Two tundra swans glided silently by as a loon's morning song echoed across the surface of the lake. A light fog is hovering over the water. There's something peaceful- something good for the soul- about being next to 'still' waters. As a young man tending sheep, David must have shared this feeling. He was a musician and is the most famous song writer of antiquity.  He wrote, "The Lord is my shephe...  Read More

I was out caribou hunting in the Alphabet Hills with one of my wrestlers. It was his first hunt. As I led the way down a very steep hill, I had an interesting experience. A rock was jutting up in the center of the trail about 3 or 4 inches... I thought. My small machine had 6 inches of clearance, so I paid little attention... until I was summersaulting over the top of my handle bars... feet high i...  Read More

A friend is taking me flying this morning. It started me thinking- it's been almost 30 years since I've flown a plane. I've flown IN a lot of planes since then, but never as the pilot. There is something that is very comfortable about letting someone else fly the plane- letting someone else handle the controls. I can simply enjoy the ride. This is the way that God wants us to live our lives. I onc...  Read More

My daughter and I were climbing a mountain the other day and nearly caught up with an older climber who had started long before us. In fact, I wondered if he was going to make the summit because he looked like he was struggling. I was shocked later that day to see him climbing an even higher peak farther into the mountains. I could see that he knows the 'secret' to climbing a mountain. What is tha...  Read More

So there I was, standing in the black spruce getting eaten alive by mosquitoes- stuck. My 4-wheeler was high centered in what amounted to a narrow, deep trench. Somehow I needed to tilt it up on its side so it would no longer be resting on the skid plate, and then throttle the 2 left wheels forward. I knocked down and limbed a spruce tree that I could use as a pry bar. By jamming the 6 inch end of...  Read More

Getting stuck in Alaska's wilderness on an a small 4-wheeler presents unique challenges. I'm certain that I've faced this more than 100 times, and many of them while hunting by myself. On this particular day I was 'high centered.' Not only could I not physically lift the front or the back of the machine, but even if I could, I had nowhere to move it. Each wheel rut was up against a solid earth wal...  Read More

I had snowmachined into the high country with some friends, and we were stopped just below treeline. I had hunted dall sheep in this country and knew how tough the peak and ridge above me were- both to get to and to walk. Imagine my shock when I looked high above me, and, standing on a windswept rock outcropping, were four moose... in the middle of winter... on a jagged mountain... far above treel...  Read More

One feature of Alaskan life is midnight airport runs. The 'red-eye' flights are popular because they're cheaper. In mid-summer our outside guests are always amazed that it's still light out. Light brings a degree of comfort and security along with the amazement of being able to see snow-capped mountains at midnight! Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." Light overcomes dark, we all understand...  Read More

How wide is your social circle? When is the last time you did something fun with someone new? Only NEW friends ever become 'old' friends. INVITING and INCLUDING others is hard work at times. I understand. We are busy people and only have so much extra time. For many years, I have viewed friendships from the standpoint of eternity. In other words, I may not get to spend nearly as much time with you...  Read More

Back when I was a school teacher, I was always looking for a way to support my family over the summer. I already had my private pilot's license, so I decided that I would get my commercial license and try to get a job flying for a fishing lodge during those long summer days. I was flying out of Merrill Field in Anchorage and was perhaps halfway through my training when Laura and I were offered a t...  Read More

When I went to buy a battery for my 1981 GMC 1 ton pickup, as he entered the truck details in his system, the parts man asked. "What color is it?" I laughed out loud. You see, my truck has panels from five different trucks. From back-to-front it's brown, yellow, blue, black, and red. I've met many who claim to be Christians who remind me of that truck. The 'color' of their faith seems to change de...  Read More

When Jesus sent out his disciples to proclaim the good news- "God himself has paid the penalty for our sins and Invites us to become his children"- this became the centerpiece, the driving force, the all-consuming passion of those men and women. Why? Because Jesus, the miracle worker, the man crucified by the Romans because of the demands of Jewish leaders, walked out of the grave alive! Jesus PRO...  Read More