Adventure Dads

Going into the outdoors should help boys grow not only physically and mentally, but morally. Our relationship with God is the foundation of morality… and the highest instinct in man is a personal relationship with God.

We have fabricated our own artificial world in the city, but, as someone once said, “God made the country.” Everything that the city boy comes in contact with is ‘man-made’.

“Even the ground is covered with buildings and paving blocks; the trees are set in rows like telegraph poles; the sunlight is diluted with smoke from the factory chimneys, the moon and stars are blotted out by the glare of the electric light; and even the so-called lake in the park is a scooped-out basin filled by pumps. Little wonder that a boy who grows up under these conditions has little reverence for a God whose handi­work he has not seen.“ ~Walter M. Wood in Association Boys, June. 1907.

It seems to me that a boy needs to go into the woods at some point in his life to meet God… to see His creation in all it’s splendor… What better person to take him on this adventure than his dad.

James
Be. Do. Live.

Tags: Encouragement // 1 Comment »

Here is a cool deal on an even cooler product. If you buy a Spot ( retail about $150.00 ) and sign up for the service, with which it won’t work without, you can get a rebate of 50, 75, or 150 dollars depending on the service you choose. however you have to buy it, set up the service, and post mark the rebate by 9/3/09 to get the deal.
Here is the link.

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I bought Len McDougall’s book (Practical Outdoor Projects: More than 50 Ideas for Hunters, Fishermen, and Outdoor Enthusiasts) back in 1995 and still find myself going back and looking things up to refresh my memory. I enjoy his simple no nonsense approach to the different projects. With over 50+ ideas from the most basic knife sheath to the more complicated fixing a rifle that won’t shoot straight, I find “Practical Outdoor Projects: More than 50 Ideas for Hunters, Fishermen, and Outdoor Enthusiasts“, to be an easy book to recommend.
- James
Be. Do. Live.

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There are no guarantees in life, and that goes double for fatherhood. No matter how hard we try things don’t always (rarely) go the way we plan or hope. We can’t say for sure how/who our kids will be when they grow up. All we can do is be the best example we can and head them in a direction. But, which direction? Of all the books and “experts” out there only one guarantees real proven results: the Bible. It has been the rule for over two thousand years. Though it is not an end in and of its self it is a a guide post, a map, a compass; if you will, to guide and point us in the right direction. Towards living the adventure of following Jesus the Christ.
Enjoy Jimmy’s devotional,
James
Be.Do.Live.

STEPPING OUT ON FAITH

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

I never have enjoyed putting puzzles together. And yet, from time to time, I find myself doing just that. Somehow I get talked into sorting through all of the pieces and finding their proper places within the puzzle.

And, it’s usually one of those 5,000 piece puzzles! )

Now, for me, the FIRST thing I do when trying to work on a puzzle is to look at the box cover. Yep, I check to see what the end result is supposed to look like. If I know what it is supposed to look like, then I feel more comfortable jumping in and getting on with it. If I know the end result, then I know what logical steps to take next in order to achieve that end result.

And not only do I look at the end result at the beginning of my puzzle adventure, but I also refer to that box cover throughout the entire journey. I can easily see if I’m still on track. There are mile markers and guideposts to keep me headed in the right direction. From time to time when a piece doesn’t seem to fit right, I just look at the picture and can determine what needs to go where.

You know, God’s will is kind of like a puzzle with its various parts. Only with God, He does things a bit differently, doesn’t He?

For starters, He seldom shows us the finished product. He doesn’t give us a photograph of how everything fits together and says, “Here put it together this way.” Instead, He hands us one piece at a time, and then tells us where to put it. Rarely do we ever see how things are going to turn out before we begin, but rather are required to step out on faith and allow God to bring us to the completion point.

God doesn’t use the mile markers of a box cover to keep us headed in the right direction, but rather uses the guideposts of the Holy Spirit and His Word to lead us throughout the journey.

You know, we are such logical creatures that we want all the pieces to fit. We think if we can put all the pieces together, then we’ll be able to see. We say, “Show me God and I’ll do it.” God says, “Do it and I’ll show you.”

God didn’t hand Abraham a roadmap and put an X where He wanted him to arrive. He said, “Go and I’ll let you know when you get there.” God requires that we step out on faith and trust Him.

