Study Desk

So the cowboys set off in pairs to spread the good news and gather people for God's outfit. They told everyone to turn from their wicked ways and start riding for God.

So Herodias (Herod's no-account wife) held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him,

So on Herod's birthday, he threw himself a party and all the important people in his kingdom came to it.

This shook the king up something fierce, but he'd made a promise in front of a lot of people so he kept it.

He told 'em, "Let's go somewhere private so we can all talk and rest up." There were tons of people hanging around and wanting to hear everything Jesus and his cowboys were saying; so much so that they hadn't even had a chance to get a bite to eat.

So Jesus and his boys saddled up and headed out,

When Jesus saw there were so many people wanting to know about riding for God, he felt sorry for them. They were like a stray herd looking for water so Jesus taught them many things. In other words, he watered them. Jesus spent a long time teaching and it got to be very late.

Some of 'em are so weak they wouldn't even make it home before they fell out."

Jesus told everyone to take a seat. He took the seven tortillas and tore 'em in half as he gave thanks. He began handing the pieces to the cowboys so they could pass 'em out.

So he asked 'em, "Why are you squabblin' over bread? Have any of you been paying attention to what's happened?

His clothes became so white they almost blinded 'em.

Leaving that part of the country, Jesus and his cowboys rode through the area known as Galilee, but he didn't want anyone to know he was there. Jesus wanted as much time alone with his cowboys as he could get so he could

My way will refine you and bring you peace. The other way? Not so much."

In those days, people were always bringing their kids to see Jesus so he could bless 'em. It happened so frequently that the cowboys started trying to keep people from doing it.

The man was smilin' and pattin' himself on the back on the back so hard Jesus was afraid he'd hurt himself. The guy said, "Well I'm as good as gold then. I've done all these things since I was just a little nub."

As Jesus was looking at him, he felt a tremendous love for the man and so he told him the truth of the matter. "Hang on there, cowboy. One more thing, go and sell every single thing you own and give it to the poor and you will be a rich man in heaven. Once you're done selling, then come and ride for me and I'll take care of you."

They were still riding for Jerusalem, with Jesus in the lead. The cowboys weren't sure of what was coming so Jesus pulled them aside and told 'em what they should expect.

Jesus told 'em all to quiet down and listen to what he had to say. "This outfit don't work the way it does everywhere else. Everyone down here wants titles and positions so they can tell others what to do and be looked up to like they are something special.

Then Jesus started his ride into Jerusalem and people honored him by throwing their own coats on the ground so that even the colt's feet that carried him wouldn't touch the dirt. Some people even cut branches off of nearby trees and laid them down in the road for Jesus's mount to walk on.

Here's to the coming of the outfit that our father David talked so much about. Here! Here!"