We all have different gifts. My friend Lynn Pryor understands all things mechanical. He can weld, bend, fabricate, and overhaul. That's not me. Like all men who are willing to admit it- I wish I could do those things. I have a friend who hunted with a giant track rig called a 'Thiokal' for decades. Every year he shot his moose, and every year he drove right up to it. I, on the other hand, typicall...  Read More

Relationships are the fabric of life and shared experiences are the threads woven into that fabric. We were created to be in relationship first with God and then with one another. God is our Father, Savior, Counselor, Redeemer, Protector, Strengthener, and Provider. These are not simply words, they are reality. Every Christian on earth is quite literally our brother or our sister. We're not a 'rel...  Read More

Many of us have experienced the frustration of putting a lot of time and energy into something only to discover we were doing it the wrong way. Just because we're moving doesn't mean we are headed in the right direction, does it? My dad and I had spent days looking for caribou without success. We finally saw a small band of cows miles away on top of a mountain. My dad is an excellent hunter, but h...  Read More

Since we're on the topic of marriage, I must respond to the question, "What advice do you have for those of us who are struggling in our marriages right now?"There is only one person in this marriage you have the ability to change, and that is YOU. First, become your best self spiritually, physically and emotionally. Get up early in the morning when the house is quiet to spend time with the Lord. ...  Read More

Yesterday I shared that a key ingredient to a happy marriage is to CHOOSE WISELY. Yet so many Christian men and women- especially women- choose poorly. Why is that? One of the following two reasons is overwhelmingly true, but after I share these, I will also share the underlying reason for what drives those two choices. Why do Christians seeking to be married choose poorly?1) Loneliness. Being sin...  Read More

People are always wondering what is the secret to a good marriage. First, I would tell you this- CHOOSE WELL. Ladies, the man who loves God FIRST will love you BEST. Choose a godly man who is gentle and kind, who loves children, and who is committed to being a good provider. Men, the woman who loves God FIRST will love YOU best. Choose a woman who is generous and kind, who loves children, and who ...  Read More

By three months old, my Chesapeake Bay Retriever, 'Tuck-A- Duck-Away' (Tucker) was hand signal, whistle and voice trained. He loved the water and was an absolute joy to train. He was intelligent, eager to please, and absolutely obedient. Working with him was so rewarding that I actually thought about leaving my teaching career and training hunting dogs full time. I had a very high view of myself a...  Read More

Hosea 6:3 says, "As surely as the sun rises, he will appear."The return of Christ is not only promised, it is imminent. I have many times looked and wondered, "Is it today, Lord?" In fact, I'm looking at the sunrise right now. The Bible tells us that we will all be changed "in a flash- in the twinkling of an eye." Live as though today is your LAST opportunity to tell people that you love them.Live...  Read More

Maybe you remember the old riddle: Q: How do you eat an elephant?A: One bite at a time!Large projects can seem daunting up front. When Pastor Robert Chadwick and I, along with a small group of men, decided that we could build 'a church that could seat 1,000' we had about 200 attenders. Our plan was to do it completely ourselves- all volunteer labor. I was in charge of the fundraising pledge drive ...  Read More

Every hunter knows that the moment of success is when the work really begins. A large animal needs to be cut up right there on the ground. That's hard enough, but when you finish that you need to start packing heavy loads of meat. Once you get the meat home, you need to process it and get it in the freezer. Then everything needs to be cleaned and put away for next time. Work, work, work, work, wor...  Read More

The first time I brought home a bearLaura was a little hesitant about the meat. This was new for both of us.I had taken a big black bear with a bow and arrow and had kept the meat meticulously clean. Even so, I had to 'bargain' to get her to try it. I said, "We'll put a roast in the crock pot before church, and when we come home, if it smells good, we'll try it. Otherwise, we'll go out for lunch."...  Read More

One primary key to a productive life is repetition. But then, repetition is also one primary cause of a destructive life. You see, when you do a good thing again and again, you develop a HABIT, and your habits form your LIFE. Repeating good things- healthy things- is like putting money in the bank. When times get hard or you face BIG challenges, you have an 'account' to draw from. Good habits posi...  Read More