HAPPINESS DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN

Winter in Minnesota is in full swing. The temperatures have been below zero, plenty of snow has fallen, the wind chills have caused the thermometer to dip even lower; and oh yes, the sun is only out for a little over eight hours a day. Honestly, winter is my least favorite of the four seasons. Now, that’s not to say I don’t enjoy it, but it takes a little more time getting used to it.

Thankfully, there are many ways to get out and enjoy the season; for some that means firing up a snowmobile and motoring their way through field and woods. For others, they may get out on one of the thousands of lakes and ice fish. For my boys, they strap on a pair of skis or grab a snowboard and hit the slopes. My wife and I like to take hikes through the woods with our dog. My favorite thing about hiking in the winter is that you can tell who or what has been there before you. There may be boot or snowshoe tracks from other hikers, maybe a cross country ski trail, or the many different animal tracks that tell of what populates the area - -  one never knows what you’ll see.

                 

The cold and snow create their challenges, but in our civilization, there are ways to overcome those challenges. The technical advances in clothing help overcome the frigid temperatures. The vast array of equipment not limited to, but include snowmobiles, skis, and snowshoes provide many opportunities to get out and enjoy creation. One of the unique challenges to overcome in winter is the lack of daylight. A friend of mine suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is caused from the lack of sunlight. Thankfully, there is a lamp for your home that simulates sunlight.

Geared up and ready for fun.

Working through challenges can be very rewarding and usually there are resources available to get through them. God wants us to be happy, but He’s not always going to serve it on a silver platter; sometimes we have to help set the table.

Ecclesiastes 3: 12-13 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

A couple of snow storms passed through our area last week; three inches of snow fell one day and five inches fell a few days later. That’s not a huge ordeal for the upper Midwest; in fact, three inches of snow really isn’t that much for us. Sure, it's enough to shovel, mess up the roads for a day, and maybe we even get to break out the snow blower, but not much more than that. Now, a snow fall of five inches on top of the three inches already there, that really starts to build up. Initially, it’s very peaceful, the fresh coating of snow absorbs a lot of noise, and everything is bright from the fresh white snow. However, eight inches of snow can have a lot of weight to it. Some of the strains from the snow fall come in several forms; noise from all the snow blowers, sore muscles from shoveling, or a dented car bumper from sliding into something that doesn’t move. Over time, those things quiet down, heal, or can be repaired, until the next storm.

This picture displays how the weight of the snow is a burden on the pine. Photo credit: Shakyphotography.com

There are many pine trees in our yard. One of the characteristics I like about them is that they keep their needles year-round. In the winter, they have a deep green foliage, which is a nice contrast to the bright white snow. The downfall of keeping their foliage year-round is that there’s more area for the snow to gather on, thus adding a lot of weight. It’s not obvious at first, but over the years that extra weight has broken many branches on the pine trees. The oaks and maples in our yard shed their leaves in the fall, leaving just the spindly branches. These branches don’t have nearly as much mass as the pine trees and can handle the weight of the snow without breaking -- sometimes it’s beneficial to get rid of the extra layers in life to better handle these storms.

From years of burden you can see how several branches have been broken.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

BE PREPARED

In the upper Midwest, it’s going to be a very cold week. In some areas, the temperature during the day won’t even get above zero degrees Fahrenheit (that’s -17 Celsius)! My job requires me to work outside on occasion, especially when it’s extremely hot and cold, as more stuff tends to break under those conditions. Working outside and being an outdoor enthusiast, I’ve purchased the correct gear and clothing needed to do my job effectively and still enjoy the outdoors. That reminds me of a time when I was learning what it meant to be prepared.

As a boy, my father encouraged me to join cub scouts; in fact, he encouraged all us boys to join. As a parent now, looking back it made a lot of sense - four boys within 5 years meant a lot of energy, and energy meant things were going to get broken. Scouts gave us the opportunity to get out of the house, go camping, and learn many life skills. Around middle school age, one would transition from cub scouts to boy scouts.

