January 14, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . Never Be Above The Law, But Set A Positive Example Of How And Why To Heed It  (MQ)

Bible Study Verses Philippians 3:2-3  Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. (NIV) Thoughts We must always be on guard, for there are evil men who wish us devoured by our own foolish desires. They will manipulate, smile and deceive. They will tell you what you want to hear.  With some people no matter what you tell them, they will follow these men. They will believe all of what they say.  The fault of man is to believe in man. Behind the smile of evil men will be fangs of deceit!  (Jim C) Action Point My friends you must be on guard against these types of people. They will always be out there looking for the next victim.  They serve no purpose of good. They try to get ahead in this world because they know their time is short. They believe only in themselves and cannot see the prize that is God. If they did, they would see how foolish and reckless they have become.   Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Even on the best hunting days, know your limits. Obey the rules and lead by example. Never be above the law, but set a positive example of how and why to heed it.

January 13, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . Desires Us To Stand Up . . . (Jack M)

Bible Study Verses Matthew 5:15-16   Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven. (NIV)   Thoughts As I drove along the road, gazing at the irrigated grain field, the wild flowers caught my eye. Some call them weeds!!!     There they were in the open. They were shining out their beauty; making a statement. It did not matter to them that the wheat field was so large or that they were outnumbered. They just grew where God planted them, brought forth their blossoms so that they could produce the seed which would multiply their kind in the future. (Jack M) Action Point Stand up!  Stand out!!  Speak up!!!  Speak out!!!!!  Make a stand!!!!!!!  Be seen!!!!!!!! Christ doesn't need camouflaged Christians; Christians that blend into the world so much they cannot be seen at all. He needs believers who will own His name.    He desires us to stand up for Him and for what is right and good as He defines it. Jesus says we should be light and salt in this current world. So make a choice. Make a decision. Determine to come out of the closet as a believer. Confess Him before men by your actions and with your words. Find a way to share with people that you belong to Him. I suggest that we be prepared when people respond to us with common phrases such as, "You were sure lucky to have that happen." May I suggest that we respond, "No. Luck had nothing to do with that. God blessed me with that." That way we give God the credit, make Him famous for everything good that occurs in our lives!!! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Many emergency kits have a reflecting mirror in them. Great idea! These are used to signal others so they might find you if you are lost. Consider adding to your emergency gear a light that has a built in generator. They have a hand crank that powers the generator. That way you have a light that never goes out. Light when you need it can be a life and death matter.

January 12, 2013   Today's Photograph . . . . Out Of His Heart Will Flow Rivers Of Living Water . . .  (Jack M)

Bible Study Verse   John 4:10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (ESV) Thoughts How important is water? Here in the USA most of us take it totally for granted. That is not so in much of the world. On a recent trip to the high plains of Idaho, I noticed that where there was water there was life. The land was abundantly producing a variety of agricultural crops. I witnessed fields of alfalfa, maturing wheat and barley, corn, and, of course, potatoes.   The common factor was irrigation, water. The local folks told me that rain totals per year were very low, as I remember less than ten inches of precipitation per year. (Jack M) Action Point Water is essential to life just like Jesus Christ is essential to eternal life. Do you have that personal love relationship that comes with faith in Christ? If not, receive Him by faith today.   And if you know the Lord, are you being a source of the living water to others? Jesus said, "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water,' " John 7:38 (ESV). So be one who shares the Water of Life, the Gospel, with others. Use your passion for outdoor activities to empower and to enable your witness to them.   Sportsmen's Yip of the Day Make sure that you have planned for the need of water. This not only includes the people who need water, but also the animals that accompany and serve you. Carry plenty of water for your hunting dogs in the vehicle. In those warm or hot days give them a water break and a chance to rest a bit before continuing the hunt. You will benefit from that water and rest break as well.

