December 23, 2011
Today's Photograph . . . . Journeying Moose (Herb C) |
Acts 2:46-47
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)
Thoughts
Being a follower of Christ is not a single point or destination. It is a journey, hopefully, a long, full one.
Making the turn to faith is a big step at first; and we all need help and support to continue the journey. As outdoor people, we often place a high value on our solitary connection with creation and, therefore. with God. That value can be accommodated as a Christian as long as we, also, value the necessity of corporate worship.
Our walk in faith can be compared to our educational system, in that there is a need to start with basics and continue to grow to our potential. We are to follow Jesus; and He clearly instructed us to join together as believers so that our individual gifts would be combined for the benefit of God's kingdom, meeting the needs of a wide variety of people and communities.
(Brent B)
Action Point
If you are not connected to a Christian congregation now, start searching for one where you can learn, grow, serve, and be served. If you are connected, think about how you can be of greater service, finding a way to use your special gifts to help build God's kingdom.
If you are seeking a place to worship, some vital questions to ask would include:
- Is the Holy Word of God taught and preached?
- Is the Bible taught as the complete and inerrant Word of God?
- In leadership are the pastor and church leadership mirrors of Christ?
- Is the study of the Bible as the means to interpret the Bible?
In your search, if you find that congregations fall short, perhaps your mission is to go there and help them improve.
Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
If you are going to be hunting with a firearm, it is important to practice your marksmanship and the function of the firearm. The most effective practice would include using the same ammunition, clothing rest, shooting sticks, or other aids you plan to use. Once you know the firearm and ammo are sighted in, make the practice as much like expected field conditions as possible. If long distances might be involved, practice at those distances and learn how wind can affect your shooting.
