Author: bkonkle

Just when I really needed some encouragement, the Lord provided it!! I was sitting in church last Sunday (in my special chair) when a lady walked up to me and said “you don’t remember me do you”. I said no, but you look familiar. She then related the story of meeting her family and the hero of one of my videos at church last summer. She told me that Peyton (the young hero in my video) has been faithfully praying for me and was very saddened by my accident. I was stunned in a wonderful way! It continues to amaze me how the Lord works in our lives!! I thank Peyton and the countless others who have prayed (and ARE praying) for me since my accident. Below is the video of Peyton.

Christians the world over celebrate on this day the birth of the Saviour of all mankind (John 3:16). He came not just to save a select few but everyone who would call on him (Romans 10:13). Let us who are Christians, remember that this day is not about giving gifts, decorating our homes, eating lots of food, or even being with family. All of these things are wonderful and part of our cherished traditions but they are not the reasons for the season. Jesus is the reason will gather together on this day. It is Jesus’ birthday!! He is that one that gives us eternal life (John 3:16) and blesses us with things (Matthew 7:11) like our homes, our decorations, our food, and our families. Without Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5) and we have nothing. Christians do not cherish the baby in the manger but the God/man who hung on a cross for our sins and then rose again on the third day to win victory over death!! So, on this day thank Him for coming into this world with that singular goal of dying for us, so that we could one day go be with him in heaven. Then, celebrate that fact with our family and friends, and share that good news with those who don’t know Him. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

My sincerest apologies for not posting Christmas message. I had actually written one but was not able to post it due to the server I use in Tennessee being down because of a bad snow storm that knocked out power in the area on Christmas day. So, the above post was the message I prepared. I hope y’all had a very Merry Christmas and I pray that this year (should the Lord tarry his coming) be a much better one for all of us.

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. This video is part 1 in a series recording my progress as I recover from a near death fall.

After the terrible accident I had falling off a roof where I was working, I believe I am a walking miracle! I fell 10ft off the roof and broke both wrists, broke my sternum and 7 ribs, broke thoracic vertebrae #4 and cervical vertebrae #1, damaged my right carotid artery, and had some brain bleeding. I was fitted with a halo to heal my cervical vertebra and had my thoracic vertebrae fused to 3 others. I had my wrists operated on and they used plates and pins to put everything back together. I spent 24 days in the hospital and a rehab facility. I thank God for everyone that had a part in taking care of me in the hospital and rehab. Had a great opportunity to witness to the doctors, nurses, techs, and all the other hospital and rehab staff. My family and friends, and even strangers have been awesome with all the love and support. I don’t know what I would have done without all those who have helped and are helping!!! The halo came off about a week ago and now I start some physical therapy. I still wear a brace on my left wrist but hopefully that will come off in about a week.

In case you are wondering where the miracle is in all this, it is this: The doctors and about everyone that assisted in my care said that I should not be alive! In the least, I should be paralyzed from the neck down! In 6 days after the accident I was up and walking! I am now on the road (though a long one) to a full recovery!! I serve a GREAT God!! All the praise and glory goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!

PS:This is the first time I have been able to get to my studio office to access my desktop computer (as my laptop gave up the ghost). So, Lord willing, I will be able to post more often. Thank you for your patience.

Just made a new video using vintage tackle. This time it was my dad’s Zebco 44 trigger spinning reel, my father-in-law’s Wright and McGill spinning/fly rod and one of my dad’s old flatfish lures. Each of these items are at least 55-60 years old. Video should be posted to my YouTube channel in the next couple of weeks. Hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed making it. My last vintage tackle video is here. Check it out. It was a great time fishing! It just goes to show you don’t need the latest tackle to catch fish! Yesterday I was talking with my hat embroiderer at The Merch Maven, and we got on the subject of hanging on to things in our past that were good and meaningful. So as I was writing this post, these two things reminded me of Jeremiah 6:16 that says: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Sometimes we need to hang on to the old ways of doing things, because sometimes the old ways are actually better. Remember that the next time you want to chuck some old item or way of doing things away!

Finally the cooler weather is just around the corner! So don’t be unprepared for the colder temps. Get one of these “Oh Dad” zippered hoodies now! Great for staying warm on the water. Go to my Merchandise Page and get yours today!

Well I hit up the Tiny Pond again last evening for channel cats and I actually caught a channel cat. The previous 4 or 5 trips yielded nothing. Many thanks to Jeff Lewis with Catfishing Arizona for turning me on to a great bait. It’s called Danny King’s Catfish Punch Bait. The kind I used was the Blood flavor. It wasn’t a big cat, but it was a cat none the less. After catching that cat, I decided to pack it up; it was getting too dark to film anymore. Many thanks to Chris for allowing me to fish at his place! So maybe the stink is off for me there. But, the next time I do fish there, it will be in the morning hours.

From time to time I will be sharing some pictures and memories (if I can remember them) of past fishing trips. I am so thankful that God gave us memories. Some of course are better forgotten, because they are too painful to relive. Other memories are best pushed to the far recesses of our minds, only to be remembered so that we don’t repeat them. Others, good memories, are wonderful to relive and ponder on. I am thankful for those. I am also thankful for the pictures that help us remember those times past. Mostly, I am thankful for those people that I shared those past events with. Those people are the best reason to remember those times. (Proverbs 10:7)

It is truly amazing how and what God can do in our lives. After the service at church was over last Sunday, I had just stood up when I heard a small voice behind me say something. Being hard of hearing all I could hear was “are you Oh Dad?” I turned around and it was 2 young boys. One was Peyton: the brave young man who rescued my hat from the stormy waters at the lake last week. The other boy was Benjamin, who is Peyton’s cousin. Peyton was visiting his cousin who just moved to my area several days before. I also met Benjamin’s family (sister Emily, father Charles and mother Donna). Since I had remarked to Derrick at the lake that I didn’t even get my rescuers name, God took care of that by bringing Peyton to my church. Peyton’s father’s name is Andy, mother Sarah, and sister Madison. A wonderful family and so was Benjamin’s. It was a great blessing to me to see Peyton again and to meet Benjamin and his family. “For who hath despised the day of small things? (Zechariah 4:10).