I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal

Hey I'm just an old chunk of coal
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day.
I'm gonna grow and glow
Till I'm so blue pure and perfect
I'm gonna put a smile on every body's face

This to me is an excellent analogy. Coal comes straight from the ground and is full of impurities and imperfections. However, if it can hold up to extreme pressures and stresses, it will transform into a diamond. A diamond is one of the purest stones on earth. It is flawless and beautiful.

I'm gonna spit and polish my old rough edged self
Till I get rid of every single flaw.

As Christians we must continue to strive to become perfect like diamonds. In doing so, we will face pressures and stress along the way. However, if we can keep our faith strong, and withstand the hardships, we can achieve that perfection. It will not be easy. In fact, this transformation is not something that we can even do without God's help. It will take prayer, sacrifice and faith. We will have to put aside unforgiveness, temptation and vanity.

Job 35:13
Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it

Something better lies ahead for each of us, we may be chunks of coal right now, but someday we will be diamonds. And diamonds are forever...

I'm gonna kneel and pray every day
Last I should become vain along the way.
I'm just and old chunk of coal now Lord
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day

Striving for spiritual perfection is... on this cowboys mind


(John Anderson: I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal)

Pass It On

This is one of my favorite Hymns because it brings back so many memories from Lakeview Church Camp.

It only takes a spark
To get a fire going.
And soon all those around
Can warm up in its glowing.

That's how it is with God's love
Once you've experienced it;
You spread His love to every one;
You want to pass it on.

Rusty Watkins was a man that had the gift of laughter. He could bring a smile to any one's face. Rusty was a Methodist preacher and a regular fixture at Lakeview Church Camp. This man could preach the word of God on our level, and would tell jokes and cut up with us afterwards.

St. Luke 6:22
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep: for ye shall laugh.

This man filled our spirits and made us laugh. I have so many memories of him. There is a special place in Heaven for Rusty. He touched the lives of more young people than anyone I know. I pray that the legacy that he started will be passed on.

I'll shout it from the mountain tops; (PRAISE GOD!)
I want my world to know;
The Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on.

Keeping Rusty's memory alive is... on this cowboys mind


(Pass It On: Kurt Kaiser, United Methodist Hymnal #572)



I loving memory of Rev. Russell "Rusty" Watkins. You were a true gift from God to us all.

Boats To Build

Sometimes I think that a book should be written called "The Gospel According To Jimmy Buffett". It is amazing how his lyrics can make me think...

It's time for a change
I'm tired of that same ol same
The same ol words the same ol lines
The same ol tricks and the same ol rhymes

Here lately, I seem to be stuck in a rut. Work is good, my home life is good, but I just don't feel that I am living up to my potential. I feel that I am capable of so much more, but because of this anxiety, I feel incomplete.

Days precious days
Roll in and out like waves
I got boards to bend I got planks to nail
I got charts to make I got seas to sail

Sometimes I think it's more of a feeling of being overwhelmed. When I get too much on my plate, my personal time suffers for it. My anxiety is always high anyway, therefore I need to slow down and pace myself. I need to find a balance between work and play. I have so many projects I want to do and things that I want to accomplish. I have often heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. It's time to take charge and take control of my situation and beat anxiety once and for all.

I'm gonna build me a boat
With these two hands
It'll be a fair curve
From a noble plan
Let the chips fall where they will
Cause I've got boats to build

Conquering my anxiety by finding my balance is... on this cowboys mind.



(Jimmy Buffett: Boats To Build)

Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone)

I have never liked the term "compromise". To me, a compromise is when all parties involved agree to be happy about not getting their way. Therefore, I don't like to look at my marriage as a compromise, but rather as a "give and take". I would give my life for her, not compromise it.

Would you lay with me in a field of stone
If my needs were strong would you lay with me

The other weekend, I was listening to some family and friends talk about their marriages. Most said that theirs was a 50/50 compromise. However, the most profound comment came from the only person there that was not married. He said, "I don't think a marriage is 50/50, but rather 70/70. That way one can pick up the slack for the other." We are never always at our best, and that is when our spouses pick up the slack. It is a give and take. Give all you can, and be willing to take when it is given to you. For better or for worse.

Will you still love me when I'm down and out
In my time of trials will you stand by me

I would like to dedicate this blog to Jennifer and Rusty who are getting married this week. Give freely and you will never have to compromise. I have often joked about marriage being a good institution for those that don't mind being institutionalized. However, when you find the right one, there is no limit to what you would do for the other. To me, that is more than a compromise.

Would you go away to another land
Walk a thousand miles through the burning sand
Wipe the blood away from my dying hand if I give myself to you

Happy thoughts for Jennifer and Rusty are... on this cowboys mind.


(Would You Lay With Me: David Allan Coe)

Beyond The End

I am going to use an old Jimmy Buffett song again...

A sea of friends are singin
Vaya con dios [go with god]
Mis amigos [my friends]
We take their hopes and feelins
To some new world
We'll be revealin

I received some sad news last week that my friend Bob Votaw passed away. Bob was one of the nicest contractors I have ever worked with, and we did a lot of business together over the years. Bob would always thank me each time I recommended him and we had a running joke that he owed me a steak dinner. He was an all around great guy and an honest businessman. He will truly be missed.

The world keeps closin in
It has before
It will again
A voice beyond the wind
Says we must go
Beyond the end
So follow
Beyond the end

Knowing that one day Bob and I will meet again beyond the end is... on this cowboys mind


(Jimmy Buffett: Beyond The End)


In memory of my friend Robert Votaw