Because Everyone Loves a Fish Story

Last Saturday, a bunch of us were out at Wes and Justine Holland’s, hanging out and digging into what it will mean to live the lives we are already living with Gospel intentionality.

But we were also fishing.  For once, I was catching more fish than Mike.  Actually he had not caught any.  I just thought I needed to make that REAL clear.  After every fish I caught I would say, “it’s all that good, clean Christian living.”  I could feel him glaring at me from the other side of the pond.

Because the Holland girls feed the fish hotdog buns, there is a trained bass who will follow you all over the pond.  Doesn’t matter what side you are on, he’s there.  Won’t bite a white grub or a rooster tail.  Nothing.  But he will try to eat any bluegill you hook.  Finally Lily Holland says, “just put some bread on your hook.”  Bread? On a rooster tail? (because I am too lazy to change hooks).  I give Mike a piece and tell him to try.  He just throws it in “to see if the bass will even go for it.”  He does.  By that time I have the bread on my hook and immediately catch him.  Mike lost his mind.  You snooze you lose.

So I start fishing out into the deeper part of the pond.  I catch 3 more bluegill.  All that good, clean Christian living!

So there’s this carp that lives in the pond.  About 30 inches long.  A monster in that small space.  All of a sudden, my bobber disappears.  Not a little jerk or a slight dip.  Gone.  I pull back and start hollering.  At first all I can see is its head, and I think I have caught some giant catfish lurking at the bottom.  Looks like you could drive a car thru its mouth.  Then he turns and I can see that carp diamond pattern.  “I’ve got Bruno!” Yeah, he has a name… because in years no one has caught him.  He’s a legend.  I get him to the bank and we are all freaking out.  Mike is crying because if I say “good clean Christian living one more time” he’s going to have to kill me… we are trying to get him to shore and then he pushes off against the bank and snaps my line like it’s nothing.  Mike is quick to say “it don’t count if you can’t get him out!”

Then 5 minutes later, Mike hooks him!  He likes hot dog buns, I guess.  Mike says, “He looked right at me and broke my line!”

I walked back up to the house to get an Ale-8 I had put in the freezer (always looking ahead…) then I hear whooping and hollering.  McKinley has hooked Bruno!  That fish is hungry… and dumb!  Never in my life had I seen what I saw… an epic battle with a fish in a farm pond.  McKinley let him take out line and Bruno fled to the deeps.  I thought we were going to have strap McKinley in to a seat to pull this monster in.  For about 10 minutes, McKinley zigged and zagged, walking around the pond.

Bruno is tiring out, coming to the surface.  What a magnificent fish!  Mike has his shoes and shirt off, keeping it country, about to jump in and grab Bruno.  Then another tremendous twist and jerk and he breaks the line again!

I thought the most redneck thing I have ever done is put bread and a bobber on a spinner bait… and caught fish that way.  Turns out there’s more… the most redneck thing I will ever do is take my marine rod to a farm pond.  With a bobber.  And hot dog buns for bait.  Bruno will be mine.  Oh yes, he will be mine.

Don't Get Dressed First

Here is an example of the principle of life transference, which was the key to the Methodist Class meeting, the key to life change.

I bring it up to show that the work of evangelism is not about adding more stuff to a busy to-do list.  It’s not adding more meetings or another Bible study.  Church is not an event you come to on Sunday, it is lived out in daily life with your family, friends and co-workers.  Seeing church as a set of events or meetings to go to is why we aren’t disciples making disciples, but I need to stop there or I won’t get on with the point of this!

So…it’s not another class or another meeting, it’s doing what you already do with Gospel intentions.  It’s what Peter said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ask to give the reason for the hope you have” (1 Peter 3:15).  Anyone can do this because every believer has many stories to tell about how God worked in them.

So, how can I live my life on mission?  How can do what I am already doing and put some Gospel purpose into it?

I like to fish.  I am not good at it.  There is a difference.  But it is one of many things I like to do.  So one of the best things I can do is take someone who doesn’t know Jesus.  Think of the many things you already do with other people.  Ok, now take someone with you who doesn’t know Jesus.  And sit back and be amazed at the doors God opens.

So, fishing with a friend, we get to talking about stuff.  Nothing too heavy, just things like being frustrated with our kids.  It’s hard work, raising kids.  So I told him the story of something amazing Jesus did in my life as a dad.

Soon after John and Joe’s mom, Melissa, died, we moved into a house in Lexington.  Getting ready for school was awful.  9 days out of 10, one or both of the boys were melting down, crying.  It was just awful.  I hated it.  I hate it when days start off bad.  I didn’t want them going thru all that, I didn’t like that I was yelling and impatient with them.  I knew what was up… We moved into a new place and it was painfully obvious at every moment that Melissa was not with us, never would be again.  It was grief, and we were wrecks.

I hit my knees in prayer, “God, help me!  Fix our mornings,” I cried out.

And Jesus spoke.  Plain as day: “Don’t get dressed first.”

That was it!  I had had it!  Seriously, God? I am on my knees, ruined, and all you’ve got is don’t get dressed first?  What does that even mean?

But I knew it was from God so it was more than worth a try… I had to do it.

In 2 or 3 days I figured it out.  I knew exactly why Jesus had said what He said.  When I am dressed and ready, I think everybody should be dressed and ready.  I get impatient to say the least.  And add that to the thick grief in the air… man.  Not good.

When I stayed in my pjs, got the boys moving, got breakfast ready, things went smoothly.  No more meltdowns… probably because I had the time and the mindset to care for them rather than hustle them out the door.  The boys got to chill for 10 minutes or so while I got dressed.

I told this story to my friend, knowing he is not a believer, but also knowing he would get a clear picture of what Jesus can do in our lives.  I told him, “Jesus fired me from being the boss of the family and made me the chief servant.”  And because there is more to say, I added, “and He’s done the same in my marriage.  My goal is to outdo Jessie in showing her honor.”

You have plenty of ways that Jesus has done something awesome in your life.  And you will have plenty of opportunities to tell people if you are willing to do so when they ask.  My friend brought up stuff with raising kids because we are friends.  Your friends will have issues they want to talk about, and if Jesus has worked on you about something, just tell them!