Christmas come and gone

How was Christmas? I trust that it was a time of reflection on the greatest gift to mankind and enjoyed many warm nights in front of the tree. We tired to do this but life speeds by and the season becomes a blur of cookies (gluten free), parties and several trips to the mega marts and game stores (I will admit I do enjoying going to the Big R though kind of a guys Target). As we start a new year I am trying to put us on track to lead a different life. A life of being an unconscious competent at serving those around me. We watch “Midnight Clear” starring Stephen Baldwin and it will change how you think about what you say to total strangers in the filling station or at the market. When was the last time you said “have a great day” to the unresponsive teen at the checkout who is more concerned about the text message she is typing than her job? Have you taken a minute to help someone with their groceries because they were struggling with their little ones? How about buying a bell ringer a cup of coffee, you know it is cold out there? … I will continue these thoughts late...I am off to tend the fire.

To cut wood and reflections on the year.

Fishing Report: None it was 5 degrees F this morning but the rivers are still open maybe I will go New Year's Eve just to say I went. I may go hunt the wily coyote this week yet, we had a fox in the yard eyeing the chickens earlier this week and the dogs didn't even notice. They have been put on notice and hopefully they will be more alert next time.

I am off to cut wood shortly and hopefully we will get multiple truck loads cut. Thanks to God and my friends for loaning me their trucks on occasion to haul wood. I sold my beloved truck earlier this year. It had 332,000 + miles and was tired and ready to be someone's project. Which it now is.

As I have reflected on this year many things have flowed past on the river of life. We have celebrated many victories in life and mourned a few disappointments. The constant is that God is still on the throne and still reigning. I have realized that the best laid plans and best thought out solutions are never as well thought out or well planned as you think. It is funny how we pray about something and offer up a prayer that is really our idea of a solution. That can be a dangerous trap and I have no answer on how to offer up things other than to lay the problem or opportunity at the feet of God as He sits on the throne.

One of the other concerns that has troubled me this year is the death of the American Family. It seems as though we have forsaken our Grandparents and their parents way of life for a much more complicated and hollow existence. When do we sit on the porch and talk to our friends who just happened stopped by? When was the last time we went for a Sunday Drive with no place in particular to go? Have you made homemade ice cream lately? I was in the EU this fall and they get it. Time is much more consumed like a grand meal and not a burger and fries on the way somewhere else. I wonder why we have become this way. Is it more fun? More exciting? More fulfilling? I don't think it is for our family for some it might be but I don't think we know because we have never lived any other way. I don't know how you live nor do I make any judgment concerning the pace of your life, but for our family we long to slow down at least one day a week but sometimes I wish it was like the life mentioned in I Thessalonians 4:11 which says “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands”. How quiet have you been this year? I have had a lot of noise in my life this year. Maybe this verse explains why I enjoy cutting wood and fishing so much.

The things of the Past, "a legacy"?

Fishing may be good but I have not been able to pull away lately. I hear the steelies are running on the St Joe. Good numbers and they are being caught. Maybe in a week or two I will make it up there.
I want to ask some questions today and also make a few observations. Recently I went to an auction of a man who died in his 40’s. I knew the family and the man’s brother. I went with a close friend and his wife to see if there were any “deals”. It was a cold wet day which usually means low turnout, but not today, rain and cold during harvest season means there are a lot of farmers looking for something to do. We arrived and made our way through all of the items that had been accumulated over the years. Everything from this man’s life was spread out in the rain and throughout a garage. Strangers were picking up and looking at a man’s life and hoping to get a deal on something he had worked hard to get.
There were guns, tools and an anvil that seemed to draw a lot of attention. I noticed that many of the family members seemed to be concentrating their attention on these items. It seems to me when someone important has died in my life I have been drawn to the tools and guns and the occasional fly rod. Why is that? A used gun or a hammer has relatively low value but a strong emotional worth. Is it the memories associated with those items? Do we think about the first bird hunt with a “Sweet 16”? Maybe it is remembering that crisp Thanksgiving afternoon, after dinner, watching a pointer lock on a covey and you got to take the shot while granddad watched you use the 12 gauge he sold a prize hog to buy. I think about my own life and remember the black and white tool cabinet that set in the shop at my grandparents. I remember opening each little drawer and smelling the oil on the wood and the smell of Sir Walter Raleigh cigarettes (grandpa’s brand). I wish that cabinet was sitting in my shop. Those drawers held mysterious tools that my grandpa had used to build a toy box for me when I was little. That toy box now sits in my house and my kids use it. My dad also has those things hidden away that I am sure will bring back memories as I grow older. I am sure if I looked through his record albums, I would remember the first time I heard “Sloop John B” or “All Along the Watch Tower” or maybe the split bamboo fly rod he traded for when I was a little boy. What is it about items that have such a strong pull on our hearts?
For the ladies I am sure that it is different. It isn’t the shotgun but maybe grandma’s dishes that she only put out on the dinner table at Christmas. Maybe it was the mixing bowl you used every time you would spend the night and make cookies after dinner. I know that my wife has a really interesting necklace that was her grandma’s, it is such great thought to think that my daughter will wear it someday and have a connection to the generations that came here through Ellis Island.
For me I want my kids to cherish my words. What I have written and what I have read. My Bible and my books, notes and letters I have written them. The pictures that we have taken of everyday life not just the big holidays but the photos that show how we live. Pictures of the garden or the rabbit pen we built together, the photo of the hiking path we walk in the early spring down by the river, or the picture (a little out of focus) of the small fish caught on a dry fly on the middle fork. That is what I want to pass down to the kids and that they can share with future generations. These things have value and leave a legacy. The legacy is hard to transfer but through the words of past generations I have learned to follow the path of my spiritual fathers. I pray that my family can look back into the words of my wife and me and see the life we led and in lights their path.