Boy scouts was more intense with harder life skill challenges, longer hikes, and more extreme camping situations. On one occasion, we went on a winter camping trip. I don’t remember the exact temperature, but it was cold! The year was close to 1982 and the camping gear was not as advanced as it is now. The scout leaders (my dad being one of them) gave us advice on ways to try and stay warm. Some of the options were; put newspaper on the ground first, foam pads for comfort, furniture pads for a layer of warmth, a crummy sleeping bag (they didn’t recommend a crummy one, but that’s what I had), and blankets from home for more warmth. It was quite a sight as we set up camp. There were many different colors and styles of little one man tents; newspaper and plastic underneath them, with blankets and sleeping bags spilling out the half-zippered doors. After dinner, we went for a short hike to enjoy the winter wonderland, and then eagerly retreated to our tents for the night.

There was chatter among us scouts as we settled into our personal tents. It didn’t take long and the temperature started to drop, and so did the eagerness about winter camping. The chatter changed from talking through our teeth and then shivering started to overtake our bodies. I made it a few hours and then couldn’t take anymore. I grabbed my sleeping bag, with my head hung low, and headed to the cabin where the adult leaders were sleeping. To my relief, there was several other scouts already in there.
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When morning arrived, there was one scout left in his tent. We went out to check on him, thinking we would be scraping his frozen body from the ground, but he was fast asleep and looked very comfortable. After looking at his gear, he had a state of the art sleeping bag and ground coverings to keep him warm. It was obvious he was better prepared and therefore reaped the rewards of his efforts.

Mark 13: 33-35 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task. And tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore, keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.

OH CHRISTMAS TREE

Here it is, December in the upper Midwest. The air is cold, there’s some snow on the ground, and…it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  People are decorating the outside of their homes with lights and nativity scenes. Radio stations are playing plenty of Christmas music to get you in the mood and yes, people are putting up Christmas trees in their home.

Some trees are artificial; quick to set up, easy to take down, and no mess from the actual live, pine needles. Well, this is the Timber of Faith blog, and what kind of timber enthusiast would I be if I allowed an artificial tree to be set up in my home? A fake one, just like the fake Christmas trees, that’s what I’d be.  (Yes, I just answered my own question).

Ever since I’ve lived on my own and able to have my own Christmas tree, it’s been a real one. I love the smell of a real tree, and it’s kind of cool for me to bring the woods into the home. The first one came from a fellow that worked with my dad. This guy had a tree farm and would bring the trees to work pre-wrapped in plastic mesh. My dad was kind enough to bring one home for my wife and I and help set it up. We put the tree in the stand and then cut away the plastic mesh. The branches slowly sprawled out into the living room. My dad recommended letting it warm up so the branches would relax and completely spread out before decorating it, so we did. By the next morning, the tree was completely relaxed and it was as wide as it was tall. Our living room was pretty small back then, so there was a coach, a TV in the corner, and this immense tree taking over the rest of the space. From then on, we decided we would pick out our own tree.

Right away we started the tradition of cutting down our own tree. We’d travel to different tree farms each year with different family members; picking out the perfect tree and drinking hot chocolate. It was quite fun. As time went on and after our boys were born, they’d come along too. The boys would help cut down the tree and get into snowball fights, we’d take pictures and videotape the whole experience. These were Normal Rockwell moments. Sure, a lot of the time it was freezing cold, someone would have to go to the bathroom, or the hot chocolate was way too hot for the kids, but they were all great moments to me. As time went on the family voted (against me) to not cut down our own tree anymore. Yes, I stomped my feet and threw a tantrum.

One of the last times we cut down a tree. 

Now we go to a local tree lot and pick out the perfect “pre-cut” tree. It’s still a real tree and it still makes the house smell wonderful. The boys don’t come with anymore, they’re in high school and college and have other things to focus on, so it’s the wife and I, and that’s just fine by me. I look forward to the time when I can drag the grandkids to a tree farm, cut down a Christmas tree, burn our lips on hot chocolate that’s way too hot, and deliver a tree that’s way too big for their living room.

Mighty Lumberjacks

1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great spirit in God's sight.

ADAPT AND HAVE FAITH

This time of year, deer hunting consumes most of my thoughts. I think about it at work, at home, and most of my dreams are about deer hunting as well.

I was 16 when I went hunting for the first time and was fortunate to harvest a deer that first year…I was hooked for life!

