Helping Out

I have been getting a lot of free tackle as of late, which I am not complaining about in anyway.  At times I have more stuff than I think I can ever use.  So the other day I was on Facebook when I saw a friend needed some stuff for a tournament he was running.  I knew I had a ton of stuff I could send.  So I sent him a message and off it went.

I was thinking about being a Christian, we are called to help others.  I started thinking about Hebrews 13:16 which says “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

I had more tackle then I needed and I could help out my friend Allen.  So without thinking I told him I would.  I have done this other times and gotten thing in return but every time I offer to help with tackle I never expect anything on return.  I simply do it because I can and I want to help those who need.

I have seen this a lot in the fishing community as of late.  With big storms hit the south it has been cool to see the fishing community come together and help those whose lives have been thrown into upheaval because of tornados.  I think that’s part of why I like being an angler because I see Christian values in the sport I love.

The next time you see someone in need just remember we are called to “share” or help those in need.  Let’s continue to pray for the south in the after math of the disasters that have occurred in the last few months.

Here I Am Yet Agian

Not my motor but pretty close to the
one giving me problems

It seems that most of my blogs have been about my motor in the past month.  I have had more problems with that thing, at times it makes me want to pull my hair out.  I have tried to look at all the problems with a good point of view but as each new problem arises I am having a harder and harder time doing so.

I had this thought the other day.  I am beginning to feel a bit like Paul.  Now don’t stop reading and yes I did just compare myself to Paul.  Paul in my opinion is the second greatest New Testament figure we have next to Christ.  So much of the New Testament comes from Paul he helped start Churches and was fundamental in bringing gentiles into Christianity.

Even though Paul did all of these things he was still hounded and threatened by the Jews and gentiles alike.  We read about how he was thrown into jail, beaten and even stoned in the name of God.  Now none of that is happening to me by my motor but I was looking at my motor as those who were trying to shout Paul up.  My motor has done nothing but work against me, instead of helping me gets to the fish.

Even though Paul went through all of that at the hands of those who did not want him to accomplish the goal God set before him Paul continued on.  Even though my motor doesn’t want to co-operate with me I am still pressing on.  Yes it would be nice to have a newer boat, one that I don’t have to work on week in and week out.  However that’s not what God has planned for me I guess.  Even thought I am still waiting patiently for that phone call or email telling me that I have won one of those hundreds of bass boats I have signed up to win.

Just like Paul I am going to solder on.  I will continue to deal with the curve balls that my boat and motor cause me.  Maybe someday I will be able to get that new boat, or maybe I can just win one.  It’s funny I am always checking craigslist and I am always finding great deals on used bass boats.  Sadly I don’t have the 5 or 7 grand it would cost to get a decent used one.  Like I said someday, or maybe not maybe I am never suppose to have a newer boat but I sure hope not.

So the next time you feel like everything is falling apart or everything is against you stop and think about all that Paul went through.  Remember we are not alone when we are going through something annoying or difficult God is with us.

Fishing With Faith and Winning

From wired2fish.com

I just ran across this article on Wired 2 Fish about Steven Stone.  The article is about his faith and how he sees God working through his fishing.  It was interesting to read and worth your time.  If anyone knows how I can get in touch with Steven please let me know I would like to talk with him.

He has won three tournament is a row the Jet-A-Marina tournament, BFL and Bassmaster weekend series all on Kentucky Lake.

F.I.S.H.

I am always excited when I get to tell you about an organization that is willing to think and look beyond themselves.  I was introduced to a new organization today called F.I.S.H.

Fishermen
In action
Sharing
Hope

Here is what Rodney Howard the founder had to say:

We here at F.I.S.H. are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those in need and to assist charitable foundations. Our goal is to be a foundation for families and organizations to acquire assistance on every level possible. There are so many people in need of help in travel expenses, food cost, and other cost that comes with illness and life’s tragedies. We are going to put our best foot forward and make this happen to assist these people. There will also be charitable organizations as well as our military that we will be donating to and assisting often. We will be hosting fishing tournaments, fund raisers, and auctions at the tournaments to raise money for these causes. This is going to be about bringing bass fisherman and hope for families in need together. Within the next two years we hope to be able to reach out to surrounding states and make a difference in their communities as well.
Our reps will be on location at many of the larger circuits to speak and spread the word of our organization. Reaching out thru areas such as the FLW,PAA,B.A.S.S, and others will bring your product much recognition and be there for the public to view in as many locations as possible. Our group would like to have the use of three of your boats to wrap with our logo and display at these events. These types of tournaments will give us publicity and promote your boats to the whole bass fishing community thru out the year to come. Your sponsorship and assistance will be included in all of our events and on our literature as well as our media exposure. I have all confidence in the success of this project.
They resently raised close to 4,000 dollars for a little boy named Dawson who has brain cancer.  I will be keeping you updated as I know more.  You can check out BIGBASSMANIA.COM for some more info.

