20 Feet Closer to God

AWESOME!!!! AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

1,416 meals going out this morning ! Thanks to everyone who donated to the FHFH program!!

Matthew 4:18-19

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

So.....why do you think Jesus called His first disciples from rough and tumble fishermen?
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As I delve into our Biblical Manhood Training, I've come across some amazing traits across all men called by God. Putting in the guardrails for our men, sharing the rights, the wrongs, and the patterns that continue to show up in the Bible.....

We'll go in depth through them all as we progress; but here they are as I have them now.

Protector

Provider

Broken

Wanting adventure

Having a designated battle

Reliance on God

Submissive to God.

As we dive deeper into all these traits, we'll see them and examples that are backed up Biblically, historically, and in our own lives. I'm looking forward to my study on all these and sharing them.

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God has put a major care on my heart.

Training up the next generation of MEN in Biblical Manhood.

This group is for MEN IN TRAINING ages 6 through 16 and their fathers or father figures!

This group actively engages in raising Godly and Biblical men. Believing more is caught than taught, the group will get together monthly for a fun activity in combination with a Biblical study. Topics to be discussed will include lessons of showing up, real world vs virtual/fake world, real manliness vs machismo, protecting the vulnerable, dying to ones self, following the call, sticking with your decisions, and others.

Hello all....Prayer would be greatly appreciated....I'm leading a first meeting of a new group tomorrow afternoon. My group is called Raising Legends...The group idea has been on my heart for a while, leading young men in training age 5-13 with their fathers and father figures to true Biblical Masculinity. I've been bearing down on the Bible, Men in the Arena, Standard 59, Trail Life material, and even the book Royal Manhood. Keep our group in your prayers that I will have the Spirit of the Lord with us and that God will use me for His Will. Thank you in advance......

Hunting season is over....for now

Football season is over....for now

Baseball hasn't started

It's.....time.....to.....slow......down......hopefully

James 5:7-8

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

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Hi. We would like to invite everyone to the WILD GAME EXPO at Princeton Pike Church of God. We are expecting a great time of fellowship and good old getting together. Please share this. Thank you and have a great day.

God is GREAT!!!!

Hello everyone!!!

With Christmas just around the corner, I'm excited to share with you all that we have started an Etsy shop that will carry some apparel to help support our ministry and outreach.

Please share with others if possible.

God Bless!!!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/20FeetClosertoGod

Today I couldn't be prouder! Yesterday, my son took the ultimate PLUNGE!!! He decided to dedicate his life to JESUS!!! Man, you should have heard the conversation Michelle and I had with him to make sure he knew what it meant. This little dude is a MAN OF GOD!!!
Matthew 18:1-4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

One of my dream hunts is to go elk hunting. The sounds of an elk bugle seems like it would be the most majestic sound you could hear outside of God's trumpets calling us home. I've had friends go and share their stories of triumph and tragedy and it sounds AMAZING! The biggest thing I have taken from their stories is the work that goes into it. Trekking miles upon miles to find a good glassing spot, glassing for hours to find the elk, then stalking for hours only to have the wind shift and off go the elk to the next ridge or valley. The one thing they always have to do for a successful hunt is.....JUST KEEP GOING

That has been hard recently. We all say, "If I could find the time I'd..." fill in the blank. Read the Bible more, share time with my family, pray more.....write a blog....

Psalm 16:5-11
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful[a] one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Unfortunately, its not about finding the time. No one is creating a new watch or clock that will give us 30 hours in a day. There is no finding time, there is only prioritizing time. I've been lax in that. I keep getting distracted, letting myself get worried about the wrong things, and most important, not putting my faith in God.

We all can make excuses, and I know life DOES happen. Here's the thing though, I need to put the right priorities first. God needed a day of rest. Jesus needed time alone to pray. How on earth could I think that I don't.

