I don’t know about you, but I have difficulty identifying with the image of Jesus as the Great Shepherd. This is not said to be negative. I simply have no experience with sheep. I was around cows for a couple of years though. Therefore, today I would like to talk to you about "Cowherding Christians."

My grandad was a farmer and for many years he had milk cows. I can close my eyes and almost see him today heading out across the field in his old Chevy truck, rounding up the cows. True, he didn’t dress much like a cowboy, but he brought home the cows nevertheless. Some of the cows would stray and he would have to go "round them up." Most of the cows, however, simply walked on toward the barn when it came near milking time. They did what they were used to doing and since seven days a week the…