Time to Change

I came to a realization the other day well watching the B.A.S.S. Elite event on ESPN.  They showed a tracker of where the top 4 anglers fished on the lake.  Between the 4 of them they covered almost the entire lake.

So here’s what I realized I tend to stand still when fishing.  I can pull up on a spot I think holds fish or I know has fish on it and sit and try and milk it or fish it until I catch a fish.  This tends to be my problem I hate change.  So I can sit on a spot for 4 hours and never catch a fish, because I think they are there.  I also identified another problem I have.  I don’t change baits very often either.  I have mentioned once or twice how much I love fishing crankbaits.  So if I am fishing a crankbait and I’m not getting bit I don’t change color or one that has no rattles or rattles.  I tend to get rods out and use what’s on them or change baits before getting on the water and sticking with them even when they don’t produce.

I have begun to realize this is a problem with my fishing.  I need to be able and willing to change with the situations I am faced with each time on the water.  Looking back in my life I see that change has always been a hard thing for me to deal with.  My mom will tell you that when I was a kid she would have to send me away from the house for the day so she could change the living room around cause if she did it when I was home I would freak out.

The more I thought about it Romans 12:2 came to mind:

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let
God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know
God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

When I became a Christian I allowed God to change me.  Now I need to make changes in my fishing.  I could only have left the way I use to live with God’s help.  Now I am faced with another change one that has no bearing on the life I live.

Yet as I write this blog all I can think is maybe if I pray about it God will help me to change this attitude I have well fishing.  It’s worth a shot right?  Don’t be like me and have a hard time changing instead 

New Life in my Motor

Well I got the motor working, looks like I will be fishing soon.  I don’t even know what to say, other then I feel stupid.  Ok so here’s what the problem was……not the controls, ignition, solenoid and battery.  I overlooked a small fuse, yes a small fuse that had blown.  The cause of my stress for a week has been a small AGA 20 fuse, a 3 dollar part!

I had checked it the first time I gave the motor a once over.  It looked good in poor lighting.  After basically thinking I was never going to figure out the problem I went back to the motor and looked it over again.  I don’t know why I looked at the fuse again but I did.  After holding it to the light and thinking that might be blown I ran to the auto store got the 3 dollar part and hit the ignition….the motor came to life.

I had been text messaging Josh back and forth all day because I honestly thought I would not be fishing this summer from my boat meaning no tourneys.  I was upset I mean really upset.  Josh asked me what I thought God was teaching me (Which I blogged about here) and I what I would look back in three months and see.  My response was I didn’t get to fish all summer.  Man that was stupid of me to say.

After cranking the motor a good 10 times I stopped bowed my head and thanked God.  Yup I stopped and prayed.  The victory was as much Gods as it was my own.  No Gods hands did not do the work, but he did keep me from taking a hammer to the motor and beating it until it never worked again. Before I was a Christian I would have been so mad that it was not working I would have destroyed a good motor because I was angry.

I have blogged about anger before and how since becoming a Christian I have worked to get rid of the anger in my life.  This ordeal with the motor has truly tested it.  I have been a pain to live with just ask my wife.  But with God’s help I have not lost my temper like I use to.

Is funny to me that a small fuse could be the cause of all my problems.  As I put the fuse into the motor and turned the key I thought about James 3:1-12:

“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.  We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

  When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

  All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,  but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.  Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?  My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

Just like the verse says our tongues are such a small part of our bodies but they can cause big problems.  That fuse was so small and caused an entire motor to not run.  Now my motor and the way we talk to people are not related but the motor sure made me stop and think about James 3.

The funny thing is that my motor caused me to stumble, I was rude to people because of my motor.  I texted stuff to Josh that was kind of dumb because I was upset about the motor.  I let an outside source upset me and I let it cause me to be a jerk.  Don’t let outside sources cause you anger and to stumble like my motor did me.  Instead look for the positives in the situation you our going thru. 

I sure hope in 3 months I can look back at this and think man God sure helped me grow!  

Tanner Outdoors

I found this website from John Tanner's Facebook page.  If you Dont know John Tanner is a pro on the FLW Tour.  He has a site about outdoors and God.  He is doing something I would love to do someday and I honestly hope God allows me to.  Check it out.

Learning During the Hard Times

I have to be honest the weather has been great the last week and I am going nuts.  The boat still will not start.  My friend Josh and I went fishing last Saturday and the motor has not turned over since I loaded it on the trailer.  I am losing it not being on the water.

Friday Josh and I took the hour trip to his dad’s house and picked up two used controls (his dad scraps boats and sells parts).  I was convinced that the problem was in the controls not the motor somewhere.  Well last night I hooked up the controls I got from Josh’s dad and got the same result the motor playing dead.

I feel like I should be learning something from this.  The problem is I don’t know what.  I have the tendency to look at a situation and think what is God teaching me?  In this situation I don’t know what it is.  I was thinking maybe God is trying to teach me that fishing is not everything.  Or maybe God is trying to help me see the good in a bad situation.  I am leaning toward that, I have been trying to look at the positives even thou the motor is not working.

