Over the years fishermen have tried a multitude of methods to catch catfish. One of the most fun and productive ways to haul in these “whisker-kitties” is by a method known as jug fishing, or juggin’. A fishing jug is basically a device made by using strong fishing line tied to a floating object like a milk jug. You tie one end of the fishing line to the floating jug and on the other end of the line you tie on a hook. After baiting the hook, the fishermen will drop the jug into the water and wait for the catfish to take the bait. A single jug fisherman may put out 50 or more jugs at one time. Periodically, the fishermen will check the jugs and knows that he’s got one when the jug bobs up and down and races across the water. Jugs can be made from a variety of floating materials. Today, a popular material used to make such a fishing device is a swimming noodle like the ones kids play with in swimming pools. These long foam noodles are perfect when cut into 12 to 20 inch sections. Therefore, sometimes in these here parts you’ll hear this sport called “noodling” instead of jugging. There are specific laws that pertain to this type of fishing. For example, there are specific baits that can and can’t be used, laws pertaining to the maximum number of noodles that can be fished at one time and a law that each noodle must have the owner’s name and address written on it to be legal.
A few weeks ago, the “Heart of a Sportsman” fellas held a noodle-making clinic for the kids. We taught them how to make the noodles, how they work, and what the law says about using this type of fishing device. Then, a few nights later, we headed to the lake and put the noodles (and the boys) to the test. As the moon’s light shimmered off the lake, we baited the hooks and threw in the noodles, each one inscribed with the name of the kid that it belonged to. It wasn’t long until one of the noodles was dancing across the water, and then another…and another. The kids had a blast (and the old dudes did too!) pulling in those fish. Each time we noticed that we had one on, the kids couldn’t wait to see whose noodle had the fish. It didn’t seem to matter how big the fish was, but the question that was most important to the kids was whom did the noodle belong to that caught it.
I recently read about a similar question posed in the Bible. In the book of I Samuel, a man named David came across an Egyptian slave that had been left to die by his master. After David and his men revived the man from near death, David asked him an important question, “to whom do you belong…?” What a question. It’s a vital question that we must all ask ourselves. Who do we belong to? Just like the kids who looked to see who’s name was written on the fishing noodles, what name would be written indelibly on your heart as your owner. Would it be a company’s name or a hobby? Would it be your own name or the name of someone else? There could be as many possibilities of ownership as there are ways to catch a catfish. Or would the name written there be the creator of the universe, the one who sent his son to die for each of us, and who loves us more than we can imagine. This simple question posed by the little guys fishing that night and the same one posed by David to the Egyptian slave long ago, should cause each of us to look at our heart and the inscription thereon of the owner. I know that it sure made me think about mine. My hope is that on each heart, the writing is clear and the script perfectly legible, spelling out “Jesus Christ, owner.” Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Paslm 100:3
A few weeks ago, the “Heart of a Sportsman” fellas held a noodle-making clinic for the kids. We taught them how to make the noodles, how they work, and what the law says about using this type of fishing device. Then, a few nights later, we headed to the lake and put the noodles (and the boys) to the test. As the moon’s light shimmered off the lake, we baited the hooks and threw in the noodles, each one inscribed with the name of the kid that it belonged to. It wasn’t long until one of the noodles was dancing across the water, and then another…and another. The kids had a blast (and the old dudes did too!) pulling in those fish. Each time we noticed that we had one on, the kids couldn’t wait to see whose noodle had the fish. It didn’t seem to matter how big the fish was, but the question that was most important to the kids was whom did the noodle belong to that caught it.
I recently read about a similar question posed in the Bible. In the book of I Samuel, a man named David came across an Egyptian slave that had been left to die by his master. After David and his men revived the man from near death, David asked him an important question, “to whom do you belong…?” What a question. It’s a vital question that we must all ask ourselves. Who do we belong to? Just like the kids who looked to see who’s name was written on the fishing noodles, what name would be written indelibly on your heart as your owner. Would it be a company’s name or a hobby? Would it be your own name or the name of someone else? There could be as many possibilities of ownership as there are ways to catch a catfish. Or would the name written there be the creator of the universe, the one who sent his son to die for each of us, and who loves us more than we can imagine. This simple question posed by the little guys fishing that night and the same one posed by David to the Egyptian slave long ago, should cause each of us to look at our heart and the inscription thereon of the owner. I know that it sure made me think about mine. My hope is that on each heart, the writing is clear and the script perfectly legible, spelling out “Jesus Christ, owner.” Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Paslm 100:3
To whom do you belong?
