February 2013 Issue 44

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Roping Series 2013

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Word from the Pastor

Church Calendar

Events and Announcements

Covered Facility Update

IN THIS ISSUE

The Word From Another Pastor I love to read the words of other Pastors. Spurgeon’s thoughts, insight, and experiences always seem to strike me. His devotional below is one that stuck out to me earlier this month and the Lord brought it to mind again as I prepared to write this months article. Perhaps God wanted me to review it again and be reminded of its lesson. Or perhaps he simply wanted me to share it with you. Whatever the case I pray you are blessed, inspired, encouraged, and strengthened with the words below. His Servant Pastor Pete

“He was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance

into the hand of Thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst?” —Judges 15:18

Samson was thirsty and ready to die. The difficulty was totally different from any which

the hero had met before. Merely to get thirst assuaged is nothing like so great a matter as to be

delivered from a thousand Philistines!, but when the thirst was upon him, Samson felt that lit-

tle present difficulty more weighty than the great past difficulty out of which he had so spe-

cially been delivered. It is very usual for God’s people, when they have enjoyed a great deliv-

erance, to find a little trouble too much for them. Samson slays a thousand Philistines, and

piles them up in heaps, and then faints for a little water! Jacob wrestles with God at Peniel,

and overcomes Omnipotence itself, and then goes “halting on his thigh!” Strange that there

must be a shrinking of the sinew whenever we win the day. As if the Lord must teach us our

littleness, our nothingness, in order to keep us within bounds. Samson boasted right loudly

when he said, “I have slain a thousand men.” His boastful throat soon grew hoarse with thirst,

and he betook himself to prayer. God has many ways of humbling His people. Dear child of

God, if after great mercy you are laid very low, your case is not an unusual one. When David

had mounted the throne of Israel, he said, “I am this day weak, though anointed king.” You

must expect to feel weakest when you are enjoying your greatest triumph. If God has wrought

for you great deliverances in the past, your present difficulty is only like Samson’s thirst, and

the Lord will not let you faint, nor suffer the daughter of the uncircumcised to triumph over

you. The road of sorrow is the road to heaven, but there are wells of refreshing water all along

the route. So, tried brother, cheer your heart with Samson’s words, and rest assured that God

will deliver you ere long.

­Charles Spurgeon

_________________________ C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Daily Readings, Accordance electronic ed. (Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 1999), n.p.

Word from the Pastor Page 2

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The Uncommon Church is now available on Kindle. The introductory price is only $7.99 but that won’t last so get your copy now. The publisher plans to raise the price to $8.99 very soon and then $9.99 in about a month. Download your copy today! If you have the Amazon Kindle you can also borrow the book from the Amazon library for free. I have personally never used this service but I do know that The Uncommon Church is available there as well. Read The Uncommon Church, and tell everyone you know about it. I dare you to be uncommon in 2013! The Living Lamp is available on Kindle as a FREE download right now. I think it ends tomorrow so get your free copy today!

If you would like to buy the paperback version you can visit my Amazon page by clicking here.

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Psalm 105:1

Give thanks to the LORD, call on His

name; make known among the nations

what He has done.

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The following are reoccur-

ring events that take place

each week/month at the

same time unless other-

wise denoted:

Church Services - Sunday

@ 10:45 AM

Discipleship Classes –

Monday 6:30pm—8:00 pm

classes will resume on

Jan. 14, 2013

Children’s Play Group

Every Tuesday from 10am

- 11:30am.

Men’s Fellowship Break-

fast 3rd Sat. 8-9 Call Bob

Byrd for info at:

210-896-5525

CFY R.E.A.L.M. - Every

Wednesday @ 7:00 pm

unless otherwise noted.

Pre-Teen Ministry—Every

Wednesday @ 6:30pm—8

Bldg D

Living Hope - Every

Thursday @ 7 PM For

more info call Louise

Manning at

830-480-4145

Please Go To Our Website

For Times And More

Information! www.cowboyfellowship.org

FEBRUARY 2013 SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT

1 2

3

10:45 a Sun

Morning Serv.

Baptism

12-1 Pot Luck Play Day

4

6:30 –8 Discipleship Class

5

10a-11:30 Play Group

6

6:30p-8p 5th

& 6th Grade

Youth

6:30-8p CFY

7

6:30p-9p CF

band practice

7p-8p Living

Hope

8 9

10-12

Ladies

Riding

Group

10

10:45a Sun.

