Read the Bible

¹ My name is James and I ride for, and only for Jesus Christ. I'm writing to the twelve outfits of Israel and I offer a heartfelt handshake to all of 'em!

Be Happy Even during the Hard Stuff

² Listen up cowboys, don't sweat it when you go through the rough and rank patches of life. Shoot, you ought to be glad you go through them because it's these things that'll sure enough make a man out of ya. These times will knock the quit right out of ya and your ³ faith will be ever the stronger because of what ya went through. ⁴ And if you keep on keepin' on, you'll make a top hand yet. There won't be nothin' you won't be able to tackle or ride. ⁵ But don't forget about being smart in the ways of God. If you lack the knack of wisdom, just ask the Boss for it and he'll give it to ya. ⁶ You've got to truly believe he's gonna give ya what ya ask for. If you're a doubter, you ain't no more solid than rollin' paper blown away by the wind. ⁷ The Boss ain't gonna give a saddle to the fella who can't decide if he wants to walk or ride. ⁸ Them double-minded folks ain't no more stable than a one-legged eatin' table.

⁹ Now the lowly cowboy should be happy in his high position. ¹⁰ But them rich folks better have a humble air about 'em because they ain't no different in the grand scheme of things than any other blade of grass by the pond. ¹¹ That old sun can dry up the deepest of water holes and then every blade of grass withers away. Same thing goes for the rich folks ridin' down the trail; they will waste away. ¹² That fella who keeps on ridin', even when it's hard, he will prove he is authentic and get the great things the Boss has planned for those who love him like a dad they never had. ¹³ Don't ever catch yourself thinkin' or sayin' God's trying to get you to ride somewhere or do somethin' that ain't right. The Boss can't be seduced by such things and he ain't gonna do that to you either. ¹⁴ We all go the bad way, not because of anything God does or doesn't do, but just because we have a natural desire for the wrong ways. ¹⁵ Then when desire calves out, it gives birth to sin, and when sin comes to full weight, it turns right into death. ¹⁶ Don't go chasin' them foolish notions, cowboys. ¹⁷ All good things and good horses come from the Boss, who don't ever change or falter. ¹⁸ He had the old trail marked out with truth since the beginning. We are, out of everything on his ranch, his favorite accomplishment.

Walk the Walk

¹⁹ Don't let your dally slip on this next part! Be quick to lend an ear, slower'n molasses in winter to open your mouth, and chain up your temper and lock it up tight. ²⁰ Livin' and ridin' right don't include a quick fuse or sharp tongue. ²¹ Unload all the filth you've been carryin' around and listen to the word that can save your sorry souls. ²² You best walk the walk and not just spin a good yarn. Doin' so is just lyin' to yourself. ²³ Just listenin' and not doin' is like someone lookin' at themselves in a reflection. ²⁴ If someone just listens to something from God and doesn't act on it, it's like lookin' at your own reflection and then ridin' off and forgettin' what you look like. ²⁵ But the cowboy who focuses on what God says, and doesn't go off and forget it, he will be looked after favorably. ²⁶ If someone thinks he is followin' the right trail, but shoots his mouth off at every occasion, he has lied to himself and he may be sittin' tall in the saddle, but he ain't got a horse to ride or an honest leg to stand on. ²⁷ If you want to follow the true and perfect trail, this is what the Boss says to do—care for kids without mommas or daddies, look out for widows who are having a hard time, and don't live like those no-account counterfeits who do what everyone else is doing.