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Shiloh Cowboy Church, New Orleans, LA (2026)

04/30/2026

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER
By: Thom S. Rainer
Chapter 4 (continue)
Pray for your Pastor's Physical and Mental Health

Serving and leading a church will expends all of a pastor's energy. He is on call every day and every hour. Because the demands are so great on him, the pastor often neglects his own health and well-being.
While no one is invulnerable to sickness and accidents, we can pray for the protection of our pastor's health.
We should also pray for our pastor's mental health. In this regard I'm not referring to the opposite of mental sickness as I am to wisdom. The pastor has to make dozens of decisions each week that require discernment and wisdom. He needs wisdom to know what to preach and teach and how to present God's Word. He needs wisdom dealing with us church members each week so he can best discern how to respond to the plethora of demands upon him.
We who are church members should pray for the health of our pastor. He will feel stress and pressure every day. We can pray that he will experience the peace that only God can give.

THE FOURTH PLEDGE
This pledge requires discipline, but it does not necessarily require a lot of time. In fact, I have been asking church members for years to pray five minutes a day for their pastors. Some started praying for their pastors first thing in the morning. Others wove it into their week schedule, during breaks or lunch. Still others prayed for their pastors with their spouses in the evening.
As church members, we must be willing to pray for the leaders in our church. Without our ongoing intercessory prayer, our churches will not be healthy.
Five minutes a day. That is all. Sure, you can pray longer if you like. Frances Mason, who is in heaven now, prayed for me an hour a day when I was a pastor. But you can start with five minutes. Will you pray five minute every day for the leaders in your church?

04/30/2026

Shiloh Cowboy Church wishes Cricket Sellars a Happy Birthday! We hope you have a AWESOME day!

04/30/2026

Any Can Be Brought Down

Obadiah 1: 3 “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?”

In this passage the prophet Obadiah is telling of a vision that he received from the Lord. This was concerning the Edomites. Edom was a land on the southern border of Judah. Their capital city was built up in the rocks so they felt that they could not be defeated. They were very arrogant because they knew that their capital city could not be easily accessed. The nation of Israel had descended from Jacob and Edom had descended from Esau his brother. Since there had been such enmity between the two brothers, Israel and Edom were doomed to be constant enemies. The Edomites had been a problem for Saul, David and Solomon among other anointed kings of God’s people. The Edomites were eventually wiped out.

The main problem with the Edomites was that they remained in conflict with God’s people. Like many nations today, they either attacked Judah or they assisted others in attacking Judah. We have one nation of Israel today where they had the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. God gave Obadiah this vision so he could warn the Edomites and others against attacks on his people. Reading the remainder of the book of Obadiah you find that all the people that come up against God’s people will be defeated. The descendants of Jacob will prevail against the descendants of Esau, the Philistines and any other nation that comes up against his people.

God’s people will always prevail and be victorious in the end. All the nations of the world can come against Israel, but God’s people will prevail. The forces of Satan can attack God’s people, but God will give his people the victory. Let no person or nation believe that they can attack God’s people without being brought down.

(Brother Ron) Please share!

04/29/2026

Didn’t want y’all to think I forgot you. More medical issues have developed. Heart rate drops with physical exertion. Spent the day in the ER at Slidell Memorial. Admitted for tests and observation. I’ll see you when I can.

