Lessons on the Road 4

Chat #4: Maps

I love using maps when I’m travelling. Maps give you a broad picture of where you are relative to everything else. When you pull in to a rest stop and spread out your map on a picnic table it is very satisfying to plot your progress, to see how far you’ve come and what lies ahead to be explored. You can see mountains and lakes, towns and cities, highways and byways. It’s as if the whole world is spread out before you and you can choose to go wherever you want. That’s exciting.

Back in the 1960’s when I graduated from high school it seemed that life was like that. I had the whole world spread out before me. I could go anywhere I wanted to. I could do anything I wanted to—at least I thought I could. My first choice was to go to university. Then I chose to go teaching. Then I felt a calling to travel one particular road, the road of ministry, and so I became an officer in The Salvation Army. Last year, after 44 years on the road, I retired. Now the map is back on the table. Once more I have choices. That’s exciting.

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Lessons on the Road 3

Chat #3: The Long Distance Trip

It has been said that when you are travelling, getting there is half the fun. The other half is doing what you plan to do once you get there. If “getting there” is indeed half the fun than we should plan the trip well. I have made return road trips from Toronto to Vancouver Island, from Toronto to St. John’s, and from Toronto to Florida. Besides my wife, I have had kids, a dog, and a cat at various times and in various combinations. Sometimes I have driven around the clock, and sometimes taken almost a week to get to the destination. The secret to enjoying the trip is planning and preparation. Taking time to do this will add fun to the experience.

As Christians we anticipate the end of our journey. We look forward to Heaven. But what about the “getting there” part? Do we have to wait until we get there before we experience happiness? I don’t think so. Jesus said that He came to give us “abundant life.” He said He came to give us His joy. The Bible contains many verses about God’s faithful having the “joy of the Lord.” Like any road trip there will be times when we experience bumps on the road, but in spite of that travelling with Jesus is a joy-filled experience. Begin each day with God. Plan with Him what you will do today. And don’t wait for Heaven before you begin to laugh.

1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Lessons on the Road 2

Chat #2: The Day Trip

Aah, the day trip. Leaving home after breakfast, enjoying the scenery or a country fair or a visit with friends and returning home to your own bed at night. Those pleasant little trips are something to be treasured. They are fun for the whole family and they generally don’t cost a lot. Even with today’s high fuel prices, a day trip is still an economical way to have fun. My wife and I have taken such trips often, sometimes they turn into berry-picking activities, sometimes a picnic, and sometimes we even throw in a little fishing. But most time its just “oohing and awing” at God’s creation.

In life, we should take time to relax and enjoy what we have. God never meant for us to always be in a rush, to always be spending and acquiring. We should take time to enjoy one another and enjoy the world around us—as the old adage says, “Take time to smell the roses.” Take time with family and friends. Take time to get to know your fellow church members as real people. Take time to appreciate all that God has provided. And don’t forget to thank Him for it all.

Mark 6:31 (NIV)

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Lessons on the Road 1

Chat #1: Planning the trip

I’ve been driving (with a licence) since 1967 when I bought a brand new Suzuki motorcycle from some of the money I earned as a school teacher. Since then I have bought almost a dozen vehicles (if you count an old RV I once owned) and have driven from coast to coast in Canada several times and in a good number of the states in the U.S.A. Over the years I’ve learned a few things, some the hard way, and I hope to share some of this in the chats that will follow. I have learned that some of the “road lessons” are also “life lessons.”

Lesson number one: plan your trip. It’s a lot of fun getting out maps and brochures and talking with your family about the upcoming trip, especially if it’s to a place you’ve never been before. Plan how long you will drive each day. Plan where you will stop for the night. Plan what you will do along the way. With a good plan in place your trip will be exciting and fun.

Life lesson: a lot of people go through life with no aim or ambition. They let the forces around them drive them. As a result their life is unsatisfactory and they accomplish little. The Bible says that God has a plan for our life. This does not mean that everything that happens to us is God’s will, but it does mean that God will give us direction. Then it’s up to us to follow His plan. Wherever you are in your life you can stop, get out the roadmap and ask God, “Where to from here”?

Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Lessons from Cars 20

Lesson 20: Mirrors

The rear-view mirrors are some of the most useful parts of you car. When I lend my car, people sometimes freak out by the way I have set my side mirrors because when they look in them they cannot see what is behind them. I explain that the inside mirror is for seeing what is behind. The side mirrors are for covering blind spots. When a car is behind me it is in my inside mirror. When it disappears from that mirror it appears in one of my side mirrors. And when it disappears from those mirrors it appears in my eyesight. So I am always aware of exactly where other cars are at all times.

