Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/115219
4A Daily News – Thursday, March 14, 2013 Opinion Cowboy Church DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Tehama County. Editor: I am happy to reply to questions about Cowboy Church recently asked by Robert Minch. For a number of years, a cowboy church gathering was annually held on Sunday morning during the Red Bluff Round-Up. The worship service was conducted at the south end of the main area. It was presented for the benefit of rodeo participants, families and fans, who were away from their home churches. In time, this was discontinued. About three years ago, with the formation of Out of the Box Ministries-Cowboy Church, a group began meeting monthly, then weekly, at the Hampton Inn. Since March 2011, members have met on Sunday mornings in the Don Smith Pavilion at the fairgrounds. Feb. 10, Cowboy Church moved to 22812 Antelope Blvd., the former Totally Trucks Parts and Accessories shop. Regular meeting times are 10 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Worship of the Lord Jesus Christ is the focus of each meeting. Occasionally, the pastor does wear his Stetson when he preaches. Some attendees wear western attire, cowboy hats and boots. It is not uncommon to see a herding dog or two at church, as well as pickup trucks and horse trailers parked outside. Cowboy Church exists to minister to those in the agricultural community. As ranching and farming is a 7-day-a week endeavor, some stop in town to attend church, while enroute moving livestock, or to other activities. Like other churches, everyone is welcome to attend Cowboy Church. No need to own a cowboy hat, boots or spurs — you will always be greeted with a smile. Jay Nelson, Red Bluff Expectations with local youth programs Editor: We've all seen and heard the parent on the sidelines yelling, screaming and carrying on Priorities Turn 'No' is not the answer STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 280 Hemsted Dr., Ste. 110, Redding, CA 96002, 530223-6300, Fax: 530-223-6737, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 patient as the coaches. Volunteers volunteer because Editor: they care. "It's not because they The "Peoples House" in Washcan do nothing else. It's not because they're useless. It's ington is to be closed during because they are priceless." spring break, denying access to When brining your child to an children such as, the group from a activity where the coaches are Lutheran church in Iowa, who had volunteering or even if that's planned to visit the White House part of their paid position at during that time. This President has stooped to a school, please try to understand that it's not about your kid. new low, while he has three full time calligraphers on Please understand that staff to personalize it is about your kid and invitations at an annual Your how he or she will combined salary of learn to get along with $277,000, and could others and learning take a jaunt to Florida how to play a fair game on Airforce One at a with fair rules for all. Rules are fair even if they cost to the taxpayers of $181,757 don't seem they are applied fair- per hour to play golf with Tiger ly. Coaches are human beings Woods while so many American and human beings are going to citizens are unemployed. Seems like his priorities are make their share of bad calls and mistakes. When your coach pretty mixed up. Kay Haley, Red Bluff makes a mistake it's how you handle it that matters not the mistake itself. Understanding our own quirks and human nature may help. It's probably a safe bet Editor: that the mistake wasn't intenWhy vote for someone when tional. Learn to work it out in a you know that he/she will do nothway that shows your child that ing to help you? Yes, principles "it's not whether or not you win matter, but are they worth the cost? or lose but rather it's how you I think not. play the game." No child should We need to vote for and elect be the favorite but all children those whom we know can actually should be favored equally so accomplish something. Simply that when a child does have a saying "no" to any and all increasdifficult time learning a lesson es in revenue will not accomplish those coaches and mentors can anything. It will not work for your work with them instead of being personal budget, any business budtoo judgmental, harsh and puni- get or any government budget. tive with them. Why then, elect politicians who Parents are encouraged to be pledge up-front that they will actively involved in their chil- never vote to increase revenue? dren's lives and this means you You are, effectively, voting for and all those who work with someone who will accomplish you and your children are going nothing. to make your and their share of Sure, spending too much is a mistakes. Please be fair with problem. Both Democrats and those who coach and mentor Republicans have contributed to your children. Where else are that problem. Blaming one side or you going to find someone, a the other accomplishes nothing. coach, a mentor an advocate for The problem needs correction, not your child, for this amount of fault finding. money? Even if you don't agree Seek out both Democrats and with how the activity is being Republicans who recognize the coached or managed try to work need and will work toward a realthings out as informally as pos- istic solution, not ones who will sible but always say thanks to look at one side only and refuse that other healthy adult in your any alternatives. child's life. Bob Wilkinson, Cottonwood John Minton, Red Bluff Your officials How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 about their kid out on the field or on the track or on the mat or in the gym playing their game. What do we think of this parent carrying on like this? Are they caring, dedicated, passionate, an idiot or just insane? Probably a bit of all of those "attributes." What does the coach, the referees, the other parents think? That's probably open for debate (or not). Before I began volunteering as a coach, mentor, youth advocate, I was the parent at his seven year old son's soccer team in the Bay Area, standing at the goal post yelling, screaming and carrying on. I was caring, dedicated, passionate, an idiot and probably a little bit insane over my son's activities. So, I've been there, done that. As a coach it is really awesome to see the parents who take time to be involved in their children's lives, so much so that they do all the carrying on and wanting to "be there" for their kids. And sometimes I need to caution them as I was cautioned by my son's soccer coach to take my place . . . in the stands, so that he could do his job without too much interference (from a dedicated and passionate, caring idiot and seemingly insane dad). My son is 29 these days and he tells me how embarrassed he was by my behavior "back in the day." Volunteering to "be there" for someone else's children is an awesome experience. Helping to rear another parent's children and being part of their family team comes with perks. Watching children grow into successful, happy, worthwhile and productive young adults is an experience that only those who coach and mentor truly know about. Those expressions on the faces of the children who, after months or even years of working at it and never giving up, finally get it. You can see the light go on. I've been fortunate to see this many times over the years. It's not as easy for the parent to see it right away because they're with their children all the time. And so many times the parents are not as The season of living Sunday's man-induced experiment in time travel must have gone wonderfully wrong as we not only sprung forward an hour, but leaped straight out of winter. It seems Mother Nature has rewarded the North State for giving up an hour of sleep with the first signs of spring. Inspired by the weather I mowed the lawn Sunday, wiping off a tolerable amount of perspiration as that intoxicating scent of fresh cut grass filled the air. There's only one spring smell better than this, I thought, as I headed to the grocery store. As it turned out Present Rich was pleasantly pleased to find that Winter Rich had left a full tank of propane gas behind and even before the meat hit the grill the juices filled the air, watering mouths across the neighborhood. The dogs came out to join in the act. Leaping to catch fly balls as if they were Hunter Pence and fielding grounders like Marco Scutaro their tongues were soon wagging out of excitement — or maybe it was just the chicken. Ah the chicken, perfect grill marks served with buttered asparagus. All washed down with a delightful Shandy. I should be grilling every day. Wait, now I can. than this, except I Everything was perknow it does. fect until I went to bed In the weeks to and felt an discomfort I come they'll be greenhadn't had in months. dyed beer, brackets to It's too warm for a fill out, the pinging of blanket. rawhide on aluminum, My wife was thinkglazed ham and the ing the same thing as country's largest 3-day we kicked our former rodeo. snugly friend onto the If the holidays are floor. the season of giving, The next night we this is the season of made amends, tearing Rich living. the winter covering off the swamp cooler and Rich Greene can be setting it on low. A reached at 527-2151, gentle breeze wisped around the house creating the Ext. 109 or by email at perfect atmosphere for slumber. regreene@redbluffdailynews.co It doesn't get much better m. Greene