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"FOUR FISHING FAILURES!"MO.

A p r i l 6 , 1974
DFO NO. 533.
Some M i s - a d v e n t u r e s of a F l i r t y - F i s h ! T h e Four t h a t Got Away!
C o p y r i g h t e d August 1976 by t h e C h i l d r e n of God
CP 748, 00100 Rome, Italy

1. YOU CAN'T HOOK 'EM ALL! But

ting on the sidelines watching all
you stand a b e t t e r chance of doing
the fish go by and not really conso i f you obey t h e Fisherman! He
cerned whether they get any nibbles
knows b e s t . and he has a b e t t e r
or not! They are sometimes so lethview of t h e whole s i t u a t i o n from
argic they don't even notice the
h i s e l e v a t e d vantage p o i n t on t h e
bobbing of their floats or other
bank. He knows where t h e f i s h a r e ,
indications that the fish are inwhat they are and t h e b e s t way t o
terested or even actually nibbling!
b a i t them.
8. THE AMATEURS DON'T EVEN KNOW
2. BUT HE CAN'T DO A THING IF THE WHERE TO FISH o r where t h e f i s h a r e
BAIT IS UNWILLING t o be c a s t whero r how t o c a t c h them and w o u l d n ' t
ever he says o r t o obey him when
even know what t h e y ' d c a u g h t i f t h e y
she gets t h e r e . S h e ' s got to follow did c a t c h o n e ! Some do i t j u s t f o r
h i s advice i f s h e ' s going t o "catch the fun of i t and a c t u a l l y throw
men" with t h e love of God.
them back i n again a f t e r hooking
them, n o t c a r i n g what happens t o
3. PEOPLE MUST LEARN TO LOVE YOU
FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN LEARN TO LOVE them a f t e r w a r d . J e s u s s a i d , "Follow
me and I w i l l make you f i s h e r s of
YOUR GOD! The world-famed p e r s o n a l
e v a n g e l i s t Dr. Dwight L. Moody u s e d men" and "from h e n c e f o r t h ye s h a l l
c a t c h men".
to say that,
4. "THE ONLY BIBLE THE WORLD
9. WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF
READS IS BOUND IN SHOELEATHER!"
CATCHING MEN f o r t h e Lord, and we
MEANING YOU! But no m a t t e r how much mean b u s i n e s s ! We're n o t j u s t f o o l you love them and no m a t t e r how
ing around p l a y i n g games as a mere
much you want t o show them t h a t God interesting hobby or fascinating
l o v e s them and t h a t He l o v e s them
sport, but our life and living and
even t o t h e e x t e n t of meeting t h e i r their eternal future depends on i t !
d e e p e s t and g r e a t e s t n e e d s , whatWe're out to catch them for the
e v e r they may b e , u n l e s s you f i s h
Lord and His service and their own
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e F i s h e r m a n ' s wisdom good and to make them useful food
you can waste a l o t of time i n t h e
for others, so we're not about to
water without catching a t h i n g !
l e t them get away if we can possibly
help i t !
5 . SOME PEOPLE FISH JUST TO BE
FISHING, f o r t h e mere enjoyment of
10. WE LIKE TO MAKE EVERY DAY'S
t h e s p o r t o f i t a l l , w i t h o u t n e c e s s - OR NIGHT'S FISHING COUNT and come
a r i l y c a r i n g whether they catch any- back with r e s u l t s , n o t j u s t t a l l
thing o r n o t . So they j u s t use t h e
t a l e s ! We d o n ' t enjoy t a l k i n g about
b a i t t o t a n t a l i s e them and l i k e t o
t h e b i g ones t h a t got away. We l i k e
watch them churn the water, and then t o show you the ones we a c t u a l l y
l i k e to brag about a l l the b i g ones hooked and know t h e y ' r e going t o be
t h a t always got away.
more useful t o God from now on b e 6 . SUCH FISHERMEN JUST GO ALONG
cause of our love and H i s . So we're
FOR THE RIDE because they enjoy t h e not very proud of the b i g ones we
boat r i d e and t h e fellowship of
almost hooked o r could have hooked
o t h e r fishermen, and l i k e t o swap
but f a i l e d because of f o o l i s h n e s s
yarns even longer than any of t h e
and d i s o b e d i e n c e .
b i g ones t h a t got away!
1 1 . BUT WE HAVE ONE PROBLEM WITH
7. OTHERS JUST PREFER THE QUIET
THE BAIT i n o u r b u s i n e s s which most
peace and t r a n q u i l l i t y of the. r i v e r fishermen d o n ' t h a v e : The b a i t can
bank and the cool shade of t h e t r e e argue with us and can be r e l u c t a n t
for a frequent restful snooze, s i t - or s t a l l and delay, or refuse to be-