In life we should always be aware of where we are in relation to others and to where we have been. We go forward with our eyes on Jesus, but we must not turn a blind eye to those around us. We should be aware of those who are behind us. Some of them are following our example. Where we go, they will go. How we behave, they will behave. We should be aware of those coming along side us in life. Some are there to encourage us. Some are there to reassure us. Some are there to help. And we should be aware of those overtaking us. Sooner or later we will slow down, our journey will end, and others must complete the task and go where we cannot. We must be humble enough to let them pass.

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Lessons from Cars 19

Lesson 19: Accessories

Car accessories are those things that make driving more pleasant. They are not necessities; you can drive without them, but they make the driving experience more enjoyable. My dad’s old ’54 pickup had one accessory—a glove compartment. By the time I got my ’69 Vauxhall it had a glove compartment and a cigarette lighter (now called a power outlet). Later vehicles had a radio, cassette player, cd-player and a satellite radio. Today’s luxury vehicles have all this and more—heated seats, power seats, DVD-player, heated steering wheel, climate control and built-in navigation system, to name a few.

In our Christian life there are also necessities and accessories. Certain things are absolutely necessary if we are to maintain a healthy spiritual lift—prayer, Bible reading, worship and fellowship with other Christians, and acts of service. And there are other things that can help us, things that in this context may be considered accessories. These include listening to good music that will inspire us, reading good books that will encourage us, and putting good art in our homes (including Christian art and mottos). 

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Lessons from Cars 18

Lesson18: Security features

None of the vehicles I have ever owned have been on the “most stolen” list. Only someone desperate would steal a Vauxhall—although someone did steal the battery out of it. And then there was the K-car and an old Aerostar minivan, and a string of other practical but not-very-sought-after vehicles. Years ago it was fairly easy for thieves to “hot wire” cars. Even teens did this just to go on a joy ride, with no intentions of keeping the vehicles. Today security features are much improved with electronic keys, remote door locks, and built in GPS systems to track stolen cars.

In the Bible the devil is described as a thief who comes to take away that which God has given us. We see in the story Adam and Eve how the devil stole their innocence and security. We see in the story of Noah how the devil took away peace from the earth and replaced it with violence. In the parable of the farmer scattering his seeds the devil took away the word of the gospel before it could take root in the hearts of the hearers. We must be always on our guard against the devil lest temptations of the world and the flesh rob us of our peace and the blessings we have in Jesus.

Revelation 3:11

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

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Lesson 17: Safety Features

When I think of the vehicles I first drove I shudder at how unsafe they were. They had no airbags to cushion a person in an accident. They had no seatbelts to keep people in the vehicle in the event of a roll over. They had no ABS breaking system is assist in slippery weather. The bumper was built like a battering ram with practically no energy-absorbing features. There were no head rests to reduce whiplash injuries, and there was no soft padding on the dashboard. Thankfully, today vehicles have all these features and more to keep us much safer on the road.

Of course life has no guarantees. Even with all the safety improvements people still die in automobile accidents. But when it comes to our spiritual life, God has given us a guarantee. If we put our trust in Jesus we will get to Heaven. He has said that he has given us eternal life and no one is able to take that away from us. The Apostle Paul testified that nothing in Heaven or Hell is able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. It is like the old gospel song says: “He will keep you from falling, he will keep to the end. What a wonderful Saviour, what a wonderful friend.”

John 10:38

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Lessons from Cars 16

Lesson 16. Dashboard: information

The dashboard of your car is the source of all kinds of vital information necessary for the safe performance of your vehicle. The early cars gave the barest essentials: gas gage, engine temperature, voltage, odometer, speedometer, turn signals, and high beam indicator. With electronic dashboards of today we have all that and more. My minivan shows me the oil life, the average amount of fuel consumed per kilometre, that a seatbelt is not fastened and that a door is ajar. It even has a built in satellite system that enables me to phone hands free.

If our lives can be compared to a car the question we need to consider is where are we getting the information necessary for a healthy, fulfilling life? Is the information reliable? Is it enough? We acquire a lot of information over the years—some more helpful than others. Advertisers will try to convince you that you need their products in order to be happy. Your friends may tell you that you need to have certain experiences to be happy—do drugs, smoke, drink, have sex. Others may tell you that you need money, fame, or power to be happy. But what is God saying to you? That is the most vital information you need to know.

Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV)

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Lessons from Cars 15

Lesson 15: Windows

On a number of occasions I have been driving and thought that my windows were clean. Then I found myself driving directly into the sun and, wow, all the dust and grime revealed itself. I could hardly see out the window. Driving in the shade or with the sun behind me was no problem. As soon as the light hit the window, all was revealed. The sad thing was that the dust was on the inside. Keeping the windows clean on the outside was not such a problem, my wipers, along with the rain and an occasional car wash took care of that. It was the dirt on the inside that was the problem. I had to get out the Windex.

In our Christian life we can often get away with keeping clean on the outside. An occasional visit to church, a few charitable donations, a little volunteer work and we appear to those around us to be upright citizens. But in the light of God’s word and in the glow of God’s Spirit moving in our hearts we see what we are on the inside. Jesus had a word for people who appeared clean on the outside but were dirty on the inside. He called them hypocrites. Strive to be pure through and through. Keep the windows to your soul clean.

Matthew 23:26

First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Lessons from Cars 14

Lesson 14. Lights

It’s been said that we don’t appreciate something until it’s gone. Take signal lights on your car for example. Last week my left turn signal light on the front of my car gave out. I had to stick my arm out the window and drive extra carefully for the few hours before I could replace it. (This was a do-it-yourself job with a bulb from Canadian Tire.) Turn signal lights, headlights, tail lights, break lights, park lights and back up lights are there for two purposes: to see and to be seen. The headlights are for us to see where we are going. The other lights are for people to see us. Both are important.

The Bible talks about spiritual light in the same two ways. God’s Spirit and God’s Word are like the two headlights on our car, showing us the way to go. Our own lifestyle, our words, our actions, our attitudes and our character are like the other lights on the car, showing those around us who we are and what we are doing. We must live by the light God gives us, and we must also let our light shine as a witness for Jesus to those around us.

Matthew 5:14

You are the light of the world.

Lessons from Cars `2

Lesson 13. Brakes

When looking for a new car we ask about the motor, the horsepower, the speed, the comfort of the ride, the handling and all things associated with going. We take for granted that the car has stopping power. You have only to lose your brakes once to never take them for granted again. I recall losing mine while my wife and I were driving to my parents house one Christmas. About five miles from their home the brakes gave out. It was night and late. We slowly crept the rest of the way. My dad had left the garage door open for us and we coasted to a stop by bumping into the back wall. This is not recommended.

Life is fast-paced. We rush from one activity to the next, often boasting about how busy we are. Most of us hate to be idle, hate to have to stop. But there are times when we need to slow down. In fact there are times when we should slam on the brakes. When we don’t have time for our family we need to slow down. When our work is interfering with our health we need to slow down. And when temptations are drawing us into sin we need to slam on the brakes and come to a full stop.

1 Corinthians 15:34

 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning;

Lessons from Cars 12

Lesson 12: Tires

Let’s talk about tires. Right now I am driving on four comfortable Michelins. They replaced the worn (cheap) tires that came with my vehicle. When I put the new tires on it was like walking in a new pair of slippers. The ride was smooth and quiet. Over the years I have not always been so careful. I have been known to drive on what my friends called “baloney skins”—tires that were tread-less and that had the wire showing through the sides. After numerous flats tires and skids into snow banks I have learned the importance of having good rubber underneath me.

You have no doubt heard the expression “where the rubber meets the road.” That phrase refers to the most important point in a situation. This is the point where all our preparation and theory turns into action. We can have a fancy-looking car with a big motor but if it doesn’t have good tires it's not going far. In life we can dress in the finest clothes, study at the best universities, attend the most popular church, but if we don’t put our faith into action we are going nowhere. In your Christian life, where does the rubber hit the road? At what point does your faith turn into action?

James 2:17

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Lessons from Cars 11

Lesson 11: Paint

Over the years I’ve learned a few things about paint. The first lesson was that looks can be deceiving. My dad’s old ’54 truck was originally blue but there was someone else in town with the same kind of truck that was the same color. The other driver was on the seedier side of the law and unfortunately my dad’s truck was sometimes mistaken for the other one and we often had the police on our tail—occasionally following us right to our door. When my parents stepped out of the truck, the police were all apologetic. My dad got fed up with these reoccurrences so one day he handed me a paint brush and the two of us set to work painting his truck black. It was not the fanciest paint job but it solved the problem. The truck remained black for the remainder of its years and painting it became an annual spring ritual for us.