04/29/2026

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER
BY: Thom S. Rainer
Chapter 4 (I Will Pray for My Church Leaders)
Pray for your Pastor and His Family
One of the most convicting and challenging verses for pastors is 1 Timothy 3:5: "If anyone does not know how to manage his own household , how will he take care of God's church?" I have heard countless pastors worry about and struggle over their families.
They worry that they neglect their families because of the demands of the church.
They worry about their families living in a glass house.
They anguish when critics direct barbs at family members.
You get the picture.
We are church members. We must be the prayer intercessors for pastors and their families. Few families face the kinds of pressures and expectations as the families of pastors.
Pray for the pastor's family.
Pray for His Protection
Read these words from the Bible about the qualifications of the pastor (overseer). These words are not exhaustive. There are other passages regarding his qualifications. From 1 Timothy 3:2-4: "An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, and able teacher, not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy-one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity."
Whew.
Just to get past "the above reproach" part is an accomplishment! The word REPROACH means "to find fault." So to be "above reproach" means to be above finding fault. While the pastor is certainly not expected to be perfect, he is to have a reputation above most everyone else. When people in the community speak or think about the pastor, the thoughts and words should be positive and encouraging.
That's quite an expectation to hold. On top of that, the pastor must maintain good self-control. He must be sensible, respectable, and hospitable. He must be a good teacher. He must be gentle and not argumentative. He must not be greedy. And, to add just a little more pressure, his family must reflect a healthy, Chrisitan family.
Do you see why we church members must pray for the pastor's protection?
In that list of the qualifications of a pastor in 1 Timothy 3, the seventh verse puts it all into perspective: "Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil's trap.
The "outsiders" in that verse refers to the unbelievers who are not a part of the church. In that context the verse mentions "the devil's trap." Let's not move past those words too quickly. "The devil" is obvious. He is the literal chief among all demons. He is real. He is powerful.
But, in a rare use of the word, the verse speaks of the devil's trap." If we understand the full implications of that word, we wouldn't hesitate to pray for our pastor's protection. A trap is something that is set intentionally. It means that the devil has devised a plan to bring the pastor down. He has set a trap.
It means that the devil sees the pastor as a threat, and one of his highest priorities is to take him down and take him out. And the text is clear. The nature of this trap will be temptation where the pastor's reputation will be harmed.
We should not be surprised, then, when we hear about a pastor's moral failure. We are grieved and heartbroken, but not surprised. The devil is setting traps for pastors-anything he can do to bring harm to the pastor's reputation. He will stop at nothing-greed, adultery, anger, addiction-to catch the pastor in his trap.
The devil is powerful. But God is so much more powerful.
And God, in ways we don't always understand fully, works through the prayers of believers.
We are church members. We will pray for the protection of our pastor and other church leaders. We will do all we can through prayer to keep our pastor out of the devil's trap.

04/29/2026

Stand Firm In Your Faith
Isaiah 7:9 “...If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”
What is faith? In Hebrews 11:1 we find a definition of faith. It says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Everyone has faith. Even people that don’t identify as believers have faith. The overwhelming majority of people in the world get up in the morning and they either get up and walk over to a wall switch to turn the lights on or just reach over to turn on a lamp. They have the faith to believe, and they expect the lights to come on and illuminate the room. We don’t give it a second thought. We hope that the lights are going to work, and we feel assured that it will happen. You can’t see the electricity, but you feel certain that it exists.
The same thing happens in our Christian faith. How would one describe faith? Can one see faith, or can they just see the manifestation of that faith? I can’t tell you what faith looks like necessarily, but I can tell you what it feels like.
Faith makes me feel confident. I may not have seen God building this earth, but I can see it and I have the intelligence to know that an item cannot build itself. Everything created has to have a creator. Can I point to something that definitively proves that God built the earth? No because such proof does not exist. I cannot call an eyewitness to testify that they saw God do what scripture tells us that he did. There was only one witness to the creation of the earth. That witness was God himself. And though I did not see God create anything that has been created, my faith makes me confident that the Genesis story is correct.
Faith makes me confident in what will happen in my everyday life also. I am confident that the bible is true. I am confident that all the promises of God are real. I am confident that when I turn to God then I will receive whatever it is that I need. For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
(Brother Ron) Please share!

