There was a time when having a good saddle was very important to many people in order to do the jobs they needed to do. Whether it was riding bad broncs, or roping wild cattle in some of the challenging elements of nature, it would be very important to their safety and possibly be a matter of life and death. If a saddle was that critical to their well being they probably took some care to select a good one. There are still many people who are involved in this "western lifestyle" to various degrees. There is a huge range in the quality of saddles available. Some are a joy to ride, and others would make you appreciate walking they are so uncomfortable. Some will help you to do the job better, while others just seem to work against you. Others might break at some critical time. Does your saddle help you or hinder you in whatever you are doing on horseback? Is it time for a change? As a saddle maker I think about saddles a lot. I greatly enjoy building a top quality hand made saddle that will be a source of joy and comfort to it's owner and his/her horse(s). Hopefully these saddles will stand the test of time for their owners and not let them down at all.
There are other choices that are more important than the saddle you choose. For example, many people speak of going to heaven when they die. They seem to assume that everyone, or at least all good people, go there when they die. Is this really true? Are all religions, belief systems, or philosophies ultimately the same? Do all roads lead to heaven? Logically this is impossible, because many, if not all, religions claim that their way is the only way to heaven or eternal life. Is there a way to know which one, if any, is the right one?
Let's start at the beginning. There are two basic world views. Either God created everything like the Bible claims, or everything evolved out of nothing like the evolutionist claims. There is no scientific evidence for evolution, and it is an untestable theory at best. Biologically, it is proven to be impossible. There are lots of changes in our world but none where something evolves into something bigger and better. The evidence for Creation however is overwhelming. The incredible design in everything is evidence for a Creator There is no way that all the complex parts of even our own bodies could
evolve.
The Bible is God's Word or message to us. It has the answers to all of life's hard questions. Many say that a loving, all-powerful God would never allow suffering and death. These are a direct result of man's sin. The fact that we know that some things are wrong, attests to God's existence. Every person has some sense of right and wrong (morality). Many people believe that the 10 commandments are a good moral code to live by, and if they try to keep these they will do alright and will make it into heaven .... Do you think you'll go to heaven? Do you think you're a good person? Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever lusted? God considers lust adultery. If you answered yes to these 3 questions, you have broken 3 of the 10 commandments already, and are admitting that you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart and you will have to face a holy, pure God on judgment day. All who are guilty, are sinners and will be sentenced to hell. None of us passed the test. No one will get into heaven on their own goodness. We need someone to save us from our sins.
God in His mercy has provided a way for you to be saved from the wrath that is to come. He came as a man in the person of Jesus Christ to take the punishment that you & I deserved, upon Himself so that you & I could be forgiven. Admit you are guilty and believe that Jesus paid the price for your sins and put your faith in what He did for you. You must repent of (turn away from) your sins and place your trust in Jesus, and then you will be saved and be granted eternal life. It is that simple.
I repented from my sins years ago, and now have peace with God and a relationship with Him that is growing. Through faith in God's promises in the Bible, I know that I have eternal life. I enjoy a lot of things, but none of them are as important to me as this relationship with God and the peace it brings. I would be glad to talk to you, and urge you to check these things out for yourself. Find the answers to the questions you have by reading the Bible and asking God to reveal Himself to you. There are some good resources out there as well. Feel free to talk to me about them. Choosing the right saddle is important for your activities with your horses. Choosing the right path to prepare for eternity is even more important.