...giddyup...

Tony Campolo, one of my favorite theologians tells a story of a preacher out in the west.  He meets an ole cowboy and eventually over time leads him to Christ.  A while later, the preacher went to visit the ole cowboy and asked him how his relationship with Christ was going.  The cowboy said, "Preacher I feel like I have two horses roped up to ma heart and both are pulling in different directions."  The preacher asked him, "Which one is winning?"  The cowboy looked at him and said, "Whichever one I say giddyup to in the morning."

So true.  So true.  Over this past week in beautiful Montana, I have seen many things.  We went last week to see the Buffalo Jump (where the natives would run buffalo off the cliff before sophisticated weaponry), visited a lot of great people in the Cheyenne community, gone to a cookout at the park, and even participated in a traditional Cheyenne sweat lodge (google it).  I have so greatly enjoyed this different culture.  Last week I met with the Small family.  They are the best couple.  We will be working on their home in the next few weeks.  She smiles about everything....literally EVERYTHING!  She was telling us about a close friend dying from an asthma attack 2 days ago....smiling.  Then she told us about her step son getting shot in his driveway years ago...smiling.  And then she totally changed subjects and began asking about our families religious beliefs.  It was about 40% endearing and 60% awkward.  Then today and yesterday as I heard this Campolo story, I began to think about Mrs. Small (jackie as she would have me call her).  The truth is we all have an opportunity to smile and live life in expectation of great things.  Its just that so often we say giddyup to the horse that drags us down or reminds us of the things we dont have.  Seems to me Jackie has just made a decision to say Giddyup to the horse the reminds her that there are better things to come and reminds her of the blessings she has been given by God.  Hmmm.....

So my friend, no real deep and profound confessions or thoughts this week, I am just going to be challenging myself to be more aware of which horse i am spuring on.  Which one am I going to push toward the finish line today.  Will it be the horse that is charging as hard as possible toward Christ, or the horse that is charging as hard as possible the other way.

Lord, keep drawing me close to you and help me make decisions that spur me toward your will for my life!

Be Blessed Friends,

Lance