As Christians we need to live distinctive lives. It’s important that people are able to identify us for who and what we are. It’s not good enough for us to simply blend in and be like everyone else. And it’s far worse if we are considered not to be Christians at all. The only way that people around us can know us is by our words and actions—“they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” As a child in Sunday school I was taught “don’t be afraid to let your colours show.” This was not about uniform-wearing but about lifestyle and faith. Stand up for Jesus. Stand out in the crowd.

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Lessons from Cars 10

Lesson 10. Cooling System

Things can get pretty hot under the hood of your car. To keep things cool you car has a cooling system consisting of a radiator, a thermostat, coolant (usually some kind of antifreeze) and a pump. In the old days of my dad’s 1954 Chev pickup the coolant was plain water and the system did not work real well. I remember us stopping at roadside streams many times to put water in the radiator. And when the engine got hot, so did my dad. It was a challenge for both him and the truck to keep their cool.

It is always important for us as Christians to keep our cool. “Cool, calm, and collected” as the old saying goes is the way we should respond under pressure. But we are not all alike. Some of us have short fuses and tend to lose our cool. Like my dad’s old truck, some of us tend to get hot under the collar. When that happens we need to have in place a cooling system. Besides taking deep breaths, counting to ten, and going for a short walk, we should say a little prayer, ask God to give us His peace, and put into His hands whatever it is that is causing us to boil over.

John 14:27

 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…. Do not let your hearts be troubled….

Lessone from Cars 9

Lesson 9: Oil

Every mechanic will tell you that oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. According to carbibles.com (gotta love that name) engine oil “stops all the metal surfaces in your engine from grinding together and tearing themselves apart from friction…” It also transfers heat from the engine chamber and keeps all the nasty by-products of combustion in suspension. So there you have it—everything you need to know about engine oil. One more thing—change the oil regularly according to your car’s driver’s manual.

In the Bible the Church is compared to a human body with many parts, with each individual Christian being a part of the body. The Church can just as easily be compared to a car with its many moving parts. Just as in a car engine where metal surfaces can “tear themselves apart from friction” so Church members can “tear each other apart” with infighting, competition, and disputes. The oil that keeps the Church running smoothly is the influence of the Holy Spirit uniting us in a bond of love. When things begin to heat up in your church because of friction between members ask God to anoint you again with the oil of the Spirit so that things will run smoothly.

Romans 12:4-5

For just as each of us has one body with many members…so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Lessons from Cars 8

Lesson 8. Filters

Your car is equipped with a number of filters—air filter, oil filter, and gas filter. Some cars also have a filter for the air conditioning unit. Filters by definition clean dirt from contaminating the thing they are filtering. The air filter insures that clean air enters the cylinders. The oil filter keeps the oil clean. The gas filter catches any contaminants that are in the gas. And the air conditioning filter makes sure that passengers and driver breath fresh, clean air. I used to change the air filter and oil filter myself, but now I leave it to the kids at the quick oil change garage.

The world around us is filled with things that can contaminate your life. Things like pornography, drugs, alcohol, and coarse language. Television, movies, and the internet all carry their share of contaminants. As Christians we need to filter out of our lives all those things that soil our witness and make us unclean in our hearts and minds. The filter that we use is the Bible. The word of God and the teachings of Jesus are our standard. By applying this filter to everything we encounter we can determine whether they are clean or dirty.

Psalm 119:9

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.

Leasons from Cars 7

Lesson 7. Spark Plugs

Hidden deep inside a car’s gasoline engine are tiny porcelain and metal devices called spark plugs. Your car may have four, six, or eight depending on the size of your engine. One end of each plug reaches into the engine’s cylinders. The other end protrudes from the side or top of the engine and is connected by a wire to the car’s electrical system. When current flows a spark ignites the gasoline in the cylinder chamber. In my younger days, when engines were much simpler I would regularly replace these plugs myself. It was a fun thing to do in my driveway on a warm Saturday morning. There is something to be said of a guy buried to his waist under the hood of his car doing his own maintenance.

An old camp song begins “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” Likewise without that spark the car is going nowhere. The same is true of any Christian endeavour. Nothing will get done for the Lord unless someone is willing to be the spark that gets the fire going. How often have you heard it said (or perhaps you’ve said it yourself): “Someone should do something about that”? Perhaps it was a Sunday school class that had no teacher, or homeless people who needed shelter, or unsaved people who needed to hear the gospel. Can you think of yourself as being a “spark plug” for Jesus?