Standing at the Depot

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”- Romans 12:2

I was listening to Paul Wright this morning, his song “Heaven”. The lyrics state “I want to know what it’s like to live in Heaven”. Are you wondering what it is like? Are you being conformed to this world or to Heaven? When I moved to the Western US, I prepared by buy the right clothes and learned about the area and the people that live there. Are you doing this? Are you learning about Heaven and the Lord? That is where we are going and that is where we are going to live forever. His song continues “’cause we don’t belong here forever, no, no we don’t belong here.” Where do you belong? Do you belong in Heaven? Are you acting like a citizen of Heaven? Are you acting like one of the folks here on the earth that is not going onto Heaven?
Where are you going? How are you acting?
I have thought about this a lot and think that our homes should be a depot for going to Heaven. How do we act at the depot? Is it a place that is peaceful with a touch of excitement? When I travel, I think about the best “depots” I have been in and they are peaceful, orderly and have a touch of excitement because I am going somewhere that is new and exciting. I am working on making our home that way. We are encouraging all those that enter our door to leave there cares at the door (I am making a “trouble box” to put just outside the door). You can write the worries and struggles of the day on a note card and place them in the box. At the end of the week the notes will be prayed over and placed in the fire. The notes won’t be read but will be offered up to the Lord. As the notes of concerns, stuggles and worries burn and the smoke rises from the fire, I think of how those have all been offered up in prayer. These “problems” vanish from our hearts like the smoke into the air. I trust that the Lord will honor this effort and make our home a “depot” for all those who enter.

Where do I Live

It is raining so maybe the streams will be in better shape this week.

We need to live here me especially! In the fellowship with the King not out with the serfs and peasants. I am an heir and a child of the King why do I continue to look to the serfdom and not the Kingdom? Is it the world, is it my personality, or is it the fact that the world is corrupt and wicked and it just gets a hold of your spirit and just doesn't want to let go. It seems that the world, Satan and his minion and even other folks in the Kingdom because of their own sin are pulling me into being a spiritual peasant. I have no idea why I at times choose sack cloth and rags when I can be clothed in glorious raiments.

It has been awhile

Hey out there in Blog-land.
Fishing has been great for those who have been out. Congrats to LT on a 30+ inch walleye.
Here is the thought for today. Do you accept mediocre service? As I have my quiet time each day I have reflected on the service I have gotten from a “vendor” whether it be a diner, service station (I know it seems to be an oxymoron), a retailer or even the paper boy/girl. Most of the time I am disappointed or at least not impressed. I work hard for my money and I would hope that the people I “employ” to deliver my paper or cook my family a meal would appreciate this, but sadly I don’t think they often do. But if I reflect on my service to the King I realize that I most often don’t respect the high cost He paid so that I could be serving Him. He died so that I may live and yet I serve mediocrity up on a regular basis. So I think it is die to self for the One that died for me, He died not only to set me free but because He did not want to live without me.

Workmanship

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”- Ephesians 2:10
Workmanship is defined as: the quality imparted to a thing in the process of making; a vase of exquisite workmanship.Just remember that we are a fine piece of art not just something that rolled off the assembly line or was put together with spare parts as temporary fix. The Creator of the universe is our Maker; how exquisite must we be. Take this and store it away in your heart, for this is Truth.

My Review of Teva Toachi Sport Sandals with Toe Bumpers (For Men)

Sierra Trading Post

Closeouts . Teva Toachi sport sandal features Drain Frame technology allowing water to drain through the midsole. Teva's Spider Rubber® outsole is a non-marking rubber that blends high friction and durability that performs exceptionally well on wet and dry terrain. Toe bumper protects toes Ne...

Teva Toachi Sport Sandals with Toe Bumpers (For Men)

Great

Bigwalnutfly West Central Indiana 8/13/2009

 

5 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Width: Feels true to width

Pros: Durable, Breathes Well, Comfortable, Good Arch Support, Lightweight

Best Uses: Travel, Going Out, Casual Wear

Describe Yourself: Alternative, Casual

Great Sandals great support and I realy like the quick release.

