Anglers Robbed

The Southern Open happens this weekend and with the guys down there practicing for the tournament 8 woke up yesterday to a bad sight.  8 Anglers where robbed things like rods, tackle electronics and even some power poles were stolen.  

I love the fishing community because when things like this happen we come together and help each other out.  Sponsors and service crews where there to help the anglers get back to fishing.  Power Team Lures even offered the 8 anglers a $200.00 certificate so they could replace some tackle.

The thought of someone stealing a man’s livelihood bugs me.  When I was a plumber I use to say if someone is going to rob me they can take anything except my tools.  I could always make more money to replace the things I lost but without my tools I would not be able to.

All I could think about well reading on Facebook that guys were robbed was what would I do in that situation.  Matthew 6:14-15 says “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

This can seem like a hard thing to do in the mist of losing all of your gear.  I truly believe God wants us to forgive those that harm us.  In my mind these anglers where harmed where it hurts the most.  I’m glad we have a God that loves us and forgives us, and I believe that his forgiveness means we can forgive others even those that steal our livelihood.

Fishing Show

This weekend is one of my favorite times during winter.  It is the Ultimate Fishing Show in Detroit.  I love it.  New boats to look at and drool over and tons of tackle to look at.  Friends from Facebook I will get to see as well.  

The best part about this year is me and my son will be going Friday.  His birthday is this week so his present is going to the fishing show.  We are going from open to close and he gets to miss school Friday.  I can’t wait to spend the day with my son.  He is as much a bass fishing fanatic as I am.  He knows more about lures than most 12 year olds.

When I asked him what he wanted for Christmas this year he told me the model Strike King Crankbait he wanted.  Some people I know who enjoy fishing can’t even do that.  However my son knows enough about fishing that he can.

I often wonder if other things I have tried to teach him have rubbed of like the fishing have.  I worry that just because he is raised in a Christian home he may turn his back on the Lord when he gets the chance.  I know every day I send him out into the world and he sees the bad out there.  I can only reinforce the importance of a relationship with Christ when he is with me.  I can only show him by my actions what being a Christian is all about.

At times I wish I could make the decision to follow the Lord for him.  Yet I cannot, all I can do is be a good example for him.

Giving Up Fishing

It is no secret I love fishing.  I love being on the water and putting my knowledge of catching fish up against the conditions of that moment I am on the water.  I love the feeling of bringing in a bass, fighting him back to the boat, not knowing how big the fish is when I set the hook.

Yet there is so much more to life than fishing.  I love my family more than fishing and would not be able to fish as much as I do without their support.  I love the fact that I have a relationship with the Lord and do not have to fear death.

I was reading 1 John 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  That is love; God loved us so much he sent his son to die for our sins so we could spend eternity in Heaven with him.  

Like I said I love fishing, and last week my friend Josh and I met to do a Bible study together.  We talked about what if God asked me to give up fishing forever.  To be honest the thought made me sick to my stomach.  I am not sure I could.  Yet God sent Jesus to die for us, and not just die but experience a horrible death.  That was far more terrible than not being able to fish.

Well Josh and I were talking about the "what if” of me giving up fishing I thought about Abraham being told he had to sacrifice Isaac.  Abraham followed God and took his son to the mountain top to sacrifice him.  As Abraham was about to kill his son God stepped in and saved Isaac.  I wish I could say I would be like Abraham and be willing to do that.  The truth is I don’t know that I could.  The thought of having to kill my son for the Lord is hard to think about.  The thought of having to give up fishing is not as hard to think about as having to kill my son but it is still hard to think about.

The truth is the Lord could have me stop fishing.  I hope that day never comes, but if it does I hope I can follow the leading of the Lord.  I have given up lots of things in my life because I know it does not bring glory to the Lord or help me be a light to those around me.  I hope the next time you feel God is calling you to give something up for him you will remember what God did for us.

Fighting

I was reading John 8:31-32 “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

I often wonder why people fight this freedom.  Before I was a Christian I fought God day in and day out.  I grew up in a home where my mother made me go to church even though I didn’t want to.  I wanted to live my life my way.  I am thankful that she did, if she had not I would not have had the roots in Christ that I did.  I could never shake those feelings of knowing the things I was doing were wrong.

I was thinking while reading John 8:31-32 that those who fight the freedom we have in Christ are like bass.  When they are hooked they do everything they can to get free.  Some try to hide, but we pull them free.  Some make a run for open water and we let them until they tire out and we can reel them into the boat.  Some bass fight more than others.  Some bass break free from that hook and swim off.

People are the same way.  We all have it ingrained in us that there is something more.  We are created for something bigger.  We fight those feelings and thoughts and fight God just like those bass.  Just like the bass some people take longer to find the Lord and run and hide longer than others.  

The best part is just like the bass when we finally give in and follow God we are set free.  The bass is set free from the hook in his mouth, some go back in the water and the big ones hit the live well to be set free later.  The point is when we finally decide to follow God we are set free.  We no longer have to worry about what comes after death because we have life eternal.

