RIDIN' FOR THE BRAND



Like most folks this time of the year I start thinking about the things about me that I would like to change.  
There are the usual things I say I want to do but never get around to doing it; like exercise more, eat less,
and loosing weight.  I’ve been making these resolutions forever and I’m sure I’ll be breaking them again
next year!  Even if I’m successful in keeping them, these resolutions fall into that category where there is
never enough.  The result is a wrestling match with an overactive conscience.  This year I’ve decided I’ve
had enough of giving myself a guilty conscience so I’m going to do things a little different.  I have decided
to focus on the things that matter.
Many years ago a significant other gave me the advice to place a sign above the mirror where I shave
each morning with the letters “KISS.”  This was to be a reminder to myself to “Keep It Simple Stupid.”  We
are all a little like Adam where we amaze ourselves and do really stupid things, things we know better
than to say or do.  As a result of my recognizing this tendency to copy Adam and do really dumb things, I
have made it a habit to reduce something I’m wrestling with to its lowest common denominator.   By
doing this I can avoid embarrassing myself – sometimes!  So before I start a list of the resolutions I know
I will probably not keep, I want to look for a common denominator to help keep me from making this fatal
error.  
I really enjoy being with cowboy shooters when they are enjoying what they do.  Friendly prodding and
taunting to stop missing are reminders of why we do what we do.  We shoot to hit the target not to hear
the gun go “bang”!  We engage in this activity simply because it is fun when we enjoy the company of the
folks we are with.  From time to time we all get into a grove where we need to be reminded what is
important.  That is what happened to me at the last shoot I attended.  I was struggling with my shooting
as usual but on this particular day I was allowing this struggle to effect my mood.  In short, I was not a very
nice person to be around.  Now I know there is no target so big or so close that it cannot be missed.  This
little bit of wisdom is important IF the shooting was the only reason I was doing what I was doing.  
Grumpy would have had a smile on his face.  It’s really about fellowship and enjoying the company of a lot
of folks who enjoy doing the same thing I do.  If a bunch of grown-ups running around playing cowboy with
real guns doesn’t put a smile on your face nothing will!  I had forgotten this basic truth when a friend
came to me, put his arm on my shoulder and brought me back to reality.  “Dogie,” he said.  “Move like it
matters.”
Here was my lowest common denominator.  Here is where I find the wellspring for this year’s
resolutions.  “What matters?” I asked myself.  After it is all said and done, what matters?  What is it that
should drive me to do what I do?  What is it that goes beyond the size or placement of the target or the
mood of the moment and adds purpose to this game for me?  What resolution can I make to contribute to
that purpose?
I try to never pass an opportunity to talk about cowboy shooting to Christian folks.  There simply are not
enough of us in this game.  Recently I was invited to come to a cowboy church to talk cowboy shooting.  
Oh, boy!  Throw me in the briar patch!  Get the guns out of the closet and gas up the truck; it was only six
hours away!
Cowboy Churches are generally organized around three specific venues.  First, and the most popular, is
rodeo.  The modern cowboy church started around rodeo.  First, it was to bring the story of Jesus into the
arena where Jesus was not normally found.  As it grew, others found the simple atmosphere attractive.  
There is something about standing in a horse pen and praying with all the “atmosphere” around you that
will bring you back to basics.  Cowboy church then spread to the sale barns or livestock auctions, then to
the trail rides.  Most folks in all of these areas love southern gospel music.  Cowboy churches begin to be
established by some of the popular gospel singers.  Cowboy shooters are the new kids on the block.  I
was traveling to a rodeo cowboy church to talk about cowboy shooting.
I had the guns spread out across four tables.  Long range rifles, competition rifles, pistols, shotguns and
some just fun to play with, like an original Spencer carbine.  It was just a few minutes before time to start
and I was looking at all the “toys” I had brought with me.  I almost panicked when I realized I was on the
verge of making a big mistake.  It is not about the guns and shooting – it is about the Lord!  I walked
outside, looked up at the stars.  Lord, forgive me.  Help me make it about You!
Everything begins and ends in Him.  Everything we have and are in Christ comes from God and returns to
God.  It begins in His will and ends in His Glory.  This is the eternal circle.  This is where everything
begins and ends.  Paul said it best in the first chapter of Ephesians where he makes several references
to “..the praise of His glory.”  This is where and now is the time to move like it matters.  What matters?  
The praise of His Glory. – that is the only thing that matters.  I turned and walked back into the barn with a
renewed sense of purpose, a new directive, a new resolution.          
What Matters