God & Noodling?!

I'm a "city boy" to the core, but I have a great appreciation for all-things-outdoors. Earlier this week, while watching Hillbilly Handfishin' - a reality TV show about "noodling," (that is, fishing for catfish using only one's bare hands) I heard something that reminded me of the Christian walk.

The men on the show used two terms that caught my attention. The first term was "Feel the Thunder," which seems to refer to the moment when the catfish rams into you as you are blocking its hole as it tries to escape. The second term is "get bit," because the catfish will bite your hand and this allows you to catch it.

What is interesting to me is that these terms, which don't initially sound positive, are! Feeling the thunder, to me, would seem to mean "a strong storm is coming." Living in places (TX, New Orleans, Indiana, KY) where weather can be severe and dangerous, I'll pass on "feeling the thunder" in its normal context. Getting bit would not seem, in any way to me, to really be a good thing. I think of mosquitoes, babies with sharp teeth, angry dogs, bats and Dracula. No dice on feeling good about getting bit. On Hillbilly Handfishin' these terms are both good things, because feeling the thunder and getting bit means you might be near a place of receiving your prize...the catfish.

As Christians feel the thunder and get bit in life, I pray that the results are good..."Better than Catfish" good. May the result of adversity, challenge and struggle in our lives be a great reward, in heaven and on earth. It is not always easy to believe for a great reward when times are tough. God is on our side. His plan is good - even when we feel the thunder and get bit.

Blessings,
adaryll

Thank You, Christ-Follower.

I sense some Christians need to hear this: "Thank you for your generosity."

I'm working on an upcoming class. I paused in the middle of my preparation to thank God for Christ-followers who faithfully, obediently and cheerfully give.

A collection of people go to churches - both mine and yours - regularly and give. As a result of the generosity some time ago from Christians where I live and attend church, my church was able to buy a copier. This copier helps serve and resource THOUSANDS of people, every week, from age 0-(really old).

I truly believe the Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9) and just want to encourage all of you who cheerfully give. It is no small thing to me that I am able to prepare for a class, am able to access a copier, and consequently am able to port a small stack of papers instead of lugging multiple books around.

Thank you, God's people, for giving. I know it's no small thing to give in today's economy. Your giving does have a large impact. Your giving does more than pay for a copier. Your generosity helps serve people around the world. Your giving provides clean drinking water, sends out and supports missionaries, helps provide housing and all other sorts of things. I just wasn't sure, today, if you - giver - hear the words "Thank You" enough. That's why I wrote... today. Thank you! For the copier, and for everything else your generosity does.

(In case someone's wondering, I will recycle the paper. God's people ought to take care of the earth. That's another conversation for another day). :-)