Psalm 104:4

Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

Lessons from Cars 6

Lesson 6. Engine

Every guy who goes looking for a vehicle wants to look under the hood. He wants to see if the engine looks clean or if it is covered with oil. But more importantly he wants to know how big it is. How many cylinders are there? What is the cubic inch measurement of the engine? What is the horsepower? Even if he can’t afford to drive a muscle car or a 350 engine, he still likes to dream. He may settle for a four-cylinder, hybrid that sips gasoline like a tea connoisseur at a taste test. In the end the choice is made between power and miles per gallon.

In life we all like to dream big. We all would like to accomplish some big thing and leave a big footprint behind us on the world’s stage. Some have done that—Martin Luther, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Billy Graham to name a few. But most of us play minor parts on the stage of life. Or do we? What may appear to the world to be a minor part, may be a critical part of God’s great plan. Think for a moment of Martin Luther’s teacher and Abraham Lincoln’s mother, and the person who led Billy Graham to faith in Christ. You probably don’t know their names, yet their parts were invaluable. In the service of the Lord, size does not matter. Doing God’s will is all that counts.

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Lessons from Cars 5

Lesson 5. Brand Loyalty

Brand loyalty is a big thing in the car industry. My dad purchased his 1954 GMC pickup in 1955. He kept it for 10 years. For a while we called it Chevy, then as it became part of the family we called her Betsy. It was the only vehicle I knew during my growing up years. We loved that old Chev, but we weren’t Hard-core Loyals;  we were Switchers driven by what we could afford. So over the years I have owned Chevs, Fords, AMC cars, and Dodges. With the exception of my first car, the Viva, I have stuck with North American brands. So I suppose there is some loyalty there to the domestic vehicles.

Loyalty is also important in our faith. Much more important than loyalty to car manufacturers. The Bible word for loyalty is “faithfulness.” It used to be that Christians counted loyalty to their church as something very important. If they were born into a particular denomination, they stayed as such until they died. Today, loyalty to a particular denomination is not so important in most people’s minds. This results in what some call “church hopping.” While “switching brands” is sometimes necessary, it should not be a regular habit. There is something to be said about putting down roots and becoming a faithful member of your church. But above all, faithfulness to Christ is what counts in the end.

Matthew 25:21

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Lessons from Cars 4

Lesson 4: Counting the Cost

Cars are expensive. Even those you may buy at a bargain. Besides the price of the car itself, there are many other expenditures to consider when calculating the true cost of ownership. If you have to get a loan there is the interest to be paid. Then there is the annual insurance cost. After that there are the maintenance costs—oil changes, replacing worn tires, breaks, and burnt-out headlights. Then there is the cost of gasoline. And inevitably there will be the cost of repairs as the body begins to rust, the engine begins to lose power, and nicks and dents appear from occasional bumps with guard rails, fence posts and other cars in parking lots. So when buying a car, count the real cost.

The same is true in life. Everything costs. But not everything has value. We need to calculate the true cost of the decisions we make. For example someone may say, “I can’t go to university because it costs too much.” Education is costly, but what are the costs of not having an education? Its true value is beyond calculation. The same can be said of many other things—marriage, children, career and friendships. Likewise, the decision of whether or not to follow Christ should be considered carefully. It will cost you a lot to be a true follower, but it will cost you infinitely more to reject Him.

Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

Lessons from Cars 2

Lesson 3: New or Used

Over the 42 years that I have been driving, I have owned eleven vehicles—eight cars and three mini-vans. Of these, five were bought new, five came off a used car lot, and one I bought from a friend. When purchasing a vehicle one question that has to be answered early in the process is whether to buy new or used. My father used to say, “Don’t buy someone else’s junk.” His opinion was forged from his experiences with a few lemons he purchased used over the years. While his advice is still valid, I have learned to appreciate the fact that there is value in both new and used cars. Conversely, “junk” can come in new packaging as well as old.

In our Christian life we should not be too hasty to label anything as “junk.” I have known Christians to dismiss old hymns and traditional worship services as being broken down and ineffective. I have also known Christians to label contemporary worship songs as been all show and no substance. The truth is that there are some old hymns that should be thrown out and there are some new songs that should never be sung. On the other hand there are some old songs and old traditions that carry a lot of meaning and should be treasured. Likewise there are some beautiful, new worship songs that need to be learned and adopted. What holds true for worship songs, also holds true for people. It’s not age, but quality that counts.