January 10, 2013   Today's Photograph . . . . When That Tom Decides To Go It Alone and Remove Himself A Distance From The Group Is When . . . . (MQ)

Bible Study Verse I John 1:6   If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (NIV)   Thoughts As I prepare for this upcoming turkey season, I've been thinking about the number of times I've had to wait to get a good shot off at the tom that I wanted. Often times, the turkeys are so close in their group, that I can't get to the bird that I want because they are blocked or covered up by one of the other birds.    When that tom decides to go it alone and remove himself a distance from the group is when I'm able to pick him off. (Dave M) Action Point In a spiritual sense, I believe that Satan loves it when we remove ourselves from consistent fellowship with other believers.    Whether we recognize it or not, God often protects us and covers us with the encouragement or spiritual food we receive from other believers. Their words and friendship are often what keeps us from being picked off by Satan.    As long as we're in the flock, we're okay. But as soon as we decide to go it alone, we've just put ourselves in a dangerous position.    No church is perfect - that's for sure!!! But it is God's design for us to be in fellowship with other believers, so that we can help strengthen each other along this life's journey. Make sure you are in fellowship with other believers who can hold you accountable and build your family and you up in the faith. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Try using a mouth call instead of a box or slate call. Keeping your hands free gives you an advantage in shooting your desired bird.

January 11, 2013   Today's Photograph . . . . Depends On Where We Are In Our Daily Walk With The Lord   (MQ)

Bible Study Verse   Matthew 8:26  But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (NKJV) Thoughts It was a calm sunny day in the Gulf of California and we were fishing off of the rocks, catching bass and trigger fish with almost every cast. The fishing was so good that I forgot to pay close attention to our position, until someone said, "Those rocks are getting awfully close!"  When I turned the key in the ignition, all I heard was the starter turning over and over and over. The engine would not start. As we got closer to the rocks, my gut began to churn more and more.  Finally, at what seemed to be the last moment, the engine fired and we backed away from the rocks. I was feeling much better until we started back to camp, only to find that the ocean had changed from calm to large rollers, too large for our 19 ft open bow runabout. The trip back was a gut churner, but thankfully we made it without incident.  (Byron S) Action Point Life is not always calm and we are not in control, even if we think we are. There are always unforeseen storms in life. How we handle those stormy times depends on where we are in our daily walk with the Lord.  Taking time out with Him in His Word and in prayer every single day will deepen our relationship with Him so that when the waters of life begin to come up over our "bow" we know that He is right there with us and we can let Him handle the rough times.  Sound too simple? Truth is we grow through the tough times and we learn by our successes as well as our mistakes. Letting Jesus and His Word help us through life makes the tough times a whole lot easier to navigate.  Check it out in His Word and we find that the men that are written about in scripture did not always have it easy but their faith carried them through.   Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Always check the weather and the tide report, The weather was good the day we went out, but I forgot to check on the tide that day.

January 9, 2013   Today's Photograph . . . . Pursue Him . . .  . (MQ)

Bible Study Verse Matthew 6:33   But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV) Thoughts A couple of Springs ago, I was out hunting turkeys and had my daughter in the pop-up blind with me. We had watched a group of turkeys for about 1.5 hours directly in front of us.  There were a few hens, a couple of jakes, and a tom. It was tantalizing. They started out on the other side of the field, came up over a hill to within about 80 yards, but would come no closer. They crossed the field, came up the fence line to my left, turned around, and went right back out into the field where they had originally come from. They were ever so close to being in range, but they just wouldn't come quite close enough.    Well, they decided to turn around one more time and head over and down the fence row again. I had had it! I couldn't take it anymore!! As they came down the fence row, there was a huge pile of rocks between us - blocking their vision and mine!!!  When they reached the rock pile, I hopped out of my blind and ran about a 100 yards to where the rock pile was - hoping to get close enough to get a shot at the tom. As fortune would have it, the birds turned around and started to go back out into the field.  One-by-one, they crossed within 15 yards of where I was laying on the ground. It was hilarious! They looked at me - a bit confused - but each one just kept on walking out into the field. Unfortunately, the jakes and the tom had meandered off into the nearby woods. All I saw were the hens returning to the field. (Dave M) Action Point Pursuit.  That's the word that comes to mind when I think back to that crazy day! I wanted that tom enough that I took decisive action and pursued that bird across the field and hid behind a rock pile with hopes of getting a crack at him.   Sometimes, I think we forget that we need to pursue God and our faith. We get complacent and somehow expect God to continue to bless us or grow our relationship with Him with little to no pursuit on our part.  I know in the hunting world that pursuit is part of getting close; sometimes in our faith, we need to be reminded of this. Make it your mission today to pursue your relationship with God - spend time with Him in study, prayer, and meditation. Pursue Him . . .  Sportsmen's Tip of the Day If you have a box call you take to the woods, place a piece of cloth or a napkin in between the box and the striker as you enter or exit the woods. It will prevent any unwanted noises from the call as you hike.