04/28/2026

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER
By: Thom S. Rainer
Chapter 4
I Will Pray for My Church Leaders
It's Thursday morning. Pastor Mike has a clear calendar, and aberration in his busy schedule. Actually, the calendar is not really clear. He has set aside time to finish his sermon for Sunday. His Bible is open. Study aids are nearby. He begins to study.
Then the phone rings.
His assistant tells him about a car accident involving a family in the church. The ambulances are already on the way to the hospital. Mike leaves all his study material on his desk and jumps into the car.
On the way to the hospital, his assistant calls him again. The entire Godsey family of five were in the car. None are seriously hurt except Gary, the father and husband of the family. His condition is grave.
Pastor Mike walks into the emergency room. The family has just been told that their husband and father did not make it. They see their pastor and run to him sobbing, in total shock. Mike is there for them. He stays with the entire family for three hours until he is certain enough people are around to care for them.
He stops by his home to see his wife and grab a quick sandwich. It is now afternoon. He's not sure if he can return to his sermon preparation, but he knows he must. He must fight the emotional exhaustion of the morning and finish the message. But as he walks back to the church, his assistant apologetically tells him that two people need to speak with him. They consider it urgent.
Mike meets with the two men. One of them is the worship leader of the church. He is struggling with his ministry and is considering giving up. For two hours Mike listens, consoles, and attempts to encourage the staff member.
The next visitor then catches Mike off guard, George is one of the key lay leaders in the church. Mike considers him a friend and an incredibly vital person in the overall leadership of the congregation. George struggles to speak: "My wife is having an affair . . . " There are no more words for five minutes. Just tears and sobs.
Mike stays with George for over two hours. They pray together and talk about next steps.
It's nearly five o'clock in the afternoon. Mike is too drained to attempt to get back to his sermon. Instead he begins to look at his crowded e-mail inbox. He cringes when he sees one of the senders of e-mail. But he cannot stop himself from opening the message. It's from one of Mike's most frequent critics in the church. She has two complaints. The first irritation was something he said in last Sunday's sermon. The second complaint addressed Mike's failure to visit her sister-in-law who had minor outpatient surgery yesterday. The woman is not a member of the church. And Mike knew nothing about the surgery.
Pastor Mike shuts the laptop cover and moves to his care slowly. He'll stop by the house to grab a quick bite to eat. Then he needs to check on the Godsey family. He will stay with them for a while, but he must leave prior to 7:30, when he is to give the invocation for a local high school basketball game.
Several people corner him at the game, so he doesn't get home until after nine o'clock. He goes to his small study in his home, shuts the door, and begins to cry. Gary Godsey, the father and husband who was killed in the car accident, was Mike's best friend.
This was the first chance Mike had to grieve.
PRAY FOR THE PASTOR AND OTHER CHURCH LEADERS
All church leaders need prayer. I will usually say "pastor," but that can mean minister or elder or director or whatever term you use. It may refer to the senior leader, or it could be about someone else on staff. The point is that we church members must pray for our church leaders.
The previous story is true, all I did was change some names. Such is the life of a pastor. His day is filled with mountaintops and valleys. He is adulated by some and castigated by others. He needs our prayers.
He certainly needs our prayer for his sermons. We should pray that God would give him the wisdom, insight, and words to preach. It is an incredible task to speak and preach the Word of God every week again and again. There are those who will be listening to the preacher, but they need to hear from God.
Pray for his preaching.

04/28/2026

Generosity Begets Blessings
Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
In his second letter to the church at Corinth the Apostle Paul says that we should give what we have decided in our hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. He goes on to let us know that God loves a cheerful giver. He goes on to say that God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things, at all times, you will have the resources that you need in order to do other good works.
Luke in a letter to Theophilus said that if you give, then God will give to you. In Luke 6:38 we read, “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure, you use it will be measured back to you.”
I can remember many years ago, some churches would have members sign a pledge that in the upcoming year that they would give a certain amount of money. I remember hearing of instances where some of those members did not keep their pledge for that year and some of the leadership of the church went to speak to them.
Even today people are told that they are in violation of a covenant made with God if they do not tithe on every penny that they receive. Some people say that you should give on the gross and others say you should give on the net. But that is legalistic giving.
The Apostle Paul clearly said to give from the heart. Giving a tithe because of a covenant is giving under compulsion. We should give because that is what God wants us to give. Before you write that check or put that cash into the offering plate you should ask God what he wants you to give. And all your giving should be between you and God. How much you give should not be for public discussion.
Ask God what he wants for you to give and then cheerfully do just that.
(Brother Ron) Please share!

