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Outdoor Truths: Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ August 4th
I spent last Friday night fishing with a friend during a night tournament. The fishing was as stifling as the humid July night. We checked the water temperature at one point and it read just below 90 degrees. I can imagine how the fish must have thought that the effort to attack any bait would burn more calories than the prize would offer. It was just not worth it. The human perspective felt equally dismal, but it’s fishing, and somebody has to do it. We were glad to volunteer, and we also knew that even if the fishing was bad, the conversations would be good. The night would not be lost. After several hours, I can say “thank God” for good conversation, even if I can’t say “thank God” for the fish. 
 I’ve noticed that many times the outcome I had planned for was not the one I received. I think this is one of the draws to hunting and fishing – that no matter what we envision a trip to be, it always throws us an unexpected curve. And it’s this curve that actually becomes the real story. In fact, they are what separate one adventure from another. Just think about telling this story each time you went out……… “Hey, I went fishing today and I caught (insert number here) fish.” Let’s say you told that each week, in the same way, with the same fervor, and with the same results. What if that was all you were ever able to tell? How boring would that be? And who would really want to take up the sport of fishing? Not too many. You see, it is in the unexpected details that bring fullness to an event or activity. For instance, let me tell you about hugging a houseboat for dear life while the bass boat was filling up with water and while lightening was hitting a hundred yards away; and people will listen if it is just to find out where they might find a sunken boat.
 Excuse me, but do you really want to know why many men don’t come to church or want our Christian life? It’s because our lives tell the same story each week. And it’s not one of full of spiritual curves, change ups, homeruns, or even strike outs. It is one of spiritual boredom that comes because we are afraid of the unexpected results that might come if we really give ourselves wholly to Him.
 Ask God to do something in your life that can only be explained as a move of God, and you won’t have a problem in telling an exciting story whether it involves catching fish or not.

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