Bible Study Verses
II Peter 3:17-18
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (NIV)
Thoughts
Physical conditioning is very important to any hunter. A hunt is so much better when you can get around in the mountains and carry your pack with ease. But, this doesn't happen by accident.
You have to work at getting in shape. You have to eat right and get out and walk, run, bike, get to the gym, or do whatever you choose to do to improve your endurance.
I see so many hunters that are overweight and pigging out on the wrong foods. And, they never exercise or get in shape prior to a hunt. This is foolish and can be dangerous.
A couple years back an article in our local newspaper highlighted a professional athlete that was on a photo safari in Africa. Now we all know that a professional athlete must work out constantly to maintain his physical conditioning and keep his muscles toned and firm. Ok, that's a given. But, the story told of what he and two other football players had for dinner: meat and vegetables. No bread, no potatoes, no corn went on their plates. Am I against bread, potatoes, and corn? No, but eat them in moderation!
So, if you want to get into shape, eat right and exercise! And, don't tell me it can't be done. I teach Hunter Education classes with a guy that lost over 100 pounds. Yes, it can be done!
(Cliff S)
Action Point
If we're to grow in our faith we must be reading God's word, the Bible. There's just no other way. Yes, books about the faith, devotionals such as are available from Sportsmen's Devotional, and others are great. But, they are no substitute for a few minutes daily in God's word.
If you want to grow your faith, you must work at it. And, there's a practical side to this, if you're grounded in what you believe you won't be vulnerable to false teachings. May I suggest, start with reading a chapter per day in the book of John. Then, two chapters per day. Then, more as you feel you have time. You'll reach a point where you'll know how much time you have and can devote to reading daily. When you finish John, go through the other gospels, then the rest of the New Testament.
When you're finished reading, spend some time communicating with the Father in prayer. And, when you're praying, don't forget to listen! Spending time with God may mean getting up a few minutes earlier or spending a little less time on the internet. But, it will be well worth it as your faith in God grows and gets stronger.
Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
Getting in good shape not only enhances your hunt, but will go a long ways toward preventing emergencies in the field. Check with your Doctor and plan an exercise regimen that will work for you. Here's a test: when you buckle your belt, is it facing forward or looking at your toes? Be honest with yourself, you may have some work to do. Also, I like to get a physical every year a month or two prior to the hunting seasons so if there is something wrong, hopefully the Doctor will catch it and I won't find out about it on the mountain!
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