Category: Outdoors
My Brother, My Friend

My Brother, My Friend

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A simple photo shouldn’t do this to me. Every time this picture has popped up on my screen, my heart is stirred with emotions. Those emotions cut a wide swath from deep gratitude to some sense of loss. It’s hard to convey how deep and important this accidental photo is to me on paper, but I want to take a chance in the following paragraphs.

The Accidental Photo

On the surface, it’s just not a great photo. Two guys walking in a non-descript landscape. The “photographer” cut off the top of both guys heads. You can’t even see one face. It wasn’t staged or planned in any way. In fact, the “photographer” was a motion sensor in a trail camera posted near a corn feeder. The value isn’t found in the composition of the image.

The value is found in the relationship of those two men and the moment of time accidentally captured by the motion sensor. It is a chance photo of two men who have walked varied paths in life but have chosen to walk together more frequently in recent years. The picture is a snapshot of a larger story. It’s a story of two hunters, two brother, two friends.

The nearest man is me. I’m the one facing away from the camera. The other guy is my “little brother” Robert (or Bobby as I’ve always known him). We grew up together in a blue collar family. Dad taught us to work hard with our hands. He also instilled in us a love for the outdoors. We both grew up around guns and fishing poles. We hunted squirrels, rabbits, dove, quail, and deer with dad and grandad. We learned to run trotlines in the summer and fish for white bass in the spring. We camped in the mountains of Colorado and on the banks of the Colorado river in Texas. We love the outdoors.

Careers and Family

As many do, we drifted apart as we married, began our careers, and raised our children. He became a fantastic police officer and I followed God’s call to the pastorate. He had two boys and I had 4 girls. Our oldest kept us busy with a lot of hospitalizations and surgeries much of her life until she passed away just short of the age of 15. His boys kept him busy in sports playing baseball and football for many of those same years. My family spent what vacation time we had camping as we traveled during the summers. He hunted every fall with dad and a few other friends and travelled with his boys for baseball.

We never completely lost touch. We managed a few vacations together camping in Florida. Our families travelled together on a special trip to NY and DC for Katie over Christmas break the year before she died. I joined him on some exciting “ride-alongs” in his patrol car early in his career. He was able to visit me in May for a few quail hunts. He was there for us the night Katie died. Our girls had travelled to Austin with our mom. He packed them up and drove them to May, TX to be with us late that night.

Mid-Life Changes

As we grew older and our kids began to move off, life began to take a dramatic turn as it does for many. In 2012, one of our older brothers Rodney died unexpectedly from a sudden heart attack. Three years later our dad passed away the week after Mother’s Day. It was that Fall that we began to spend more time together. 

He had joined a deer lease a couple hours from my house along with our other older brother Rick. He invited me to join him as a guest. We worked together filling corn feeders a few times. We spent hours in the deer blind talking about our life, health, and our families. He taught me more than I thought I could learn about aging deer. The next couple years, I joined him every chance I could when he was working on the lease. I was also able to hunt as a guest with him a couple times each year harvesting does and hogs for meat.

Really Reconnecting

In 2018, I was able to officially join the lease as a member. We no longer would be sitting in the same blind during our hunts, but I’d have a lot more freedom to work with him as a partner on the lease. He continued to teach me all he could squeeze in my brain about hunting white-tailed deer and feral hogs. I soaked up all I could. He loaned me a bow and taught me to bow hunt. The first weekend on the lease that year he helped me with my first kill on my first hunt just a couple weeks after I had my appendix removed!

In my second season on the ranch, I decided I’d try to take my trophy deer with my new archery skills. One incredible chilly October morning, I harvested a wide 10 while he was in another blind harvesting the ranch record! To be honest, I’m not sure the excitement of that day will ever be surpassed. 

Robert and “Low Beam” (B&C gross 166) and “Wide 10” (B&C gross 144)

We’ve spent hours on the ranch building and repairing blinds and filling and repairing feeders. Time is never wasted while sweating in the summer sun or sitting around the campfire. His boys and two of my daughters have joined us. I know I can depend on him and I hope he knows he can depend on me.  

The Spring of 2020 we spent a few days rebuilding two bow blinds and adding a blind where we had not been able to successfully bow hunt. The third blind is the location of the above photo. I remember working for hours building the blind after we discussed and calculated the location. We moved the feeder so that we could set the blind in a clump of mesquites the correct distance away. It was just the two of us on the lease that weekend and one of those times we worked hard, got a lot done, and enjoyed the company.

