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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Muscle Memory

Life Lessons Found in Archery Target Practice

Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible)
1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

By the way my shoulder feels I can tell it is almost hunting season again. I have tried to take a day or two for the last several weeks to knock off the rust of not shooting a bow since last season. I have to say, I was really impressed to see that my first shot at the target would have been a great shot if I were drawing on a deer. But, as I continued to practice my shoulder became very shaky and weak. It only took probably a dozen or so shots for my shoulder and my back to feel as if I had just taken them through a serious workout routine at the gym.

The first shot was good because I took time to recall all the things you are supposed to do when shooting. I remembered the placement of the string across my chest. Then I focused on the placement of my face on the string. I looked through the sight guide and centered the main sight. I made sure my hand was not gripping the handle of the bow. Took a few calming breathes. Then I fired. Bullseye! The second and third shot was pretty good as well. I had a nice tight pattern and was happy with the first round.

However, as I felt my arms begin to tire my shots got worse. And I became more frustrated. I began to not focus on the process of shooting I explained a minute ago. I felt my muscles beginning to memorize a poor shooting posture. I have heard it said before that “practice makes perfect.” I have always struggled with that statement. I know in light of God that I will never be perfect, no matter how much I practice something. Then one day I heard someone say, “Practice makes permanent.” And that made complete sense. And it was exactly what I was experiencing. The more I shot tired and allowed my muscles to determine what I could do, the worse the shots got and the more permanent my shooting posture became. So much so, that the next time I picked up the bow to shoot my posture went to the place it remembered most, where I left off the day before.

Life is much the same way. We set out living in such a way that pleases God. We start by truly desiring to love God for who He is. We focus only on who He is. We spend time reading His word. We spend time talking with Him. We place ourselves in the presents of others doing the very same thing. And not matter what happens in life we are walking with the Lord and growing in who we are. As we look back at the week or the month we see a pretty cool pattern, one we are pleased with. And even more importantly, one that God is pleased with.

But, sometimes things happen and we grow tired. We begin to focus on life in our own strength, or the lack there of, and frustration sets in. The next thing that happens is “our posture” changes. We look back over the week or the month and a new pattern of thinking has developed. And it is then we begin to struggle seeing God, both in His word and the way in which He is working all around us.

The challenge set before us in this passage is to daily seek to grow in our understanding of who God is, and then daily seek to grow in our understanding of who we are (in light of who God is), and finally (taking a few calming breathes) begin to live our lives. Bullseye! As we live consistently and purposefully aiming our attention at the only real target (God) in our lives we will see a “tight pattern” that pleases Him.

-Jeff Walton
Swamp Jumper Ministries

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Name with Power

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."
— Exodus 20:7


Commandment number three of the Ten Commandments tells us not to take God's name in vain. The words "in vain" mean empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. So to take God's name in vain means to say it in a way that is empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. And one of the most obvious ways this is done is through the use of profanity.

We all have heard people use the name of Jesus to punctuate a point. I have even said to people who do this, "Be careful. He might answer you some time." Interestingly, I never hear the names of various religious leaders or so-called gurus being used when someone is angry or upset.

So why do people, including avowed atheists, use the name Jesus Christ in this way? I believe that in their hearts, they know there is power in that holy name. Sure, they are taking it in vain. They are violating the third commandment. But in a way, they are acknowledging the existence of God. Otherwise, why invoke the name of a God you don't believe in? Why say the name of a person you don't think ever existed? Why say His name? Because there is power in that name. And when you say it, people pay attention.

Philippians 2:9–11 reminds us, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The name of Jesus has power. God wants us as His followers to never take His name in vain, but to honor it instead.

-Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/archive/devotion/2010-08-16.html

Sunday, August 15, 2010

2010 Early Goose Season


Early goose season is right around the corner. If you're like me you've been ready for early goose opening day since January. Some things I've been thinking about is what to use and where to go. Go to where you know there are birds. Get the flights down, set up where they want to be and let 'em have it. I'm gonna try keep it simple this early season by using poor quality decoys and silhouettes in smaller spreads, very little if any flagging and minimal but realistic calling. I like a quick spit and double clucks. I try not to use every thing I've got on these early residents. Save your best stuff for when it counts. Late November through December I'll break out every thing I've got. I like to shoot a mod to full choke, and perfer 3inch BB shot in black cloud or heavy metal. Good luck and get your limit.

Blind build 2010









It's gonna be a big one.

Save money on decoys


Don't feel like spending more money on decoys? Here are a couple of tips to save a few bucks and find a use for old decoys laying around.
A friend called me asking if I wanted to go halfs on some black duck decoys. Since I can't justify buying new deeks (my wife won't let me buy more) I decided to find another way. I had some old "hot buy" mallards collecting dust in my garage. I used a dozen hens because they have better feather detail and you won't have to put as much paint on the heads since Black ducks have light tan heads. I used krylon ultra flat camo paint in dark brown for the bodies. I taped off the heads and wraped a towel around the keels to hold them upright while I paint. Make sure you scuff up the old paint and use a good primer before applying the top coat of dark brown. Next I unwraped the heads and used the dark brown to touch up the heads with a paint brush to give them a little depth. I used model paint for the bills. Testors "flat olive, olive mat" for the hens and "zinc chrome" for the drakes. It's a good idea to mix a little olive in with the zinc chrome for the drake bills to get a dark mustard color. I like to put a white dot on the eyes for a realistic glare spot. Finally I used a little purple model paint for the wing feathers. Total cost to make Black duck decoys: under $20 in paint.