Code of the West Series, Book 2, Stephen Bly
THE WRONG SIDE SADDLE SCABBARD
I got a fax with a sample of a book cover for one of my upcoming western novels. The artist did a great job on One Went to Denver and the Other Went Wrong. However, there was one glaring difficulty. He had the saddle scabbard on the wrong side of the saddle.
Now, I know, not many readers would care what side of the saddle my hero, Tap Andrews, carried his rifle. But it made a difference to me.
What’s a Saddle Scabbard?
A saddle scabbard is a heavy leather case that your rifle or carbine slips into. Usually you fasten them to the saddle horn. The height of the scabbard must be adjusted to come at the bend of the knee.
Most riders carry the gun on the left side, the stock facing away from him. This arrangement allows them to have the gun available on the same side of the horse when they get off to shoot. Well, this artist had the scabbard hanging from the right side. I’m afraid Tap would get shot before he had time to run around to the other side of Brownie and retrieve his Winchester ’73.
The Old West & the Faith Realm
In the Old West, a man had to keep his guns and saddle scabbards handy. In the Christian realm, we’ve got a few weapons too, and it’s crucial for spiritual survival to keep them close by. According to Scripture, one of our best weapons is “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). That is our Bible.
Do You Know Where Your Bible Is?
Is it around the house someplace? Or is it in a box of family treasures stored out the garage? Where do you normally leave it?
Maybe you’re like me and keep one right by the dining room table for family devotion time. Another is always on my office desk. And a third tucks in the side pocket of my Suburban. A fourth lies in the nightstand by the bed.
If you can’t get to it, the book’s not very useful to you. But if you don’t know how to use it, that’s not much help either.
Get In the Habit
It’s not difficult to develop the skills needed to use your Bible. All you have to do is read it over and over and over again. Also, take to other believers about what you’re learning.
But maybe you already knew that. The problem is, too many folks ignore the problem until they get into a jam. By then, it just might be too late.
That goes for the Old West cowboy trying to tug a saddle gun out of the scabbard, as well as the modern disciple trying to quickly lay hold of Bible truth.
Stephen Bly
Circa 1996
Man With Bible Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
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You Might Also Enjoy . . .
It’s Your Misfortune & None of my Own, Book 1, Code of the West Series, Stephen Bly
The Code of the West Series by award-winning western author Stephen Bly.
Find all six novels at the two links below: Code of the West Series, Books 1-3 or here: Code of the West Series, Books 4-6
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