Conversations in the Barn

When my sister sends me a video full of excitement about a new business idea, I love riding along. But before she's even finished, my mental checklist is already filling up. This week, drawing from Pastor Isaac's sermon "Be Wise and Salty" on Colossians 4:5-6, I'm reflecting on what it means to let our conversations be full of grace, with salt sprinkled in rather than poured over everything. And yes, I recorded this one while getting over the flu, so my voice sounds a little different this week.Blog Post: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/10/27/before-i-do-the-math

How do you disagree with someone without damaging the relationship? In Colossians 4: 5-6, Paul gives Christians a powerful guide for difficult conversations: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.”But what does it mean to speak with grace and truth, especially when we disagree with someone’s beliefs, opinions, or worldview?In this message, we explore how biblical wisdom can transform the way we communicate. Grace doesn't mean avoiding the truth or pretending our differences don't matter. It means leading with mercy, compassion, and genuine care rather than rushing to prove a point or win an argument.Paul's picture of words seasoned with salt reminds us that truth still matters. But the balance matters, too. Grace should shape our conversations, while truth adds the substance that makes them meaningful.Whether you're navigating family disagreements, difficult conversations at work, or conversations with people who see the world differently, this passage challenges you to consider a simple question: **Do you lead with grace, or do you lead with salt?**Discover how to put Colossians 4: 5-6 into practice and let your words reflect the character of Christ, even when you disagree.**Scripture:** Colossians 4: 5–6**Black Hills Cowboy Church | Beulah, Wyoming**#ChristianLiving #Colossians4 #SpeakWithGrace #BiblicalWisdom #Communication #Faith #BibleTeaching #BlackHillsCowboyChurch

I set out on a walk across the ranch hoping to let my prayers wander. Somehow, they went in a straight line.This week on Conversations in the Barn, I reflect on Pastor Isaac’s sermon on Colossians 4:2-4 and what it means to be devoted to prayer. We look at Paul’s surprising request from a prison cell and consider how time spent with God can help us look beyond our prayer lists, notice the doors he opens, and recognize opportunities to be part of what he’s doing.Scripture: Colossians 4: 2-4Read the Blog: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/10/20/beyond-the-prayer-listAbout the Author: Rachel MahoneyRachel met her husband, Vic, while they were both in college. They live on Vic’s family ranch in the Black Hills of Wyoming with their two daughters.As Communications and Technology Director at Black Hills Cowboy Church, Rachel helps tell the church’s story through its website, social media, and media production. She also creates Conversations in the Barn, a midweek blog and podcast that connects Sunday’s teaching with life beyond the church walls.Rachel finds it hard not to notice God in the beauty of the Black Hills. Long walks through the hills and across the ranch are some of her favorite ways to take in the wonder of his creation and draw closer to him. She also enjoys slow evenings with friends and making memories with her family.

What does it mean to be devoted to prayer? And how can we develop a deeper, more meaningful prayer life?In Colossians 4: 2, Paul calls us to devote ourselves to prayer, remaining watchful and thankful. But Christian prayer is about more than occasionally saying a few words or bringing God a list of requests. It's about building an ongoing relationship with Him, one marked by commitment, attentiveness, and gratitude.Being watchful in prayer doesn't mean living in anxiety or constantly looking for something to fear. It means staying spiritually awake, paying attention to what God is doing around us, and learning to recognize His presence in our everyday lives. Think of a steady, sure-footed horse that remains aware of its surroundings without spooking at every little thing.This message challenges us to rethink how we pray. Instead of rushing straight to our needs, what would change if we began with thanksgiving? Remembering what God has already done can reshape how we see our circumstances, our struggles, and the things we're asking Him to do.Join us as we explore Colossians 4 and discover how to grow in prayer, practice gratitude, and become more attentive to God's work in our lives. A richer prayer life isn't simply about saying more. It's about learning to live more closely with God.**Scripture:** Colossians 4: 2–6*Conversations in the Barn | Black Hills Cowboy Church, Beulah, Wyoming*

Pastor Isaac admitted he wanted to skip this one. Colossians 3:18–4:1 speaks to wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters, and these verses carry real weight, including a painful history of being used to silence and oppress.In this episode, Rachel reflects on Isaac’s reminder that “you never get promoted to God,” a frustrating evening correction to the Sunday program, and John Wesley’s final letter, written six days before his death after reading the testimony of Olaudah Equiano, a formerly enslaved man.Whose voice might we be tempted to dismiss? And what might grace ask of us once we’ve heard them?Read the full blog post, “Too Busy Bristling,” here: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/10/13/too-busy-bristling

What does the Bible say about Christian relationships, marriage, parenting, and how we conduct ourselves at work? In Colossians 3: 18– 4: 1, Paul explains how following Jesus should shape our everyday relationships, including the way husbands and wives treat each other, how parents raise their children, and how employees and employers fulfill their responsibilities.At the center of this passage is a powerful truth: we all have a Master in heaven. No matter our position, authority, or influence, we are all accountable to God. When we recognize Christ as our ultimate authority, it changes the way we lead, serve, work, and care for others.Living out your Christian faith isn't just about what happens at church on Sunday. It's about practicing humility, faithfulness, and genuine care in the relationships that fill our everyday lives. Even when a relationship is difficult or our responsibilities feel unfair, Scripture challenges us to respond in a way that honors the Lord.Join us for this message from Colossians as we explore biblical principles for marriage, family relationships, parenting, leadership, and the workplace. Discover how putting God first can transform the way you treat the people around you and help you build relationships marked by faith, humility, and reverence for Christ.Scripture: Colossians 3: 18– 4: 1Conversations in the Barn | Black Hills Cowboy Church, Beulah, Wyoming

For years, I noticed my grandmother treated me differently than my siblings, and I never knew what to do with that difference. When I finally found the courage to ask her about it, the conversation didn't go the way I hoped. This week on Conversations in the Barn, I'm walking through Pastor Isaac's message on Mark 10, where Jesus asks a blind man the same question he asked two of his own disciples, 'What do you want me to do for you?' and what that question eventually taught me about what I'd really been praying for all along.Blog Post: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/10/06/the-empty-box

What does it mean to truly see?In Mark 10, we meet Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting beside the road outside Jericho. His story is about more than physical healing. It is a picture of what faith can look like when we recognize who Jesus is, acknowledge our need, and refuse to stop calling out for mercy.Bartimaeus calls Jesus the “Son of David,” recognizing Him as the promised Messiah and Savior. When the crowd tries to silence him, he cries out even louder: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”His persistence gives us a powerful picture of prayer. God is not a vending machine, and prayer is not simply about getting the outcome we want. As we continue seeking God, something happens in us. We learn patience. Our faith deepens. Our hearts become more aligned with God’s will.And then Jesus stops.The sovereign Lord of the universe hears one man’s cry and stops for him.As we look at the story of Bartimaeus, we’re invited to consider our own faith, our prayers, and whether we are truly seeing Jesus for who He is.Scripture: Mark 10: 46-52Black Hills Cowboy Church | Beulah, Wyoming

For months, I dreaded the day our tech booth would have to be completely unplugged and put back together. What I found on the other side wasn't the disaster I'd imagined, it was a lesson in gratitude I didn't expect. This week on Conversations in the Barn, I'm talking about Pastor Isaac's message on Colossians 3:16 and what he calls 'the habitude of gratitude,' the idea that thankfulness isn't a feeling we wait for, but a habit we practice. Join me as I work through a messy tech booth, a moment of dread, and what it means to notice God's goodness even when we don't feel like looking for it.Link to Blog Post: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/09/29/another-mess