Morning

Worship Serv.

12-2

Leadership

and Lay

Pastor Mtg.

11 6:30 –8 Discipleship Class

12

10a-11:30 Play Group

13

6:30p-8p

5th & 6th

Grade Youth

6:30-8p CFY

7p-9p Adult Riding Group

14

6:30p-9p CF

band practice

7-8 Living

Hope

15 16

8- 9 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast

17

10:45a Sun Morning Worship Serv. Saddle Up - 10:30-11:45 upstairs

18

6:30 –8 Discipleship Class

19

10a-11:30 Play Group

20

6:30p-8p 5th & 6th Grade Youth

6:30-8p CFY

21

10:30 am

Helping Hands

6:30p-9p CF band practice

7p-8p Living Hope

22

23

24 10:45a Sun Morning Worship Serv.

12-1 Elders mtg.

25

6:30 –8 Discipleship Class

26

10a-11:30

Play Group

27

6:30p-8p

5th & 6th

Grade Youth

6:30-8p CFY

7-9 Youth Riding Clinic

28

6:30p-9p CF band practice 7p-8p Living Hope

Schedule

Of Events

The Arena Ministry

Adult Riding Group 2nd Wednesday of every

month 7pm - 9pm Contact Liz Powell 830-426-9391

Youth Riding Clinic 4th Wednesday of the

month 7-9 Contact Liz Powell 830-426-9391

Ladies Riding Group 2nd Sat. of the month

10a-12p Contact info.: Marian Knowlton phone

210-831-6079 email marian.knowlton@gmail.com

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February Events Feb. 3rd - Baptism, Pot Luck

Feb. 17th - Saddle Up Seminar 10:30 –11:45 in

conference room upstairs

Feb. 17 - GriefShare 1:30 Sunday at Cowboy

Fellowship ( See page 11 for more details)

Feb. 24th - Second round of the Roping Series

2013 (See page 7 for details)

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Cowboy Fellowship completes bleachers

Sunday, December 23 was another historic day for the congregation of Cowboy Fellowship. Cowboy Fellowship

held its first service in May, 2003 at the Atascosa Livestock Show barn. Since that time, they have constructed a

permanent facility on FM 3350 and host a wide variety of ministries for people of all ages. Each Sunday morning,

large crowds gather to sing, worship and listen to God’s Word. In 2010, the congregation voted to build a

covered facility with an arena for outdoor events. The first phase of the project was completed in 2011. Phase 2

of the building project was to erect bleachers for spectator use at the outdoor events. The congregation of

Cowboy Fellowship donated the monies to build the bleachers for the facility. The aluminum bleachers were

constructed by the SturdiSteel Company and were recently completed.

To celebrate the completion of the bleachers under the covered facility, the congregation gathered together for a

very special worship service. As people began to arrive at the site, the excitement was obvious. By 10:45 the

seats in the main bleacher section were almost full. Jarrett Akers and the Cowboy Fellowship Band started the

service with some Christmas carols. A group of young singers entertained the crowd with special music and then

Pastor Pete Pawelek entered the arena. To everyone’s surprise, Pastor Pete was dressed in a bright red robe and

had a turban on his head. He was mounted on a camel. The sermon centered around the wisdom of the

Wisemen from the Christmas story. At the conclusion of the service, 10 lucky audience members were given

rides on Richard, the camel.

The next building phase for the covered facility will include restrooms and a concession stand. Everyone is optimistic that the building can be completed in the near future. Cowboy Fellowship meets each Sunday morning at 10:45. If you are looking for a fresh start in 2013 bring your family and friends and experience worship at Cowboy Fellowship. Everyone is always welcome!

Donate Here

Covered Facility Update

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Starting February 17th

GriefShare Grief Recovery Support Group

Your Journey for Mourning to Joy

GriefShare is a special weekly seminar/support group for peo-

ple grieving the death of someone close. It is a place where

people understand how you feel and the pain of your loss.

At GriefShare you’ll learn valuable information that will help

you through this

difficult time in your life.

GriefShare group will meet every Sunday at 1:30 pm for 13

weeks at Cowboy Fellowship

If you have lost someone close to you or know of someone

who has please call for more information.

