Let the Light Shine!
You know, they say on them interwebs that rodeo came about as the result of cowboys wanting to compare their particular ranching skills of the day. It is thought that the first documented contest was held in Santa Fe, NM in 1847; it is believed to have been a bronc riding contest. According to what I was able to find, there’s plenty of others who say they were first. Some that insist that they were first to hold a rodeo: Deer Trail, Colorado; Pecos, Texas; Prescott, Arizona; Winfield, Kansas; Dodge City, Kansas; Miles City, Montana; Cheyenne, Wyoming. It is believed that Denver, in 1887, was the first to charge admission.
In the early days, they only competed in common ranch events such as roping and saddle bronc.
Buffalo Bill’s traveling show started up around 1883. It is believed that steer wrestling and bull riding came into being during his travelin’ rodeos. And there were other things that were mostly for show such as trick roping.
But it seems that, these days, most people want to see those 8 second rides which come at the end of every good rodeo. Why they even have bull ridin’ without all the other events! I can’t help but think that God created cows more for us to eat and to enjoy their hides for belts and saddles and such!
Let’s open the gate in John 1. John liked to hit the ground runnin’!
John 1:1-5 (nasb)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Right out of the chute, we see who Jesus is. God sent His Son to show us the way to eternal life in Him! And the writer, John, didn’t want us to miss the first turn out of the chute.
In the beginning was the Word… The Word was with God… Word was God…
He was there with God in the beginning… Jesus is the Word!
Jesus was there back in Genesis, and Jesus is with us today!
The Word exists eternally. Jesus is the Word! He was there in the beginning with God because Jesus always was, is and always will be. The word was God. The word is God! Jesus is God.
And Jesus gives us Spiritual life.
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “ I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12 nasb)
That’s what it’s all about, Charlie Brown! The world has it all wrong! It’s all about Jesus. He is Life and all life is in Him!
Back up in verse 4, we see that Jesus’ life is the light of men. In John 14:6, Jesus said…, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (nasb)
Jesus shines into the darkness as He continues to reveal His Father. But sadly, many reject Jesus today. He wasn’t understood then and many reject Him today! They don’t get it.
When light enters into a room then darkness must flee!
Jesus is not just Light, but He is also Truth! Jesus is God the Son, and He is the only way to get to God the Father.
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine!And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST!