HAve you ever noticed that regardless of what some say they tend to walk another way?

Let me give an example. I entered into participation in vocational ministry I had many who were years ahead of me tell me that my priorities should be “God, your family, and your ministry…in that order.”

But as I have watched through the years, I noticed that many (not all) who told me that seemd to pratically do it something more like “God…ministry………………….and then family, and sometimes ministry seemed to creep into #1″. It probably wasn’t intentional, but it still happened.

And I have to admit, while I didn’t want to admit it, there were times when the priorities got out of order for me.

Maybe they have for you too, whether you happen to be in vocational ministry or God has posted you in the work place, or as a stay at home mom, or some place else according to His plan. It’s a battle isn’t it?!?

That’s why I’m going to shut down for a couple of weeks and focus on my bride, Cheryl, and I’m looking forward to being with her, special friends, and NO WORK!!!

Maybe you ought to carve some time out to do the same soon. After all, we will give an account fo where we really invest our time…so let’s invest it well.

I’ll talk to you again in a couple of weeks…and in the meantime I’m going to hang with my best friend, Cheryl, a just do what she wants to do. See ya.

Being one who travels thousands of miles a year, and experiencing all types of challenges in flight and scheduling, you can imagine how excited I was to read that there are changes coming. The new direction will be to use GPS rather than radar to guide planes. That will bring a lot of changes.

With radar planes need to keep 5 miles apart due to the fact that radars spin around every 12 seconds and a jet at high altitude can travel a mile in that brief time. But with GPS it will reduce to 2, speeding up landings and takeoffs.

In addition, planes which can’t see where each other are will be able to with Automatic Dependent Survelliance-Broadcast systems. Presently only the ground can see where all of them are. In the future pilots will be able to moniter other flight from his own cockpit, choosing his own route if needed or desired.

In addition the new system will provide much more information on weather allowing pilots to make better and earlier course corrections. This will be combined with a whole host of new data, according to reports, through high speed data links between both planes and the ground.

That will be great, when several years from now, it is in place.

But, it made me stop and think. God has provided each of us with guidiance systems that put even these modern inventions to shame in comparison. God Himself has promised to guide us with His eye upon us, to tell us when we are going in the right direction, and that even among our best laid plans God still directs our steps. And that is even better news…because I’m making daily decision a lot more than I’m in a plane. And as good as controllers are, they are not infalliable. And the One willing to guide you and me is!

So, amidst the new technologies and innovatios, I remain thankful for the Ancient of Days!

How about you?

With Fall within view, and school just around the corner, that means hunting can’t be too far behind! I just finished an article for the CHRISTIAN SPORTSMAN’S MAGAZINE. The focus is how important the “aim” of our life is…and what happens if that “aim” isn’t accurate. Read it…and then let me hear from you.

EVEN THE BEST OF AIMS…

I was fired up. It was finally deer season!

My trusted .270 with a new Zeiss Conquest 3-9 X 40 scope was in my hand…and my wife’s hand was in the other. This was the first day with the scope and the first day Cheryl had ever gone hunting with me. It would be a day to remember, of that I was convinced. And my wife would see first hand the hunting skills I had honed to perfection (feel free to smile)! I hadn’t had time to shoot since we had arrived late the night before, but the gunsmith had assured me the bore sighting he had done should be sufficient.

Being an elegant woman, Cheryl looked as comfortable as Laura Bush would be in Realtree camo. But who was trying to make a fashion statement here, anyway?

The dark morning was crisp and the frost hung in the air. Our breath created suspended crystalline vapor as it exploded out of our mouths. The morning was still and the anticipation high. I was intent on a BIG buck, and my wife would be there to celebrate it with me.

Making our way by flashlight down the log road we headed to our predetermined blind area on the edge of a large wooded area. We had scoped it out the day before. Nestled into the wood’s edge we would have visual sight line of the woods behind us and a large food plot in front of us. We had shot lines in approximately 320
degrees. And a big buck had been spotted in the area over the previous weeks.

So you can imagine my heart pounding when just as day broke when out of the woods from across the plot came two does. And then two more. Creeping out into the plot they kept looking back over their shoulders to the woods. Suddenly, approximately 45 degrees to their left another doe…all looking back to the woods.

My finger began to twitch. I could sense it. Even my wife was glued to the unfolding drama. And suddenly, the movement from across the field caught my attention. Squinting through the dusky dawn I saw the 8 point buck strut out. Barrel chested, he came across the field and about 85 yards away stopped and stared right to where we were nestled in the brush.

Quietly, slowing—and excitedly—I raised my rifle into position, sighted through my new Zeiss and laid the cross hair on the buck’s shoulder. Squeezing the trigger, I knew I had him. And when those seconds cleared and I refocused to see my buck on the ground …there he stood! Staring at me!! It was impossible. I knew I was a better shot than that.

And then he snorted…I swear I heard him snicker! Then he pawed the ground, looked at where I was ensconced, and I fired again. And again he stood unphased. Then slowly, majestically he snorted once again, turned and looked back once again and plunged into the foliage.

My wife’s eye’s said it all, “How could you miss at that distance? Even I could have hit that!!”

And to add insult to injury, another buck would come out two hours later, turn broadside, and invite a take down shot. You guessed it; I took the shot…and missed.

Dumbfounded I headed back to our agreed on meeting point where I knew Richard would be waiting. My hunting buddy was as dependable as the dawn and a crack shot. He would have the answer. Shoving aside the embarrassment, I described the morning to him. “Let’s see,” was his only response as he grabbed my gun, set up a target and went out 50 yards and rested the rifle on a shooting brace he zeroed in and fired.

14 inches wide right. He adjusted and took another shot. 10 inches low. Adjusting several clicks he took aim and fired once more. 11 inches low and to the right.

And so it went for a full box of shells. What in the world was wrong? Were we both blind as a bat? Should we give up hunting?!
And that’s when Richard said, “Maybe I should check the mount.”

If only he had said that 15 cartridges ago! He found that the mounting was loose and regardless how well we thought we were aiming, the loose mount moved just enough to throw every shot off…and in a different direction!

Lesson learned, at a high expense. You can think you’re aiming well. You can be careful and intentional in you aim of where you’re headed and the action you’re wanting to take. BUT, if there are loose points in your life, when you “fire,” no matter how we intentioned you aim, you’re likely to miss. And the cost could break your heart.

So, before you take “aim” in life, be sure your convictions, values and beliefs are screwed down securely. Don’t worry as much about what you “feel” as what you know God’s word says. Be sure that nothing is “loose” in your life that could throw you aim off, regardless of how well your “aim” might be!

SO, HOW WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE MOST HELPFUL IN KEEPING THE AIM OF YOUR LIFE ACCURATE? AND WHAT ARE THE GREATEST DANGERS YOU’VE THAT CAUSES LIFE’S AIM TO BE MISSED?