Study Desk

And what can we say about ourselves? We ride treacherous country trying to save the lost. Why would we risk our lives for nothing?

It'll happen in a split-second. When the last trumpet sounds, we cowboys will be changed. Those who rode for God and died will be raised to new life and live forever.

So this body that is so full of death and disease will be swapped out for one of power and immortality. This will fulfill what was written in the Good Book. "Death has been swallowed in victory. Death, where is your victory?

So, cowboys, sit tall in the saddle. Don't ever quit riding for the brand because your work down here makes a difference.

Now, let's talk straight about taking up a collection for God's people in Jerusalem. I'm going to tell y'all the same as I told the church in Galatia.

On the first day of every week, put some money in a jar and keep it safe. Save up as much as you possibly can from what you've been blessed with. Then, when I come see you, everything will be ready and you won't have to scramble around and dig through you saddle bags for crumbs.

I hope to stay with y'all for a while, maybe all winter. Then y'all can help me on my trip, wherever God decides to send me.

Timothy might be stopping by soon. Make him feel at home because he's working for God as hard as I am.

I hope you have heard of Stephanus and his family. They were among the first cowboys to ride for the Lord in Greece. They have devoted their lives in service of God's people. I urge y'all

They've done nothing except offer me encouragement and they do the same for y'all. If y'all don't see the value in cowboys such as these, then y'all are blind.

All the churches in the province of Asia said to tell y'all hello. Aquila and Priscilla, and all the others who meet in their homes for church, also send their greetings.

Howdy, boys! It's me, Paul. I'm one of the cowboys God chose to lead this gathering because I reckon it's what he wanted. Timothy says howdy, also.I'm writing to the big gatherin' of cowboys and cowgirls who make up the church in Corinth as well as all those scattered throughout Achaia taking the outside for God.

He gives us comfort for ourselves, but also so we can comfort others when they get hung up in the stirrup of life.

If we ride for Jesus, we're gonna experience the same suffering he did during his ride. But his daddy comforted him and he will do the same for us.

We have high hopes for y'all. We want y'all to share in the suffering because if you share in the suffering, you'll get to share in the comfort that can only come from God himself.

We truly felt like God was preparing us for death. It was that bad. But God had another plan. He let us suffer that bad to show us how often we depended on our own strength instead of his. He raises the dead and sometimes we couldn't even raise our heads.

When y'all pray for us, it helps us! Then we will be able to tell others of how God so graciously saved us and answered your prayers.

I'd planned to visit on my way to Macedonia and then when I came back headed for Judea.

It is God who makes all of us strong and gives us the will and want to ride hard for Jesus. He chose us for this task.

That's why I decided to just write y'all a letter. That way, there'd be time for hard growing and when I got there, it would be a joyous time instead of a hard time. If y'all are hurting, then you can bet I'm hurting. If y'all are glad, then I'm glad, too.