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¹ From John, the jigger boss—

To Gaius, my pard, who I've ridden the hard trail with.

² Hey, cowboy! I hope all is well with ya. I pray that you ain't caught the consumption and that you are fit as a fiddle. I know your soul is good and I pray your health is the same. ³ I sure was glad when some of the boys showed up and told me about how faithful you'd been to the truth. ⁴ It sure didn't surprise me any, but I was glad about it nonetheless.

Taking Care of God's Hands

⁵ Listen, my friend. I want to thank you for taking such good care of the other cowboys, even if you don't know them. ⁶ They came here and told us how you treated them. Keep on helping them all like this. If they are riding for the Lord, then send them away with enough that they can keep spreading the word. God likes that. ⁷ They rode out to gather the wild ones without any help from unbelievers. ⁸ Listen, here's a code to live by, if you ain't riding out to spread the good news, then help those who are.

⁹ I wrote a short note to the outfit there, but Diotrephes, who likes to think of himself as some sort of ramrod, would not listen to what I had to say. ¹⁰ When I make it over to y'all, I'm going to spill the beans about what he's been doing and saying. If lying wasn't enough, he won't lift a hand to help any of the boys riding for God. Get this, he even keeps others from helping them too. He tells our boys to hit the road and don't come back.

¹¹ I don't think I have to say this, but don't act like that. Be better than that. Those who do good belong to God and those who act like Diotrephes, don't. Simple as that.

¹² But, everyone I've seen speaks well of Demetrius. The truth speaks for itself, but it's nice to hear from others about the good things some people are doing.

So Long

¹³ I've got a lot more to say, but I'm tired of writing it. ¹⁴ I hope to saddle up and see y'all in person soon.

¹⁵ Keep your chin up and your toes out.