The woods we hunt are public land and that can create many challenges. The first ten years I hunted, the hunting pressure around that area was pretty low. We would typically harvest one a deer a year for our entire group. My brother and I quickly realized we needed to step up our game and learn more to increase our success rate…and we did. After those ten years, the woods around our area started to change. Certain sections become leased land, which means it wasn’t open to all hunters anymore, only those that leased (paid) to hunt it could use it. That put a little bit more pressure in our area, but not too much. We continued to harvest a few deer ever year, and that was enough for us. Over the next few years more and more of the land around us became leased land. Eventually, it got to the point that the section of land we hunted was the only public land in that area. Less and less hunters stayed around, until it was just our group and the hunters who leased the land around us, and still we continued to harvest a few deer every year. We continued to fine tune our woodsmanship and taught what we learned to the younger hunters who started to join our group. Adapting and applying what we learned over the years, we continued to harvest a few deer each year.

In 2011, myself and a few others from our group went to do some pre-season scouting and were blown away to see that most of the woods we hunted were gone. The DNR allowed a timber company to clear cut and harvest the trees from that area. After the initial shock wore off, we adapted and made a new plan for the season. Remarkably, we filled every tag. A few more years passed and the DNR reclassified the area to a Scientific and Natural Area, which meant no vehicle or ATV traffic allowed and all stands had to be removed every evening. This also meant a lot more hiking and carrying of equipment and gear. We adapted and shot several deer again.

WINDS OF CHANGE

All these changes freaked me out every time they happened. I never knew what the outcome was going to be. We would adapt and make changes, and things usually turned out just fine...but it still freaked me out. This past season started out the same way. I was anxious and not sure what changes there would be and how things would turn out. Sure enough, we all saw deer and a couple guys were able to harvest one.

This was my 30^th year deer hunting and I finally realized how important it is to be willing to adapt, and most importantly…have faith.  That is, until this time next year.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

A couple times a year my wife and I take a short trip together; no kids, no dog, just the two of us. We pick a destination within a few hours of home, leave Saturday morning and return the following afternoon. We came up with the idea a while back. We figured there are so many things to see and places to visit within a few hours of home and it’s also a good opportunity to spend some quality time alone.

A couple weeks ago, the destination was to see waterfalls and enjoy the autumn colors. We planned to see two different waterfalls in two different towns, with plenty of scenery along the way. It was shaping up to be a beautiful day, so off we went. When we arrived at the first location, it was apparent everyone else within a few hours had the same idea. There were high school seniors having their graduation pictures taken, family photos being taken; even cute babies rolling around in the leaves. People were in awe of the waterfall; some took photos, some took videos, and others just stared. The waterfall was mesmerizing - the roar of the rushing water, the water mist cooling your face from the afternoon sun, and the continually changing pattern of the water. The second waterfall was less busy, probably because it was a little further off the beaten trail…which I like. The waterfall had the same effect on people, myself included. After breaking out of the trance from the waterfall, we took a short hike through the woods and finished the day sitting on the shore of a lake.

Ramsey Falls Redwood Falls, MN

We stayed at a hotel near the second waterfall. In the lobby, there were old pictures of the falls, but they were shorter and narrower. Over time, the constant flow of water carved the banks wider and deeper. 

Some of the allure of rivers and waterfalls is that they’re constantly moving and changing; the key word being constant. If the water isn’t constantly moving forward, it would be a lake and lakes don’t go anywhere but stay put.

Philippians 3:14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

A SEASON OF CHANGE

It’s autumn in the upper Midwest and the woods are truly beautiful.

The hot and humid summer air recently gave way to a more crisp and refreshing sensation. There seems to be more people out and about enjoying it as well. Whether hiking in the woods or walking down the street, the people I encounter seem more pleasant. The animals that stay for the winter are busy fattening up and the birds are preparing for their journey south. Of the four seasons, autumn is my favorite.

The variety of trees go through their own change differently; all going through the same change and preparing for the next season, but the process for each tree looks very different. The mighty white pines will shed their needles and instantly replace them, retaining a green foliage through the winter. The leaves of the oak will turn from green to brown, while certain maples turn a brilliant crimson. It creates quite a sight!

For people, it’s important for us to go through a season of autumn as well. Call it a time to shed some extra baggage if you will; a time to get rid of those things that keep us from preparing for our next season of growth. For some people that may appear seamless, like the white pine. For others, it may be kind of dull, like the oak. Of course, some will go through the season in a spectacular fashion that invokes oohs and ahhs, like the maple. Whichever way you get through your season, it’s that way because God created it just for you.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.

