Counterfeits

Here's the deal - I was scheduled off on Wednesday and my plan was to drop my son off at school a little early and head over to a lake just east of Nashville. I would fish for a few hours before heading off to the golf course where I would meet up with my good friend, Gary for eighteen holes. Everything was going well as I hit Fate Sanders boat dock right on schedule - just as the fog was beginning to lift from the surface of Percy Priest Lake. I knew exactly where I wanted to fish, what I was fishing for, and what I wanted to use to catch them. Normally a largemouth-bass fisherman, yet this morning I was in pursuit of striped-bass, and let's be honest here, the larger the better. There had been reports spread throughout the region the previous week about big stripes being caught early in the morning and I was hoping to get in on the action, even if I was arriving at the party a little late.

The boat trip back up to the bridge that I had crossed in my truck thirty minutes earlier was a cool one, for even in mid-June the air is still a little chilly coming off the lake at eight o'clock. I fished my designated area for almost two hours with little luck. Reluctantly I pulled up my trolling motor and headed off in search of a plan B. Since I was so convinced I would strike it rich around the bridge I never thought much about what to do if it didn't work out. Ever have a situation in your life like that? I slowly steered the boat up lake and began to fish an area I normally would try later in the year when the water temperatures have dropped a bit. It wasn't long until this decision was rewarded with a hunk of a fish on the other end of my line.

It took nearly twenty minutes to coax my catch up to the surface and then into the net, but I did it. My knees were shaking from the excitement. Not from the size of the fish, for I had caught several bigger ones over the years, but more so from the species this fish appeared to be. (Insert fishing lesson 124 here) You see, in the striped-bass family there are several variations. There's the smallish yellow-bass, the bit larger and most commonly caught white-bass, the potentially monster-size stripes,and then there is the hybrid-bass (which is a cross between the white-bass and the stripes.)

Trust me when I tell you, over the years I have spent a great deal of time on several lakes pursuing all of these species when the largemouth weren't cooperating, so I am very familiar with the distinguishing differences of each. The fish I had just caught was a white-bass, and a very large I might add. The stripes on its side and the rows of what we call teeth (not really teeth) inside its mouth all confirmed this was indeed a white-bass. I weighed it on my small hand-held scale and then placed it in the livewell. I went back to fishing after retying my knot but was so distracted by my catch that I couldn't concentrate. Because I wasn't just a fisherman, but also a student of the sport I knew pretty much what the state and world record weights were for most species that I regularly caught, and on this morning I was pretty certain that the white-bass swimming in my livewell was a new overall weight classification record for the state of Tennessee. Yeah for me!

I pulled up my trolling motor once again and headed off for the certified scales of Fate Sanders Marina. I got the assistance of one of the locals hanging out and we weighed the fish. It ended up being a few ounces short of what my scales showed, but nevertheless it was still most certainly a state record catch. Three maybe four fishermen confirmed what I already knew and congratulated me over and over. The marina owner took a picture of me and my record-breaking catch, then we called the Nashville branch of the state wildlife resource office to see what I needed to do next. After getting a hand-written note certifying the weight of my fish signed by the boat-dock proprietor and several of the other witnesses I loaded my boat onto the trailer and sped off toward Nashville to receive the final confirmation.

I didn't expect to receive any monetary prizes but I was looking forward to the notoriety that would certainly come my way. Not because I wanted the media attention, but because for me it would be the confirmation to my friends and family that I was indeed a skilled fisherman. It's strange how we go through periods of immaturity where we need such external confirmations in whatever area of life we're involved with, isn't it? I had fished for years (averaging thousands of hours spread across hundreds of days with catches of more than a thousand fish per year) and I was very schooled concerning fish species and record weights yet never before or afterwards have I ever been involved with such an ordeal of excitement as this fish was bringing on this unusual June morning.

Arriving at the TWRA office in Nashville I was greeted by a couple of curious state employees. Within mere seconds of examining my catch we had confirmation of the fish species - and it was not a white-bass, yet rather a hybrid-bass. My excitement and joy immediately turned to disappointment and embarrassment. The wildlife officers reassured me that it was a common mistake because at times some rarely seen hybrids can take on all of the similarities of a white-bass and very few of the striped-bass distinguishing features – thus leading to the confusion of these convincing counterfeiters.