I shared in another blog that the motor could have stopped ten minutes earlier than it did and Josh and I would have been stranded.  Also I got the opportunity to meet Josh’s dad which was an honor.  Plus last week was so nice I think I may have fished a little too much and not have studied for my Greek final like I should have and did and may not have passed the class.

I keep hoping he boat will just start and I can go fishing, however it doesn’t seem to want to.  I keep thinking I wish I had a new boat but I know I am lucky to have the 30 year old Ranger I have because some guys aren’t even that blessed.

The next time that you seem to be going thru something that is a struggle for you stop and think about what is God trying to teach me.  I know when I do I seem to have more peace with what is going on I am able to look at the situation with a better prospective.       

Belive It or Not

Yesterday I shared with you about Josh and I fishing on Saturday and how we experienced something that shocked me when the power company turned on the cooling tower.  That was only part of the story, and now I am going to share the rest of it.

As I was putting the boat on the trailer the motor stopped working….well I say motor only because it wouldn’t turn over.  However I think it is an electrical issue in the ignition and not the motor itself.  I feel like I should be upset yet I’m not.  We got the boat on the trailer I’m in the process of fixing it and I’m not upset.

This is a new experience for me, last year it seemed like I was fixing something on my boat every week just to keep it running, and every time it broke down I would get upset.  Yet Saturday I was frustrated but it didn’t fly off the handle or go off.  I got the boat on the trailer got it home and began trying to figure out what was wrong with it.

I was telling Josh yesterday that we were blessed, if the part that died had died 10 minutes before we would have been stranded on the river.  I can’t tell you it was God, I would like to think it was.  It’s not the first time something like this has happened either.  I had a truck with starter problems once and I was 40 miles from home I really had to bang on the starter to get it to work, but I finally got the truck started and made it home.  That starter never worked again but when it died It was parked safely in front of my home where all my tools where and I could work on the truck.

I wish I had some great Bible verse to stick in here but the truth is I don’t.  I can only have faith and believe that God had something to do with it.  That’s the great thing about faith you don’t need a reason (well I don’t) I believe that God was looking out for me and Josh that day.   

Could Rock Your Faith

Saturday started the opening of catch and release in MI.  Needless to say I was really excited.  So at 9 am my best friend Josh and I headed to the river to fish the spot I had found 5 months ago and to see if it was still holding fish.

When we pulled up on it I was determined to not hammer the spot with crankbaits, because I had pounded that spot last Nov/Dec with them.  I wanted to see what else I could pull them off the spot with.  I also wanted to field test the Atomic Tackle Company Ball and Chain (read review here).

Within 10 minutes I had a 2lb in the boat.  The fish came steadily here and there for 2 or 3 hours.  I finally changed to a crankbait because I could not resist the temptation of throwing one.  I began to feel bad for Josh, as I was bringing in fish after fish he struggled and did not bring one in.  I do half to share a funny moment with you.  I was bringing in the largest fish I (and Josh) caught Saturday as the MSU crew team was practicing behind us.  As I swung the 3 lb (maybe more) on to the boat and unhooked it I hear out of nowhere “Nice Fish” clear as day.  In my head I thought “Yes God it is thanks for allowing me to catch it”, but it was the guy giving directions to the crew team saying it over the bull horn.  I laughed about that with Josh for the rest of the day.

Like I said I had been fishing this same spot last Nov/Dec because it stayed warmer than the rest of the river.  It is near the dam and there are some cooling towers right by the spot that I figured kept the spot warmer.  I had not seen the towers run since last summer but I knew they played a part in why this spot produced.

I experienced a rude awakening Saturday as they turned on the cooling tower.  When that happened I expected the fishing to get better, with the current moving more and I also expected the water temp to rise.  When we first pulled up on it the spot was holding around 60 degrees where the rest of the river was about 53 degrees.  Not only did the water temp drop to 53 in that spot but the fishing died.  I could not catch a fish after that (Josh did land 3 after the cooling tower began running).

The day was an eye opener for me.  I kept saying it to josh the movement of water caused the fish to reposition but I could not figure out where.  The same is true as a Christian, when we start to really dig into the Bible and read history of the Church and Bible we begin to see and learn things that we may not have realized.  I can tell you I have learned a lot of things I never knew studying at Great Lakes Christian College.

These things could shake our faith and cause us to question what we believe.  Much like that spot did to me yesterday.  I could question whether or not there are fish there or if I could even catch them.  Instead it has made me think and wonder what I need to change when the cooling tower is on.  Where have the fish repositioned?  That’s what we as Christians need to do when we come across things that could rock our faith.  We need to stop and look at them, think about them and dissect the issue at hand. 

In both our faith and in fishing we need to not let little setbacks rock us but instead work thru them and learn because it will make us stronger in our faith and better fishermen.