DECISION DECISIONS

I have been blessed to have been given the opportunity to sit right next to both my sons when they had the opportunity to shoot at their first deer. This was a monumental moment in their youth.

 

“The boys,” as they are routinely called in our house, have heard deer hunting stories since birth. The stories range from the incredible food we eat (like beef stroganoff, homemade spaghetti and meatballs, and the “deer hunting cookies”) to stories of success and defeat in the woods. The boys had a good idea of what the woods looked like from pictures. So, when they turned 12 and had completed firearms safety training they could go with deer hunting. Once that happened we would start planning the trip. The boys would receive plenty of advice from the older men in our group. I gave them plenty of advice as well, but my final words were, “it's better to regret not taking a shot than to regret taking a bad one.”

The morning of the hunt would finally arrive. We’d pack up our gear and head to the woods. Once in our deer stand I’d offer a few last bits of advice. We’d quietly sit side by side in pitch black and wait for the woods to come alive. Whoever saw a deer first would tap the other person’s foot with their boot. For both boys the deer came from my side of the stand, which meant the boys could move about without being seen. In our woods, you typically only get a few seconds to make a good shot. That is when the adrenaline starts to pump. You can hear your heart pounding and wonder how the deer can’t hear it. The boys would shift back and forth trying the find the target in their sights. I could imagine them filtering through all the advice they received, and now it was time to make a decision; only a second left and the opportunity would be gone.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation where you’d had to make a difficult decision? Maybe it was a career path or relationship choice; you probably had all the information you needed and all that was left to do was to pull the trigger…or not.

As beautiful as this tree is, it seems unsure if it wants to change to autumn colors

For the boys, they each made a different decision. One shot and the other didn’t; and both decisions were correct for each situation. Both boys did harvest a deer during their first season, but they made sure it was the right decision for them in each situation.

In our family, we do a lot more praying about big decisions than we used to and because of that, we know we’ve made the right decision.

Proverbs 14:11 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

 

 

 



HAVE FAITH AND JUST GO FOR IT

A few years back my immediate family (wife, both sons, and myself) took a vacation to Yellowstone National Park. There was a lot of planning involved; what route to take, where to stay, and what to see and do while we were there. One possibility was to make a day trip to Jackson, Wyoming and go white water rafting. Two of us really wanted to do it and the other two weren’t too keen on the idea. After much compromise from both sides we decided on a combo package. The package came with a scenic morning trip down a calm part of the river where the guide did all the paddling, a box lunch, and then a white water trip in the afternoon. It seemed like the perfect plan.

 

While on our Yellowstone vacation the day finally came to go rafting. We arrived at the outfitters in the morning, climbed onto a bus and headed to the river to meet our guide. Full disclosure - my wife was the one most anxious about white water rafting. She’s not an adrenaline junky, so the calm water scenic trip was a nice way start to the day. Our guide for the morning was a pleasant college aged fella who immediately put my wife’s mind to ease about rafting. We grabbed our gear, jumped in the raft, and eased our way down the Snake River with the Grand Tetons as the backdrop. It was very pleasant.

 

Afterwards, we returned to the outfitters and enjoyed our lunch. You could feel the excitement start to build as the time drew near for our afternoon trip. Ok, some were more excited, while others were more anxious.

 

Once again, we climbed on a bus and headed to a different part of the river…the white water area. On the bus was the four of us and a family of six. This slightly eased my wife’s anxiety, thinking it would be better with more people on the raft. We arrived at the river’s edge and exited the bus. There were two pleasant college aged guides waiting for us - one for us and one for the other family; this immediately displeased my wife. The guide hurried us into life jackets and started to pass out paddles. My wife politely explained to him she would not be paddling and would be sitting in the middle of the raft. The guide explained she had to paddle in order for us to make it through the rapids. She didn’t like this dude as much as our earlier guide. We all climbed into the raft and headed downstream, a paddle in my wife’s hand while she sat on the edge of the raft. The guide taught us techniques and would bark out the commands when needed. We came to our first set of rapids; he barked out commands and we faired very well. “That wasn’t bad,” my wife said. “That wasn’t nothing,” the guide replied. This dude was not winning points with my wife. We went through several more small rapids and got very comfortable with our technique. Then we saw it…the BIG rapids.



