Speaker 1: 0:25

Good morning and welcome to let's Talk Wyoming. I'm Mark Hamilton, your host, and today we'll be taking a look at our snowy Wyoming weather. We'll take a look at some sports, some other general happenings and then we'll have a message on caring for others and what it means. Thanks for joining us and we hope you enjoy the show. Taking a look at Wyoming weather here.

Speaker 1: 1:03

On the sixth day of March, snow on the ground started this morning. We had that wet snow coming down Across the state pretty much. It sounds like some of the roads have been not very good. Here in Thermopolis the roads have been clear with the warmer temperatures for now Looks like this snow will stay around for the rest of the day and into tonight. I tell you this is our Wyoming rain. Unfortunately we don't get much rain and so the snow has really helped. But this has a lot of moisture to it, so it's a positive for us and I hope we get a few more in the month of March. We are definitely in need, but this definitely is going to be a benefit to our area.

Speaker 1: 1:47

Also in the state of Wyoming and other news besides the weather, we are at that point in our high school season. In our sports season we're at the wrestling just finished up last weekend and at Casper, and so this week the 1A-2A state tournament is taking place in Casper, wyoming. All the teams got down in front of the storm and I don't know what it's doing to affect fan attendance, but I think the weather's going to clear up for the games on Friday and Saturday to get fans down in the stands. In Casper the 1A 2A girls are taking place right now. Today there was a good win for Riverside Rebels, the Lady Rebels here in the Bighorn Basin. Up in Basin the Rebels came out on top of Upton in a close, fought match by five and after this win this puts the Rebels into the semifinals tomorrow as they'll take on Cokeville and first time that they've made it to the semifinals since 1996, so 29 years since the Lady Rebels have made it this far. So outstanding performance and it's going to be a good game tomorrow against Cokeville, a team that they haven't seen this year. Now Cokeville is also on the west side of the 1A and they didn't get a chance or opportunity to play them in the regional tournament where they ended up in third. Cokeville ended up winning first place at regional, so it's going to be a tough, tough game for the Rebels. But a lot of action going on. It's just now starting to pick up. So our Hot Springs County girls and boys are in action later today. They both have opportunities to bring home state titles. So a lot of fun activities Also 3A, 4a boys and girls are taking place right now in their regionals and those games will be starting later today. We'll have a full update on all results next week on our show. We'll get you updated where we stand here in the state show and get you updated where we stand here in the state.

Speaker 1: 4:07

In college sports our Wyoming Cowgirls were victorious last night Last home game of the year in Laramie, as they took on UNLV. With the win last night, the Cowgirls finish in second place in the regular season in the conference with CSU, colorado State University just right behind them. They start the Mountain West Conference tournament next week in Vegas. The Cowgirls will need to win that tournament to get an automatic bid to the Big Dance, the NCAA Women's Tournament. The favorite going in would probably be UNLV, but the Cowgirls are playing some good, inspired basketball right now.

Speaker 1: 4:46

On the men's side, the men's team is continuing to struggle. Heard a lot of conversations about what the issues are and I think the issues are is what's happening in collegiate sports. We're seeing it in football Now in women's basketball you see it a little bit more at the higher levels, but on the men's side they just don't have the same players every year. With the NILs and this transfer rules and such, they just have a new team every year and you just can't keep a team and these players are looking for new opportunities when the season's over. So with that, they're having a hard time getting fans to show up at the games. People have lost interest the days that you'll have the same players the Bailey or Josh Davis those guys were there for four years Larry Nance and his group, the same for them. That's not happening anymore.

Speaker 1: 5:47

And this isn't just with the Wyoming Cowboys, this is with all of men's basketball. This has got to be a mercenary situation. Every year, whoever has the most money. Byu has a recruit coming in from Utah Prep and his NIL deal is valued at $7 million. It's just gotten out of hand. People that have the money and that the donors' ability to pay these high dollars to these athletes can buy a good team. But that's what it's got down to and it's pretty sad. The Cowboys close out the season season and probably, unless something magic happens, not make much of a run in the Mountain West tournament. But I guess there's always hope you can catch a little lightning in a bottle. But our college athletics basketball's over Football's just right around the corner. As far as spring games and that is also being affected across the country, you're seeing teams that are canceling their spring games because of the issue when they run these spring games and the other teams have an opportunity to scout their team and the transfer portal opens up again here in a few weeks where kids will be able to transfer around teams and just start filling needs.

