Turkey Tracks

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve -- designating them apostles -- that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:13-15

It struck me again this morning that the reason Jesus calls people to "be with him" is so that he can ultimately "send them out".

Jesus wants you to come to him. He wants to be with you. Jesus wants to send your life out into a world that desperately needs to see how the power of God works in a human life.

How are you responding to Jesus' desire to "be with you" and "send you" out?

Turkey Fever

Last Sunday evening, Mark Pledger bagged his first turkey and now sets his eyes on some long-beards we are patterning on the property.  After killing this turkey, we saw and heard several hens and two toms roost in the area we are hunting.  We are headed back to the woods on Saturday morning.  Congratulations to Mark for getting "all tore up" for chasing thunder-chickens!

Strengthen Your Brothers (Luke 22:31-32)

As followers of Christ, we all experience times when our faith is in question or specific times when we act as if we really don't believe what God says.  Surprisingly, "denying Christ" is something that Jesus knew his followers would struggle with in a sin-tainted world.  (Keep in mind that our failures in following Christ do not disqualify our relationship with Christ as illustrated in John 21.)  At times, all believers act as if they may not know Jesus. 

Before his crucifixion, Jesus warned Peter that a time was coming when Peter would flat-out deny his faith.  Jesus warned his disciples that "Satan had asked to sift them as a farmer would sift and separate wheat.-- (my paraphrase)" and that all the disciples must consider the pressures that awaited them.  (Luke 22:31)

Interestingly, although Jesus had given a foreboding prophetic word concerning the disciples lack of faith, in Luke 22:32, Jesus offered these encouraging words.  "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 

In the same acknowledgement that his disciples would be scattered, Jesus alluded to them being regathered.  In the face of impending failure, Jesus offered great hope and a ministry of encouragement as each of his followers forsakes the sin of denial and "turns back" to the pathway of radical devotion.  That is a mark of a true follower of Christ. 

Be encouraged that you have a specific ministry flowing out of your repentance.  After times of neglecting our walk with Christ, we are tempted to pull away from our personal relationships with other believers.  Jesus' advice when considering our temporary failures,  is to minister to one another and strengthen one another to be faithful.

What can you do today to use your temporary failures as a means to encourage other believers to be strengthened with faith?  Act on it!

Spring Season (for turkey hunters)

 
Mason and I headed to the turkey woods last Saturday.  The Alabama Department of Natural Resources allows youth hunters a head start to the season which officially began on March 15.  We had high expectations as we drove to Ballplay, Alabama.

We heard not a peep during the flydown moments of the morning.  Our decoys looked pretty realistic in the morning mist and the sounds of spring were in full swing with every kind of bird except the one bird we were looking for. 

About 8:30 we walked to a new area hoping to hear a gobbler "sound off".  Our path was blocked due to excessive rains that caused flooding on this piece of property.  I joked, "With our luck we will hear a Tom on the other side and we can't get to him." 

Mason and I, along with our hunting partner Mark, turned to look elsewhere when I stopped after hearing a "gaaarroooble" which neither of them heard.  (I do have super-human hearing.)  Momentarily, I thought I was losing my mind and hearing things when finally we all heard the hair-raising sound of a tom on the search of love.  I called to him several times and each time he answered with great interest.

Knowing it was highly unlikely that he would take flight and cross the water, we reluctantly decided to back off and set up our decoys in a nearby field and see if by some miracle the bird would come looking.  Mason was well hidden as I called and called.  I'll bet the bird gobbled fifteen times before incredibly he took flight and landed on our side of the water.  He sounded like a crashing helicopter and I whispered, "He's coming Mason, get ready."

In a matter of minutes we saw his white head peeping up and looking down at our setup.  I smiled and said to myself, "Mason is going to kill this bird."  The next fifteen minutes were both exciting and frustrating.  He would not come one step beyond 100 yards.  We could see him, he could see the decoys, but something was not right.  He circled, strutting and looking, and moved to our right for about 150 yards.  Before he disappeared, I cut loosed with some more yelps but he continued on his leary way.  He wanted to join the decoys, but instead he stayed safely out of danger. 

In my mind I knew exactly what was happening.  I have three decoys:two hens and a jake.  I have killed many turkeys with this setup but that day I modified my strategy by adding a "Killer B" tom decoy by Primos.  The minute our "would-be" trophy laid eyes on him, he wanted nothing to do with any of us.  That's why he walked all the way around, cautiously evaluating the size of my decoy.  I was sick. 

I encouraged Mason in his patience and made a turkey-hunting note to myself.  "Don't set up a dominate decoy this early in the season."  "Or better yet, throw the thing in the garbage."  We are headed back to try to find this bird again on Saturday. 

"Turkey hunting is more about the hunt than killing turkeys.  Turkey hunting is more about my sons than hunting." 

"Thank you God for the time I spent with Mason on Saturday.  Thank you for letting us enjoy your creation and listening to the sounds of that gobbler.  If I doesn't matter to you, God, give us another opportunity to go again and maybe even kill a tom.  Either way I still love you."  Amen

Rescue

 
On February 22, FoxNews reported that four Americans aboard a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates were gunned down by their captors.  The two couples that were killed were known for sailing the world with bibles aboard their vessel.  It seems so strange to think about modern day pirating and the risks of traveling abroad.  I know the couples aboard the Quest bore the responsibility of sailing in dangerous waters, but it unnerves me to consider the growing boldness of evil.

Growing up under the strong influence of television, I always assumed that Americans held a special position throughout the world.  That position was a result of a healthy fear and respect that other countries gave to the United States and its citizens.  Hostages may be taken, and lives may be in peril, but sooner than later the U.S. rescues its own and enforces protective privileges given to its own.  Soon, either Chuck Norris or John Wayne would crash through the door, shoot the bad guys, and usher the valued hostages to safety.  Any would-be hostage-takers would think twice about messing with Americans again. 

As I watch the events in the Middle East, I can't help but notice America's influence for positive change diminishing.  It appears that we have temporarily lost the weight of our words in expressing the ideals of freedom.  Maybe no one is listening as intently as in years past because of the passive posture that is being held out to our own people and the nations abroad.  I think that liberalism always undermines the strength of any nation.  While liberal ideology may be necessary for healthy political debate, it has proven itself weak and impotent as our leaders test these ideas in the ears of militant and evil empires.

Like it or not, evil must be met with great strength and steadfastness.  Wavering and bowing lend credence to the idea that one may be moved from one's firm position.  Even when it appears that evil has an upper hand, the belief in rescue and justice carries its people through great difficulty.

In the kingdom of Christ, strength and deliverance are a reality.  Rescue is at the very heart of the gospel.  Even though evil may flourish for a time, it is always wriggling under the pressure that Christ has prevailed and will soon manifest the reality of absolute victory.

Consider these verses:

Col 2:9-10; 15 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodlily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority...  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 

Col 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Rom 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Stand Firm