04/27/2026

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER
BY: Thom S. Rainer
Chapter 3
I WILL NOT LET MY CHURCH BE about MY PREFERENCES AND DESIRES
(CON'T)
A SURVEY THAT SAID A LOT
My research team recently conducted a survey of churches that were inwardly focused. For the most part, they were not serving past their own walls and their own members. In other words, these churches were largely self-serving.
In our survey we found ten dominant behavior patterns of members in these churches. See if you recognize any:
1. WORSHIP WARS. One of more factions in the church want the music just the way they like it. Any deviation is met with anger and demands for change. The order of service must remain constant. Certain instrumentation is required while others are prohibited.
2. PROLONGED MINUTIA MEETINGS. The church spends an inordinate amount of time in different meetings. Most of the meetings deal with the most inconsequential items, while the Great Commission and Great Commandment are rarely the topics of discussion.
3. FACILITY FOCUS. The church facilities develop iconic status. One of the highest priorities in the church is the protection and preservation of rooms, furniture, and other visible parts of the church's buildings and grounds.
4. PROGRAM DRIVEN. Every church has programs even if they don't admit it. When we start doing a ministry a certain way, it takes on programmark status. The problem is not with programs. The problem develops when the program becomes an end instead of a means to greater ministry.
5. INWARDLY FOUCUSED BUDGET. A disproportionate share of the budget is used to meet the needs and comforts of the members instead of reaching beyond the walls of the church.
6. INORDINATE DEMANDS FOR PASTORAL CARE. All church members deserve care and concern especially in times of need and crisis. Problems develop, however, when church members have unreasonable expectations for even minor matters. Some members expect the pastoral staff to visit them regularly merely because they have membership status.
7. ATTITUDES OF ENTITLEMENT. This issue could be a catch-all for many of the points named here. The overarching attitude is one of demanding and having a sense of deserving special treatment.
8. GREATER CONCERN ABOUT CHANGE THAN THE GOSPEL.
Almost any noticeable changes in the church evoke the ire of many; but those same passions are not evident about participating in the work of the gospel to change lives.
9. ANGER AND HOSTILITY. Members are consistently angry. They regularly express hostility toward the church staff and other members.
10. EVANGELISTIC APATHY. Very few members share their faith on a regular basis. More are concerned about their own needs rather than the greatest eternal needs of the world and community in which they live.
In almost every behavior above, church members were looking out for their own needs and preferences. I want the music my way. I want the building my way. I am upset because the pastor didn't visit me. I don't want to change anything in my church.
You get the picture. I. Me. Myself.
Church members from a biblical perspective, however, is about servanthood. It's about giving. It's about putting others first.
THE MIND OF CHRIST
One of the best descriptions of the attitude we should embody was written by Paul in Philippians 2:5-11. The apostle says cogently and powerfully, "Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus." So what did Jesus do?
* He "did not consider equality with god as something to be used for His own advantage."
* "He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave."
* "He humbled Himself."
* He became "obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross."
Keep in mind that Philippians 2 is not only a description of the obedience of Christ; it is an example for us to follow. We are to be servants. We are to be obedient. We are to put others first. We are to do whatever it takes to keep the unity in our church.
So if we approach church membership from the perspective of entitlement, we have it upside down. You always ask first what you can do for your church.
Then you will have discovered the joy of being last.
THE THIRD PLEDGE
Typically it's easier to sign a commitment on paper than it is to practice that commitment in reality. You need a fair warning before you take this third step. It won't be long after making this commitment that you will come across a fellow church member whose attitude is, well, nothing like the attitude of Christ. She will tell you what's wrong with the music or the preaching or the pastor, you name it.
It will be tempting to chew her out, to tell her to let go of her lousy attitude. And while a gentle rebuke may be in order, you need to remember something about your commitment. This cantankerous and ornery church member is one of those you have pledged to serve.
My point is that these commitments are not easy. In fact, without God's power they may prove impossible. So pray for His strength and His wisdom. Abd when you think you've had it with making sacrifices for others, remember the cross. As you are overwhelmed by Jesus' undeserved love for you that caused Him to sacrifice everything-including His preferences-you will be able to do the same for others.
That will put things in perspective.

