Read the Bible

Respect for the Cow Bosses

¹ Y'all have to do what the cow bosses tell you to. All authority is given by God and God alone and you don't get to second-guess his decisions. ² Be a good hand whether or not you have a good boss. Otherwise, you are going against God himself. Don't take a chapping from God because of your pride. ³ If you do what is right, you have nothing to be afraid of. Wouldn't you like to ride without fear of a surly cow boss? Make a hand and that will make you stand out. ⁴ All who have authority over you are God's servants in one way or another. If you screw up, then you should be scared because they have the power to throw you off the ranch. These authority figures in various shapes and sizes are sent to make you better and punish you if you screw up. ⁵ Let go of your pride and do your job, not just to keep your butt out of trouble, but also so you can lay your head down at night with a clear conscience.

⁶ Pay your taxes as well. I say this for the same reasons I just got through talking about. Even government officials need grub to eat. They are riding for God whether they know it or not. ⁷ Don't shuck your obligations in any form, monetarily or otherwise.

Love Is the Cinch That Holds Everything Tight

⁸ Don't owe anyone anything—except that you are willing to love each other. Loving your neighbor is the cinch that holds you tight to God. It's not part of what he wants you to do. It's everything. ⁹ Even the mighty regulations God passed down to us said, "Don't jack with another man's Jenny. Don't murder or be a thief. Don't hanker for something that ain't yours." These things God, as well as other things, can be summed up as, "Love your neighbor as if he was you." ¹⁰ Love doesn't wrong others and so it fulfills all God asked us to do.

¹¹ Don't kick your leg over the saddle and think you've reached the end of the drive. The hour is growing late and you've still got a far piece to go. Put your feet back in the stirrups and strike a long trot. Eternal life is waiting and the time is drawing near. ¹² Dawn approaches, which means the day of redemption is close at hand. Shuck all your foul deeds just like dirty clothes. Put on the leather chaps of who you were meant to be. ¹³ We're not made for the night, but to be seen in the daylight and bring glory to God. Ride way around orgies and drunken parties. Go out of your way to avoid sexual promiscuity and all other types of rotten living, which includes envy and nit-picking. ¹⁴ Instead, outfit yourself in the presence of Jesus and turn your mind away from counterfeit desires.