Matthew 13:52

 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Lessons from a Car 2

Do you remember your first car? Who can forget? After my first year at university I accepted a teaching position. The pay was low in those days—two hundreds dollars a month. I could not afford to buy a car, so I bought a motorcycle instead. It wasn’t until three years later when my fiancé and I pooled our financial resources that I (we) got our first car. It was a 1969 Vauxhall Viva, which we bought in 1970. It was a small, two-door car with a four-cylinder motor and an automatic transmission. We paid about $1,200 for it. It was what some of my friends would call a “gutless wonder.” We barely made it up the mountains of the Cabot Trail on our honeymoon. But it was great going down hill!

Our choice of car was limited by our budget and what was available. But choosing a car is not the most important choice of your life. There are many, more important choices. Choosing whom to marry, for example, is much more important. Choosing your career is much more important. Choosing whether or not to have children is much more important. There are dozens of choices more important than what car to purchase. But all life’s choices have consequences. It is therefore important to make those choices carefully and prayerfully. If we choose God first and then ask Him to help us with all our other choices, then tomorrow will not be so scary.

Psalm 25:12

Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
    He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

Lessons from a Car 1

Lesson 1: Learning to Drive

Growing up in a small town in Newfoundland I was more than a little envious at some of my classmates whose families were rich enough to buy them cars. My last year of high school was 1964-65, the same year that the Ford Mustang was released. And one of my classmates drove one to school. I did not have a driver’s licence but I was permitted to drive my father’s 1954 GMC pick-up truck, mostly when he was aboard. Sometimes I took it and drove around the back roads with my best friend, never thinking about insurance or the consequences of getting stopped by the police. I remember crashing through only one fence. My father said I could get my licence when I could afford to buy my own vehicle, which took another five years.

Starting out on the Christian life is much like learning to drive. It is exciting. It is thrilling. It is new. For a person who has never been saved to suddenly come to know the Lord as their Saviour and Friend, the experience is like being born again. A whole new world opens up to them. Like a new driver, they have freedom they never knew before. They are free from the old lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and immorality. They are free to forgive others. They have the power to let go of old resentments and old habits. The have a licence to love.

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Lessons while Fishihng 20

Lesson 20: The Rewards of Fishing

Fishing is a rewarding experience. The challenge of outwitting a fish in its natural environment is thrilling. The skill of landing a large fish using a tiny, barbless, fly hook attached to an 8-pound test line with a rod that is bending like the letter U is exhilarating. And the smell of fresh fish in the frying pan and the taste of the delicious meal is heavenly. Of course there are many other rewards too: the fresh air and sunshine on your face, the sound of loons on the lake, the sight of mountains, streams and forest, the fellowship of other fishermen, and sometimes the solitude of sitting by oneself and feeling close to the Creator.

But nothing is as rewarding as the Christian life. Jesus talked about it in terms of joy. He described it as abundant life. To know that your life has meaning and that it will go on forever is the greatest thrill there is. To know Christ as your Saviour and friend is the greatest knowledge there is. To relate to God as His child—His son or daughter—to call Him Father and to know that He loves you more than you can imagine is the greatest relationship there is. Yes, following Christ sometimes has its difficulties, but these are only like fishing on a rainy day or casting your line into the wind compared to the great and wonderful rewards for the true follower.

John 10:10

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Lessons while Fishing 19

Lesson 19: The Fishing Season

Fishing has its seasons. Different species of fish may be legally caught at different times of the year. As a boy growing up in Newfoundland I could hardly wait for the summer trout season to begin. It lasted from the middle of June to the middle of September, which coincided nicely with the summer holidays. When I grew older I got interested in salmon fishing and enjoyed catching those in their season. Now that I live in Ontario I look forward to bass season. Some species, like perch, can be caught all year round. Commercial fishermen also go after different species in different seasons. I remember helping my father catch squid in their season and helping a friend haul his lobster traps in their season.

The Bible says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This verse, in fact the entire chapter, was made famous by the Byrds in their 1965 hit Turn, Turn, Turn. It talks about the seasons of life. Just as there are different seasons for fishing, there are different times in our life for doing particular things. Whether witnessing (there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak”), or ministering (“a time to plant”), or serving (“a time to love”), everything has its season. But some activities, like perch fishing, have no season. They can and should be done all year round. Living our faith is one of those activities.

