Big Bad Bears

TITLE: Big Bad Bears
DATE:  August 29, 2019
TEXT:. Eph. 6:17 – ESV -Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
It was July 29th and Colin Dowler was on his mountain bike exploring a special mountain located about 200 miles north of Vancouver. The mountain, known as Mount Doogie Dowler, was named after his grandfather.
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Even though he had a special relationship with the mountain, that did not immediately presume that he was on a first name basis with the male grizzly he encountered on the path.

Gambling that this particular griz may not have read all the books about the breed’s temperament, Colin decided to try a bit of negotiation. He began, “I know this is your territory, I'm just passing through—we don't have to do this." At first Colin thought he had been successful. It appeared the bear was just going to amble by.

Then the bear turned and took a few swats at Colin’s bike. The bike soon disappeared and the bear bit him below the ribs and hoisted him off the ground. Looking back, Colin assesses the situation: "It was so much pain and weirdness, I'm being rag-dolled, suspended by my flank by a bear carrying me."

The bear soon let go but only so he could get a better hold on its supper.

Colin tried to gouge out its eyes, but that just seemed to irritate the bear even more... if such a thing is possible. Finally, as a last resort, Colin took out his new pocket knife and jabbed the two-inch blade into the bear’s neck. The beast let him go and Colin made a tourniquet out of his shirt sleeve. He rode his bike five miles to a logging camp where they got him help.
In the book of Ephesians Paul speaks about the armament a Christian has at his disposal. There’s just about everything you might need to keep an individual safe from the attack of an enemy or a grizzly bear.

Of course there are times when it feels like we are going up against our enemy with a mountain bike as our shield and a pocket knife as our prime weapon for offense.

In other words it seems hopeless. Indeed, it would be hopeless if it were not for the presence of the Lord.

I didn’t tell you... when the bear dropped Colin, it watched the whole time he fashioned his tourniquet, gathered up his bike and began to pedal down the road.

It was almost a Daniel in the lion’s den scenario. The Lord shut the bear’s mouth.

Well, my friends, God’s intervention and handiwork is not reserved for Old Testament Prophets, and men who are mountain biking  200-miles north of Vancouver. God’s power is there....just  as it always has been; just as it always will be.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, given my druthers I would just as soon not meet a hungry grizzly. Given my preferences I would prefer to avoid any and every encounter with the devil and all his temptations and tricks. Still when I do meet an enemy, and I am way out of my league, especially then step in and defend me. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

The devotion for today was inspired by various recent news articles. For further reading you may wish to go to this address: https://www.newser.com/story/278927/as-grizzly-attacked-he-remembered-dads-gift.html and the article written by Arden Dier.
The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html