This is the view to East (leftside) and the West (rightside) out of my hunting blind.  I love this spot.  It sits up on a knoll, there is a pond to the East where lots of wildlife hang out.  It is always quiet even when windy, and deer are not very skiddish protected from the wind and any signs of humans by the surrounding trees.  You can’t see any roads or other blinds from my blind.  In the picture on the left, you can see where my buck came out.  When I spotted him, and he thought he spotted me, he was right under the little cedar between the two birch trees.  He then trotted out in front of me from left to right(North to South) and was shot angling away at about 50 yards.

I passed up another buck this weekend after listening to my brother-in-law talk about how we shoot too many little bucks and they would be bigger next year if we let them go.  He was standing on the trail (see photo on the right).  I was out of my blind helping Doug find and shoot a wounded deer (it had wandered onto our land.  We did not wound it)  I walked up and I spotted him on the trail.  I stalked up and then saw the antlers.  He proceeded to head south (left in the picture) and I moved around the other side of the blind to get a better look when he came out on the south side of the woods.  As he exited the small section of woods, he turned right at me and proceeded to walk slowly to within about 25-35 yards (bow range).  He was a decent 4, a little tall, but narrow.  It was really cool to be that close on the ground with him and out of the blind.  He moved south of me and began to smell the air…busted.  He did not see me, but trotted off to the south to leave that funny smell behind.

So I am holding Doug to this, he said if I let him go, there will be bigger deer next year.  I better see some bigger deer I guess.  We’ll see.

Hunting Success!!

The morning started out pretty slow.  I woke up on time in my blind, got dressed and opened the windows.  Saw a couple does, thought about one, but at 7:30am on opening day, thought that was a little premature for taking does.  My father-in-law shot one.  A three point, we tracked and found him after breakfast.  A little lunch and we were back in the woods for the afternoon.

So tonight, after a short nap, I was hearing shooting and some chatter over the radio.  I stood up and walked to the window, stretched, and noticed a buck staring right at me through the window.  I was busted.  I froze and we entered a staring contest from not more than about 35 yards away.  I couldn’t move.  No rifle in my hands.

He looked away which gave me the opportunity to grab my rifle.  I was busted again, but he didn’t know what it was he saw.  He turned broadside and started to trot away…blam! 

Though I tried hard to miss him…I spined him just an inch or two below his back.  He piled up right there where I hit him.  Here are the pictures.

There was a much bigger buck around, it was the stuff of legend.  A buck most people would need to pay thousands to shoot.  I have a picture and my brother-in-law took pictures I will have him send to me.  It was shot this morning.  23.5″ spread 7 point with enormous gerth.  3.5 year old buck.  This one was huge.  Makes mine look like a yearling.  But mine is the biggest for me yet, so I am thrilled with it.

Youth Pastor Woes

As a youth pastor, sometimes your the bug, sometimes you’re the windshield.  So the other night we had a trunk or treat program at Lighthouse.  It was pretty fun and overwhelming at the same time.  We were way understaffed for the more than 300 people who showed up.  Anyway, I had set up for a party in the Youth Room, but since I only ever had 6 people at a time, it wasn’t nearly as much fun as I had envisioned.  Of course all the candy was consumed, but mostly by those under 6th grade.

I also had soda there for the night.  It was close to the end of the night, and Kaylin Hill wanted to take a whole bottle of Mountain Holler ( a Mountain Dew knock off from Save-a-lot).  I told her there was no way she was getting a whole 2 liter.  She is hyper enough without the caffeine.  So she proceeds to steal my phone.  Ok that was a little frustrating.  But I was not giving in to her terrorist tactics.  She threatened to erase my contact list, empty threats I am sure.  But you start to wonder. 

Instead I have decided to get even.  Her and my young cousin Madeline decided to put a “fun” picture of themselves on my phone and make it the wallpaper.  So in the spirit of getting even, and having a lot of fun, I decided to post the pictures of them here for thousands on the internet to view.  Do you suppose that will make them pause before they mess with me again!  Probably, not.  But I needed to blog about something and this seemed to be pretty funny.

Looking good girls.  Hope you had a good halloween.  Luv ya!

Your Pastor

Big Storm…or trees and tractors

So I’m up north this weekend.  The weather had cleared and we were up in the trees by about 5:45PM.  It was sunny and a little breezy right out of the South.  I’m seated on a north facing stand with most of my deer coming from the South or a little East.  Anyway, it was a nice night.  I had 6 does and fawns out in front of me, one really fat one that refused to step out where I could shoot.  But they were fun to watch anyway.  I noticed they were really jumpy, more than usual and chalked it up to the windy conditions. 

