White_Stone,
It was not my intent to offend you (and I hope I have not) and it is not presently my intent to do so further, so I pray that we can continue fellowshipping on the aspects of the Lord that we agree on. I would like to say a few things in response though.
By your line of reasoning, we as Christians should only participate in activities that directly supply provision for our families or are "ministry" related. That would mean that the follow activities should be discouraged: taking time to paint a picture (unless you are good enough to sell it and provide for your family), planting and maintaining a flower garden (seeing as how this does not provide edible food for the family), going fly-fishing for sport of it and not harming or keeping the fish to eat, playing a musical instrument as a hobby (unless its on a worship team), playing any sport for the sake of recreation, et cetera.
As for rock-climbing with members of my church, I do this because the men at my church are my friends. This isn't some kind of church sponsored out-reach program that we've devised, it's called fellowship and we are all greatly edified by it. Yes, we spend time fellowshipping in prayer and on our faces before God as well, but we also spend time "hanging-out" together and glorying in Him as we do it.
Wow, try not to be so critical and judgmental, you really have no idea of the kind of church I attend or the intentions of our hearts. Yes, we do teach responsiblity at our church, but we not in a manner that would tell our members that they shouldn't go hiking in the woods, or floating down a river, or even skydiving.
I didn't jump out of a plane intending to feed my family, I work hard at my job to see that they are fed. Statistically it is much more dangerous for me to get in my car and drive through Atlanta or any other big city on a daily basis than it is for me to take part in some of these "risky" hobbies. Yet, am I putting the Lord to the test by driving in potentially dangerous traffic? No, because I'm wearing a seatbelt and have take precautions when driving. If I were to jump out of an airplane WITHOUT a parachute on (which is more along the lines that Satan tempted Jesus), only trusting that God would miraculously save me, then that would be putting God to the test. Is it putting God to the test to drive a Ford Escort instead of a Volvo, after all, the Volvo is much safer.
Sorry if I'm writing a lot, but it does kind of bother me that you so easily have been able to dismiss me and my church as being the types that don't seek God in the way we live our lives and conduct ourselves. Yes, I have sought, and continue to seek, the Lord in every aspect of my life (as best as I can), from the kind of foods I eat to the way I manage my business activities, to the way I spend my money, to the way I spend the 24 hours in each day. And believe it or not, I have not felt convicted or rebuked about some of my hobbies. Should the Lord "open my eyes" to the error of my ways, then I will gladly discontinue these activities. I have no t.v. in my house because the Lord convicted me of the amount of time it consumes and the trash that it can expose my family to. I left a much more profitable job a few years ago because of the demands it put on my time, family and ministry. Currently, my wife and I are working on selling our house and vehicles and preparing to go into the mission field next year because the Lord has led us in that direction. And yes, if He shows me that He is displeased with me for rock-climbing, I will no longer do it.
I hope I've not taken the issue too far, you seem to be a great believer and I don't want to cause strife between us, but I would ask that you try to understand that God can be okay with someone fly-fishing in a river, or climbing a rock (with harnesses, braking systems and ropes) or jumping out of a plane with a parachute (and back up parachute) on or spending hours on an oil painting.
