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I admire you for having this vision and I hope and pray that it will be His Will to go forth with this plan. Disregard any negative feedback you may receive on this and any changes to your plans that are offered because if this is His Will, it will all work out as planned. If I see you on any river I am fishing, I WILL stop and spend some time with you and Him. I think you will be surprised at how many visitors you will receive if this all goes as planned. I think you already know that this path will not be smooth and there will be some obstacles in the path, but, He had the same obstacles with His Son. Where Believers gather He will be there. May God be with you and guide you.
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Warren
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OK, I'll be the monkey wrench in the works for you here. I'm not a Christian so I'll be a different voice. I think part of what you're trying to do is attract people who are not yet believers to come hear your spiritual leadings. Sounds like a cool plan. But I have to tell you that when I read your description of your tent I first thought that it was way over the top and I'd be repelled by what looked like (without meeting the person first) someone who would be at best heavy-handed and at worse, dangerous.
Here's my suggestion: Less is more. I think that if you painted the fish symbols on the tent and sat out front with a pot of coffee, a campfire, and a New Testament sitting out somewhere that people would be more likely to approach you. A friendly, "Good morning. Want some coffee? If you'd like to talk about fishing or Jesus, just let me know. Got any questions.. just let me know." You could have some tying equipment and give away flies that match the hatch instead of expensive rods. You could have some religious books and some fly fishing/ tying books sitting around. You could even have a second set of tying equipment and teach people how to tie flies while you talk with them. I don't know anything about evangelicalism so this might not work for you but as a nonbeliever, it would be a more attractive sight for me to come upon and I'd be MUCH more likely to approach you and stick around for a discussion.
I'll give you a personal story that can illustrate this method. I'm a hobby woodworker and when I wanted to learn how to turn bowls, I looked around to find a teacher. I found a guy who is a Mennonite and who gave day-long classes. I emailed him to ask if he could fit me in. He mentioned that he was a Mennonite and that the day would include some discussion of our faiths over lunch and that I was welcome to ask any questions. There would be no pressure. I was intrugued so I joined him for the day. He's the best bowl turner I've ever met, a wonderful teacher, and a deeply Christian man. I now know much more about his faith and have gained a new respect for Christianity. It's hard to beat that result and it was from a very lowkey approach.
Hope this helps.
Diane
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Public Land?
Private property?
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"too much of anything is bad, but too much whisky is just enough"
Mark Twain
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Lotech
We all have things in our hearts that we feel the need to do, and you are lucky to have aquired the wisdom to know what it is your heart is saying, and following it. If you are sincere, and I do not doubt that you are, I think you will find what your heart is looking for. I am sure there will be some that do not appreciate what you are doing, but the same can be said about politics, college football, and even fly fishing. It is our differences that brings us all together, and those differences that make this country great.
Just be sure to water proof the stitching you are planning on your tent! http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
Enjoy our time camping, Jeff
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Tis my time on the water, in the mountains, and in my driftboat where I can see things as they really are.
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I like Diane's advice.
I would visit you. Every "preacher" needs a "heathen" to "work" on. I'll be the heathen. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
Mom, used to tie us to the bed post by our ties on Sunday morning so's we could not get away before church. Since slipping the noose (hers), we prololy need a new noose (His).
..........lee s.
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Hey Lotech,
Actually, you CAN tent camp year-round. I do it all the time here in Kansas where we get all sorts of weather, some of it quite nasty. I camp every month of the year, and have for almost 20 years.
If camping -- being outdoors in nature -- is something that really fires your rocket, then if you don't mind being given a bit of advice I recommend retiring that huge wall tent and switching to a good quality 2-person or 3-person nylon backpacking tent.
If you have a wife or girlfriend, or a best fishing buddy, someone who you like hanging out with outdoors, probably a 3-person tent is the way to go as it gives you plenty of space to sleep in plus there's ample room for your gear underneath the rain fly's vestibule and also inside the tent.
The space and weight savings you'll enjoy using a 3- or 4-season backpacking tent will let you gear up in other important areas (particularly warm clothing and wind & rain clothing) so that year-round camping becomes not merely do-able but extremely enjoyable.
A word about campfires: My canoe camping buddies and I, we rarely build a campfire anymore. Instead, we cook our meals on single-burner backpacking stoves. During meal preparation, eating and after cleanup we stay seated in lightweight folding camp chairs, sitting in a loose arrangement that lets us visit quitely while looking up into the stars and listening to the night's wildlife activity around us. That sort of relaxation and liberation isn't possible with a campfire for two reasons: you're a slave to the fire, constantly feeding wood into it; also, your night vision is greatly impaired by the firelight in front of you. (And don't even get me started on how the smoke chases me wherever I move to...)
One last thing: Why do you want to go camping, stencil biblical things on your tent, sit around outdoors talking with people about Jesus, etc. "only if God approves"? I don't understand. This is America, amigo, not the old Soviet Union. Whether you're Christian, Buddist, Athiest, Hindu, Muslim, Agnostic, Jewish, Pagan, whatever...in America you can go camping and do such legal and decent things anytime you want to.
If you ask me, I'd say the fact that you even want to do those things at all shows you got "pre-approved" a long time ago.
Joe
"Better small than not at all."
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Joe
My first thought after reading your thread was to just let it go bye. But oh well.
First of all I can understand before you begin any ministry you would want to lay it before God. Not so much for approval, but to see if that is where you are being led.
I have to agree with Diane in that all of those symbols and such might lead non believers and some believers as well, to think you are off your nut. It's tough being in the world but not part of the world. But I think we need to be careful as to how the world sees us.
Case in point is Pat Robertson's recent pronouncement that the reason Prime Minister Sharon had a stroke is because of God's wrath. If he is not already off his nut, people will sure think he is. I do.
But anyway, good luck with your endeavor.
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Very good idea. Wish we were not located on opposite ends of US. I would be honored to sit by your campfire. As some have mentioned you might want to be careful not to go overboard on size or number of symbols, might scare some off. If your plan comes to fruitation please either mention so on site or ship me an e-mail. I will try to provide a decent amount of flies for you to give out. Have a feeling my fishing friends will want to be involved also. Bruce
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Lotech,
There is some wonderful advice on this post. I am very impressed with Diane's approach, particularly for a "non-Christian"! She is absolutely correct. Be inviting, not overpowering. Honestly, as a Christian, I would likely not approach a camp with such "in-your-face" advertising.
Nevertheless, a ICHTHMYS (SP?) symbol, a campfire and a cup of joe presentation would hook me in an instant!
Also, I think the idea of tying flies and teaching or simply joining others is a great way to visit, earn respect and open doors.
I have been a youth leader for many years (in the past) wich always involved camping trips. We would always draw a crowd during music and worship time and even had opportunities to share the Gospel. So I think that your mission is very sound and God can do a mighty work. I also agree with the post related to your will vs. God's. Be very perceptive here. Flood the idea with prayer and seek the advice of as many spiritually mature leaders that you can for prayer and affirmation.
Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." That doesn't mean that God will give you what you want if you are delighted in Him... It means that if you are delighted in Him, He will give you the desires to desire. All of which will bring honor and glory to Him.
I want to invite you to consider a "camping" trip to Alaska... this is a mecca of salmon fishers in June and July. I believe that you would find a great mission field (not too far from WA). If you get up this direction, let me know and I'll do what I can to support you.
I would also like to hear about your progress, either on this forum or by email...
Blessings,
Ed
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At first sight it would put me off as just too much. To me it would seem like biblethumping. If I knew you personally I would tell you the same thing. What if a person was not interested in your religious intent, but really needed a rod?