Well, in our neck of the woods we hit over 50 going towards 57 thus far but the wind definitely makes it feel a whole lot colder.  Sitting here, watching the trees dance in the wind makes me thankful I don’t have to be out there in it.

But do appreciate all those who go about their duties despite adverse weather.

Snow is starting to make haste as it melts away quickly; we are starting to see much more brown of the ground rather than white from the snow in Carla’s garden.

Watching a program on Leadville, Colorado’s “Skijoring” – at about 10,000 feet in elevation.  Cowboys on horseback are pulling skiers with ropes over snow ramps, through gates and collecting rings with their arms as the horse runs at a gallop down the middle of the road for almost 900 feet.

They are traveling at about 30+ mph (fastest recorded for this program, by a radar gun was 38 mph) with the horse and the skiers, going back and forth in back to hit the ramps, is doing at least half to three quarters again as much – all are having a lot of fun.

One competitor says following the horse is like having snow balls thrown at you by the crowd as the horse kicks up snow behind them, hitting you in the face and body.  Lots of broken goggles in this event.

They actually truck in the snow for the course, it is funny looking at the side streets which are bare pavement at that time of year and altitude, but it is an extremely dry climate.

And there is a purse worth several thousand dollars.

After the run several competitors put frozen oxygen in a feed bag for the horse so they breath in more oxygen as it melts and can recover quicker – then they walk them to cool them down.

The event this year is the first weekend in March.  It would be a fun happening to go to – and I guess they have about 3000 or so spectators who do. 

Hhhmm, maybe next year?

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“There have been many Christian martyrs, of course, who have actually been slain—some even crucified—for the sake of Christ and the gospel. For most, however, bearing the cross means dying to self and one’s personal desires in order to live unreservedly for the Lord and His mission.”  Days of Praise

Luke 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

The cross was the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice, His death.  While we may be forced to endure such an ending, most of us will live our lives, have difficulties, troubles and trials and eventually die a non-violent death.

As Christians we don’t have a fear of death, we know what happens after it, and while it may be difficult in its coming we know once it happens we will forever be with Jesus.

What is most difficult is actually living FOR Jesus and carrying our cross through life.  That cross symbolizes our dedication to our service for Him; it means casting aside everything else and focusing on our service to Him.

For some it is a full-time service as a minister, teacher of Biblical principles, missionary or a combination of all three.  For larger churches that full-time service receives an enumeration so the servant doesn’t have to earn a living doing other things.

For some it is full-time service, but augmented by a job somewhere to pay the bills.

For most of us it is service in our church, our family, our neighborhood and our community.  While it may not be full-time we recognize our mission is to promote the Gospel in our lives.

Sometimes our secular job is our service mission, Christian mothers who stay at home, doctors, nurses, police officers and other service oriented professions are often considered by us to be the cross we carry in following Christ.

Our cross changes through the years, health and abilities decline somewhat and what may have been possible at 25 years of age is only a memory at 75.  But none the less, God always has a place for us to serve.

We but have to ask Him and do what He commands us to do. 

Our cross is whatever God has laid upon our hearts to serve Him.  It is not to be compared with others’ responsibilities; it is to be done to the very best of our abilities.

Later, Art (-: