Sunday, October 26, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Big Investments
I made a “big” investment lately that I’m beginning to think my wife may not like so much. We have a satellite TV and have the most basic TV viewing package that DISH network offers to customers. After long consideration, months of justification, deep thought, budgeting alterations, and just plain succumbing to my addiction – I made an executive “man” decision and added a new channel to our viewing package – The Outdoor Channel. Now, I’m in a hunting coma! I can watch dudes hunt elk, monster bucks, turkeys and critters whose names I’ve never even heard of before. With my new channel I can learn about the latest line of camo clothing and guns and bullets and bows. The best thing is I don’t have to wait till a certain time of the day. It’s hunting and fishing 24/7. Recently a good friend of mine, Mrs. Kelly, affectionately described the stuff found on this channel as "sportsman’s porn." Sounds like Mr. Robbie (her husband) has that channel too?
Could you have ever imagined 15 years ago that there would be a TV show just about hunting. Much less, an entire TV channel devoted to hunting and fishing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Did I mention that there are several channels that do this, not just the Outdoor Channel? It tells me two things. Men are passionate, maybe even obsessed with this hunting and fishing stuff and I am not alone!
Realizing that we are not alone, the "Heart of a Sportsman" fellas try to take the Gospel to others just like us. Who better to talk to a hunter or fisherman about Jesus than, you guessed it, a hunter or fishermen. It’s easier to get into the mind of people who are passionate about the same things that you are. The HOS guys are always coming up with creative ways to reach sportsmen. We occasionally make plans to bring people to us with events like the Redneck Olympics and the Deer Hunters’ Breakfast. But, we realize that the most important part of it all is forming relationships. Not just by binging them to us as a group, but by us as individuals meeting them where they are at; our workplace, kid’s ballgames, at the country store, and in our neighborhoods. For us what better place than in the duck blind, the deer stand, the turkey woods and while casting a line into our favorite fishing hole. It’s not about just starting relationships though, but investing in them as well - for the long haul.
You may be a hunter or fishermen or maybe you’re not. I’m sure that God can use your passions, whatever they may be for His glory. So, go do what you are passionate about and along the way, form relationships. Most importantly, take time to invest in those relationships too. You just might be surprised at what might happen after making these "big investments." You may just make a good friend and you might just introduce someone else to Jesus, the best friend a person can have.
I’ve started to hear sighs and grunts lately when my wife finds me glaring at the TV watching the latest episode of Realtree Roadtrips, Buckmaster Classics or Muzzy’s Bad to the Bone Bowhunting. Kinda like right now as I multi-task by typing on the computer and listening to one of “my hunting shows” at the same time. She even makes me a little ill because she makes fun of the guys on the hunting shows because they whisper to each other all the time while on the treestand. (She probably believes that wresting is fake too!) I guess I’ll never understand why she doesn’t understand – but, that’s another relationship I need to do some investing in too. So, go do some huntin’ (for people) and make some lasting investments!
Could you have ever imagined 15 years ago that there would be a TV show just about hunting. Much less, an entire TV channel devoted to hunting and fishing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Did I mention that there are several channels that do this, not just the Outdoor Channel? It tells me two things. Men are passionate, maybe even obsessed with this hunting and fishing stuff and I am not alone!
Realizing that we are not alone, the "Heart of a Sportsman" fellas try to take the Gospel to others just like us. Who better to talk to a hunter or fisherman about Jesus than, you guessed it, a hunter or fishermen. It’s easier to get into the mind of people who are passionate about the same things that you are. The HOS guys are always coming up with creative ways to reach sportsmen. We occasionally make plans to bring people to us with events like the Redneck Olympics and the Deer Hunters’ Breakfast. But, we realize that the most important part of it all is forming relationships. Not just by binging them to us as a group, but by us as individuals meeting them where they are at; our workplace, kid’s ballgames, at the country store, and in our neighborhoods. For us what better place than in the duck blind, the deer stand, the turkey woods and while casting a line into our favorite fishing hole. It’s not about just starting relationships though, but investing in them as well - for the long haul.
You may be a hunter or fishermen or maybe you’re not. I’m sure that God can use your passions, whatever they may be for His glory. So, go do what you are passionate about and along the way, form relationships. Most importantly, take time to invest in those relationships too. You just might be surprised at what might happen after making these "big investments." You may just make a good friend and you might just introduce someone else to Jesus, the best friend a person can have.
I’ve started to hear sighs and grunts lately when my wife finds me glaring at the TV watching the latest episode of Realtree Roadtrips, Buckmaster Classics or Muzzy’s Bad to the Bone Bowhunting. Kinda like right now as I multi-task by typing on the computer and listening to one of “my hunting shows” at the same time. She even makes me a little ill because she makes fun of the guys on the hunting shows because they whisper to each other all the time while on the treestand. (She probably believes that wresting is fake too!) I guess I’ll never understand why she doesn’t understand – but, that’s another relationship I need to do some investing in too. So, go do some huntin’ (for people) and make some lasting investments!
Jeremy B. Harrill
Monday, October 20, 2008
Redneck Olympics 2008
You thought that the Olympic Games in China were good...we'll you ain't seen nothin' yet! It's time for the 2nd Annual Redneck Olympics. The Heart of a Sportsman guys have put together another event of, well, "olympic proportions." It'll be one of the biggest gatherings of good 'ole boys you've ever seen - complete with an outhouse, fishing rods, deer corn, tractor tires, moon pies and RC Colas. When: Saturday October 25th, 2008 from 2pm til 7pm. Where: Cornerstone Baptist Church - 200 Clearview Road, Cleveland, NC. And by the way, lots of cool prizes for participants. Who will be crowned the biggest redneck of all? Do you have what it takes?
Click on the title for a video preview of the Redneck Olympics.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Pre-Redneck Olympics Podcast
Discussions about the Red Neck Olympics, opening day of deer season, idol worship and building relationships!
Listen Now
Listen Now
Thursday, October 9, 2008
New Podcast: Kirks Moose Hunt
After a hiatus the boys are back with Kirk Fessler talking about a moose hunt in Newfoundland, shout outs galore, and swan hunting...whoever heard of that!
Listen Now
Listen Now
Monday, October 6, 2008
The Youth Camp Moose
This past summer, a group of guys from Cornerstone Baptist Church took a mission trip to Alaska (see previous blog "Fishing with a mission: Combat style"). We had a blast while there. One of the main reasons that our trip was such a success was because of the fearless crew that made things happen: Brenda Crim, Charlie Parnell and Spring Pungowiyi. They spend hours preparing, praying, planning, searching, and digging through life to make sure that people of Alaska are able to hear about Jesus Christ. These hard-core, devoted Christ followers are always on the move and thinking of intentional ways to introduce people to their best friend Jesus. I just got an email from Brenda that confirms that they are still hard at it. They just got back from an area in the Arctic looking for a location to build a youth camp. Just imagine a place where 200-500 Alaskan native children could come and learn about the risen savior. They asked all that could to please pray for the provision of the land to build the camp, for the teams of people that it would take to build the cabins and the children that will one day come to this place. Keep Benda and her team in prayer as they continue to keep their nose to the ground like an old coon dog sniffing out new ground and new ways to reach people with the gospel.
Oh, yea - while they were there they did put the smack down on a few caribou and Brenda smacked a bull moose. It can't get much better than that. Sounds like a great place for a camp to me!
Jeremy B Harrill
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