Life Lessons

I usually don't post emails I get but I liked this one. I have always liked listening to the seasoned citizens because wisdom can only come from experience.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The PlainDealer, Cleveland, Ohio "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45lessons life taught me.. It is the most-requested columnI've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August,so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree todisagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than cryingalone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up thepresent.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have noidea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, youshouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. Butdon't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautifulor joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make youstronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. Butthe second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear thefancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wearpurple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of yourbusiness.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it willchange.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one elsedoes.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not becauseof anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of itnow.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that youloved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waitingeverywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saweveryone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all youneed.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and showup.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still agift."

God and Texas,
Jason Watson

Coleman Christian Community Fellowship

Thank goodness you don't have to be a great athlete to be saved! That would be the consensus answer from the First Baptist "Chosen", the Sacred Heart "Repenters" and Concho Baptist "Saints"

For those of you that haven't heard, local Coleman Christians have gotten together and formed the "Coleman Christian Community Fellowship". We recently began playing volleyball together in September. We will play again on October 11th and 25th. If your church is interested in joining all you need to do is discuss it with your pastor and congregation then put a team together and choose a name, that's it! If you are interested in playing but cant get an entire team together we still encourage you to come out and fellowship with us, Elm Street Church of Christ and Central Baptist church are in similar situations so dont let that stop you. We welcome all denominations in Coleman, if Christ is your savior you are qualified to come. If you don't know Christ, this is a good place to start.

If you have questions about joining you can contact First Baptist Church at 325-625-3559 or via their website at http://www.fbccoleman.com/ or you can email me at jasonwwatson1@gmail.com . We meet every other Sunday from 3-5 pm at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center (the large red brick bldg. behind FBC). Each church takes turns being the "host" church. The host opens with prayer and maybe a short scripture reading and they also provide refreshments for everyone, usually chips, salsa, cookies and drinks.

In order to put everyones mind at ease our one major ground rule was there will be no proselytizing or "sheep stealing"! This organization is not intended to tell anyone else they are wrong and it is not intended to replace your weekly worship service. Our divisions are man made, but we are united in Christ.

Other than the proselytizing, the other basic rules are as follows; you must be a regular member of your church, if you know a person wants to play but they have not been attending church then by all means do what you can to bring them back into the body of Christ. All players need to be at least 14 years old, it is co-ed. The entire family is welcome to come there is a game room with ping pong and Foosball tables and cartoons for the younger kids. Even if you don't want to play you can always come out and have a big laugh at the expense of some frustrated athletes!

After we finish volleyball this fall our plan is to have basketball games this winter and hopefully softball in the spring. Our prayer is that we can build an organization here in Coleman that collectively promotes the gospel and does our small part to expand the kingdom of God not only by playing sports but also beginning to have community projects and standing together on the issues that bind us all.

Ephesians 2: 19-22

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

God and Texas,
Jason Watson

Cowboy in the White House

It is a slight understatement to say that I do not support Democrat policies but what we are seeing now days is beyond anything many of us could have ever imagined. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is a great thing that the country has gotten to a point that we are happily willing to elect a minority president. That is fine, I just wish it wasn't this minority.

Barack Obama is beyond Democrat, way beyond, the things he is proposing to do, not to mention what he has already done goes way, way beyond being a liberal Democrat this is flat out hard core socialism. Just to make sure I was using the right word I looked it up in the dictionary and this is the definition I found "Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy." Does this not sound like our current president? This guy is so far out in left field that he makes John F. Kennedy and Harry S. Truman look like conservatives!!

I know we shouldn't look back into the past, we should look forward to the next great conservative leader to emerge, but I have to admit, watching Obama makes me long for the good old days.

The man I'm talking about was described by liberals as a clueless, idiot cowboy governor from out west. No, It is not George W. Bush. I liked most of Bush's policies but the man I'm referring to is Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Reagan represented everything that was great about America and he swore to defend that way of life. It is no coincidence that "cowboy philosophy" and conservatism are so similar. I have included a copy of Gene Autry's Cowboy Code below and I am going to compare that simple code used to teach children to our conservative values.


1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.

