The Ranch Post Pile
- January 23, 2016
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- Wendel Elliott
Posted in: Featured, Ranch Life
It’s just an old pile of cedar posts in the junk yard at the ranch. Maybe for you they’re pine or some other local timber. They were taken out of the ground years and years ago and brought here to be stacked. Sentinels that have stood proud on the ranch, keeping cattle in and doing their job well, but now laid aside. Some think that they have outlived their usefulness. Sadly that is what some, more mature believers see as their plot among the Body of Christ. Those that are more seasoned in life and have been a good example of Christ to those around them; can sometimes think “I don’t have anything to offer.” “I’m too old.” “What would the younger generation want to learn from me.”
Then there are some in the next generations coming up that don’t see the worth or the value of those that are experienced. They may get caught up in the new technology of the service at church or the programs and production involved in today’s churches. Now I’m not saying those churches ain’t reaching folks because they are doing just that. However, a mature believer in life and walking with Christ; has some much needed perspective to pass down. This can be missed if time is not taken to learn from them. If they were at a branding, they would be the ones holding the knife, branding, or on their horse dragging calves. They are the seasoned, the veteran Christian, of life and on the ranch. They can still be rough around the edges much like the apostle Peter. They’ve been through much in their lives and will tell you it was God seeing them through.
If you’re one of those veterans and more seasoned in life, please don’t sit on the fence. I’m going to be selfish and say you have much to teach me. There’s still calves to be branded, cattle to be worked, heifers to be calved. More importantly their is life ahead of me and I want to know how you walked yours out with the Lord. How and when did He carry you? Where in God’s Word did you find encouragement, hope, and reassurance? What has He shown you through His Word? What prayers has He answered in your life?
If you’re one of the next generations don’t miss out on this wealth of knowledge sitting before you. They have seen things you can only imagine and God has brought them through it all.
“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”
Titus 2:1-5 NASB
Well, I best call Ol’ Jim, he’s still got much to teach me and I can’t wait to learn.
I’ll see ya’ll out in the pasture!
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Posted in: Featured, Ranch Life
About Wendel Elliott
Wendel Elliott is a cowboy preacher, serving right at six years as pastor of Big Bend Cowboy Church in Alpine, TX. He also manages a cow/calf operation in the area. Wendel's writing and messages come straight from ranching experiences and the Western way of life....