I often refer to SASS as a “God & Country sport”.  That phrase is not used incoherently.  It is a phrase that describes the very nature of “Cowboy Action Shooting”™.  Every State shoot and above that I have attended has had a pledge to our Flag and offered a prayer to the LORD at the opening.  Even at most local club shoots prayers and pledges are made manifest.  I don’t recall another like minded sport except maybe NASCAR.  It says in Psalm 33:12a “Blessed is the Nation whose God is the LORD.”  And blessed we are as a people because of the godly foresight of our Nation’s Founding Fathers, who said such things as:

1. “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible…”  George Washington
2. “If this freedom be abused, it is an offense against God, not against man; to God, therefore, not to man, must an account of it be rendered.”  James Madison
3. “We recognize no Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!”  John Hancock/John Adams their response to the British Army’s command to recognize the King of England as Sovereign.
4. “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  John Adams
5. “We have this day [Fourth of July] restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient.  He reigns in Heaven, and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His Kingdom come.”  Samuel Adams
6. “In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection.  Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered……do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?”  [Constitutional Convention June 28, 1787]  Benjamin Franklin
7. “For my part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.”  Alexander Hamilton

If these are not enough to recognize from whence we have come here is part of a quote from John Hancock, who penned his name so large that it could not be overlooked, “….God rules in the armies of Heaven, and without His whole blessing, the best human counsels are but foolishness…”Some might be thinking, “Why so many quotes?  Because every so often I come across someone who thinks the founders of our Country were not religious and that God has no place in government.  They did not want a state run religion, but most of them were godly people.  I ask you, would you rather have a godly person representing you or a godless one.  We must be reminded from time to time of our humble Christian beginning by the grace of God.When America expanded West religious and moral views went also.  Oh sure  there were outlaws then as there are today but most that traveled West held to godly principles.  When a town was established, one of the first buildings erected was the Church.  Religion and Morals are a part of American West.  And following in the path of the Old West is Cowboy Action Shooting™, a God and Country Sport.Therefore I would like to suggest that SASS have a Chaplain position for Cowboy Action Shooting™ similar to the Territorial Governor position.  But instead of a liaison between the club members and SASS, as is the TG responsibility, a Chaplain’s responsibility would lie between the Cowboy Action Shooters and God.  Clubs that want to could appoint Chaplains and send their name in to SASS.  Their names would be put on the SASS Chaplain list.  An appropriate Chaplain Badge, purchased from SASS, would be worn by each Chaplain.  You might be thinking why would we need this position and why a badge?  Well I have been asked to pray for a special need, to give the invocation at a shoot or to do Cowboy Church.  Because of the articles I write for the Cowboy Chronicle and my alias I’m recognized as a preacher.  But there are others who could and would do these Chaplain responsibilities but may not be recognized outside their local clubs.  With a SASS Chaplain program there would be a list of people who could be called upon to do this work and the Chaplain badge would make that person’s position known to others.  SASS is for everyone who wants to join if you believe in God or not.  But with our Cowboy heritage of religion and morals we have a need for SASS Chaplains.  The US Congress has a Chaplain, the military has Chaplains, police departments have Chaplains, Rodeo Cowboys have Chaplains, and many work places have Chaplains, so why not SASS?  What do you think?

Hope ta see ya on the trail.

God Bless,
creevicardave@hotmail.com

Sources:

www.thinkexist.com
www.about.com
www.wikiquote.org
www.eadshome.com