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Date Posted: 21:40:25 09/01/05 Thu
Author: Rev. Rusty Bova
Author Host/IP: 208.20.33.63
Subject: Hit The Right Target

Rusty Bova Ministries
~Spreading Seeds Around The World With Gospel That Swings ~
31 McClurg Street
Westfield, New York 14787
716-326-6891
Bovas@netsync.net

Hit The Right Target

In my senior year of High School, I was a member the Rifle Team. The skillful training of our Coach, lead us to the finals for the 1979 Championship in Clarence, NY.

The guns that we used were old single shot bolt-action
.22-caliber load. They were very heavy having the appearance of an old flintlock and WWII weapon conversion. Although they were not as high tech like what most of the teams had, they were well balance having a good adjustable sight assembly and shot straight.

During the competition, each shooter had to hit a series of 4 sheets of paper containing ten targets at a range of fifty feet. In reality, each target was the size of a Kennedy fifty-cent coin but at fifty feet they looked like a dime. Also dead center was a slightly larger target called the “sighter”. After the order to commence fire, the shooter with the help of the couch in the scope room would accurately sighting-in the weapon using five shots. Once complete, the shooter engaging fire on the other ten targets. Altogether there were four physical positions the shooters had to complete in a given amount of time. They are Prone, Sitting, Kneeling and Standing.

If you have ever been in rifle competition, you would know that nerves of steel, calm steady breathing and hours of practice are the absolute necessity to aim and hit that tiny size of a pinpoint bulls eye. One little disturbance to any degree will distract any or all of the shooters on the firing line.

I was on the firing line in my third position, kneeling. Tension was high and fatigue was beginning to set in. I can specifically remember an extreme moment that was to make history in my life and in High School Rifle Competition. I was preparing to shoot target number three in the upper right hand quadrant just millimeters from the hanging cable. This cable was bearing the stress of about 30 individual target sheets on the firing line.

After taking a few deep breathes, I proceeded to get physically and mentally ready for the next gentle squeeze of the hair sensitive trigger. I took my breath, held it, aimed, and squeezed the trigger. Then something happened at that instant that never happened before in my 4 years of skillful competition. I got one tiny insignificant hiccup! This hiccup notified the .22-caliber bullet to make history as it went speedily on its way towards the target. The result was to everyone’s amazement on the firing line, behind the firing line, in the coach’s scope room behind the protected glass, and the teams watching on.
I shot and grazed the target cable! All the targets shook; they snapped, jiggled and wiggled all over the place. What a scene. Some of the best shooters in the league didn’t even know their aim from a hole in the wall. Some thought they caused the event. It was quite an exhibit of chaos. One very good thing was the firing line had no lights only the targets did. This allowed me to hide in my guilt and pretend my innocence.
To my surprise, I was kick in my behind by my coach’s right foot. I turned as if to speculate, saw my coach. He, not saying a single word kept his head up high and calmly proceeded back to the scope room. I was so embarrassed. Those around me knew I did it. To my astonishment, there was grumbling on the firing line. Words to interpret like, What the? Who did it? Now what? Get that guy! Is this a forfeit? Hey Coach! Some officials didn’t know what to make of it. But one took charge and spoke out saying, “Hold Your Fire, Clear the Chamber, Quiet On The Firing Line!” Suddenly there was quietness and attentive ears. The lights came on and the truth was exposed. It wasn’t the targets or the cable it was yours truly. Serious looking faces with big piercing eyeballs starring me down. I felt as small as that powerful .22 caliber bullet missing the mark and causing chaos, I wanted to quit and go home but needed to face the crisis and admit my unintentional mistake. Immediately and thankfully, the official realize these incidents happen and allowed each and every competitor to re-shoot that individual target in question again. During the scoring, the officials would grade the closest shot as grade. The lights went out and the firing line orders were given to commence fire once again. This established peace, quietness and satisfaction. It was like calling things that are as though they never were.

As the competition came to a close, despite the odds of a hiccup, my team and I did very well. We didn’t take first place, but we stuck to our guns, and performed to the best of our abilities. Considering all that could have happened, the official’s knowledge granted forgiveness to everyone with another opportunity for an “out-of-the-blue” event.

Let’s take a look from another point of view. In the book of Mark chapter 4:35-41, the message is obvious. Jesus calms the storm or in other words, the wind ran out of breath.

35Late that day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go across to the other side of the lake." 36The disciples took Jesus in the boat as he was. There were other boats that came along. 37 As they were crossing, a huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it.
38 Now Jesus was in the stern with his head on a pillow, sleeping! They provoked him to wake up, saying, "Teacher, teacher is it nothing to you that we're going down?" 39Awake now, Jesus told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.
40Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards not knowing how to handle this? Don't you have any faith at all?"
41They were in absolute wonder and stunned saying, "Who is this man, anyway?" they asked. "Even the wind and sea at his call, answer to Him!"

A simple truth both stories confirm are, no matter how much you’re trained or practice to develop skillfulness, you must press on doing your best, trusting in God and His wisdom. Your actions, however intended, will profoundly effect others. Just one tiny insignificant hiccup can cause a storm affecting everyone. It will challenge your faith and test your heart. Only through Jesus and His power will the problem be fixed. Then you and the little boats will benefit equally. Every situation depends on your relationship with God, his character, and wisdom through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
This is wonder working Faith.

Be A Blessing Always,
Rusty

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