Cowboy Up!

  

     A couple of times since beginning our Steeple Chase, my dad had mentioned that we should try the "cowboy church at the Woodward Sale Barn," so when my in-laws agreed to keep our kids at Vici overnight on Valentine's, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to meet them in Woodward the next morning and check it out. We got there a little early and sat in the parking lot for a while waiting for our girls to arrive, which gave us an interesting insite into what we might expect.

    We watched as vehicles arrived. Flatbeds loaded with haybales parked next to convertible cars as pickups and trailers lined up a little farther out of the way. There were lots of four-door pickups in the parking lots and it seemed that most had a couple kid-laden carseats in the back seat. A sign stated that front row parking was available for guests, but no one (Including us....although I totally would have if I'd been driving. It was COLD and my husband parked in the VERY farthest spot.) felt the need to park there.

   People climbed out in boots and jeans, hoodies and sweatpants, rhinestones and conchos, cowboy hats and gimme caps. Kids in camo and carharts were cuddled close in the cold February wind as they were hustled inside; mom and dad and siblings all together on this frigid Sunday morning heading into a livestock sale barn with the purpose of worshiping God. Men on horseback braved the weather to ride near the entrances to parking lot and barn and wave greetings to arriving church-goers. Several stopped to visit for a minute and let the kids give the horse a pat before passing on inside. So, of course, when our girls arrived, we had to stop for a visit with the horse as well. (Don't worry, we spoke to the cowboy too. He was very friendly and told the girls where to go for children's church....the cowboy, that is, not the horse. Although, he was friendly too. He just didn't say much.)



           I was surprised by how crazy-crowded it was when we tried to enter the building. People were coming in and out and milling around in the entry way, and we even had to wait outside in line for a few minutes until it cleared out a little and it was our turn. As we walked through the doors, we immediately came in contact with an information station equipped with friendly faces who welcomed us and gave us directions to children's church (which is in the café) and the sanctuary (which is in the sale arena). They also pointed out their name tags (shaped like those little round thing-a-ma-bobs that are on the ends of spurs) and explained to look for people wearing them if we had any questions at all. It was kind of a relief in the midst of the chaos to know exactly who to look for in case of a stampede or something such as that.

      The younger girls and I peeled off to the right and got in another line for children's church while Jason and our oldest made their way down the hall a bit to get out of the way. Inside the café, kids were encouraged to take a seat at the table and get started on a coloring sheet, while parents signed them in and received a numbered ear tag to present on return. I tried to convince the little one that we needed to put her tag in for her to stay, but she was having none of it, and both girls went right on in and made themselves at home.
     Inside the arena, we met up with another smiling friend with  rowel-shaped (Ah-ha! I remembered!) name badge, asked how many seats we needed, threaded her way through the rows until she found a place, and escorted us to our seats. That, too, was a huge relief that took away the whole "where should we sit" question and definitely made us feel more at ease.
      Soon after we were seated the house band started up and we were pleased and surprised to see our friend, Marsha Barr as lead vocals. The music was definitely country to it's core with Christ as its center. It was upbeat and twangy and heartfelt and just really well done. I definitely felt a joyful noise was being made. The arena took on a country music concert feel as everyone rose to their feet, tapped their toes, clapped their hands, and sang along with the occasional yip and yell thrown in for good measure. After several congregational hymns,  one of the song leaders provided special music with a song he had written for his wife. We were very impressed with both the song and the vocals, and my daughter was especially intrigued by the ten year old boy who provided beautiful harmony during the song.

     Afterwards Pastor Beau and his wife Heather stepped forward to share the morning's message. The pastor started out explaining that he was in the midst of a three part series on the Victorious Secrets of Biblical Dating, Marriage, and Sex. I'm pretty sure Jason and I were thinking about the same thing as our eyes cut uncomfortably towards the eleven year old sitting between us, and I know I breathed a quick "Thank you, Jesus!" when he went on to say that we would be focusing on marriage this Sunday. (Yeah, yeah. I know she's growing up, and we've had some "talks", but you can't tell me you'd be excited about it in the same situation. I mean seriously, it's still uncomfortable, right?)

   Anyway, the message was excellent: Biblically based and directly spoken with plenty of humor and real life applications thrown in to really make you feel you were taking something important away with you that could benefit your everyday living. I highly recommend visiting their website at http://1000hillsranchchurch.com/#/sunday-preachin and listening to what this Godly couple had to say. I promise you won't be bored. (Really! I never once had to elbow my husband to keep him from snoring! AND I have every intention of finding out what they have to say about sex too....just without any children around.)
   
   When the preacher finished preaching, the service came to an end with a prayer and an invitation to accept Jesus as your personal Savior. The newly saved were encouraged to fill out their information on a guest card, but were also given an alternative method of simply texting their name to the number on the screen in order to receive a phone call from the ministry team. I thought this was a wonderful way to use technology to reach out in a really nonthreatening way to those in need of counsel, advice, or just a partner on the trail. Guests were invited to visit a welcome desk to receive a gift, but we were headed in another direction to get the girls and really felt like we'd received all the gifts we needed that morning within the service itself. (Although, our oldest really did want to see what it was.)

        After swapping ear tag for children that at least resembled our own, we headed out the door and to the back 40 where we'd parked. The girls told us all about children's church and showed us their popsicle stick 10 commandment craft and said they had an "AWESOME" time. (Middle child's only complaint was that she REALLY wanted to tell them the WHOLE story of Moses, but because she had to raise her hand, she only got to tell about the last plague. Poor, poor dear.)  I attempted to take a few more pictures in the parking lot, but my kids were getting a little uncooperative in that department.  However, I couldn't help but snap one last shot as we drove away. Our Steeple Chase is certainly taking us in a variety of directions, but we're very happy to say that the 1000 Hills Ranch Church is an amazing Body of Christ who will welcome you.....crap and all!

     

 

 

  I