1 Peter 3:15

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Lessons while Fishing 18

Lesson 18: The Fishing Fellowship

There is a bond among fishermen that allows them to instantly relate to each other even though on many other levels they may be total strangers. Two men can be sitting at a table awkwardly wondering what they have in common and struggle to find something to talk about. If one happens to mention fishing and the other is also a fishermen then they are off and running. Each will try to outdo the other with fishing tales, and the fish will grow bigger with each telling. They will talk about favourite places to fish, about memorial catches, and about the one that got away. Each will instantly understand the other, and their fellowship will be real.

The fellowship of Christians is like that and more so. When travelling on vacation I meet total strangers. Often we have little in common, but if we find out that we are both Christians then instantly we have a bond that is beyond all others. We realize that no longer are we strangers. We are more than friends. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. Our theology may be slightly different. Our worship may not be exactly the same. But at heart we both love the Lord and recognize each other as part of His family. We can talk about our faith and share with each other how God works that out in our lives. How wonderful it is to belong to the fellowship of believers.

Acts 2:44

All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Lessons while Fishing 17

Lesson 17: The Fishing Trip

Ah, the good, old-fashioned fishing trip. I’ve had many of these over the years, some with an old friend, some with a group of friends, and some with my wife, who by the way also loves fishing. After one of us makes a suggestion of going fishing the fun begins. It is usually a few days or weeks beforehand. We decide where to go, when to go, how to get there, who will come with us, what to bring, and what to eat. When the day comes we eagerly set out, usually around sunup. We may bring a boat or fish from shore. We have lunch, around a campfire if possible. And we may catch some fish. But the big bonus is the fellowship and the strengthening of bonds between like-minded persons.

In the Church this fellowship and bonding often happens around a project that the church members undertake together. While Sunday worship is spiritually beneficial, and Bible studies build up our faith, nothing quite matches the experience of a group of like-minded believers working together to accomplish something for the Kingdom. I remember working with a group of men from the church, cutting trees and bringing firewood to a man who was disabled. I recall working with men renovating a church—the sound of hammers and saws and good-natured teasing being more inspiring than some sermons. Perhaps now is the time for you to call some of your Christian friends and plan such a project. You’ll be blessed as you bless others.

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Lessons while Fishing 16

Lesson 16: The Joy of Fishing

The joy of fishing can only be known by those who fish. Reading about fishing will not impart to you the joy of fishing. Watching fishing shows on television will not give you the joy of fishing. Listening to fishermen tell and retell their fishing stories will not convey the joy of fishing. You cannot experience the joy of fishing until you actually fish. You have to spend time on or near the water. You have to smell the fresh air, the forest, and the meadow. You have to sense your boat bobbing in the waves. You have to feel the tug of a fish on your line. You have to play a fish and win to know the joy of the experience.

The joy of the Lord can only be known by those who know the Lord. You can study the Christian religion. You can read the Bible. You can go to church and Sunday school. You can participate in the rituals. But until you experience for yourself the Presence of Jesus in your life, you will not know the joy He gives. The joy of Christianity can only be known by those who know Christ. You have to spent time with Him. You have to sense Him near you. You have to feel the tug of His Spirit on your heart. Only then will you experience the joy of the Lord for yourself.

John 15:11

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Lessons while Fishing 15

Lesson 15: Fishing requires Knowledge

There is a lot more to fishing than simply throwing a hook and line in the water. There are many things to learn in order to become successful at the sport. A beginner needs to learn such basic things as how to load line on a reel, how to operate the reel, how to tie a hook, lure, and fly on a line, how to cast the line, how to retrieve the line, how to set the hook, and how to land a fish. After that there is such knowledge as knowing where to fish, knowing what lure, bait, or fly to use in a particular place, knowing the best times to fish. And on and on we can go with things to learn in order to become an expert fisherman.

When Jesus called His disciples He said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They knew a lot about fishing for fish, but they did not know a lot about fishing for souls. This was something that they would have to learn. Jesus would make them fishers of men. This was knowledge they would have to acquire. For the following three years they were the Jesus’ class. He taught them knowledge and skills to become soul-winners. They learned both theology and practice. Under His tutelage they became evangelists and eventually went on to win the world for Jesus.

John 6:45

(Jesus said) It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.

