Life style evangelism, this is the example Jesus gave as He walked with His disciples, it is way more than preaching a message telling others how they should live, it’s also making yourself venerable when you walk, work and play with others and they get to see the struggles you face.  They see you are not perfect, especially if you’re a preacher.  I know there have been times when I was surprised when some Godly men that I thought were almost perfect showed they were also flesh and fall short.  As the Scripture tell us, None are righteous, no not one. Romans 3:10.  But the difference is some strive to be Holy and others haven't chosen to yet.  Lifestyle evangelism is also taking the Gospel wherever you go even though there’s going to be criticism.  I've been told "That a rodeo wasn't the place to preach", but if you've got the best thing going (JESUS) you should want others to have it.  The disciples were told not to preach Jesus and were beaten for doing it and they counted it joy and told those who beat them, "they can't stop preaching Jesus."  Lifestyle evangelism is Jesus first in everything, even in the things that are still of the flesh, to trust Him to change us, to be more and more like Jesus!  It’s good to know Jesus was patient with His disciples, but it can be hard for us to be patient with others.

I was at church one day and the message was about running the race, an example was given of an actual run of about 10 miles.  A young boy came to me at the end of church and wanted to get a bottle of water to take with him on the run, I told him we were not actually running, it was just an example.  It really hit me how we should be actually running, how the experience of the run would have had life changing results.  I've seen this happen in a few young men I know.  They can't help but tell the Good News, the actual run started something that they can't help but continue, rodeo's, schools, futurity's, at work.  Jesus said when we started GR, "If only one life is changed and truly follows Me it is worth it all."  The truth is what’s done for the Kingdom is the only thing that matters at the end of the race, it is no fool who gives up what he can't keep to gain what he can't lose.  I can only honestly tell you my only regret is I didn't give more of myself.  We love you, but Jesus loves you so much more!

Well we've wrapped up our summer camps and what a blessing they were! Getting to see the young people grow physically, mentally, and most of all, Spiritually, is one of the greatest rewards of working for the Kingdom!! In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." It is an amazing thing to watch the children come into the presence of God and for Him to show them how much He loves them!!! We all are the children of God and it is VITAL that we constantly hear our Heavenly Father tell us how much He loves us! It is the Devils mission to blind us to the Truth of how much we are loved by Jesus. If the master of deception (Satan) can distort our view of how God feels about us, we will be very susceptible to poor choices built on a lie-based thought! If we are insecure about who we are, we often try to define ourselves in the world, and in doing so, we do things that aren't pleasing to the Father!! We must be sure of our identity in Christ!! We must be sure of how much we mean to God and how much he loves us!! He desires for us to have an intimate relationship with Him! The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to us!! We must claim it every day, as we pray for his will to be done on earth as it is Heaven!! If you desire a more abundant life, let nothing hinder you from getting closer to your Heavenly Father!!!  He has one waiting for you today!!                             

Love y'all! -Pastor Stephen Bruner

I heard a great horse trainer once say that the way to work a young beginner horse was to start with a little task, like just giving to the bit and give to it when its released, let the horse get in a habit of doing what was asked and don't worry about what the rest of the horse was doing, even if it was moving it's butt around when you were just asking it to give it's face.  Don't worry about it , just accept that it was giving it's face.  To often we want the horse to be under control at the very start instead of taking it piece by piece and end up in a big fight with the horse.  The idea is to get more yes's and less no's.
I realize that as Christians we can do the same thing, we can want a new Christian to be in complete control from the very beginning instead of just getting the little yes's to the Lord or we can be very hard on ourselves because we see our wrongs and get ready to give up.  If you have worked a horse and pushed it to the point of giving up you may do yourself the same way or others.  The Goodnews is our trainer the Lord Jesus is a good trainer, very gentle and I believe He is just wanting to see more yes's than no's.  For He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.  Philippians 1:6
So if you or others are putting alot of negative thoughts on you ask yourself, am I saying yes more then no to what Jesus asks than I did a year ago?  If so your growing, if your going with more no's than a year ago repent and get back in the training.  One of the first yes's to Jesus is daily time with Him.

Most don't even think about the horse is always being trained no matter the knowledge of the rider.  The very best or the very least, its being trained to do right or to do wrong.  The trainer with the title knows he or she is training the horse, but the non title person doesn't realize they are just as much a trainer.  This is dangerous not knowing the importance of there job, same with the non titled Christian, not realizing they have just as important a job as a preacher or Evangelist.  Right there at  their work or play is the best time to train others, mostly by seeing it in you, just as a horse will learn in the calmest, steady, nonconfusing action of the rider so will others receive ministry and want what you have, and one of the best parts is their work becomes a joy, when you look at it as a mission field and get excited wondering who will be the next one father sends your way.  He will send the thirsty to tind a cool fresh drink of the Fountain of Life.  We are always training good or bad. 

After Jesus had washed his disiciples feet he said "You know what to do, do it".
Paul said in Ephesians Chapter 4 (Message Bible)
I want you to get out there and walk-better yet, run-on the road God called you to travel.  I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands, or in recliners.  I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere (chasing the world) and mark that you do this with humility and discipline -- not in fits and starts, but STEADILY, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, blind at noticing differances and quick at mending fences (keep your heart clean and help others do the same).

If The Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  John 8:36
Alot of people have believed the lie of Satan that if I follow Jesus I will come under a buch of rules (the law) and life will be boring.  The lie, the trap that really catches so many in slavery is thinking they are free, their eyes have been blinded and their ears only hear lies. If you really want to live seek TRUTH!  None of us likes to be lied to, so find out the REAL TRUTH, so many who think their really living it up having a good time are wore out chasing a good time, chasing approval of others, their wanter is in overdrive, I want, I want, I want, or try to be like someone there not.  If you are someone who is overworked and stressed and I hear alot of this even in ministry, if your always wanting more, if you have habits you know you should shake, if you are afraid of death, if you carry a load of resentment, if you have run the so called fun life and on the other side start to see that there is more pain and guilt than there was fun, like the old saying "Sin will keep me way longer than I intended and cost me more than I wanted to pay".  Know this the Bible says: Even if my Father and Mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Psalms 27:10  If you are ready for real freedom get to know Jesus better, He's a good friend that is the only true friend who wants the best for each of us, people will make you feel guilty, unworthy, a failure, insecure, but Jesus will give security, approval, acceptance and love you need.  Only Jesus can do this, people can't.

Is that most don't even think about...the horse is always being trained, no matter the knowledge of the rider, the very best or very least, it's being trained to do right or to do wrong, and the trainer with the title knows he or she is training, but the non title rider don't realize they are just as much a trainer and this is dangerous not knowing the importance of their job.  The same with the non titled Christian not realizing they have just as important a job as a preacher or evangelist, right there at there work or play is the best time to train others, mostly by seeing it in you.  Just as a horse will learn in the calmest, steady, nonconfusing action of the rider so will others receive ministry and want what you have.  Then one of the best parts of work becomes a joy when you look at it as a mission field.  You get excited wondering who will be the next one Father sends your way, and He will send the thirsty to find a cool fresh drink of the Fountain of Life.  We are always training good or bad!