The Most Incredible Experience on Earth

The shark just came out of nowhere. We were 50 miles out of Key West with 3 speared fish tied to our waist as we came to the surface. The ominous shape of a large hammerhead shark rose out of the blue water and began to circle while waited for the boat to come get us from more than a quarter mile away. It was obvious the blood from the fish attracted the predator. My heart raced while my worst fears were right in front me.


The wait was only minutes but seemed like an eternity bobbing on the surface. My dive buddy and I were back to back keeping one eye on the shark and one for the rescue party. The dive boat quickly snatched us up from the crystal blue waters leaving the 10 foot hammerhead to drift away from where it came. While a number of years ago, it was an experience I won't soon forget. It makes for great story telling as many have not been face to face with a shark like that. Here 's the odd thing, it wasn't even close to the most incredible experiences of my life.

Another example of an incredible experience was in 2004 where I caught a wave surfing in Costa Rica that was more than a half mile long. We captured it on video surfing a river mouth spot called Boca Barranca that on occasion had a saltwater crocodile in the lineup. I have watched the video dozens of times remembering the rush of the wave, the fatigue in my legs and arms, and the elation when it was done. I feel blessed to have been afforded a trip like that and yet again it is still no where near the greatest experiences on earth.

Growing up an outdoors-man and ocean fanatic there have been so many amazing days in God's creation that I have been blessed to experience but there is one that tops them all. It is one that moves you from the moment you are in to remembering the One that created it all. The greatest experience on Earth for me is that of worship.

So now your thinking, "you are one of those religious people"'. I  would say emphatically, yes, I have come to experience what I wish for everyone who continues to search for meaning and happiness in this world. The truth is no amount of money can buy it, no shark can scare it into you, no earthly rush can stir it within you. Yet so many turn away from the one thing that can bring peace and a transformed life and that is a relationship with God through his son Jesus.

I once had a friend that years before who took his own life said to me, "that if God really exists he needs to come down and talk with me face to face." I only wish I had been better prepared to help him like I am today. The truth is, we can do something better than that. We can invite God to live in us everyday, cleanse us of our past sin,  guide our steps, and not fear our future like millions do everyday. I am happy to share my testimony with anyone who is searching to fill that God shaped hole that cannot be filled with anything else.

For those that believe in Christ but regularly avoid church I want to encourage to you experience worship through a new set of eyes. It is not about how entertained we are in worship at our churches, or how well the sermon was presented. (Certainly if the teachings of your church are not biblically centered I would encourage you to experience one that is). But, rather the real challenge to the  most incredible experience on earth is a matter of the heart. Worship is not about what the church brings to you but what you bring to God as a part of His church. Worship is a gift on our part. I have seen so many people walk away from the church saying they can worship when and how they want. It is true God is with us wherever we go as believers, but there is something missed when we don't gather as a body.

In this past decade there have been many a Sunday where tears streamed down my face from the act

of worship, being in the presence of believers and my hands raised to God. Yeah, I am that guy

too. If that makes you uncomfortable, think about  the crazy things people scream and do for NFL

games which is deemed socially acceptable, but you raise your hands in church in respect of the Creator of the Universe and that would seem down right nuts to some. While the blue Detroit Lions guy gets a lot of attention and football is fun, it is not even on the same scale as a day with God surrounded by friends and family that are all there to worship. My favorite days are some of the father/son and father/ daughter camps I have been to over the years like Camp Shamineau in MN where hundreds of us gather for time with our kids. When we meet for chapel and all sing our hearts out to our God there is nothing like it on earth.

Collossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

I am not sure what your journey with God and the Sabbath have been but here are some things that I have lost precious days to. Looking back I would have traded knowing what I know now. See if my past list of reasons hits home:

• Travel sports with our kids
• Hobbies like golf, fishing, surfing, etc
• Cabin on the lake or second homes vacations where we did not worship that week 
• Another day to catch up on work
• Home improvement 
• Lawn and garden 
• I just don't feel like going
• Sleep

It seems the more I age and grow in my faith, the more I have to challenge myself to how I was prioritizing over the years. If you are feeling pressure by my list, don't.  I am guilty of them all. What I am saying is I have come to find out how much I was missing and want the same for you. Nothing is better than worshiping the God who created us and his Son Jesus who died for our salvation.

