The Art of Deception

As an archer, I use deception every chance I get to fool the animals I'm hunting. There are camouflage clothing, lures and scents, decoys, and tree stands to name a few ways to fool the animals. I have even been known to roll in a fresh bed of a stinky bull elk to hide my scent; but found out later I might be banned from camp. The better an archer uses deception, the more opportunities for shots.

I had a dream the other night that was about deception. Now I usually don't remember much about my dreams but this one was very different and very real. I this dream I was called by God to join Him in the air above the earth. That was very cool being able to hang out with God and see down like He can. We were able to view all the earth at once and see individual people from all nations. Wow, I was pretty awe struck at first ; then I began to notice the people. They all had chains on their bodies. Some only had a few and others were so weighted down with chains from head to toe that they could barely move. I could see their faces of despair. I went from wow to confused very fast so I asked God what I was seeing.

He said the chains represented the hold Satan had on these people using his power of lies and deception. I was suddenly engulfed in sorrow for these people. God said "They don't understand. I came and set them free but they don't call on me to help them. Many of them don't believe in me. They have let Satan fool their minds." He told me He wants a relationship with them and for them to seek power from HIM to resist Satan.

Jesus talks much about this in Matthew 24. He warns us to be on watch for the master of deception. In Matthew 11:28 He gives us assurance that if we seek Him we will be given rest and freedom from our burdens.

We all carry chains. Chains of sin and guilt, of despair. of low self esteem and many other chains of burdens that we need to release to God. He is a loving Father waiting for us to seek Him out so He can help us overcome anything in our life.

Don't let Satan keep deceiving you : God has already won the battle for us.

Finishing The Race

Ardella and I get caught up in the Tour de France even though we are not bike riders. It is interesting to see bike riders give it their all for a good finish in such a demanding race. This year has been very different with no one clear leader and so many new riders.

The Apostle Paul would have liked the bike race as he often made reference to running the race and finishing well. I believed Paul liked good competitive sports. In Acts 20:24 he says" if only I finish the race and complete the task". He was referring to spreading the gospel and completing his race in life . Paul's goal was to go to Rome to preach the good news of Jesus and he was granted that opportunity. He was a witness for the gospel even in chains and in a dark dungeon. The Romans could not stop him. Paul went from the high rank and status of a Pharisee to an apostle for Jesus . His life went from persecuting Christians to being persecuted for being a believer in Jesus. Paul had a dramatic conversion by meeting Jesus personally on the Damascas Road.

Jesus is waiting to meet everyone personally. He is not a religion, He is a relationship. He wants us to get on board and run the race with Him. Life is about finishing well and enjoying an eternity with the King of Kings. It is one race we can't afford to lose.

Permission Granted

Sunday afternoon we went to the woods to pick dewberries; they are like a wild blackberry but grow on the ground. The black small berries are delicious but watch out for the thorns. We were leaving the cabin area and everyone was going to ride in our truck so I jumped in the back to ride. Our granddaughter, Lizzie crawled in too and Grandma came to shut the tail gate and asked Lizzie if she should get in the front. Lizzie started to slowly back out of the bed of the truck but I could see in her eyes that she was waiting for my permission to join me . I said, " Lizzie , do you want to ride back here?" A big smile came across her face as she darted forward. It was her first time to ride in the back of a pickup truck. On the way back I noticed a new confidence in her look. She had grown a little on that ride; reached a new milestone in her life. Permission granted.

God did the same thing at the cross of Calvary. Jesus took on all our sins and died for each one of us who believe in him as our savior. So when we seek Him and ask Him to forgive us , He says" Permission granted."

