A Pastor with Guts and Balls

Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at
the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some
people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open
the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting
the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those
who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we
have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed
our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it
the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it
welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it
justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our
children and called it building self esteem..

We have abused power and called it
politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values
of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts
today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free...
Amen!"


The response was immediate. A number of
legislators walked out during the prayer in
protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian
Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than
5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls
responding negatively. The church is now receiving
international requests for copies of this prayer
from India , Africa and Korea .

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on
his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,'and
received a larger response to this program than any
other he has ever aired.


With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep
over our nation and wholeheartedly become our
desire so that we again can be called 'one nation
under God.'

A Special Day for Rio

Today was a special day for Rio and I. It was eight months ago that Rio was severely injured in a trailer accident. He has been healing slowly, just turned out for the winter. His knee is still mending but is completely skin covered. I saddled Rio today for the first time since the injury and rode him around the arena for 30 minutes. This might not seem like much, but for me, it was just amazing to be back astride him again. He is sound and we will be proceeding slowly building strength in that leg, but Rio is ready to get back to work.

Rio's knee today:


A few weeks after the accident:



Next week, Rio goes to Texas with me to spend a week with the chiropractor, Larry "Thumper" Jones. Thumper works at the NFR, race horses and is the best in the business. I talked to Thumper about Rio last fall after the accident and he told me when Rio was healed, to bring him down. While in Texas, Rio is also going to be using an AquaTread to strengthen his leg, then swim for a week or two to build up the muscles in his knee. We will get back in training again soon after that.

A few weeks ago, I was in Winnemucca, Nevada, showing Hank in the Stock Horse Challenge. It was a long trip out there but great show. I had hopes of earning a top 5 spot but had to settle for a top 10 finish which was still very respectable. I was proud of Hank and he is getting better and better at each show we enter. His next show is in May at the Ranch Horse Triple Crown.

BACK TO BEING BUSY!

After being home in Colorado for the month of December and most of January, I am back to traveling again. while I was home, my brother came in from California to help get the colts halter broke. He showed horses when we were both little and while he only gets to ride a couple of times a year, he loves working with the babies.


My big truck finally got in at "TRICK MY TRUCK" in Joplin, MO. with the Chrome Shop Mafia! I have been waiting for this appointment for almost a year. This will not be on TV but my truck did come out looking nice. Cowhide trim inside, train horns outside, I'm excited!

My truck at the Chrome Shop Mafia body shop


While the truck was in the shop, I stayed in Clarksville at the BH Ranch. Bobby Hurley was invited to the Governors Office to be honored for being the only Arkansas resident to be inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. As we were all walking into the State Capital in Little Rock, Bill Clinton was leaving after having lunch. Bobby received a standing ovation from the legislators which was very impressive.

Riding Hank to get ready a big Stock Horse Challenge in Winnemucca kept me busy for most of February. Since he had never traveled well, doesn't eat much and just seems to worry, I left a few days early to lay over along the way from Colorado to Nevada. It seems to have helped him relax. While I had hopes for a top 5 finish in the class, I had to settle for a top 10 spot and I was proud of Hank. I have to remember that this was just his 3rd show ever!

By this time last year, I was already in Texas trying to stay warm and out of the snow drifts. This year, the weather has been so nice in Colorado - translation: no major snow storms - I have been able to ride on most days that the wind isn't blowing 40+ mph. We really need some moisture though.

I still need to get down to Texas soon and bring home the two 3 yr. olds that Martin started for me this year. I have been getting reports that they are both coming to class everyday with a smile on their faces, being ready and willing students. I can't wait to ride my very first Maverick baby. It will be a very emotional and exciting ride for me.