The Big Buck

Bump in September 2020

Early that Fall of 2020, I watched a great buck in velvet that we nicknamed “Bump.” He had a cool rack with really long tines. He had a distinct “bump” between his right G2 and G3. We determined that he was too young to harvest and needed another year. He made it through the season, and the next summer, to show back up even bigger in 2021.

My first deer hunt in October of 2021, I watched Bump from this blind for over an hour. I was determined to not shoot on my first hunt, so I spent the time photographing the deer. Though he was spectacular, it was very early in the season. I wanted the opportunity to sleep on it, pray about it, and make sure he was the buck I wanted to harvest this season. The “bump” had grown several inches. He had developed some unique character from apparent damage to his antlers during their growth period.

“Bump” on October 7, 2021 (B&C gross 154)

The next day, I made the decision to hunt him, hoping he would return to that blind. He did. I made a great shot and he went down in sight. “Bump” is a “buck of a lifetime” for me.

October 8th at 5:42pm

I was elated and immediately called my brother. I told him we wouldn’t need the dogs to track this one, but I’d need his help getting it back to camp. I sat in the blind until I heard his old Nissan ranch truck coming up the dirt road. It seemed like a long wait but the timestamps on the camera tell the story. I shot at 5:42pm and my brother arrived at 6:04. I greeted him at his truck, and we began to walk to the deer. Though I knew where the deer was, out of habit, we looked ahead for the bloody arrow and searched the ground for the blood trail. 

Following the Blood

Walking the blood trail

That’s where this picture was snapped. As we began to walk the trail of blood, we passed in front of the game camera. In the photo, I’m excitedly explaining the hunt, and he is smiling as he soaks it in. In the photo, we are in step together, enjoying the moment.

Yep. Every time I see this photo, I get emotional. At 55 and 53 years of age, the Lord has brought our paths closer together. We are not always in “lock step,” but we enjoy a great relationship that is rooted in our own blood relationship. However, it doesn’t escape me that it is in the harvesting of God’s bountiful gifts that we find ourselves walking other blood trails together. 

The shared blood of family often binds people together, but there is so much more to life. Years ago, we both put our trust in the blood of Christ shed for us on the cross. I was called to preach about that blood. He was led to serve his community willing to shed his own (and sometimes did) as an officer. It is said that there is life in the blood. I believe he saved several lives. I hope my declaration of God’s Word has saved many lives as well. Certainly, the blood of Christ gives us hope of eternal life. We hold to this truth as we look forward to seeing Rodney, mom, and dad again.

As we followed the trail of blood left from this hunt, I see a picture of two brothers who are becoming even better friends as they follow the blood. 

[Side note: As I thought through this blog, I can’t get a certain video out of my mind. You’re My Brother, You’re My Friend I blame Zack Hudson and Kevin Skinner for this.]
Answered Prayer in a Deer Hunt

Answered Prayer in a Deer Hunt

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I am elated to have had the opportunity to harvest this beautiful “Wide 10” whitetail with my bow. In fact, this particular deer was an answer to prayer. After shooting a large whitetail last season on the first Monday of rifle season, I mentioned to several people that I’d like to hunt a wide rack this coming year.

Watching the Bucks

There were several that showed on camera in velvet. My favorite was a deer we call “Big O” that has been aged at 4 years old and is a No Shoot buck. Being new to scoring, this Wide 10 was one of the first I had scored. While still in velvet I wrote down that he scored about 137 thinking I was a little conservative. Because of other responsibilities, I couldn’t hunt the first couple weeks of bow season. Arriving on Thursday evening the October 10th, I committed that I would not shoot at any deer without the rest or our group here with the dogs to track. I planned to hunt hogs on Thursday. If an opportunity came to shoot a doe or cull buck after our group arrived for the weekend, I was open to give that a try. 

“Wide 10” on Thursday Evening

I watched five 10 point bucks for over an hour. This Wide 10 came in early on the hand corn for over an hour. He then went to the back of the feeder circle and LAID DOWN for about 10 minutes. He then got back up and ate for a while before heading out. Needless to say, I got a great look at him. Still trying to learn, I field scored him at 142-146 and sent my brother a text about him.

I waffled between aging him between 4 ½ and 5 ½. Trophy deer must be 5 years old before we will harvest them. When Bart arrived, I found that our “experts” had settled on him being 5 years old and a shooter. Bart had initially scored him at 137 and decided to pass on him. Bart is part of our group who has hunted with my brother Robert for 20 years. 

