| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net My wife and I moved to Elk City in October of 1977. Everyone was talking - (not about us) about Elk. It was elk season. According to our first impression of Elk City, it had a population of about 1500. Everywhere we went, folks were either talking about the one they got, the one they missed, the one they were going to get, or - well - Elk. Everyone seemed to be gathering supplies to go off to HUNTIN Camp. We even learned that you could target the specific size of bull you wanted, because some were actually going to Spike Camp. Many times a day someone would roar into town with un-concealable antlers in their rigs. The lizard people (a name my dad gave to tourists that sat on the benches outside and ate ice cream) would huddle around the carcasses for hours listening to stories that ranged in credibility. Anyway, let’s talk about me. I was an experienced hunter. My dad had run hounds all my life, and guided a bit in Southern Oregon, and Northern California, so I did not let the fact that I had never seen an elk deter my confidence, or should I say pride. I was jealous of the attention the locals were getting and was sure I could do better, so I went off and did it (attempted it) on my own. No success. None. For years. Nada. Goose eggs. Zilch. Yet I was sure I was just as good as these guys. Finally, I realized I would have to humble myself and get some help from those that were successful on a regular basis. I lost the “I’m Gooder” attitude and did what they told me, and guess what. Elk. Many. Not always, but regular enough to have true excitement and anticipation about my potential success. Spiritual Switch: Many of us treat our relationship with God the same way. Rather than follow the way He established for us to have a relationship, a new future and even a new past in Him, we try to attain it on our own. We base our methods on what everyone else around us is doing instead of seeking to see what He - God says. We in the ministry often quote Romans 10:13 which says: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This is absolutely true, and is beautiful. But we often ignore the following two verses which are critical to You. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” 10:14-15a. Preaching isn’t a vocation that a certain number of guys pursue, but rather a calling. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1st Cor. 1:21. Whether you are hunting, running the river, flying a plane or playing with your eternal destiny, Get someone to show you the Way. God Bless. |
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