| week 1 BIBLE VERSE: PROVERBS 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. My son and i went on the trip of a lifetime. The Christ in the Tetons trip was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was a one week father-son trip. The sons ranged in age from 14 to 38 years old. The group was from all over the United States. About 4 months prior to our trip, Beau had to have surgery on his right knee. He was in some pain during this trip but he never complained. We went swimming and rafting in the Snake River, fly fishing, and visited Yellow Stone National Park. During the week, we climbed a mountain. It took us 5 hours to climb to the top. After reaching the top, the two of us had lunch. I told Beau my life's story, good and bad, on the top of that mountain. This was such a special time for the three of us - Beau, myself, and God. God was everywhere during that week. At the end of the week, the fathers stood in front of the group and told their son how proud there were to be their father and how much they loved them. Words of praise and the glory of God filled the group of fathers and sons. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. We did sharpen another that week. I am so proud of Beau. I love him so much and we both love Jesus. SPORTMAN'S TIP OF THE WEEK: Baked Oysters on the half shell. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Shuck the top shell off the oysters. Place the oysters in the half shell on baking sheets. Sprinkle tobasco or barbecue sauce on each oyster. Sprinkle with grated parmesean cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. They will melt in your mouth. De colores, Claude Howard |
| Week 2Weekly Devotional Bible Verse: But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble. Psalm 37:39 I have troubled times and I believe that all people experience these times as well. But I also know that the Good Lord is going to bring me out of whatever rut I am in. Life has its ups and downs. How would we know how good we have it if we don’t experience some bad times every once in a while?I know sometimes that I have difficulty being the Christian man God wants me to be. I have to remember to keep God first and everything will work out. I must seek the God even more when I am having a challenging time. I know full well that if I look to Him to help me with whatever I am experiencing everything will be alright. I know at all times He will be my strength.The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7 Sportsmen’s Tip of the Week: Zip Lock quart size bags are great for carrying all of your pocket items and anything else you don’t want to get wet while outdoors. De colores, Keith Barber |
| Week 3Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the lord. In my nine and a half years of being a dad I have seen the Lord work many small and large miracles. I have been blessed with two wonderful daughters and a wonderful wife. My first daughter has been through more than her fair share of health problems in her short life. One thing about her is that through being sick she has learned to live every day to the fullest. She enjoys everything she does and is always looking forward to the next adventure. Since she was five we have hunted and fished together. We have hunted doves, deer, ducks, hogs and turkeys. It is never to cold, hot, wet, windy or early in the morning for her. She enjoys every experience we have together. It does not matter to her if we have been successful or if we come home empty handed. She is a true blessing in every way. She can brighten up any day because of her attitude is always positive even though she has been through so much. On my last birthday in January she wrote me a poem. I can honestly say that it was the best present I have ever received. She wrote the poem and then typed the poem and had her mother frame it for me. It hangs on the wall above my desk as a reminder of the blessings we have received. The following is a copy of the poem my nine year old daughter wrote for me. Hunting with my Daddy We climb up in the stand You help me with a hand We saw a buck with two horns Walking in the corn We shot a doe She was hard to tow We got to the truck And saw a big buck We put her in the truck We had good luck We went back And had a snack We had fun But the day is done It is time to rest And tomorrow will be the best I Love You, Sarah Sportsmans Tip: When turkey hunting be patient. Sit there a few more minutes and you may be amazed at what comes strutting into your lap. In Christ, Bill Mathis Jr. |
| Week 4 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38 Have you ever just not felt charitable when asked to help out or give to a good cause? I know that I feel that way sometimes. I get the feeling that I have given already so I don’t need to give again. That I need to keep some or all of it for myself. I forget that God wants me to charitable to all my brothers and sisters who walk this earth and have many different needs. Not just to the ones who look like me or go to the same church but to all His children. That doesn’t sit well with me sometimes. I want to be selfish and hoard what the good Lord has been so gracious to provide to me. By being in the Word I learn that God does not want me to act that way. I also know that how I give to others will also be the way I am given.I had this lesson brought home to me when I used to work as a deputy sheriff at the county jail. One evening an older deputy and I were making rounds. An inmate stopped me and asked if he could use the phone. Something was troubling him and he needed to call home. I told him in no uncertain terms that he could not and to just wait for the phone to make it to his cell block. When the other deputy and I had finished our rounds and were talking he asked me if I knew that sometimes God will send an angel to test us sometimes? I immediately knew what he was talking about. I could not get back down to that cell block fast enough to let that inmate use the phone for as long as he wanted and then some. Thank God a Christian man was there to guide me in the right direction. I sometimes wonder if It wasn’t 2 angels instead of one that I encountered that day. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13 Sportsmen’s Tip of the Week: Always try to hunt with a friend. If you have to hunt alone be sure you let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. In Christ, Keith Barber |