“Oh My God!!!” we all said out loud. “This is it, here we go!” said the guide. (The name of this rapid is the Lunch Counter, look it up.) The guide barked out orders; we paddled, we screamed, we paddled harder, the guide kept barking at us, water splashed all around, and finally we made it out. The screaming turned to laughter and everyone was smiling at this point. We continued down the river and encountered several more rapids. We arrived at our exit point and climbed back on the bus. I asked my wife if she had a good time and if she’d do it again…yes she would!

Actual video of our white water trip: https://youtu.be/JEdILUwmMfI

We all agreed the guide was awesome. He taught us everything we needed to know to conquer the challenge/fear we were about to face.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

 

 



JUST RELAX

The drive to my favorite fly fishing river takes about an hour. I live in a large Midwest City. The voyage typically starts with picking up a good friend of mine, we grab a bite to eat, and head down the highway. With every passing mile the hustle and bustle of the city fades away. Our conversations are about anything and everything, but typically turns toward fishing. Thirty minutes into the trip we enter the rolling farm lands of western Wisconsin; soon we’re descending down the bluffs through mature hardwoods, and arrive at the small town that neighbors the river. The Catholic Church is within walking distance of the honey hole and has a nice parking lot; we pull into the back corner, grab our gear, and head to different spots on the river.

 

As I walk the lush green embankment that gradually slopes down to the rivers’ edge, the summer sun warms the back of my neck. Looking up to the bright blue sky, the occasional fluffy white cloud slowly lumbers by. The opposing bank is high and steep, concealed with a variety of large trees and heavy vines. The narrow river snakes through the valley carrying a few leaves and insects as it passes by. The water swirls around boulders and fallen timber, creating riffles that softly bubble along. I raise my fly rod, whip the tip backwards behind me, and methodically bring it forward pointing towards the desired landing place for the fly. The fly wisps past me and lands just above the riffle; the current pushing it from side to side through the torrent water, and finally drifts to the calm pool just ahead of the next bend. Several more cast are made before all the clutter in mind starts to fade away. Eventually my mind is clear and my entire focus is on the fly drifting through the water. On occasion, a trout rises to ingest the fly, slap the water, and pull the line tight. This is one of my favorite ways to relax.

 

Everyone has their own way to relax and unwind. Sometimes we need to clear our mind of the clutter and purify it.

Ezekiel 20:6-7 I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them-a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. Then I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am you God”.

 

 

 



GOOD TIMES

Recently, it was my younger brother’s birthday and his wife wanted to surprise him with new fishing gear and a fishing trip with me. Now, just so you understand, a fishing trip with me means you’ll be in a boat on the water, and odds are there will be fish somewhere in the water.

I get a little anxious when someone wants to fish with me. The reason is because I’m not the best fisherman in world and feel pressure to be a good guide. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve caught plenty of fish in my life. The fish species has ranged from perch to king salmon, on upper Midwest inland lakes to a couple of the Great Lakes. The objective when fishing is to obviously catch whichever species I’m after, but most importantly, to enjoy God’s creation.

It’s important to me for the other person to have a good time. On our recent trip, my brother reminded me that everyone has a different definition of a good time. The plans were all set. I did some research and found a highly recommended nearby lake; so off we went. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in July. The hot summer sun was shining and thankfully there was a strong breeze to keep us cool. We started fishing by a patch of lily pads that was known to hold bass and sunfish. Our set up was simple; a bobber and a plan red hook tipped with a night crawler. It didn’t take long and my brother’s bobber started dancing around and then darted under water. While he was reeling the fish in, I could see it was a small sunfish, so I focused my gaze back at my bobber. Once my brother got the fish in the boat he said with a grin on his face, “my first fish of the year.” It immediately occurred to me what having a “good time” meant to him. We took a quick picture and released the seemingly bigger fish back to the water. It was a really good time with my brother! We changed fishing tactics a few times throughout the day and the fish did get bigger.

 

Sometimes, it feels like we don’t have a lot to offer; you may be surprised how much that means to someone else.

 

 Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you.

 

 



SOMETIMES ONE FEELS 5,000 YEARS OLD

The thought crossed my mind to find out what the oldest tree in the world is…and now you’re probably wondering what it is, too. So, of course, I turned to the internet. The internet is usually pretty reliable; not 100% accurate, but a good place to start. As I starting typing “world’s oldest tree,” pictures of towering Redwoods came to mind.  You know, the huge trees big enough to carve a tunnel through their trunk to fit a car.