How quickly putting off this blog went from 1 day, to 1 week, to 1 month, and now, to 1 year. I'm sorry for it. I'm doing my best not to feel guilty about it, as there is no guilt in Christ. Just know that it has weighed on me that I have neglected it. Just writing this begins to lift that weight.

If I'm honest, I've come back because a new Brother in Christ that I have made is now going to be my accountability partner in this. We had a men's meeting last night and this came up. I shared my guilt, and my dereliction of God's calling for me to do this. Prioritizing God, family, and work is what we all must do. We all go through seasons, some rough, some wonderful, and everything in between. If I'm honest again, this has been a rough one. The main reason it has been rough is that I took my eyes of of God, and my faith in Him waned. God is always with us, in us, guiding us. It must have been God on my heart and His way of saying get back to work, and JUST KEEP GOING....Keeping the faith and sharing for others.

Proverbs 29:25

Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

God bless you all!
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We're at the Ohio Sportsman's Expo in Columbus, Ohio with Southwest Ohio Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and just had our first muzzleloader winner pick up. Come join us!!!

20 Feet Closer to God updated their business hours.

BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER FOR FARMERS AND HUNTERS FEEDING THE HUNGRY

https://www.facebook.com/donate/3202663313356276/

Our families are in need of prayers.

My best friend since middle school, Brad Vanoss, and his daughter, Reagan Vanoss, were in a tragic accident last night. Brad has broken bones, a concussion, internal issues, bruising, but will make a full recovery. Unfortunately his 10 year old daughter was not so lucky, and succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Reagan is survived by her mom and dad, Angela and Brad Vanoss, her grandparents, Ron and Marilyn Vanoss, her big brother Austin, and big sisters Avery and Alayla, as well as more family. Please pray for them. I am devastated by the loss of this precious little life. The family will need all the prayers they can get.

If you feel it in your heart to help this family in this tragedy. There is a GoFundMe page set up for them. It is below. God Bless You All...
The Vanoss Family Support and Memorial Fund

HAPPY (JOHN) 3:16 DAY!!!!
Remember in this season readying for the Easter celebration that God is always there for you. Ready to receive you, help you, LOVE YOU!!

God bless you all!
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WE'RE GETTING BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!!! IN PERSON!!!!
God is good, God is GREAT!!!

We will be having our first meeting back in person this Thursday. It has been a long year, but God has been faithful to our group. We will be meeting at Cabela's in West Chester from now on. We will be wearing masks still, and anyone who wants to remain remote will be able to join us that way as well.

Our meetings will be every 2nd and 4th Thursdays again....

I am so excited to get back together in person!!!

God bless all!!
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Monday was opening day here in Ohio for turkey season. It has been a tradition the last few years that my friend from our men's group takes me out the his hunting lease here in Ohio. It is a wonderful place.....out in Brown County...in the rolling hills, in the middle of no where, with ZERO cell service...

Let me repeat that....ZERO CELL SERVICE....

We camped overnight, getting up early Monday to climb the "Mountain", chasing the "Thunder-Chickens" around the hills and valleys.

While it was a bit rough not to be able to say goodnight to my wife and kids, it was a true blessing to get out in the woods and unplug from every thing that is going on. No news, no crazy, just the woods, a campfire, and good conversation.

I had the privilege of meeting for the first time Mark Moore, the leader of Focus Outdoor Ministries. I also had the privilege of meeting one of his pro-staff, Aron Swan.

We spoke of God, our faith, our journeys, and everything that goes on with it all...the conversations were wonderful, and I feel closer to God because of them.

In this time of isolation, what a gift it was to have Godly men surrounding me. While we were not able to harvest the "Thunder-Chickens" we were after, the harvest of the weekend was so much better. We did not get any food for our mouths, but we did get a lot of food for our souls.

John 6:26-27 NAS

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”

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Follow up to the buck story.....
Just a short follow up to the buck story with the "Please" deer. I got a preview of him drying on the taxidermist wall. I'm pretty excited to see him again, and my 6 year old son wants to mount him over his bed.

