After campers and their families have found places to sit on the board firmly attached to the top of the rodeo arena fence, members of the staff enter the arena with flags flying. They gallop along the fence and then ride an intricate pattern – just like at the beginning of a real rodeo! Well, almost!!

The rodeo, with campers as participants, continues with everything from the water balloon toss to barrel racing.

During the rodeo I was walking outside of the arena when a man I did not know leaned back, handed me his business card, and asked me to give him a call. When I returned to Dallas, I called Mr. Mason who invited me to come to his office.

I was warmly welcomed, and then he said something like “I do not know why I gave you my card”. I suggested we talk a few minutes to see if we could come up with the reason.

Out of our conversation came the realization that the Mason family had a cabin two miles from the Sky Ranch which they seldom used. Our family was invited to use the cabin, and to enjoy everything in the cabin, including the ping pong table…and the food.

“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip ‘Where shall we buy bread to feed all these people?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’

Another of his disciples, Andrew…spoke up. ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish’. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated (5,000 men, plus women and children) as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” — John 6:5-11

It is sobering to have God unexpectedly use us to provide.

It is sobering to have God unexpectedly provide for us.