The weather forecast predicted a sunny day with rain overnight. Driving down a rural Florida highway with a friend that day, we noticed a herd of cattle standing and grazing in the foreground. Further back in the field was another herd of cattle laying down. Growing up on a farm it was considered to rain when the cows were laying down. My assumption that day was that the foreground was the current weather forecast, and the cows in the background, well, they were the extended forecast! Funny how we can rely on cows for the forecast when the meteorologists can't seem to get it right. God speaks to the cows and in turn they relay the weather, and we believe the "HOLY COW". Cow forecasting, well it's just an old wives' tale, I guess you can't be a young wife to participate!
The reality is that cows can spend up to twelve hours a day lying on the ground, relaxing, and napping. Yes, cows lie down.
When it's going to rain. They also lie down when it's going to be sunny and partly cloudy. The state of Florida ranks in the top ten for the most cows in the country. New Yorkers rank much lower, maybe "they don't have a cow " as much!
The phrase "HOLY COW" originated as early as 1913 by baseball players and became associated with several American Baseball Broadcasters with Phil Rizzuto being the most popular in our generation. The term expresses surprise or excitement.
Relying on a cow has been with us throughout history to the actual point of worship. During the 13th century in the book of Exodus, the Hebrews in Egypt worshipped a cow called the Golden Calf and considered it their God. The Hindu religion still to this day believes that a cow is God. Being a Christian I can say that I have never worshipped cows, but if I were possibly a cattle rancher it could have been a whole different ballgame for me because I worshipped my career for most of my life, I put my career before God. Idols have been modified to the current times with many of them actually being good things. Identity is the most popular one concerning social media, skills or achievements. We abandon who we are in Christ and place our identity in other things. Money, material items, physical appearance, entertainment, sex, comfort, smart phones, influence and fame are now the top Idols.
If you grew up near the small town of Red Hook, NY then a certain ice cream joint would have tested your faith between ice cream and God. The place is called "HOLY COW" and there always seems to be a congregation standing outside to get into the place. Further in the background on the west side of the place you can always find people relaxing and grazing on ice cream. The place eventually became a sin for me according to my doctor as I would indulge every day with the frozen treat. The fat molecules became very sociable and loved to hang out with each other, and in turn protruding my stomach and clogging my arteries. My faith trusted in God to rid of my addiction and ironically, I found another congregation a couple doors down and it was the first church I went to again, to pray about the body being your temple. The term "HOLY COW" is frequently used by Christians today, but its purpose is to eliminate curse words from daily conversations.
Idols have become a major influence in today's society and it's a hard battle to remove them and stay focused. I have to constantly assess the situation to not get caught up in them and I'm sure you can say the same. If not then you are already snagged, life has become a cash cow for you. It may be time for you to take the bull by horns, because if we all don't, Jesus will be back real soon like a bull in a china shop, it will be a "HOLY COW" moment and hopefully it won't happen until the cows come home. The steaks are always high, and the cream can be found at the top, so maybe it's time for you to start letting it settle out and place God at the top of your list, letting Him speak to you on whether or not in your life.
DEUTERONOMY 9:16 ESV
And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God. You had made yourselves a golden calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the Lord had commanded you.
EXODUS 20:3 ESV
"You shall have no other gods before me.
ROMANS 1:22-23 ESV
22. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23. And exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
COLLOSIANS 3:5-6 ESV
5. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you; sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
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