Bible Study Verse
Luke 5:4-7
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. (NIV)

Thoughts
The cap had “Fear No Fish” written on its side. However, it was the ichthy with an attitude on the front of the cap that got my attention initially. The normally sedate, unassuming little fish with Greek lettering for scales, frequently found swimming innocently across the trunk of a car. In this case it was emblazoned prominently on the front of a G-Loomis hat with barred, razor-sharp teeth, hackles up, and daring the unexpecting observer who dared approach to “catch me if you think you’re prepared for the challenge!” I could almost imagine this particular fishing cap issuing me the ultimatum: “Go ahead punk, make my day!”

Why didn’t they consider changing their location on their own? Perhaps they were afraid to change their location. After all, why commit time and resources to fishing in an unproven spot when they could wait for the fish to eventually come to them. They were ready for the fish when they arrived. But, that was not the plan and that was not what they were to learn on this particular fishing expedition. In order to catch the fish, they had to change their mindset, their hearts, and then their location. They had to prepare themselves not only with the appropriate skills and equipment, but with the correct location. Once they were located in the right spot, the fish were irresistibly drawn to the net. (Jay C)

Action Point
Perhaps we’ve been fishing in the same spot too long. Maybe the fish in our favorite pond are used to our bait. Perhaps we need to move to a different location. Maybe we need to not worry about the logistics of a move. Perhaps we need to set aside the rationality of staying where we are. Maybe we need to give all the “reasons why it’s not a good, prudent, and responsible idea” to the Lord. Perhaps, maybe, our years of fishing, the skills, the patterns, and the techniques we’ve acquired are ready to be used for the ichthy with attitudes the Lord needs reeled in over there.

Bible Study Verse
Matthew 19:21-22
“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.” That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go. (The Message)

Thoughts
It was a good kind of tired. The cooler was so full of big crappie and bluegill bream that water squished out when we closed the lid. My thumb was sore from taking fish off of the hook. We refer to that as “crappie finger”. We had been drifting a small 1/32 ounce blue and sparkle jig around the Cyprus knees in the oxbow waters of the lower White River with the fish cooperating! There’s nothing quite like enticing a nice keeper to bite a little rubber jig! (Brian H)

Action Point
When we stop to think about it, our entire outdoor lifestyle is built around fooling game. We use calls and scents for hunting and we use realistic looking plastic bait for fishing. It works!

Our world is full of fakes. These are the pretenders that have their own agenda and really don’t care about God’s work. You know the type. They look very spiritual on the outside, but on the inside they’re full of corruption, sin, and destruction. Cross one of these deceivers and it’s war. In our passage, the young ruler was asking the questions that made him look spiritual. But when Jesus asked him to act on it, he walked away. Friends, keep a sharp eye out for imitations. God is the real deal and so are His people. Don’t fall for any substitute when it comes to a relationship with God. Put a careful distance between yourself and a pretender. Pray for them and try to lead them to a right relationship with God, but keep your distance lest you be snared.

Bible Study Verse
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (TNIV)

Thoughts
This is the time of the year I begin to lay out my plans for the fall. The deadlines for draws are coming due, so it forces me to plan ahead if I want to hunt in certain states. The bad thing about the planning right now is that it is not set in stone, because it depends on which tags I draw. I want to know if I draw a tag, I will have good places to hunt. I don’t want to do all kinds of extra work to find it isn’t needed, because I can’t hunt there. I like to know when I plan something, it will happen. If something happens, I have thought about it and have a plan. (Ross G)

Action Point
When it comes to our faith we can be certain of things. One of those is that we can store up treasures in heaven. These treasures aren’t trophy animals we harvest, but how we build into other people. What are you doing to not just build a great trophy room, but to build up God’s kingdom? You can do this by: loving people toward God, giving words of encouragement, sharing the gospel, giving financially to kingdom based causes, and so many other ways as God directs you.

Bible Study Verse
Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (NIV)

Thoughts
At first glance when you see a flock of brown headed cowbirds in a buffalo herd, you would think,”Wow! What beneficial birds. They’re riding on the backs of those huge creatures picking the ticks and other irritating bugs out of their hides.” But if you take the time to examine the habits of cowbirds, you will discover their dirty little secret. The brown headed cowbird often times will parasitize other bird nests. They are way too busy gorging on insects that they may not even take the time to build their own nest. Instead a female cowbird puts her egg in some other unsuspecting bird’s nest, leaving that bird to raise her young, often at the expense of her own young. (Ron T)

Action Point
There are a lot of different messages out there on the TV, radio, and from the pulpit to name a few venues. It’s a good idea to examine what you hear (just like the Bereans did). Check to see if the messages you hear line up with God’s word by examining the Scriptures. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” II Timothy 3:16, (NIV). If what you hear lines up, cool! If not, let it go out the other ear.

Bible Study Verse
Colossians 1:28
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (NIV)

Thoughts
On my daughters 2009 Javelina hunt we encountered some challenges, but were eventually rewarded with a well placed shot resulting in a very quick kill. The hunt didn’t start out that way though. We began our hunt by tracking a herd of pigs into a mesquite thicket and decided to “call” them out. As soon as we started calling, we were over ran with pigs. They were running all around us and my daughter was unable to make a good shot.

Lesson learned? Turn the scope down from 9X to 3X when in close quarters with your game, and don’t put yourself so close next time. The next time, an hour later, resulted in a similar situation, but with an excellent shot. What made this hunt so much different from all her previous hunts was when I gave this somewhat surprised 15 year old girl step by step instructions as she completely field dressed her kill by herself.
(Ruben C)

Action Point
Like a hunter teaches his son or daughter all aspects of hunting, God has always provided ways for His people to mature and to become complete. Not only is God focused on maturing our faith, but as we see in the passage above he uses his children to mature one another also. Discipleship can be accurately defined as “the voluntary instruction process that leads to strengthening and joy”. It can take on many different forms, such as peer relationships (two mature Christians calling each other higher and deeper in Christ), or mentoring by a more experienced believer. Whichever you choose, just remember God calls us to let our light be seen (Luke 11:33) and share the hope we have in Christ with others.