Sunday, January 31, 2021

Nature vs. Nurture

 It's probably a bit of both. But the only thing we can effect now is how we nurture our faith.




St. Joe's Pool Hall

On new year's eve Fr. Brian Hess asked me what we are doing with the basement of the rectory. "Nothing," I said. To which he suggested that we should use it to host young adult events and the like. I took his admonition and ran. So Saturday evening was the debut of St. Joe's Pool Hall.


The basic idea is to create an environment where we can share our life in Christ in a casual setting


The basement needed work so Jared Biegler shared his talents and tools to help get us a bar built


We had some old office furniture that made a fine fit for repurposing


Looks like the kids found it functional. Well done Ol' son. 


You can't have a pool hall without a pool table. God provided us with this lovely American Heritage table through the generosity of Linda Wegher.


Our first night out we held a Theology on Tap. Your's truly presented on the subject matter: The Three Transcendentals - Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.


But William stole the show with his rendition of Margaritaville 

I'm excited about the potential of our holy pool hall. Today was Theo on Tap, tomorrow we'll see. One thing is for certain, when Christ is at our center, life rocks. Peace. 





Meet Mollie

For a while now I've been looking for a second horse. Not knowing if I should, or even what I'd get, I just left it in the hands of God. That desire was fulfilled two weeks ago when we went down to see Riley. At the end of our ranch tour he showed me a colt with my name on it. After a bit of thought and prayer, and by God's grace and Riley's generosity, she's now part of the WCC herd.


I'm not usually a mare guy, but she's been spayed and has a lovely, spirited disposition. 


Not wanting to quench that spirit, but insuring she wouldn't hurt me, I named her after my great-grandmother Mollie Wamboldt


So John and I jumped in his silver bullet and ran down to Missouri 


I like her. She has pretty eyes and a solid build.


Chief likes her too

This is going to be a fun summer. Mollie needs some work, but luckily I have friends in low places. Paul Casey's going to help me get the buck out of her and make her soft as sugar. I just hope she likes riding in back of a pickup. 






Soft as Sugar

 If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.




Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Healthy Hierarchy

Bishops and priests are ordained in persona Christi capitis, in the person of Christ the head. Why.... to serve and equip the entire body of Christ. 



Saturday, January 23, 2021

New Intern

Deep down there's a cowboy in all of us. The purpose of Wyoming Catholic Cowboys is to help us discover it. The path to this freedom is raw and real. Eli Guinn came on board this fall to help us with the last few cows and find this hidden treasure. He's all in. 


Well done ol' son. Keep looking forward. 


Discovering your inner cowboy takes a lot of soul searching 


Often it's good to learn from experienced cowboys like Kurt


Off with the old man. On with the new.


Keep on rocking in a free world Eli. Your future is bright. 

If you would like help discovering the cowboy within you keep posted to WCC as well as tuned into country music from 1985-2003 or Chancy Williams. 


Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Righteous Anger

Fight injustice with justice




Country Boys Will Survive

It was no coincidence that the boys came and hung our logo sticker on inauguration day. You can count that the Wyoming Catholic Cowboys at Lungren Brothers Cattle Company will continue to be Feeding America with hope, coolness, and beef. Fear not. 



Saturday, January 16, 2021

On the Road Again

Dave and I had been sitting on this second reefer trailer waiting to find its proper home. That problem was solved when my cousin Riley Olson said it would fit nicely into his operation. So we jumped in Jack's truck and hit the road to Stockton Missouri to the Agapé Ranch.


The first day was long, 976 miles, but Dave was a faithful navigator


Riley and his boys are going to turn her into a meat locker similar to ours


Riley was called from Wyoming to Missouri to start a ranch program at a Christian high school for troubled boys. He showed up with a couple horses about 10 years ago and the rest is history. 


He's been blessed with a keen knowledge of horses and how man and them relate. Through the grace of God he has been able to take that understanding a step further and illustrate how man and God relate. In both cases when the two work together, respecting the authority of the other, the ride is beautiful. But it takes work to get there. Riley assigns the teenage boys who commit to the program a two year old colt and they spend the next several months starting and training the horses to get over their fears, while in turn the boys are aided in getting over theirs. Riley's program is off the charts successful. For more information check out: https://agapeboardingschool.org/equestrian/


Riley and I have been ranching for years. He got the horse skills, but I got the good looks.