"FOUR FISHING FAILURES ! " M O .

6-4-74

DFO NO. 533

Page 2

so hooked h e ' l l t h i n k he c a n ' t

l i e v e and obey u n t i l the psychologl i v e w i t h o u t h e r . Sometimes s h e ' s
i c a l moment i s p a s t , the golden opp o r t u n i t y i s l o s t and t h e f i s h has
even s o s y m p a t h e t i c toward h e r p o swum on h i s merry way, l e a v i n g you
tential catch that she's afraid
high and dry with a b s o l u t e l y nothing he's too tired, that he needs to
to show for your wasted e f f o r t s .
get to bed but not her bed, even
over his protestations that he's
12. LET ME WARN YOU HERE THAT
EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF FLIRTY-FISH
feeling fine and can take i t !
BAIT NEEDS A GOOD FISHERMAN t o c a s t
17. SOMETIMES THESE ARE JUST
her i n t o the r i g h t w a t e r s , t o show
STALLS AND EXCUSES because s h e j u s t
her where t o go, c a l l the shots or
d o e s n ' t always enjoy g e t t i n g gobs i g n a l s and watch over h e r very
b l e d ! I t ' s a r e a l c r u c i f i x i o n and
p r a y e r f u l l y and guard h e r s a f e l y
i t ' s not altogether always pleasant!
while she o p e r a t e s e x a c t l y accordThere are some thorns and nails and
ing t o h i s i n s t r u c t i o n s and with
piercing points to endure, includthe s p l i t - s e c o n d timing t h a t i s ofing quite a few penetrations that
ten r e q u i r e d t o hook your f i s h a t
sometimes hurt, and she's not alj u s t the r i g h t moment and know how
ways that anxious to get penetrated!
to di g t h e hook i n !
18. BUT WE MUST DIE THAT OTHERS
13. IF SHE DOESN'T DO THIS, SHE'S
MAY LIVE: Die t o p r i d e , s e l f , r e p u GOING TO MISS A LOT AND LOSE A LOT
t a t i o n and sometimes even p e r s o n a l
OF FISH t h a t you've worked so hard
comfort and s a f e t y ! So i t ' s n o t
to snag. I t takes a l o t of p r a y e r ,
easy t o be b a i t . F l i r t y - F i s h i n g may
a l o t of r e a l thought" and planning
seem fun u n t i l you f i n a l l y g e t t h e
and p a r t i c u l a r l y a l o t of t o t a l and
p o i n t t h a t y o u ' r e probably going t o
i n s t a n t obedience when t h e time
wind up g e t t i n g s t u c k y o u r s e l f i n
comes.
a most humbling f a s h i o n , and t h e r e
14. BUT IF YOUR LITTLE BAIT GETS
can be some very e m b a r r a s s i n g moA LITTLE CONTRARY and s a y s , no, she
ments .
d o e s n ' t l i k e t h i s p a r t i c u l a r hook
19. ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS
or t h a t kind of a l i n e o r d o e s n ' t
IS WORRY about what o t h e r people
l i k e t o be displayed i n t h i s o r t h a t w i l l t h i n k . U n t i l y o u ' r e w i l l i n g
fashion o r c a s t i n t o those waters
l i k e J e s u s , t o make y o u r s e l f of no
with t h a t kind of f i s h , o r d o e s n ' t
r e p u t a t i o n , o r even a bad r e p u t a l i k e the looks of t h e one t h a t ' s
t i o n of hobnobbing with p u b l i c a n s
about t o swallow h e r and i n s i s t s on
and s i n n e r s and drunks and h a r l o t s
swimming in some o t h e r d i r e c t i o n
as J e s u s d i d , and being c a l l e d a
away from your t r a p y o u ' r e sunk!
w i n e b i b b e r , a g l u t t o n and demon15. OR MAYBE SHE THINKS YOUR TAR- p o s s e s s e d as J e s u s was, and having
GET LOOKS INEDIBLE o r u n d e s i r a b l e ,
your motives and good i n t e n t i o n s
or perhaps even so happy she t h i n k s
q u e s t i o n e d and your purposes i n
he d o e s n ' t need t o be caught and
doubt, y o u ' l l n o t be a very good
s h e ' d r a t h e r h e ' d j u s t swim away!
B a i t o r Fisherman e i t h e r o n e , and
Then she can make you l o s e a l o t of
had b e t t e r c o n s i d e r some o t h e r s a v a l u a b l e t i m e , waste a l o t of t i r i n g f e r and more p r e d i c t a b l e b u s i n e s s !
e f f o r t and e x a s p e r a t e you w i t h a l o t
20. YOU ARE CONSTANTLY RUNNING
of n e a r misses when a miss means as
THE RISK of h a v i n g your m o t i v e s m i s good as a m i l e !
understood, your intentions misin16. SOMETIMES SHE MAY FEEL SO SORRY terpreted and your real reasons
FOR HIM s h e d o e s n ' t even want him t o doubted, and you may sometimes not
be hooked b e c a u s e i t might p r o v e t o o even know the real results of your
p a i n f u l f o r him! She d o e s n ' t want t o planting of the seeds of love u n t i l
break h i s h e a r t f o r God o r g e t him
God brings them to blossom a long

