I got a very awesome phone call today at lunch. I have a freind that is a major league pitcher, and he and I have talked about going hunting this fall.When I brought up where he thought we should go, he surprised me to say that he wasn't going to have time, and that he wanted to talk to me about something. I'll keep you in suspense while I set this up with a little background.I have really been a little frustrated lately, feeling as if I needed to have a greater purpose in my life, in relation to ministry, and even my vocation. There have been a lot of questions, and some second guessing going on. I have at the same time experienced some frustration over missing the entire turkey season because of working so much---I know ---that is very secondary to th efirst concern, but, hang on , there is a connection. I turned on teh Outdoor Channel th eother night, and there was a show about red stag, and I have seen some other shows about moose, etc., that I would love to have the chance to hunt one day. It set my heart into a sense of perplexity, and I really began to pray, asking the Lord to give me something that would add the purpose that I needed to my life. I got so focused on that , that I forgot about the temporal dreams, and got serious about my 'calling'. As some of you know, teaching and specifically apologetics is my true love spiritually, and , of course hunting is my temporal passion. I told the Lord this sunday that I would be willing to go somewhere like D James Kennedy's church in s. Florida, even if it meant putting a huge dent in my hunting time--I just wanted to be doing what I believed was my main call. Back to teh phone call. What he wanted to talk to me about is that he has acquired 3000 acres in Tnn, and he is high fencing it to place red stags, fallow deer, and the resident whitetails into a retreat center, based on the Wild at Heart concept of reaching out to men,and giving them back their hearts, freeing them to pursue God and their true masculinity, with an emphasis on adventure. He wants me to join him in this venture, becoming a guide/group leader, whereI would take men on a hunting adventure, and then combine it with discipling, teaching, and evangelism!!!! He wants me to go with him this fall, and to check out the land, and thin out some does. I discussed with him th epossibility of making it a self supporting ministry with some dates open to clients coming to pay to hunt, and other dates for retreats and ministry solely. Right now it is all so exciting and it is such a beautiful answer to prayer. My dreams are alive and well! It never ceases to amze ma how God works. I had braced myself and resigned myself to giving up a large portion of my personal goals in lieu of being able tomeet the desire placed in myheart for ministry--and voila! Now I have the oppurtunity to use my temporal passion as teh platform for my eternal calling!!! What is those verses that say if we hang on to something we lose it, but if we lose it for His sake we gain it? I am really psyched at the possibilities.
I discussed with him the possibility of making it a self supporting ministry with some dates open to clients coming to pay to hunt, and other dates for retreats and ministry solely.
Sounds awesome... I would love to that some day.
__________________
Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.
Thanks everyone.I am really psyched about this. I have no idea just how involved this will be, but just the anticipation of what is in store is really motivating. I wa asked, recently to consider being ordained in th ePresbyterian church(consevative), and as much as I would like to do something on this level, I jsut wasn't comfortable. It really is neat hoe th eLord brings things to us gradually. I can't wait to see how this gradually works out!
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!