Praying for Success

At that point, I decided that I would hunt this Wide 10. Being pretty inexperienced at bow hunting, I committed to myself that I would only take a shot at a trophy buck if the “perfect” opportunity presented itself. Because this deer had spent so much time on the hand corn, I thought he may be my chance. I hunted him at the same bow blind Friday morning and evening without him showing up. Friday night we knew the wind conditions were changing and it may make my hunt a little more difficult, but Robert felt he could hunt Lowbeam the next morning. Lowbeam was a nickname given to a deer that had appeared periodically on camera that looked like he may be the ranch record.

I am a pastor who believes that God who wants a personal relationship with His “kids.” I’ve never prayed for a deer harvest. But Friday evening, I prayed that the Lord would give Robert his chance at Lowbeam and that I could get my trophy as well. I woke up thinking about it during the night and each time I lifted the same prayer. When I woke at 5:30am, I prayed the same prayer. As I put my boots on, I told myself, “This is it. It’s the day we both get our trophies.”

The Hunt

It didn’t take long. It was a completely still morning. Just after the feeder went off at 7:15 I had 2 bucks come in. About 10 minutes later, 2 more bucks appeared to the right of the feeder circle. One looked pretty big and I thought it may be the Wide 10. I set up my camera to record the shot on video. In a few minutes, the Wide 10 came straight over to the hand corn at 18-20 yards. I had to wait several minutes for another 10 to clear from behind him and have him began to turn before I drew. 

When I drew, I brushed the back of the blind with my elbow and he alerted staring at me for a while. I held the draw until he dropped his head to eat and the buck next to him quit looking my way. I waited for him to get broadside and to step forward with his near side leg then I let go. Even though he jumped the string “bad,” at under 20 yards he didn’t have a chance. I got a near perfect shot that passed completely through his lower lungs.

The Wait and Recovery

I alerted our group by text and waited. We weren’t getting any feedback from Robert so we knew something may be up over at Crest. 20 minutes after I shot, we got a text from him stating that LowBeam was down. That’s when I paused to thank the Lord for answered prayer. We certainly don’t always get what we ask for. I’ll admit that the Lord often answers my prayer in His time and not in my time. This day He chose to bless this pastor with a clear, immediate answer. 

We assembled at camp and ate a bite, trying to temper our excitement until we finished the tracks and recovered the deer. It didn’t take long. Both tracks had great blood and each deer travelled less than 75 yards from the shot. Bart, Rick, and Earl all joined in on the tracks, helped load the deer, and get our photos.

Robert with Lowbeam and Dennis with Wide 10

I can’t imagine a better day hunting. The photo of the two of us together with our trophies, both with the biggest trophies of our lives, communicates a lot of the story. My first reason for joining the lease was to spend more time with my brothers doing something we all love. This tops it off!

One Final Request

When we were going out with the dogs to track the deer, I told the other men about my prayer. They all knew that I’d prayed and spoken openly about my desire for Robert to harvest Lowbeam. Bart jokingly said, “Why don’t you send up one of those prayers for me.”  As I left Saturday evening, I asked which deer he was hunting and told him I’d pray. Before going to bed, I prayed the Lord would let Bart know that he was a personal God by answering this prayer. Sunday morning as I awoke, I prayed, “Lord, I know they are in the bow blind right now. Show Bart you are a personal God by sending him this deer this morning.” When I got out of the shower, I had a text from my brother starting the “Kickerless” was down.  

The Celebration

Susan had Monday off work so we had planned to spend the day on the lease riding 4 wheelers and doing a little work. This gave us the opportunity to celebrate with Bart as well. Sometimes the Lord who loves us gives us much more than we need or deserve. For that, I am grateful. I will remember this special weekend for a very long time and I will give thanks to the Lord upon every remembrance. 
Around the Charcoal Fire

Around the Charcoal Fire

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S'more
A Near Perfect S’more

Many precious memories have been made around a bed of glowing coals in the midst of family camping trips. As a young boy I remember stoking the fire on the banks of Lake Travis at a place dad called the “Narrows.” We’d swim and ski during the day. Then we’d run trotlines every five or six hours, even during the night. Of course, someone would make sure to keep the fire going while the boats were out on the lake

My love for camping and campfires has continued throughout life. I grew up toasting marshmallows, but it was Susan who introduced me to a delicacy called S’mores. Since then I’ve taken pride in becoming the best S’more toaster on the planet. Whether near the beaches of Florida, canyons of Utah, sequoias in California, mountains in Alaska, or near the geysers in Yellowstone, camping is just not the same without the glowing coals of a waning campfire. It is when the logs are burned down, and the coals are glowing bright orange and white that one finds the perfect heat for toasting marshmallows or cooking fish.