'FOUR F I S H I N G F A I L U R E S ! " M O .

6-4-74

time later.And you often worry

about what may blossom from your
f i s h ' s seeds t o o !
2 1 . SO IT CAN BE A VERY DIFFICULT
AND TRYING BUSINESS and sometimes
very d i s a p p o i n t i n g . I t takes l o t s
of faith to stick to i t , trusting
that God knows what He's doing and
that the catch w i l l be made sure
later, even i f you can't always see
immediate results.
22. IT TAKES LOTS OF FAITH AND
PATIENCE TO FISH! After some recent
f a i r l y s u c c e s s f u l adventures, our
l i t t l e F l i r t y - F i s h has had a few
mis-adventures which have taught us
both some good l e s s o n s and we've
learned a l o t , we hopethank the
Lord!
2 3 . ONE VERY FINE YOUNG HANDSOME
FISH (who would have been q u i t e a
c a t c h ) we n o t i c e d had been e y e i n g
the b a i t a l i t t l e w a r i l y , u n t i l he
too f i n a l l y decided to r i s k a n i b b l e
by bringing her breakfast to her
room one morning. I had a f e e l i n g i t
was going t o be Tony t h i s time and
I t o l d her s o . We n o t i c e d that he
waited u n t i l l a t e , j u s t before h i s
time o f f , so he could make i t h i s
l a s t t r i p and have plenty o f time
and not be missed.
2 4 . A LITTLE WORRIED about what to
do, our l i t t l e F l i r t y - F i s h y asked
for a d v i c e , and we gave her the simp l e s t counsel we could p o s s i b l y give:
25. "JUST WAIT AND SEE what he.
does, follow h i s leador i n t h i s
case you may have to take the i n i t i a t i v e because of h i s pride and
give him an a p p r e c i a t i v e squeeze
which could be i n t e r p r e t e d as an i n v i t a t i o n for more i f he wants i t or
needs i t . " We f e l t i t was worth t}
s i n c e he would be l e a v i n g i n j u s t a
few days and the opportunity would
be forever gone.
2 6 . BUT PRIDE'S FEAR OF REFUSAL
OFTEN PREVENTS US FROM MAKING THE
FIRST MOVEbut n o t h i n g v e n t u r e d ,
n o t h i n g g a i n e d ! B e t t e r t o have l o v e d
and l o s t than n e v e r t o have l o v e d a t
a l l ! So when t h e b i g f i s h swam c o n -

