Cowboy Meditations - Bobby Neeley

hat cowboy cannot identify with Paul's words in 2 Corinthians, Chapter 11:26-27(NLT): "... danger from rivers... enduring many sleepless nights..."? If one reads those versesapart from the rest of Paul's letter to the Corinthians, it would be easy to think that thesewords were written by some old cowman back in the settling of this great west. Times werehard then, by they always have been; to some degree. Listen as Paul says: " ... I haveshivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm..." It is no wonder we admirethese old-time cowboy people, for they shivered in the cold and pioneered the land!No matter what we're pioneering, it's not easy. Whether it be swollen rivers and sleeplessnights like in Paul's day or in old-time drivers' day, trailing cattle to market - or the"swollen rivers" of our day - it's not an easy task. You just sort of have to cowboy up!

Across my living room from where I sit at my desk penning this devotion, there arethree old ranch saddles. Nothing fancy - no frills or silver... I doubt if they will ever becinched up again. They're retired, along with me. The memories they hold for me are notnecessarily fond ones. But they are real ones. Paul writes, "...I have worked hard and long,enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone withoutfood..."(1 Corinthians 11:27) NLT

It seems like Paul wrote my words for me. On one occasion, my saddle buddy and Ifound a box of prunes in a line shack. We were hungry. The prunes were good, and theywere effective! At other times, the night would be so cold I'd walk, leading my horse, to getwarmed up, and some places the crust on the frozen snow would hold me up - then, atother places, I would fall through. Cattle with pneumonia; I was trying to doctor withpenicillin late into the night, only to find the same cattle dead the next night. My days werefrom the time I got off the school bus until the work was done.

But, this boasting will do no good. Even Christ's cross will do no good. His death,burial, resurrection, ascension, atonement, enthronement, and coming of the Holy Spiritwill do no good lest the people get the Word. Good news can do nothing until it's heardabout.

Ridin' fer the Big Brand, Reppin' fer the JC

Psalm 63:7

ften time the watches in the night yield thoughts that move me to tears. Especiallywhen a fellow says something he wishes he had not said, You've had that kind ofexperience, you know, saying something that cast a shadow over your fellow man;something that puts him or her in a bad light. That happened to me. So, pondering, mythinking drifted along toward some familiar sayings of Jesus.He always put His fellow man in the best light possible. Never did He cast a condescendingshadow over him- and naturally so, for He is the Light. Then, I thought of some wordsJames penned about his half-brother, Jesus..."He never changes or casts a shiftingshadow..." Then James followed on by saying, " He chose to give birth to us by giving us Histrue Word." (James 1:17 - 18) NLT

Truth, though often painful, pulls us out of the shadows and into His marvelous Light.Now, leafing through the Bible with this idea of shadow in mind, I find that most uses ofthe Word are associated with death. Who has not heard what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm23:4 "... even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid; for you are closebeside me..." (NLT)

You're perhaps most familiar with the King James translation that renders, "...Yea,though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for though artwith me...."

So, when someone casts a shadow over you, intentionally or non-intentionally, you havethe assurance that God is with you. So sing out, my brother. sing. "Because you are myhelper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings...." (Psalm 63:7) NLT

Hats off, cowboys! Sing to God your new song. Though you're only singing to the cattle,sing! Sing in the shadows of His wings!

Ridin' fer the Big Brand,Reppin' fer the JC

enter. What a strange word around which to build a devotional! But it happened.Here's how: Sally Bates, out in Chino, Arizona, has a song called "He is the Way." I'm tryingto learn the song because we give away Bibles entitled "The Way for Cowboys." Well, I'dgone to the court house to pay my taxes and ran into a cowboy I thought I knew. He hadsaid, "I know you; I knew your dad. We called him Lightning - not because he was fast, butbecause lightning struck his bob-tail truck while hauling some cows, killing two of them."I said, "Jimmy, (that's who he was, Jimmy) where do you live?"He said, "Near the old center point school."The school got its name from being located in the center of Torrance County, a land marklong gone. Now, for some reason, as I listened to Sally's song I thought, "It's good to have acenter point in life; that is, something that everything swirls about." Then I thought, "Do Ireally know what the word center means?" Well, I looked the word up in Webster'sdictionary. Center originated from the old Greek word "kentron" - meaning a sharp point, ornaturally a goad used to poke along lazy oxen. But, more precisely, center is the pointaround which everything else revolves. Bingo! There is it, my friends: the center point. It'sJesus!