()

Been Awhile

It has been awhile the bite has been good lots of fish caught. Major Milestone caught a 'gill on a fly I tied, what a nice feeling. Kids have done well this season and the fall is yet to come. We are raising some birds for hackles and feathers to tie with, hopefully some nice dry flies.
I think sometimes the bible even applies to fishing "the harvest is much and the workers are few". It seems that that has been the way this season both on the water and in the garden. So get out and harvest fish, produce and souls. More in a few days.
We are doing less TV and more radio dramas in the evening seems to engage the kids more and not so zoned out.

So far in 2009

The fishing this spring has been fantastic. The kids have done a great job. We have had big adventure and some quiet water moments. Enjoy the photos.

Wisdom, Lions and Prostitutes

OK the title got you to read on. This chapter is full of sayings for the wise. But they aren’t like the ones we hear everyday like; “Red sky in the morning sailor take warning”, “Madder than a stomped frog”, “Never eat spinach with a stranger”, or this gem “Duct tape is like "The Force." It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together’ (check out Charles Spurgeon’s John Plowman’s Talks for Godly plain wisdom). Wisdom isn’t a laughing matter although worldly wisdom is.
God made it clear in Proverbs 22 what was important. Here is a quick highlight: A good reputation or character is better than gold. Think about it, we all have known wealthy folks that are simply “not nice” people. If you are generous you will be blessed but if you work to increase you wealth by hurting those who have little will end up poor; I read this quote and thought it really spoke to this portion of scripture; -We’ve all been down. The strong among us have picked ourselves back up and tried again with a clenched smile and renewed determination. Sometimes though even the strong can’t pick themselves up and they need help. Help is a gift. In order for a gift to truly appreciated it needs to be given freely without expectation and accepted graciously for then it is a liberating and uplifting experience for both parties-Unknown- If you love with a pure heart you will have the King for a friend! The whore is a dangerous trap and if you ignore the Lord you will fall in. But I think my favorite is when the lazy man says, “If I go outside to work the lion will eat me.” Sounds like it might be the world’s worst excuse to avoid work.
As you continue to read through this chapter God continues to teach us and instructs us to keep this wisdom in our heart and it will be ready on our lips. What are some of these things you may ask (I know not all of you are reading this passage so I will “Clif note” it here but you better check and make sure I’m right)? This section of Proverbs 22 gets tough on us in Modern Day America. Here goes; don’t take advantage of the poor, don’t be friends with an angry guy, don’t go into debt, and finally watch out who you are generous to they may take advantage of you. Wait you better check that list one of those may not be in Proverbs 22.
The one that strikes home to me in today’s culture is “Do not move the boundary stones set in place by your forefathers”. Do we not constantly push the boundary stone out a little everyday? It wasn’t long ago that pornography; gambling and disrespect for authority were all considered taboo; now these things are looked at as mainstream and a part of life in America. What are you watching? Friends re-runs, Two and a Half Men, Desperate Housewives? Are you going to the movies and watching Hangover or Drag Me to Hell? What are you measuring your choices against? Do you think that since so and so went and saw this movie or I chatted with them about this show it’s OK? It matters not who they are even if they are someone you think is “spiritual”. What matters is who God has called you to be. Read these instructions in Proverbs 22! Think about what you are doing and who you are. There will come a day when all this will fade away and it will be just you and Christ standing face to face. What do you hope He’ll say to you?

Wisdom and an Open Mouth?

Hey shut up! Would you just mind your own business! Stop touching me! Parents have you heard these before. Sorry I know it is bring up bad memories of last Sunday morning, right?
Have you ever greeted the “grumpy Gus” of the family or neighborhood with “Hey great to see you? How are you doing? You look great!” It throws them off and they don’t know what to say. In a world of negative news and commentary, and the “woe is me” crowd if you come out of the house with a smile and dare I say it a “perky” attitude you are going to cause people to scratch their head and walk away wondering what happen to you. "If people don't occasionally walk away from you shaking their heads, you're doing something wrong."-John Gierach. Are you doing something wrong? Do you just join in on the gripe session? Proverbs 15 tells us that “a gentle word turns away not anger but wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
How’s your heart? God addresses what comes out of our mouth, but where does the motivation reside. Your heart is the root of your words and attitude.
I have grown all kinds of plants over the course of the last 25 years and if the fruit of the plant is bitter, sour or rotten, it is because the soil where the roots are just isn’t right. The soil may be deficient in nutrients (N-P-K nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) or it hasn’t had enough water, whatever the case it is the roots that directly affect the quality of the fruit.
Are the words (fruit) of your daily conversations bitter or sour? Where is your heart? Are you planted in the right place or do you need to add nutrient to the roots of your attitude and words? Maybe you just need to transplant your heart to that sunny spot down by the stream of life. How about it: Have you read the word today? Have you prayed? Proverbs 15 verse 13 says “A happy heart makes a face cheerful”. Look in the mirror. Now go and pray and read Proverbs 15. Look in the mirror again see the difference. The nutrients of God’s word and time with Him in conversation WOW! What a difference!

