Bible and Bit

Reshaping Bad Habits – When you need a bigger stick

How quickly can habits be formed? Almost immediately! And it always takes a “bigger stick” to remove a habit than to begin correctly – even when a habit is only ONE DAY old.

As a horse trainer and one who has studied leadership for decades, I firmly believe there is precious little conceptual difference between training horses, dogs, or children. Oh, and you can add the relationship you have with God to that list as well. After all, He is a Teacher and Leader without equal.

"Why? Because I can."

After a four and a half year hiatus my horses were reintroduced to the hot walker yesterday. [A hot walker has four elevated arms to which horses are hitched to lead them in a circle at a walk.]  Back at the beginning of 2007 these three horses were veteran hot walkers… they’d go around clockwise or counter clockwise obediently like good little ponies should.

Thirty Minutes to a Bad Habit

Yesterday they walked again – different hot walker, same trainer. Two of the horses tested the walker to see if they could stop it. They could and they did. As soon as they learned they could stop the walker they saw no earthly reason to keep walking. I encouraged them to continue then put them away.

The walker was just wired up and the electrician had backed off the tension so there was little pull when my horses tested the walker strength. This morning we adjusted the tension and put the horses back on. Guess what? They tried to stop the walker as soon as it began moving. Over and over they made a bigger effort until they finally got the walker stopped, even though they were getting a pretty good pull on their halters.

Like any horse mine seek the pathway of least resistance, and the least amount of work. Horses are pretty consistent and dedicated to opportunities to sleep…

Had the tension been properly adjusted yesterday the horses would have given a token attempt to stop the walker, and finding it did not bend to their pony will, they would have continued walking and been good from that moment on. But no, I was a day late.

So today there had to be a bigger stick, a greater pull, and a little discomfort. But, after many attempts to stop the walker the horses figured they better just keep walking. Tomorrow they’ll try to stop it again. Why? Because yesterday they got away with it. They LEARNED it was possible.

“Because I can!”

So what do I take away from this experience? A reminder that it’s far easier to teach something correctly the first time than to need a bigger stick later. And — that my always faithful God will increase the tension whenever necessary to break a habit I insisted on developing.

• Why do horses do aggravating things?  – Because they can.
• Why do children do aggravating things? – Because they can.

It’s the responsibility of the trainer, the parent, or the teacher to change bad habits into good ones.

Wickedly Ignorant – Politics, Proverbs, and Horse Problems

Effective horse trainers often observe owners having great difficulty with their horse; trailer loading and lack of control under saddle are two of the most frequent issues. The owner cannot understand why his or her horse refuses to do as requested.

Such horse owners are ignorant. Not unintelligent, but a lack of experience or education leaves them in the dark to wallow about in frustration. I can frequently see at a glance what the problem is and how to solve it.

Similar situations occur in any area of expertise – one person is completely unable to fix their problem while someone with experience looks on in perfect understanding. This situation exists in the state of our economy and society today. Those in charge can’t figure out how to fix the decline they preside over.

Proverbs 4:19 provides a clue…

The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

No, horse owners aren’t wicked, but they are negligent if they berate or abuse the horse because of their ignorance. Are some of our leaders negligent or wicked?

The Battle Between the World and Eternity

Our eternity depends on what we do today – in what, or whom, we place our trust.  Armies, politicians, money, celebrity, which of these can carry you to eternal victory?

Consider these words from Psalm 20:7-8

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

They have bowed down and fallen;

But we have risen and stand upright.

From Dust to Rust

Sorrow Today, Joy Tomorrow

The devastating tornadoes, floods, and fire across this United States bring immense sorrow into the lives of thousands, if not millions.Take comfort from John 16:22:

Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your joy no one will take from you. ~ Jesus

Above each storm cloud and billow of smoke there is a silver lining. We are not alone and all things will work to the good for those who love and trust in God. [Romans 8:28]

With God, It's All Good

Are You Ashamed?

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” ~ Mark 8:38, Jesus

I don’t care what anyone tells you, or what excuse you give yourself, there is nothing in the whole of your life separate from your walk with the Lord. Nothing.

Do you wake each morning with your face washed by a glorious dawn reflected from His face? Or, are you ashamed to take Christ to work, to school, to parties, to the voting booth, or the neighbor’s cook out?

Watch the news. Speak with your friends. Is there anywhere in your life you are ashamed to be seen in the company of the Risen Christ?

Snatching Defeat from Victory

Doing anything once is not success unless your goals are singular.

“I wish to stand up.” One who has overcome pain and rehabilitation to achieve something as basic as standing up has a larger goal; to stand up again, then again.

“I wish to run a 5K race.” Crossing the finish line the first time doesn’t make you a runner, ready for a marathon.

Riders who once cheat their horse into both leads often think they’re ready to go show on the rail. If my horses did a sliding stop today, “Woo-hoo, my horse is a reiner!”

Sliding into Victory

Reaching the peak once only means you get a glimpse of the view. Almost immediately you may lose your balance and fall backward. If you equate doing something once with success you are well on your way to failure.

Victory is when the tip of the mountain becomes a broad plain. When you can stand up every time you try. When you can run every race without collapsing.When your horse develops beautifully balanced lead departures and does it properly every time you cue, and in every circumstance, and sliding stops are automatic.

Christians, victory is in the every day pursuit of relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not a destination, it is a journey.

Grace Among The Ruins – After the Quake

Even as the effects of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident in Japan begin to ripple across the globe, Christians receive even greater grace. Our spirits remain calm and we are secure in the shadow of our Father’s care.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

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Visit www.AmazingGraysMinistry.com.

May God continue to richly bless you all.

The Peace of Grace

The Still Small Voice Behind the Earthquake

Japan was hit by an 8.9 magnitutde earthquake today. What is the message for Christians? Are we in the end times?

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. ~ Kings 19:11-12

Read the full article,  End Times and Earthquakes – The King is Coming at www.LynnBaber.net.

Horse trainers and Christian ministers – in search of excellence

God does not grade on the curve. Standards are fixed; the evaluation of your relationship with Him is not based on the successes or failures of anyone else.

Pass/Fail exams don’t provide the pinpoint accuracy of measuring accomplishment like that of comparing performance to a fixed standard. Faithful horse trainers and Christian ministers alike intuitively work on this same foundation of absolutes.

There is a great deal of difference between galloping a circle on a right lead and galloping a circle on a right lead while remaining a specified distance from a fixed center point.  Try it.

Oswald Chambers begins today’s entry in My Utmost for His Highest by calling Christians  to consider what standard they use to guide their behavior.

“It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide; veneered over with Christian sentiment.”

Are you hoping for a Pass/Fail grade, or do you pursue a higher standard?

National Champion Regal Society