January 8, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . He Will Be The One To Deliver . . .  (Janet B)

Bible Study Verses Romans 1:21-22. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. (NIV) Thoughts I came across this verse and immediately realized how history has repeated itself once again. In recent times we have seen people denounce God and we have seen them act as if they are in control.  While at church this past Sunday our preacher made a good point. "They are grabbing all they can now because this is all they know. This is not our home, but a stopping point before we meet God in Heaven where our true home is!" It is frustrating my friends to see selfish people grab all they can and not do the work to earn it.  However realize that where we are now is not the prize that awaits us in Heaven. Our earthly life was never meant to be easy. It was meant to bring us closer to God. (Jim C) Action Point What can be hard to do, but what we must do is realize that God is in control. He will be the One to deliver us and we must keep our faith in Him.  Having faith in men is useless for they will always fail us and lead us astray. We have seen that continuously over the last several years.  Fill your mind with what is right and know in your heart that God will guide and protect us. He has proven to be the one and only God. Our sins were paid for by the death of His Son for us!!! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Winters in the Midwest can be cold and brutal. It never hurts to bring along extra clothes while traveling. Have a survival bag packed in your vehicle. Extra clothes, blankets, and water are always good to have just in case.

January 7, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . He Will Do It   (NPS)

Bible Study Verses Psalm 88:1-3   Lord, you are the God Who saves me; day and night I cry out to You. May my prayer come before You; turn Your ear to my cry. I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. (NIV) Thoughts Now I admit this is not the most cheerful of verses. However, there are days when some of you as well as me feel this way. My soul is full of trouble and I hurt for God to hear me.  When those days come upon us, the best medicine is to go to your knees in prayer to God. The overwhelming feeling of mercy I have felt when I have asked God to heal the hurt has made it easier to get up and the warming my heart has experienced cannot be experienced, but through His Son.  There is real hope in Jesus!!! (Jim C) Action Point Heart felt pain; the kind that hurts to your core is never easy. I promise you that when you bring your pain to God and ask Him to help you to overcome it, He will do it.  Keep your eyes on Him, for He is the strength to get us through any and everything!!!! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day When storing your fishing reels for the season, back the pressure off the drags. The springs will not be compressed for long periods of time and be ready, willing, and able when your season kicks into high gear.

January 6, 2013 Today's Photograph . . . . God Knows What's Happening On Our Cliffs (Tom B)

Bible Study Verse Mark 4:37-41 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!" (NIV) Thoughts On Dec. 31 I awoke to headlines in USA Today projecting how the Fiscal Cliff would affect my life if the political leaders in the United States couldn't reach an agreement on how to handle the present financial situation. I laid the paper aside and opened my Bible. As I read Mark 4, verses 37-41 jumped out at me. Have you ever been fishing in a boat when conditions came up like mentioned in the verses above? I have . . . It was January and I was fishing a power plant lake in south central Texas that had a great reputation for producing lots of bass. I knew there was cold front supposed to come through that morning, but to not have much muscle behind it. Wrong-although there was no rain (or snow), the winds were gusting up to 30 mph. My comfort zone was threatening to be swamped if I didn't do something quick. The first thing that came into my mind as the boat was bucking up and down on the churning lake was to secure everything; put all rods and equipment I could into the storage compartments of the boat. Anything else that couldn't be stowed was placed down on the floor. Fortunately the boat ramp where we launched was on the north side of the lake. My fishing partner and I were trying our luck down at water intake on the south side of the lake when the front blew through. If we had the wind behind us, while trying to get back to the ramp, it was almost a certainty we would have swamped. (Tom B) Action Point Fiscal cliffs or other cliffs that we face strike fear about what might happen. In my instance, my boat was my comfort zone. Like Jesus' disciples, I cried out to the Lord for His help, then started using the wisdom the Holy Spirit gave me. I told my fishing buddy to hang on. I pointed the bow into the crashing waves, opened up the throttle to get us up on top of the waves as much as possible, and headed back to the launch ramp. "Quiet! Be still!" is what the Lord was telling me. "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" It was one heck of a ride, but we made it back without any equipment or person missing or broken. For some people, every day may be a new cliff. As we face cliffs in life, don't be afraid! Have faith in the Lord. Heed Jesus' admonishment. . . "Be quiet! Be still! Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Even the wind and waves obey Him! Our God knows what's happening on our cliffs. Back off the edge. Be quiet. Be still. Seek Him while He may be found . . . Sportsmen's Tip of the Day When the power station on a power plant lake kicks in the generators, bait fish start moving and so do the bass. Water current breaks will hold fish ready for a meal to get swept by. Look to the main lake points and laydowns. Bass hiding under a laydown will reposition on top and to one side of the tree. Crankbaits work very well during moving water.