Wisdom is a Fruit?

Fishing might be good today we'll see. We are expecting to see big T-storms tonight.
I will make you a deal; I’ll give you some wisdom instead of gold because that is the better end of the bargain. What you don’t think so. Proverbs 8 tells us that wisdom is better than silver, gold and jewels; it is the choicest of fruit. Does that mean Yukon Cornelius should have been looking for wisdom and that wisdom is now a girl’s best friend? Wisdom dwells with prudence (defined as sound judgment) according to verse 12, I am pretty sure I have dwelt with her evil twin sisters indiscretion and rash behavior, at least when I was a younger man.
We should heed God’s words here in the eighth chapter of Proverbs, because if we do there are some great things attached to seeking wisdom. If we seek wisdom out riches, honor, righteousness, wealth and treasures not to mention being on the path of justice are sure to come. That sounds much better to me than debt, stress, ulcers, cheating and a rocky road. Have you been on the rocky road or the stress turnpike lately? We all have at some point. It seems when the road gets rough it tends to bump things into prospective and I head for the nearest exit on to the path of justice. The rocky road is a freeway, moving at 80 mph, but the path of justice is on a different speed. The Lord tells us we need to listen, watch, wait and heed instruction. The last time I checked our “world” doesn’t tend to value any of these attributes.
I remember as a boy I went with my Dad and Grandpa fishing in Wisconsin. We were out in a small boat enjoying the evening when the fish started to bite. As I watched my Dad he was focused on the big bass that was feeding on the edge of the lily-pads, Grandpa was just sitting there watching the bluegill suck the small bugs off the surface of the water, but I was going nuts constantly throwing my line out and then retrieving even before the bluegill had a chance to make that popping sound as they take the bait. I asked Grandpa, “Why are you just sitting there not trying to catch all these fish.” He replied “I have caught a lot of fish in my life and I am enjoying seeing you take your turn at catching a lot of fish.” I don’t remember how many fish I caught that night, but I do remember big beautiful green bass with the cavernous mouth and the smile on Grandpa’s face as Dad hooked that bass.
I don’t know if life is like fishing or not but now that I am pushing forty and have caught a lot of fish I understand my Grandpa’s wisdom in waiting and watching. He was blessed to see his son and grandson enjoy God’s Creation. Maybe this passage in Proverbs is not about fishing but about those attributes of listening, watching, waiting and heeding instruction. If I would not have done those things when my Dad taught me to fish and if he hadn’t done them when his Dad taught him to fish, then there would have been no fish, no blessing that night so many summers ago.
God promises us if we do these things we will be blessed. We will find favor with the Lord. The choice is yours; live life with your limited wisdom or watch, wait, listen and take heed to the Lord’s instruction and find favor with your heavenly Father.

Wisdom from??? Proverbs 1

Fishing has been a little slow. Nearly 9 inches of rain since June 1. WOW the streams all look like chocolate milk.
What is wisdom? Is wisdom the advice you received from an elderly woman in your church that said “Don’t have a cat in the house it will steal the baby’s breathe”? Or is it the old-timer that showed you how to use a hand scythe? Maybe it is when your dad let you try chewing tobacco the first time making sure that he knew you would never do it again; or was it your mom giving you a “Dapper Dan” so that you could tie your own shoes and button your shirt?
Proverbs tells us wisdom goes hand in hand with discipline. Both wisdom and discipline lead us to be prudent, right, just and fair. Those things all sound like what I would want to have in my life.
But wait a minute; do we seek these things out? I remember a story of a young boy that when his friends came around the place and said “Hey let’s go swim down in the river”. Now he knew his Daddy told him he couldn’t swim in the river. It was hot that day and he decided he would just go cool off, so he snuck away and “cooled off”. Arriving home there was no hiding the fact he had been to the swimming hole, Dad was not happy and expressed his disappointment on the boy’s backside! Well the summer continued and those same boys came back around bidding the boy to come the river, promising him that he would be dry before his Dad got home. This time the little guy thought better of his Dad’s instruction and stayed on the farm, those other boys left and never made it home, they drown.
Sin is sexy, tasty, enticing and ever tempting. How easy it is to slip away and eat that decadent dessert, watch that video on YouTube, everyone is talking about when no one is at home, or slip that high tech gadget into your pocket at the super-store? On the surface some of these things might not seem bad; sugary desserts aren’t bad unless you’re a diabetic, videos aren’t bad unless it is unwholesome. How do you decide? Proverbs tells us that if we stray into trouble, God will laugh at your disaster; God will mock you when you have a calamity. Strong words from the Almighty God. As I look at this passage I am amazed that I missed that, God will laugh at me if I made a poor choice, because I did not seek His wisdom. I surely don’t want to stand in His presence and hear Him mock me because I ignored His wisdom. Where is His wisdom? His Word is where His Wisdom is found. Are you looking to His Word to gain wisdom for daily living or are you looking to your pastor, your coworker in the next cube, maybe the bald guy on PBS? So as you seek wisdom in His Word instead of the “word” on Facebook notice the difference in your week. Be sure to share your experience with us.