Speaker 1: 7:04

I don't know who came up with the creative idea of what we are with collegiate sports, but this is slowly but surely going to fade away Teams, the larger schools, with the money. They will continue on. There will be a super conference and then there will be just everybody else. Competing Money is the big thing. Then there'll be just everybody else. Competing Money is the big thing. I don't know if we'll have a collegiate sports in 10 years from now, 15 years from now.

Speaker 1: 7:32

It's going to be interesting to see what actually happens, also, finally, in the state, our legislature is getting close to closing out their session. A lot of things have happened in the legislature this year. The governor has been vetoing bills but luckily the House and Senate has been overriding his vetoes and we'll try to get an update when the session is over. Where we stand in the state of Wyoming, kind of like we're at in our country, I think we're as divided as we've ever been in our politics right now and in our country, and it's a sad state of affairs that we've gotten this far apart and that's why I think my message today we've got to get back to God in our politics, god in our schools, before anything will change, before anything will change. What I'm going to be talking about, I think, is really important to all of us in our day-to-day walk, especially with God as our light shines bright on our path he has for us. One of the things that is very important is giving to others in need. Preparing for this message, I was amazed at the number of verses in the Bible that talk about this subject.

Speaker 1: 8:55

We sit in our lives here in Thermopolis with the cookie jar auctions, where people step up to help those in need with medical issues that have impacted their lives. It's amazing the level of support these events have and the generosity of the people of Thermopolis. Having done a little research on this, it seems it was started to help the Hot Springs County high school football team raise money to go down under to play a game and then it just kept going on. And it's tried with other communities but it just doesn't stay going. The people of Hot Springs County are the difference. I can remember a fundraiser we had at my work where we raised money for hospice care in Fremont County. We had a chili cook-off and an auction to raise money. Many times I debated not doing it, but God wouldn't let that happen. It amazed me that we had the support we had for the cause. Everyone really felt a sense of community and a purpose, helping people that are facing the end of their lives.

Speaker 1: 9:47

Most recently I watched the movie Cabarini, which I highly recommend to everyone. I don't know how many people have seen the movie, but it's a must-see in my opinion. The main character Cabarini accomplishes so much for so many she didn't understand it can't be done, because she would get it done no matter what. This took place in the late 1880s and early 1900s in New York during a time when the Italians were discriminated and disliked. She accomplished so much and built hospitals across the world, and the number of young kids she saved was unbelievable.

Speaker 1: 10:24

Another movie I would recommend is Ordinary Angels. This is a true story about a family that lost their mother, and the father and his two girls had to face this hardship, and then the youngest daughter, who was five, had health issues and needed a liver transplant. While watching a story on the local news about the issue on the young girl and what she was facing, a local lady decided she needed help. She started raising money for the girl at her job as a hairdresser. She also had some issues in her life that she was dealing with facing an issue with alcohol and having a son that she hadn't had in her life for quite some time. She was helping this girl and ultimately helped herself. I would tell you about the rest of this story, but that would ruin the movie for you, but it is a story that sure need a few tissues, but one that's worth watching.

Speaker 1: 11:17

While these are examples of helping people in different settings, my message today involves helping someone that you don't know, and you must do it face-to-face in an uncomfortable situation. In 2 Corinthians 1, 3-4,. Praise be to God and Father of our Lord, jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. I'd like to share a story that I read recently.

Speaker 1: 11:52

As I was leaving Best Buy, I noticed this guy going through the garbage just outside of the store. As I walked to my car, I noticed him as he reached into the garbage can and pulled out a fast food bag, a trash bag, and inspected all that was thrown in the way of bags, inspected all that was in the thrown away bags. He did this for several minutes. He would find a few fries in one bag and a bite or two of a hamburger in another bag. You can see the hamburger wrappers by his knees where he was placing the food items he'd found. He never bothered anyone or tried to stop and beg for money as people entered and left the store. After he went through the entire trash can, he neatly cleaned up the area and wrapped up the food he had found in the dirty hamburger wrapper. My heart hurt for him, for there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in your land. From Deuteronomy 15.11. And from Deuteronomy 15.11,.