DFO NO. 533

Page 3

fidently in for a real close look,

our l i t t l e Flirty-Fishy got scared
and swam away just because she
wasn't sure he was interested.
27. INSTEAD OF THROWING HER ARMS
AROUND HIM and g i v i n g him a n i c e
b i g k i s s o f thanks f o r b r e a k f a s t ,
she merely l i g h t l y p a t t e d h i s s h o u l der as he h u r r i e d w a r i l y back out
the door, and our f i s h was gone
a g a i n ! We now only hope and pray
that God w i l l g i v e us one l a s t crack
at him b e f o r e he h a s t o l e a v e , as
t h a t ' s about the only way you can
show some o f t h e s e f o r e i g n e r s t h e
u t t e r l o v e o f God when you c a n ' t
even speak t h e i r language!
2 8 . WHERE YOU CAN DO MORE WITNESSING WITH YOUR MOUTH YOU MIGHT NOT
HAVE TO DO QUITE AS MUCH WITNESSING
WITH THE OTHER END OR YOUR OTHER
MOUTH! But when y o u ' v e no o t h e r way
t o show them God's t o t a l l o v e and
c o n c e r n , k i s s i n g them w i t h t h a t more
b a s i c and fundamental mouth o f your
p h y s i q u e can be p r e t t y c o n v i n c i n g ,
even i f you o n l y s a y a few words i n
t h e i r l a n g u a g e such a s , "J_ l o v e y o u
b e c a u s e God l o v e s y o u ! " o r , "I
s h a r e God's l o v e w i t h y o u ! " o r
"God wants me t o make you happy!"
29.
IF YOU WANT IT TO BE A WITNESS
OF GOD'S LOVE, BE SURE YOU GIVE GOD
THE GLORY, s o t h e y ' l l always remember you did i t in His love, not just
your own. If you can't say anything
but, "Jesus loves you", t h e y ' l l get
the point that Jesus i s loving them
through you. This i s what a l l of our
witnessing i s after a l l , no matter
what form i t takes, and loving them
in this way i s simply loving them
all the way and showing them the
most love you could possibly show
them.
30. ALSO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT
YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY EXPECTING
ANYTHING IN RETURN !You're n o t a f t e r marriage ( u n l e s s you want t o b e ! ) ,
y o u ' r e n o t a f t e r t h e i r money o r
t h e i r m a t e r i a l t h i n g s , but are s i m ply offering them the gift of God's
love, but for which you may receive

'FOUR F I S H I N G F A I L U R E S ! " M O .

6-4-74

DFO NO. 533

Page 4

s i g n a l because o f the n o i s e , confulove g i f t s i n r e t u r n , and should