👍😁👍

GOD IS GREAT!!!!

MATTHEW 7:7

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The Resurrection

16:1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

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"JESUS CHRIST CONQUERS!!"

Brothers, as we continue to "social distance", we celebrate Holy Week, today we celebrate the Ultimate Sacrifice of our Savior. Reflect today on the day He had, knowing that EVERYTHING He did today, over 2000 years ago, was because HE LOVED YOU! He loved us all individually and all at once. Giving His everything for our Salvation conquering the Death we all deserve for our sins.

Job 19:25 (ESV)
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

IC NC NIKA.....Jesus Christ Conquers.....Faith of a leader changed the world. The Emperor Constantine himself was conquered by the power and the glory of the sign of the Cross of Christ. One day, on the eve of a decisive battle, he and all his soldiers saw a cross of light in the sky with the inscription, "By this sign you will conquer" (in Greek, NIKA). The following night the Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared with the Cross in His hand and told him that by this sign he would conquer the enemy and directed that each soldier’s shield be monogrammed with the holy Cross. Constantine fulfilled the command of God and conquered the enemy. He placed his empire under the protection of the saving sign of Christ. He took Christianity under his protection and proclaimed faith in Christ to be the state religion. He outlawed punishment by crucifixion and issued laws favoring the Church of Christ.

He will Conquer this too....we will be together again Brothers, stronger than ever before.

God Bless you all Brothers!!!
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Grandfather's Moment of Clarity... A true MIRACLE

I love my grandfather....He was a rock of a man.

One day, in an emergency room, God cleared all the barriers for us to have the most important conversation of my life with him.

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20 Feet Closer to God

Well, all around us everything is changing. We're living in a world we cannot recognize...kids aren't going to school, everyone working from home, restaurants closed, and of course.....churches closed. I don't know about you, but not having the Sunday anchor throws my whole week off. I have a hard time even keeping my days straight in the week...Mondays feel like Fridays, Thursdays feel like Mondays...and Sundays, well they definitely don't feel the same at all.

1 PETER 5:8

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Boy are we isolated out there....the perfect place for the devil to attack. I've talked before about it....the devil wants to get us alone, just like the lion wants the gazelle or zebra that is by itself.

I would warn you though....the attacks might not be what you would expect....he is the great deceiver...attacking from a direction that you wouldn't expect. My wife and I were recently travelling from the hardware store and listening to a sermon. He spoke about how the devil attacks with busy-work....and boy did that hit home. I turned it down and said to my wife,"Honey, that's what's happening to me. I've started this blog and website and have had a good response so far, but lately I can't seem to find the time to get it together to keep it going. I've got so many ideas already started, I just keep seeming like I'm too busy to take the time to get it done."

That was definitely an attack on me that I wasn't expecting, but looking back at it, I see it. Maybe the devil wasn't wanting me to do it.....I've said for a few years now, if the devil is attacking you, you're on the right path, if he's not, he's already got you and isn't worried about you. How could I not have time right now?

We must prioritize our time right now...prioritize God, Family, house....Please make sure you are staying in the Word. Please make sure you are keeping in contact with your family, blood and Blood. Please make sure you are focused on the future and works that God provides for us.

I will do my best to do the same.....

"Heavenly Father, Creator of everything. I pray that I keep my focus on the work that you provide for me, not to get sidetracked by all the unseen forces that are being placed on me right now. Lord, keep me positive and loving, knowing that You work ALL THINGS FOR GOOD, and this too shall be used for Your Good and Your Purpose. In Your Son Jesus Holy Name, AMEN."

Please visit us at www.20feetclosertogod.com

Well, all around us everything is changing. We're living in a world we cannot recognize...kids aren't going to school, everyone working from home, restaurants closed, and of course.....churches closed. I don't know about you, but not having the Sunday anchor throws my whole week off. I have a hard time even keeping my days straight in the week...Mondays feel like Fridays, Thursdays feel like Mondays...and Sundays, well they definitely don't feel the same at all.