Conservatives are not imperialists, we defend our friends and our national interests.
Conservatives believe in protecting life from conception to natural death.
Conservatives have always been at the forefront of civil rights, we just don't get any credit for it. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, Dwight Eisenhower desegregated schools, and Republicans in congress passed the civil rights amendment through the house and Senate. LBJ even admitted it would have never passed without Republican support. Democrats like Robert Byrd (still serving) and Al Gore Sr. voted against it.


2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.

Truthfully there is plenty of blame on both sides of the isle on this one but true conservatives like Reagan honored their word and pledged to make this country better for all citizens.


3.He must always tell the truth.

Once again this is similar to the previous one but the fact is the same a real conservative believes in honesty and integrity. I have no use for Republicans that cheat and lie for their own power and personal pleasures.


4.He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.

Conservatives believe in traditional families and family values, we oppose abortion and euthanasia. Most conservatives also happen to be farmers, ranchers, hunters, and fishermen. They are the real environmentalists not these nuts at PETA and the Earth Liberation Front.


5.He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.

I mentioned Abe Lincoln before, the Republican party was founded as an opposition party to slavery. Our founding fathers founded this country on Christian ideas and principles but the beautiful thing about it is we welcome anyone in this country to worship how they please or not to worship at all. We just hate it when they try to take that same right away from us Christians.


6.He must help people in distress.

This is who we are, we are people helping people, this is a basic tenement of Christianity, feed the poor, cloth the naked. We just don't believe in huge bureaucratic gaggles wasting money and keeping people perpetually poor.


7.He must be a good worker.

This is similar to number six. We want people to work and contribute to society, then they can get ahead in life and have more than they ever dreamed of, certainly more than a welfare check would ever provide. Ben Franklin once said "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime."


8.He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.

This is so basic to living a full happy life. I really can't expand on this one, this is basic conservatism. It is living this way that makes you and the world better.


9.He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws.

Liberals like to corner the market on women but women's lib went from a good idea to a bunch of man-hating nuts. As Christians and conservatives we are taught from a young age that women are to be put on pedestals. They are the caretakers of the family and the world. I heard someone say one time that it was really women who tamed the wild west. They are the ones who made homes, established churches, libraries and brought some class and culture. If it was left up to us men we would have just kept on getting drunk and shooting each other! Conservatives are also the voice of reason on law and order. We are a nation of laws and that is what protects the rights of all people.


10.The Cowboy is a patriot.

Quick, name me a ultra-liberal war hero. Of course you don't have to be a war hero to love this country but when you think of names like George Washington, Alvin York, Audie Murphy, George Patton, Bob Hope, Francis Scott Key, Betsy Ross, Abraham Lincoln, Charlie Daniels, Irving Berlin, Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King, Jon Voight, Rudy Giuliani, Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne you don't really associate them with Moveon.org or the ACLU.

Cowboys and conservatives go hand in hand and no one epitomised that better on a national political level than Ronald Reagan. He dreamed of a shining city on a hill, right now Obama is making us turn out those lights because of global warming and other crack-pot ideas.

God and Texas,
Jason Watson

Elmer Kelton

“I admired him as an author and citizen of the Concho Valley,” said Rep. Drew Darby. “He will be missed.” Fazlur Rahman said San Angelo has experienced a great loss. “He was a wise man, not only a great writer,” he said. “He had a great life, and brought honor and prestige to our community.” (from Friends Mourn Elmer Kelton, Brandi Ramirez, GoSanAngelo.com)

That's not too bad for a country boy from West Texas who got his start as the farm and ranch editor of the San Angelo Standard Times and later the Sheep and Goat Raisers magazine and Livestock Weekly. Obviously he was much more than an editor of some small West Texas publications, in many people's eyes he was the greatest western author ever.

Elmer grew up around Crane, Texas and graduated from Crane High School. After high school he attended the University of Texas and then joined the U.S. Army as an infantryman and saw combat in Europe during WWII. His wife Ann is a native of Austria, they settled in San Angelo and raised a family while he edited papers and wrote novels on the side.

I know Louis L'Amour is the most famous western novelist of all time, and he is great, I am not disputing that. The difference is that Louis' westerns sound more like stories that are ready to be made into Hollywood movies. Elmer's westerns sound more like the stories you would hear about your neighbors while hanging around the feed store or meeting for lunch after church on Sunday.

The characters are written to be real people with real problems and not sure about the solutions. In Elmer's novels there is no great hero riding in on a big stallion with a white hat and six guns blazing. Maybe that is the reason only one of his novels has been made into a movie.

