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Normally, the monthly Rodeo Attitude Salute
goes out to an individual. This
month is a little different. We
would like to salute a couple and their lives and ministry to the
Rodeo World. Our salute
this month goes to Clyde and Elsie Frost, parents of 1987 World
Champion Bull Rider, Lane Frost, on whose life the movie “8
Seconds” was based. Since
his untimely death in 1989, Elsie and Clyde, have told the world of
Lane’s faith in Christ, and since 1996 have given out a “Lane
Frost Edition, Cowboy Bible.” Since
the first batch of Bibles was received in early 1996, over 85,000 have
been passed out, and the number continues to grow.
The Bible came about at the suggestion of several friends that
knew of Lane’s faith, and wanted the Rodeo world to know about it.
With the release of “8 Seconds” the interest in Lane had
grown, and the Frosts agreed with their friends that the world needed
to know about their sons’ faith in Christ.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to present everything about a
person in a 2-hour movie, and one of the things about Lane that had
been left out of the movie was his faith in Christ.
When God provided the exact amount needed to pay for the first
printing of the Bibles, Clyde and Elsie knew that it was what they
needed to do, and thus the “Lane Frost, Cowboy New Testament” was
born.
About 4 years ago, Elsie began going out and
speaking to Youth Groups and churches, and telling “the rest of the
story” of Lane’s life and accomplishments, that wasn’t able to
be told in the movie. Clyde
accompanies her everywhere that she speaks and lends great moral
support, although he doesn’t like to be behind the microphone.
On the occasions I have had to hear Elsie talk, Clyde sat in
the audience smiling while Elsie talked, but afterwards he loves to
talk to anyone about Lane and the Lord.
Incidentally, Clyde is not at all like the character in the
movie, but God has been able to use that also, to help parents see the
need to let their children know that they are loved.
Friends that had heard Elsie talk about Lane, began encouraging
her to make a video, so that the story could be shared with more
people. She initially
resisted, but then began to see that God wanted her to make the video,
and to make it more than just her standing talking.
Two years ago the video “Lane Frost, A Mothers Story” was
completed, it contains Elsie talking and telling Lane’s story, and
has many pictures of Lane and his career, and a short video clip
detailing his life and career. Elsie
is also working on a book about Lane, which she hopes to complete
soon. They are also
active in the lives of their 2 other children Robin and Cody, and
their grandchildren. They
reside in the small rural Oklahoma town of Lane, which is near Atoka,
OK.
Lane was only 25 years old when he was killed
that day in July 1989, but he had lived a life that has become an
inspiration to many. But
most important of his accomplishments to Clyde and Elsie, was that he
was a Christian, and knew Jesus as his Savior and Lord.
Through the work of Elsie, sending out the Bibles to those who
ask, speaking to Youth and Church groups, and the video, the legacy
and life of Lane lives on. He was a champion in the Rodeo Arena, and the Arena of life,
but to us, his parents are also champions and deserves to be saluted
for all that they done and are doing.
It is never easy for a parent to outlive a child, but Clyde and
Elsie Frost have done an admirable job.
I encourage you to check out the website, get a copy of the
video, and be sure to sign the Guest Book, Clyde and Elsie receive a
copy of every entry each month and personally read all of them, and
respond to many of them. If
you are ever near Atoka, OK stop by the Civil War museum on the north
side of town, and see the display on Lane that is located there.
This month Rodeo Attitude is proud to salute
the work of Elsie and Clyde Frost, and their work to show the Rodeo
world, and especially teens that you can live a good life, be a
Christian, and still be a “Champion” in the sport of Rodeo.
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