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| Stephen Bly with Sundance |
Stephen Bly
Copyright©1993,2010
I spoke at a
conference in a large eastern U.S. city and was driven to the location by a
friend. Even though security guards patrolled the parking lot, I discovered
that crowbar looking devices had to be bolted across vehicle steering wheels.
“To protect from theft,” my friend explained.
In the Old West
days, most everyone rode horses. Nothing could prevent stealing an animal. No
blinking lights, sirens, beepers, or steer-lock devices existed. But in spite
of the fact horses often stood out in the open, horse stealing was a rare
event. Part of the reason? Horse thieves got hung. No trial. The sentence got
carried out at the nearest tree. That tended to discourage horse theft.
But did the
punishment fit the crime? That’s the real test of justice.
Most cowboys rode
$10 horses and owned $40 saddles. A death sentence for stealing a $10 item
seems stiff. But in those days a horse meant survival. Those on foot had little
chance of safe travel, what with wild animals, outlaws, cattle and buffalo
stampedes, range fires, renegades and criminals, snakes and thirst as enemies.
A horse provided a running chance.
We all need a
fighting chance to overcome hardships. A horse may not help in a spiritual
wilderness, but faith will. Nobody has the right to steal or undermine
another’s faith.
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| Caution: Snake Area |
Jesus warns, “If
anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be
better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his
neck” (Mark 9:42).
To mess with a
weaker one’s spiritual conscience is a capital offense.
Think about it.
What actions or words could cause a child of God to stumble?
How could you strengthen someone’s faltering faith
today?
4 comments:
any specific ideas on strengthening faith?
For His Glory. . .practice trust in each daily challenge you face. Get still. Affirm that you know God can handle this situation. Ask for His help. Thank Him ahead of time for His aid. That's one way. Another is to keep a steady practice of reading Scripture and keeping close contact with believers who have a strong faith. Each of those habits will keep you trusting & believing until He comes for you.
Blessings,
Janet
This is a thought provoking post. At first, I thought hanging a thief for stealing horses is just absurd. But, you explained clearly why such sentence is most fit to a horse thief, which made me realize of the animal's importance. Thanks for the enlightenment.
28. This is a thought provoking post. At first, I thought hanging a thief for stealing horses is just absurd but you explained clearly on the justification of hanging horse thieves, which made me realize of the animal's importance. Thanks for the enlightenment.
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