That movie just happens to be my second favorite western of all time. The Good Old Boys is absolutely fantastic. It comes across less like a movie and more like a documentary of people living in West Texas at the turn of last century. The jist of the story is Matt Damon's, Cotton Calloway, character is a farm boy looking to leave the country and help build the future in some big city, Tommy Lee Jones's character, Hewey Calloway, is an old cowboy living in 1906. The cattle drives are gone and barbed wire is strung up everywhere. Cattle are shipped on rail cars, electric power lines and automobiles are springing up everywhere and he knows he is losing the life he loves to progress. In the mean time they both have to figure out how to save Hewey's brother (Cotton's dad's) farm.

The Good Old Boys is just one of many fantastic tales about regular people in Texas. I have also read The Smiling Country, Bowie's Mine, and parts of The Time it Never Rained and The Day the Cowboys Quit. One of these days I'll get around to finishing all of them.

There was a line from The Good Old Boys that Tommy Lee Jones said at an old cowboy's funeral. After naming off all the things that he and men like him did in their lifetimes he said "...Well here he is and we all better take a good look at him because they aint makin' no more like 'em!" That goes for Elmer himself and I would add that goes for an entire generation of men and women who grew up in the depression, fought in WWII, raised families in the 1950's and '60's and later spoiled grand kids who are now about my age. If you are a native Texan or just a fan of the real west, you should pick up an Elmer Kelton novel. R.I.P.

God and Texas,

Jason Watson

Shane

Last week I posted my top 25 westerns and one movie that was noticeably absent was Shane. I have talked to people from time to time about that movie and told them what I really thought about it. I know it is one of the most legendary movies ever made but for me it just didn't cut the mustard.

People may ask why, well the simple answer was, I never really liked it. I don’t mean to make anyone mad. I know many people love that western. For me, I don’t know, maybe it was just Alan Ladd himself. I just wasn’t sold on him being a westerner. Authenticity is probably the biggest factor in how well I rate a western. For starters, that hat he had on was right out of 1950’s central casting and those clothes looked like a Davy Crockett starter kit.

I think if Jimmy Stewart, Audie Murphy or Gary Cooper had played that part I would like it a lot better. Come to think of it 'Coop would have been great in that role! I will say this for it though, it had Ben Johnson in it which automatically makes any western better. Jack Palance and Edgar Buchanan were also nice western touches.

The first hour of the movie just seemed to drag on and on and on. I know they were trying to build the story line but that thing could have put insomniacs to sleep. It didn’t really pick up until Jack Palance shot that old boy in the street. Gosh, I hate to think that someone had to get killed just to wake me up. Anyway from there the story did seem to pick up a little bit.

The story does pick up from there. The settlers have decided they have had enough and decide to fight back against the cattle barons. Shane has tried to start a new life but he realizes he can run from who he is. It’s like Popeye used to say “I yam what I yam”. The movie does have a pretty climactic ending with the obligatory shootout and Shane rides off in the moonlight.

If any of you have ever seen the movie “The Negotiator” with Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey they actually discuss this movie. They are arguing whether or not Shane died at the end. Sam Jackson said he lived. Spacey says no he died. After watching the movie; I think I have to agree with Sam I don’t think Shane was dead, just winged a little bit.

Anyway, for what it is worth this is my explanation for Shane. I think it was a great story, it was an ok movie. I recommend Hondo over Shane any day. They are not the same movie but there are a lot of similarities in both of them

God and Texas,

Jason Watson

Top 25 Westerns

Everybody loves a top 25 list because it gives everyone something to argue about. This one should be no exception. If you love westerns the way I do this can keep you arguing for days. One thing I have learned in this cowboy endeavor is that I definitely need a top 50 list so I guess I'll have to post that one in the future. I hope you enjoy.

1.Lonesome Dove

This is the best, hands down, Robert Duval and Tommy Lee Jones look and sound exactly like old time Texans. The most authentic western ever made. If you could time travel and watch real old timers this is pretty much what it would look like. Except for Gus's hat, That "Tom Mix" style didn't come out for about another 20 years.