Smallies, Bees, Turkey and Chickens

Fishing is great! The boys hammered the Smallies last Sunday afternoon. Fergus and Virgil have been called to adventure and have begun fishing Spur Creek. What great fun and the smile or should I say the light on their faces is impressive when they are holding a smallie by the lip standing waist deep in a clear stream. The bite is on and even Dad is going to get into the fray tomorrow, the boys I grew up with having the same kind of adventures as my boys are having are coming up to fish the BW. I don’t think we will have the same sense of awe and wonderment as my boys have but I get we will enjoy make new memories and reliving old ones. It is funny we have all grown older and taken different paths but I get the sense we are all looking forward to getting our lines wet just as much as we did when we were boys. The reasons are different, I can escape a cube and all that is Research, D. can escape academia and M. well he will enjoy a day away from the “grind”. I am not sure where the years went or where I lost my why of what is important but my boys and JB (my daughter) have helped me recapture how it can be exciting to go to a little stream and “explore” all the possibilities that might be just around the bend. I could go on about how God has called us to live an adventure, just like John Eldridge tells us, but I won’t because we all know it we just ignore it. Maybe not all the time but most of the life we have developed for ourselves is that of the day to day struggle to get back and forth to work and kids activities not catching the big one or hiking to the other ridge in the distance. After watching my kids I want to grab the wife and with the kids in tow hike to the far off ridge or float the stretch of water we have never seen.

My daughter has inspired me that it is not just the target of the hunt but the experience. We turkey hunted about a week ago saw a few birds, heard a gobble or two but no bird in the bag. She was sad but then saw a family of geese with the little ones waddling behind. That scene of the geese was what she told everybody about, but don’t think she isn’t a hunter, after seeing the geese she asked when we could go back and kill them. She sees the beauty in nature but likes the taste better. She is quite the little girl and a good sport to boot.

Last item: Bees and chickens at once. We went over to a friends’ (Dr. Phil’s) to pick up some half grown chickens and why we were there the neighbor hollered over at us about a bunch of bees. I told Fergus to load up the chickens and let’s go. We ran home unloaded birds, loaded beehive bodies, hurried back and caught up a big swarm. I guess this swarm probably had 12,000 bees, it was a big one. We trimmed the limbs back, the good Dr cut the main branch off while I held on and then we put it in the hive and that is that. Bees in a new home. A busy last few weeks.

Great Life

Well fishing is looking up. 80 this weekend and I have a young boy that is ready. He has several of his own flies he has been tying. He is ready to go. The fly fishing film tour sponsored by The Drake and Wildcat Creek Outfitters is Friday. Can’t wait.
Well here goes it has been a while since I have posted a lot is going on. I have been listening to a song that has these lyrics: Search me, know me Try me and see Every worthless affection hidden in me All I'm asking for is that You'd cleanse me, Lord Create in me a heart that's clean
Conquer the power of secret shame Come wash away the guilty stain of all my sin Clothe me in robes of righteousness Cover my nakedness with grace All of my life before You now I humbly bring. What great lyrics. Have you let the Lord be the Lord or do you just trust him to save you but not cleanse you of your earthly troubles. I have struggled with this. I am a man, I go to work everyday, I have worked hard, fixed things, built a cabin with my hands, used horses to skid logs and grown my own food why then shouldn’t I fix myself and my hurts. Wow what a bunch of foul smelling matter (crap)! I have learned or better yet am learning to let the Lord search me, know me and show me what I need fixed and what He is doing to help. I liken it to getting really dirty out working in the field and then coming in and knocking the dust off and going to bed. Eventually day after day of doing this you wonder why everything is feeling heavier and why you don’t recognize that guy in the mirror. The why is because the dirt is just built up over time because you are only knocking off the big pieces. What you need is a hot shower and then get back in and take another followed by a long soak in the pool. That is how your life is when you try to pick things up in your on your own, you may get a little of the mess straightened up but there is still chaos and just because you can jam it in the drawer, closet or stick it in a pile it is still a mess because it has not been put away. That means you need to let God put it away. If He can put away our sin forever I am sure he can put your hurts, past and pain away forever too. The great thing about that is that He wants to, because he came to give us life more abundant not just to clean up the junk, but abundant which to me sounds like I get new and better not just old and dirty or worn out. That is all for now but more to come about fishing next time the white bass and crappie are up in the river and the turkey are gobbling.