Whatever! I should have known better...

As I was getting back into my truck I finally remembered I was supposed to be at the golf course by now. This all happened BCP (before cell phones) so I had no way of contacting Gary directly to let him know what was going on, so by the time I got to the country club he had given up on me and left. What a day! I was worn out mentally by everything that had transpired and so I simply drove back home to Franklin with my tail tucked tightly between my legs.

Even today I cross paths with many counterfeits trying to fool me into getting excited (past the point of sound reason) once again. Maybe no longer by slick looking hybrid-bass, yet more so by people, relationships, half-truths and perverted versions of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So many doctrines and written words that may even be created by well-intended men and women, yet still off-base when compared to the solid truth of His word. Ever noticed how easy it is to get caught up in the "feel good" of a watered down version of the Bible that so many fall prey to everyday? Have you also noticed how it seems we eagerly seek out and love the scriptures that are filled with only the good stuff, and avoid anything that reminds us of the discipline we must develop in our lives to live a life pleasing to God? I have! Counterfeit versions of our faith.

I find it more evident than ever before that so many airwaves, pulpits, offices, and households have become full of those that desire appeasement, and those seeking personal comfort. Full of those excited about their catch of a hybrid-bass which looks almost identical to a state record white-bass. More so, I think our lives can become engulfed in relationships that are counterfeit as well. Those that start out looking like the Real Deal, yet soon we discover that we've been fooled again by a crafty counterfeit once again. How does this happen, and happen so often for some of us? I think it often happens because we're so eager to find the “right relationship” the right friendship, the right marriage, the right partner for ministry that we become extremely gullible to the deceptions of the enemy.

So how do we defend ourselves against such vulnerability? We must be armed with the arsenal of weapons God has given us in His word, and not just with other's interpretations of His word. We must be fully cloaked in His armor, His righteousness. And finally we must allow ourselves to be defended through our relationship with Him which comes through our consistent prayer-life, and the presence of the great counsel which He gives us in the Holy Spirit.

This journal item is beginning to take on the sounds of religious stuff, isn't it? I guess that's true to a point.

The truth is, is that we don't find protection or security from being fooled by the counterfeits of this world through “religion” we find it in Him. His spirit can be right there in the boat with us at all times. He takes a look at our catch and will quickly tell us if it be a white-bass, or a hybrid. It'll save us a lot of time and energy running across the lake in search of certified scales and the acknowledgment, and praises of man. It'll save us the embarrassment and disappointment we'll surly face when the real experts examine our catch and let us know we've been fooled by a counterfeit once again. And yes, maybe most of all it'll save us from missing out on the really important appointments in our lives - such as being able to spend an afternoon playing golf with a good friend that you may never see again.

You see, it wasn't but a few days later I left my job at the hospital in Franklin, and moved off to another city for a new career in retail management. For whatever reason I never saw Gary after that day. Even after twenty years I still miss the rounds of golf and the weekend fishing trips I shared with my friend Gary Martin. He wasn't one of those counterfeit friends that was only around during the good times. What I loved about him was that he would always be there for me during the tough times as well. I still hate the thought that on that well planned out June morning I got caught up chasing after notoriety and confirmation for my life all because I was fooled by a counterfeit, and it resulted in me missing out on an opportunity to spend time with a true friend.

You may remember a month or so ago I wrote an item entitled “Ya-Ya's” which was about the importance of true friends, and I received several notes from the Ya-Ya's of my life. The one I was touched most by came from a friend, Wade Hawkins who reminded me that despite the many miles that are between us nowadays his prayers for me still keep us closely connected.

I find more so today than ever before I have a true need for Realness in my life, such as friendships with people like Wade Hawkins and Gary Martin. For such things as the Truth that only comes from His word, and the guidance that comes from the Holy Spirit which steers our lives clear of the suffocating grasp of the many counterfeits that make up the world we live in.

Ask yourself this, is there anything in your life that you suspect maybe a counterfeit? Is there a relationship you're in that you know isn't the real thing? Is there an interpretation or belief about who God is or who we are that doesn't line up squarely with His word? If so, then let me suggest this (for myself as much as for anyone else) – stop reading this blog-page right now and ask Him to reveal to you not only the truth of this matter, yet the way He would have you go to rid your life of these counterfeits.

