The man said, "I'm going to go to town to sell it."

The pastor said, "You ought to say you're going to sell it if it be the Lord's will."

The man said, "The Lord's will has nothing to do with it. I raised the horse to sell, and I'm going to go sell it."

The pastor said, "I'm telling you, life is short. You ought to say 'if it be the Lord's will.'"

The man said, "Look, I raised this horse to sell. I've got an appointment with a potential buyer. The Lord's will doesn't have anything to do with it." With that he walked off, dragging the horse. The pastor kept painting the fence. About an hour and a half later he looked up and saw the man walking back toward him. His pants were gone, his boots were gone, he was trying to cover himself with his shirttail, his face was cut, and his hair was messed up.

The pastor asked, "What in the world happened to you?"

The man said, "Well, I stayed here and talked to you so bloomin' long I was late for my appointment. I cut across a corn field to save time. The farmer who owns the field saw my horse, but didn't see me. He shot my horse. The horse fell on me, then kicked me in the eye. I couldn't get out from underneath him without pulling off my boots and britches. I got up and the farmer started shootin' at me. Gettin' away, I caught myself in a barbed-wire fence. That's what happened to me."

The pastor asked, "Well, where are you going now?"

The man said, "Well, I'm goin' home--if it be the Lord's will."

Is God's will working in your life? Or are you driving your will?

Ron Newhouse