July 10, 2012   

Today's Photograph . . . . Grand Canon North Rim (NPS)

Bible Study Verse

Psalm 145:3  

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. (ESV)

Thoughts 

The chilly morning air nipped at my nose. A frosty cloud percolated from my mouth with every breath. The air temperature overnight had dropped into the low thirties and most of the men in our hiking troop were not prepared for a frozen wonderland when they signed up for a late summer excursion.

It was 6:00 am, on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Time to get up and descend into the great abyss for an unbelievable adventure. But the heat of the sleeping bag would not release me from its grip and I did not resist. After a few minutes of soaking up its warmth, my thoughts drifted towards the sights and sounds that this day would bring. Restless, I attempted to unzip and free myself from my captor. Its powerful spell had created the unexpected struggle. 

The emotional security of staying in my current surroundings was intoxicating and extremely difficult to let go, but the risk-reward quotient of hiking the Grand Canyon outweighed any desire to stay in a place of comfort and miss out on being part of a great adventure.  

(Michael T)

Action Point

Religion is often complicit in creating a lifestyle that leads an individual's faith into a spiritual rut. We do things because we have always done them or because we are afraid of change. Sometimes we resist out of fear or because of our self-righteousness.

Christianity on the other hand can free us in a way that allows us to see the enormity of God and the possibilities of growing our faith. God has called each of us to a life adventure of worship and service. He wants to stretch us and to move us into a position that leads us to lean on Him.

Don't give in to the comfort of normalcy. It only leads to spiritual complacency.

Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
Wear a stocking cap to stay warm when you find yourself in a sleeping bag during cold weather.