September 26, 2011


Today's Photograph . . . . In The Wilderness In A Float Tube and Catching Trout (MQ) 

Bible Study Verses

II Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

Thoughts


It was a little warm still under the summer sun as we mounted our horses and readied to hit the trail. We were setting off on a four hour ride to retreat into some of God's most beautiful country for a week.

My friend was leading me into the wilderness to teach me how to fly fish. We had done some practicing at home; teaching me how to cast overhead, how to side cast, how to aim, how to hit my target, and how to strip line were among the previous days lessons. Then it was to a lake with a float tube and casting for fish.

We caught several rainbows our first day out. Next we went to another lake, then to a river where the teachings continued and were much different from the teachings of still water fishing. Now we were waist deep in a fast moving river trying to see a floating fly go by at what seemed like 40mph.
 
It had been a long week of learning, but now was the moment of truth. Fly rods stowed and flies tied, we were setting out under that warm August sun; setting out on a trip of a life time.

Action Point

Timothy appears to have followed Paul's teaching on his first trip to Lystra and when Paul returns to Lystra Paul finds Timothy again. Paul and Timothy would spend a great deal of time together, teaching, and ministering to the world. Paul clearly became a mentor to the younger Timothy. Although Paul had many people that followed him and his teachings about Christ, it was Timothy who held a special place in Paul's heart. Of the thirteen letters Paul has written in the New Testament, ten of them mention Timothy.

My friend has been more than a friend, more than a fly fishing instructor: he has been a spiritual mentor. Why? I don't know. I am nothing special but he, by the grace and probably urging of God, took me in (spiritually) and began to lead and mentor me.
  
Is there someone out there for you to mentor? The Bible is filled with verses that instruct us, both men and women to mentor others. As is it says in Psalms 119:130, "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple," Take the time to pray and see if God doesn't introduce someone into your life that He wants you to mentor. 

Sportsmen's Tip of the Day

Patience is the key when teaching someone something new. If they are having a hard time understanding your direction, don't get impatient with them. Remember they want to learn, instead re-evaluate your instruction and try again.