January 5, 2013  

Today's Photograph . . . . Your Behavior Today Will Most Likely Be The Topic Of Conversation Around Someone's Dinner Table Tonight   (Cliff S)

Bible Study Verses

Colossians 4:5-6 

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (NIV)

Thoughts
Who are the outsiders Paul is referring to? They may be those outside the faith. But, they may also be those outside your church, small group, immediate circle of friends, or your friends at work. They could include those outside your camp with whom you come into contact in the mountains. 

You never know when God will open the door for you to say a few words about Him and His impact in your life. Always be ready to share your faith with anyone at anytime. 

If you're available, God will bring opportunities to you to tell others about Him. 

(Cliff S)

Action Point
Watch your words and actions. Let them be seasoned with wisdom, compassion, and love. Remember, your behavior today will most likely be the topic of conversation around someone's dinner table tonight!

Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
Be ever alert when in the woods. The wise hunter hunts as soon as he walks out of camp and until he walks back in.

January 4, 2013   

Today's Photograph . . . . But When They Were United They Never Skipped A Beat   (Tom H)

Bible Study Verse  

Luke 15:20 

So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. (HCSB)

Thoughts

Back in August 2012 this past year I received a great blessing. My oldest brother initiated a fishing trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. 

There were 3 of us brothers who converged from vast parts the United States. We all took some time off work, invested money for plane tickets, and with some planning we pulled it off. 

The rewards were way worth it! It was a great time of catching some nice brook trout and an occasional brown. We kept some and cooked them right by the stream; almost a storybook setting. 

My point is to encourage you keep the higher valued things first. Just a friendly reminder how important family is, no matter how far you are a part. The prodigal son was far away from his father, but when they were united they never skipped a beat. 

(Tom H)

Action Point
Plan a trip with your brothers or sisters or any special people in your life this summer or fall and see how God will bless. Don't bring any agenda, just have fun!!!

Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
If you are fishing by some pristine waters bring some cooking oil, cracker meal , a small cook stove with a fry pan, and a fillet knife so you can cook up the trout right by the stream. They always taste better freshly caught!!!! 

January 3, 2013   

Today's Photograph . . . . Bear Print, Alaska  (Marshall M)

Bible Study Verse
James 1:12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. (ESV)

Thoughts
The bear was quick to strike, and Gene Moe found his arm in a vice grip. The giant Kodiak bit into his right arm, just above the elbow, and didn't want to let go.

He fought back, as best as he could, and began to hit and jab his fingers into the bear's ear. This was enough to loosen the bear's clenched teeth. He was able to pull his arm free. A wrestling match ensued and the old hunter found out the hard way that he was in the wrong weight class. The bear easily sent him flying to the ground.

The hungry, determined sow rose up on her hind legs circling her prey waiting to deliver the knock-out punch. Familiar with bear behavior, Gene was ready for the swipe of her claw. The bear missed, but not without slicing his earlobe in the process. Immediately, the frustrated bear dropped to all fours and knocked him flat on his back.

Using his heavy boots he kicked up as hard as he could into the bear's chest. The bear rolled to the side and he sprung to his feet before the bear could get up. The female, who was extremely unhappy that someone would try to stand in the way of dinner, came barreling back at him. She managed to bite into his right leg, just above the knee.

Fighting through the intense pain, he was able to wrap his arms around the head of the deranged beast and began stabbing and slicing into the bear's neck and vertebrae with his knife.

Surprised by this sudden attack, the bloody bear moved just outside of the battle torn arena. Determined to beat down this wounded man, the evil one took one last charge in hopes of finishing off her prey. 

After crying out to God for help, Gene was now armed with a new boldness and confidence. He took on the bear and stood his ground. He did not retreat. His left fist smacked the angry sow square in the nose. The impact from his punch forced the bear to the ground, where her nose burrowed into the moss, which never flinched as he put two bullets into his adversary.
(Michael T)

Action Point
If you are faced with a trial packed with danger, how will you handle it? Will you be defeated or will you stand firm? Will your attitudes and actions bring honor and glory to God the Father?

