Bible Study Verse
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV)

Thoughts
When you take kids fishing you just know that at some point someone’s going to get tangled up. It’s not a matter of if, but when. Especially when the kids are using Sponge bob or Mickey mouse reels. Even the expensive reels are susceptible to backlashes and tangles causing a bird’s nest that an eagle would be proud of. It’s just part of fishing.
(Ron T)

Action Point
We know that we are sometimes going to have tangled lines when we go fishing, just as we know we are going to get tangled in temptations in our lives. God’s word says, “When you are tempted”, not if. Since we have this information, we can prepare for how we will react to our temptations.

By reading God’s word and speaking God’s word at the temptations, we can overcome them. Thank God, he always gives us a way out to reject the temptation.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
My little girl doesn’t like to touch the fish to get it off the hook. “It’s too slippery and wiggles around too much.” Take an old hand towel along on your next fishing trip and wrap the fish up in the towel. The kids can get a good grip on the fish to remove the hook.

Bible Study Verse
Philippians 2:1-4
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (NIV)

Thoughts
We read and hear a lot about friction between Christians and atheists, Christians and Muslims, and Christians and other groups. We also sometimes experience friction between Christians, whether it’s husband and wife, two co-workers, or people in the church. We even see some of it in the Bible.

The solution to conflict is very simple – it’s to look out for the interests of the other person. Remember – the grace we have been given is grace we don’t deserve. We should return that grace to other people.
(Steve S)

Action Point
Did Christ experience conflict? We only have to recall the Easter story to know the answer is yes. So, we won’t always avoid conflict. But with those who have the same goals, the same purposes, and the same Lord, we can live at peace by keeping those goals and purposes in mind. We need to remember that the mission Christ calls us to is larger than any of us.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Friction can be a good thing. When camping on a cold night, get into your sleeping bag and create friction to get warm. You’ll be surprised how much warmth you can create by rubbing your legs and feet together.

Bible Study Verse
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (NIV)

Thoughts
Many are the times I’ve been lost. I live in a small southwestern town where when most people hear the name of a street, they know where it is. Not me. I think I know where it is, but I can still get lost. It’s fairly common for me to drive up and down cross streets until I eventually stumble on the correct address or give up and break out my GPS.

In town this usually does not create a problem for anyone except yours truly and any innocent, trapped passengers I may have. But when you’re in the woods or the desert where roads are scarce and you try to find location X without regard for the roads, you will cause problems like soil erosion, new trails where none previously existed, and eye sores.
(Ruben C)

Action Point
When we’re in unfamiliar country without the benefit of a map, compass, or GPS we can get turned around, confused, or lost. I’ve experienced all three; maybe it’s just me? Some of you may have heard of Christopher McCandless, who went into the Alaskan wilderness in 1992 and died there about 4 months later. He had seen a map of the area, but he didn’t have one with him. It could have saved his life.

The same can happen in our spiritual life; God’s word is our spiritual map. It can keep us on track. It can save our life for eternity. Like a road map, it can keep us from losing our way in the desert. A spiritual brother can also serve as spiritual compass, someone to help keep you on the right track.

Think it’s not important? Personally I have enough trouble finding and staying on the right road in the world; I Peter 4:18 reminds us, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner”, (NIV). Being a Christian doesn’t automatically make life easier. So take heed and become familiar with the right road to travel. There’s only one that leads to Heaven. Read and devour God’s road map to eternity with Him, your Bible. Heaven should be our final destination!

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
I can’t say much more at this time about GPS units that haven’t already been said, except that it’d be really cool to try out one with satellite radio and real time weather maps overlaid onto satellite view maps! I will say this about maps though; generally speaking USGS maps and USFS maps are my bread and butter when hunting. They show most roads, who owns the land (we need to pay heed to private land owners), and some topography. Also, did you realize you can look at programs like Map Quest® on the internet, see arial map views (for free) that are easy to compare with your road maps, and give you a bird’s eye view of your hunting area?

