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Cowboy Fellowship E-newsletter 2013
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Featured in this issue
Missions
Parent Link
Word from the Pastor
Calendar
Fall Festival
Word From The Pastor
Well the holiday season is here once again. For many this time of the year could not arrive soon
enough. The cooler weather, vacation time, great food, and giving and receiving gifts is the highlight of the
year. For others this is a tough dark time when they struggle financially, or emotionally as they remember
those who will not be here to celebrate this year. Whatever category you fall in there is no denying that it’s
that time again.
God is really big on timing. In fact in Galatians 4:4–6 NET 4 But when the appropriate time had
come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. Other translations say “at just the right time…” So how can
we make the most of this holiday season? Certainly God has a purpose and plan for our lives over the next few
weeks. Here are three things I believe it is time for as we approach Christmas.
1. It’s time to overcome our worry and fear. I understand that this will not be quick or easy but it must
be done. We should not ignore our fears and worries and simply put them off until 2014. Now is the
time to be over-comers when it comes to worry and fear. Matthew 6:34 teaches us that we should not
worry about tomorrow. When Mary found out from the angel that she was carrying the messiah he
said “do not be afraid!” Whatever you are worried about or fearful of now is the time to wage war
against those things and overcome them once and for all before Christmas arrives. You might even go
online to www.cowboyfellowship.org and listen to the sermons I recently preached on overcoming
fear.
2. It’s time to listen carefully. In Luke 10 after the angel tells Mary not to be afraid he says “Listen
carefully.” Many of us have missed God this year. He has been trying to get through but we have just
been too busy to really listen. There is no better time than right now to stop and listen carefully to
what God might be speaking into your life. Consider His commands, His encouragement, His sweet
still small voice that breaths life into all who hear it.
3. It’s time to share the gospel. In Luke 2:10 the angel said “for I proclaim to you good news…“ This is
the season of good news and people are surrounded by it everywhere they go. There is no doubt that
people are much more likely to attend church or seriously consider the good news of Christ during the
holiday season. Who will you invite to church? Who will your share the gospel with? Who will you be
praying for over the next 30 days? Its time to consider these questions then share the gospel with
those you love.
4. It’s time to experience great joy. Finally the angel in Luke 2 said “brings great joy to all the
people…” I know the holidays are difficult as we celebrate without some of our loved ones. There are
numerous other things that makes this time of the year arduous on many, but it is a time of great joy.
Enjoy this holiday season focus on the positive things that bring joy into your life. This is the season
that we use to mark the biggest event in human history, the birth of our savior. There is much to cele-
brate, and so much joy to be experience and shared.
I pray that you have a wonderful holiday season. Invite your friends and family to church, Listen to God
daily, overcome your fears, and share the joy of this season with everyone you meet. Our Christmas service
will be on December 22, but I hope to see you at church long before then. May God bless us all this holiday
season.
Pastor Pete
Page 2
Matthew 2:11
Page 3
The following are reoccurring
events that take place each
week/month at the same time
unless otherwise denoted.
Discipleship Classes Sunday
morning before Church at
9am ( check with your disci-
pleship leader for holiday
class schedule. )
Church Services - Sunday at
10:45 AM
Children’s Play Group Every
Tuesday from 10am -
11:30am.
Men’s Fellowship Breakfast
3rd Sat. 8-9 Call Bob Byrd
for info at: 210-896-5525
CFY - Every Wednesday @
6:30pm
Pre-Teen Ministry Every
Wednesday @ 6:30pm-8
Bldg D
2nd Sat. Clean Up
8 am-10 am
GriefShare starts on Sept.
15th at 1:30 for 13 weeks.
Please Go To Our Website For
Times And More Information! www.cowboyfellowship.org
DECEMBER 2013 SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT
1
9 a
Discipleship
10:45
Sun Morning
Worship Serv.
Baptism
2
3
10a-11:30a
Play Group
at Kid
Nation in
Jourdanton
4
6:30p-8p
5th & 6th
Grade Youth
6:30p-8p CFY
5
6:30p-9p
CF band
practice
6:30 p–8p
Judo
6 7
8
9a
Discipleship
10:45 a
Sun Morning
Worship Serv.
Baby
Dedication
9 10
10a-11:30a
Play Group
11
6:30p-8p
5th & 6th
Grade Youth
6:30p-8p CFY
12
6:30p-9p
CF band
practice
6:30 p–8p
Judo
13 14
8:00a–10a
2nd Sat
Clean Up
10a-12
Ladies
Riding
Group
15
9a
Discipleship
10:45a
Sun. Morning
Worship Serv.
10:36
Saddle up
12-2p
Leadership and
Lay Pastor
Mtg.