As I sat there, a large Cumulous cloud seemed to suspend to the North East.  It was really fun to watch.  It was expanding like a mushroom cloud explosion.  There were some lower grey clouds floating by, it was really beautiful against the blue sky.  As I was watching all the glorious creation and the remaining fall color, I heard a low rumble.  Hmmm, not any of these clouds I thought.  I watched as the deer spooked from in front of me and moved East.  They did not see or wind me, but something made them jump.

To my west, I noticed the clouds getting dark grey.  I turned in my stand and looked straight South and it was black.  Hmm, this could get ugly.  Now in the morning I sat through a little light rain all morning, no big deal in a cedar tree with lots of canopy overhead.  So I was sticking around again through this rain.

I watched the black sky approach slowly and it seemed to encroach all around me.  Another low rumble.  Then, as though God opened the freezer, I get this blast of cold air from the my South.  That was all the more warning I needed.  I have never gotten down from a tree faster.  The first bit of lightning flashed to the West, high in the clouds.  “Must go Faster!”

I hit the ground, the deer were no where to be seen.  They could read the sky as well as I could.  In fact, we are pretty sure the deer knew more than us.  They were out browsing all afternoon as we drove to pick up some tractor implements for Grandpa.  I ran, yes in my insulated boots, through the standing corn rows.  The wind was much worse on the ground and the black sky was rapidly approaching.  It was now looking like 8:30 at 7:15.  It began to sprinkle and the sky had that weird color to it, there had been a short tornado warning in the afternoon.  I wanted to get to shelter. 

The closest shelter to me was the new hunting blind we were building.  I knew that was open.  There was also a pole barn, but I figured that was all locked up.  I tried a couple doors as the rain was now coming harder and the wind was making lines in the fields as it burst in three short blows repeatedly. 

I ran into the blind to think about what to do while I waited for my brother-in-law to get there with the truck.  He had been hunting on the other side of the swamp about 1/2 a mile away perhaps.  Lots of walking for him and then a short drive to my spot.  When I got to the blind I saw a coyote run past the pole barn toward a forklift parked in the back.  I got out an arrow, just because.  I thought, “perhaps my hunting isn’t over afterall”.  It never returned.

Now the storm is in full swing.  I have rarely ever been in a storm like this outside.  The trees are whipping, rain is pouring and lightning is streaking the sky.  A few are striking really close.  I began imaging what would happen if lightning hit the little plywood and 2×4 shack.  Not a pretty picture for the guy inside it.  So I looked and there was Doug’s tractor.  A fully enclosed cab, big rubber wheels.  Time to make a run for it.  I had remembered the door was unlocked from before and I jumped right in.  The door swung closed behind me.  Now it’s starting to hail, and more wind and lightning.  “Anytime now, Doug?!?!” In the safety of the cab, I could think a little clearer.  Talk about the sovereignty of God.  Once in a while we all need to feel that insignificant.

Doug finally got there, he was soaked.  It took him a little longer to decide to get down I think, he had bucks bedded down in the field between him and the truck.  I understand his dilemma.  I jumped in the truck and we made it through zero visibility back to Highland and home.  As we approached the house, the hail was getting louder.  Soon golfball sized hail was smacking the 2007 Dodge Pick up and Doug picked up the pace in the zero visibility road smashing through huge puddles.  We passed a manure spreader…not significant, just putting it in context that I am up north.

Home.  Whew.  The kids are all in the basement and happy to see the Dads home.  As we stood in the garage, the storm subsided and it was night.  We spent the rest of the night playing settlers around the kitchen table.  A good night.  So that is how I found the sovereignty of God in a tree, a blind, a tractor, and the hug of a little girl who prayed for her daddy to be safe in the storm.  Some of life’s neat experiences.  I just wish I had gotten a shot at that Coyote.

Breaking the silence – Seeing God at work

OK, I have been a little busy, so I think I can catch a break for the delay, but I must admit it has been a while.  Another factor is the frequency of my wife’s blog has increased over this period which means less time for me to get in front of the screen.  So enough of that, for now.

I am overwhelmed by seeing God at work.  Pastor Steve is recovering from heart surgery, very well.  Pastor Paul has no cancer.  Another person has accepted Christ this week through the ministry of Lighthouse Community Church.  We have had more than 15 visitors in the last two weeks, and not all of them have been scared off by the youth pastor preaching.  I have family (though they wish to remain anonymous at the moment) who are expecting a baby (I am very excited for them).  My parents have had a good, and so far smooth transition from our perspective to MS and a new home.  Erica’s flares are for the time under control, albeit with a lot of medicine yet, and my kids continue to be hilarious.

Last night during dinner prayer ( I usually open our meals with prayer, and the girls take turns closing), I completely lost control with laughter.  Erica had started to make some kind of noise and so was Lauren.  I paused in prayer to quietly Shhh them.  I looked at Lauren, said shhh, and she replied:  “Dad, I was just pssst’ing you”.  I couldn’t control myself.  By itself it doesn’t seem that funny, but if you have beenfollowing my wife’s blog you’ll know that funny has been the rule at our dinner table, and this was just too much in the context.  We then closed our prayer after everyone sort of gained their composure with a thanksgiving for joy.