2. Good Old Boys

This is not one of the more popular westerns but it is really as good as it gets. Just like Lonesome Dove it is painstakingly authentic. Tommy Lee Jones delivers another truly authentic cowboy performance. It doesn't hurt using one of Elmer Kelton's novels either. If you're from around San Angelo and west Texas you can really relate to this one.

3. Barbarosa

Willie Nelson's best performance. Very funny and poignant great storytelling. Represents everything Texas is known for, German immigrants, outlaws, Mexicans etc. etc. Also one of Gary Busey's early performances before he became a total psycho and born again Christian.

4. Rio Bravo

The Duke is the man! He is by far the most represented man on this list. This movie was made in response to High Noon because Duke felt like no self-respecting law man would go around town begging for help. Two more of my favorite people in here too. Dean Martin and Walter Brennan almost steal the movie from Duke.

5. Tombstone

Great Story, again it looks authentic, which is the key with me to a great western. Kurt Russell has always been underrated. This is his best performance. Powers Boothe, Stephen Lang, Harey Carey Jr. and Buck Taylor are great in support.

6. The Cowboys

If I didn't pick Rio Bravo, I would have put this one as the best Duke movie. Where do you even start with John Wayne? I love this guy, hell I was named after him, at least that's my dad's side of the story. I guess I picked this one just because I love stories about actual "Cowboys". Just because a story took place in the 1800's it doesn't mean they were cowboys

7. Conhager

If anyone ever looked the part of the American cowboy; it is Sam Elliott. He does not disappoint at all in this adaption of Louis L'amour's novel. Barry Corbin and James Gammon give great performances. Excellent western!

8. The Shadow Riders

Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott are a tough combination to beat. Throw in my favorite character actor; Ben Johnson and you have a winning combination. Louis L'amour really knew how to write a western but it takes guys like Selleck, Elliott, and Johnson to bring it to life.

9. The Sacketts

Same cast, same author same result. One heck of a western. Tom, Sam and that other brother along with Ben Johnson again. This time it has great western actors like Glenn Ford, Slim Pickens and Jack Elam in it. Don't confuse it with the Shadow Riders they are two totally different movies.

10. The Undefeated

You really have to understand how hard it is for me to pick John Wayne movies. I guess this one is up there

because its about cowboys and it also has Ben Johnson in it. Not to mention Harry Carey Jr. and Dub Taylor, all great western actors.

11. Monte Walsh

Usually I like originals over remakes but this one is an exception. Lee Marvin and Jack Palance are in the original, and it is good but Tom Selleck and David Carridene knocked this one out of the park!

The themes of this story are very similar to The Good Old Boys.

12. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

I love, love, love Jimmy Stewart. Throw him in with John Wayne and you have a cant miss western. Great Story telling. Andy Devine, Lee Marvin and Denver Pyle help make a great cast. They just don't make movies this good anymore.

13 How the West Was Won

This is another type of movie hardly made anymore. An epic about the great westward expansion. It was known as Manifest Destiny. This movie is loaded with stars. Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Henry Fonda and the list goes on and on.

14. Centennial

This is very similar to the movie above it. Get ready though this movie is 27hrs long. It took me over two weeks to watch it all but the story is so good you never get bored. If you have ever seen "Into the West" you'll see where the inspiration came from. This movie starts with mountain men in the 1700's goes through settlers in the 1850's to cowboys in the 1870's to railroads and land grab schemes at the turn of the last century to the dust bowl of the 1930's and finally ends with Andy Griffith trying to solve a mystery in Centennial, Colorado in the 1970's. Great movie, great history lesson.

15. The Mountain Men

This is not the most famous western in the world but everyone should watch it. It really does justice to the mountain man era of the 1820's and '30's. Charlton Heston and Brian Keith play wild crazy mountain men (are there any other kind). Funny movie about a rough way of life.






16. Dances With Wolves

This list is getting harder to do. Now I start arguing with myself about which movie should be ranked higher. Kevin Costner told one of the best stories of the west and it showed another, better side of the Indians. It showed that they were real people not just a backdrop. Other movies have done this too but this one really shed light on it all.




17. Big Jake

Big Surprise, another John Wayne movie, this is vintage JW, kicking hind quarters and taking names. A word of advice, don't ever kidnap the Duke's grandson.

18. The Outlaw Josey Wales

I really like Clint Eastwood too,even though this is his only western in my top 25. I think he has a bunch of really good ones but I always thought this one was great. It is also a great history lesson about what happened after the civil war. The old Indian Chief Dan George steals this movie though!





