From the Home Place

February 16, 2026

30 degrees at 4 a.m., moving up to 58 today. Today’s wind could gust to 29 mph, but tomorrow’s gusts are predicted to hit 72 mph, that will make it tough to do anything outside. Many of our area ranchers are calving or getting ready to start. That much wind will make it really tough for a little feller to get up and to get to going. His momma cow will likely need to find a sagebrush patch or a draw to lay him in for the day until he gets his legs under him.

Yesterday, Miss Deb and I had a very enjoyable day. We were blessed to be part of an adult Sunday School class where we are all using sound methods to dig deeply into the Scriptures. At the present we are studying the life of Abraham. Though Abraham is the patriarch of our faith, his life also reminds us that all of us humans make plenty of mistakes in our journey of learning to follow God’s instructions. Abraham was a great man of faith, but he still struggled with allowing God to complete His promises in His way and in His time. I can’t say for you, but I too often have trouble waiting on God.

Yesterday afternoon, Miss Deb attended a baby shower while I met with three of the young men from our men’s group. We drug out a couple of compound bows, and everyone flung a few arrows. We had plenty of good laughs, while everyone received encouragement and instruction of how to improve our accuracy while aiming at the bull’s eye on a target.

As the younger guys were taking a turn at shooting a bow, it dawned upon me that each of them was in the same process with their life. Each of these young men has a target they are wanting to hit with their Christian faith and life, yet there are many variables in such a process.

When shooting a compound bow, it is extremely helpful if the draw length is set correctly for your body. Also, when drawing the bow to release an arrow, the draw weight needs to fit the person’s strength. While aiming, the bow needs to be held level and still. A fraction of an inch off in the aim can be the difference between a hit or a miss 20 yards away. That ratio of hit or miss compounds with the distance between the archer and the target. Archery is a game of inches.

Walking with God is much the same, the distance between God and the Christian makes a significant difference in hitting the intended target or not. If we are not walking closely with God, we will most often miss the target He has for our life. Also, just as the draw length and the draw weight affect the archer’s abilities, the same is true of our walk with God.

If a bow is set at 70 lbs. draw weight and I can only pull 50 pounds at a maximum, I will not be able to shoot the arrow. If the draw length is incorrect, it will be extremely difficult for me to align the sight correctly with the intended target. Once again, walking with God depends upon present ability and circumstances, each which should be consistently changing the longer one walks with God.

Yesterday’s archery fun was the first time for one of the young men in our group. It took a few attempts, but before long, he was able to place four arrows in a nice group around the bull’s eye, while the other men in the group gave him pointers and encouragement. Isn’t that what the Bible calls discipleship?

For some reason we have allowed Satan to convince us that none of us are capable of making a disciple because our individual walk with God isn’t perfect. Yet Jesus Himself, tells us that each one of us can and should make a disciple who is able to advance the kingdom of God. Really all we have to do to make a disciple is have a decent understanding to what the target is, and the ability to give pointers to our disciple, in an encouraging way.

You see, studying the life of Abraham has taught us that this saint of old didn’t do everything correctly, and neither will we. It’s ok when we, and or our disciple stumbles. Falling down is how we learn to walk more correctly. Quit listening to your “can’t do” enemy and start listening to the Holy Spirit who will help you with the process of helping a younger Christian learn how to consistently walk with his, or her Savior. You can do this!

Remember Jesus’ promise, “And I am with you always.” Keep your eye on the target, look through the sight of Scripture and release your arrow – your disciple. With the Holy Spirit’s help and your encouragement and instruction, your disciple will soon be hitting a bull’s eye!

Remember, all arrows hit where we aim them. Allow the Bible, the Holy Spirit and other Christians to help you help your disciple. Next, it will be their turn to make a disciple as well. When shooting a bow, the only way to never miss is to leave the arrows in the quiver. The problem with that mind set is that new Christians never get to know the joy of hitting the bull’s eye in their walk with God. Remember, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” It is way past time for each of us to make a disciple, start with the basics and add plenty of encouragement and practice. Before long, you will get to watch that person’s face light up with joy as they hit a bull’s eye!

Aiming well with you, Neal