If you struggle to find that experience or never been invited to place that feel God's presence in worship let me invite you to my church in the Columbus, OH area.

My family and I attend the 10 AM worship weekly at Grace Polaris Church 8225 Worthington-Galena Rd. Worthington, OH 43085

• We would be happy to meet you there at the front and save you a seat for an opportunity to open your heart up to the most incredible experience on earth. Just leave a comment on this blog and we will make arrangements to meet you.  

As always in my blogs here are a few practical things I have come to understand over the years you can do to bring an act of worship:


Slow down: Don't try to park on the edge of the road so you can be the first out of the service. The foyer of the church was designed in many cases as a place to fellowship.  For years I made that mistake where I rushed home and missed out.

Sing Out Loud: I have heard frogs sing better than me but you will hear my voice among those crying out. It is an gift back to God. This part for me is where there have literally been  tears in praise to my God. If that wigs you out, let me tell you, it is the best feeling there is. No-one has ever judged me for that.

Use Your Gifts: If your church has multiple services like ours, serve at one and attend the other. You may not play an instrument or sing, but your talents can be used somewhere. When we lived in NC and I did not know where to start in serving so I used to set up chairs with 4 other guys before service each Sunday. The worship band would always be practicing while we were working and became my own personal worship session. I want to send a shout out and thank you  out to Triangle Community Church there in Raleigh, NC and Friendship Community Church in Shakopee, MN. We miss you all.

• Psalm 150:1-6 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Give Thanks in Prayer: No matter your circumstance bring your cares before the Lord, thank Him for the day and for Christ who ransomed us away.

If you find yourself not able to attend service on a regular basis I would share with you my life verse from the book of Colossians that reminds us how we are to live in the world as believers.

Colossians 3:17New International Version (NIV)

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Sport of Fishing...Used for Eternal Purposes???

The greatest gift ever given is that of grace and salvation through Jesus Christ. It is a gift that cannot be earned, but only freely accepted.

In my experience the challenge for many who accept grace then becomes what to do with that gift and where to go from there. A bible centered church is the first step to connect and prayer time with God is essential... As we all continue to grow, you may come to realize God has provided each of us as the body of Christ with specific talents and passions in life that when focused can serve Him. This blog is designed to help people accelerate and ecourage them in their journey with some simple ideas on how to make every day count for eternity. What are your passions in life...?

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him


So today let's talk about the sport you may have not considered for kingdom purposes: Fishing.



It happened when I least expected it. It was June of 2010 and the Musky Fishing Opener in Minnesota. After two hours of nonstop casting giant lures without even a follow, I threw in the towel. I picked up my bass rod and decided to make things interesting. It was my seventh cast that it happened. The previous six had all caught a largemouth bass and put a smile back on my face. But when the seventh hit the water the monster fish knocked my Rapala 2 feet into the air. Based on the explosion in the water I knew it wasn't a bass and quickly reeled in, set down the bass rod and picked up the giant lure again. As soon as it splashed down I could see the fish coming like a torpedo just under the surface. It was the first musky I had ever hooked and eventually landed. I was fortunate that my good friend Tom was able to capture the entire event on video. Muskie Goes Airborne Video Link

It's just one of those moments I will never forget experiencing God's creation. While every fisherman dreams of a fish of a lifetime like that, the question becomes what happened throughout that day that could make a difference for the Kingdom of God?

I know what you're thinking, that this is going to be some analogy about fishing for men. You would only be partially right. Being on purpose and being available is what God asks of us in respect to the great commission and commandment to share the incredible news of Jesus. Apply that availablity to a day on the water and you will be amazed how God can use you.

If you are fisherman who loves the great outdoors and have accepted Christ into your life you know that the Holy Spirit lives inside you each day. Here some thoughts on how to honor Him and impact the world around you:



1. Begin the day in prayer. Here is one that I say repeatedly:

Lord thank you for the beauty of this day and a chance to experience your creation. We invite you into this time and ask if there might be any work for us to do that you reveal it to us along the way. We ask for your watchful hand to be over us and our families as we travel on the water and that our attitudes and spirit might reflect the incredible gift you have given us. Be a part of this fellowship and time on the water. Thank you for the provision and the opportunity to be able to fish today. We give you praise and glory and ask that you help us catch some of the beautiful creatures you've created.

