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Ride for Others

¹ Top hands must be considerate to beginners in things such as these. Life ain't about just riding for yourself, but take others into consideration as well. ² Build each other up and help them to become top hands as well. ³ Jesus didn't even live only for himself. The Good Book says, "I've stepped in front of the insults meant for you, God." ⁴ These things were written for our benefit to show us the right trail. This trail doesn't lead to disappointment even though it gets rough at times. There is hope waiting on the promises of God.

⁵ God's the one who doles out patience and encouragement for those who use them to build a crew that works well together. This is how Jesus wants his crew to operate. ⁶ This life sends one voice up to heaven glorifying God, the Daddy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ If you want God to accept you and all your mistakes, do the same for others. ⁸ Jesus was a servant of the Jews to fulfill the promises God made to their ancestors. ⁹ He also came that the promises would be extended to the outsiders. The Psalms speak of this when they say, "Because of who you are, I will praise you among the outsiders. I will sing of your mighty name."

¹⁰ Another place it is written, "Insiders and outsiders, sing together to the same God!"

¹¹ And still again, "Everyone sing praises to God. Everyone of the earth, lift him up."

¹² Even Isaiah stated, "The descendant of David's crown will come and rule over the outsiders. They will give their faith and hope to him."

¹³ God is the only source of hope and my prayer at the campfire each night is that you are filled with joy and peace by trusting in his power instead of your own. I pray that this filling will be like a trough overflowing through the Holy Ghost.

Paul Ain't Saying This to Hear Himself Talk

¹⁴ I've got no doubt, cowboys and cowgirls, that you have a heapin' of goodness inside all of ya. You can show others how to ride for the Lord. ¹⁵ I haven't said these things to hear myself to talk, but to remind you of these things because you'll be needin' 'em. It is by God's mercy ¹⁶ that I am a hand for God tasked with gathering y'all remnants. I bring you good news, not bad news. ¹⁷ This is an acceptable offering to God by the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸ But you ain't going to hear me bragging on anything but God and what he's done through me. I've rode with the outsiders and they now ride for God. ¹⁹ They witnessed great things done by God and they fully believe. I've presented the good news to all the pastures from Jerusalem to Illyricum.

²⁰ My sole purpose is to bring the good news to those who have never heard it. I didn't go to the churches, I went into the brush. ²¹ I've been following the trail talked about in the Good Book where it says, "The wild cattle that have never seen a cowboy will come across one and they will hear and understand."

²² I haven't made it to y'all yet because I've been so busy doing these things and riding these pastures and canyons.

Paul's Plans

²³ But I can say that I'm done here. I'm certainly ready to see all of y'all after years of riding the rough brush and the rough stock. ²⁴ I'm going to go to Spain and I'll stop in Rome to see y'all. I'll stay with y'all a while so you can offer me some much needed rest before I head out again.

²⁵ But first, I have to ride over to Jerusalem to give the offerings I've collected to the hands there. ²⁶ The cowboys who ride for the Lord in Macedonia and Achaia took it upon themselves to gather some money for the poor in Jerusalem. ²⁷ They did this willingly out of the goodness in their hearts. These outsiders are thankful for the spiritual blessing that was brought to them from Jerusalem. The least they can do is help out. That's what real hands do. ²⁸ When I'm done paying it forward, I'm coming your way. ²⁹ I know God is going to bless our time together.

³⁰ Cowboys, I'm sure enough counting on all of y'all to join with me in the struggle that comes with riding for Christ. Keep me in your prayers and I know God will answer them. Y'all care about me because the Holy Ghost is in your hearts. ³¹ Pray that God will protect me from those in Judea who don't want this message spread to the world. Also pray that the gifts I take to Jerusalem will be accepted with the same heart they were given. ³² Again, I long to see your faces and shake your hands. We will strengthen each other.

³³ Now let God, who doesn't hold back anything, give us peace. Amen.