RIDIN' FOR THE BRAND



Trailhead!  It was that time of year again to gather ‘em up and head ‘em out.  The very mention of the word
congers up images of a lot of folks coming together at Gunsmoke, Texas, to compete in the game of
cowboy.  Mention the word “Gunsmoke” and I instantly smell burned gunpowder – black gunpowder.  This
year we had 213 cowboys and cowgirls at the firing line when the shooting started.  When it was over four
days later most everyone was tired and walking around with a grin on their face.  The grin said it all.
Trailhead provides one of those rare opportunities to gracefully introduce the name of our Lord into the
competitive environment of cowboy shooting.  Each shooter’s meeting is opened with a pledge of
allegiance to the flag of this great country of ours, and of course, to the flag of the Republic of Texas,
followed by a morning prayer.  There’s really not a lot of difference between what is called The Cowboy
Way and what we know as the Christian Walk.  The challenge is to set this idea before the shooters to
enjoin each shooter to have the interest of the other cowboy at heart.  That’s tough when everyone wants
to win.  It is difficult, but it is doable.
When the flag was raised over 300 cowboys, cowgirls, vendors, and visitors removed their hats and
offered their pledge of allegiance to this United States of America.  We had a lot of folks from all over the
world visiting and they just listened in wonder as we affirmed our allegiance to Texas.  Then I stepped
forward and enjoined the good Lord to please keep us from shooting one another and assured Him we
would be sure to give Him all the praise.  Amen, and we headed for the firing line.
Excused me, but are you the chaplain here?  That question stopped me in my tracks.  I’ve learned to be
cautious when responding to such an inquiry.  I’ve been dressed down, pushed up, pulled along and
challenged over my conviction for walking our faith in whatever situation we find ourselves.  When I turned
around I was facing a man with a smile on his face.  We shook hands and then He proceeded to inform
me that he was offended, not by the prayer, but by the manner in which I ended the Morning Prayer, “in the
name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior.”  He went on to explain that he and his shooting partner
was of the Jewish persuasion and did not believe that Jesus was the messiah.  (Oops, red flag!) He
explained that he was praying with me and agreed with everything I said except enjoining the name of
Jesus into the prayer.  It seems the Jewish folk still have a problem with the name of our Lord and he was
explaining that when I prayed in the name of our Lord that the result was to isolate and offend him and his
partner.  We had 213 shooters on the line and 2 of them wanted me to stop praying in the name of Jesus!
I assured him that I would give our conversation and his concerns proper consideration and he went back
to his posse and I was left with a problem.  What do I do now?  The gut reaction is to be offended at the
request and be more determined to enjoin Jesus to bless our request.  After all, He already knew what
we needed; He was just allowing me to hear myself say it.  Then I was reminded that the Lord did not
desire that even one of the little ones to be lost.  It is not my job to confront or convict.  That is the work of
the Holy Spirit.  Do I insist on praying in the name of Jesus and isolate and offend these two or do I prayer
in the name of the Father granting these their request and violate my own conscience?
It is my habit when things like this happen to get my “Sword” in my hand and get alone and seek my
answer in the Word.  I have spent a large part of my life studying this Book and am amazed every day at
how much I do not know.  My first question is always, “What does the Word say?”
I was led to Paul wrestling with the question, “.. why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?”  
(1 Cor 10:29)  He found resolution in the reason the action is taken, that is, to do it all to the glory of God.  
He was right.  I was wrestling with their judgment of my conscience.  My conscience is not judged by them
but by Jesus Christ, whether they recognize Him as Judge or not.  Their condemnation of my prayer is
meaningless.  What has meaning is my prayer being an offense.  Paul said, “Give no offense, either to
the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God…” (1 Cor 10:32)
The next morning I ended the prayer, “in the name of our Lord.”  To the Jew “our Lord” would be Jehovah.  
To me and my fellow Christians “our Lord” is Jesus Christ the son of God.  It saddens me to know that
one day they will be required to bow before “our Lord.”  (Phil 2:10-11)  I can’t help but wonder if they will
remember that day at Trailhead?

© Carl H. Lenz, 2007
EXCUSE ME BUT...