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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HOPE (joyful, confident expectation in salvation) (03/05/15)
Testimony time at Wild Rose Community Chapel

I’ve seen a ton of horse manure in my life but the bright green steaming pile of fresh barn biscuits on my boot this morning was ’bout the purttiest.

S’pose I should introduce myself for them that don’t know me. I’m Hank Ottoman. I run Chance Ranch out on old Hwy 57. We take in them things that most have given up on.

Last month a teenager named Betsy joined us. ‘Course that’s not her given name. That’s confidential like. She chose Betsy when she landed on our step. A right good name too, if I don’t say so myself.

Anyway, she was beat up some by life. Ev’r since she was a child. No wonder she ended up on the street. Barely surviving. She got mixed up in - well - let’s just say no one cared ‘bout her.

But the Law finally caught up to her. I tend to hang round the court when I know a young person is being arraigned. Judge Peters knows me. So he put her in my care.

She arrived all angry and sullen like. Needless to say she weren’t that trusting of people. Kinda like a feral cat.

Oh, now … please ‘cuse me. I don’t mean that in any derogatory way. Just she was all skitterish and didn’t look no one in the eye. All hope had seeped out of her years ago.

But hope is our specialty. We’ve learnt over the years that without hope no amount of rehab, counselling, or behavioural change has much chance to stick.

Don’t get me wrong, all them things is good. However, if there ain’t no hope, there ain’t no future.

Course y’all here are church folks. You know I mean hope secured in our Papa God. The hope that believes He’s always good, has good plans for us. A future and a hope the Good Book sez. The kind that no matter what circumstance comes our way, our hope remains fixed like an anchor to His goodness, His righteousness, and His love.

But thems mighty high falutin’ ideals when all ya ever experienced is hurt, hate, and judgement.

Sorry I got a little preachy just now.

Y’all are probably wondering what horse pattuties has to do with anything.

Well, ev’ryone who comes to Chance Ranch, gets pardnered up. Betsy was assigned Porky.

I hear ya chuckling. Some of you know him.

Anyway, she learnt how to brush him, muck out his stall and feed him. And last week she had her first ride.

After Thursday’s ride the miracle I was waiting for happened.

I saw hope seep back into her being.

I know If I try and talk about how good Papa God is before this happens it’s like water off a duck’s back. So at our next meeting I finally got to introduce her to the God of Hope.

She weren’t ready to jump up and sing Hallelujah or anything but she didn’t get up and walk out either. So I gave her an assignment to try and see circumstances from an expectancy of hope in a good God rather than from expecting things to go a certain predetermined way.

She was doing purtty good up ’til yesterday.

Dang it all if the feed room door didn’t get left open and ‘course Porky got into it. Betsy found him with his faced stuffed in a grain bag. He’d eaten half of it. Enough to get the vet involved.

It was touch and go all night. Yet through all the long hours of walking and watching, praying and pleading, Betsy remained at Porky’s side. When I mentioned the possibility of losing the old gelding to the colic she started to cry.

Then out came the question ‘If God is so good why would He allow that?”

The only answer I give is ‘God is good and I choose to put my hope in Him no matter what happens in this life’.

I could see Betsy struggle with this. Heck I was struggling with it. And wouldn’t ya know, just then, that old gelding up and poops right on my boot.

After I assured Betsy Porky was going to be okay we had ourselves a good laugh. Her eyes lit up brighter than ever.

So this morning I’m here to thank God for sparing that old cayuse’s life and for the opportunity to lead the hurting to Him.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
03/14/15
Different and unique approach to the subject.

Well done,

God bless~
Toni Babcock 
03/15/15
Funny and enjoyable to read. Yes, you are right, I was wondering what horse pattuties had to do with anything. But you tied up all the loose ends beautifully. Well done!
C D Swanson 
03/19/15
Congratulations!

God bless~
Noel Mitaxa 
03/19/15
Atmospheric writing, with warmth and humour flowing through the hope that keeps on coming. Congratulations on your EC.
Ellen Carr 
03/20/15
Congratulations, Terry. I love your story and the 'voice' you have used. It's a lovely story of hope.
Roy Proctor
04/08/15
I like wiring like this. It applies God's love into concrete situations. As a result, people are brought to the Lord.

Some may not like the sub standard English, but it adds to the uncanny simplicity of God's love.