Dear Faith Family, 

And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men, (Matthew 4:19). 

There were four of us in a two-person apartment.  Boxes everywhere.  Stuff dared us to walk without tripping!  It was years ago.  My wife and I were helping our daughter and son-in-law pack up their humble abode in preparation for a move.  Can’t remember if we asked or if we were asked to go fishing.  Regardless, off my son-in-law and I went. 

The nearby Tennessee River fed a quaint little lagoon not far from the apartment.  Turns out it was full of fish.  With only the finest Walmart fishing gear in hand, we attacked the lagoon.  Vegetation occupied the top of the water from the bank of the lagoon to about ten or fifteen feet out from the shore.  We threw our clearance isle lures out beyond the vegetation.  And repeatedly, about the time the lure would reach the vegetation a largemouth bass would consume the lure. 

One angry bass smashed my lure and took it for a ride.  My reel wasn’t screaming.  It was grinding.  I don’t think it’s supposed to make that noise!  It was a stalemate.  So, I did what only skilled fisherman know to do.  I called for back up from my son-in-law and ran up the bank with a helpless rod and reel.  When the clump of vegetation made its way ashore, my son-in-law informed me that he didn’t think I had a fish.  And yet, wrapped neatly in a layer of vegetation was yet another healthy bass – premade sushi! 

A few finer points of fishing?  One.  If you’re going to catch fish, you need to be where the fish are.  In the apartment we caught nothing!  As a fisher of people, you need to be where the people are: gathering with family, connecting with co-workers, talking with other students, mingling with other shoppers. 

Two.  You don’t have to have the latest and greatest, most expensive fishing gear to catch fish.  We caught a catfish on a silver spoon lure that day!  Are there times that you avoid engaging with the “fish” because you don’t have the latest and greatest equipment or skill?  (I’m not telling you to not upgrade your equipment or your skill.)  Don’t wait.  Use what you’ve been given to catch fish today! 

Three.  You’re going to catch some limbs.  You’re going to lose some lures (at least I’ve heard that!).  But you’re not going to catch “fish” if you don’t fish!  Cast acts of kindness.  Speak out words of truth.  Look for opportunities (Divine appointments) to share the love of and the good news about Jesus! 

Four.  Follow Jesus!  That’s right.  He knows where the fish are.  He knows how to catch fish.  He even knows how to make you a fisher of men!  He’s fishing.  Follow His lead.   

Learning to follow Jesus, 

Pastor Karl