Here it is Monday already and I have to take off for yet another meeting. It seems like there are at least four meetings a week that either myself or a representative of our department is asked to attend. And of course, all of these meetings are said to be very important. As the deadline approaches for this week's column, I'm sitting in my office preparing to leave for San Antonio to meet with other Border Sheriffs and the governor. I have on my desk agendas for two other meetings today, along with a notice of budget workshops beginning this week as well.

I had 36 E-mails awaiting me when I arrived this morning so I spent the first 45 minutes going through all them. Most of them weren't of major importance, but still needed to be addressed. It seems there are just not enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done. I wanted to be on the road by 10:00 a.m. if possible, so I'm rushing to get things done before I leave. By the time you read this, I will have already returned, hopefully with good news from the governor.

If you haven't noticed yet, there are a couple new pastors in town as some churches have transferred Pastors around. I'm sure they will become a blessing to their churches and the community as well. Our Pastor has left the Valley as well and there is a committee searching for a replacement. It's hard explaining to people about your church, so you just tell them it's a small country church full of good people. Then they ask you to describe a "country church." So the best description I can give is, in the church directory of over 200 members only 7 surnames are listed, the rest are first names only. The collection plates are the hubcaps from a 56 Chevy. The opening day of deer season is recognized as an official church holiday. Other things that describe a "Country Church" are when the preacher asks if "Bubba" will help with the offering, five different guys stand up.

In a "Country Church", the Pastor and his wife both drive matching pickups. When the Pastor preaches on Jesus feeding the 5,000, the only question members have is whether the two fish were bass or catfish, and what kind of bait was used to catch them. In a "Country Church", the baptismal is a rusty bathtub on wheels, and the communion wine is made from Billy-Bob’s special home recipe. In a “Country Church”, there is always at least one guy who wants to be buried in his 4 wheel drive truck because "It ain't never been in a hole it couldn't get out of." That's just a few interesting things about a "Country Church." So if you find someone interested, send him our way.