Catfish Ironman

It's gonna be an event of olympic proportions. The event I'm referring to is the "Catfish Ironman Challenge." Let's just face it, we men are competetive. It's one thing to tell a man that your truck is better than his or that your mama's Walker coon dog that has only three legs could tree more coons than his blue tick hound ...but tell a man that you can catch more catfish than he can; we them there's fightin' words as we found out recently.

Well, we may have added a little fuel to the fire by making a video cahllenging some guys to a "friendly" fishing competetion. Basically we wanted to hang out with some guys who are making a difference in their communities by doing outdoor ministry across NC. The guys we are referring to are Stanlyville Baptist Church near Winston-Salem and Colonial Baptist Church near Cary, NC. We figured that the way to make it happen was to issue a challenge, tell them that we would commence to "monkey stomp" their hind-ends and then rub their noses in it. Well, it worked...men have taken boats that havn't seen the water in years to be fixed, guys have already been scouting the lakes, and vacations have been cancelled: just to be sure that they prove us wrong.

July 24th is sure to be a great night...especially great for some!

Of Quivers and Arrows

I was cleaning out my garage yesterday and I came across an old quiver. Those of you who are fond of the stick and string method of “blood letting” on deer know what I’m talking about. The quiver just didn’t look right, so I found a handful of carbon arrows and stuck them in it. I think it made the quiver smile! Well, actually it made me smile because it got me to thinking about archery season. I know that it’s a good ways away, but I have extra reason to smile this year. My smile is a little more toothy than usual because one of my best friends invited me to archery hunt with him in Kansas this fall if I get drawn (In the name of Jesus, Lord please let me draw a tag this year... ) Sorry, I have to pray every time I even think about it!
As I looked at the quiver, I remembered the verse where the Psalmist wrote, “blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” The “them” that the Psalmist is referring to is children. In the verses preceding this one, the Bible calls children a “heritage from the Lord” and likened them to arrows. Many might read Psalm 127 and take from it that the man who has lots of youngans is a blessed man. Well, blessed he may be, but to someone reading this verse years ago it was viewed in a much different light.
We must remember that the Psalmist, Solomon, is talking here about how we spend our time. He is quick to tell us that unless the Lord is in it, the time we spend is in vain. People of that day had all made arrows at one time or another. They understood the lengthy process by which it took to complete the making of arrows. The arrow maker would have to travel many miles to find the right wood to make the arrow, split the wood to make the shafts, and sand the wood to shape the arrow. Next the maker would straighten the arrows, add a nock, and add a point using sinew from an animal that had already been killed. Finally, the archer would attach bird feathers for fletching. The process from beginning to end took a great amount of time. But, taking the time was a must if the maker wanted the arrow to be effective. Solomon is comparing the arrow making to spending time with kids – and blessed is the man who puts time in with the kids that God has brought into his life (whether they are yours or not).
Imagine if the arrow maker decided to skip any part of the process to make an arrow. The end result would be that the arrow would not fly in the direction you shot it – ultimately missing its mark. That’s putting it in terms that any bow hunter can understand. Take time with your arrows to ensure that they fly straight. Not just those inscribed with Easton getting ready for the upcoming season, but those called Johnny and Billy, Susie and Sarah, or whatever the names of the ones in your life’s quiver. These are the most important arrows – taking time with them get’s them ready for the seasons of life.
Recently a buddy of mine named Lonnie took his son to a local archery tournament. His son, 8 year old Gabe Hinceman (pictured above) hit the mark with his arrows and took home first place in the Pee Wee Division. Lonnie is a proud daddy to say the least. Lonnie is not just proud because Gabe won the tournament, but because he loves his kids. After all, he’s in the arrow making business – and you are too!

Happy Father’s Day to all you arrow makers – May all your arrows fly straight - God Bless!

Fish Tales...

I'm usually a little depressed this time of year. Putting the shotgun in the gun cabinet until next season just does that to me. It's seems like such a long time till we can get the fire power out again in search of furred or feathered critters. However, today something happened that made my heart ache a little less. OK, actually it got me excited! I've never been much of a fisherman, but today that might have changed. There are finned critters out there that offer some excitement too - and today, with the help of someone who know what they were doing, I got to sore-lip a few.
If you want to know where the fish are biting, what they are biting on, what time during the day to go after 'em, what time of year to catch 'em, what fish think about, or anything else to do with a fish the man to talk to is Tony Sharum (pictured above). Tony is one of my friends, who just happens to be my Sergeant at work. When Tony is not catching people fishing illegally, dreaming about fish or eating fish, he's on a boat trying to catch fish. It doesn't matter if its bluegill, perch, largemouth, stripers, or catfish...he’s been known to jerk a knot in all their lips. I don't know if I've ever met someone who loves to fish as much as he does. Today, I had the opportunity to hit the lake with Tony and learn a few things about catching largemouth bass.
And what a time we had...We caught so many fish that the boat nearly sank. Fish were so massive that they were actually pulling the boat around the lake. We must have landed a couple hundred and quite possibly a state record or two. In fact, I caught the biggest bass I’ve ever caught at 12 and a half pounds...did I say 12 and a half, I really meant 5 and a half pounds. Well, that may be stretching the truth a little – but any story about fishing has got to have some “truth-stretching” in it. Truth be told we literally caught fish from the time we got to the lake till the time we left. I had a blast...thanks Tony.
I was thinking on the way home about fishing in the Bible and recalled the story of Jesus and Peter on the Sea of Galilee. Peter was a fisherman by trade and had been out fishing all night without any luck. Imagine how that would feel – breaking your back at work and coming home with no pay check to show for it. When Peter came in from working all night and was cleaning his fishing nets, Jesus got in his boat and asked Peter to take him out a ways so he could preach to the gathering crowds. After Jesus had finished preaching, Jesus told Peter to cast out the nets again in the deep water. After having been out all night with nothing to show for it Peter reluctantly did as Jesus said and guess what happened. He caught so many fish that it filled two boats and the weight nearly caused them to sink. Peter and the rest of those around were amazed at this miraculous catch of fish – and awestruck at what Jesus had done.
We often get caught up in just remembering all those “big” things that Jesus did for people - Healing the sick, driving out demons and raising people from the dead and such. But we are reminded in this story that Jesus cares about the daily activities of our lives too. God is interested in not only saving us, but providing for our needs as well - and that’s no fish tale!
The next time you’re a little unsure about how you’re going to make it through something, remember to put your trust in God – like Peter did – and cast the net of your heart into the deep hope and love that Christ offers. You might be surprised at how much you catch.

“...they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.”
Luke 5:6