FISH and FISHING

Lutheran Pioneers

For the Upper Midwest

Devotion

• Hats off

• Pay attention

• NO goofing around

• The teacher asked her kindergarten class what sound a duck makes. The little boy’s hand shot up. “Aflac!” he said. He wasn’t kidding either. That was the only sound he had ever heard a duck make. American Family Life Assurance Company execs would be proud of the little boy’s knowledge. They would be happy too.

Of course, we all know what the Government Employees Insurance Company’s little gecko says and how he says it. We even know the accent of the gecko . . . even a caveman knows this! How can we ever look at a gecko again without thinking of the cute little guy who brags about his company’s insurance?

So two insurance companies use a duck and a gecko to get you thinking about them and what they offer you. Their offers come at a price, of course.

FISH

• Another insurance animal

For two thousand years another group has been using a fish to remind people of their life assurance/ insurance plan. A fish! And this fish turns up in strange places. Some fashion the fish into gold designs and hang it around their necks. Others put the fish on their refrigerator doors. Probably most often you see this fish on someone’s rear bumper while you are waiting for the light to change.

FISH

• If you spoke Greek about two thousand years ago and someone said the names “Jesus, Christ, God’s Son, Savior” in that order, you might think of the Greek word ixthus or ichthus. Nevermind the spelling differences. It’s the same thing in Greek: “Fish!”

Fish in the bible• Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

• Luke 5:6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

• Mark 1:17“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

• Mark 6:41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, Please help us to remember that it is You who gave us rule over the fish in your creation. It is You who fed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. It is You who caused the nets of the disciples to overflow. It is You who commanded us to be fishers of men. Please help us to remember You as we learn about fishing and to always be willing to share your message of salvation. - Amen

Fish and Fishing

• Equipment– Hooks– Line– Rods or Poles– Reels– Bait– Lures– Bobbers

Hooks

Hooks

Line

Rods and Poles

Reels

Water

• Rivers – Lakes – Streams – Ponds

• The key is almost always - STRUCTURE

What is structure?

• Depth changes• Down trees – stumps• Weeds• Rocks• Man-made structure– Fish cribs– Piers– Standing boats

Bait

• There’s only three kinds• Live Bait• Worms – leeches – minnows etc

• Used to be Live bait (Dead Bait)• Artificial Bait– Lures and attractants

Live Bait

Flies – Jigs - Lures

Bobbers or Floats

Sinkers or

Weights

PrayerJesus, help our eyes to see, our salvation earned by Thee.Jesus, help our ears to hear, calls for help from far and near.Jesus, help our feet to go, in the way that Thou wilt show.Jesus, help our hands to do, all things loving, kind and true.Jesus may we helpful be, growing every day like Thee. Amen