Dangers Ahead are Not Good Enough Reasons to Stay Put

On the television show, Deadliest Catch, fishermen will venture out onto the sea to catch seafood. They've been out before. They've encountered problems, lost crew, gone hungry, and possibly lost their boat. They've seen so many things on that water.

However, one thing's for sure, they haven't lost their zeal to go back out. Whether it is for the money or the thrill, they look forward to going out and gathering the catch. They feel the deep urge to go out. They know people are counting on them; people they will never meet. They are needing to provide for their family, as well.

How willing are you to go out from the shore? How much zeal do you have to go out even in dangers? That brings us to this week's quote...

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storms are terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reasons for remaining ashore. - Vincent Van Gogh

When life is putting in front of you situations that you deem difficult or impossible, just remember that the fishermen are going out time after time. They know things may get dangerous, but they know they are worse off if they don't go out.

If you're looking at something impossible know that He is the God of the impossible. With Pharaoh behind the Israelites and the Red Sea before them - the Impossible provided them a way out!

Don't let the danger of the sea or the concern about storms halt any progress you can make to create things that will change your life or the life of others!

CAMOUFLAGE: What Are You Hiding?

I was interested at what the "text book" definition was of the word "camouflage". I was not surprised to not find any special meaning. It basically means to disguise, whether it is by clothes you put on or not giving all the details in a conversation. It derives from a French word and is dated at 1917 (so it is not as old of a word as some).

One of the biggest downfalls of "church" is the camouflage that we can easily put on each time we're together. This day may be one of the few that you are wearing a camouflage outfit, but this is probably not the only time you've worn "camouflage". We put on the traditional "nice" clothes when we come to assembly, when there is little that is "nice" going on in us.

Sometimes we come to assembly with our camouflage on, hunting people. We may shoot a glare at someone, stab them with our comments, or hide out to avoid. We're peering around trying to make sure that we don't have to be around them.

Other times, we come to assembly with our camouflage on, deceiving people. We are deceiving people because we don't want them to know what is really going on in our life. We don't want them to know that our week was terrible, that we just had a fight with a family member on the way (or an ongoing fight), or that we would rather not be here at all. No, we would rather put on our camouflage (clothes or smile) and pretend like everything is fine.

Christians are called to be unified and bear one another's burdens, to name a couple of "to be's". We are not ever asked to camouflage our life. Going to assembly or just meeting with your brethren, is a great time to gain the faith strength needed to head back out to be hunting for Christ's sake.

Do you tend to wear "camo" to assembly? Leave it at home, next time. Let people see you. Let them see your good weeks and bad. The church is here to help, not provide a place for you to hide!

Hunter or the Hunted

The outdoors is a great place to connect with our Creator. Those who enjoy hunting/fishing feel a sense of relaxation through being outdoors - sometimes for long periods of time. There are times when one will get up earlier than ever, sit in the cold for hours, come home with nothing, and think it was one of the greatest days they've had in a while.

The thrill in the suspense of waiting for that 10-pointer to come around keeps people going out again and again. If that "perfect one" doesn't come around after a long while, then they may settle for a smaller one. However, the fact that they killed a deer (in this case) revs them up! Shooting fowl has similar feelings. Coming home with many-a-bird lets them show off their hunt.

As we go through our life, we must be able to comprehend if we are the hunter or the hunted. Saul was a hunter of God's people, literally. He hunted them down and wanted them destroyed. However, as he was going to Damascus (with the intent to hunt more Christians down), he became the hunted, by God. This event changed him to be a hunter for God. He wanted people to be a part of what he is now a part of, which he was just persecuting people for, days earlier. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. You make the choice, with each choice, of whether you are going to be the hunter or the hunted - pursuing God vs. pursued by self/Satan/sin. Make the right choice!
2. Leaders are needed in households. Leaders represent the direction of the family. Be a leader in your family that directs the family toward hunting for God.
3. Too much is at risk to not let your family be hunted, instead of hunting. Don't let your family be at risk! Maybe even, take time to pray, read scripture, etc. of an evening, sometime before everyone goes to bed.
4. The next time you go hunting - for game, clothes, a part for machinery, etc. - notice how much effort you put into it, then take a chance to put that much effort into pursuing God.
5. Part of going hunting/fishing/camping is being prepared. Don't let yourself be caught off guard, on a daily basis, for that sudden Satan approach!

It is enjoyable to go hunting, but not enjoyable to be hunted. It raises your blood pressure as your heart beats faster. Overall, not the most healthy for you if you were going through this day after day. One of the best things we can do is to make sure that we are as prepared as possible and to take the offensive side, to hunt for God.

Again, you have to make the choice/commitment of which you are going to be - hunter or hunted. As you go through life, I hope that you will choose to be a hunter, pursuing God with everything He has given you!

Have a great week hunting for God!

Putting the camo on...

Monday Mentionings: Fishing for Your Attention - Exodus 3

It has been a long two weeks since I sent out the last Monday Mentionings! With going to Kansas and all the fun of "baby" stuff, seems like a lot has gone on in a short amount of time!

Saturday night was a meeting of our Vision Team...and man, was I pumped after that meeting. God is working in those team members! I am looking forward to the next time, already! I love to hear about others' ideas and how God is working in their lives. It totally inspires me to do more for God and His Kingdom! I was so full of "shazam" (that is the best "excitement" word) that it took me quite a while to fall asleep on Saturday. I was pumped for seeing everyone and teaching and preaching. And I was already ready for Monday to come, to start on specific things.

As yesterday was Father's Day, I hope that all the fathers were able to have a "catered" day! God calls men to be the spiritual leaders. That was one of the goals in the sermon yesterday...to step up to the challenge. Here are some additional applications to use...

1. Where is your environment in which you spend a lot of your time? God is asking you to serve Him there. He is putting before you ways in which you can serve Him. If your home is not perfect - which I would say that there isn't one - then you have a challenge there. If your workplace is not perfect, then you have a challenge there, too. The challenge to the challenge is to discern what the specific challenge is for you in the environment. Ask God to lead you in the wisdom to know how you are to be used by God in your environment. It could be somewhere else, even.
2. Watch out for the hook! God may hook you into doing something that you never thought you would be involved in! Maybe it will be through some friends or through a hobby that you have that may open doors for ways to use it.
3. God needs you! As it took some humility for Simon to accept help from the Lord, may you also be humble and accept/look for help from Him. What will God fill your "net" with???

Have a surprise-filled week!

Casting my net ~
Jarrod