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A Mesquite Thorn in the Hide

¹ Ok, that's enough of that. I could go on and on, but I guess I need to tell y'all about what God showed me and told me. ² I was swept from the saddle and taken far beyond the earth fourteen years ago. Now, whether this was done in spirit or my actual body, only God knows. ³ Listen close, I don't know if my body made the trip or just my mind. Like I said, only God knows. ⁴ But I was taken to a place of paradise. I heard things that are too much to repeat and saw things that no words can describe. These were things I'm not allowed to share.

⁵ I wish I could brag about the things I heard and saw, but I'm not going to. I'm only going to brag about my weaknesses. ⁶ Understand though, it ain't bragging if it happened and I wouldn't be a fool for telling y'all the truth. But the reason I ain't going to tell y'all is because I don't want credit for something I only saw and heard. I only want credit for what y'all have seen me do. ⁷ It'd be way too easy for me to brag about what I saw, but I really had no part in it. I can't take credit for a gift like I'd earned it or something. And just to make sure I remember, I was given a mesquite thorn in my hide to remind me of just how weak I really am. ⁸ I prayed and asked Jesus to remove this thorn three times. ⁹ But the Lord told me, "My grace is the only thing you need. Only in your weakness can you receive the power you need to accomplish the tasks I've set before you." This is why I will only brag about my weaknesses. When I am weak, Jesus's power is working through me. ¹⁰ As a matter of fact, I'm proud of these weaknesses. I don't even care when I'm insulted or when there are rough trails. I look forward to being persecuted and having problems, because it is in these times that I am the weakest. And it is only then that I am at my most powerful.

Paul's Care for the Corinthian Outfit

¹¹ I know I've been talking foolish, but y'all made me do it. Y'all are the ones who should be bragging about me, not me having to brag about myself. I know I am nothing, but those "super cowboys" aren't any handier than I am. ¹² When I was with y'all, I showed y'all how handy I was. I proved I was a cowboy with signs, wonders, and miracles that could only come from God. ¹³ The only thing I didn't give y'all was the opportunity to support me financially. I think this is the only way I've wronged y'all. Please forgive me for not allowing y'all to help me.

¹⁴ I'm going to come see y'all for the third time. And like the last times, I will not be a burden. I don't want what you have—I just want you riding for the brand. Children shouldn't be the ones providing for the parent when they are able to provide for themselves. It's the other way around. ¹⁵ I'll give everything I have for y'all. But I'll be honest, it seems like the more I care for y'all, the less you care about me.

¹⁶ Y'all know I didn't ask for anything while I was there. Yet, some of you still think I somehow tricked y'all into doing something you didn't want to do. ¹⁷ Do y'all think I cheated you? Did the cowboys I send to y'all take advantage of you somehow? ¹⁸ Did Titus pull a fast one over on you? I know that's not true! He's my pard and we ride the same trail and do things the exact same way.

¹⁹ Do you think we are just being defensive? No, we are talking plain to y'all and we'd say the same things if Jesus was standing right here. We care about y'all and push y'all every day to be better cowboys. ²⁰ I'm pushing y'all hard because I'm afraid that when I get there, y'all won't even be able to swing a rope. I'm afraid all my work has been for nothing and y'all haven't practiced or taken anything seriously. I'm worried that when I get there I'm going to find bickering, jealousy, anger, gossip, arrogance, and wrong living. ²¹ I really am afraid that when I get there, God is going to humble me because y'all have done nothing you were supposed to. My tears will flow down my cheeks because you have given up your ride for the brand for a life of sin again. You have not rode off from your evil lies, sexual immorality, and sorry ways. I'm afraid you just hid them in a closet, not repented and rode off from them.