Feedbag
THE PARABLE OF THE RODEO
The kingdom of god is like a man who prepared a great ranch. His holdings went for thousands of square miles. He owned the cattle on a thousand hills. His farm ground brought back an amazing increase. It seemed his ranch went on for eternity. Each operation was so carefully and miraculously designed that his ranch required no work from ranch or farm hands. It was his decree that those residing on his ranch need only enjoy that which he had put together. However, he was exceedingly sorrowful because he had no hands on the place to live there and experience the wonder of his creation. You see, the man would bring cowboys and cowgirls from the ends of the earth to his headquarters because he so desperately wanted someone to inhabit his ranch. He had but one test, they had to qualify in his rodeo. The land owner was very wise and would match each cowboy and cowgirl with the event and stock that he knew would bring fulfillment and joy to their lives. In order to qualify they needed only compete without breaking the ten rodeo rules he had laid down. He was devastated when none could seem to compete within the rules and be invited to live on his glorious ranch. This so grieved the baron that he decided to use a plan he had put in place from the day he first began to put his place together. He called his son and charged him saying, "You must go to the arena I have prepared and qualify in every event. I know you can do it for you have been with me from the beginning and are able to keep all the rules that I have set down." So his son entered the arena, rode every bull and bronc with perfection. He caught every head of cattle, whether calf or steer with such finesse that the hands all marveled at his skill. Pole and barrel horses weaved effortlessly through the pattern with him on board and trick riders marveled as maneuvers were accomplished that had never occurred to them. When the rodeo was over, the son had qualified in every event. Ecstatic, the baron summoned all the cowboys and cowgirls once again and made this offer. If you will trade your run for the run made by my son and let me record his score by your name, you have my invitation to join me, to live from this point forward on my ranch. Many were those who could not bring themselves to accept his offer but to those who did, he accepted them as sons and daughters in his internal inheritance. It really is that simple. Just take the deal and all the changing that needs to be done, He will do from the inside out, if you are willing.
Think about it.
Get a Deep Seat and a Far Away Look
I first heard this phrase in relation to saddle bronc riding, as the instructor related this time honored piece of wisdom to his student. It speaks of the preparation and focus necessary before the nod of the head to begin an 8 second whirlwind ride. However, the Holy Spirit began to speak to me of the application of that phrase to the mental attitude we should have as believers in Christ. For most, the Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon that will require a deep seat, a commitment for the long haul. The long haul in rodeo is only 8 seconds but we all know that the long haul, in life, is all the days appointed to us by our Lord. Many a would be bronc rider has uttered something to the effect of “What was I thinking” when that chute gate opens for the first time, but only when the whistle blows, with rider still in the saddle, can any sort of answer to that question be realized. Sometimes, when you are riding a bronc, forces beyond your control can overcome your ability and hurl you out of the saddle. Not so with your Christian life. Once firmly committed to Christ, no matter how turbulent things get under you, you cannot be separated from Him unless you choose to be. Speaking now of spiritual things, you cannot be forced to sin, forced to compromise, forced to settle for anything less that God’s best for you unless you allow it.
Becoming a world class rider will require you to mount many head of stock, learning something new from each ride and entering new territory in your skill, perspective and experience. As you ride out the situations in your life you will learn to be submitted to the Lord and live your life with a spiritual focus. Life can be pretty rough but, as you go, you will grow in the skill, perspective and experience necessary for the next part of the journey. A “Far away look” will develop inside. Just as a competitor, with each ride, becomes more and more determined to succeed, a hunger will build inside for more revelation, deeper relationship and a passion to go forward, at any cost.
No matter what your situation, as you read this, now is the time to make up your mind. Climb on with Christ. Make your commitment to Him deep and your determination sure. He will never leave or forsake you. You have His word on it, written in blood.
Found Hangin` in a Dairy Barn
I don't know how to say it
But somehow it seems to me,
That maybe we are stationed where
God wants us to be.
That little place I'm filling is
The reason for my birth
And just to do the work I do,
God sent me down to earth.
If God had wanted otherwise
I reckon He'd have made,
Me just a little different
Of a worse or better grade.
And since God knows and understands
All things of land and sea,
I fancy that He placed me here
Just where He wanted me.
Sometimes I get to thinking
As my labors I review,
That I should like a higher plane
With greater things to do.
But I come to the conclusion
when the envying is stilled,
That the post to which God sent me
Is the one he wanted filled.
So I plod along and struggle
In the hope when day is through,
That I'm really necessary
To the things God wants to do.
And there isn't any service
I can give which I should scorn,
For it may be just the reason
God allowed that I be born.
- author unknown