Church Office 830-769-3733

George Hannah 239-218-3377

Marinan Keeling 830-570-0267

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Helping Hands

Page 9

On Thursday, January 24, the Helping Hands Ministry met at Cowboy Fellowship to

work on the visitor bags and straighten the tables. After lunching at Café Chris they

returned to have a Sticky Group meeting and to have some computer training. Avalon

Newell and Connie Walker helped some of the less experienced members with

computer basics. The Sticky Group plans to meet at Cowboy Fellowship every Thursday

and then have a computer training session. Anyone interested in learning the basics of

the computer can sign up at the back table or contact Avalon or Connie.

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Castro Chronicles

The 4 Wheeler Ride

It was a nice warm summer evening out in the country some 20 years ago. My friend, Jodie, and I were getting ready to take the 4 wheeler for a spin. Mom had given me specific instructions, "Amanda, this is not a toy. Whatever you do, do not leave the 4 wheeler alone and go off somewhere else. Stay on it at all times." I responded with "Yes ma'am!" We were eager to ride it and feel the wind against our face. After a quick lesson, we were off. Just me and my best friend, exploring the country roads together. Well, we probably got a 1/2 mile down the road when all of a sudden it just died. We didn't know what to do. We tried turning it around so we could push it back, but the steering wheel was locked. I heard my mom's words ringing in my head. I was afraid I had broken it and wasn't about to leave it in the middle of the road. So we did what any other kid

would have done, we PULLED that monster all the way back home. Up and down two hills, stinking machine was swerving all over the place. As we came down the last hill my mom and nanny were sitting on the front porch. Upon seeing us, they started laughing and walking toward us. They were laughing so hard I'm sure they almost peed in their pants because they had to stop a few times to cross their legs, hold their stomachs, and catch their breath. Jodie and I were not so happy. We were TICKED actually with our faces as red as a puffy tomato! Tears started to stream down my face. I was so dog tired, and scared of what would happen since we had broken the darn thing. My nanny walked up, held in some button, turned the switch to "On" and it started right up. I guess

my thumb had slipped and since I had only received instructions on how to operate it while it was running, I didn't know how to start it up again. I was so mad that they were laughing and yet relieved that I hadn't broken it. My mom said, "One day you will look back on this and laugh." My response was, "Yeah right!" Twenty years later I still think about that day and laugh. For two young girls, those hills seemed like mountains. I think about the mountain I'm coming down right now with the breastfeeding challenge. Our baby girl seemed to be allergic to something, so for four months I basically ate four things: chicken, rice, carrots, and oatmeal. It was HORRI-BLE! I wanted to give up every minute of every day. I tried putting her on formula but that didn't seem to help. So, we decided to stick it out. Had it not been for my husband, I would have given up. Fortunately, when we went home for

two months my mother-n-law found a probiotic powder that helps develop a baby's digestive system called Natren. Literally, four days later, she stopped having screaming tantrums. Now we have almost made it to 8 months with the goal being 6 months. It was probably the hardest things I have ever done. I'm so grateful to God for the endurance he gave me, for the support of my husband, and for my mother-n-law who found that powder.

We all have our mountains to climb with some being steeper than others. But to climb that mountain and then be on the other side of it is the best feeling in the world. I can still hear my mom's voice, "Whatever you do Amanda, don't leave that 4 wheeler!" I can smile now after shedding many tears because I didn't give up. Whatever monster you are battling, know that God is with you. He will give you the strength you need for that day. You are not alone. And maybe, just maybe, you will look back one day and laugh:-)

Page 11

MUTTON BUSTIN’ This was Cowboy Fellowship’s first Mutton Bustin’ event of the

year. There were fifty brave youngsters who signed up for the

Mutton Bustin’ at Cowboy Fellowship on Jan. 20th to try their

hand at riding a wild bucking sheep. No matter the length of their

ride, each child received a trophy. A special prize was also given to

the top four children who did a victory dance after their rides.

For information about future Mutton Bustin’ events at Cowboy Fellowship contact:

Adam Shelburne at 830-769-3733 or adam@cowboyfellowship.org.

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Cowboy Fellowship

P.O. Box 68

Pleasanton, TX 78064

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