cowboy
Church
2. The Missouri Youth Camp, which wasin like manner,
blessed of God! Wonderful things happened; lives are challenged and changed by
the blending of Bible study, horses, mules, and cowboy competition at the Little Bear Creek Ranch in Hermann,
Missouri. What I have often said has once again proved to be true; that, "for
time, talent and treasure that is invested in the lives of the youth and
leadership, there is no greater spiritual dividends than those resulting from a
week at Cowboy Adventure Camp."
 
3. Following the
close of the Missouri Camp, we moved on towards the Heritage Home Ranch of Tabor, South Dakota with,
trailer and camp equipment in tow. Fortunately, we had a week in-between - camps
so that the Bible Buckaroos (Dan, DJ, Hope and Dean), who have
ministered side-by-side with me all summer, could enjoy visiting several
historic sites about the Civil War, the
Jayhawkers, Bushwhackers, Jesse James' home and the Pony Express Museum.
Unfortunately, however, we got 100 miles towards our destination and lost the
air brakes on the motor coach, causing a three day delay to get it repaired at a
bus garage in Columbia, Missouri. Thankfully, the motor coach was repaired and
the Bible Buckaroos did get to see
and do some things including visit the jail where the Mormon Prophet Joseph
Smith was incarcerated and they performed Cowboy Rope Tricks on the Clay County
Courthouse and the Golden Corral Resturant.
4.
Cowboy Adventure
Youth Camp at the Heritage Home Ranch in Tabor, South
Dakota was our third camp for the summer. Each morning, Donna Gabbard fed a very
good meal to 25 campers and staff, Cowboy Larry Gabbard taught the Bible lesson,
"Understanding God's Plan For Man." One of the highlights of the camping day
took place each morning at the Flag Raising. My Nephew, Lt. Col. James Homoki -
retired from teaching at the Air Force Academy - taught some inspiring and
challenging lessons on character and patriotism. Cowgirl/Horse Trainer, Julie
Finck and Cowboy Neil Schnaath instructed the campers in horsemanship and cowboy
skills. You won't believe what these young folks have accomplished in a week;
even though some have never been on a horse before. This is so very exciting.
5. We then left South Dakota to
travel 16 hours to Evansville where we partnered with George and Tami Dooms,
directors of the TTT Christian Youth
Ministries (Youth for Christ) and 17 teenagers from Teen Missions International. There, my
Bible Buckaroos invested time giving
the gospel and winning teenagers to Christ on the streets of two county fairs -
one in Kentucky and one in Indiana. During the four days the combined team led
44 teenagers to Christ. Believe me, God is still in the soul saving business and
the gospel is still the power unto salvation. PRAISE GOD!
6.
Sonshine Ranch,
was our next and
newest camp in Bangor, Michigan! It was great! And that is not an exaggeration!
We have had good weather all summer, with the exception of a little rain at the
Family Camp in Missouri. Also, it has been wonderful to have such camaraderie
and joint participation as a group at the camps. Aside from the horsemanship,
which is always the favorite activity (they never get enough of it), the craft
this year, at all of the camps, was the
best ever - making "Canjos"! The "Canjo" is a one string instrument made
from a guitar string and a tin can. The Cowboys and Cowgirls loved them! This is
one craft they will take home and use.
Good
meals, Good staff and a lot of good planning made it possible for Carolyn Rookus
and Clay Schutter (Camp Directors) to put it all together with the climax of the
week being a night at a local rodeo. The Bible
Buckaroos were invited to perform their trick roping feats in the
center of the arena at half time and were well received. I was very proud of
them!
7.
The motor coach
broke down again while in Bangor; we lost the "Radius Rod Bushings" that
stabilize the differential - very dangerous. It needed to be replaced before we
moved on the Pennsylvania Camp. This was a big disappointment for me because I
could not participate with the Cowboys and Cowgirls for three days but rather
needed to concentrate on getting the Bible Buckaroos safely down the road.
However, when it came time to pay the bill (usually $125 an hour). When I asked
the bus garage manager, "What do I owe?" He said, "What bill?" There was no bill for the labor! He said, "I did
it for you and the young people!" PRAISE GOD!
8.
As our Cowboy Adventure Camps have grown in
number and size, we found a need to recruit qualified leadership to direct each
camp. This year, 2010; God has provided the leadership we have needed, (Joel
McGarvey, Neil Schnaath, Larry Gabbard, Carolyn Rookus, Clayton Schutter and
Carl Schutter), Thus putting attention on each camp and releasing me from that
duty. Our last camp for this season, Victory Stables of Apollo, Pennsylvania,
is being led by Cowboy Carl Schutter! His wife, June has authored all the Bible
Study Curriculum that we have used in all camps this summer. It has been well
received by students and staff. It is also the basis for all our Scripture
Memory Work and our nightly Bible quizzes during Cowboy Church.
Horse
Racing Feeding Ace the Steer Rope
Spinning
Like
all of our other camps we take care to see that all the "wanna-be" cowboys know
the gospel and personally and are privately challenged to trust Christ and to be
saved. Again, we rejoice in seeing some saved and others growing in the
Christian way of life. At the writing of this report we have yet two days left
at the Victory Cowboy Camp before we must break camp and move on down
the road.
Moving
down the road again means
saying good by to all the staff (45 Adult Volunteers) and campers for another
year. They will not be forgotten and will provide me with many precious memories
until we meet again. I am so very thankful for all who have made this 2010
season the very best ever. Nor am I forgetting to thank God and the many
friends, loved ones, churches who gave generously to fund the needs for camp
operation. Please know that your love and labor for the Lord is not in
vain.
Moving
down the road depends upon
getting the motor coach repaired
again. On our way into Apollo we lost the Alternator. When that is repaired
we will be happily on our way.
Moving
down the road also
means that we will be laboring in another of the Lord's harvest fields.
Beginning Sunday, August 1st Darlene and I will be ministering daily
at the Mountain
View Bible Camp
for the Child Evangelism Fellowship in Snydertown, Pennsylvania
(Near Harrisburg). Then, on the 15th through the 20th we
will join with Joel McGarvey to conduct a week long VBS for the Grace Life Bible Church in our home
town. The next week we head to Wisconsin and Minnesota where we will preach at
the Bethesda Church and the Hilltop Bible Church.
Ain't it great
to be a Cowboy? And, ain't it great to know Christ and something about the Word
of God - rightly divided?
Keep
Looking Up!
1
Thessalonians 4:16-18
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Articles 
(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
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