sion or other distractions, or she's
not refuse them, i f you can make
just plain not listening or paying
i t p l a i n t h a t ' s not what you did
attention, or i s already worrying
i t f o r . J u s t be sure you do not
about the future and what's going
accept any money at the time, as
to happen next, so she can't keep
t h i s i s i l l e g a l i n many p l a c e s and
her mind concentrated on the move
may be a t r a p ! Try t o make i t as
of the moment.
c l e a r as you can t h a t you simply
want them t o l o v e Jesus and t h a t ' s
35. "FORGET THE THINGS THAT ARE
why you've shown them such l o v e .
BEHIND"'(Phil.3:13) AND "FRET NOT
THYSELF FOR TOMORROW" (Mat.6:34)
31. THE OTHER NIGHT IN A LOCAL
two o f God's c a r d i n a l r u l e s f o r
CLUB while e y e i n g the quarry, there are
e l i m i n a t i n g most of your w o r r i e s !
d i d n ' t seem t o be very much t h a t
Every good fisherman must r e a l l y
was very d e s i r a b l e u n t i l f i n a l l y
c o n c e n t r a t e on t h e immediate job
a very f i n e - l o o k i n g cleancut young
man passed us by three times e y e i n g at hand and n o t mope o v e r t h e ones
us,
u n t i l i t was obvious he was
l o s t y e s t e r d a y o r dream o f t h e ones
g r e a t l y a t t r a c t e d by our cute F l i r - of tomorrow! Keep your mind on t h e
ty l i t t l e Fishy but was h e s i t a n t
work b e f o r e y o u . You c a n ' t change
to approach the Bait because of
the p a s t and t h e future w i l l take
her proximity t o the Fisherman. I
care o f i t s e l f G o d s a y s s o !
t o l d her I was sure t h i s was what
36.
SO YOU FLIRTY-FISH KEEP YOUR
he had i n mind, but was too timid
EYES FASTENED ON YOUR FISHERMAN f o r
to ask her to dance with him while
c o n s t a n t d i r e c t i o n i f you want t o
she and I_ were holding hands.
catch f i s h , or follow at the h e e l s
32. SO I SUGGESTED SHE SHOULD ASK of the Shepherd i f you don't want
HIM! But while she h e r s e l f was some- to l o s e your way t o greener p a s t u r e s !
what doubtfully contemplating such
Sure enough, when she f i n a l l y obeyed
she found him w a i t i n g f o r her and
a bold approach, he began t o swim
they danced long and l o v i n g l y t o away. I t o l d h e r I was sure he
d i d n ' t want t o dance with anyone but g e t h e r . As they danced she asked
her, but she c o u l d n ' t b e l i e v e i t , s o him why he hadn't danced with one of
she s t a l l e d u n t i l he had swum c l e a r the many o t h e r women a v a i l a b l e , and
he r e p l i e d i n simple frankness, "Beto the other s i d e o f the pond and
cause I want you!"
nearly out of s i g h t .
33.
DELAYED OBEDIENCE CAN BECOME
37.
BUT THE POND BEGAN TO GET SO
TOTAL DISOBEDIENCE i f p r o l o n g e d t o o CROWDED SHE COULDN'T KEEP HER EYE
l o n g , and you can make up your mind ON THE FISHERMAN and s h e was o f t out
too l a t e i f y o u f l o u n d e r around t o o of h i s s i g h t , s o she began t o worry
l o n g ! However, s h e f i n a l l y d e c i d e d
about him and he about h e r . He was
to give i t a t r y , t o walk c l e a r over a l s o worrying about t h e u n s a f e
to the other s i d e of t h e room and
crowding o f t h e p l a c e , w h i l e she
try t o find him, and i f he was s t i l l was
a f r a i d t h e Fisherman might think
alone and hadn't found anyone t o
she was g e t t i n g t o o d e e p l y i n v o l v e d .
dance w i t h , she would c o n s i d e r that So w h i l e worrying t o g e t h e r o v e r
a f l e e c e and of t h e Lord and ask him. t h e s e l e s s important m a t t e r s , our
34.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES QUITE A BITf i s h g o t away t h a t n i g h t b e f o r e we
a chance t o r e a l l y w i t n e s s t o him,
TO CONVINCE OUR LITTLE FLIRTY-FISHY had
that i t ' s e i t h e r God's w i l l , or t h i s
38. WE HAD FAILED TOGETHER THAT
i s the o n e , o r t h i s i s the way t o do TIME, s o we prayed t o g e t h e r t h a t we
i t , or the time i s now! Sometimes
would f i n d him a g a i n a t t h e same
e i t h e r the Fisherman d o e s n ' t make i t p l a c e t h e n e x t n i g h t , which we d i d .
c l e a r or she d o e s n ' t c l e a r l y g e t the Only t h i s time we made s u r e we s a t

'FOUR F I S H I N G F A I L U R E S ! " M O .

