Bible Study & Fishing

Canada Trip #2

Day two (Tuesday) started early with a 7 AM chapel time! We met in the little chapel and it was cold ... the early morning temps were in the mid to upper 40's but our time together in the Word of God was sweet!

Breakfast was at 8 AM and another chapel time started as soon as we got our breakfast stuff cleaned up.  Whenever the second session ended we would pack sack lunches and head out fishing.

So I guess that this is as good a spot as any to explain the surprise about this trip ... I had no real concept that this would be a Pastor's Conference with chapel times, bible study and group discussions. Don't misunderstand, I was pleasantly surprised and very grateful for the opportunity to share and study with this group of pastor's.

Some of the topics we covered were: what we were reading, book recommendations from one another, triangulation of ministry, the need for continuing education, the need to continually being challenged in our thinking on how we do ministry, biblical evangelism and the biblical role of evangelists and personal holiness. What a great challenge!

As Proverbs 27:17 tells us  ...  "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."

Oh Yeah ... We went fishing! On Tuesday myself and two other guys went to a lake know for walleyes. our boat driver was a very experienced fisherman with really good equipment. He was able to put us on good spots to fish and the action was great! my best fish of the day was a 22" walleye! After spending about 5 hours on the water we headed in for supper.

Tuesday night was spaghetti & meatballs and it was very good! Supper was every evening at 6 PM and then we had free time until our 9 PM devotions together as a group. Every evening following supper I went out on a boat on Road Lake fishing, catching many small mouth bass and a few northerns! 

I Remain, 

Pastor Steve 

It Has Been Awhile ... But I'm Here Now

The reports of the death of my blog have been greatly exaggerated! Yes, it has been awhile and the thought of removing my blog has certainly crossed my mind. But, on the other hand ... a guy needs a place to come back to from time to time and vent his thoughts.

So ....  let me tell you about a huge surprise that I got just a few weeks ago!

CANADA #1:

Well, let me start a bit before that .... a few months ago, mid-winter, I was asked if I would be interested in an opportunity to go to Canada for a week long fishing trip. OF COURSE I'm interested in going! So the planning began.

Portable unit just like the one I used

During the course of the spring I had just about made up my mind that I would pass on this opportunity until another pastor friend of mine really encouraged me to attend. My issue was that this was to be in Canada and the spot where we were headed was very primitive (NO running water & NO electric). Having a CPAP machine left me some logistical issues.

Lynn & I talked and we began the process of solving problems. Answer to CPAP issue .... a deep cycle marine battery, a 12 volt converter and we were in business.  I purchased a new rod & reel, various and a sundry camping supplies and prepared to go to Canada

I was so looking forward to this fishing trip!

I was informed that we needed to be in International Falls at 11 AM on Monday July 6th. That meant for me leaving Oskaloosa, driving 3 hours to Forest City, Iowa, meeting 3 others guys there and  then driving as far as Hinckley, Minn. At Hinckley we spent the night in an "motel" that allowed us a bed and a hot shower (the last opportunity for a hot shower for 5 days). 

Leaving Hinckley, we drove to International Falls and met up with our hosts for the week. Got fueled up and crossed the boarder into Canada! Four hours more on the road and we arrived at Road Lake Ontario, Canada just outside Minaki, Ontario. Check it out on Google Maps!  All told .... a 13 hour trip!


Once there ... we unloaded and at the road and portaged in about a 1/4 of a mile to the camp itself and got our cabin assignments. Once our gear was stowed we prepared for a supper of hamburgers with all the fixin's!

Following supper, Doug and Josh Farrell and myself got into a 16' Lund and motored to a small cove on Road Lake and began hammering the small-mouth
bass!

More to Come!