You really can't go wrong with inviting the Lord into the beginning of the day. And yes I'm sure there are some of your friends who don't know Christ, but take the time and pray to start the day even at the risk of making someone uncomfortable. The goal isn't necessarily to influence them but rather to honor God. To this day I have yet to have somebody call me out saying my prayer was inappropriate or offensive. Take the risk. Invite God into your day of fishing.



2. Let the glory of the Lord shine through you. If you're like me your day of fishing starts with some sort of trip either to the bait shop or a gas station for a hot cup of coffee and bait. Remember this gift of salvation that you've been given as you walk through the door and interact with all kinds of people. You might be tired and it might be early in the morning but say "good morning," open the door for others, and stay upbeat. Your most powerful tool is a smile, and yes men, we can smile. Watch the effect that it has on people.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.




3. Demonstrate the patience the Lord has shown with you to others. Boat Launches are stressfull enough with people trying to back their boats in and get their kids safely aboard without laying on the horn to speed them along. I am always amazed at the danger and pressure other people create at the launch and it certainly isn't going to bring anyone closer to Christ. Jump out, offer to help where appropriate. Wish people a blessed day on the water. It may seem simple but people will see something different in you.





4. Obey the law. Imagine you're one of your children or unsaved friends and the first thing that they see you do is go over your limits or break one of the fishing laws. What is that saying about who we are in Christ. If we want to draw people to Him, then we just have to be better and different. If you think the law is wrong then get involved through the legal process to change it, but don't lead people astray. Nothing causes people to question your faith more than someone who is not living it out. I once had a business friend on my boat one day when he told me he would never become a Christian because they were the biggest hypocrites he had ever seen. While none of us are perfect, working towards becoming more Christlike is critical for others to see.

Titus 3:1-3 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another





5. Lose the potty mouth. I have to admit I fail once in a great while with this one. But it was the Colossians verse that really convicted my heart to change. Last year one of my good Christian brothers stepped on one of my expensive rods and snapped it while we were fishing. My reply was a four letter word. I later went back and apologized to my friend. This isn't about being holier than thou, but trying to be more Christlike. Have you ever noticed some of the most foul mouthed people will try and clean it up when there's a Pastor or Reverend at an event? If we have accepted Christ than the Holy Spirit lives within us each day. God sees and hears everything we do. Making it pleasing and honoring to Him is the first step, as well as the impact it has on others who see the difference in your life. Foul language is probably one of the worst witnesses we as Christians fail at daily. Would you believe someone's life is transformed if they're swearing every other sentence???

Colossians 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.


While these may not seem dramtic ways to witness to people, just spend a day being on purpose for the Lord in your fishing. The blessing for me has sometimes simply been enjoying the creation He has made. Most other days, He has divine appointments waiting. What does He have in store for you?



Here are some other ways that you can be on purpose in making a difference in eternity while fishing:
1. If you own a boat, and your church has an annual silent auction, offer a fishing trip to be bid on. Even though I own a boat, my wife for Father's Day bid on a trip offered at our church in 2012 to go cat-fishing with a gentleman who offered his time and resources to serve the Lord. I had never been catfishing on the river and it was a blast. It inspired me so that this year I'll be doing the same around offering a bass fishing trip for auction.

2. Invite a neighbor and their children that perhaps you don't know that well for a day on the water. Live out your faith planting the seeds of grace God has given you by serving them a day to remember.

3. Host a fishing tournament to gather some of the men/women in your community for a cause like missions work. You may ask your pastor or another influential christian leader to share their testimony and pray for the event before the kickoff. (Make sure you fill out any necessary paperwork as most local tournaments do require a permit.)

4. Take a pastor fishing. Never underestimate the need of the pastoral staff to have a break and experience what you may be able to provide.

5. Start a fishing blog to inspire people!

There are all kinds ways to serve, but doing it with something that you're passionate about and the Lord has given you skill to do is one of the great joys in this life. Be on purpose and may God bless your week!