The Charcoal Fire in John’s Gospel

This kind of fire is mentioned twice in the Gospel of John. It is around the anthrakian (translated “charcoal fire” or “fire of coals”) that we find two important events in the life of Simon Peter. Events that Peter must have remembered the rest of his life.

Peter’s Denial

The first time we find Peter around the charcoal fire is in John 18:18. Jesus had just been arrested after a long night of prayer in the garden. Peter had promised to remain faithful only a few hours earlier. However, he had fallen asleep there in the garden. Things moved quickly in the dead of night. Judas betrayed. Powerful men came. Jesus surrendered. And now at the coldest part of the early morning, Jesus was being questioned while Peter warmed himself by the charcoal fire.

It was in those moments of exhaustion, confusion, and fear that Peter found himself at his weakest. Within earshot (and eyeshot) of Jesus, a young servant suggested that Peter was one of the Galilean’s friends. Peter denied it. Then another recognized him. He denied knowing Jesus again. Then a third said he’d seen them together. This time Peter denied with even more fervor.

Then it happened, just as Jesus said. A roster crowed at the dawning of the morning. Peter knew what he’d just done. He looked toward Jesus and Jesus was looking directly at him. His heart was broken. He’d done the very thing he promised he’d never do. He denied his teacher, his mentor, his friend when Jesus needed him most. Peter went away and wept.

Peter Returns to Fishing

Much had taken place in the intervening weeks. After watching Jesus beaten, nailed to the cross, and die, Peter had seen the empty tomb. Jesus even appeared to him and the others a couple times. But things still weren’t the same. Peter had found out just how weak he was. He had denied Jesus. His future was uncertain, and he wasn’t sure what to do next. He decided to do the one thing he knew well – go fishing with a few of the others.

After a full night on the water, they caught nothing. As the sun began to rise, a man standing on the shore began to chat with them. He told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. When they did, their nets were full!

IMG_6356Jesus on the Shore

The memories began to rush in like a flood. John shouted it, but Peter already knew! The man on the shore was Jesus, the Lord! Peter couldn’t wait on the boats and fish. He just dove in the water and swam to Jesus. When they gathered around, they found that Jesus had prepared a perfect cooking fire, a charcoal fire, and served them a breakfast of fish and bread.

The boats were nearby on the shore. The nets were full of fish. And their bellies were full of fish. As they sat around charcoal fire, Jesus looked at Peter and asked him a probing question.  “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter’s replied, “Yes, Lord. You know I love you.” Jesus told him “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus asked a second time in a slightly different way. Again, Peter replied in the affirmative. Then a third time, Jesus asked “Do you love me?” Peter replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Peter is Restored

It must have been then that Peter realized the depth of what was happening. Of course, Jesus knew that Peter loved Him, but did Peter know that he loved Jesus. He denied Jesus at such a crucial time. Certainly, Peter was a failure as a disciple. What he needed to know was that Jesus already knew and Jesus wasn’t finished with him.

Peter had given up on himself and gone back to fishing. Jesus wasn’t ready to leave Peter in that place. Peter was to be the leader of His church. He would feed Jesus’ lambs, shepherd His sheep, and feed them when Jesus was gone. Peter needed to be reminded that he had been called away from the boats and nets three years earlier. Now was no time to return to that life.

Jesus needed him to respond to the call to become a “fisher of men” now more than ever. He needed a reminded that he loved Jesus more than the boats and nets and late-night expeditions. He loved Jesus “more than these.” Jesus still had a job for him that bore eternal rewards.

The Warmth of a Charcoal Fire

The charcoal fire (anthrakian) only appears two times in all the New Testament. The first time Peter was huddled around it keeping warm as he denied Jesus and journeyed into a dark valley of despair. The next time Jesus had prepared the fire on the shore. As Peter sat around with his Lord, he was reminded of his love for Jesus and the purpose to which he had been called years earlier. Peter was restored to the mission for which he had been called. He was to be a fisher of men.

Here’s betting that Peter rarely sat around another fire without remembering his weakness and Jesus’ forgiveness. The charcoal fire did more than warm his hands, it warmed his heart.

The glowing bed of hot coals is a gentle reminder that Jesus has a purpose for me. Even when I fall and when I fail, He is able to restore me. In fact, He already knows and His plan remains.

