And so I finally learned. My 'empty' pack when hunting in the wilderness includes warm gear, rain gear, spotting scope, tripod, binoculars, rifle, ammo, knives. game bags, food, water, fire starters, phone and more. If I am packing for overnight, then add a tent, sleeping bag, cook stove, fuel, sleeping pad, extra clothes, head lamps, first aid kit, and more food. Carrying all of that weight is a ...  Read More

After the disaster with my plastic rain gear, I agreed with Laura to begin purchasing quality gear. We were on a tight budget, so one year was rain gear, the next year was a tent and the third year was a sleeping bag. My first 'geared up' trip out, the weather was beautiful and sunny. I exited my warm sleeping bag and waterproof tent, stretched my legs, packed light, and began my climb. Since this...  Read More

With my thin, plastic rain gear shredded and gone, I continued to climb up above treeline in my white cotton jeans and T-shirt. As I gained elevation, the temperature dropped quickly and it was blowing hard and raining sideways. I began to shiver and my teeth were chattering even through the heavy exertion of the climb. These were warning signs. Hypothermia was setting in. Both strong and fit, phy...  Read More

I was new to sheep hunting and new to wilderness hunting in general. My tent cost $20 and my sleeping bag cost less than that. My 'rain gear' was thin plastic jacket and pants that came in a tiny ziploc bag and cost a $1.99. I tell you this because I spent a night in the black spruce at the foot of a mountain in the pouring rain. My tent was not waterproof and I could have 'bailed' the water off o...  Read More

What, ultimately, is needed to live a successful life? The most common answer is, "Money," but in truth, it's the power and freedom that money brings into a life that people desire.  And yet the rich and powerful among us are amongst the least happy and most dysfunctional portion of our society. Money and power bring pride and the illusion of 'independence.' This is the very opposite of what is ne...  Read More

"This is love- not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." -1 John 4:10 God initiated our relationship. He loved FIRST. More than that, he loved us when we were living a rebellious life. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."Love is not passive, it initiates. Love is ACTIVE, and is proved by its ACTIONS. Jesus told us that if we w...  Read More

"This is love- not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." -1 John 4:10God initiated our relationship. He loved FIRST. More than that, he loved us when we were living a rebellious life. "While we're still sinners, Christ died for us." Love is not passive, it initiates. Love is ACTIVE, and is proved by its ACTIONS. Jesus told us that if we wil...  Read More

I slept in my own bed last night. It was a combination of things. Descending from 2 strenuous climbs, my son's knee crippled up so badly that he could barely limp out of the woods. Between that, no moose and a broken down machine, our plans changed. At this point in my life, I've learned not to stress about these kinds of things. Those things that won't matter for eternity are little more than int...  Read More

6 AM and the rain finally stopped. We walked over 7 miles yesterday and did not see a single fresh moose track. Bizarre. With 4 days left to hunt we'll need to break camp and move. We walked, we climbed, we sat still and glassed a big stretch of country. Though it's early, we may try calling moose today. Most often success requires perseverance. The same thing is true spiritually. After Jesus call...  Read More

5 AM- first morning in the woods in months. I am enjoying the gift of a 'dry camp.' Spending this time alone in the dark- reading my Bible by lantern light- is good for my soul. The quiet, is mesmerizing. Last night my son David commented that he couldn't believe how loud was the sound of a yellow leaf falling from a tree to the ground.We are so seldom "quiet' anymore. It's as though a whole new w...  Read More

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Do you have a contentious spirit? Are you easily offended? Do you feel the need to argue and win? If any of those are true, you are missing out on a clearly stated blessing of God. Peacemakers do not insist on having their own way. Peacemakers are eager to compromise and are willing to surrender their rights. Peacemak...  Read More

Jesus wept. In a world that seems to become desperately more wicked by the day, so many things grieve the heart of our Savior. Christ-followers are mourning because of another mass shooting of Christian school children by another person who bought into the ridiculous 'boys can be girls and girls can be boys' ideology. It's simply another lie from the pit of hell intended to destroy people created ...  Read More