1:30p
GriefShare
16 17
10a-11:30a
Play Group
18
6:30p-8p
5th & 6th
Grade Youth
6:30p-8p CFY
7p-9p Adult Riding Group
19
6:30p-9p
CF band
practice
6:30pm– 8
Judo
20 21
8a-9a Men’s Fellowship Breakfast
22
9a
Discipleship
10:45am
Sun. Morning
Worship Serv.
1:30pm
GriefShare
23
24
Office
Closed
25
Office Closed
Merry
Christmas
26
6:30p-9p
CF band
practice
27
28
29 10:45am Sun. Morning Worship Serv. 12pm-1 Elders mtg. 1:30 pm GriefShare
30 31
Office
Closed
Schedule
Of Events
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and
they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures
and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The Arena Ministry
Adult Riding Group Will not meet in December
Youth Riding Clinic Will not meet in December
Ladies Riding Group 2nd Sat. of the month 10am-12 noon
Contact info.: Marian Knowlton phone 210-831-6079
email marian.knowlton@gmail.com
Page 4
December Church Events Dec. 1st Baptism
Dec 3rd Play Group at Kid Nation in Jourdanton 10-11:30
Dec. 8th Baby Dedication
Dec. 8th Servant’s Appreciation Dinner 6:00 pm
Dec 14th 2nd Saturday Clean up
Dec. 15th Kids Christmas Choir
Dec. 24 & 25th Office Closed
Dec. 31st Office Closed
Page 5
The Cowboy Fellowship Annual Fall Festival was a great success. The head count was over 3000 people who
came out to enjoy the evening’s festivities. There were some really cute costumes and some were quite scary.
Due to the rain the morning of the festival some of the booths had to be moved to new locations. All of the
booths had lots of activity and gave away tons of candy. Many people in attendance enjoyed the music of the
Cowboy Fellowship Band, who by the way did an outstanding job. Kid Nation performed for the crowd, and at
the end of the evening there was a spectacular fireworks display.
This year as you entered the gates, greeters passed out a card to be filled out and then turned in at the Church
service the following Sunday at either Cowboy Fellowship or the First Baptist Church of Jourdanton. On
Monday morning all of the cards were mixed together and then one of the pastors drew out the winnings for the
prizes. The prize winners were: Rhett Parrott-Kindle Fire, Bertha Hardin-Kindle Fire, Yolanda Garza-IPad mini,
Jennifer Bruns-IPad mini, Abby Henry-Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, Pam Hindes-Nexus 10, Linda Searle-Subway Gift
Card, Kailey Smith-Sizzler Gift Card, Shirley Tkadlec-Sizzler Gift Card, Ron Cochran-Subway Gift Card, David
Brown-Domino Gift Card, Kathy Cochran-Domino Gift Card.
On the following pages are pictures of some of the attendees at the Festival. Thanks to Avalon Newell and Bryon
Hensch for the pictures.
Page 6
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Page 10
God's Back-up Plan 10/25/2013
Rikot spent a week in the village with her (first) family last week.
Now that she has been with us for almost three years we have moved past the adjustment phase and are working through the heartache
and grief that goes hand and hand with adoption. It is a constant struggle for her and for us.
She has been missing them terribly.
She misses life in the village as well. Or at least what she remembers life to be like. I spent the week in fear and anxiety, honestly. She
has struggled throughout her time with us with wanting to be back there. I don't blame her. It's not as if she has a bad family, just one
that can't manage her disease. But they do love her, hence, the difficulty of it all.
We spent the week in prayer for wisdom in knowing what to do with her. Should she go back or should she stay? We were torn.
Adopting has changed our perspective on adoption. We always saw it as a beautiful thing, something holy almost, ordained by God.
We were rescuing children from a life as "just a village girl" or "just a shepherd'. We used to see our adopted children as "made for
us", and their adoption as "God's plan".
But it just isn't like that. Not that God doesn't use it, but to say that it's His plan for them to be with us is pushing it, I think, and very
self-centered. God is always about the work of restoration, and that's what adoption is, restoration of something that was broken. But
He put her with her first family because that's where He wanted her, with them, not us.
They were God's plan for her.
Enter sin...and enter death...and enter sickness...and enter...us. Not the original plan, but the back-up anyway. We are God's back-up
plan for her.
And this is why we were torn. If it's possible for her to thrive with them, His first choice for her, then shouldn't she be with them?
It was a long week.
We picked her up on Monday, and I could see right away that she was sick. Bloodshot eyes, raspy voice, itchy rash covering her body.
She had lost enough weight in a week for me to count her ribs. She let me heat her bath water and put cream on her itchy rash. She
hugged me for five minutes without stopping. She was so sad. Sad to leave her first family, and sad because she knew, finally, for
herself, that she could not thrive there.
Today, almost a week later, she danced through her morning, and I overheard her singing to herself, "I am so loved..."