Only by the grace of God did Gene make it down the mountain. He required massive amounts of treatment and surgery to put his body back together. It was a difficult ordeal for this Christian man to go through, but Jesus Christ sustained him through it all. He was able to remain steadfast through his terrifying ordeal. As a result, God is using his story and personal testimony to bring honor and glory to Him.

Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
Purchase a small first aid kit that you can keep in your backpack. Find some old t-shirts and cut them into long strips to be used as tourniquets. Also, remember that many of your pack items can be used in treating wilderness wounds. Be creative if a situation arises, you can always replace it later. 

January 2, 2013 Today's Photograph . . . . A Blood Curdling Roar Shook The Dark Timber (MQ)

Bible Study Verses James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV) Thoughts It was cold, dark, and dreary day. The sky wanted to snow, but it held back for some unknown reason. Not that it mattered, because today was already turning out to be one of the hardest and worst days of his life. Would he have enough endurance? Would he have the will to do whatever it took to continue? The pains from his injuries were increasing with each and every step. The steep mountain terrain didn't help matters, and the mossy, dark timber made navigation even more difficult. If he made it out alive, he would have to navigate nearly two miles of rough terrain in order to reach safety. On three different occasions, he lay down in the snow and prayed that the Lord would take him home. On this day, God had a different plan for this sixty-eight year old wounded hunter. Gene Moe was in the process of field dressing a Sitka black tail deer on Raspberry Island, Alaska when a seven hundred and fifty pound Kodiak bear approached the perimeter without warning. The distracted hunter, busily focusing on the task at hand, was unaware of the lurking danger. A blood-curdling roar bellowed from the bear that shook the dark timber. The surprised hunter wheeled around with a heart and liver in one hand, and a 3 3/4 inch folding Buck knife in the other. A battle of epic proportions would soon take place pitting man against beast. To be continued tomorrow . . . (Michael T) Action Point As we begin another year, it is important for each of us to spend time in prayer and reading our Bibles. Life is an adventure. It can be an exciting experience and a bold undertaking with various trials and seasons of blessing. Nobody knows what the coming year will hold, but each of us should surround our families in prayer and study so that we can bring glory to God in every circumstance. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day When hunting in areas that have dangerous animal populations such as mountain lions or grizzly bears, be prepared. Hunt in pairs and always keep your firearms within reach. Contact the local ranger station or DNR, Department of Natural Resources, office near your favorite hunting grounds for up-to-date information on how to deal properly with an attacking animal.

January 1, 2013 Today's Photograph . . . . Generosity Is Still More A Matter Of The Condition Of Our Heart Than Our Pocketbook (MQ)

Happy New Year May God richly bless each of you as we grow closer to Him. Bible Study Verse Proverbs 27:23-24 Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. (NASB) Thoughts A new year is here bringing, with it hope-filled resolutions--possibly ones that include outdoor challenges, and some that may fall unresolved before the first month of 2013 is over. Nevertheless, it is a great time to review our life, both the physical and the spiritual. The Bible warns us in many places that we need to be diligent with all that we have, and, of course. this includes our finances. In Bible times, a person's flocks were the source of his wealth. It was the equivalent of having money in the bank. When Solomon tells us to know well the condition of our flocks, he is telling us to know our financial condition. We are also told that we are to be generous. Knowing our financial condition can allow us to be generous. I say can, because generosity is still more a matter of the condition of our heart than our pocketbook. (Dave H) Action Point Everyone needs to have a budget and learn to live on that budget. This is a wonderful time to sit down with your family and develop a budget for the year. Making the budget a family planning event will do wonders. You will, of course, include your hunting and fishing trips in the budget. The family can see how much it will cost for your outdoor trips so they won't be surprised by it when the time comes. Don't try to hide it from them. Include them! Plan the family vacation around the hunt. When you develop your budget, be sure to include your gifts to the Lord in it. The Bible tells us to plan on what we are going to give to the Lord. Don't make it a last-minute, haphazard thing. Making a plan on how much you will give to the Lord is another way of showing praise and honor to Him. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Not only is this a great time to plan the family budget, it is also a great time to go through your equipment so that you can see what will need to be replaced before next season. That way you can look for sales throughout the year. You can also save money by buying it used. There are many great values to be had on the used market.

