“An Ordinary Man,” “The Listening Lesson,” Jim Wining shares a personal story about purchasing a horse to illustrate the importance of paying close attention to details and listening carefully.
The Story of Stockings
- The Purchase: About 30 years ago, Jim bought a gentle paint horse named Stockings. During the purchase, the previous owner mentioned he kept the horse in a corral and fed him only oats 01:42 Opens in a new window .
- The Mistake: Jim assumed the owner was just being lazy and decided to let Stockings out into a lush green pasture to graze 02:33 Opens in a new window .
- The Consequence: Within 24 hours, the horse began to “founder,” a condition where the moisture in the grass caused him to become crippled 03:02 Opens in a new window . Jim realized too late that the owner’s specific feeding routine was a necessity, not a preference 03:41 Opens in a new window .
- The Lesson: For the next 25 years, Stockings had to live almost entirely in a corral. Jim reflects that he failed to pay attention to the underlying details of what the owner was telling him 03:52 Opens in a new window .
Spiritual Application
Jim connects this experience to how Christians should approach the Bible:
Mission of Acts Ministry: He explains that his organization, Acts Media Group, is dedicated to advocating for this unity among all Christians through the Holy Spirit 04:43 Opens in a new window .
Pay Attention to Jesus’ Words: He encourages listeners to look closely at the specific language used by Jesus in the scriptures 04:22 Opens in a new window .
Unity in Christ: Specifically referencing John 17, Jim highlights that Jesus’ heart and final prayer were for believers to come together in unity 04:34 Opens in a new window .