Nope, not the Redwood.

Maybe, a majestic oak with its hardwood trunk and branches; surely that could withstand the test of time.

Nope, not the oak either.

Finally, the internet showed the results of the ‘world’s oldest tree”…the bristlecone pine. It wasn’t big and bad like I was expecting; it was twisted and kind of messy looking. The name alone didn’t sound very powerful. Bristlecone, the name seems more fitting for a hair brush. Pine trees are typically a softer wood and don’t usually hold up well to abuse.

However, there it is, the Bristlecone Pine at almost 5,000 years old.

In order to survive tough times in life, one usually thinks of needing to be big and strong, towering with power and poise. That’s not always the case. Yes, there are times when physical strength alone is beneficial.  A few situations that come to mind are dragging a whitetail deer out of the woods, canoeing to a great fishing spot, or opening that jar of salsa.  At the end of the day (or  5,000 years), sometimes we feel a little soft on the inside, need to be a bit more flexible, and even though things look messy at times, that’s where God wants us at the moment.

Matthew 5:7-8 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

 

 

 



KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL, THE PRIZE...WHATEVER YOUR THING IS

At this point, I’m going to take a break from the woods and water and move to the baseball diamond. This time of year my wife and I get to spend a lot of time at the baseball field; baseball is an outdoor activity, so of course that’s a win for me.

 

Both of our sons are avid baseball players. They have tried other sports over the years, but baseball has always been their main focus. I coached our oldest son on and off up through sixth grade and coached our youngest exclusively from t-ball through 7^th grade. Their success and talents were earned on their own. When the boys got old enough to try-out for higher competitive teams, my wife and I told them, “you will make this team on your own merit; we will not pull any strings or do favors to get you on the team.” However, whichever team they made, we would volunteer when we could.

 

Over the years they’ve experienced success and failure; they’ve had really good coaches and really bad coaches. They’ve experienced firsthand the politics of youth sports, but never let any of those affect their passion for the game. Currently, the oldest (19) is on an amateur team and hasn’t won a single game this season. He’s not happy about it, but he still goes to every game and plays his best, and he does it without any hesitation. The youngest (15) is on a VFW sponsored summer league. His team is having a successful season, but he’s not connecting well with the coach. He also goes to every game without hesitation and plays his best. They both do a very good job of staying focused on the big picture and don’t let the negative elements distract them. Yeah, you could say I’m a proud father.

 

What would life be like if we focused on our main objective, the big picture, and not let the negative elements distract us? What would one’s faith be like if we did the same for that as well?

 

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

 



MARKED FOR REMOVAL

The city that I live in is enveloped with many mature trees. There are Oaks, Maples, Elms, and Pines to list a few. When you’re driving down the street, the trees create a beautiful canopy overhead. A few of the nearby streets are also shaded from the large timber. When one of these magnificent trees dies, the city marks it for removal. They are removed for several reasons; the dead braches can break off in a storm and cause injury or property damage, and more importantly they’re removed to prevent bug and animal infestation which can spread to other heathy trees. After removal, the city plants another tree in its place to keep the cycle going with new life. In nature, dead trees are usually blown down by storms and then slowly over many years turn into compost and feed new life.  

It's easy to see how this dead tree stands out. Our dead trees aren't always so obvious to us.

 

Sometimes, we have dead trees in our human life; it may be a person, a job, or a bad habit. Those types of things need to be removed to prevent the spread of unhealthy living. If one allows nature to take its course and wait for the problem to turn into compost, we may never see and enjoy new life. The city has trained professionals and crews who take care of removal and planting of new trees. Don’t think you need to take care of removing these on your own. There are professionals and sometimes good friends that can help with removing dead trees in your life.

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it

 

 

 

 



WEATHERING THE STORM TOGETHER

When I was a kid and we traveled, we spent a lot of time in a tent. Four boys within five years of each other meant a lot of commotion and noise. Even when we stayed at other people’s home we’d sleep outside in a tent. There was usually a lot of, “stop touching me,” and “so and so smells,” or “someone wiped a booger on me.” Who wouldn’t want that in their house, right?