Christian, what has God laid upon YOUR heart to do today, or this week or with your life? Does it seem puzzling to you? Things just don’t seem to logically fit into place? Maybe it’s time you stopped trying to find a box cover to look at and simply step out on faith to take one piece at a time from the Hand of God.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

Have a “Wonderful DAY in Christ,”
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!
living4jesus.com

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Let me start out by apologizing for not posting this last week it has been quite hectic around here with school starting and all. On top of everything else my son and I didn’t make it out for his first pack trip this weekend, mainly due to my car breaking down and it costing quite a bit to fix. I am still hopeful that we will get the chance in the next couple of weeks, before it gets too cold.

With the quickly changing weather in mind(living in Oregon, it is already raining) one thing that is fun, especially for younger kids, is to go for a run or walk in the rain. Let them splash and jump in all the puddles they want; go ahead and join them, make it a memory. Then go home put on dry clothes and have some cocoa. They will love it.

James
Be. Do. Live.

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I’m planning my oldest son’s first backpacking trip for next weekend, because it is his first trip, and due to some issues he has I want the trek to be fairly easy and short. So, I was looking for a good website for the area that discussed trails, as well as places. I searched for a long time before finding a great site; portlandhikers.com – If you live in the Portland, Oregon area, this is a must see site! You can search their list of trails by difficulty level ( Easy, Moderate, Difficult)…by type of hike ( Family Hikes, Backpackable, Off the beaten track, Scrambles)…by environment ( Lakes, Wildflowers, Waterfalls, Alpine, Great views)…or several other categories. The site includes pictures plus detailed information about each trek as well as peoples views of the areas.
I found quite a few other sites that attempted to be what portlandhikers.com is – but, they just don’t compare.

I’d love to hear what sites you have found that help you find trails in your area… care to share? If you’d like send pics. and I will post them on the site.

Enjoy,
James
Be. Do. Live.

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Here is another great word of encouragement from Jimmy.
enjoy,
James
Be. Do. Live.

……………………………………………………………………………………….
NO TRESPASSING!

“But this thing commanded I them, saying,
Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall
be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have
commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”
- Jeremiah 7:23

We’ve all seen them at one time or another.

Whether it was attached to a barbed wire fence at the edge of the deer woods, or posted in someone’s yard, or displayed prominently on a warehouse, we’ve all seen “No trespassing” signs.

Now, a “No trespassing” sign can mean a couple of things. It can mean (a) You aren’t supposed to be there, and / or (b) Someone doesn’t want you there. These kinds of signs mean “Leave immediately…and don’t come back!” They aren’t suggestions or recommendations, they are the expressed will of the owner.

Quite simply, you aren’t supposed to step one foot onto a place where a “No trespassing” sign is posted. Just stay away.

You know, the Lord also has “No trespassing” signs posted. Yep. He’s got them posted in a variety of places…

DOUBT – “No Trespassing.”
FEAR – You aren’t supposed to be there.
WORRY – Someone doesn’t want you there.
DISCOURAGEMENT – Don’t step one foot onto it.
INDIFFERENCE / NEGLECT – Just stay away.
SIN – “Leave immediately…and don’t come back!”

You see, Jesus has many, many places that He simply doesn’t want us to go. Things like doubt, fear, worry, discouragement, indifference, sin, complacency, selfishness, and pride – these are areas that are clearly marked, “No Trespassing.”

Anytime in the Word of God that you read, “Thou shalt not” or “be ye not” or “do not” – these are all ways that the Lord says to us, “No Trespassing.” Whether it’s attached to a barbed wife fence at the edge of depression, or posted in the yard of gossip, or displayed prominently on a warehouse of greed, the Lord has these warning signs in place for you and I to obey. And they aren’t just suggestions or recommendations, they are His expressed will for our lives.

Christian, what are you facing today? Is there some sin that just keeps nagging at your life? Are you troubled with fear and anxiety over some situation that seems out of control? Perhaps there is a bit of doubt creeping into your prayer life. My friend, if you find yourself doubtful or fearful or anxious or in sin, the Lord would say to you this morning…

…”No trespassing.”

Leave immediately. And don’t come back.

Have a “Wonderful DAY in Christ,”
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!
http://www.living4jesus.com

Tags: Encouragement // 1 Comment »

Here is a great book on Flyfishing, especially if you have kids that want to learn how to fish or you are new to flyfishing. A Kid’s Guide to Flyfishing: It’s More than Catching Fish; by Tyler Befus, covers everything about the sport from gear to technique to finding fish and tying flies.The author is only 8 years old but has fished more streams around the world than most of us could ever dream of, and it shows. Not only is the book jam packed with information on the subject, Tyler tells the reader about the many people he meets and the adventures he has on the way.

