The yellow afternoon sun awakens the green grass. So my daughter and I jump in the car taking advantage of the remaining daylight to fish for bass at a friend's house. Before I can set down our gear, Mollie hooks a monster large-mouth.

She's excited and nervous all at the same time. Mollie bravely raises her catch in the air for me to snap a shot. I'm proud and jealous all at the same time.

When people fish, they proudly display their catch. I wonder: is the same true of fishin' for souls?

Do we get excited when we get to be part of seeing someone come to repentance and faith in Jesus? Do we proudly raise "our catch" in the air for our King to rejoice and be proud of us and snap a photo of our work for Him?

Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow Him and be fishers of men (NIV, Matthew 4:18-19). I believe He does the same for many of us. Just as Jesus called those brothers to be fishers of men, we're called to go into all the world preaching the good news to all creation (NIV, Mark 16:15).

But we're afraid to get up and get out to cast our line. We're afraid to get wet and dirty and smelly or leave empty handed. It's intimidating to fish in murky, muddy water hoping to catch something we can't see. We'd rather fish for money or status or success.

Fishin' for souls takes effort. It takes time. Sometimes you invest a lot of time and energy leaving empty handed. But sometimes you catch the big one! And maybe that big one is all you'll catch your whole life. But that one is so worth it!

Give me a life of fishin' for eternally changed lives any day of the week over those other pursuits. I'd rather hold up (present to my Heavenly Father) one soul caught for Him than to catch the world's greatest riches.

Thanks to your faithful support, the volunteers at Cafe 41:11 are fishin' for souls. I pray you'll get up and get out to fish this summer.

What are you fishin' for?