On one occasion we were staying at our grandparents’ house for the weekend…outside in the tent, of course. On Saturday evening our parents went to their high school reunion. A huge thunderstorm was coming our way, but we were tough and could endure whatever it was going to throw at us. (A little about the tent: it was canvas with large aluminum poles on the inside and looked like a camel with a tall hump in the middle and lower ones on each end…it was the 70’s and it was awesome!) Now, back to the storm - as the evening went on the storm intensified! The wind was whipping around so hard that we had to hold the tent poles to them keep from collapsing. My two older brothers held the two main poles in the middle while my younger brother and I each held the ones on the end. The heavy canvas tent was smacking our knuckles as our hands gripped the poles tightly. The oldest brother was barking orders, “hang on!,” and “don’t let go of the poles!” We were in it together and we were going to save the tent! The tent started to leak, like they always seem to do. There were screams of fear and agony. Eventually, our wise grandpa came out and told us to get our butts in the house. The oldest hollered over the wind, “Dad said we had to stay in the tent!” Grandpa won that short discussion.

Maybe this would have been a better tent for us...

 

The next morning the tent was in a twisted pile. We found out later there was a tornado several miles away that night. I’m pretty sure had us boys stayed in tent we could have saved it. We can accomplish anything together, but sometimes you need to listen to wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

TO GET BETTER, LEARN FROM THOSE WHO ARE BETTER

If you want to get better at something, what’s the best way to make that happen?  First, you may start with some research, i.e., read books, or look it up on line. Then, you may talk to other people who are really good at it and finally, ask one of those people to mentor you. Ever since I saw the movie, A River Runs Through It, I was intrigued with fly fishing and wanted to learn how to do it.

A good friend of mine, Scott, is an expert fly fisherman. So, when I made the commitment to learn how to fly fish and get good at it, he was the obvious choice to teach me. The first step was to do some online research and to take one of his fly tying classes, next we talked a lot about fly fishing and finally, I took action. The taking action phase is where I learned the most. During this phase there was challenge and accountability. It can be relaxing to watch an expert fly fisherman because their motions are smooth and hypnotic…mine were not. The first time to the river was the most humbling for me. Like a good mentor, he gave me valuable advice, watched me make a few casts, gave more advice, and then sent me down stream on my own. Every so often he came to check on me and give more advice. Even though I tangled the fishing line countless times and snagged myself twice, a few fish graced me with their fight.  We’ve had several outings since and I continue to improve. Thanks to my mentor, I’ve recently ventured out on my own with success! I look forward to passing this skill on to others.

 



Scott working his magic under the canopy of timber of course.



 

 Becoming a better Christian can happen the same way.

·         Do your research: read the Bible;

·         Talk to those who know more: go to church and get involved;

·         Find a mentor: ask a spiritually mature person to teach you;

·         Finally, pass what you’ve learned on to someone else.

 

1 Peter 5:5-7 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

 

 

 



ARE OTHERS SEEING THE REAL YOU?

Visit any florist and you’ll notice all the different colors of flowers. There’s red, white, pink, orange, purple, blue; the options are unlimited. My wife is a fan of tulips and her favorite color is purple, so that makes it an easy decision for me. Have you ever wondered how they get all those different colors? Most of it is due to genetics and some is due to artificial coloring. My genetics are of Scandinavian decent, which gives me a fair skin color. I can go to a tanning booth and get artificial coloring, but it won’t change who I am on the inside.

How you nourish your roots will affect your outward appearance. By appearance, I mean how people see you the person; not just your looks. Your work environment and what you do in your free time affects your appearance.  Many people try to come across differently than what they really are.  Maybe they want to project a certain lifestyle by dressing a certain way, driving a fancy car, or living a lavish house. Striving to better one’s identity is always a good thing, but portraying an artificial image is not. How a person spends time on the internet can shine some light into who they really are. Are they constantly shopping for items they can’t afford?  Maybe they’re posting on social media trying to portray something they’re not.    

 

Photo credit: possumology.blogspot.com

In autumn, trees lose their leaves; then the flash and beauty are gone. That is when we can really see what the tree is made of.  What would others see if you lost your leaves?  Would your flash and beauty be gone or would people see beyond that and know what you’re really made of?