Bible Study Verse
Nehemiah 4:17b
Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. (ESV)

Thoughts
“What are you shooting?” is probably one of the most common first questions among hunters. From bows to bullets and arrows to air rifles, it matters what we are shooting.

Nehemiah 4 is a remarkable passage. Opposition to the rebuilding effort had become so intense that Nehemiah and his fellow workers carried a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. While these weapons were necessary, we are reminded that Nehemiah’s most powerful weapon was the one he used in chapter one – Prayer.
(Matt F)

Action Point
Nehemiah began the task of rebuilding the wall by “continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven”, Nehemiah 1:4b (ESV).

Is prayer one of your best weapons? Self-reliance, hard work and other efforts become the “weapon of choice” when prayer should be the first weapon we choose.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Take the time to properly practice shooting. Preparation for the right shot makes all the difference during the hunt.

Bible Study Verse
Exodus 20:9
Six days you shall labor and do all your work. (NIV)

Thoughts
Six days of the week the Lord tells us to do his work. The work we do is not only at our place of employment, but outside of our jobs as well. Even though we are not all in the positions we would like to be in or at the job we would like to be doing, in today’s times we need to be thankful we have a job. So, do this job to the best of your ability. Be the husband, father, or friend you are called to be.
(Mike E)

Action Point
For those whom have jobs, give thanks to the Lord that we have the jobs. Those whom are having a rough time finding work, keep the faith and the Lord will open the doors for you and your family.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Always let someone know where you will be especially during hunting season. If possible leave a map showing the location you will be and when you should return.

Bible Study Verse
Samuel 17:8-10
He stood and shouted to the battle formations: “Why do you come out to line up in battle formation?” He asked them, “Am I not a Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me. If he wins in a fight against me and kills me, we will be your servants. But if I win against him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us.” Then the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel today. Send me a man so we can fight each other!” (HCSB)

Thoughts
The above scripture is the setting for the great battle between David and Goliath. Everyone, even those who openly defy God and Christianity, know how the story goes.

A few years ago a fisheries group, in the name of political correctness, lobbied marine officials to change the name of a jewfish, which is a huge grouper found in the ocean, to a Goliath grouper. From the outside looking in, replacing the fish’s name with the name of the nine ft Philistine who openly defied the Jews and was defeated, is a ton more politically incorrect. The only thing worse would be to call it a Nazi fish.
(Bink G)

Action Point
The name of Jesus is not always politically correct, especially with liberals and many who taunt conservative Christians as dangerous religious freaks and zealots. I want to be known as someone who sells out for our Lord, even when it is not politically correct. If the name of Jesus is wrong in our society, I don’t want to be right.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Grouper are excellent table fare. If you ever travel to Florida’s east coast, try a crunchy grouper sandwich with lots of tartar sauce.

Bible Study Verse
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Thoughts
When I was twelve years old my father took me bow hunting and placed me in a ground blind about fifty or sixty yards from the main trail that we hiked in on. My father went deeper into the woods. After a couple of hours and no action the sky began to show the early signs that darkness was beginning to set in. I remember getting a little nervous about being out in the dark by myself. I left my blind and decided to sit on the main trail, for some reason feeling safer for having done this. Ten minutes later I looked back at my blind and standing fifteen feet from my blind were three deer. Oops!
(Michael T)

Action Point
How many times as Christians do we find ourselves feeling uncomfortable in our surroundings and decide to bail out of our situation? How many times have we missed out on the blessings of what God has planned for our church or ourselves, because we get a little scared?

We serve an awesome God whose ways are much higher than ours. Don’t let the people in your church limit God. Don’t be afraid when God has you in unfamiliar surroundings.

The sign in the above photo reads, “Here Ends the Realm of the Hiker.” If we were to make a sign for our spiritual lives it might read something like this, “Here Ends the Realm of the Believer and Here Begins the Realm of the Almighty!”

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
When hiking make sure you are aware of any danger in the area you find yourself hiking in. If you are not sure, stop in at the local ranger station and ask. Read the signs carefully, especially the ones that say that you will die if you go beyond this point. In life there is plenty of physical danger, but in our spiritual lives we are always safe with our Protector guiding and looking out for us.