Speaker 1: 12:57

I am not someone who just hands out money or even helps homeless people, because so many are not truly homeless. I don't guess I've ever seen someone go through a garbage can to try to find food to eat. I knew I had to help him. I got out of my car and asked if I could buy him something to eat. He told me he would appreciate anything I could get him. He was on a bike and I told him if he followed me I'd buy him a meal at the fast food place around the block. He followed me and I bought the biggest meal they had on the menu. The only request he gave me for this order was if he could get a big glass of sweet tea to go with his meal. I brought the food to him. He was so thankful. He told me his name was Steve and he had been homeless ever since his sister died last September. He was trying to get off the streets but it was so hard. I told him God loved him and I would pray for him. He told me again how much he appreciated the meal.

Speaker 1: 13:59

When I got back to my car, I drove off with such a heaviness in my heart for this man. I drove down the road and felt compelled to go back to help the man. When I came back he had finished his meal and was riding away. I pulled up beside him and asked him if there was any way I could help him. He told me not really. He never asked for money. I asked him if I could buy him a few meals and put them on a gift card for him. He told me not really. He never asked for money. I asked him if I could buy him a few meals and put them on a gift card for him. He told me that would be kind.

Speaker 1: 14:24

I drove to McDonald's and bought him some meals and gave him a gift card. He broke down crying. He told me that he had prayed for me today and I wasn't sure what he meant. I was assuming he was praying for me, for what I did for him, so I thanked him. He said no, you don't understand. I prayed that God would send someone to buy me a hot meal and he sent you.

Speaker 1: 14:46

I didn't know what to say? I was speechless. Maybe God uses me to answer the man's prayers, to let him know that he cares for him, but maybe God used this man to show me how blessed I am and what I take for granted. He said you see, I have cancer. He pulled up his shirt and pointed to a huge mass that was poking out of his stomach. He said he knew it wouldn't be much longer. I asked him if he knew Jesus. He told me that he did. I asked him if I could pray for him and he said I could. We prayed right there on the sidewalk of McDonald's.

Speaker 1: 15:20

Tears just poured from my eyes. He told me he knew that he was going to die and that he was ready to die. He was tired of being in pain and would be better off dead, because this was no way living the way. It was. Just trying to fight back my tears. My prayer is that I showed him the love of Jesus today, that something I said gave him hope. You see, everybody has a story. I know Steve's story. All because I felt compelled to help him. He ended up touching me today. When I left him, I knew I'd done what God wanted me to do. God put him in my path. Today I know he did. I've never felt such a feeling to help someone as I did today.

Speaker 1: 16:05

I was reminded again of how blessed I am. I have a vehicle that gets me from place to place, I have a roof over my head, clean clothes, money to buy a hot meal, running water, electricity, my health, a job, family and friends. Sometime God sends situations our way to remind us of how blessed we are. And from 2 Corinthians 1, 3-4, praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. Please remember people like Steve in your prayers. Yes, I have been blessed. God so good to me. Precious are his thoughts of you and me. There's no way I could count them, but there's not enough time, so I'll just thank him for being so kind. God has been good, so good I've been blessed. I've been blessed.

Speaker 1: 16:56

This is an eye-opening story that we're seeing every day in our lives. How many times have you seen something similar to this? Did you listen to God and help that person, even if it was not a great situation to have to face? Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ from Galatians 6.2. And from Proverbs 19.17,. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord and he will repay him for the deed. Just a touching story about Steve, and I bet all of us have had a Steve in our lives and have wondered about that opportunity. Maybe the next time we'll help that Steve, he may be someone definitely in need. Thanks for joining us today and we hope you enjoy our podcast. As per the Code of the West, we ride for the brand and we ride for Wyoming. We'll be right back ¶¶. Thank you.