Right away I thought of Paul's Damascus road experience and of what Jesus said toPaul:"Paul, it's hard for you to kick against the goads, or against the pricks." For many years I 'vewondered why Jesus said that. Paul was not a country boy who knew the use of an oxgoad. Like a flash, I knew. "Paul," Jesus was saying, "you're kicking against the center pointof all creation and the focal point of all the Bible." Jesus! Paul, life ain't easy for you thatway! You're out of balance! You're not operating smoothly. Paul could not have a turn-around until he realized that Jesus is God, personified; the person about which all lifeswirls.

How about it, Cowboys? Have you found the center point? Next time you have tiresput on your truck and you see them spin-balance those tires for smooth ridin', think ofwhat I've said.


ow many times have you said, "Let me see"? Maybe you were pondering. Or,maybe you were requesting a turn, like looking at an antelope through binoculars. Maybeyou were a small child trying to see the Rose Parade. You were asking your daddy to holdyou up high. Or, maybe you're like the blind man in Mark 8:22-26 we are about to discuss.

This incident happened along the northern shores of Galilee. Some people brought ablind man to Jesus and begged Him to touch the man and heal him. And Jesus did. Here'show it happened: Jesus put spittle on the man's eyes and asked, "Can you see anythingnow?"

He said, "Yes, I see the people. They look like trees walking around."Then Jesus placed His hands on the man's eyes again, and his eyes were opened. He couldsee everything clearly.

Now, this man is one among thousands that the Lord healed, but why did this storymake its way into the Bible? What's the lesson in it for us? I've been seeing all my life, yet Irealize that I don't see "everything clearly." Many things are a mystery to me. I'm like thedisciples following Jesus who remembered this story. Jesus had said to them just prior tothis incident (v 21) "Don't you understand yet?" Now a quick survey of the entire eighthchapter - Jesus had just fed 4,000 people. And, what's more, in chapter six He'd fed 5,000.After that miracle He walked on water. They thought He was a ghost. Mark says (6:52)"They still didn't understand the significance of the loaves... their hearts were too hard to takeit in."

Now, here's the part that really gets me. The Pharisees (8:11) "...demanded that Heshow them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority." They wanted a voice, awonder, the sun stand still, the moon fade; they wanted some great feat! But, here's thelesson. What's the matter with a miracle that meets a human need? These Pharisees didn'tget to see anything. Here are some sad words: (8:13) "Jesus... left them."

Cowboys, these disciples are getting to see this thing. Here it is. Hard heartednesscauses spiritual blindness. Spirituality is able to see human need.


urity produces effect. That is the sublime simplicity of it. Purity cannot beexplained apart from freedom. It's not freedom to, but rather freedom from; freedom fromadulterating matter which makes something inferior. Inferiority implies something that isnot genuine, less valuable; something that is impure by adding a prohibited substance.Then we begin to sense a counterfeit, something falsified... and like in evaporation, theeffect is gone. We wonder why? But now, here is our thought. Purity produces effect inpeople. Some say that practice makes perfect. Well, that's not absolutely true. Practicegreatly helps body/brain coordination. The body can better execute mandates from themind through practice. I cut you that much slack, but, what I'm after is more than well-executed body coordination.

What I'm after is producing effect in the lives of people round about you. You've beenaround people that simply impact your life. You wonder why? What does this person have?Is it professionalism? Is it practice? Is it concentration on one matter, one style, one goal?No. Is it having only one objective? No, not really. Granted, all these behaviors do help; butthey never reach far enough to effect the lives of people. Real impact is not there. We'rethrown back to where we started. Purity produces effect. And, I add, it is effect of which youmay not be aware. Most people won't tell you that you have affected their lives. But then,that is also good news because if they did tell you, you'd try to improve yourself, andtherefore lose the whole show. I'm telling you, purity is the answer.