6-4-74

in a p o s i t i o n of greater v i s i b i l i t y
of each other and a c c e s s i b i l i t y . At
f i r s t we did not know he was there,
so she began dancing with one of
our friends from the h o t e l .
39. HOWEVER. SOON WE CAUGHT SIGHT
OF HIM a g a i n s t a n d i n g e y e i n g h e r
from a f a r i n M s s w e e t s h y way,
t h i s time apparently h e s i t a n t t o
cut in on her new dancing p a r t n e r .
But we waved him over and i n v i t e d
him to j o i n us and t o take h i s turn
at dancing while I chatted p r o f i t ably with the o t h e r f e l l o w .
40. THEN WHEN DOMINIC HAD TO RETURN HER TO JOSEPH for a b i t , s i n c e
he had j o i n e d us f i r s t , I had a
very good chance t o have a prolonged
talk with t h i s very fine young member of the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of a very
large l o c a l b u s i n e s s firm, t e l l i n g
him how we l i k e d him at f i r s t s i g h t ,
and he s a i d he the same. He seemed
very thankful she had i n v i t e d him
to dance, and s a i d how much he
liked her.
4 1 . I EXPLAINED THAT THE REASON
SHE WAS SO SWEET AND LOVING WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS FULL OF THE LOVE OF
THE LORD and l i k e d t o make o t h e r s
happy. He s t i l l c o u l d n ' t understand
why I wasn't j e a l o u s , s o I s a i d s i m ply because I l o v e d her and wanted
her t o be happy, and that i t made
us both happy t o make o t h e r s happy,
and that t h i s was a l l because o f
God's l o v e f o r them.
4 2 . HE STILL WONDERED IN AMAZEMENT AT SUCH LOVE, s a y i n g t h a t , a l though a C a t h o l i c , he had never
known such l o v e ! But he continued
to accept i t very simply i n c h i l d l i k e f a i t h and was very g r a t e f u l .
I f e l t the p r e p a r a t i o n had been
long enough and now i t was time f o r
a commitment, s o I i n v i t e d him up
to our f l a t .
4 3 . BUT OUR DEAR LITTLE FLIRTYFISHY, knowing that he had t o r i s e
very e a r l y f o r work, was so concerned for h i s h e a l t h that she immediately p r o t e s t e d profusely that
i t should be some other time, that

DFO NO. 533

Page 5

he was too t i r e d . But he s a i d , "Oh

no, I'm a l l r i g h t ! " But she continued t o p r o t e s t for h i s sake, she
thought, although in misguided concern, as he would gladly have gone
with u s . But she had now given him
the impression that she was r e l u c t a n t , and so he began p o l i t e l y to
agree with her and s a i d he would
have to go.
4 4 . SO WE LOST HIM DUE TO OVERCONCERN FOR HIS HEALTH AND NOT
ENOUGH CONCERN FOR HIS SOUL! Nothing
i s more important than an immortal
s o u l , not even t h e i r p h y s i c a l h e a l t h !
Although you should show a measure
o f concern f o r t h e i r temporal w e l f a r e , you should n o t l e t i t o v e r balance your concern f o r t h e i r e t e r nal w e l f a r e .
4 5 . SO WE LET ANOTHER ONE GET AWAY,
a l t h o u g h we do hope t o s e e him a g a i n .
But some o f t h e s e g o l d e n o p p o r t u n i t i e s a r e gone f o r e v e r ! T h e r e ' s many
a s l i p twixt cup and l i p i f you do
not keep a firm grasp on the s i t u a t i o n , and sometimes we must s t r i k e
while the iron i s hot, l e s t i t cools
t i l l i t ' s no longer malleable. May
God forgive us!
46. THE NEXT TWO SLIPS occurred at
the same luxury hotel where our F l i r ty-Fishy had met and landed her f i r s t
Frenchman, the handsome young multinational salesman, Alain. He had
been there a week in a business conference, and we had met and hooked
him the f i r s t night.
47. AFTER THIS FIRST SATISFYING
ENCOUNTER I SUGGESTED OUR LITTLE
FISHY PHONE HIM and s e e how he was,
but she s a i d he had h e r phone number
and t h a t i f he wanted t o c a l l h e r he
c o u l d , and she p r e f e r r e d t o w r i t e
him a l i n e i n s t e a d . She d i d w r i t e
him a sweet l i t t l e l o v e n o t e and
s e n t him h e r p i c t u r e , reminding him
o f God's l o v e .
4 8 . BUT BY THE END OF THE WEEK
and h i s imminent d e p a r t u r e , both o f
t h e s e two proud l i t t l e Leos were
s t i l l t o o proud t o phone each o t h e r !
She a l s o claimed t h a t she was a f r a i d

'FOUR F I S H I N G F A I L U R E S !"

MO.

