Both sides of my family supported their families through employment in the oilfield. In fact, my grandfather on my dad’s side worked for my grandfather on my mother’s side. Consequently, my parents met at a young age, later reconnected in college, and were, in due course, married.
My brothers and I were born in Houston and moved to Midland at the start of high school. In so many words, my world has revolved around this industry. I vividly remember driving home on Friday nights after a football game from a place like El Paso and seeing the rigs lighting up the dark horizon as we made our way across the West Texas highway. To be sure, there is a mystique wrapped up in the oilfield. Like the 49ers of old, it has brought many wild-eyed engineers, geologists, and prospectors seeking to benefit from its abundant resources. Yet, countless romantic notions of a West Texas Wildcatter have been dashed upon the rocks of a dry well. It is true that while the oilfield can produce many gallons of black gold, changing generations forever, it has also been known to break many hearts and deplete many bank accounts.
Indeed, the oilfield can be quite unpredictable. Growing up in the 1980s, we rode the waves of the price of an oil barrel. I learned about the swings, both the good and the bad, for those within the industry. I also learned about the vastness of the industry and the innumerable people it employs. Unquestionably, many families across West Texas and beyond are supported by various businesses within this enterprise.
At the same time, with its upswings and downswings, the oil business also presents marked opportunities to witness the unchanging nature of our good God despite the changing and brittle nature of its related factors. In the midst of chaos, Christ’s message of calm and peace is a welcomed salve for parched and windblown skin. No doubt, there are myriad opportunities for a faithful and purposeful witness to our Lord Jesus Christ.
One such purposeful group is the Oilfield Christian Fellowship. Their motto is, “Help us to spread the Good News of Christ Jesus to the Permian Basin Oilfield.” They recently asked my twin brother, Paul, to speak at their gathering.
I am proud of my brother. He is a hard worker with a creative spirit. He is a gifted teacher and seeks to grow, challenge, and encourage those around him. In the oilfield and beyond, he has made existing businesses healthy by expanding operations, making them more efficient, and building a strong culture of service. He is a leader in his field and has also started and sold companies in the oilfield and other industries. Throughout his vocational journey, he has employed many workers and provided a solid model for them to follow, and be encouraged to follow the Lord on their way. Thus, when the Oilfield Christian Fellowship asked him to come and speak at one of their events, I was not surprised.
So, I asked my brother to share his notes with me, and he obliged. He offered the audience a framework for pursuing Christ faithfully no matter where they are in their journey with the Lord. He shared from his heart, and made the point:
- Change is part of life.
- Change happens at the beginning and throughout the Christian life.
- Whether at the beginning or after having spent a lifetime walking with the Lord, press on and accept the change the Lord brings!
- What inspired him was the simplicity of bullfrogs and butterflies. Both undergo change!
Conviction
- Romans 12:2- “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
- Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 – “Test everything. Hold on to what is good. Reject every kind of evil.”
Change
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
- Ephesians 4:22-24 – “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
- Romans 6:4 – “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Courage
- Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
- Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Consistency
- James 1:12 – “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
- Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Conviction. Change. Courage. Consistency.
There are four aspects of the Christian life to consider as we pursue our Lord. Whether you’re in the oilfield industry or beyond, at home or on a sickbed, the Lord uses, empowers, and calls us to walk in conviction, be open to change with courage, and have an eye toward consistency.
We press on!
— May 23, 2024