Well, now anything that has an answer has a source. The source is Jesus. He wasGod in a human body. Can anyone measure the effect he produced upon men and womenwhile in that body? And can one measure the effect he has today in the Person of the HolySpirit within us? The Holy Spirit is a purifying fire burning out the __?__. He will cleanse byburning out all that inhibits. He knows from what we need to be free.

Let him work, Cowboys, and you'll become more and more effective. Effectiveness ispurity-produced.


ohn's gospel does not begin with the genealogy of Jesus as does Matthew and Luke.Rather, John's gospel begins with Holy Spirit's identification of Jesus as recognized byJohn, the baptizer. After John's prologue, he narrates the Baptizer's experience at Jordanwhere he was baptizing. John plainly says "...I did not recognize Him as the Messiah..."(John 1:31 NLT). Neither did all of Israel. Neither do we. John again repeats himself saying"... I didn't know He was the one.." (v. 33 NLT). God had told Big John in verse 33, "The Oneon whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the One." Now we have it plain as day: "...Isaw this happen..."In case we are yet confused, he said, "...I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that He is thechosen One of God..." (v. 34 NLT).Dear readers, there is the bed-rock basis upon which we build our Christian hope. Jesus,as identified by John's ministry, is God's sent Messiah. "I saw this happen to Jesus," Johnquotes Big John to say.

Now, as you know, John was there at that identification ceremony. Thus he beganhis story. OKAY- lean upon genealogy. His story leans upon this solid fact: "I saw thishappen to Jesus." As the story unfolds he does not place the emphasis upon thedescription of the events in Jesus' life as Messiah, but upon the meaning we are to drawfrom these things that happened. John's intent was to follow the miraculous. So, theemphasis should not lie on the miracle itself but rather, what it means.

Now, we need to fast-forward to John's statement of purpose in writing. John is anevangelist. Like all of us Christians, he wants others to know the Messiah. His is good newsindeed! As one can know from reading the four gospels, Jesus did many miracles. Johncalls them "signs." Among these many signs John chooses seven as the basis for histestimony. These signs are the resting places for our faith. Faith needs solid footing. Faithin faith is nothing. Faith in facts is sure footing. Now we read John's purpose "...thedisciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in thisbook. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, theSon of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His name..." (John20:30-31 NLT). Some get a good start but do not continue because their faith is notgrounded in the solid rock of John's purpose.

Cowboys, take the time to make your dally sure.


can't speak for every one because I don't know; but I can speak for cow people. Weare afflicted - that's the long and short of it. We, out here amid the cactus and wind, areafflicted. So, my best shot is to bring us some sort a' hope. Now, in the Way for Cowboys,Paul figured it this way: he said (Romans 8:18), "I consider that our present sufferings arenot worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us." Then he went on to say inverse 22: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirthright up to the present time."

Well, right away I sort a' felt a little better. Clouds blown by the wind don't want tobe empty clouds. They want to give rain, but they can't. They're wind-blown. Then Ithought about the wind. It don't want to blow as hard as it does, but somewhere, there's alow pressure area pulling it. Then I thought about hail. It don't want to pelt the ground,break out windows and strip alfalfa leaves, but it does. In its free fall as rain, it passesthrough a freezing layer of air and turns into ice. It has no choice. Lightning don't want tokill three good saddle horses huddled together enduring a summer storm, but it does.Once we start thinking along these lines, we can see: "...the whole creation has beengroaning..." (Romans 8:22) There's a thorn in all of life.

