Thoughts
Like many who spend a lot of time outdoors, I make deliberate choices in the type of clothing I wear. The terrain I enjoy is also a factor in how I choose certain outdoor equipment. But it seems that no matter how hard I try to prevent damage, I always get rips or tears or punctures. Thorns are the worst, like those long spikes on honey locusts. I’ve even had my four-wheeler tires impaled by these things! Thorns can rip apart a nice flannel shirt when you’re walking through a thicket. Denim jeans are durable enough, except when crossing a barbed wire fence. There’s nothing like ripping out the seat of your pants on a cold day in the field. So I try to wear thorn-proof coveralls, clear my tent site of sharp objects, and protect my sleeping mat from lumpy or sharp projections (often in the middle of night when I wish I had thought of it earlier).

My clothes get ripped and torn; then I mourn, sometimes a great deal depending on the value of the item. In the Old Testament, it was just the reverse. To express grief or repentance, people would purposely tear their clothing as an outward sign of this inward conviction. For some, however, the practice became an insincere act, a traditional response that displayed no evidence of a changed heart. Through Joel, God extends an invitation to make a real change–a change of the heart, not the clothes. (DH)

Action Point
New Year’s Day is a traditional time to make a change in one’s life. New Year’s resolutions are made; and after while, many are routinely ignored. A new year and a new day can begin for anyone who makes a sincere effort to change his heart. Bad habits can be turned over to Jesus; sin can be laid at the Cross. Don’t wait until New Year’s Day to do it. Rend your heart now and enjoy a refreshing of the Holy Spirit like you’ve never before experienced; for our Heavenly Father is gracious and merciful, loving and kind.

Thoughts
I was taking a group of students through a simulated hunt that we had set up for a hunter education class. We would frequently stop and talk about proper gun carrying techniques, shoot- don’t-shoot scenarios, and game and sign identification. I noticed that one young girl was staying in the back near her dad, hesitant to participate. Trying to encourage her participation, I told her that her stealth-like quietness and patience must be a real asset when she and her dad go hunting. Her face lit up with just a little praise; and she quickly began to share some of her past outdoor experiences. (BM)

Action Point
As Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land, he asked Hobab to go with them on their journey. Initially, Hobab said no; but after Moses complimented Hobab’s wilderness skills, he agreed to go. Compliments and encouragement can go a long way in building a person’s self-esteem, make them feel good about themselves and about you. An attitude of consistent encouragement is one way we can show Christ’s love to others. Try encouraging your spouse, kids, boss and co-workers and see how good you will begin to feel, and how your relationships will be strengthened.

Thoughts
The shotgun barked, and the beautiful Ringneck Pheasant tumbled to the ground. I was thankful for the bird, the experience, and for the food that we would enjoy on the table. I am thankful for the dogs that pointed him, the farmers who let me hunt their land, the shotgun, the shells–all that were a gift from my Father in Heaven to make the moment so good. I am thankful to my Creator for it all! But I was also very sad. This beautiful creature was dead. It could never fly or walk free again. It was lifeless and broken now. What a tragedy! Fishermen can practice catch and release, which is recommended unless you are taking some for the table. Hunters cannot do so. If I could somehow catch him, and let him go, I would; but sadly, I cannot. Death is a part of life. (JM)

Action Point
Respect all life. Especially value all human life since God uniquely created humans with His own Image. Respect the life of the game taken in hunting. Outdoorsman are excited and thankful for the fish and game we take. But we should be sad that death is such a necessary part of our experience of life. Teach others, and especially the young people we influence, to value all life as a gift and a stewardship from God. It is right to be sad that a beautiful creature had to die for us to enjoy the triumph of hunting.

Thoughts
Five minutes after five in the morning and it was dark. All you could see was about a couple of feet in front of you. I was with a friend and ministry partner as we cautiously searched our way through the darkness. We crossed a very shallow creek and found the clump of trees in the middle of the field. Now it was breaking light, and we could begin to see shapes. We slipped all our turkey decoys into position and readied ourselves. I gave the worst owl hoot in history, but it awakened the one we were looking for. A big Tom hammered out the gobbles from his roost. He was only fifty yards away. I started singing, in my best hen voice, to the tune, “I’m So Lonely”. With every purr and yelp, the big Tom answered with a gobble. Soon we heard a few more gobbles from other birds, and my friend spotted some Jakes sneaking in behind us. In his impatience, he downed a Jake to finish his morning. The Tom was never heard from again. I would have liked a chance at the big Tom; but my friend chose the Jake. His decision proved to me that our egos get in the way of what is truly important. We got to share the morning in the woods, hearing God’s glory in a gobble. We shared the moment of the harvest and the joy of success. We now share a story of a hunt. (DW)

Action Point
My friend moved away to be a missionary. When I call to ask about his ministry, family and his hunting, I find that we are still tied together by that memory. We are friends and that is why we hunt or fish together, not just for the trophy.

Thoughts
One of the benefits of being able to contribute to the Sportsmen’s Devotional is that when I come across the verse I want to discuss, my mind is suddenly flooded with scenerios from my own life. Proverbs 29:11 is a perfect example.

I fished bass tournaments for 12 years. During that time, I was fortunate to win some tournaments and to have my share of high finishes. I also had days where it might have been better for me to just stay home. On those “off days”, I seem to recall my temper getting the best of me. I would fail to keep myself under control after I missed a bite or a fish came off. Once the mistakes get in your head and you dwell on them, the game is over. It’s the same with the shooting sports or a slump in baseball. Although you might not always win, there is no question that you will be more consistent in whatever you pursue if you keep yourself under control. Chances are, you will learn more from the situation if you have a clear head that is not clouded by frustration and anger. (JC)

Action Point
A positive attitude can be an over-used term and can be misunderstood. To have a positive attitude, you must not only believe that you will have a successful day, but you must also believe that you will be a successful part of your day. Belief in your ability as well as a belief in your ability to do well will help to keep you in control of yourself. You must believe that it is your pattern to do well; and in the long run, your successes will far outnumber your short comings.

