Men's Fraternity
The hunter's corner
by david alberson

January 2008
Well, it's January, so I hope you've had a successful deer season this year! I've seen a few nice bucks in person and some real monsters were taken this year across the state. Personally, my season was full of firsts, but some had a hard time. There were many factors that changed the way deer formed patterns this year. Varying food sources due to a late freeze in early spring, a reported decline of 20% in the deer taken during the early part of the season, and the re-emergence of a cyclical deer disease called EHD, which occurs about every 5-7 years and was triggered by the drought this year. All of these factors led to some hunters taking record bucks, while others saw less deer activity than they have ever seen.

Hunting, like life, is unpredictable. You can be in a stand for hours, just about ready to leave; frustrated because everything is working against you, and suddenly the buck of a lifetime can walk right out in front of you. The only factor you are really in control of is - showing up and being there. Everything else is based on your efforts to do "all the right things" such as effective scent control, minimizing movement, wind direction, and of course making the shot with skill. Despite doing everything right, though, your hunt can be ruined in a moment by any random change in wind direction, or a sound you make, or just the path of the deer. The bottom line is, you are ONLY in control of being there or not. As some would say, "You can't kill'em from the couch!" Only God is in control of the other factors.
Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) - Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

That's what our lives are like. We have choices - which God allows us to make - but He is really in control. When you are faced with your choices, choose wisely, and then let God handle the rest, ok? The outcome of your life, like the hunt, is determined by His will, not ours. Give Him the glory no matter what happens. Your idea of a failure may be part of

His plan for an eventual SUCCESS that we can't see coming!

Romans 6:16 (NLT) - Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

December 2007
Peace. What is it? Can you describe it? Maybe you have it now, or, maybe you actively seek it. Some pray for it, some are given the gift of it, some seem to spread it everywhere they go, and sadly, some never seem to have it.

If you're a hunter or an outdoorsman of any type, I know you have experienced it first-hand. If you've ever been on the water in a boat before sunrise, you have seen the mist rising off the glassy surface, broken only by the ripples from your bait as it lands in the water. If you've ever been in the woods when the sun begins to rise, you have seen the rays pierce the trees in the early morning, cutting through the forest to cause steam to rise from the wet leaves on the forest floor. These are often still, quiet, serene moments that would only be disturbed if you caused some kind of noise by moving, coughing, or speaking. If you remain in silence, it's as if you are not even there, but somehow viewing the scene remotely. Even if you are not an outdoorsman, almost everyone has watched a sunrise on a cool morning, probably while sipping some coffee or cocoa. These times are most appropriately referred to as "peaceful", yet God is at work all around us.

We all know the verse, or, we have at least heard it. Psalm 23:2 (KJV) - "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." This verse describes God's ability to give us peace when we ask Him. It uses a description that could quite possibly mean nothing to you, if you have never experienced it. The world runs at an extremely fast pace, so sometimes, we need to stop, take a moment, and ask God for peace. If you can't get outdoors, you probably can get still and quiet indoors. It's not quite the same, but if you do it, you'll find that when you are the most still, the most quiet, and the most observant (spiritually, that is), God is actually quite busy around you.

That's peace. Knowing that when and wherever you stop, God begins, and He is always doing His work.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV) - "Be still, and know that I am God..."

Did you know? - The hard freeze that occurred last April had a seriously negative effect on this year's "mast" crop. Mast producing trees such as Oaks, Hickories, and Walnut, produce acorns and walnuts each year as a major supplement to the deer diet. A report released by the TWRA indicates that there was a decent crop of red acorns this year, but white acorns are nearly non-existent. Additionally, the red acorns are being consumed quickly by the squirrel population. Hickory nuts and Black Walnuts are also in extremely short supply. Due to the reduced amount of mast available, deer will have to travel increased distances this year to find nutrition.

I have personally found this to be true during a little pre-season scouting. I also heard from a local hunter that he discovered a tree that produced not only healthy mast, but in one case, acorns were seen that were actually larger than normal, and appeared elongated. When I asked where this was found, it turned out to be near a golf course. My theory is that the extra watershed and fertilizer from the golf course enhanced the produce in this area. I told the person they could very well stand a chance to see a huge amount of activity in that area, and they agreed.

Consider how this compares with the Church's mission to spiritually minister to the human population (us!). Good spiritual food can be difficult to find, and when it is in short supply, people will sometimes travel great distances to seek it out. Our "mast" is the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who fills us up and comforts us. Our Churches also provide teaching, guidance, worship, and edification, rounding out our spiritual "diet". If we lack any of these, our spirit can become weak, allowing us to be guided by our flesh, which leads to disease and death (both figuratively and in reality).

In another analogy, you are like the mast bearing tree, and you must plant yourself near a church that provides life-giving water and nutrition, so you will produce the "mast" that meets the needs of the lost. This mast is referred to as the "fruits of the spirit" and yours may become numerous and healthy. I believe that our Church, First Assembly of God Cordova, will provide all the spiritual nutrition we need for years to come, but we must PLANT ourselves near (that means being steady in our attendance, and STAYING involved). I couldn't find a better verse to describe what we need to do, than Ephesians 6:13 - "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Let's stand for something, Men. Oh, and Happy Hunting! - for souls first, then deer!

August 2007

Let me tell you a story about a guy who forgot what was important. We'll call him Dave. Dave's alarm went off at 4:00am, but it didn't really wake him up. He hadn't really slept, thinking about the day ahead of him. The night before, Dave had been washing clothes, loading the truck, gathering supplies, and generally completing his checklist for tomorrow's hunt. Dave had dreamt all night of big bucks, 8 or 10 points, calmly walking into range and stopping right in front of him. The day was planned, and he was sure everything was ready.

Dave's 4-wheeler was waiting for him at the hunting cabin, so it was easy to grab all the pre-packed bags, gun, and ammo case, and head out. After checking his watch, Dave knew that he had made good time as he unloaded everything from the truck onto the 4-wheeler, took one last sip of coffee, and got ready to follow his buddy's truck to the hunting stands. As he followed the truck's lights in front of him, the sun began to show the first glint of light over the horizon. They would arrive in the stands before light - Perfect!

With only 1 mile left to go, they turned off the road and began up the sloping "road" (actually a rutted trail), and then it happened. Dave's 4-wheeler sputtered a couple of times, then died. Dave frantically pulled the rope twice in an effort to start it, then he stopped and calmly realized what he had forgotten. He was out of gas. A one-mile walk, wearing and carrying over 50 pounds of gear, plus gun, gives a man time think. It also makes him sweat (and smell, which isn't good for hunting). Dave saw nothing that day, except squirrels and a nice sunrise.

Like Dave, we can try, but our plans can easily fall apart, with only one crucial detail forgotten, overlooked, or missed. That's the problem - if you only have faith in yourself, you will eventually let yourself down! What is your faith in? I prefer to put my faith in the One who is always prepared, never forgets the details, and could never "miss" what is important. Read what it says in Luke about the man who prepared for life, but not eternity...
Luke 12:20
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' (NIV)

Now, read what it says about those who prepare not just in life, as we all do, but for eternity - by trusting in Jesus Christ for our salvation...
John 14:2
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (NIV)

I guarantee you He won't forget the important stuff!