Questioning the afterlife

[Viper]

Wow! This is a great post! God works through us in ways we don't know. Coach, you have stirred a lot of hearts with this post. I for one have not searched my heart in quite a while. It caused me to reflect a while before replying, as I have been "down in the valley" for a long while.

Obviously your heart is in the right place and the Spirit is prodding you to draw closer to God, or you wouldn't have laid your heart out on this public forum. It takes guts to do that.

I like the hunting senario posted previous. We put forth great effort to get from valley floor to a special glassing spot high on the mountain. We strap on all the gear, we hike for a mile or more, stubbling over rocks and obsticals, getting scratched and tangled in cat claw. But we keep climbing, nearly busting a lung, to reach our prize....the best glassing point in the area. We feel a great sense of accomplishment and enjoyment. Eventially, we must return to the valley and back to our daily grind. But we dream of doing it again. We condition and excercise more to make the next trip easier, maybe upgrade some gear. Then we do it again.

It's not much different in our spiritual life. We seem to give a lot of attention and effort to our physical life...work, entertainment, sports, hunting... and when we don't get the results we hoped, we make adjustments....more cardio, work out more, better gear, further education, more batting cage.... But for some reason we have our spiritual life in auto-pilot, and when things aren't going well, we blame God. Reading the bible, praying, gathering with other believers, etc. is spiritual excercise. If we don't "work out" we will fail to complete the race.

I love that poem posted previous. It's all about staying the course and finishing the race. I may be bruised, banged up, and torn up by cat claw but by God...I have the best glassin' spot in the area!!

 

Amanda, I truely believe God blesses what a true believer puts his/her hand to. Most likely you had no idea how huge this CWT following would be when you created this site. I sense there are a lot of believers/good folks on this site. It feels like family. There is some good ministry going on here. This post is a case in point. Thanks Amanda, and the others that make it happen.

[AverageJoe]

I would be up for a coueswhitetail mens bible study or just mens fellowship once a week. I have a hard time at church becuase most of the men arent into the outdoors and we just dont have a lot to talk about. It might be a good idea for us all to get together and talk about God, Hunting, The world etc just so we know we are not alone. Anyone up for it?

[bigorange]

I would be up for a coueswhitetail mens bible study or just mens fellowship once a week. I have a hard time at church becuase most of the men arent into the outdoors and we just dont have a lot to talk about. It might be a good idea for us all to get together and talk about God, Hunting, The world etc just so we know we are not alone. Anyone up for it?

 

Great idea...obviously depending on location for lots of us here. As far as a Bible goes, there are a lot of choices...this one was written by a high school friend of mine who has created a ministry around hunting with books, DVDs, and lots more. Highly recommend it...lots of nice devotionals with an outdoors/hunting slant to them.

http://www.amazon.com/NIV-Outdoorsman-Bible-Jason-Cruise/dp/0310441692/

 

Updated 2/6...forgot about this book, also by Jason Cruise. The Heart of the Sportsman. I've read it several times and this thread got me thinking about it and will be reading it again very soon.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Heart-Sportsman-Strategies-Thoughts/dp/0805430946

 

Jason's ministry site.. http://www.outdoorministrynetwork.com/

 

Surrounding yourself with like-minded folks for accountability and motivation is a great idea.

 

Thanks for posting the thread..lots of great comments here.

[Snapshot]

This morning I opened my door, and there was a Baptist church brochure tucked in the door jamb. Didn't hear, or see, anyone put it there, and I was sitting inside right next to the door.................strange!

[CouesWhitetail]

I would be up for a coueswhitetail mens bible study or just mens fellowship once a week. I have a hard time at church becuase most of the men arent into the outdoors and we just dont have a lot to talk about. It might be a good idea for us all to get together and talk about God, Hunting, The world etc just so we know we are not alone. Anyone up for it?

 

Good idea! I hope you get some takers!

[bigorange]

Edited my previous post to add another book that has been very meaningful to me and just set on my bedside table to read again...

 

great post and ideas...thanks!

[PRDATR]

I have seen in the past a post of a group of hunters who meet in either Gilbert or Chandler for Fellowship I think on Thursdays. I don't recall if it is weekly or I presume monthly.

[Coach]

Wow - guys/gals I am just in awe. The responses here, the people who have reached out with personal messages - I honestly didn't know what to expect, maybe to be ignored or ridiculed. Just going back over this thread and re-reading all of the responses, the sharing and support here and of those who have reached out to me - it is truly inspirational. I just don't have the words to describe how grateful I am that so many people I've never met could be so giving and so supportive.

 

God bless you all.

[Bandido243]

My Pastor always tells us that the Christian life is a difficult one. He's right. But we can't let go. When I look back I see all the times that God showed Himself to me. Not physically of course but "His hand" in many things and circumstances. Thank you for your post. I've not been to church for sometime because of work. Today I'm gonna go. I'll barely make it to work on time - but I'M GOING TO CHURCH. God Bless Coach. Make an effort to get close. You'll find Him there - right next to you.