Now here's the big question: why? Why does all of life have a thorn? Well, I readabout the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus whose followers Paul met while in Athens.They had it figured that "peace of mind" should be man's highest quest. Epicurus thoughtthat religion ought to be eliminated because it just stirs up a fellow's mind. He reasoned,"If God wishes to prevent evil but cannot, He is impotent; if He could but will not, He ismalevolent; if He has both the power and the will, whence then is evil?"Poor God; He seems to always get the blame. Paul, as you recall, sought God about Histhorn but God refused to remove it. God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you..." (IICorinthians 12:9) Paul said, "...it was to keep me from becoming conceited..." Beingconceited is having an exaggerated opinion of oneself. Therefore, hold on, cowman: youmay be the biggest real estate man there is, but don't let it go to your head! It will causeyour thorn to fester.


aith is somewhat like trying to hold on to a greased pig. It slips away. We thinkwe've got it and then it's gone. I've been greatly helped in trying to grasp what it is ratherthan what it does. Faith is restful reliance in God. The reliance part puts God in thedriver's chair and the restful part keeps me out of a struggle. After all, it's God's show.Well, we strugglers are not the only ones. In Luke's gospel (Luke 17:5), "...the apostles saidto the Lord, 'Show us how to increase our faith.'"They had it figured that they just had to get more of what they'd already got. Therein wastheir blunder, and admittedly ours as well. How many times have you said within yourself,"If I just had more faith...."?

Now - right here, let's get real honest. We all would like some 'mountain-moving'faith. We'd like to be able to say to a mulberry tree, "may you be uprooted and thrown intothe sea" and watch it obey! Wouldn't that be great? Our names would be on marquees allover the country! But now, take a glance at Luke 17:1 and see what lead into thisconversation: Jesus had said, "There will always be temptations to sin..." and the desire fordevil-bustin', mountain-movin', earth-shakin' faith is one of them.

Now, Jesus always answers our queries. The trouble is that He gives more than justthe answer. He leads us on to see more than we expected. Notice, Jesus uses a tinymustard seed for comparison. Note also: they had had some faith already because theirrequest was: "increase our faith." But Jesus knew the quantity was sufficient because backin Luke 9 "He gave them power." Then, when He did it again in Chapter 10, they weremiracle-working Jessies! They said (Luke 10:17), "...even the demons obey us..."

Now in Luke 17:7, He moves on to tell a strange story about doing our duty as thepeople of God. What does this duty story have to do with faith? Whamo! There it is. God-given faith is for doing our duty; not for doing great, wonderful, and heroic things. Watchout for the subtle temptations, Cowboys. Forget the marquee and just do your duty.You're the kings, men and women. You're chosen for the job.


od created the highest condition of achievement, splendor, and beauty. Nothinghas been nor ever shall be higher. That's glory. God foreknew our every need. That's glory.From before the foundation of the world, God loved us and chose believers in Christ to beholy and without fault in His eyes. That's glory. He decided in advance to adopt us intoHis own family. He did this by bringing us to Himself through Christ Jesus. That's glory.He makes everything work out according to His plan. That's glory. He did this so we wouldp[raise and glorify Him. That's worship. Paul write about this is a letter to the Ephesianchurch; and when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own. That is how He putHis seal on you. That's glory. Any thinking person has to say, "To God be the glory." TheBible is well-filled and plentifully supplied with glory to God. Even the angels say, "Glory toGod in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." (Luke2:14)

The occasion for this angelic praise was the birth of Jesus. Mary's response to theannouncement of her conception was "Oh, how my soul magnifies the Lord; how my spiritrejoices in God my Savior." (Luke 1:46) Notice, her soul highly esteems God and her spiritgives Him praise! That's glorious glory!

Man's need to glory in something is so critical that if He does not know God, he willglory in something less than God as God. Most likely it's going to be himself. Our primeexample is Job. A little survey of Job Chapter 1 finds in Job no fault. He was blameless;he was a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. Even God'sown statement about Job is "He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless - a man ofcomplete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil." Hold in mind that this is God'sappraisal of Job.

Then - whamo! Calamity struck. Job lost it all: family, belongings, and health. Job wastested. The long and short of Job's story is that he knew sin existed, but he did not, moreaptly, see himself as a sinner. Now God says ..."All have sinned, we fall short of God'sglorious standard." (Romans 3:23)Job's religion was causing him to make God out to be lying. So, in Job 38:3, God gave Joba test. Read it. The test concludes four chapters later with Job saying, "I have seen youwith my own eyes. I abhor myself and repent..." (Job 42:5)

No man has seen God, but Job saw God's glory. Take the test God gave Job, andyou'll see it, too! Glory!


Cowboy Meditations - Bobby Neeley

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