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
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