1 PETER 5:8

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Boy are we isolated out there....the perfect place for the devil to attack. I've talked before about it....the devil wants to get us alone, just like the lion wants the gazelle or zebra that is by itself.

I would warn you though....the attacks might not be what you would expect....he is the great deceiver...attacking from a direction that you wouldn't expect. My wife and I were recently travelling from the hardware store and listening to a sermon. He spoke about how the devil attacks with busy-work....and boy did that hit home. I turned it down and said to my wife,"Honey, that's what's happening to me. I've started this blog and website and have had a good response so far, but lately I can't seem to find the time to get it together to keep it going. I've got so many ideas already started, I just keep seeming like I'm too busy to take the time to get it done."

That was definitely an attack on me that I wasn't expecting, but looking back at it, I see it. Maybe the devil wasn't wanting me to do it.....I've said for a few years now, if the devil is attacking you, you're on the right path, if he's not, he's already got you and isn't worried about you. How could I not have time right now?

We must prioritize our time right now...prioritize God, Family, house....Please make sure you are staying in the Word. Please make sure you are keeping in contact with your family, blood and Blood. Please make sure you are focused on the future and works that God provides for us.

I will do my best to do the same.....

"Heavenly Father, Creator of everything. I pray that I keep my focus on the work that you provide for me, not to get sidetracked by all the unseen forces that are being placed on me right now. Lord, keep me positive and loving, knowing that You work ALL THINGS FOR GOOD, and this too shall be used for Your Good and Your Purpose. In Your Son Jesus Holy Name, AMEN."

Please visit us at www.20feetclosertogod.com

SCALING THE HEIGHTS TOWARDS GOD......

Recently, a pastor friend of mine and I were talking about getting frustrated when you pour your heart and soul into sharing your testimony with someone and nothing comes of it. I'm sure all of us have had it happen to them. You spend hours with someone, and share your inner most love and trials with them, and sharing your love for God and Jesus Christ, our Savior. Then....to your eyes.....nothing....
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HITS AND MISSES.....

One of the great things that a men's group that I go to does is a thing called "Hits and Misses". Basically we believe we are called upon to share the Gospel with the world. At the beginning of every meeting we have we share out "HITS" if we had an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone or do something awesome with someone. We also share our "MISSES", openly sharing the times that we looked back on after and wished we'd have done something different and when we had the chance to share the Gospel but came up short.

I recently had a pretty major "MISS".....
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Following the spirit within,

It is a hard thing to do some times, others it is easier than anything ever. In these uncertain times, it is something imperative for us to do....

You know when it happens, that gut sense that you get. Talking with someone, hearing a story on the news, seeing a need in the world....That gut feeling is the Holy Spirit within you working all things for good....
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Being Surrounded.....

A rather bad thing happened recently to a friend of our family. In keeping confidentiality with them, I won't share what happened and who to, but just understand that it was one of the worst things that can happen.

I can share that a truly amazing positive thing did come out of it though.....

In the time there with them, I was at a loss for what to do, what to say, how to act.....

In my moment of weakness, I was in a tree and unknowing how to even handle the situation, I did the only thing I could do....gave it to God...I began praying. He told me to take it to the Godly men in my life.
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Our men's group is finishing this series/study right now......First off, let me share with you about Right Now Media. It is a fantastic source of Bible study material for anyone leading a small group, anyone looking for material for themselves, as well as anyone looking for entertainment for their children in this world of constant barrage of "less than ideal" choices for so called "family entertainment". I think we all know what I mean.....

Now, on to being a Godly man...I could go into the feminization of manhood... I could go into the "machismo" view of masculinity... Unfortunately, there are so many views of what a man should be in this world. Thank God for Joby's study on this topic.
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