Fearless

The other day I was tractor mowing for a client just west of Sandpoint . His beautiful home sets on a hill top with spectacular views of Lake Pend Oreille and the Cabinet Mountains. I had just started to mow , straight up and straight down as it was very steep when I noticed a large doe in the meadow below. She was sleek and beautiful in the morning sun and I was sure there was a fawn close by as she nibbled on the lush plants. Suddenly a large dog came bounding down the far hill barking at her and closing in fast. The doe spun around and headed toward the road but when she got there stop and turned and faced the dog. At first the dog just kept coming closer to her until it was only a few yards away . I don't know if it was her motherly instincts that kicked in or the fact the road had elevated her much higher than the barking dog. She started to stomp her front hooves on the road and then slowly proceeded toward the dog. It took a few moments for the dog to realize what was happening ; when it did it quit barking . The doe continued forward raising each foot high and bringing them down inching closer to the dog. The dog soon turn tail and started running but stopped to look back like this should not be happening. The doe sensed she was in control and chased him back up the hill. She soon came back to the meadow and continued eating like nothing had happened. Later she laid down under a tree and I suspect her fawn was not too far from her.

The doe became fearless and took command of the situation even though her opponent weighed about 90 pounds and intended to inflict physical suffering on her. She was ready to risk everything for her fawn. The doe reminded me of David and Goliath. A small young shepherd boy against a raging giant. He had the whole army of Israel scared to death. David trusted in God to help him slay the giant. Jesus was often confronted by the pharisees who welded extreme power over the people but he never backed down.

We need to be fearless to overcome the obstacles in our lives. All of us have fears but we can call on God in the name of Jesus to take charge and fight our fears. He will not forsake us. Hebrew 6:6 say " The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Off The Map

I received a GPS unit for Father's Day ; now that is pretty high tech for an old hunter like me. I can actually turn it on ! The program for best hunting and fishing times has been my favorite so far. I hope it is more accurate at the best hunting times than it has been for fishing. I will use the sunrise and sunset tables and the elevation the most. I must learn to mark my truck during elk and deer hunting in case I travel farther than I plan and it gets dark.

I am blessed with a good built in compass and usually remember all the turns I make in the mountains. But I can get totally lost in a shopping mall. I once was lost for a half hour in a Sears store. No trees ! I kept going in circles.

One year we were elk hunting in the Clearwater Region of Idaho and decided to build a camp fire as it was a nice October evening with millions of stars that seemed to be just above the tree tops. We were recounting the day's hunt when across the river a truck slowly made it's way down winding steep mountain road. A few mintutes later it pulled into our camp and two men got out ; one holding a Forest Service map said "We are off the map". Their map was of the St. Joe region about 50 miles away. They were definitely off the map. Compounding that problem was they were low on gas and we didn't have any to spare. I told them Superior, Montana was about 45 miles away and most of that was downhill. Then I showed them on our map how to go to St. Regis and connect with a road that would take them back to their camp. The driver didn't like my idea but the other guy thought they should take the road to the gas station. They got back into their truck and disappeared into the night. Several minutes later we saw the truck's tail lights as they headed back up the same steep old road. We have often wondered about how far they got and how long it took them to find their camp.

We often get off the map spiritually too. In John 14:6 Jesus tells us He is the only way. That means we need to keep our eyes and thoughts on Him to get through this life . There is no other way; no other savior of this world. He is our peace of mind , our strength, and our refuge. He is not a religion, He is a relationship. We can talk to Him any time and He will be there to listen . I believe in John 14:6; there is no other way to obtain eternal life except by His grace and love for us. The religions of this world can't get us eternal life.

Where does your spiritual compass point? Is your GPS unit set on Christ as the home way point? Are you like the two hunters and completely off the map? Jesus is waiting for you to program Him into your everyday life. There is nothing you have done that He won't forgive.
Trust Him!

