As I was writing the last post, I kept thinking about my friend Bodie's little "fishing story" that I posted on July 1st. It got me to thinking about how I was taught to fish..... the fishing I am referring to is not in the literal sense but in the Evangelical sense.... out of Jesus' exhortation to Peter and those other fisherman guys with Him..... when He exhorted them to leave their nets and He would make them "fishers of men".

Talk about twistings and distortions! What the church has done to teach  us how to fish for men..... has to be at the top  of the list of how the Father of Lies has deceived  the church and sent it off in totally the opposite direction...... doing much more to inoculate people against ever being able to hear the gospel... than it has to bring people into a vital relationship with the living God.

This is really a Western  thing, where fishing here is a sport!  We do it for fun and games. Fishing is all about the angler.... the one doing the fishing.....has nothing to do with God at work in the lives of the fish and directing them into His net at exactly the right time.  That would mean being totally dependent on God.  Instead, it's about how good I can get at deceiving t he fish..... tricking  the fish.... what kind of bait  I pick to catch this one....why do I struggle with the word "lure"? Those are descriptions of what Satan does to people..... he is very good at deceiving  people, even the very elect as scripture says.... I have fallen for his tricks  too many times.... Satan knows exactly how to lure  me away from the purposes of God for my life.... he knows just what bait  will entice me.... setting me up to be caught.....

Somehow, I really don't think that is what Jesus had in mind when He said He would make us  fishers of men.  I like Bodie's idea of fishing. He is just sitting there doing what God has given him to do today. His pole is always just out there in the water. He sits there talking to the Lord....enjoying His presence.  God is swimming fish by all the time, every day. As they touch Bodie's life, some of them stop to nibble around a little and he just shares his life.....who he is....what he does...the important things in His life and....next thing you know.....there are some questions....and Bodie is ready to give an answer for the hope that is within him......that he has a relationship with His Father....and you know something..... you can have one too if you like....just ask Him.     :)

Tomorrow.....I will tell you a sad story.....a very sad story.

:(