I'll close this item with a simple reminder from an old fisherman that is still learning everyday how to apply all of the experiences life has thrown his way - "beware of counterfeits!"

doug

The Deadliest Catch

It was a birthday celebration so there was lots of food, drinks, and fun for everyone. Best of all the menu included all types of seafood (my second favorite food group, right behind desserts) so I ordered the steamed clams. When my bucket of sea plunder came I immediately dug in, cracking open clam after clam. I was wolfing them down like there was an endless supply, and no tomorrow, but about halfway through the bucket I ate one that tasted a bit nasty. I paused for a second to consider spitting it out and then I thought naw, that would be rude, so I simply sucked it down and took a big ol' sip of brew. I went right back to swallowing the steamed clams until the bucket was completely empty. Looking around like a cat that just swallowed a bird, I remember thinking I would be satisfied laying down in the corner of the restaurant and taking a nap while awaiting the cake with the candles to get there.

Home again I went straight off to bed, but two hours later I could be found sitting on the toilet with a small bathroom trashcan in my hands. Steam clams and birthday cake were violently coming out of both ends of me. I sat there for nearly six hours (this is not an exaggeration) before I was able to get my clothes on and make it down to the emergency room. In the process I had lost nearly eight pounds since dinner and now my body was empty of everything but a terrible pain. The obvious diagnosis was food-poisoning from the bad clams. The treatment plan included three more days of hospital stay until the folks that were trained to handle such things could get the yuk out of my system and the good stuff to stay in. Sixteen pounds lighter I left a weakened, but cleaner body than when I walked through their door.

Though I admit I would really love to lose sixteen pounds over the next three days I don't want to go through another food-poisoning situation like the one I went through in the late 1980s.

A few years back I was visiting the home of a friend who worked for the local cable company. As a "perk" from his employment he and his family received free-of-charge every channel known to exist on cable television. He convinced me to stick around and watch a recorded episode of the first season of the show “The Deadliest Catch” and that was when (excuse the pun) I got hooked on the show. We sat on the sofa rest the night watching episode after episode and with each one I became more and more intrigued. Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about. The characters and the drama on that show is so much more appealing than the number of king crab they drag in – isn't it?

Anyway, I got addicted to the show and have been a fan every since – though Dale and I haven't watched much of this new season, we'll get caught up with the rest of you over the next couple of months I suspect. It's funny to listen to fans of the show and hear as to who their favorite ship captain is and why. It varies as much as the choices of favorite NASCAR driver here in the south and if you don't have a clue as to what the heck I'm talking about – good for you. Your life is not lessened one bit by the lack of knowledge of either. But, if you do watch The Deadliest Catch show you know what I'm referring to when I talk of the differences in captain's styles of managing the boat's crew and their strategy to locate the mother-load of catches.

Some of the captains are low-key and very methodical in their decisions as to where they will invest their fishing time, and then others seem to be on the edge of a mental breakdown at all times. There are those that are quick to change strategies, and those that are ruthless commanders of their vessels. There are captains that seek advice, and there are those that ingest anything and everything into their bodies in order to stay awake 24/7 to keep control over everything and everybody. So much of real life can be seen in these few individuals that it's utterly appealing for me to watch and analyze.

With each new season there comes scenes of tragedy, despair and / or loss of life – thus the title “The Deadliest Catch.” It's the most hazardous industry (as far as the number of fatalities to workers is concerned) there is. The behavior that comes from the understanding the risks involved with their profession coupled with their desire to make as much money as possible in a two week period of time really ratchets up the ol' drama-meter. The lack of a sense of urgency about their work never seems to be at issue here as it does in so many other industries. These fellers seem to always be flat out getting-it while at sea, and as I said earlier, it can be addictive to watch this show - so be careful.

I think in some ways living the life of a true disciple of Christ could be just as hazardous of a career as the crab fishermen if we chose to go about it that way. Jesus became the first fatality statistic of this profession and moreover he called his followers to set aside their lives as well. Though he wasn't suggesting that anyone else join him in sacrificing their life to cover mankind's sin problem, he did say on several occasions that we need to be willing to lay down our own lives for a much greater cause.