Stand Firm- Resist the Lion

I have never been face to face with an African lion but I have been nose to toe with a mountain lion. His nose , my toe. One weekend Ardella and I went camping and took our three llamas along. We were in mountain lion country so that night I tied the llamas close to the tent so we would hear them if something came in camp. The night passed quietly. The next morning I took them about 100 feet away so they could eat grass along an old logging road. While we were fixing breakfast, one of the llamas gave an alarm call and continued to tell me he was upset. I walked down to see what the noise was all about thinking a moose may have wandered by and frightened them. I remember walking right past my 12 gauge shotgun that stood against a big hemlock tree. I could see the black llama was very upset and looking into the small creek that flowed by our camp. I had one llama tied up close to the creek so I went over to Jeffrey and looked around to see what was wrong. There was a steep bank covered with alder brush just 10 feet from Jeffrey and I walked over to the edge and looked down. At first I wasn't sure what I was seeing- a long tail flicking back and forth. Then a body started to take shape and I was looking into the big yellow eyes of a cougar just inches away from my feet. I looked again in disbelief and glanced at the shotgun under the tree. I knew better than turn and run as either Jeffrey or me would be attacked. I started to remove my hunting knife from the sheath when my son-in-law yelled down and asked what was wrong. I said "Cougar" very loud and it slowly turn and walked away. Now that will get your blood pumping ! I knew that I had to stand firm and resist the lion.
1 Peter 5:8 say be alert, our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour someone. Resist him by standing firm in the faith. That isn't easy unless we have already put our faith in Jesus Christ. We can stand firm knowing that Jesus paid the price for us , for everyone, on the cross. Christians today must realize that we are in a spiritual warfare and the devil is alive and devouring people at an astonishing rate. We need more Warriors! God hates luke warm and that is where most of the church is today.

We can stop the lion in its tracks with the name of Jesus. He will flee as he has no power under the name of Christ. Where are you at ? Will you be ripped apart piece by piece or will you call on the name of Jesus and resist. Stand firm.

If it sounds like an elk and smells like an elk- it must be an elk

Last fall, after not elk hunting much for a few years I anxiously waited for September to archery hunt elk. The season started with a bang. On opening evening Ardella and I left home in sunny 70 degree weather only to arrive at the gate of the tower our son-in-law had rented in a snow storm with thunder and lightning. They were not there yet so we waited a few feet from the gate with a blizzard swirling around us. Suddenly lightning struck the tower and we we were thankful that we were inside the truck. A few minutes later lightning struck the gate post and danced acrossed the gate and into a clump of small trees. We turned the truck around and drove back down the mountain about two miles until the storm passed.

Two weeks later found me leaving home on nice sunny afternoon to go hunting with my son-in-law Vance. I decided that camo cotton pants would be warm enough even though I rarely wear cotton when I hunt in the fall, knowing if it gets wet hypothermia can result. We drove high up into a favorite hunting spot , only to arrive with dark clouds and thunder engulfing the hunt area. Other nearby mountains basked in fall sunshine. When we were half way up the mountain we split up to each hunt a water hole. The thunder intensified so I took cover in the bottom of a small ravine while the sky opened up to a heavy pelting of sleet. It sleeted for a half hour and every thing turned a winter wonderland. As I trudged up the mountain I got soaked from the waist down and soon water was running down the cotton pants into my hunting boots. At one point I stopped and drained the water out of my boots as each step was producing a loud squishing sound.

Arriving at the spring torn up by fresh elk tracks, I proceded to spray elk urine on every bush in the area. I then back off a few yards below the spring into a clump of small spruce. Over the next few hours I meowed like a herd of love crazed cow elk. At one time a bull answwered from the dark timber to the right and later one bugled from the ridge top. I just knew this was the night. Did I notice the cold creeping into my body? Not at first, but soon the north slope I was hunting turned into a refrigerator. My feet were freezing in the wet insulated boots and my legs tingled against the wet cotton pants. I realized that I needed to watch my body and maybe leave early for the warmth of the truck. But I stuck it out.

