Cowboy’s “Code of the West”

By Rev. Deanna Woodward

Maple Leaf Parish –

United Methodist Churches of Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston and Spring Valley

For about the last 15 years, our parish church in Cherry Grove has hosted a Cowboy Church Service at 6 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. Musicians from around the area come to share their vocal and instrumental music talents and all are welcome to attend. We even have a washtub bass player and occasionally a musical saw!  Everyone feels free to wear their blue jeans, cowboy boots and cowboy hats – or other apparel.

A church member came across the following “Cowboy’s Code of the West,” and I supplied the appropriate scripture verse for each item in the “code.” This was shared at a recent cowboy service and is good advice for both cowboys and city slickers:

1. Live each day with courage.  Real courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. Have courage for the big tasks and patience for the small.  Psalm 31:24 “Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

2. Take pride in your work.  Cowboying doesn’t build character – it reveals it.  Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Colossians 3:23 “Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not people, knowing that from the Lord you will receive an inheritance as your reward.”

3. Always finish what you start. When you’re riding through hell, keep riding.  2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”

4. Do what has to be done.  It’s not easy to do the right thing, but nobody said it would be. 1 Corinthians 15:58  “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

5. Be tough but fair.  If you ever find yourself questioning what’s fair in any given situation, all you have to ask is, how would I want to be treated?  Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”

6. When you make a promise, keep it.  A person is only as good as his word.  We all need someone we can trust and count on. 1 Corinthians 1:9  “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

7. Ride for the brand.  The cowboy’s greatest devotion was to his calling and way of life.  John 14:6  “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.’”

8. Talk less and say more.  When there’s nothing more to say, don’t keep saying it.  Remember to keep it simple and keep it true.  James 5:12  “Do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation.”

9. Remember that some things aren’t for sale.  To the cowboy the best things aren’t “things.”  Our honor and our reputation aren’t for sale.  Matthew 6:19  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

10. Know where to draw the line. There’s a right and there’s wrong. Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”