Men of the Outdoors

  This Devotion was written by Sportsmen Devotional and posted with permission Bible Study Verse: Daniel 2:21 He changes the times and seasons: he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. (NIV)  Thoughts: As I looked out my blind window (or my office window as I like to call it) one more time for the year, I pondered on the blessings from the Lord. Muzzleloading deer season came to an end here in the Midwest about a week ago and I already miss it. However, I’m already transitioning to hard water fishing in my head and praying for some cold weather to freeze up my area lakes. I love ice fishing when I can get out, but sometimes in the state of Indiana ice is hard to come by. But as each season rolls around, I often think of the blessings in my life around outdoor sports and the different seasons I have experienced.  Action Point: Us outdoor people, we always put a lot of time in and around our sports and the season...

Ron began our chat with a devotion entitled “Miraculous Catch of Fish” The thought came from Luke 5:4-5, Philippians 4:13 and John 12:32. You may recall these verses, the apostles were fishing all night and got shut-out. Jesus told them to throw the nets on the other side and they pulled in a large number of fish. Although these apostles were experienced fishing guys, they needed the power of Jesus to land fish. This event leads us to Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength". Most of the conversation centered around turkey hunting and fishing. Terry brought a number of Call Turkey magazines to share with the group. Depending on your zone not everyone was in the woods or fields hunting yet. Listening to the conversation there are still a good number of turkeys out there. Walleye limits were harvested on the river. Drifting with night crawlers produced fish, however no one gave away any locations. A little discussion on electronics involved t...

This Devotion was written by Sportsmen Devotional and posted with permission Bible Study Verse: Galatians 6:3 “For if any man thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”  Thoughts: Now that I am in the 70-something stage of my life, I have learned one thing for sure. Just when I have figured out a fishing technique or the best time and place to fish, I come to find out that I am not even close to having it figured out. No two days are exactly the same out in the field or in life period! Here’s a quote from a good friend of mine that says it all - “just when you think you IS – you ain’t!” Or, in my language - “just when you think you got it FIGURED OUT you probably got a lot more to learn.”  Action Point: Keep trying to grow in your hobby, or your favorite outdoor adventures, and grow in your maturity level in life, including your walk with God. But remember to stay humble, because we are nothing apart from Him, and can’t achieve anything of lasting value ...

The Men of the Outdoors will host its second annual trip to the Quetico Provincial Park June 22 to 29. The Quetico is considered to be more rustic and rugged than the Boundary Waters. It doesn’t have designated campsites with fire pits or latrines. Last year's trip experienced perfect weather and some amazing fishing with a lmost everyone getting a grand slam one of the days. (Grand Slam = 1 northern, 1 bass, 1 walleye, 1 lake trout) . The largest fish for the week was 41.5” northern. This is truly a wilderness adventure . The Quetico is located in Canada and you will need a form of identification like a passport for the trip. If you are interested in this trip and would like more information, please contact Pete Burton at pjb9440@gmail.com  

  This Devotion was written by Sportsmen Devotional and posted with permission Bible Study Verse: Philippians 2:5-8 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (NIV©)  Thoughts: I was in a deer camp a few years back and it was interesting to watch everybody pitch in to help with the camp chores. We had individuals that were good cooks, they took care of that duty. Me? I have the gift of washing dishes and gladly made sure we had clean pots and pans for every meal. Others made sure the paper plates, napkins, and paper cups were in the garbage where they belonged. It was rewarding to see how everybody happily serve...

  This Devotion was written by Sportsmen Devotional and posted with permission Bible Study Verse: Acts 17:21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) (NIV©)  Thoughts: Hunters are always discussing the latest sure-fire ways of how to pursue animals, the perfect rifle or shotgun, and the absolute perfect tactics for a successful hunt. News flash, none of the above exist! What the successful hunter does is learn from the past and what has worked for him/her and what has not. The successful hunter depends on his time-tested strategies. What has worked for someone else doesn’t always pertain to your hunt (e.g., terrain, climate, food and water sources). And, what made the other guy successful might have been just dumb luck! By the way, I’ve often stated that I would far rather be lucky than good!  Action Point: Our world today is fixated largely on society’s “latest ideas,” als...

This Devotion was written by Sportsmen Devotional and posted with permission Bible Study Verse: Ephesians 4:29  “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” (NASB)  Thoughts: Most of us who fish have heard the term “match the hatch”. For those of us who haven’t, it’s a fishing strategy that involves selecting an artificial bait that resembles what fish are feeding on. For this to happen, the angler must observe what the fish is eating.  Action Point: What are you feeding on today? Are you feeding on things that push you to be more like Christ, or things that are temporal? It’s so easy for me to get caught up in things that have little or no eternal value. As I feed on things that push me to be more like Christ, I naturally edify and encourage others like Ephesians 4:29 instructs us. How can you encourage one person with your words today?...