Thoughts
When visiting a friend at his home, I noticed a sign hanging next to his game trophies which read:
WE INTERRUPT THIS MARRIAGE FOR THE HUNTING SEASON.
Is this a rut into which sportsmen tend to fall? I’ve found that I must maintain a balance. Our scripture verse tells us to have a sacrificial love for our wives. Philipppians 2:4 states: Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also the interests of others. Do we consider the needs and interests of our wives and children who don’t hunt? As the spiritual head of the family, it is important to set an example and have our priorities in order. (TL)

Action Point
Instead of scheduling back-to-back hunting weekends from September through December, meet with your family and plan some activities together.

Thoughts
Submission: a concept with which many of us struggle–submission to God, our spouses, the government, the church. In the wild, we see submission happen every day. Cub bears or lions submit to their mamas; fawns submit to the does; calves to the cow elk. They submit or they die. But with us humans, submission is a major issue. Paul wrote words regarding submission that have fueled debate between men and women for ages. Submission to God’s ways is called obedience and it proves our love for Him. But many have hardened their hearts and have said, “No” to God; they will not submit to Him. They are hell bent, literally, on earning salvation their own way instead of accepting God’s free gift. The interesting thing: what we see in nature, submission or death, is the same between men and God. We either submit to Him, or we die.

Mary set the example when she said, “Yes” to God. We remember her, perhaps more than any other woman in history, because of this one simple act of submission, this one simple act of unconditional love and obedience to God. (CS)

Action Point
Merry Christmas. May you submit to God this Christmas day and give your heart to Him in obedience as Mary did so many years ago.

A Blessed and Merry CHRISTmas to all our Members!
Sportsmen’s Devotional Team

Thoughts
Advent is the period of time beginning four Sundays before Christmas. We use that time to prepare for Christmas. Although many people in the modern world pay no attention to Advent, that was not the case with the early church. They gave much deeper meaning to Advent than we do today. They realized that not only do we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but they also celebrated the fact that the Lord sent His Son to earth to live and die and be raised again for our sins. Not only that, they used Advent as a time to renew their zeal in looking forward to the Lord’s second coming! They also used Advent as a time to share the love and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know Him (DWH)

Action Point
Let us go back to the basics the early church used. Let us use this time to reflect not only on the Lords birth, but also to renew our zeal in looking forward to His next coming and for sharing His love with those who do not yet know Him. Yes, we love Christmas because we celebrate the first arrival of the Lord, but it is the second coming for which we need to be preparing. Remember, the scriptures predicted precisely when Jesus would come the first time and still no one was ready to receive Him. This time, no one knows the hour or the day that the Lord will come again. Can you even imagine how unprepared people will be? We should be as earnest and thrilled about the advent to Christmas as we are to the advent of hunting season! As we approach Christmas, be sure to share the gospel with the lost. Many of you have hunting or fishing buddies who do not know the Lord. Take this time to do more than just say “Merry Christmas” to them. Explain to them why it truly is a “Merry Christmas” for those who know the Lord.

Thoughts
We have a paintball ministry in my church, stumbled onto by a small group of our men. It started out as a tiny paintball battlefield in one guy’s yard. But as the numbers of men coming for “battle” each weekend grew, the battlefield has expanded. The group has now cleared out a few acres of underbrush in some woods adjacent to their original paintball field. As many as twenty guys “do battle” there each Saturday.

This ministry has provided an awesome opportunity for fellowship, excitement, and adrenaline for the men and their friends. The awesome part about paintball “battle” is that, when done correctly with the proper equipment, no one gets hurt. A paintball wound is superficial, never deep. You may get a bruise from time to time; but among men, that is considered a “trophy” of the battle. When a paintball hits, it simply bursts on your clothing or protective gear. A paintball “wound” is always a “kill”. Once hit, you simply raise your gun over your head and declare yourself “dead;” but you always get to “come back to life” for the next battle. Some of the best times are the laughter and the battle stories that are exchanged between skirmishes during water breaks. (GGB)

Action Point
Unlike the superficial wound of a paintball, the wounds inflicted by our words go much deeper. We are often reckless with words; and reckless words have the same capacity to wound as that of a deeply piercing sharp sword. Instead of harming people with our words, we need to follow the counsel given in Proverbs 12:18–to speak thoughtful, wise words that bring encouragement and healing.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
If you have never experienced the thrill of paintball battle, consider putting together an outing for your friends. Local paintball fields usually welcome private groups; and there’s no need to invest in a lot of expensive equipment to enjoy the sport. Most fields have ample equipment for rent and ammunition for sale.

Thoughts
It happened two different times on this particular hunt: diversion!
I was seeking mule deer, and had set myself up in a ground blind constructed days before. It was a half-hour before sunrise and I was waiting with great anticipation. The sun had not risen yet, the darkness was great; so I rested my eyes. When I opened them, there was a 5X4 mule deer that my partner had in his sites. Now determined to be vigilant and not allow another opportunity to slip away, I sat with eyes sharpened. After waiting a few hours, my attention was once again diverted. This seemed like only moments; but when I looked up, another fine deer had presented itself and my window of opportunity was limited. (BM)

Action Point
Jesus tells us to “keep watch” because the time of His return will be unexpected, swift and sudden. We may be tempted to become complacent about being obedient to follow through with what He gives us to do. It may seem that we have much time to prepare for His coming. However, He warns us to be vigilant about His return because it will “come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” Lowering our guard while hunting may cost us a harvest; but being unprepared for Christ’s return will cost us much more.