19. Last days of Frank and Jesse James

There have been a ton of movies about Jesse James and his brother but I think this one is the best. If you love country music you'll love this one. Kris Kristofferson (looks just like J.J.) Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, June Carter Cash, Ed Bruce and David Allan Coe.





20. El Dorado

Howard Hawks (director) made a trilogy of movies that involved being held up in a jail. Rio Bravo was the first, Rio Lobo was the last. This was the middle one. The story is very similar to Rio Bravo but it stands alone as it's own movie. No Dean Martin this time but Robert Mitchum is no slouch himself.

21. Jeremiah Johnson

Most people know this movie more than "The Mountain Men" but I don't think it is quite as good. It is still an excellent western dealing with trapping and hunting in the Rockies during the 1840's. Most mountain men re-enactors consider this one a must own!







22. The Alamo

This one counts for John Wayne and Billy Bob Thornton's versions. John's glorifies it and Billy Bob's is meticulous but I'm sure Davy Crockett and Fess Parker would approve of both.

23. Texas

This is James Michener's second entry on my list (Centennial). This is not really historically accurate, because he builds his own fictional story around the Alamo and San Jacinto but it is very entertaining and well acted. Makes you very proud to be a Texan.







24. Red River

I guess this was the first great "cattle drive" movie. If you like Lonesome Dove you'll like this one. Be prepared though John Wayne is a total @#$ in this one. Walter Brennan is also in it. That is one guy that was made to be a sidekick in western movies.

25. Rooster Cogburn

Some people may look at this one and wonder how I could pick it over True Grit. Well the answer is simple I could not stand that girl in True Grit. I kept waiting for Duke to pull out that Colt and plug her just to shut her up. Then I'm supposed to believe that Glen Campbell is a Texas Ranger and the Duke is from Arkansas!
No, TG is a good movie but it is all out of whack for me. This sequel with Katharine Hepburn playing off the Duke was much, much better!

Well like I said in the beginning. I definitely will have to make a 26-50 list because I am thinking of a lot of western flicks that I love that aren't here. So whenever I get that info together I'll post it and we can argue about those too.

God and Texas,

Jason Watson

Who we are

I wrote this little essay the other night after I left a meeting at First Baptist Church here in Coleman. We are trying to organize a community fellowship by having a short devotional and then sports and snacks. We have invited every chuch in Coleman county. As of right now only First Baptist, Sacred Heart Catholic, Concho Baptist, Central Baptist and maybe Elm St. Church of Christ have shown any interest. Even with that my own priest has started to show some cold feet on the idea. Everyone is so afraid of celebrating what we agree on instead of what separates us. This can be a very good thing for Coleman if we can just get it off the ground. If your church is interested in knowing more about it get in contact with me.

We organized this community fellowship to join believers in the presence of the one true living God. For far too long we have allowed ourselves to be separated by a common God. The amazing thing about the Bible is that we can all read the same scripture and, being inferior human beings, we come to different conclusions.

We each tend to believe that we are on the straight and narrow path to God and that is good, he wants that type of devotion to him. I think from time to time we don’t realize that just because our brothers and sisters in another congregation don’t worship in the same manner, with the same rituals we use they must be missing something, perhaps we know something they don’t.
Most reasonable Christians will accept the fact that we are all on our way to the Father we are just taking different roads to get there. Each of us thinks we are on the interstate while our brothers and sisters are taking the back roads.

As far as the Roman Catholic church is concerned the leadership gathered in 1964 in what is known as Vatican II. Basically the church decided it was time to bridge the gaps with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The following quote is from the opening introduction on this subject “The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council.” For us Catholics this means we have a duty now to reconcile with our fellow believers. This is why we at Sacred Heart are so eager to participate in fellowship with our brothers and sisters.

I believe we must focus on what we all believe, we must concentrate on what joins us together. Too often when we want to know about our fellow Christians of another denomination we tend to ask people from our own church instead of actually getting in contact with the leadership of that denomination or with people who are very active in that denomination. It is very easy to come to the conclusion that the other guy is a clueless idiot if you only conferring with people who worship as you do.