6-4-74

DFO NO. 533

Page 6

l a s t n i g h t t h e r e t o attempt
to t e l l
that any further contact with him
him goodbye. I ' d convinced our l i t t l e
might l e a d t o deeper involvement
Fishy t h a t t o l o v e him and l e a v e him
which might hurt my f e e l i n g s , b e without any f u r t h e r c o n t a c t was not
cause I had had a few l i t t l e r e l a p s e s of jealousy and concern over r e a l l y showing very much l o v e o r c o n her.
cern f o r h i s w e l f a r e and h a p p i n e s s .
54.
SO THE SHEPHERD AND HIS LITTLE
49.
THIS FLIRTY-FISHING WORK IS
ONLY FOR THE STRONG, and i f you have LAMB WENT SEEKING THE LITTLE STRAY
SHEEP, b u t found him n o t i n h i s u s u any r e s e r v a t i o n s , you'd b e t t e r n o t
get i n t o i t ! Your agonies can some- al h a u n t s , n e i t h e r h i s room n o r t h e
times f e e l l i k e those of God watch- bar n o r t h e c l u b n o r t h e l o b b y . But
ing His Lamb being c r u c i f i e d ! As
i n s t e a d we d i s c o v e r e d he was i n a
we've i n d i c a t e d b e f o r e , you may find b u s i n e s s m e e t i n g i n t h e basement, a
y o u r s e l f looking at that couch l i k e final cocktail party of speeches
the c r o s s of your own l i t t l e lamb!
which could have been a very inter50.
IT'S NOT EASY! In f a c t , some- esting situation, as I like to
times i t can seem p r e t t y d i f f i c u l t . crash parties!
But t h a t ' s l o v e , r e a l l o v e u n s e l f 55. HOWEVER, THIS TIME OUR LITTLE
i s h , s a c r i f i c i a l and undying l o v e
FISHY FLATLY REFUSED f o r f e a r h e ' d
that causes you t o d i e f o r o t h e r s !
t h i n k she was c h a s i n g himwhich o^
I t ' s sometimes even hard f o r the
course she was. because t h a t ' s our
Bait t o s e e the Fisherman s u f f e r at b u s i n e s s ! But t h a t ' s why you c a n ' t
her c r u c i f i x i o n , and she wonders i f have pride i n t h i s b u s i n e s s , o r
h e ' s going t o be able t o make i t ,
y o u ' l l be t o t a l l y d e f e a t e d as we
or i s he going to f e e l sorry and r e -were that n i g h t , because o f h e r r e morseful afterward.
f u s a l t o f o l l o w me down t h e s t e p s
51.
IT IS ALSO HARD FOR THE FISH- i n t o t h e L i o n ' s den i n f r o n t o f a l l
ERMAN, because h e ' s tempted t o fear the o t h e r young L i o n s !
that s h e ' l l even think that he
56.
SO WE SPENT A FAIRLY FRUITLESS
doesn't love her i n l e t t i n g h e r go
EVENING s i t t i n g i n t h e club hoping
through a l l o f t h i s ! J e s u s , God's
he would appear according t o h e r
Lamb, even c r i e d out on the c r o s s
way o f doing t h i n g s and i n keeping
to His Father, "Why hast Thou f o r with h e r d i g n i t y . - - B u t he n e v e r d i d !
saken me?" So I'm sometimes a f r a i d
Although s h e c a l l e d h i s room again
s h e ' l l think I'm l e t t i n g h e r go t o o and a g a i n , he n e v e r returned there
far.
e i t h e r , and we l o s t our l a s t chance
52. THEREFORE I'M OFTEN HESITANT
t o c o n t a c t him!
AT EVEN SUGGESTING c e r t a i n proced57.
SO WE "DID NOT MANY MIGHTY
u r e s , and want i t t o be her own
WORKS BECAUSE OF HER UNBELIEF" (Mat.
free and voluntary c h o i c e , with, no
13:58)and a c t u a l d i s o b e d i e n c e i n
f e e l i n g of compulsion by me . However , t h i s c a s e ! So s h e was only able t o
she doesn't u s u a l l y f e e l free t o do cheer up one l i t t l e h i g h - s c h o o l boy
i t u n l e s s I ask her t o , and y e t I'm who was s i t t i n g i n misery between
sometimes a f r a i d t o ask her because h i s p a r e n t s i n t h e empty club w i t h I'm f e a r f u l that she won't f e e l f r e e out a g i r l i n s i g h t but o u r s , who
to do i t .
f i n a l l y encouraged him with a few
53. OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS FREdances and words o f God's l o v e .
QUENTLY WORK AGAINST EACH OTHER and
58.
HOWEVER, THE LORD DID GIVE US
miss some b e a u t i f u l o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o ONE LAST CHANCE t o m i n i s t e r t o
m a n i f e s t t h e l o v e o f God. This h a p - another hungry s o u l i n need o f H i s
pened t h e o t h e r n i g h t at t h e same
l o v e when A l a i n ' s f r i e n d Ault s u d h o t e l where we'd met A l a i n , and
d e n l y showed up d e s p e r a t e f o r comwhither we had f i n a l l y gone on h i s p a n i o n s h i p and l o o k e d at u s l i k e we