Her rash is fading, and she is eating seconds at every meal. She is full of joy and energy and life. She is bonding well and letting her-
self be loved. Readjustment is going well. Not to say that she doesn't miss them still, but God is restoring the hurting places in her,
just as He does in us.
This story, her story, has taught me so much about God's heart for us. Adoption was never His original plan for us. We were always
meant to dwell with Him in perfect communion, to walk hand in hand in the garden He created for us. Enter sin...and enter His back-
up plan, adoption through His son, Jesus Christ.
What a beautiful back-up plan that turned out to be. Not that our stories are free of heartache and grief, but He is always about the
business of healing our broken places and creating beauty from ashes.
I am so grateful that He continues to restore our relationship with Him and look forward to the day when we again walk hand in hand
in His garden.
Page 11
New Life 11/08/2013
I weeded my garden today. And in between clumps of grass that threat-
ened to take over and copious amounts of bright green
leaves, I found them.
Flowers.
Despite the difficulties of gardening here, the thorns, the lack of water, the wind and the ants,
fruit is coming.
These last few weeks have been ones of transition. Kenneth has spent countless hours in disci-
pleship and prayer and is beginning to see, finally, the fruit. New churches are being started.
Ones in which his name is not known and his face is never seen. Sick people are being prayed
for by their own church members, not just by the "mzungu". Warriors are finding new life in
Christ and their friends are seeing the change and desiring it in their own lives. Another bap-
tism is being planned, and leaders, Karimojong leaders, are taking over the shepherding of
their own people. Change is coming. New life is peeking through.
Last night was the first screening of the Jesus film in the Ngakarimojong language. It was
standing room only in a friend's little yard, people packed closely enough to fall asleep stand-
ing up and not fall down. Exclamations were heard all over the yard, "Wow! Jesus is speaking
our language!" For many of the 200+ people there last night it was the first time they have
heard the gospel story. And I have no doubt that change will come to their lives as well. Be-
cause God is moving here.
In this land of thorns and dust and wind, God's Spirit is moving, calling His people to repen-
tance, calling them to new life in Him.
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a
way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Is. 43:19
What about you? How is God moving in the places you live and work? We'd love to hear about
it and pray for you. Send us an email.
williamsinthewilderness@gmail.com Kenneth and Kristi Williams
P.O. Box 48 Kotido, Uganda 011-256-785-758-033
The Helping Hands Ministry met on Wednesday, November 20th at
Cowboy Fellowship to put together the teaching packets for the Children
Church. After all the work was done the group went to Café Chris for a
nice luncheon and fellowship. If you would like to join this fun and hard
working team get in touch with Marty Pryor.
Page 12
Zander Temple, a Cub Scout from Den 8 Wolves, places American Flag on the graves of local veterans.
Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts placed flags on graves at
the Pleasanton City Cemetery. Shown left to right are:
front row – John Cabrera, Seth Macmanus, Cade
Macmanus and Blaine Macrnanus. Back row - Paul
Macmanus
Salute to Veterans at Rock - N - At - The - River
The Pleasanton JROTC presented the colors at the Rock -N - At - River Festival
Glenda, Ben and Fernando Garcia enjoyed the music and fun at the
Atascosa River Park.
Christian Country musician Clifton Jansky and Danny
Castro of Von Ormy were part of the entertainment
Pleasanton Mayor Clifton J. Powell (foreground) and
JROTC instructor Alan W. Maitland (background) paused
for prayer.
Page 13
The month of November is one of “thanks” for so many reasons but none greater than for our freedoms we enjoy as Americans. This past weekend, Cadets from the Pleasanton Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or JROTC took time to honor the men and women who served us so faithfully throughout our nation’s history to guarantee our freedoms.
More than 40 Cadets volunteered to assist in the recognition of the Veterans in attendance at the Second annual Rock - N - at - The River Music Festival held at the Atascosa River Park in Pleasan-ton on Saturday, Nov. 9th. The event began with four prod cadets in highly pressed cadet uniforms marching up to center stage to “present” the Nation’s Colors while First Ser-geant Jose Sanchez led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Alle-giance.
Since it was Veterans Day weekend, the festi-val organizer dedicated the event to the Veter-ans and Wounded War-riors. The Pleasanton Cadets added charm to the event by rendering a Saber salute to all Veterans.
As the Veterans passed through the Saber Line, the Cadets gave them a ceremonial salute for their unselfish service to our nation.
The Cadets also assisted with a support detail to assist the handicapped and help the organizers.
Ten churches and six pastors were repre-sented at the event. It was estimated that over 500 people flowed through from 2-7p.m. and there were 41 decisions for Christ.
Thanks Veterans
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Our Links
www.cowboyfellowship.org
Cowboy Fellowship
P.O. Box 68
Pleasanton, TX 78064
December 2013 Issue 54
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