I think we can all agree that there is ONE true living God. He sent his only son Jesus here to Earth to die for all of our sins and we are saved through his grace. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of those sins. After Jesus died he was buried and rose again after three days. He ascended into Heaven and he is not seated at the right hand of God. The Bible is the absolute word of God. It is infallible and it is not up for compromise. Make no mistake these are the positions of the Catholic church.

We must all keep in mind that just because we may not understand why our brothers and sisters do things in a different way we must accept that we can all back it up with scripture which brings me back to the topic that we can all read the same Bible and come to different conclusions.

God is perfect, we are not, Catholics and Protestants both over the generations have had leaders who have abused children, had extra-marital affairs, embezzled money, admitted to homosexual relationships and many other sins. This is where we have fallen short of the glory of God.
Some people may think that this fellowship of different Christians will not work because of our own personal prejudices. I believe all things are possible through Christ our Lord!

　
　
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius;
15 lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name.
16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
　
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV)
　
Here is a couple of thoughts from Billy Graham and Pat Robertson on the Catholic Church:

(from Larry King Live)

"Dr. Billy Graham said that that Pope John Paul II was the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world in the last 100 years.
Dr. Graham told Larry King he had the privilege of seeing the Pope on several occasions at the Vatican.
"And tonight, I have a very strange feeling of loss. I almost feel as though one of my family members has gone. I loved him very much and had the opportunity of discussing so many things with him. And we wrote each other several times during the years," Dr. Graham said.
Larry King asked Dr. Graham: "Did he actually say to you once, "We are brothers' "?
GRAHAM: That's correct. He certainly did. He held my hand the first time that I met him about 1981 -- he'd just been Pope for two years when I saw him first. Because when he was elevated to the papacy, I was preaching in his cathedral in Krakow that very day. And we had thousands of people in the streets. And watching the television today of Krakow has brought back many memories.
KING: You said that he was an Evangelist.
GRAHAM: He was, indeed. He traveled throughout the world to bring his Christian message to the world. And we see tonight the outpouring from the world that he touched. And I think he touched almost everybody in the whole world."

"I am deeply grieved as a great man passes from this world to his much deserved eternal reward. John Paul II has been the most beloved religious leader of our age – far surpassing in popular admiration the leader of any faith.
He has been a man of great warmth, profound understanding, deep spirituality, and indefatigable vigor. It was my great honor to meet with him at the residence of my good friend, Cardinal O’Connor, in New York, and to sit in the Consistory during the mass he conducted in Central Park. I told him at the time how much the American people loved him, and he merely smiled. That love was shared not only in America but by millions all over the globe.
He has been a steady bridge in the transition of Eastern Europe from communism to freedom. His personal magnetism brought together all Christians in new bonds of understanding.
I pray for the Cardinals of the Catholic Church that they might have God-given wisdom in selecting the successor to this great man. Their task will not be easy, but with God all things are possible."


Here a couple of statements from the Catholic Church on reconciling with Protestants:

1. VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The importance Pope Benedict XVI places on the search for Christian unity was evident in his decision to focus on ecumenism during a Nov. 23 meeting with members of the College of Cardinals, said two U.S. cardinals. Cardinal William H. Keeler, the retired archbishop of Baltimore who has been involved in ecumenical and interfaith activities for years, said the fact that the pope chose ecumenism as the theme for the meeting shows "that this is a very vital thing for the church worldwide." Cardinal Keeler, who was one of 33 cardinals to speak during the meeting, told Catholic News Service the discussion demonstrated that there are different experiences and levels of ecumenical dialogue. "Different ecumenical forms have evolved in different parts of the world, and the progress in each region is different," he said. "For the pope, ecumenism is not a subject for discussion, but a mandate," German Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the main speaker chosen by the pope to address the meeting, told journalists afterward.

2. This movement toward unity is called "ecumenical." Those belong to it who invoke the Triune God and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, doing this not merely as individuals but also as corporate bodies. (from vatican II)

3. Even in the beginnings of this one and only Church of God there arose certain rifts,(19) which the Apostle strongly condemned.(20) But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions made their appearance and quite large communities came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church-for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame. The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. (vatican II)

God and Texas,

Jason Watson

Weekend at Christ's

Well I just returned from a weekend spent with God and Jesus. The Catholic church sponsors a retreat known as Cursillo. It was one of the most powerful things I've ever done in my life. My friend and mentor Carlos Barrios has encouraged me to go for over a year now and I finally see what all the fuss was all about.