Don’t be like the bass we fish for.  Don’t run from God instead head to him and allow him to set you free from the struggle of living without him.  Allow him to pull that hook (Sin and eternal separation) from you.

No Sleep

It’s funny I wrote a blog a few days ago about being rejected by sponsors.  I was devastated to say the least.  With that said I have been having trouble sleeping the last few weeks and have spent several nights not sleeping or being up very late.  I never went to sleep the other night and spent most of the night on Facebook.

I was reading some stuff about sponsorship and being on pro teams.  I realized why I am worrying about sponsorship.  Yeah it would be nice to have help in the fishing industry and get discounts but I fish because I love it, because when I do I feel close to God.  I watched this funny clip floating around face book about guys being on pro teams and how they get on a pro team and then spend more than they would to be on it.  I’ve found that I only want to partner with companies I use.  I only use Vicious line and will not approach any other line companies.  Just like crankbaits, 95% of the crankbaits I use are Strike Kings and I don’t care to approach other companies because I don’t want to use anything else.

I also have had this need to get a new bass boat (which is always there just more at the moment).  I want to fish BFL’s and don’t know that my trusty old 1979 Ranger bass boat will do the trick.  After talking to a few guys and hearing about other people fishing big tourneys in smaller Jon boats.  I am feeling better about my boat. No, I don’t think I will fish BFL’s in it but with the help of my friend Josh I hope we can fix my boat up a little and make it a little better to fish from this coming season.

Even though I didn’t sleep I learned a lot.  God uses all situations to help us grow.  I truly did grow that night.  I realized that I have a great boat.  Its old, it doesn’t go as fast as the guys I fish with but it gets me fishing.  I have great sponsors like JJ’s Magic, Atomic Tackle Company, BB-Lures, Inside Bass Fishing, GLCC, CenterMark Coaching, Bass Fury and Fish Bait Radio.

My wife was telling me about a conversation she had with a lady she works with that helped me gain a new perspective on my sponsors.  The co-worker said it was impressive that I have lined up the sponsors I have.  In this economy to her that was impressive.  My wife realized that I have done a lot and when I stop and think about what her co-worker said, they are right I have done a lot.  I don’t need to have a big sponsor I have a lot more than most guys.

Geting in Shape

I started another round of P90X today.  I want to be in shape for fishing this year.  It takes a lot for me to be motivated to work out.  I know what I want, which is to be in shape, but the motivation is not always there.

Lucky for me I have someone to workout with.  Ron, one of my professors at school, is my work out partner. He helps motivate me because I never want to tell him I don’t want to work out today because I am being lazy.  He helps hold me accountable.

I fish a lot of team tournaments and the same is true for our partners in the tournaments.  If the pattern we are running isn’t working our partners are there to help us change gears and look for something else. They keep us motivated.

The same is true for are Christian walk.  We need those people in our lives that will help keep us on track.  My friend Josh and I are keeping each other accountable.  We started a Bible study and contact each other each week to make sure we are keeping up with our reading.

If you do not have a person in your life that can keep you accountable about your walk with the Lord I hope that you will find someone.  The blessing and joy that can come from sharing what you have found interesting in your daily Bible reading and what your partner has found can be amazing.

Army Bass Anglers

I had the chance last week to Interview Major Cody Roberson of Army Bass Anglers.  I was honored to do the phone interview about the new show that Army Bass Anglers are involved in, “Big Bass Battle” on Verses.  

Being a student at a Christian College I am exposed to a lot of debates in the Christian world that most Christians are not even aware of.  Before we went on Christmas break one of the debates we talked about in my Worldview and Ethics class was the “Just War Theory”.  If you are not familiar with this debate it boils down to should Christians go to war.  It can also include should Christians be in the military.

Now, I don’t want to get all preachy and I don’t want to tell people what they should believe on this matter.  The fact is, I don’t know how I feel.  http://www.justwartheory.com/ is a great website that you can go and research the theory for yourself.   Now like I said I don’t know how I feel about the subject, and this is why.  We live in a country where we have a lot of freedom, freedom I enjoy and I know that without the dedication of our military we would not enjoy this freedom.  When I hear people bash war and those in the service it bothers me.  We need to support our military personnel.  

I understand both sides of the Just War Theory.  I understand that Christians are not supposed to harm others, and that we don’t read about Christians in the military in the Bible.  However, that being said I know a lot of great Christian men that have served in the Military.  My grandfather and father in-law both served and if I could be half the men they are I would be doing well.

The point I am trying to make is that even if you don’t believe Christians should be in the military we need to still support those men and women who defend our freedom every day.  Even if we don’t agree with the decision to go to war, we should support those who serve.  Like I said, it was an honor to talk with Major Cody Roberson last week.  Just remember as Christians we are called to love those around us even if we don’t agree with what they do or say.  Jesus is our example and he loved everyone even those who tried to kill him.