Yet, have you ever noticed how some folks carry around this idea of being a martyr much more flamboyantly than maybe what Jesus had in mind here? You ever run across people that are maybe a little too willing to let you, and everyone else around them know just how much sacrificing they do on behalf of their family and friends or even for God's kingdom? Boy, I sure seem to run into a few of these self-promoting do-gooders every now and then.

I believe the end results of our life will determine just how deadly a catch we've become. It'll show if we've sought man's approval and praise, or if we saw God as our only audience member. It'll demonstrate whether we've given up our desires for treasure in this life in exchange for storing up crowns in the next? And it'll most certainly show if we've chosen a humble and encouraging way to deliver the message of the Good News, or if we've gone about our so-called ministries beating folks up with the Bible,or (more often than not) with our own opinion of how they should live their lives? It most certainly can become a deadliest catch scenario if we let it.

I often see Christianity today just as it was in yesteryear, like a bucket full of really good steamed clams, but it only takes one bad one to make a mess in the hallway leading from the bedroom to the bathroom in the middle of the night. For me anyway, so often the “bad ones” look alot like self-promoting, egotistical, self-righteous martyrs that tell all the world (saved and unsaved) just how much they do for the world. They proudly promote the fact they give much more money than everyone else in the church. They shout from the roof tops about the hours and hours of time they spend in prayer for others, and most of all they're never satisfied until they've spent time trying to fool everyone into thinking just how little credit or appreciation they want in return for their "uncommon" way of sacrificing.

La-t-da, somebody bake 'em a cake so we can celebrate their lives a little more....

I guess we've all worked around or served with folks over the years that never seem to find anything positive to say about anyone else out of fear that it'll somehow elevate someone up a little closer to their own level of self-proclaimed greatness.

I believe though that never is a man seen smaller than when he towers above those around him that he has belittled.

I think fear and an unhealthy perspective of one's self-importance can make someone look pretty unappealing, yet an attitude of encouragement and humbleness shines like a radiant light into a darkened world. I strive for the latter to be my calling card, but admittedly struggle with the former at times as well.

Now let me climb down off my soapbox and get back to The Deadliest Catch show for just a minute.

I would suggest this to be true (don't know for a fact, but I suspect it is) that when each of the captains of these featured vessels began their career there was never a thought that someday they would become some kind of “B-level” international celebrity. They simply went about choosing a way of earning a living for themselves and their family. After years and years of hard work for most of these guys they now find themselves being criticized, scrutinized, second-guessed, and over-evaluated to no end every week by millions of viewers that don't even come close to having what it takes to do the job of captaining a ship full of crab pods and minced bait fish in the mist of all the dangerous weather and elements.

I guess the same can be said with so many other professions and situations as well, including most pastors and baseball managers - folks that simply go about doing the best they can for all the right reasons. I believe the last thing we need in this world is another critic, another self-promoter, or another martyr with the wrong motivation. Just possibly we simply need a few more encouragers, and a few more people that are willing to sacrifice themselves for others without all the fanfare. And yes, just maybe we even need a few more folks that truly understand that to be a real Christian means to live their life in a way that actually mimics the life and characteristics of Christ himself.

Jesus talks about this on several occasions drawing into focus the difference between a right way to pray, offering up gifts, and how to live out the life of a disciple versus the ways that so many were already sick of some two thousand years ago. See, being a bad captain of a fishing vessel is a lot like being a bad clam, or a bad example of Christ, or a bad anything else. I believe the last thing any of us really want or need (especially those that are still struggling to find out exactly who Jesus Christ is in their lives) is the taste of a yucky, parasite carrying, infection-causing clam in this sometimes smelly bucket we call Life.

I for one will personally work on this area of my life again this week. I for one will pray that God helps lead me into a way of living that delivers me from falling into the many traps of my own accord. I for one want to become known as an encourager, yet also as an unknown selfless giver. I for one need to begin today loving, living, and praying with the sense of urgency of a king crab fisherman. And I for one, want to always remember the potential hazards of becoming one of the many deadliest catches of this world when my heart and actions doesn't line up with the examples Jesus himself gave us. Doug