I'm proud of you ol' son. Keep up the Good work. The world needs more cowboys like Riley Olson. 


Dave and I then blew out and headed west to visit my ol buddy Fr. Jacob Schneider in Garden City Kansas. This faithful servant of Christ keeps the Fire stoked while keeping his boots rooted in the rich Kansas dirt. I thought Matt Dillion was a man of the past, not so. Stand proud and shoot straight partner. The Church needs more heroes like you.


To top our journey off, Dave and I then swung by Denver to visit my alma mater, St. John Vianney Theological Seminary 


I spent four hard years in this beautiful house of God. Our blessed Mother saw me through to the priesthood. Thanks Mother Mary.


My good friend and classmate Fr. Matt Magee gave us a warm welcome. What a treat to concelebrate Mass with him.


Fr. Matt does all things well. There's no steak too big for him to handle. You are the salt of the earth brother, keep shining that light of Christ within you. 


When Cardinal Stafford and Archbishop Aquila heard that Dave was coming to town they threw a feast. What a treat to share a good meal and holy conversation with such faithful Christian men. 

Mission accomplished. Feeding America doesn't stop in Wyoming, but it does start there. I look back on the fruit of our pilgrimage and am at awe of the quality of men the Lord has put into my life. A man can change the world. And I believe during this year of St. Joseph God will through them. Thanks boys for inspiring me to up my game. We're on to the next one. Spring is in the air...





 

Friday, January 8, 2021

Just for the Dale of It

Kurt called the other day and said he had found an ambulance in Rapid that he wanted to buy. Being the proud owner of a school bus, I knew this was something I wanted to be part of. So hit the trail we did, and what a gem we found.


I think the smile says it all.
97 Power Stroke


Some might ask what is he going to do with it. I think the proper question to ask is, what is he not going to do with it. Whatever it becomes, there's one thing you can count on, it'll be cool.


Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Just Another Day in Paradise

One of the perks of the priesthood is pastoral visits. Those are all the more exciting when they lead you into the mountains. This time it was northeast of Hulett in Black Hills. So like any Wyoming Catholic Cowboy priest would do, I flew in.


Dad and I went halves on a drone. It's the coolest piece of technology I've ever seen.



Sue and John Raney are getting this place set up piece by piece. Currently they are living in the shouse on the right and the foundation for the new home is on the left.


The pics from this drone are outstanding


After the big ranch tour we settled down for some LB steak and Bush's beans


Being cajans, they treated this ol cowboy with some southern hospitality 


Beef, crab legs, beans still in the can, and shop towels for napkins, now this is my kind of feast. 

Thanks Sue and John for sharing with me some of the gifts God has given you. 


All You Need Is Love

 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.




Monday, January 4, 2021

Showdown at the - d Corral

Flocchini had been talking smack about my grass fattened beef, so it was time to throw down: Texas Wagyu vs. Wyoming grass fattened. 


So we gathered the boys for judging: Kelly Hand and Seth Hostetler
John and I provided the meat while Kelly and Seth brought the bs.


John's outfit sells Wagyu beef as well as their Bison 


We, on the other hand, stick to the bovine 


Wagyu on top and WGF below 


Our beef is a solid 1 1/4" thick while John's is 1"
Wagyu's fat has the consistency of butter and melts quick on the grill


I think John gave special attention to the cross hatching on his beef


To play it safe, we blind folded the boys


The criteria was simple: Taste, Tender, & Texture 


Well I don't mind admitting defeat. John has a good steak. Well done ol' son. At least I got one plug for tenderness. Thanks Seth. 


Let the fun begin. So we threw the rest of the meat on grill. John likes to cook on high.


Wagyu, Bison, WGF


A good time had by all. Thanks boys for a fun evening on the feast of the Epiphany. Praised be Jesus Christ. 

 

Lunchtime

Lunch is a crucial meal of the day. You don't have a lot of time to spare and you don't want to eat just whatever you can find, so i...