Bible Study Verse
Psalms 95:5
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (ESV)

Thoughts
It has been said that no one goes to the Grand Canyon to feel big or important. The ocean is not a good alternative either. My family and I returned from vacation on the shores of North Carolina. I was refreshed, but also humbled by the magnitude of what God has created. In addition to the sheer immensity of the ocean itself, we saw everything from sharks to shells and sand pipers to sand dollars. All intricate. All unique. All expressing the glory of God.

Dallas Willard accurately writes, “We pay a lot of money to get a tank with a few tropical fish in it and never tire of looking at their brilliant iridescence and marvelous forms and movements. But, God has seas full of them, which he constantly enjoys”
(Matt F)

Action Point
As sinful humans, we crave celebrity and fame. Yet, one visit to the ocean reminds us of our place. I recommend you go and marvel at the vastness of the ocean, the power of God, and wonder with the Psalmist, What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Psalms 8:4 (ESV).

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Respect the ocean. Understand it is a powerful and unforgiving ecosystem. Know the dangers of things like rip tides and undertows.

Bible Study Verse
Isaiah 55:9
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NIV)

Thoughts
I have a hiking companion, her name is Nala and she trusts me completely. In fact we spend a great deal of time together. This loved 10 yr old husky/chow mix rides with me in my truck quite frequently.

When Nala was younger we drove into an enclosed automatic carwash. As the wash started, Nala became terrified. She howled, whined, jumped around, and shook as the loud machines and brushes encapsulated the vehicle. It was an entirely new experience for her and she didn’t know how to handle it. I tried calming her, but she just ignored my voice.

But are we any different? Not at carwashes perhaps, but hospital stays, job changes and transfers, and all sorts of new experiences that trigger howling and whining in us. When our ‘Master’ gently tries to explain, we ignore him or are too terrified to make any sense of His voice.
(Marshall M)

Action Point
Lessons from God can be found in every part of our lives, including something as mundane as a carwash. Is your world wild and crazy right now?

God’s greatest blessings often come costumed as disasters. You may doubt what I say and wonder how God can use divorce, disease, or even death?

Simple – God’s smarter than we are.

Two years ago a six year old brought me something to help him write his name on. I began to write it and he grabbed my arm and said, “Hey pastor, how come you know how to spell my name?” He was awed that I knew how to spell his name, even went, and told his mother. He was amazed. You are not; you know the difference between the knowledge of a child and an adult. Can you then imagine the difference between human wisdom and God’s wisdom? What may be impossible for us is like spelling a child’s name to him. Before I forget, Nala still doesn’t like carwashes, but she has learned to trust and listen to my voice.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
There are some important things to remember when taking a dog with you to the woods, even for a day hike. What type of terrain is it? Is there water for the dog? Always keep your dog under control, in sight, and know the area you’re going beforehand. Exploring with a dog into unfamiliar territory can be dangerous for you and the dog.

Bible Study Verse
Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy. (NASB)

Thoughts
On one of my recent treks into the Grand Canyon I hit a wind tunnel that just about knocked me over the edge. Getting off balance and going into a stumbling fall is not fun anywhere, especially at that narrow precipice where the wind just came out of nowhere.

What kept me from falling to my death that day when the wind was more power full than my human strength? God’s amazing grace! The same grace that we will glory in when we see Jesus face-to-face.

The face of Jesus is described in Revelation 1:16c, “His face was like the sun shining in its strength.” No one can look directly at the sun for more than a few seconds on a clear day and not go blind. How close can a human get to seeing the face of Christ in His glory and not die? (Tom H)

Action Point
Follow Peter 1:13 . . .
“Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (NASB)

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
I always thought it was odd to use what looked like ski poles for hiking. But now whenever I do the Grand Canyon or any really steep hike I use those hiking poles. They save your knees big time going downhill. They also have kept me from falling several times when my foot caught a rock or root. I found mine at Walmart for a very reasonable price.