Free at The Cross

Fishing was good I think we caught 8 or 10. All three kids are now tying flies and doing great.
Have you ever felt over whelmed? I am there. The world is going at break neck speed and I am standing still. There are folks losing their jobs, trucks with blown motors, kids that are in the hospital and folks that won’t take responsibility. I often feel caught in the middle. I find it interesting that the world and more so your own world tends to get roiled up by the wake of sin. All of the sudden you look around and where you are fishing in your own stream the water is all muddy and it was clear just a moment before. You look around and notice that someone else in the past has made a bad decision or maybe a lifetime of bad decisions and it has finally made it into your stream. Now the fishing is lousy and the rivers eco-system and the watershed down stream are in jeopardy. How do we combat this? I don’t know other than to get help. Forget the past and I mean forget it. Don’t repeat it. Your help should come from those around you, a friend, your spouse, your pastor or a counselor. The past has left a wake in all of our lives but Christ has called us to a new life, a more abundant life. It is our choice. We can pick up our cross and carry it into a more abundant life or we can sit there and continue to look behind us at the cross and wonder why we never move forward. Moreover we must put ourselves in the proper place with Christ. As I sit here writing this I realize that I have fallen short of this, I have not picked up the cross and moved forward. Christ is first and I am not. I have for years either buried the past hurts or allowed them to creep in and pop up at the most inopportune times. The past is put to death on the cross just as Christ was, that is why he died. He died that we may be free of the past and free of future sin. I encourage you tomorrow to nail the past to the cross and set your self free just like He set you free 2000 years ago. You are free and that freedom is yours to claim. I will claim it tomorrow. I know that this is a convoluted mess in some ways, but it the best I can do to explain all that is happening in my world.

“Ferocious Love” & "Dad this has been the best day ever"

Fishing report; we will fish this week hopefully the weather is warming up. I checked out a new stretch of water yesterday with the family (see pics with this post).
Here are some random things for you to think about, because this is what I have been thinking about lately. First off, a friend of mine loaned me his truck this week he is out of town and my truck (from here forward referred to as the Schooner) is in the shop, a bad manifold gasket is a bad thing. This is such a blessing to my family and helps us to better handle the week. God’s provision is great. Anyway back to the story, I climb into the truck this morning to drive to work and the CD player popped on. The CD in the player was from another friend of mine Nathan Shaver, what a powerful CD. One song in particular stands out in my mind. The open lyric contains the words “Ferocious Love” describing how God loves us, never have truer words been spoken, He loves us with and unending jealous love and he defends us to the end. Thanks Nathan for reminding me of this and by the way what a great album. Second thought as of late, yesterday my family and I check out a stretch of water in Western Indiana. After hiking and exploring this particular drainage we walked back to the car set the coolers out and popped the back door on the wagon and had a picnic dinner. My daughter looked at me and said “Dad this has been the best day ever, we got to go to church this morning, I got to do my homework and then we went on a hike and picnic”. Man it doesn’t get better than that. No screens, beeps or ear buds, just creation in its entire splendor. God tells us in Thessalonians we should live a quiet life and I tasted that yesterday. Thanks to a loving family we wiped Saturday off the books (Saturday did not go as planned just busy and not very relaxing for me). It reminded me of a scene from “A River Runs through It” when the brothers take Neal the future brother-in-law fishing and they only catch 1 small trout. Paul looks at Norman and says lets fish with dad this weekend and wipe this day off the books. By God’s grace I was able to experience the wiping away of a bad day and it being replaced with a day full of memories and smiles. I guess that is just a picture of God’s grace in a small way. This is the big picture of grace my sins were wiped away and replace with purity and life, what a great relief it is to have a life of shame and sin wiped off the books. That is it for now but there is more to come in the near future like why bees are a good example of the life we should lead. See ya.

Get Ready

Fishing Report: things are looking up it is 70 out and the bees are flying. I better hit the water.
Not a lot to write about today other than God is good! We have resolution to a 10 and a half-year issue with our property. Wow what a blessing. There are so many blessing I have experienced lately or maybe I am just noticing them more. I am as a friend put it a salmon swimming up stream. God is providing for us in ways I never imagined, our marriage is new and fresh almost as if it woke from a deep sleep. Much like the spring is starting so is the next volume of our life on the Big Walnut. We are gearing up for a huge garden, chickens, and a summer of camping and fishing.
I find that we are acting much like my great-grandparents must have acted in the late 20s and 30s. We are being prepared for what life may bring. We will garden, and keep chickens to start. We are concentrating on the family and those that are close around us building our relationships deeper and getting to know those who we are living life with. This time in our lives that everything seems to be in upheaval is I believe God’s way of bringing us back to where we should be. We have gotten derailed along the way by every form of diversion. No diversions here at least not to the extent that it is hurting our relationship.
So get prepared and get to know those you love and those that are around you. The times are changing you better be ready. You will need those that are near and they will need you.