December 31, 2012 Today's Photograph . . . . We Must Poise Ourselves To Never Give Up . . . . (Will D)

New Year's Eve Please be careful out there. Bible Study Verse Job 6:14 "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty." (NIV 1984) Thoughts Trophy fishermen, regardless of species, recognize the importance of releasing their targets. Because of their size and strength, trophy fish often make aggressive strikes and powerful runs. So, a fisherman's success may come with a price--lures bury deep into their mouths and gills, and fish are worn from battle. Big spotted sea trout are no exception. They are aggressive and voracious feeders. I was recently blessed with a big one. The lure was deep into its mouth and gills. Even though I surgically removed the hooks, it all seemed to be in vain. I wanted her to live, so I spent a considerable amount of time reviving her. I did not give up on her. (Will D) Action Point What happens when someone is in a seemingly endless spiral of defeat and failure? We witness to them, pray for them. But in the end, we come up feeling as if the situation were hopeless. Their continued rejection causes us to walk away. We must poise ourselves to never give up. Try again. Who was it that never gave up on you and me? Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Treble hooks on surface lures work well, but can cause damage to fish. They are still effective without barbs and cause far less damage.

December 30, 2012 Today's Photograph . . . . More Important Is Your Adopted Name . . . (Tom B)

Bible Study Verse Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. (NIV) Thoughts Over the Christmas holidays we were blessed to have my wife's sister, husband and their five adopted children, ranging from 9 to 15 in age, as guests for a few days. During their stay, the oldest discovered he could look up the meaning of names on his cell phone's internet. He started with discovering his oldest sister's name. Of course he wasn't searching for the most charitable definition, but one that would enable him to poke fun at her. His mischief wasn't intended to hurt her, but just to get a rise out of her. Kids will be kids!!! After all the joking, laughing, and wrestling around over his sister's name, you can guess what everyone else wanted. They wanted to know what their names meant!!! The fun was ignited all over again with each new discovery!!!! (Tom B) Action Point If someone was asked to define you, how might he or she respond? Maybe because you like the outdoors they might respond fisherman, hunter, or maybe even dog lover. A few of Jesus' names: "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him The Name That Is Above Every Name," Philippians 2:9 (NIV). "And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," Isaiah 9:6b (NIV) "For He Himself is Our Peace," Ephesians 2:14a (NIV). "On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords," Revelations 19:16 (NIV). Jesus has adopted us. "He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves," Ephesians 1:5-6 (NIV). We have the name given us by our earthly mother and father, but more important is our adopted name of Christian, believer of Jesus Christ, if you have accepted Him as your Savior. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day If you fish moving bodies of water, whether it be stream or lake, fish like to seek out a bank that has been undercut by the current. A way of getting the bait or lure down into the lair of the fish is to cast a plastic tube bait, lizard, or worm with the hook embedded into the lure. Cast upstream and let the current carry it under the bank. Reel up the slack, lift the offering up by raising your rod tip, and then let it fall down. Many times the strike will come as the lure is picked up.

December 29, 2012 Today's Photograph . . . . Are You Following God or Man's Systems (MQ)

Bible Study Verses Deuteronomy 32:10-12 In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of His eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him. (NIV) Thoughts Have you ever thought about "why" you love the outdoors? As I look around at the world, I see people building safety nets around their lives. We do everything from putting our children in every safety feature imaginable (physical safety) to investing in our retirement funds (retirement safety) to building up our savings account (current economic safety) to making our lives as completely comfortable in our homes, our vehicles, and our work environment as possible. Now, don't get me wrong, safety isn't a bad thing in and of itself. But, I've come to the realization that most of us don't need more safety. We need more wilderness . . . not necessarily the mountains, the lakes, or the deserts. They are wonderful creations, but they shouldn't become idols in and of themselves. We need the experience of wilderness times. We need to experience difficulty, adversity, and times of trouble. We need to question how we're going to make it. (Dave M) Action Point These might appear to be over the top, drastic, or radical ideas for some. Here's what I know - God does some of His best work in my life when I'm at a point where I'm not feeling safe and secure. As a matter of fact, God has my full attention when things are tough. I tend to listen to Him better during these moments. I'm more likely to respond to His leading when I don't have all the other potential distractions in my way. I fully believe that we need the wilderness, because what we really need to realize is that the only true place of safety is when we are sitting in the middle of God's will for our lives. Do an assessment of where you are spiritually today. Are you following God with your whole heart and trusting in Him for your daily life, or have you put your faith in man's systems of comfort or safety? God desires our hearts fully, not the left-over scraps beyond the safety nets we have built. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day In taking groups out into the wilderness on backpacking trips, each day should have a new leader. The leader should be responsible for map reading and finding the right trails. If the leader messes up, don't be afraid to let the group walk a few miles down the wrong trail before asking probing questions to get the group back to where they belong. These are the types of lessons that won't soon be forgotten and spiritual truths can be reinforced about the types of trails we venture down.