I spent the weekend in San Angelo, Texas at the Christ the King Retreat Center. It is a beautiful little out of the way place on the Concho River just on the outskirts of town. I know not everyone who reads this is Catholic and may question it, but I plan to address all that in some future posts, but for right now take off your denominational hat and put your Christian hat on and stick with me.

The Cursillo was started in the 1940's in Spain by a man named Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló, after they suffered through their great civil war and the church was looking for ways to bring people back into the fold. From Spain it spread all over the world and has taken it's current form. It is offered for men and another for women. In this area they are offered in Spanish and English and many other languages around the world.

The Cursillo focuses on being in God's presence, reconciling with him, focusing on our strengths, improving our weaknesses and learning how to take the Gospel to all the people of the world. It also focuses on support groups to make sure we don't succumb to our old demons and not to get frustrated when we try to share the Gospel with a world that sometimes doesn't care.

Two topics really struck me over the weekend. One, to be a great leader you must first be a great servant. The sponsors of this event showed that by treating us like royalty all weekend. Everything from taking our bags at check-in to serving us food to taking away our dishes. They reminded us how Christ washed the feet of his own disciples. Second, they discussed what they called the tripod. Piety, study and action were the three essential things in being a Christian and showing it to others. Piety- we must live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and not doing it just for show, but living that way because we want to. Study- we have to learn God's word. We have to know the Bible and be ready to defend our faith and have answers for the hard questions that will come. Action-we can't just talk a good game, we have to put it into action. We were given a quote from St. Vincent De Paul "It is not enough to love God if my neighbour does not love Him." Those two things really stuck with me this weekend.

For those of you that know me I don't want you to think that I've become some kind of Holy Roller that has lost his mind. I am still me. I was trying to live a good Christian life before I went to the Cursillo. Now I have come back with a better set of tools to work with to be a better father, husband, neighbor, co-worker, friend and patriot. I can only imagine where this will take me from here. If you want to know more about the Cursillo or just getting to know the Lord a little better I would be happy to help out any way I can. I'll talk to you all next week and I'll leave you with the official greeting of the Cursillistas, DE COLORES!

P.S. If you haven't ever clicked on my "Live Forever" video by Billy Joe Shaver you should really check it out. It's powerful!

God and Texas,

Jason Watson

Where did the west go?

This is a re-post of a previous article (March 27, 2006)

I’ve been looking around, metaphorically speaking that is, for the old west. Has anyone seen it? I sure haven’t; not in the last few years anyway. I’ll give you fair warning right now, don’t tell me Brokeback Mountain, because that’s a sure fire way to get sideways with me! A movie about a couple of rope smokin’ sheep herders is NOT the old west. That is a propaganda film.

That reminds me of a joke I heard a while back. St. Peter was walking around in heaven one day when he noticed John Wayne laying on the ground, passed smooth out. “John, John are you all right?” He asked him as he was slapping his face and shaking him. John finally came to and said “Yeah, yeah, Pete, I’m ok.” “Well what happened?” St. Peter asked. John told him “I just saw Brokeback Mountain!!”

Yeah, that was kind of my reaction too. But I don’t want to spend this whole article on what’s wrong with Hollywood. I want to focus on what used to be right with Hollywood, as well as the real west.

I really feel I was born about 150 years too late. I’ve had people tell me that I’m crazy. They wonder how you could do without things like TV, computers, cell phones, etc. Yeah, I use those things too, but I would give them up for the chance to saddle a horse and just ride into some wide open land I’d never seen before. You know as far as I’m concerned, the best thing about TVs, radios, and the internet is that those are the things that we modern day wanna be’s use to pretend and recreate the old west. So, why not just live in the real thing instead of trying to recreate it?

When I say pretend, you have to understand the context that I’m using. There are still plenty of Sho’ Nuff cowboys out there. It’s just that most of these men and women would also tell you they feel like they were born too late.

I don’t really know what has happened to Hollywood, other than their ultra-liberal agenda, but maybe that is the problem. Hollywood was built on westerns, ever since “The Great Train Robbery” in 1903. Throughout the 1930’s and 40’s Gene Autry and Roy Rogers were box office kings. Those two were the heavyweights but there were plenty of others like Tom Mix and William Hart and the rest of the singing cowboys like Tex Ritter, Rex Allen and others. Also after becoming a star with Stagecoach in 1939 there was a new gunslinger in town. John Wayne was riding tall in the saddle (literally and figuratively).

