This is this weeks Outdoor Truth with Gary Miller titled Table Rock Lake.

Outdoor Truths – Table Rock Lake

I just spent a week outside of Branson, Missouri in a spacious timeshare house overlooking Table Rock Lake. Table Rock is a beautiful man-made lake that has approximately 800 miles of shoreline. It is not only enjoyed by the locals and by thousands of recreational fishermen; it has also hosted many professional bass tournaments. If you look at an aerial map of the lake, you can see why it has the potential to hold many, and a diverse variety, of fish. It is also carefully managed by the fish and wildlife commission. Much like the lakes in my area, Table Rock Lake has many branches that weave throughout the landscape. Again, this is why the shoreline covers so many miles. It is also why so many people get to enjoy it. It is accessible from so many locations.
In contrast to this lake are the ones I visited a few years ago in the Boundary Waters wilderness area in Minnesota. The lakes there are more numerous but much smaller. They are more difficult to get to but the ones who make the trek can usually land some great fish that have had very little fishing pressure. Every fisherman longs to travel to that one place where, it seems, no man has gone before.
As I thought about this dichotomy, for some reason I imagined my church and even the gospel of grace found in Christianity. It is either characterized by effort and difficulty, where only a few can gain access or it is described as one where the span of her reach makes her easily accessible to all. Unlike any other religion, Christianity’s shoreline moves through every neighborhood. It doesn’t take specialized people or equipment to enjoy her waters. The effort to gain access is not made on the part of the recipient but it was made on the part of the One who provided the gift. And that’s exactly what grace is called – a gift, freely offered to everyone, everywhere. There are only 2 things one can do with a gift. He can accept it or reject it. Just like it would be a shame to have a house on the lake and never fish its waters; it would also be a shame to be offered such a gift as grace and never reach out and take it.

Gary Miller
gary@outdoortruths.org

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_{DISCLAIMER: The views, beliefs and opinions expressed in this article, Outdoor Truths, are those of Gary Miller and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs or opinions of Courageous Christian Father. Outdoor Truth’s is a syndicated article published in various newspaper and online sources and has been used on Courageous Christian Father with permission from Gary Miller. #OutdoorTruths}

About the Author

Gary Miller

Gary began pursuing his desire to write a newspaper column to hunters and fishermen that would lead them to contemplate their relationship with their Creator. The column was picked up by two newspapers. After these many years now, it covers much of the country not only through several newspapers but also through regional magazines and online. His writing provided opportunities to speak to these same hunters and fishermen at events such as Beast Feasts. The results were men giving their lives to Christ.
Even though he was not raised in a hunting or fishing home, Gary has followed his heart to the water and woods since he was a child. What started on the banks of the local canal catching carp, now extends to every part of his life as he aims outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen toward Christ.

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