04/27/2026

Are You Still in Egypt
Exodus 3:7 “Then the Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings’.”
God speaks to people in many different ways. God spoke to one man through a donkey. He had his angels carry messages to his people. He spoke to his people through many different prophets.
Moses had had to run away from Egypt to keep from being arrested again. He married and fathered a son while he was there. One day he was tending his father-in-law’s sheep on Mount Horeb (another name for Mt. Sinai). God spoke to Moses through a burning bush where he told Moses to go and bring his people out of slavery in Egypt. God had seen the many tears that his people had shed over the years. He had seen them suffer and he was calling Moses to have Pharaoh set them free.
Today, God sees your tears. He hears you crying, saying that you need help to become free of your bo***ge to your personal Egypt. He hears your crying. He hears you doubting that you have the strength to get out of the situation that you have gotten yourself into. Your Egypt may be a life of depravity involving unnatural desires. Your Egypt may be bo***ge to alcohol. Your Egypt may be a bo***ge to drugs. Whatever your personal Egypt may be, just know this. God has seen your tears. God has heard you crying. God has heard you pleading for someone to help you be freed from whatever slave master has you bound up.
God has sent someone even greater than Moses to free you from your bo***ge in Egypt. God sent one that can give you freedom immediately. The children of Israel followed Moses out of the land of their slavery. All you have to do is turn your life over to Jesus Christ. When you turn your life over to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell you and will be there to supply whatever strength that you may need to gain your freedom.
Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and leave your addictions behind as you leave your Egypt.
(Brother Ron) Please share!

04/27/2026

Thanks to everyone that wished me happy birthday today! 🙂 Clay

04/26/2026

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER
By: Thom S. Rainer
Chapter 3
I WILL NOT LET MY CHURCH BE ABOUT MY PREFERENCE AND DESIRES
Often I'm tempted to us illustrations of my children in a various settings since I have such a love for my three sons. Even now that they are adults with their own children, I sometimes find myself talking about them when they were little boys.
So I thought I might begin this chapter by giving an illustration about my boys fussing and fighting because they wanted something their way. But then I begin to think how many times I fought with my own older brother because I wanted it my way, right now, without compromise.
I could be a selfish brat. It's good we grow out of that phase after we become adults. Right? It's even better that we never revert to that phase after we become Christians. Right?
Wrong!
Christians can sometimes act just like those demanding children who want things their way. Temper tantrums in churches may not include church members lying on the floor kicking and screaming, but some come close.
But the strange thing about church membership is that you actually give up your preferences when you join. Don't get me wrong; there may be much about your church that you like a lot. but you are there to meet the needs of others. You are there to serve others. You are there to give. You are there to sacrifice.
Get the picture?
Jesus would often say things that confounded His listeners. You see, even His disciples had a tendency to fight with one another. On one occasion the Twelve were arguing about who was the greatest. Can you imagine that? The closest followers of Jesus were having a "me first" fight. The Bible says that Jesus stopped and sat down and called these grown men together. "Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35).
Ouch.
I would have loved to have been a fly on a cloak and seen their expressions. Yep, He got you this time, you self-serving disciples.
And then it hits me. That text is for me as well. As a church member, my motivation should not be to get my preferences to the top of the list. I am supposed to be last, not first. I am supposed to be a servant instead of seeking to be served.
Okay, let's dig a little deeper into what it means to be a servant.
THE SERVANT MOTIF
the word SERVANT occurs fifty-seven time in the New Testament. Sometimes it refers to a person who has that official role in a house hold. But many times it refers to the role we are to assume as Christians. Also, SERVE occurs fifty-eight times in the New Testament.
Get the picture? Serving is important in the Bible.
Jesus said we must be last of all and servant of all. that doesn't sound like all the church members we may know. Many church members demand their preferences, their desires, and the way they've always done it.
But Jesus said we are to serve.
Paul said it as well. After he became a Christian, the apostle declared, "I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of His power" (Eph. 3:7).
We will never find joy in church membership when we are constantly seeking things our way. But paradoxically, we will find the greatest joy when we choose to be last. That's what Jesus meant when He said the last will be first. True joy means giving up our rights and preferences and serving everyone else.
And that's what church membership means as well.

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