“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8
A fellow Jesus guy and I were discussing our favorite hobby of target shooting when the idea hit… “why not start a group shoot?” The idea made me smile because in today’s world, a certain group of people want the eradication of guns. SO, like it or not, we naturally considered the politics of our hobby and if it was practical for a Christian group. It took 2 minutes to decide! Our first gathering at the new indoor gun range was last night! 11 people showed!
I had invited a High School student who was in JROTC. He had just graduated and I knew he would have a blast. He brought a friend! Another church member, brought a neighbor I had never met. Together, we all registered, made our way to the range and, in groups of 2 to a lane, started the fun. Even though our group didn’t have a name, we were a group!
Shooting is different than bowling or golf. In those groups, emphasis is mostly on scores…even when scoring against oneself. Shooting has that same kind of thing, but with an addition. A LOT of talk and show is about the equipment. “Hey… what are YOU shooting?” This question is most generally followed by a reveal… with the words,” let me show you…” and then… “Would YOU like to shoot it?” Sharing is big in this kind of group.
Tom’s friend was at the end and I HEARD what HE was shooting. If you shoot pistols, you probably already know. This .50 caliber cannon of a pistol is BIG…. LOUD and costs $1.00 just to pull the trigger. He let me take a shot and even recorded me on video.. Yes… it was a big deal!
The Bible, or Word of God, is sometimes referred to as a sword. It is the weapon of our warfare against evil. To wield it correctly means one has to KNOW it, spend time with it, practice using it and then execute it properly. It saves, protects, comforts and keeps us. God’s Word is also the name for His Son (John 1). It is both a tool AND a person!
Believers in Christ are called to unite ‘together’ with The Word as our center. The Word is NOT a toy or an icon. The Word is LIFE. After shooting I went to a fast food restaurant to get a sandwich. I asked the guy behind the counter, “so how are YOU doing?” He didn’t hesitate… “well you know… life!” My reply was from God… “As a matter of fact I am a MASTER at it! Why… are you a Jesus guy?” He said, “no… I meant life… like it’s ups and downs.” My reply was, “exactly!”
It is important to understand that life is a war. He knew it and so did I. The difference between he and I was, I had THE weapon… he did not!. I wanted to share mine! You know… show him, let him take a try to see if he might love it as much as I. He changed the subject. As I left, I could almost hear demons laughing at my loss in the conflict. But I know my similes.. AND my Master. So like the Terminator.. I made a promise… “I’ll be BACCCCCK!”
What weapon do YOU carry?