For Ever In Blue Jeans

 

I took the week off work with the thought of spending every moment of the rut in the deer woods. I had planned the week ahead of time - clearing the calendar from any appointments or meetings. As the week approached a couple of people needed to speak with me at the office. I did the responsible thing and made the appointments even though it was November 7th. 

This day is special because I have taken two big bucks off the same stand in the same spot for two of the last three years. What would it hurt to have a mid-day meeting? I would have plenty of time to get back into the woods early in the afternoon. 

I hunted in the morning only seeing a few does. As planned, I headed into town for my meeting. Once I entered my office, issues, conversations, and challenges were added to my appointment. The meeting ended up being longer than I thought. Now I was rushed and I would get in very late for a prime hunting opportunity.

A seasoned hunter, I've learned to leave all my gear in the truck so I do not have to gather up my gear every time I go out. All that stood between me and my hunt was a thirty-five-minute drive to my stand. When I arrived, I realized that something was missing. How could this have happened? In my hurry to get to my meeting, I left my camo pants at home in the laundry room. 

Now what? 

I was running late and now I have the wrong clothes. I decided to put on the rest of my gear and take a chance of hunting in my blue jeans. No scent control, dirty blue jeans would have to work.

I walked to my stand and sat down to look at my phone to see what time it was. It read 4:30 p.m.. Did I mention that it was seventy degrees with a ten-mile-per-hour east wind? Nothing seemed to be going right. I decided to just enjoy the sit. I chalked it up to poor planning and learned my lesson.

Fifteen minutes after I sat down, a doe came from behind me from the south. She walked past me to begin feeding in a cornfield twenty yards in front of me. She didn't wind me so I thought to myself, "This might work after all". Another deer came out from the same spot, then one from the north and another one from the west. I had four deer at twenty yards. I had successfully hidden my scent and my blue-colored jeans from the deer.

I thought about harvesting one of them and even raised the bow for a shot, but something inside of me said to just hold tight. My gut feeling telling me to wait would prove to be the correct decision.  I sat and watched the does feed for about fifteen more minutes. After only a half hour of being in the stand on a seventy-degree day with an east wind in blue jeans, I heard something to my right.

I slowly turned slightly enough to see a set of antlers at twenty yards in the pine trees. This buck was doing the same thing I was doing...looking at the does feed. He slowly began to walk up the trail which passed by my stand. His was in full sneak mode, slowly moving toward the field's edge. 

I was fully ready when he stepped into my sights at eight yards away - and I smacked him good. He ran thirty yards into the field and collapsed. Four doe still in the field, a guy in blue jeans, and a dead eight-point buck.

Ninety percent of success is just showing up.... in blue jeans or whatever it is you have on!

Unleashing the Church Podcast - Recruiting

Recruiting Volunteers

An Easter Guide to Church Attenders

 Recently, I had the opportunity to do something rare for me. I visited a church. For more than thirty years now, I have been involved in the leading of church services. For most of those years, I have been the speaker. We have gone on vacation, but it seems like we are traveling a lot on Sundays, so visiting churches has not been a thing.

My wife and I went to see one of our daughters and planned on attending her church. I was excited to join my daughter in worship. It was out of state and a different experience. We really enjoyed our time. The music was inspiring, the message was convicting, and our overall experience was outstanding. This is not an evaluation of those upfront but rather an observation that all who attend church might want to take to heart as you attend services this weekend. Here are three simple things you can do not to wreck the church service you attend.

1. Come on time. We were not early, but we arrived right on time. The singing was just starting as we entered. For the next ten minutes, people continued to enter the auditorium. People were attempting to find places to sit, many doors opening and closing, and people going in every direction. I have noticed this at our church but had never realized its impact until then. 

I was totally distracted. I found myself people-watching. The song faded, and I was a spectator of the crowd. Something as simple as getting to your place five minutes before the service starts can lessen the distractions immensely. Being aware of how we impact others is a start. It comes off the wrong way for someone who doesn't regularly attend. 

2. Sing  As a person who has spent the last thirty years in the "worship wars" era of the church, I have a couple of observations; people have preferences for various reasons, and singing is more about us than God. I have heard every excuse in the book as to why people do not participate in singing at church. If confirmed in other contexts, I might go along with some of them...People pour into countless concerts, karaoke, and other music venues.  Music is a multi-billion dollar business. People are used to singing but not so much in church. It is a distraction to watch people who are not engaged. Sing the best you can by singing to God. 

3. Engage the speaker. This church service was laid out like most; songs, communion prayer, and message. The pastor was well-prepared and a practical Bible teacher. I thought he was exceptional. As the speaker moved further into the sermon, I became distracted by those around me. Some were busy on their phones, while others were distracted by little ones who were fidgeting. Nothing new and expected in a church service; as a speaker, I couldn't help but think that the audience has more to do with "my" effectiveness than I ever realized. Do your best to lock into what the speaker is saying and avoid the unnecessary. 

We all must consider what part we contribute to the overall experience of corporate worship. Consider these three behaviors that might make all the difference in someone receiving the message they need.