Tying for Spring and An Evening at the Spa, Getting Out of the Box

Fishing Report 16/Feb/2009; my youngest son caught several bullfrog tadpoles and that is it, the stream is clear of ice but the weather is still cold. We are ready for spring.
We are trying to get started tying flies for the spring but I am not making much head way.
So here it is. Valentine’s Day came and went and it was probably the best thing I have ever given my wife. I gave of myself. As most of you know, we here on the Big Walnut are working our way out of some tough times. I prayed “God what can I give my wife for Valentine’s Day to show her I love and cherish her.” The God Idea I got was…well let’s just say out of my comfort zone. I am a guy who loves to fly fish, hunt and has been known to butcher his own meat. The Idea “Give your wife a day at the spa”, I thought to myself, #1 I don’t have that in the budget and #2 if I don’t have it in the budget how do I do any of those things they do at a spa. I mean I have never even been in a spa. So I had no choice I started reading how to give facials and massage, got the DVD on foot massage and shopped in an area of the super center that I didn’t even know what all things did or why I needed them. I compiled nail polish, oils and various creams, and what ever else you need for a spa experience. I fancied the house up with classical music, candles, and cleaned, hung gauzy drapes over the large windows for privacy; I even lowered the wattage and color of the light bulbs for atmosphere. I made all kinds of foods to have out, purchased some wonderful sleep wear for her, and collected more women’s magazines than a library to have for her reading enjoyment. But I am not done, I also printed out an invitation to an evening at the spa with the details of what lay in store and a card with a poem I found that was very much how I thought about my wife. Last but not least I got some wonderful chocolate. She followed all the instructions and called from the church, kids were there for parent’s night out. I directed her to the invitation hidden under the seat in her car. She arrived home and got ready for an evening at the “Spa”. I did all the things that I knew she longed for, her “Love Language” is acts of service, we did it all manicure, pedicure, a facial (that I made), and a full body massage. She was thrilled and I was content, I had showed her how I loved her.
I tell this story not to brag or boast; because it wasn’t me, it was God leading me to serve. I am sharing this for all of you out there that did not step out of the box maybe you have never stepped out of the box, well it is time to get up and step out. Men do something totally unexpected for your wife take her out; shower her with something you know she would love. Ladies surprise your man, let him know how you feel, show him that you love him. I know that it is extremely uncomfortable “to paint your wife’s nails” like I did but it is so worth the effort, you will feel a great contentment knowing that there is no doubt that you love your spouse.

Spring from the Snow

No Fishing Report; sorry. Everything is blown out, 13 inches of snow melt and 3.5 inches of rain all in 5 days. Wow what a mess.
A week ago or so we had 13 inches of fresh snow on the ground and it been flawless, beautiful. As I was cutting wood earlier in the month and the ground was frozen hard and everything was brown, dead or dormant. Then the snow fell and hid all of the hard, frozen, brown and dead. What a transformation, the earth now looked spotless with not even a blemish. It was a pure scene not a mark on the surface of the snow. Then it happened the world came alive, dirt, kids and life happened and the snow began to look a little worn. The sun came up just a day or two later and the wind blew out of the south and just like that the blemish free covering was gone. But something changed the ground had thawed and some of the early spring plants began to push through the moist soils along the stream where we play in the summer. The earth was springing forth new life and so begins the new season of growth. This story reminds me of another story. Years ago I was hard, dirty and dead to Christ. Then I was covered by His blood and left blemish free no more dead life but a reborn life. I was seen by God blemish free, glorified creation. But just like in the story above living in the Son I began to melt and my life began to spring forth and now is bearing fruit not unlike the small wild onions I saw growing along the stream yesterday.
Take time this season to take in the change from blemish free snow to the cool dampness of new life, for soon the life will grow and bear fruit.

Unconditional Love; Try it you might like it.

No Fishing Report; every thing still frozen. Although I am planning a family trip and went to the fly shop and figured out what patterns we will need.

Love is an interesting thing. Have you ever had trouble accepting that someone loves you for you and for no other reason? Is your spouse fully devoted to you? Do you believe they are? You should. If you are in a solid Christian marriage your spouse should love you as God does. In Ephesians 5 Paul tells us (men) to love our wives as Christ loves the Church. I want to extrapolate on that thought; I believe that the picture we see here is that of a marriage like no other. Christ accepts us because we have accepted the gift of His love and for not for what we have done or haven’t done. In a true marriage within Christ this is how our love should be toward our spouse one that is unconditional. It should not be a love that says “I love you because you…” or should not ask “I will love you if…” it should be one of I love you. We need to accept our spouse with their flaws and shortcomings. We all have things that are not perfect about us and things that drive our spouse nuts, so we must look beyond those things in our spouse that our spouse looks beyond in us.

Now back to the original thought “Do you have trouble in accepting love from someone?” If you have this problem (I think that this is very common), you need to accept God’s love first once you come to grips with that then you will be able to accept the love of your spouse and your kids. I have been reading H. A. Ironside lately, his First John commentary. Quite clearly I am as we all are a desperately wicked creature and only because of His grace, a free gift, am I able to stand in his presence. Through God’s wonderful plan we can experience His love through our spouse here on earth. Try it, this week; act as if unconditional love is all you know and all you are receiving, see if that changes your perspective.

Weaving Marriage or Stuck in the Snow

Wow 13.5” of snow and it is still cold. No fishing Report although several locals have been catching hoards through the ice.

