 2 Are Better Than 1 by Bro Several years ago I had the opportunity to shoot a nice whitetail buck in the high-country of western Montana. It was the perfect day, complete with fresh snow, good friends, and warm sun to knock off the chill. My buck made the deadly mistake of casting all his attention on a doe that was playing hard to get. He was completely oblivious to the fact that there were three hunters a short distance away planning his demise. I did the deed and the buck fell in his tracks. I was thrilled with my new trophy…until I realized just how far we were from the truck. I had a long drag ahead of me and was somewhat kickin’ myself for shooting a buck so far from the truck when my buddy said, “Hey, we can all help. It won’t be a problem with us working together to carry the load.” And so back up the mountain we climbed. Standing side by side we worked together to pull the buck back up on the ridgeline. When one of us felt like we could go no further the third guy jumped in to help carry the load. Together we were stronger and were able to accomplish what could never be done alone.  Whether in the woods or in everyday life, we need someone to go down the trail with us. We need someone to help carry the load and the burdens we bear. The Bible says, “Two are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble….A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12
Do you have someone to run life’s race with? Who’s got your back? We are daily bombarded with temptations, struggles, conflicts, and crisis. We need to have someone to stand with us in the midst of these tough issues so we can conquer. It’s really tough to stand alone…and even tougher to get back up when you’re all alone and life knocks you down. Make it a point to find someone to travel the trail with you. And never neglect to have that third person…God…leading your life every step of the way.
0 Comments
 That’s My Boy
July 21st, 2011 by bro At the conclusion of last week’s youth bowhunter camp in Nebraska, we celebrated the end of having to eat camp food by taking the kids to Pizza Hut for lunch. It was a buffet-style, help-yourself kind of deal, and like his dad, my little boy, Aidan, loves to help himself. He loves the freedom of pickin’ and choosin’ whatever he wants to eat. Everything was going good…until Aidan discovered the salad bar. Just moments before we pushed back from the table to leave, Aidan’s buddy (also named Aidan) came up to me and said that Aidan was at the salad bar eating peaches. He went on to say that Aidan really didn’t like the taste of the peaches so he was spitting them back into the bowl. Not his bowl! The bowl of peaches in the middle of the salad bar! I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, whip my son, or run out of Pizza Hut as fast as we could. When I asked Aidan why he spit the peaches back out, he simply said, “I didn’t like ‘em. They were nasty!” This entertaining misadventure with my son reminded me of the fact that our lives can be lived in such a way that would make God want to puke. Proverbs 3:16 says, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Lukewarm water makes for a pretty nasty drink. It’s quite repulsive and often gets spit out as quickly as it’s taken in. The Lord uses this passage as He confronts a people that had failed to take a stand for anything. Their indifference had led to ineffectiveness….and it made God sick. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to make God sick because of my ineffectiveness for the Kingdom of God. We can’t continue to ride the fence as we stroll through life. We must choose one way or the other. Joshua 24:15 says, “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve….But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Does God look upon your life like a proud father and say, “That’s my boy!” or does your life make him want to puke? Choose today to live a life that counts. Don’t settle for half-hearted idleness that leads to a wasted life for God. Live for Him today!  Don't Rock the Boat by Bro On this past weekend’s bowfishing excursion, I was reminded that big boys and small boats don’t mix. However, we’re often driven to do less than ideal things for the love of the hunt. We piled 3 big guys in a small 12’ rowboat in an effort to shoot carp hangin’ out in the backwaters flooded from the main lake. We managed to stay afloat, however, each time one of us would stand to shoot, an extreme balancing act was performed.  One of us, who we’ll not mention by name…but is pictured at right, particularly struggled to display sufficient bowfishing-balance in the midst of an ultra-tiny boat. We rocked and nearly rolled on a number of occasions. Making the shot on darting carp proved a chore as we dealt with focusing not only on the shot, but also on keeping the boat right side up.
While we managed to shoot a few fish from the boat, there was a dramatic change in success when we got out of the boat and hunted from solid ground. When we shot from the banks, or waded around in the shallow grass beds, the shots proved not only more plentiful, but more accurate as well. Our success and enjoyment went up greatly when we put our feet on a solid foundation. I’m also reminded that God’s word speaks of the need for a solid foundation in our personal lives as well. Building our lives on a solid foundation is of the utmost importance. You may have read the passage from Luke chapter 6 that refers to building on a solid foundation. In verse 46 and following Jesus says, “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the flood-waters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” What is your life built on? Do you rely on Jesus as your solid support and salvation? Despite all the uncertainties of life today, you can still stand on solid ground when you build your life with Jesus as the foundation. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have – Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 3:11 |
Brodie SwisherBrodie Swisher is a World Champion game caller, accomplished speaker, a notable writer, a skilled hunter, and all around down to earth guy! His travels take him across the country as a well known public speaker in the arena of outdoor events such as wildgame dinners, banquests, archery classes, and filming. Above all Brodie Swisher loves Jesus and he can't wait to share his passion for Christ with those he meets. Archives
September 2013
Categories |
RSS Feed
