January 17, 2020 – Click here to listen
I’m happy to report we made it back from the Bahamas in good shape. We caught a boatload of fish and had more fun and laughs than a barrel of monkeys. Much to the chagrin of my highly competitive fishing partner, as luck would have it, yesterday morning I caught the largest Wahoo of the trip.
He could not let it rest and when he caught his second small fish, he immediately started bragging about having caught the most. Both were significantly smaller than mine and I told him I caught Wahoo and his were so small they should be called Wah’s. He got two and that constituted a Wah-Wah. His comeback was not fit for print. My other friend caught the largest yellow eye snapper when we began fishing for snapper . . .
Then my friend caught the smallest snapper and in fact it was so small he would not allow a photo of it. We laughed up a storm on that one.
We headed home late yesterday and made it just fine. When we arrived, I saw one of my neighbors walking his dog and he saw us cleaning up my boat and fileting the fish. He asked how we did, and I told him great. He’s a chef and owns a seafood restaurant in Jupiter and volunteered to cook for us one night. I gave him the thumbs up and am already licking my chops.
I say all this to make the point that it is wonderful having good friends. I did not have a single friend until I was 24 years old. I was lonely and had no one to share my good times or bad. The Bible encourages us to have friends and even suggests how to make them. It states that in order to have friends, we must be friendly ourselves. I’ve moved six times in the last two and a half years. When I arrive at a new place, I immediately try to find friends. Many of my neighbors tell me that they have never met the person living next door. My wife and I are hosting a party soon for the entire neighborhood in an effort to meet more friends. We are putting invitations in every mailbox in our neighborhood.
I highly suggest that you meet some folks at church and volunteer for something. My wife and I are going to an all-day meeting called the Journey at church this Saturday just to learn about all of the programs and activities they have. We are sure to meet some new friends there. If you are a fisherman like me look to meet people at the tackle store or on the dock. If you bowl, at the bowling alley; golfers at the clubhouse or at the range. If you play cards, go find a place and some folks to play cards with.
I try not to be judgmental when trying to make friends, hopefully the experience will be mutually beneficial in dealing with my own faults. It isn’t always easy to just go up to someone and introduce yourself, but I urge you to try it. You will not regret it. Most everyone I’ve introduced myself to is highly receptive. When you make friends reach out to them. You may get tired of always being the one who initiates the call or plans the activities, but what the heck it’s better than sitting at home watching the “One-eyed God” television bored silly of fuming at the Democrats.
God doesn’t want you to be lonely. Ask Him to help you grow into the type of person who can be a good friend. Then take the initiative to reach out, and you’ll discover many opportunities to develop godly relationships. Beware that you don’t let them lead you astray. 1 Cor. 15:33 we are warned: Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” My fishing buddy for example is an atheist, and he drinks quite a bit, but he doesn’t lead me astray I try and lead him to the light and that isn’t a Bud Lite, but I’m strong enough in my faith to stand my ground.
Job 2:11
When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!