FOUR F I S H I N G F A I L U R E S ! " M O .

6-4-74

were a n g e l s o u t of t h e s k y !
5 9 . HE CAME CHARGING OVER TO OUR
TABLE and i n v i t e d h i m s e l f t o j o i n
us and began t a l k i n g about what a
g r e a t time h e ' d had i n b o t h a s u c c e s s f u l b u s i n e s s conference as w e l l
as two wonderful n i g h t s w i t h a b e a u t i f u l Dutch model. But then he humbl y confessed t o me t h a t while t h e
r e s t of t h e boys had gone t o town
for t h e i r f i n a l fun, he had gone
back t o h i s l o n e l y room b u t c o u l d n ' t
stand i t .
6 0 . SO HE HAD COME UP LOOKING FOR
SOMEONE TO TALK TO and very h a p p i l y
f i n d i n g us_, which we immediately
r e c o g n i s e d as a n o t h e r of God's f r e quent s e t - u p s ! Having missed A l a i n
He had s e n t Ault i n h i s p l a c e , Ault
the alternative!
61. WHEN WE MISS GOD'S WILL. HE
SOMETIMES GIVES US A SECOND CHANCE
to do someone e l s e good i n s t e a d .
But t h i s one t o o we muffed! Because
although Ault was moved w i t h h e r
dancing and r e a l i s e d she had what
he needed, s h e d i d n ' t t h i n k he n e e d ed i t enough t o make t h e s a c r i f i c e
to give i t . So he was l e f t alone
in h i s l o n e l i n e s s w h i l e we went o f f
c h a s i n g o t h e r rainbows b e c a u s e of
another invitation she felt was
more important.
62. THE FISHERMAN HAD NOT MADE IT
CLEAR how l o n e l y Ault w a s , and
t h e r e f o r e she d i d n o t follow h i s a d -

DFO NO. 533

Page 7

vice t o t r y t o comfort him, even

though he was a very i m p o r t a n t man,
a r e a l k i n g i n h i s own c o u n t r y , and
could have been a r e a l h e l p t o o u r
kids there. Incidentally, our other
rainbow vanished that night but reappeared more beneficially at a
later date.
63. HOWEVER. WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD
ONE HAPPY ENDINGor b e g i n n i n g ? t o
one of the s t o r i e s told above: Handsome Dominic had promised to return
to the same club the following week
to see u s , and sure enough, true to
his word, he was Johnny-on-the-spot
looking for us and was overjoyed to
see we'd come, true to our word as
well!
64. KEEPING DATES FAITHFULLY IS
VERY IMPORTANT t o both your word
and t h e i r f a i t h i n you and your
w i t n e s s , t o encourage them to t r u s t
in you and what you have t o s a y . So
our l i t t l e F l i r t y - F i s h was soon
proving how much she and God loved
him i n her ever-loving arms! Praise
God!
65. SO YOU CAN'T WIN 'EM ALL!
But God'11 give you enough to keep
you encouraged so you won't q u i t !
So God b l e s s and keep you t r y i n g !
Here's t o good f i s h i n ' and happy
hookin' to a l l our happy l i t t l e
hookers! Keep on f i s h i n ' and hookin'
and you're bound t o catch a few!
PTL! Amen?