Family Around the Fire

Wait on the Lord

Wait on the Lord

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The gentle murmur of the Gros Ventre river is only drowned out by the constant chirping of the song birds. With Susan by my side and Koda resting at our feet, I sit under the shade of the beautiful cottonwood trees. The air is a crisp 55 degrees. The incredible Grand Teton mountain range is over my shoulder. It is a wonderful morning to stop, wait, and listen!

Stop and Rest

It is good to stop and rest. The Lord did after creating the world. Jesus did when the crowds pressed in looking for attention. Yet, it is one of the most difficult lessons for me to learn. I have grown accustomed to a life filled with busy-ness. Most of us only slow down once we get sick and we have no other choice. Our “work ethic” is encouraged in God’s Word, but He also reminds us to set aside time to rest.

My Struggle

Even on vacation, I find it difficult to slow down and rest. I’m in a new place filled with the beauty of God’s marvelous creation. I want to see it all. Rushing from place to place, I try to get the perfect picture of that moose or bear. I want to photograph the sunrise and sunset. I want to stay up late and take in the bright starry nights, only to rise early to rush to the next beautiful place. By the time I arrive back home, I’ve experienced a great adventure, but rest has once again eluded me. This is MY struggle.

The Lord’s Whisper

In the middle of the hustle, I find the LORD gentle whispering, “Slow down and wait on me.” Read my word. Listen to my voice. Find my rest.

So, after a battle with the flesh this morning, we stopped. Koda is glad. Riding in the truck had worn him out. As I read through many of the Psalms this morning, one phrase struck me, “Wait for the Lord.” The Psalmist repeats it twice in Psalm 27:14. Of course, my mind immediately asks, “Wait for what?” This morning the answer seems simple – “the Lord.” I’m not waiting for another experience or adventure. Those will come in HIS time.

Sit, Listen, Rest, and Wait

This morning I sit, listen, rest, write, and most importantly WAIT – experiencing the presence of the Lord in the midst of his great creation.

Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Wait for the Lord.

– Psalm 27:14

Why “Mountains and Ministry”?

Why “Mountains and Ministry”?

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As I set out to begin this blog, one of the most difficult decisions was what to title it. So, I decided I would make that the subject of my first post.

Mother’s Day Memories

Today is Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. Tomorrow will be the first Mother’s Day I have attended a worship service with my mom since I began serving in the pastoral ministry almost 30 years ago. This is a special weekend. Two years ago on Mother’s Day, my brothers and sister were visiting mom when dad apparently had a mild stroke. He spent the next few days in the hospital before passing away on May 16th. One of my more difficult and fulfilling “assignments” from the Lord was officiating his memorial service.

But what does this have to do with a blog title? I was blessed with wonderful parents — not perfect parents. I don’t believe those exist. But I had a mom and dad who loved me, sacrificed for me, and taught me the value of hard work and sacrifice for others. They both served their community as volunteers in the local fire department and medical services.

A Man and the Mountains

My favorite memories with dad are in the outdoors. There are photos of me at his hunting camp in Colorado when I was only three years old. Of course, I don’t remember much of that trip, but it must have planted something in me. We spent many days fishing together with my younger brother, mostly on Lake Travis. He taught us to hunt with integrity, giving us a healthy respect for all that God has created. I also gained a love for camping in the mountains and the national parks as we camped all over many of the western states. As I sit in the backyard of my childhood today, I remember many days working with him in the garage and watching him haul in fish with the rod and reel that sits next to my chair.

One of the largest deer taken in Colorado in the Fall 1970.

A Mom Pointing to Jesus

Mom introduced me to Jesus. She took me to church when I was very small. It seems we were out of church for a few years. When I reached junior high age, mom began to take me to New Hope Baptist Church not far from our home. As I look back at that time, I’m guessing that mom was getting worried. My older siblings suggested that I was getting a little wild (of course, I’m sure that is an exaggeration). We hadn’t been attending very long when the Gospel pierced my heart. I remember talking to Mom about it on the way home. The next day I surrendered my life to Jesus as my Savior and Lord. It was only a few years after that when the Lord called me to a lifetime of pastoral ministry. I will be grateful for her influence for all of eternity!

Mountains, Ministry and God’s Glory

Mountains and Ministry – Dad filled me with a love for the outdoors – a love for all the incredible things that God has created. Mom pointed me to Jesus. Today, I am filled with many memories of dad. Dang it I miss him! Tomorrow, I will worship with Mom at the church where I surrendered my life to Christ. Today, I start this blog.

“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.

May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” – Ps. 19:1, 14