The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
I think Jesus wants some cowdogs….
One of my favorite animals is a cowdog. There are a lot of things about cowdogs…. They come in several noted breeds, shapes and many colors…
There are competitions where people bring their dogs to work cattle. I am always amazed to watch someone quietly work a group of cattle through obstacles using the Natural God Given instincts of a cowdog… But to see what they do in a ranch setting …Many people miss the true wonder of these dogs…They would set a fine example for us
To put it in Modern Vernacular…”Cowdogs Got Game”…. They have a natural instinct to bring stray Cattle back to you…They see an animal thinking of doing something often before anyone notices it… If you look at the Terrain of Northeastern Oregon, Cowdogs gather cattle in some very steep and rough areas…..It saves a lot of horses……
Hmmmmmm…..Where would we be willing to travel for our Masters Lost Strays…. Especially if someone was right there on a perfectly good horse to do the same…. And do we truly see the work that needs done before anyone else notices it?
Cowdogs have personality….One of my favorite memories is watching working dog demonstration in Klamath Falls…This dog had been working this one set of calves through some obstacles…. On calf would kick at the dog every chance… It was a bit of an obstanant calf and the dog patiently kept after it and never quit its work to give the calf some payback …. When the time was up … As the calves headed back to the pen, the dog took after this one. It was comical to watch the owner calling him back, but you could see the dog almost saying, “ok, the time is up and we’ve been judged, it is my chance to get some licks in on this stubborn calf that thought my head was a suitable target”…
Cowdogs have heart…… Gathering cattle is a very long days work… It is tough work up and down steep hills… Imagine being the dog..you are sent out to gather as the owner sits and guides you… Cows kick at you and, occasionally, land a shot on your scalp…. It can be dusty dirty and..well…There is a source of some bad smells…. Often ranchers rotate dogs….
However…The next morning.. The Dog is ready to go… Tired muscles, Bruised Scalp and all, He meets the owner at the door with tail wagging, ears perked and wanting to go… He often needs to be kenneled to keep him from loading up and heading out…
Hmmmm…. Have you found the thing God made you for? That though the day before was long, you got kicked, dirty and bruised..the next morning someone would have to lock you up to keep you from going out and giving your all again?
As we come to evaluate our Stewardship of the life we have…
Do you have game? Is what you are doing for others using Your God Given talents?
Do you have Personality? Do others see the joy in what you do?
And Do you have heart? After a long hard day, do you eagerly await the master on the porch to go do it again?
PPRM
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
I think Jesus wants some cowdogs….
One of my favorite animals is a cowdog. There are a lot of things about cowdogs…. They come in several noted breeds, shapes and many colors…
There are competitions where people bring their dogs to work cattle. I am always amazed to watch someone quietly work a group of cattle through obstacles using the Natural God Given instincts of a cowdog… But to see what they do in a ranch setting …Many people miss the true wonder of these dogs…They would set a fine example for us
To put it in Modern Vernacular…”Cowdogs Got Game”…. They have a natural instinct to bring stray Cattle back to you…They see an animal thinking of doing something often before anyone notices it… If you look at the Terrain of Northeastern Oregon, Cowdogs gather cattle in some very steep and rough areas…..It saves a lot of horses……
Hmmmmmm…..Where would we be willing to travel for our Masters Lost Strays…. Especially if someone was right there on a perfectly good horse to do the same…. And do we truly see the work that needs done before anyone else notices it?
Cowdogs have personality….One of my favorite memories is watching working dog demonstration in Klamath Falls…This dog had been working this one set of calves through some obstacles…. On calf would kick at the dog every chance… It was a bit of an obstanant calf and the dog patiently kept after it and never quit its work to give the calf some payback …. When the time was up … As the calves headed back to the pen, the dog took after this one. It was comical to watch the owner calling him back, but you could see the dog almost saying, “ok, the time is up and we’ve been judged, it is my chance to get some licks in on this stubborn calf that thought my head was a suitable target”…
Cowdogs have heart…… Gathering cattle is a very long days work… It is tough work up and down steep hills… Imagine being the dog..you are sent out to gather as the owner sits and guides you… Cows kick at you and, occasionally, land a shot on your scalp…. It can be dusty dirty and..well…There is a source of some bad smells…. Often ranchers rotate dogs….
However…The next morning.. The Dog is ready to go… Tired muscles, Bruised Scalp and all, He meets the owner at the door with tail wagging, ears perked and wanting to go… He often needs to be kenneled to keep him from loading up and heading out…
Hmmmm…. Have you found the thing God made you for? That though the day before was long, you got kicked, dirty and bruised..the next morning someone would have to lock you up to keep you from going out and giving your all again?
As we come to evaluate our Stewardship of the life we have…
Do you have game? Is what you are doing for others using Your God Given talents?
Do you have Personality? Do others see the joy in what you do?
And Do you have heart? After a long hard day, do you eagerly await the master on the porch to go do it again?
PPRM