It was one of those days. Not 1 in a million, but maybe 1 in 100. As I lay on my belly peaking over the top of a mountain, there was a legal ram right beneath me. It was a beautiful, clear morning an hour after daylight, and only an hour from my camp. Win- win- win. Sometimes everything goes our way, doesn't it? Some days are just that good. When everything is going right- when you are in the midd...  Read More

It was a sunny morning- one of those that sheep hunters dream about. Though I could see my breath, the temperature was above freezing. Even though I had no idea if there were any sheep in this country, I put on my pack, grabbed my rifle and began to climb. For me, there is nothing like being on foot in the 'high country.' Getting there is costly. That's why so few people do it. It's a tremendous a...  Read More

A number of years ago I set up camp by myself on a high ridge. The goal was dall sheep, but I hadn't seen anything. The country was barren. Even so, the next morning I started to climb higher still. Why? Because even though I felt that my chances of getting a sheep were utterly remote, I also knew that my chance of getting a sheep if I DIDN'T CLIMB was '0'- zip- nada. some of you feel that your ch...  Read More

I don't like to be cold. I don't mean the kind of cold that says, "I better put on a sweater." I mean REAL cold- the kind of cold that hurts you. In that kind of cold, only two things can keep you from serious harm- protective clothing and activity. If I venture out on my trapline missing even a single essential piece of clothing, I am vulnerable. If things go badly, I could be in deep trouble. If...  Read More

How do you respond when someone wounds you? I don't mean physical wounds- we care for those as best we can. I'm talking about something deeper, something that hurts your feelings- an attack upon your performance or perhaps upon you as a person. Sometimes the words spoken are true. Sometimes they are completely false. At times the wound is given unintentionally, but often you are the target. HOW DO...  Read More

"I might have lasted longer if I had occasionally set my back against a tree." These words were written by a man used powerfully of the Lord for decades. Having both a heart that still hungered to preach the gospel AND broken health, he was reflecting that he should have taken better care of himself. That's a great reminder for all of us, isn't it? We are made of BODY, soul and spirit. The Holy Sp...  Read More

The temperature is hovering around 0° and snow is falling hard. Winter is back. After weeks of driving on road grime, it's hard to tell the color of my truck. But all of that dirt and grit and grime has disappeared- just like that- under a blanket of white. This is what God does in regard to our sins. Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord, "though your sins are like s...  Read More

As the temperatures dropped, our rain turned into snow. With the wind, we had an actual 'Minnesota-type' blizzard. High on the mountain, we got about 6 inches. The snow's undercoating of freezing rain made the roads treacherous. Alaskans are used to driving on snow. The ice hidden underneath was the problem. So often in life, the danger is hidden beneath the surface. I once listened to a young wom...  Read More

Our team from Ukraine leaves today. Last night was amazing. We had our annual missions dinner. We honored our missionary guests, ate, worshipped, and heard a powerful message from Slavik Golovatyuk, the founder of Solid Rock Mission in Ukraine. We watched video reports from our foreign missionaries sharing the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of decisions for Christ this past year! Between our Women's Minist...  Read More

As my truck began sliding sideways down my driveway yesterday, it occurred to me that I needed sand... Fortunately a good friend put me at the head of his list and got the job done. A team is staying with us who are part of a ministry in Ukraine. They needed to drive a 15 passenger van down to the church, but would never have made it down our driveway! Isn't it great when you have a friend who can...  Read More

As I sit at my kitchen table this morning I can hear the wind roaring outside like a jet engine. Where did it come from? Where is it going? We cannot see the wind, but we FEEL it and see its EFFECTS. Jesus said in John 3:8, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." Every Christi...  Read More

Many things in life are behind us. Those experiences are gone, and we will never get them back. That's the thing about time- it is truly our most precious commodity. My week has been filled with reminders. I spoke with the family of a man who was 'suddenly gone', with the father of an infant who is no longer with us, and prayed with a man (and his family) who is not expected to leave the hospital....  Read More