December 28, 2012 Today's Photograph . . . . You Don't Have To Walk Around Scarred (MQ)

Bible Study Verse I John 2:12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His Name. (NIV) Thoughts Recently, my son and I were working on building a permanent tree stand to bow hunt out of. I was up a ladder about 18 feet up the tree, when he asked me to come down to the ground to check something out. By the tone of his voice, I knew he had found something of interest. So, I scampered down the tree to see what he had found. When I got there, he pointed at the beach tree and asked me to take a look. There on the tree was clearly a scar that was left from a bear claw. It was clear as day and looked like the bear had taken a good swipe at the tree. At that point, we started to look up the tree. All the way up the tree as far as we could see were bear claw marks one after another after another. I climbed back up into the blind to see how high the marks continued. Even from there, the scar marks continued for as high as I could see. It looked like the bear had gone up to the very top. Something must have startled this bear pretty good to cause it to climb all the way up, leaving such clear scars behind on the tree. (Dave M) Action Point The scars that we looked at were relatively old. The marks were not fresh, and the tree had filled in the claw gaps over the course of time with a darker bark. Time had passed, but the scar on the tree lasted to the very day we found them there. Too many times, we hear people say something to the effect of "time heals all wounds." Time might create distance from whatever caused the scar, but it doesn't take the scar away. That's the beauty of what Christ did for us on Calvary. He put Himself up on that Cross as a sacrifice for each of us to take away the sins of the world - that includes yours and mine. He didn't just leave our scars there and cover them up over time. If we ask Jesus for forgiveness, the sins are gone - removed - nonexistent!!! Now we may have to carry the consequences of the sin with us throughout our lives, but as far as Christ is concerned, the sins have been removed - never to be seen again!!! That's the power of His forgiveness and what He did on that Cross. Don't ever think that you've sinned so big that Christ can't take the sin away. That's not true in any way, shape, or form. If you know that you are trapped in sin today, go to Christ right now in prayer and ask Him to forgive you fully and completely. You don't have to walk around scarred!!! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Try to preserve your hunting area as a sanctuary for about a month before you actually want to hunt it. Get all your work done early (plots, blinds...) and then leave it alone.

December 27, 2012 Today's Photograph . . . . Draw A Line In The Sand and DON'T Cross It (NPS)

Bible Study Verse II Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NIV) Thoughts Coyotes sound off almost every evening in the area that I hunt. When you hear these buggers right at dark, it puts a little spring in your step as you head out of the woods. Recently, a couple of friends of mine and I have been talking about getting into hunting these coyotes. The thought of this hunt intrigues me. What I know right now is that in order for us to be successful, we need to have two key ingredients for the hunt: Meat out in the field to lure the coyotes in. A distressed small animal call, like a rabbit, to get their attention. Hopefully, with the food in place and the distressed sound, we'll be able to lure them in for a successful hunt. (Dave M) Action Point Each of us has our areas of vulnerability that could potentially lead to our personal demise, attractions to sin. For some, it's alcohol, it could be pornography, it could be gambling, it could be an adulterous relationship . . . it could be a lot of things. Coyotes come running when you throw out the right bait and make the right noise. If you know what your bait for sin is, you've got a choice to make. You can either be lured in to it, or you can choose to avoid it completely. Too many people try to play around the edges with sin. Don't be one of them. If you can't handle the environment that lures you in, draw a line in the sand and don't cross it!!! You'll save yourself, your family, and your testimony a great deal of harm by choosing to honor God's ways! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Set up speakers to broadcast your distressed call. It'll increase your range and opportunity to bring in the coyotes.