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¹ So, don't look at Apollos and me as anything more than cowboys who've been put in charge of teaching you the mystery of how to ride for God. ² Now when a cowboy is put in charge of something, he must be faithful to the brand. ³ But as for me, I don't give two shakes whether you like me or agree with what I do or say. I ain't gonna let you judge me. I won't even judge myself. ⁴ My conscience is clear. Now I ain't saying I'm perfect, but the One who will judge me is, and I trust him with my soul.

⁵ So don't go making judgments about yourselves or others. If there's breath left in either, there's time to make things right. The only judgment that matters will happen when the Lord rides back through the main gate. Like a light in a pitch-dark tack room, he will reveal our darkest secrets and our secret prayers. Then, if there's attaboys to be given, God will do the givin'.

⁶ Now, cowboys and cowgirls, this is how Apollos and I ride for the Lord. We do this so you can see God's way in action. That's what the Good Book means when it says, "Don't do more'n what you're told." If you follow this, you won't be bragging about riding with any cowboy except Jesus. ⁷ So don't go making judgments about the way other cowboys do things. What gives you the right? What do you have that didn't come from God? And if you answer that everything is from God, then why brag like you're better than the next cowboy?

⁸ I've already said you have everything you need already. As a matter of fact, you have more access to God than you know what to do with. You're like a little kid with a champion cutting horse, but you've never straddled a saddle. But I wish you were already champions in your own rights. If you were, then we would be too. ⁹ Instead, it seems as if God has put us cowboys on display to the movers and shakers of this world to be made fun of. We are on display for men and angels alike to gawk at. We walk and there are whispers. We talk and eyes roll in disgust. We ride and folks throw rocks and laugh. ¹⁰ Our dedication to the brand of Christ makes us look like fools, but y'all flounce around like you're better than others. Y'all ride with your chests puffed out like you're at a parade, but we are out there in the sun and rain, looking like misfits riding the grub line. ¹¹ Even now we are hungry and don't have a piece of jerky to calm the growl of our bellies. We're thirsty, hungry, and our clothes won't turn away the chill. We're beaten in public and don't even have a campfire by which to lick our wounds. ¹² We daywork to earn a living. We bless those who cuss us and we let it slide when we are abused. ¹³ When people talk crap about us, we repay it with a gentle answer. We have become the laughingstock of the world and the scum of the earth. This is true at this very moment.

¹⁴ But don't think I'm trying to make you feel bad about yourselves. I'm warning you what real cowboying for the Lord is like. ¹⁵ I'm writing to you like a father would to his kids. Many will come and tell you what you did wrong, but I'm the only one who will take you under his wing and guide you. ¹⁶ So watch me carefully and do what I do. ¹⁷ That's the reason I've sent you Timothy. He is like a son to me and I've taught him nearly everything I know. He will help you ride for Christ while I'm out teaching others to do the same.

¹⁸ But some of you have become full of yourselves. Like a bully at the playground, you think the teacher is gone, ¹⁹ but I'm right around the corner and coming soon if the Lord lets me. When I get there, we will see who the big dogs are and who the little yappers are. ²⁰ God's outfit ain't about big talk, but a big walk. Big talkers rely on their power, but cowboys rely on God's power. ²¹ So I guess y'all have a decision to make. Do you want me to come back with a quirt or with love?