I heard something to my right a few times so thought a bull might be on his way to the cow calls that I was still sending out as love signals. I had about ten minutes left to hunt when I saw a black blur charge out of the brush and through the water hole. It was a nice black bear! I had never taken a bear with a bow but I could see this one was looking for an elk for supper. He came in so fast I couldn't get a shot. Now the bear was behind a large spruce tree that was just a few feet in front of me. He never appeared so I started edging around the tree for a shot . I had to straddle a large log and suudenly was looking into the black eyes of a hungry bear at about five feet. We both jumped back in panic. I don't carry a sidearm but do have a big canister of bear spray on my belt. I went back to my clump of spruce thinking I had scared him off and there he was at forty five yards staring me down. He never moved a muscle. I cow called and slowly walked toward him . As I did confidence built up that I knew he was my bear! He never moved- 40 yards, 30 yards, 25 yards. He was quartered to me so the shot wasn't what I wanted. I started to pull the 70 pound compound but discovered my body was so cold that the bow would not budge. Problems! I remember asking God to help and slowly brought the bow up. The pull was so easy that it required little effort from my cold body. The limbs rocked back and the 20 yard pin looked like a laser light on a spot just behind his front leg. The release was smooth and the bear spun around and jumped over a big log only to stop and cast a glance back at me. I was looking for an arrow on either side but could not see it. He tried to walk uphill but started to sway back and forth ; then he turned left and entered a small brush patch. I heard him quietly expire a few minutes later. I discovered later that the arrow had taken lung and liver as it went through him diagonal and stuck in the log behind him.

Why did God answer my call for help? Because He cares about even the smallest of things in our lives. He is a Father of relationships and cares about each one of us. I firmly believe that I did not pull that bow under my own power. It will always be one of the most memorable hunts I will ever experience.

Was Jesus An Outdoorsman

Jesus was an outdoorsman of the highest quality. He not only enjoyed the beauty of the earth; He help create all of it. Imagine taking the dark formless earth and creating the sea, rivers, and mountains. Then filling the earth with animals , birds and fish. It would have been awesome to see the herds of bison created in an instant. Animals thundering suddenly across the African plains! He put the wild song into the bull elk.

Most of the diciples were fishermen and he knew they had what it took to spread the gospel of good news. He could relate to them and they could relate to him. It doesn't take me long to find someone in a crowd that likes the outdoors. It did not take Him long to find twelve guys who liked to cook fish over the fire beside the sea.

Some of His best teaching was done outdoors. The hills and shoreline along the sea of Galilee were favorite spots to teach people of God's kingdom. Thousands often gathered to hear Him.
When Jesus needed rest and a talk with his Father , He went into the mountains. There is a lesson in that for father - son relationships. He always came back energized.

It is important that we worship the Creator not the creation. Thank God for the wonderful and beautiful earth He created. Enjoy the birds, animals, and fish. Go bird watching, gather up the family and go fishing, take a kid hunting. Teach them to appreciate God's creation.

So the next time you are in the woods or on a lake; take time to talk to the Father. Jesus Did.

Freedom Requires Sacrifice

Our country seems to forget the blood that has been shed to keep us free.Wars need to be run by generals not politicians. We are in a battle against an satanic evil force. The apostle Paul said it very clearly in Epesians 6:12. Our country has strayed away from God and he will not bless us until we ask forgiveness and seek to follow Him.

This weekend , I remember two uncles I had that fought in World War II. One was Donald Book who spent the war fighting in the Philippine jungles. He never said much about the war but after his death I received his bayonet. Recently I took it out of the original leather sheath and studied it. The knife blade had black pockets in the metal. They didn't have stainles steel knives then. I realized that the marks were made from blood that will eat small pockets in metal if it isn't cleaned immediately. I suddenly was aware that I was holding a piece of history. History hidden in the knife that I will never know. The other uncle was Donald Swartz who was in the navy in the north Atlantic. He was lost overboard and his body never recovered. I have some dark blue navy issued pants that were his. Again a part of history.

I thank my uncles for their sacrifices so I was allowed to grow up in a free country. I thank all our military for the job they are trying to do.

ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL

Heros

As a young boy my heros were Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Davy Crockett. As I grew older, I realized heros were ordinary people doing extra ordinary things. My Dad was my hero. He only had an eighth grade education yet people from our community sought his advice and counsel. His flower gardens were award winning quality. Another hero was my Grandpa Swartz who was a large framed man of quiet demeanor. He played a mean game of checkers and the first time I beat him at checkers, I knew I won fair and square. He still remains large in my life. My father-in-law was my hero. His body was inflicted with arthritic pain yet he had a smile and never complained. Heros are made not born.

Some of my more recent heros are men like Clebe Mc Clary, a Vietnam Marine whose body was shattered by a grenade and was never supposed to walk but who has not only walked but is a runner! He is a patriot and a warrior for Jesus. The five men I meet with each week that are my band of brothers are my heros. Without them I would not be growing and changing.

Anyone in the military is a hero. They put it on the line for us daily. One of them is Marine Terry Dunn who was injured in Iraq and is back serving his country. Another hero is Sgt. Brandon Adam who lost both legs in an explosion in Iraq. He is a fighter and God will raise him up to be a great man. HE WILL WALK AGAIN.

Heros live by Phillipians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Larry

Caterpillars and butterflies

The other day I saw my first swallowtail butterfly of the year. It was enjoying the sunny day and came by fluttering and seemed to say "Hello" and then went on its way. Our grand daughters love butterflies and scream in delight when they see one.

It is interesting how God takes a lowly caterpillar and turns it into a beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar has to crawl everywhere eating vegetation and butterfly gets to fly around drinking sweet nectar from colorful flowers. People are like that too. Many people never leave the caterpillar stage of life. They are content to keep crawling around ; their life is dull, boring and unfruitful. Others are like the butterfly; free flying, joyous and on a miision. They drink from the nectar of life. Their strength comes from knowing Jesus as their Friend, Lord , and Savior. When the winds of life try to blow them backwards; they receive the power through Christ to fly onward. They use Phillipians 4:13 to remind them where the strength comes from.

If you are a caterpillar let God change you through the power of Jesus into a butterfly so He can use you to do wonderous works. He will give you a new mind and you will see things differently by flying instead of crawling through life.
Larry

Lessons learned from canada geese

This morning I was working at a property along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. The snow covered peaks of the Cabinet Mountains stood like sentinels over the valleys . Emerald green waves lapped quietly at the shore. Peaceful! Suddenly I was visited by the transient neighbors. I sometimes envy them as they make their summer home on this beautiful lake. God provides food for them and they often go south for the winter. They are canada geese; several pairs showed up with about 50 goslings.

As I watched them I thought about what they can teach us on marriage and raising a family. Canada geese mate for life. They don't fight or get divorced and always watch out for each other. As parents, they are very protective of their young. Females often take care of other goslings in the area. I noticed the young dutifully followed the adults. There was dicipline amoung the younsters.

Wouldn't it be nice if people could do the same. God put the same love those geese have for each other in humans too. God formed us to be loving and devoted to our spouses and to raise up children of character.

Larry

Listen for the Lord

Monday evening, Ardella and I went bear hunting. We stopped to look over a clearcut where bears like to hang out on a green strip of old road. The woods were quiet except for the distant calling of a great grey owl. The snow covered peaks of the Selkirk Range were magnificent and reminded me of the majesty of God. What an awesome Creator! We were greeted by a female mountain bluebird as she perched in a small cedar tree. Suddenly she flew to the top of a dead cedar snag and was joined by her mate. They were busy inspecting a nest cavity for their coming family. The bluebirds picked a tree with a tremendous view. They continued to fly around close to us and the colors of blue were spectacular. We also noticed a pair of robins busy feeding their little ones in a nest low to the ground in a small hemlock tree. It was tempting to go closer but we respected their privacy.

Psalm 46:10 says " Be still and know that I am God." Sometimes we need to slow down so we can listen to God . Take some time to to listen . Even Jesus went into the hills and wilderness to hear what his Father wanted to tell him. So go to the mountains , a lake shore , or a quiet place and listen for God. He will tell you some amazing things.

Larry Book