 

1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

 

 

 

 



THANK GOD FOR SECOND CHANCES

When was the last time you made a mistake? Did you have to think very long to come up with an answer? If you were to make a list of all the mistakes you’ve made in your life, how long would it be? Mine would probably span the world several times over. Sometimes, I haven’t even gotten over my last mistake and I’m already making another one. Most of them are small ones, like taking a wrong turn, calling one child by a different child’s name, or hitting that snooze button one too many times. A few have been really big ones, the kind that can change the way you go about life. I only make those really big mistakes once. I learn my lesson and do my best to move on. The point is that we all make mistakes; but what’s more important is that we learn from them. If your mistake involved another person, make it right with them before you move on. A valuable lesson I learned early on was to own up to my mistakes; don’t deny it and don’t lie about it. Admit the mistake, make amends, learn the lesson, and move on to new beginnings.

Spring is a season of new beginnings. There is new life all around in nature. Ducklings and goslings paddle around in the water, baby rabbits and whitetail fawns clumsily wander around the forest floor, and trees sprout new buds and flowers. It can be a breathtaking experience to witness nature’s new beginnings.

Photo credit: shakyphotograhy.com

Just like nature has new beginnings in spring, we can have new beginnings too. In nature, spring comes about the same time every year. Your spring time of new beginnings can happen whenever you want. After you’ve gone through the process of learning from a mistake, you’re ready to sprout new growth. That may be starting a new enriching hobby, rekindling a relationship, or strengthening your roots to prepare for what the future holds.  It’s never too late and you’re never too old to sprout a new beginning; even the oldest trees still sprout new growth from time to time. 

 
As a Christian, our sins/mistakes are forgiven thanks to Jesus. He paid the ultimate price to allow us new beginnings. John 3:16 states: “For God so loved the world he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 



WE ONLY GET OUT, WHAT WE PUT IN

Our church is currently going through a series titled, “It’s a hard knock life.” The focal point is that we all go through trials and tribulations. The Pastor is teaching how the bible can prepare and help us through these trials. A couple of weeks back, Pastor preached about how some of the choices we make can lead us down a path of trials and tribulation. As he preached, I thought about poor decisions I’ve made and the negative outcomes. I also thought about the hard decisions I’ve had to make and the positive results of them. It was a good sermon; little did I know this would play into my upcoming turkey hunt.

 

Turkey hunting is by far my favorite thing to do in the woods. Since the first time I heard the thundering gobble of a tom (the male turkey), I was hooked. Turkey hunting typically happens in the spring. In the upper Midwest, that means winter is in the past.  Since turkey hunting is my favorite thing to do, I spend a lot of time preparing for the season. Usually, two months before the season opens I’m in the woods scouting and plotting the hunt. This year was different; there were a lot of things that kept me from my routine. Some were things that God wanted me to take care of; others were just poor choices on my part. My brother and I have hunted these woods with our sons for many years and I knew where the turkeys would be…so I thought. There were things that needed to get done right up to the night before hunting. That meant I had to leave my house before 3:00am in order to get to the woods well before sunrise. Eventually I made it to the woods, setup the blind and put the decoys out. A little information about male turkeys - in the spring, they are always looking to mate, and gobbling is how they let the hens know where they are. Needless to say, they typically gobble a lot. Sunrise arrives and there was no gobbling. I sound a few of my calls and they go unanswered. Then, something across the field catches my attention. It’s another hunter. I’m a little concerned, but he’s 250 yards away. The time ticks away, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 and still no turkeys; now I’m starting to get worried. Finally, there’s movement to my right…it’s a turkey! However, it’s a hen, which you can’t shoot in the spring. No problem, where there’s a hen, there’s usually a tom. I anxiously wait and scan the area for the tom. No tom. The hen walks the entire field and eventually disappears into the woods. Still no toms. An hour later another hunter comes out of the woods. At this point there’s too much activity for any turkeys to come around. I get out of my blind and realize there’s another hunter on a different edge of the field. Four hunters on one field? In my opinion, that’s three too many. I packed up my gear and hiked back to the truck.

The lone hen had the attention of four hunters as she crossed the field.

During the hike out I concluded that I didn’t deserve to see a tom. I didn’t scout to prepare for the hunt and instead chose to spend the preseason doing other things. Pastor was right; my choices led me down this path.

Proverbs 28:19 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chases fantasies will have their fill of poverty.