I went to cut wood today and got stuck. First time ever in this truck and I have put over 250,000 miles on it. Getting stuck in the snow is easy when you aren’t concentrating on where you are at but where you are going. It started simply enough I headed down the hill and started to slide sideways, then it happened I started to pay attention to where I was at and not looking down the lane where I was going. Stuck in a pile of snow as big as the truck and with a tree resting against the front tire. I was so grateful that a friend was there to push me out. It made me think of how our Heavenly Father allows us to turn our eyes to what is coming up in our lives, while we should be looking at what is going on around us. I am so guilty of this and God in His infinite wisdom always snaps me to attention in one fashion or another. It is so easy to worry about where I am going to go next month, where are my kids going to go to college and they are still in 3^rd grade. Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Keep your eyes on the here and now. If you think that you can build your marriage when the kids are gone, WRONG. Start today start weaving the fabric of your lives together. If you are weaving your own fabric and your spouse theirs, it will be very difficult to sew a piece of silk to a piece of denim. If you are weaving together today there is a bit of silk with a bit of denim every day and in the end you will have a tapestry that is smooth and soft yet durable and strong. That is a marriage that will last the decades and be an heirloom that is pasted down. Isn’t that what we want our marriages to be an heirloom that our kids and grandkids cherish and talk about for time everlasting.

January 12, 2009

No report from the great outdoors other than the bird feeder is a busy place when it is -15. Oh and when you cut wood in a cold winter woods you typically are all by yourself.

I am in the midst of a spiritual struggle or maybe better stated as a time of dissatisfaction. I am not sure which it is but I am sure it is not a time of sweet contentment. As the leader of our home I am responsible for all that besets my family, that being said sometimes that responsibility equals very heavy and perplexing decisions. As I have posted early, my wife and I are leading a study which is meant to strength marriages. Wouldn’t you know it, it is going great but now there are decisions to be made that are putting me at odds to some degree with my wife whom I love. I am told that I am to love my wife as Christ loved the Church. I am also told that my wife is to submit or follow my lead like I follow Christ’s lead. I am to love her as I love myself, keep her from harm, feed her, clothe and shelter her just as I would myself. I sometimes wonder how to do this when how I would choose to do these things for myself is very different than how she would do these things for herself.

There are no easy answers here on the Big Walnut, only the cold hard winds of winter blowing across the frozen pools of the stream where I enjoy spending summer afternoons. When the decisions of life come they remind my of the forecast of a winter snow, the go will be difficult but spring will soon burst forth and the earth once again will be beautiful and alive. I am humbled that the Lord God has called me to lead my house, and I am sure that I am not worthy of this high calling. Some may say it is not a high calling but I would disagree, for I am responsible for many lives that have been entrusted to me. These decisions will be met, discussed and decided and our lives will come out of this spiritual winter snow and spring forth anew.

My advice to myself and those who are reading is this; take heart and do not faint. Run a good race. Never doubt the leading of God for he is our stronghold in a time of trouble.

Camo, Fire and Give me your Opinion

Fishing Report; No activity in 2009 yet, but the Fly Fishing Show is this week. Duck Hunting maybe next week.

WOW 2009. Well actually the WOW is for the ginger tea I am drinking, this stuff is a bit “wangy” to borrow a word that a good friend of mine uses. It is the big, new year ahead of us. We have kicked off a new series at church, all about relationships. I, as usual want to talk about Marriage (no surprise there). As my lovely DW and I worked on our Sunday School material for next week, Susan asked me why I thought marriages in the US were in such bad shape. I thought about it for a few moments and told her I thought it was multi-faceted kind of like the stone we give to pledge our love and devotion. But I am not going to reveal what I think, I what to know what you all think. Why are all the marriages in the US and even in the Christiandom struggling? Second question; tell me what you find attractive in your other half or what are you looking for in a future other half. Let me know and be honest I am really interested if there are differences between genders or geographic regions. Keep the fires burning for the one you love, and here is a little humor to inspire you. I was asked a question by a young man once who was struggling to connect with his wife, he asked me “Why did the birthday gift I purchased make her mad?” I thought well I might as well ask “What did you get her?” He replied he had given it a lot of thought and had bought her some really nice sleep wear he thought that might both enjoy. I said “Well what went wrong.” He proceeds to tell me he had wrapped it up, even with a fancy bow and had put it with the other gifts that had been brought to her party. That is when I realized this might be the problem; you know a private gift at a public party. I asked “Who was at the party?” he replied “Well her whole family was there.” I then knew the problem or at least I thought I did, her family was from a conservative sect of Christianity and not really the “sleep ware” type. That is when he told me that with all of the family watching, keep in mind this included grandmas, grandpas, great aunts and uncles all over the age of 70, that she opened his gift and held up . There in all of it’s glory a Hide-n-Seek cami jami. Needless to say he was not playing hide-n-seek with his wife. Guys always remember your audience. Cami Jamis may seem like a good idea but you may never see them in action they tend to blend in well in the trash.