The Gospel of John Cowboy Style
A Paraphrase of the Gospel in Cowboy Language
by
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Chapter Two
1. Just a few days after Jesus came back from forty days of bein’ tested in the wilderness, He rode out to a weddin’ with his family. Mary, His mama was there.
2. Jesus and His new pardners, (that is his dee-sipuls) had all been invited to attend.
3. The family of the couple gettin’ hitched were havin’ a big barbeque for the whole town. The wine, which was the favored beverage in those days, well it had plumb run out long before the celebratin’ was over. Jesus’ mama, Mary, came and told her Son of the urgent situation.
4. Now Jesus had not pictured His ministry a’startin’ off in this particular way. So, He said to His mama, “Well, ma’am, what does this thing have to do with Me? If I do what you’re gettin’ at, I will be startin’ down a trail with no turnin’ back. I’m not so sure it’s time yet.”
5. His mama just said to the hired hands, “Yall do exactly what He tells ya.”
6. Well, it just so happened that there was a half-dozen big clay water pots sittin’ there empty. The folks invited to the hitchin’ and BBQ had used ‘em to wash up on account of their religious customs in those days. I ‘magine every one of them would hold 20 or 30 gallons.
7. Jesus said to the hands, “Fill these pots with water.” So they filled ‘em up to the brim.
8. As soon as they were done fillin’ up those big pots, Jesus said, “Now dip up a ladleful out of one of the pots and take it to your foreman.”
9. When the foreman over the servin’ of the guests took a sip of that water what was now wine. He said, “Yee-ha, I don’t know where this came from, but I’ll take it!” (Of course the hands knew where it had come from.) Then the foreman hollered out for the groom.
10. And he said to him, “I’ve hired on for lots of shindigs. Every outfit serves the good wine first, but you’ve been holdin’ out. I’ll be dogged, if you haven’t gone and saved the best wine for last!”
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About the Book
The Gospel of John Cowboy Style: A Paraphrase of the Gospel in Cowboy Language steps into the boots of countless books, compositions, paintings, and sculptures that have, over the centuries, turned to the gospels for inspiration and to particular cultures for means of expression. Author Mel Hooten, drawing upon personal history and long experience, retells the gospel of John in the lingo of the cowboy. From start to finish, including both the gospel writer’s narrative and every figure’s words, this retelling presents the gospel afresh through the straight-talking dialect of the Texas Panhandle’s traditional cowboys. With this approach, The Gospel of John Cowboy Style presents familiar passages in a new light. In John 3:16, for example, Jesus says, “Ya see, God loves this world so much, that He gave His one and only Son to die, so that every man, woman, boy, and girl who believes in Him will not die, but will be a-livin’ forever.” If you struggle with unfamiliar words in traditional translations of the Bible, The Gospel of John Cowboy Style offers an easy-to-understand retelling of the good news of Jesus Christ. Whether you love the heritage of the American West or enjoy the thrill of hearing the gospel in new ways, this paraphrase will rope you in with its powerful mixture of cowboy culture and gospel content.
About the Author
Mel Hooten knows the cowboy culture and life from growing up in the Texas Panhandle. After serving as a traditional pastor, he returned to his roots, starting the Cowboy Church of Tarrant County near Fort Worth in 2010. This ministry fulfills his lifelong calling. He and his wife, Karen, live in Aubrey, Texas.