I recommend A Kid’s Guide to Flyfishing: It’s More than Catching Fish; by Tyler Befus, to any one interested in the sport as well as passing it on to future generations.

James
Be. Do. Live.

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Letterboxing is an easy activity that you and your kids will enjoy. It’s a combination of treasure hunting and stamp making. It uses navigational skills with a fun twist. Letterboxing is searching for small boxes that are hidden in public places – there are clues to finding letterboxes posted online.

To get started you will need:

• a “trail name”
• rubber stamp
• pencil or pen
• small sketch book
• one or more ink pads or brush markers
• a simple compass
• clues

The other part that is fun for the kids and fun for the adults is preparing by making your own stamp with your own design.

One of the best resources for letterboxing is: www.letterboxing.org – you’ll find tips to get started, clues, locations, tips for stamp making, and everything else all on one website. They even have a special section specifically focused on getting children started. The only other thing I would recommend is to bring a snack and something to drink for your adventure.

James

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So many times as a parent things can be tough. Some times you just want to toss in the towel, to give up, or give in. But we can’t; we have a battle to fight and a race to run for the hearts and minds of our children. Most of the world is against us, however the God who created the world is for and with us. I had a coach in high school who would say ” You only truly loose when you quit”. (Our football team lost a lot). It wasn’t until years later that I realized he was not talking about sports, but, about life and faith. We do not have to win, God’s already done that we just have to finish.
Here is another great devotional by jimmy.
Enjoy,
James

FINISHING THE COURSE

“I have fought a good fight,
I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE,
I have kept the faith: ”
– 2 Timothy 4:7

I have always enjoyed participating in various sports activities.

Knowing that, it’s not surprising that one of my favorite classes at school during my younger days was P.E. (Physical Education)

During the P.E. class, we went through a wide variety of sports and physical fitness drills to improve our agility, endurance and overall physical health. And one of those drills was the obstacle course.

The obstacle course was exactly what is sounds like: a course that was designed with numerous obstacles in the path of the finish line. Some of these obstacles had to be crawled under, while others were designed with a need to be climbed over. Still other obstacles had to be gone around. And there were even hindrances that the only way around was to put our heads down and plow right into them.

Now, these obstacle courses were never impossible. There was always a way to make it to the finish line. Sometimes it was difficult to even see the finish line, but nonetheless it was there.

Of course, these obstacles had varying degrees of difficulty. Some posed very little challenge and were more nuisances than hindrances. Others, however, tested every bit of strength and agility we had in order to be able to overcome them.

The instructor was always waiting at the finish line to hand out “congratulations” for making it through the course. In fact, throughout the course, if you listened, you could actually hear him encouraging you along the way…

…”Great job. Keep going, you’re getting there!”
…”A tough one is coming up, be careful!”
…”The only way around this next obstacle is _____”
…”Don’t get discouraged, keep going, you can do it!”

He was always right. It wasn’t always easy, but I did always make it to the finish line.

You know, our lives are kind of like that obstacle course from P.E. class. God has put a finish line in front of us, the plan and purpose for our lives, and satan tosses obstacles all throughout our path, trying to trip us up and keep us from reaching God’s will for each of us.

Seems like we’re always crawling or climbing or walking around, doesn’t it? Sometimes it seems like the only way through one of these stumbling blocks is to simply put our head down (in prayer!) and plow right into the thing.

Know this my friend, none of these obstacles are impossible with God’s help. He always enables us and empowers us to make it past those hindrances and reach the finish line of His will for our lives. Sometimes it is easy and more of a nuisance than a challenge. But other times it takes exercising every bit of faith we have in order to overcome them.

And all the while, that Heavenly Instructor waits at the finish line ready to say, “Congratulations” and shouting encouragement along our way.

Are you facing an obstacle this morning that is hindering you from God’s will? Then listen closely my friend and I believe you’ll hear that Heavenly Instructor speaking to you…

…”Great job. Keep going, you’re getting there!”
…”A tough one is coming up, be careful!”
…”The only way around this next obstacle is _____”
…”Don’t get discouraged, keep going, you can do it!”

And He’s always right.

You WILL get there.

Let us echo the words of Paul today, “I have fought a good fight, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I have kept the faith:”

Have a “Wonderful DAY in Christ,”
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!
www.living4jesus.com

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