Lessons while Fishing 14

Lesson 14 Fishing requires courage

If you’ve ever seen the movie The Perfect Storm or watched the TV series Deadliest Catch you are aware of how dangerous commercial fishing is. (My most dangerous catch is usually ice fishing--trying to keep my fingers and toes from freezing.) As a recreational fisherman I have to take my hat off to those men and women who travel hundreds of miles from land to make a living from the sea. In the days before the cod fish moratorium and before much of today’s safety gear and rescue techniques were developed Newfoundland had the highest number of widows per capita than any other part of Canada because of the many men lost at sea. It takes a lot of courage to be an off-shore fisherman.  

For most of us in Canada, living a Christian life is about as dangerous as recreational fishing. We have to have the interest and the patience and the persistence and the faith but it doesn’t take a lot of courage. The most opposition we face is verbal—someone disagrees with us or perhaps laughs at our beliefs. Our biggest fear is being ridiculed or rejected. In some countries Christians need a lot more courage. When they speak up for Jesus there is a real possibility they could be jailed or beaten or killed. Some Christians have lost their homes and property. Some have lost their families. Many Christians are tortured, even today, for their faith. Let us use the freedom of religion that we have and let us continue to support and pray for those Christians who face death for Jesus.

Revelation 2:10

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Lessons while Fishing 13

Lesson 13: Fishing Requires Faith

Fishermen are people of faith. Faith by definition is belief and trust in something without absolute scientific proof. When I fish I have to have faith or I would not venture near the water. I have faith that the line I’m using will not break, that my boat will not sink, and that there are fish out there even though I can’t see them. I have faith that if I keep fishing long enough and try hard enough I will catch a fish, even though some days this seems unlikely. I envision fish in my frying pan and I have faith enough to believe that that vision will come true.

Everyone has faith. Even those who claim to be atheists have faith. We get aboard an airplane and believe that the pilot is skilled and sane, even though we’ve never met him or her. We have faith in the mechanics, electricians, and machinists who built and maintain the aircraft, even though we don’t know them and don’t know how everything works on a plane. When we buy groceries we put our faith in the produces, manufacturers, and distributers to provide us with healthy food. Faith is not illogical. It is necessary for life. How much more is it necessary for death. Faith in Jesus takes away fear. Faith in Jesus will enable us to live holy lives. Putting our trust in Him will bring us to Heaven.

John 14:1

(Jesus said)“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

Lessons while Fishing 12

Lesson 12: Fishing Requires Persistence

You are no doubt familiar with the old adage “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” That facet of your character that enables you to keep trying after you have failed is called persistence. Fishermen do not catch fish every time they throw a hook into the water. I enjoy fly fishing. This kind of angling involves casting the fly across the water over and over again, often hundreds of times without a strike. I often have to change the kind of fly I use. After one fly fails to entice a fish I take it off and try one of a different color or a different shape. I may go through a dozen flies before finding the one that works. This is persistence.

In our Christian life and service we will not be successful at everything we do every time we do it. We will sometimes meet with failure. But like a fly fishermen you need to keep trying and to try different things. Take for example your private prayer time. You may try praying early in the morning but find that you are not a morning person. Don’t give up; try an evening time or even a noon talk with God. Perhaps you are looking for an avenue in which to serve. You try the choir, but find you can’t sing. You try children’s work, but can’t communicate well to children. Don’t give up; try something else until you find what works for you. This is persistence.

Matthew 7:7

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Lessons while Fishing 11

Lesson 11: Fishing Requires Patience

The first disciples of Jesus were fishermen. I think He chose them after observing them at work. Fishermen need to possess specific qualities of character to be successful. These qualities easily transfer to the work of evangelism. Take for example patience. I’m not a patient man by nature. I get frustrated easily, which tends to make me upset and even quit what I’m doing when things don’t go my way. However, when it comes to fishing I have been known to fish for hours on end without catching a single fish. I have felt a fish nibble on my line and watched it swim by and I’ve waited and waited, patiently enticing it until finally it grabbed on and I landed a prize catch.

Witnessing for Jesus often requires a similar kind of patience. We may be impatient by nature, but God can help us to take things easy when we are sharing our faith. People may come into our lives who are curious about Christianity. They are not eager about it. They are not going to grab on to our lifestyle, but they show a little interest. They may want to know what goes on at church, what the Bible is about, and who Jesus is. Witnessing to such people requires great patience. Take things at their pace, not yours. You may go years without success, but a true fisherman does not give up easily. Many a potential convert has been scared off by an over-eager Christian who did not have the patience to wait. In your witnessing, be patient with the unbeliever who has come into your sphere of influence.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.