There is nothing like being a freshman in college, living in a freshman dorm. It was there I met incredible friends. These friends were rodeo cowboys. They attended college, but their heart was riding on the back of something.

These guys were bronc & bull riders. Their objective was to stay on the animal for 8 seconds and hope they landed right. If they drew a bronc or bull that was hard to ride & they rode well, they might win the prize money. Getting bucked off was not a surprise or a destination, it was just what happens when you ride rodeo stock. These guys had a certain walk that came from being bucked off, but that was just part of the price of doing something they loved. Their view of life was simple & real…Do the best you can do…Get up, because you can really get hurt laying on the ground…Don’t be afraid to mount up…Enjoy the ride.

Occasionally they would talk about the “Rexall boys,” the drugstore cowboys who wore the right clothes, drove pickup trucks, talked the talk, and even chewed tobacco…but never mounted up. They didn’t mount up because they were afraid of getting bucked off.

Sundays are like the rodeo. There are two types of people that show up. There are people who ride the ride, get bucked off, get up and ride again and the Rexall members afraid of getting bucked off. This is not a new phenomenon. God pulled His Mighty warrior Joshua aside before his assignment to take the Promise Land. Listen to these powerful words from Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” In cowboy talk, “Boy, hang on tight, focus on the 8 seconds, don’t worry about the ground and I’m right here with you …I’m proud of you!”

The simple truth is, we were not called to sit in the stands of life, talk-the-talk and avoid getting our outfit dirty. “True cowboys are the ones who aren’t afraid to get dirty.” Lane Frost, American bull rider. Jesus was clear about sitting out the ride. There are over 20 times in the New Testament He used the phrase, “Follow Me”. He even told us it would be a “rough ride” in John 16:33. But Jesus also told us He would provide the victory, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Our instructions are clear from Jesus, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:38

God gave Paul the instructions on how we are to ride-the-ride in Philippians 3:12, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. We, that means all Christ followers, have been called to tell others of the “Good News of Jesus.” This is our job…our ride. Only Jesus can transform anxiety, despair & hopelessness into His Peace…His Hope and His Power to press on. How do I know? I was laying on the ground, stepped on & hopeless when Jesus picked me up, dusted me off and said, “Let me show you how to ride this time, boy.” When you have had enough of your way, He’s ready. “Jesus, I need you!”