You know Phil,
         I get the point of this message, but what I think that we 
all miss is the fact that prejudice isn't just a sin of the rich and 
well dressed.  It also belongs to the poor and more casual.  These 
types of stories are always cast to make the rich look like the bad guys.
           When Greg was in seminary in Chicago, we provided special 
music to different churches around the area to help pay the 
bills.  One time, we were asked to sing at a church and we forgot to 
ask if the dress code was casual or formal, meaning suit for Greg, 
and a dress for me.  Well, we decided that it was smarter to dress 
mor formaly, just in case and, when we arrived, we were out of place, 
clothing wise, that is. Sure enough, the dress was casual, not 
because of lack of money, but because that was the basic attitude of 
those who attend.  Sure enough,  we got looks.
           There are people who believe that they are more spiritual 
because they dress casually.  That can be a form of pride in 
itself.  To say that God had never been in the church in your story 
because, in the cowboy's opinion, the people were too focused on 
clothes, is a prejudiced statement.  The cowboy couldn't know.  He 
didn't talk to the people to find out where their hearts 
were.  Perhaps they choose to dress well to show honor and respect to 
the Lord.  Sure, the preacher was making some prejudiced assumptions 
of his own, but, in my opinion, he may not have been the only one at 
fault here.
Kathy



At 02:24 PM 5/7/2007, you wrote:
>      One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before
>services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were
>spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt, and boots that
>were very worn and ragged.  In his hand he carried a worn out old
>hat and an equally worn out bible. The church he entered was in a
>very upscale and exclusive part of the city.  It was the largest
>and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen.  The
>people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive
>clothes and accessories.
>      As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No
>one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at
>his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.
>      The preacher gave a long sermon about Hellfire and brimstone
>and a stern lecture on how much money the church needed to do
>God's work.
>      As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher
>approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor.  "I surely
>will, Preacher," the old cowboy replied pleasantly, "Ifen I ken."
>      The well dressed preacher said, "Before you come back in here
>again, have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks would be
>appropriate attire for worship."
>      The old cowboy assured the preacher he would do as he
>requested.
>      The next Sunday, he showed up for the services wearing the
>same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, hat, and worn Bible.  Once again
>he was completely shunned and ignored.
>      The preacher approached the man and said, "I thought I asked
>you to speak to God before you came back to our church."
>      "I surely did do so, Preacher," replied the old cowboy.
>      "Well, then," the preacher said indignantly, "if you spoke to
>God, what did He tell you the proper attire should be for
>worshiping in here?"
>      The old cowboy smiled respectfully, shifting the tooth pick
>to the left side of his mouth, and said slowly, "Well, sir, God
>told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear.  He says
>He ain't never been in this church before."
>
>
>It Sounds Like God To Me.
>www.SafePlaceFellowship.com