I am very happy this morning with all that God has brought about over the past several weeks.  I am excited about the future, although with an understanding that we still live in a fallen and broken world wrecked by sin.  But for now, I am happy to sit back and see what God is doing to bless us.  Every breath is from his hand.  Just getting up from bed this morning, which today was not an easy task, was his blessing.  Holding my kids, tickling Lauren, hugging my wife, typing this blog, losing weight, talking with friends, serving in His church, all of this is the work and blessing of God. 

I can say this with integrity because I have known living on the other side a little as well.  Facing loss, struggling with depression, overcoming anxiety, are all things I have faced.  I am not saying that all of life is always easy, or that only the good things come from the hand of God.  But, when good things come, I know their source.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

So today, I am encouraged by God’s work in the world.  Why he chooses to bless this rotten planet at all is beyond my understanding, but I am looking forward to the day when his ultimate blessing is poured out on us all through the redemption of creation.  More about that on Sunday I guess…can’t steal my own thunder or no one will come to church to hear it live.

Have a good day!

Life Quotes from Fiddler on the Roof

Growing up my dad was a big fan of fiddler on the roof.  Sometime in my early teen years my dad had us watch it on a new years eve.  I don’t remember if I was instantly hooked, but I grew to like it.  I even defended it to many who had a shallow view of the musical being only a Jewish thing.  Now looking back, there are a few great lines I go to often.  In the last few weeks, there have been two in particular that ring true.

Lately we have had our share of health problems, life stress, and the usual events of life.  In the movie, Tevye isi having one of those days as well.  He says:  “I know we are the chosen people…but once in a while couldn’t you choose somebody else?”  Words to live by.

Another time a friend of the family, a young upstart from Kiev exclaims that money is the world’s curse.  Tevye steps out of his barn looks up at the heavens as cries ,”may God smite me with it…and may I never recover!”

I have had opportunity to feel these quotes this week and thought I would share them with you.

Back to School

The girls went to school today and so did I.  I dropped off the girls this morning to their respective classrooms.  They were very excited about it.  It was a fun day I think.  We did find out that Erica will be one of those who when asked what she did today will say “stuff”.  She was short on stories and details about her day.  In fact, when asked what had happened to her finger tonight, she said, “let’s not talk about it”.  They had a good day, and made it home on the bus.

I went to school today, too.  As is my custom, I hung out at the school today to meet with kids from youth group.  I attended the 6th grade and 8th grade lunches due to a mistake in the schedule from the office, I missed 7th grade.  Anyway, I will catch them later.  Tomorrow I will make an effort to get to see the High School students.

I enjoy spending time at the school, the students are pretty busy most of the time with their eating and socializing, but I find I am usually accepted at the table, not quite as one of them, but welcome.  Thanks to those of you who let me in to your circle!  Anyway, I like to hear the stories and find out what they are doing and thinking about.  I hear about school schedules, after-school activities, and the latest dietary do’s and don’ts for waist concious teens.  I helped contribute to that conversation given my recent efforts to drop a few pounds myself.

Anyway, back to school is here.  We just hold on until June.  But a lot of good will happen in these months between now and the summer.  Students will grow up, mature (we hope) and learn new things.  We have another opportunity to call students to a life of discipleship and following Christ.  We have a sustained weekly opportunity to build relationships with some pretty cool people and help them know Christ.  I look forward to the launch of youth groups next week.  Sunday for HS and Wednesday for MS.  It’s going to be a fun and, I think, amazing year.  So hang on, and see what God does. 

This is the blondest moment I have ever witnessed

I saw this on the home page at wordpress when I logged in.  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.  I am not a blond joke person most of the time, but this girl really gives the haircolor stereotypes a reason to keep going.  I feel bad for her embarassment, at the same time, isn’t poise under pressure one of the things they judge in the contest?

I will let you judge for yourself.

My Apologies to our softball women

I have now been chastised twice for my sexist comments about throwing worse than the girls.  My intent, was to convey how good our women play, and how poorly I play.  In the interest of humility, and to refrain from digging a deeper hole while explaining my comments, I will defend myself no further.

I apologize for poor performances on and off the field, and beg the forgiveness of the exceptional women athletes with whom it is my privelege to share the field.  Please accept this gift as a token of my deepest regrets for my most egregious error.

Canoe Trip

Our middle school youth group went on a canoe trip.  Here are the pictures!  These will also be on Facebook, and I will get to tagging the photos and adding captions at some point.  But I wanted to get them out there quickly so here they are.  Please feel free to tag them on facebook yourself.  I will approve them later.