He is my personal favorite. I’m his namesake (Wayne is my middle name, thanks Dad!) The Duke had about a 50 year career mostly in westerns. He became the epitome of what a man should be. As far as I’m concerned that man can do no wrong.

After the Duke died in 1979, the genre damn near died with him. Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott have done their best to keep it going, but most of their movies, which are excellent, are either made for TV or strait to video. Even the two westerns I personally consider to be the best ever, Lonesome Dove and The Good Old Boys, were both made for TV.

Off the top of my head I can’t think of a western made since Open Range in 2003. We are going on three years without a good old fashioned cowboy movie. What the hell is wrong with that picture?

Enough about Hollywood, lets look at the real modern west for a minute. I live here in the Austin area and this place is growing like a weed. People are being shoe-horned in here. I know that is a sign of a strong economy and that is a good thing but I hate to see all this good country getting developed into strip malls and gated communities.

These old farmers and ranchers who have had their land for generations are starting to sell it off in sub-divided tracts for huge payoffs. I can’t say I blame them for taking the money. I just hate to see all this beautiful hill country land disappear.

Where I live here in Lockhart is a little different. It is still a rural area for the most part but so many people are moving out of Austin that they are littering the countryside. You just can’t get away from your neighbor. I like to have good neighbors as much as the next guy; I just don’t want to have to look at them all the time. When I am out in the country I want to feel like I am in the middle of nowhere.

That brings me finally to those who are keeping it alive. I do a lot of research on people and organizations that are dedicated to keeping the old west alive. You know for years I have had this fantasy of building my very own old west town, just like a movie set, except actually functional. The only thing that has stopped me from doing it is a glaring lack of funds. So if any of you old west aficionados out there have some money you would like to invest give me a call and we will make this thing a reality! Ok, I’m getting sidetracked, dammit, back to the people keeping it alive.

Once again I have to thank my dad for stoking my interest in the west. When we were growing up he was a buckskinner. That is a person who does Mountain Man reenactments. It was a lot of fun for a boy to be involved with. It was like being in a movie, except you weren’t paid! From there I got into Civil War history and, finally, cowboys. Over the last several years this has led me to become huge fans of people like Red Steagall, Don Edwards, R.W. Hampton and Jeff Gore who also happens to be a friend of my parents.

It seems like they are fighting overwhelming odds, but these men are doing all they can through music, poetry and stories to keep the cowboy alive. I have become a regular listener to Red Steagall’s Cowboy Corner on Sunday mornings as I’m driving home from work. If you want to hear stories from real westerners, not just cowboys per say, but anything dealing with the west, I highly recommend it.

Speaking of 'not just cowboys', I would like to emphasize that the “Old West” was not just about cowboys. That is just a generic term that gets thrown around for anything that happened in the 1800’s. The west was actually full of all kinds of sub-genre’s from Mississippi river boat gamblers to mountain men, pioneers, chuck wagon cooks, prospectors, civil war soldiers, the western Calvary soldiers, Indian dancers, Buffalo Soldiers, gunfighters, and yes, the cowboy, whose heyday was from 1866 to 1886 roughly.

You know if I ever did get to build my old west town, I would like to have a yearly festival out there. I’d call it Jason Watson’s Old West Fest. Anything that happened from 1800 to 1900 would be welcome. Whatever your particular reenactment or craft is you could set up out there and show it off to the public. Once again if anyone reading this has lots of money please get in contact with me.In closing I want leave you with a line of one of the most popular cowboy songs ever written that pretty much sums it up for all of us who missed out on the good old days.Round up in the spring:

In the lobby of a big hotel in New York town one day, sat a bunch of fellers tellin yarns to pass the time away. They told of places where they had been and the different things they’d seen. Some preferred Chicago town, while others New Orleans. In a corner in an old armchair sat a man whose hair was gray. He listened to them eagerly to what they had to say. They asked him where he'd like to be, his clear old voice did ring, I'd like to be in Texas for the round-up in the spring.

So until next time, happy trails, keep yer back to the wind, keep yer powder dry, and all those other great western goodbyes.

God and Texas,

Jason Watson