Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Entrance to the park

A river runs through it.  Well, in this case, a river runs beside it.  In 2011, Georgia opened its newest park: Chattahoochee Bend.  Protecting five miles of river frontage, the 2910 acre park is one of Georgia’s largest state parks.  Three visits to the park, and I still want to return for more scenic walks along the Hooch.  The Bend caters to paddlers, anglers, campers and hikers.  The facilities still look and smell new.  There are some great picnic sites down along the river bank, next to the boat ramp.  Take a minute and stop by the visitor center to shop or pick up a trail map.

Here is some information I pulled off the park’s website:

• 25 RV campsites.
• 10 tent/pop-up sites.
• 16 riverside platform sites.
• 12 tent walk-in campsites.
• 4 Adirondack-style camping shelters.
• 2 picnic shelters
• boat ramp

I’ve enjoyed hiking the trails along the river, and the connector trail between the visitor center and the river is very nice.  I’ve paddled my sit-on-top Native Watercraft down the very calm Chattahoochee; the gorgeous scenery can’t be experienced just one time.  A good place to put into the river is the Highway 16 Bridge near Plant Yates–Whitesburg, Ga.  From the bridge, I floated down to McIntosh Reserve Park, about a 7 mile trip. From McIntosh Reserve to Chattahoochee Bend State Park, it’s about another 7 miles.

Don’t have a kayak?  No problem.  Talk to Tim at Georgia Trail Outfitters, and he can provide kayaks and/or shuttling services.  Tim also offers free tips for navigating and enjoying the river.

Here’s a link to the park:  Chattahoochee Bend State Park.  Check out my pictures below, and get out there!

Having Fun on the Hooch

My Native Manta Ray Kayak

River Trail

River Scene

Picnic in the Park

Calm River

Observation Tower

Adirondack Shelter

Boat Ramp

Check out my other reviews of various parks:

Cheaha State Park

Chimney Rock Park

Pine Mountain State Park

George L Smith State Park

Providence Canyon State Park

52 Lessons God Has Taught Me Through the Outdoors

I’ve said before that nothing can replace God’s Word, His written revelation, when it comes to knowing Him and finding specific direction for one’s life.  But our life experiences and our relationships can help reinforce those unchanging truths; those experiences provide a laboratory where we blow stuff up, make things sizzle, or discover what’s really buried inside us.  For me, one of those living laboratories has been the outdoors.

I manage a training team at my work, and over the years, I’ve learned what makes for effective learning.  The simple lecture alone will not get it done, but when coupled with teaching aids and exercises, people begin to engage in a life-changing way.  Studies show that when people can see what’s being taught and practice the concepts first hand, they retain upwards of 85 to 90 percent.

If we observe scripture, we see that God follows the same approach.  Often times He uses illustrations and training aids from His creation to explain an important teaching.  He places us in an environment where we can feel, smell, touch and take in living lessons.  His vibrant lessons are there everyday we step out the front door, as we head toward our busy day.  Here are some things He is showing me, and I know you can add to the list.

1. God loves order and beauty.  He’s a designer and an artist.
2. Some things must die to bring forth life.
3. A small beginning (acorn) can grow to become a huge success (the oak tree).
4. Strong trees have deep roots, and trees beside the stream flourish.
5. Little things can have a significant purpose.  Just observe the ant or the honey bee.
6. Just as I can count on the seasons, I can count on God.
7. As beautiful as nature is, something’s still not right.
8. Death is an ugly business, but also a blessing.
9. I have less control of things than I think I do.
10. Run from fear and it will chase me; it can easily overcome me.  I must face it.
11. Walking in a dark forest without light is dangerous business.  It’s easy to stumble and get lost.
12. Water, fire, and light are three of God’s favorite training props.
13. I must be careful where the stream carries me.  Don’t want to just drift through life.
14. God is my anchor, and He will hold me steady.
15. Temptation can lure me into the open and into the sights of the Enemy.
16. Be consistent and follow through; this helps me hit the mark every time.
17. Fish where the fish are and fish where God tells me to fish.
18. I need to notice things right in front of me.  They are often well camouflaged.
19. Special things happen to those who rise early and stay late.
20. A small spark can spawn a huge fire.  A good fire cleanses the landscape.
21. A productive knife requires constant sharpening.
22. Fly in formation—must support my team.
23. Be prepared.  I not only carry a physical survival kit: I carry a spiritual one as well.
24. I always use a map, a compass, or a guide to keep me on the right Path.
25. A successful person knows how to hunt something down, drag it home, and eat it.
26. Am I taking care of the arrows in my quiver?  Will they fly straight over their lifetime?
27. I should not waste my life when it’s not mine to waste.
28. God’s vast resources bless all of us – those who know Him and those who don’t.
29. God is big—I am tiny.
30. Pruning is necessary for healthy new growth.
31. Sacrifices must often times be made.  And usually at the innocent’s expense.
32. Life’s not all about me.  Forces are at work here that are greater than I.
33. I must walk through the valley to get to a mountain top.
34. One step at a time—that’s how I get to where I want to be.
35. Nothing’s really new.  New is just a repackaging or a recycling of the old.
36. The flower wilts.  Beauty and youth eventually fade.
37. I’m a steward, not an owner.
38. Everything has a purpose, a time, a season.
39. The dog is one of God’s greatest gifts to man.
40. Hard work is rewarded.  Persistence pays off.
41. God loves diversity.  And I think to some extent, He favors change.
42. Patience, patience and more patience.
43. I sometimes need to get away and be alone.  Our Lord stole away to the hills.
44. Be on the lookout.  Better that I spot the danger before it sneaks up on me.
45. The world holds many mysteries.  How well do I really understand our universe?
46. All things were made for His glory.  I and the creation, we’re made for His pleasure.
47. Sometimes life stinks and sometimes it’s very fragrant.
48. Humankind must always be cultivating.  I must sweat and realize my limitations.
49. Solving one problem often creates another.
50. Nature is a noble thing.
51. Something better lies beyond this world.
52. Take a kid fishing.  Take a friend hiking.  We weren’t built to experience this life alone.

How about you?  What lesson is God showing you through His wild creation?

Book Review – Daddy Dates

Greg Wright has hit a home run.  I recently finished his book Daddy Dates and want to recommend it to all you wonderful dads out there.

Greg writes from experience and from his heart; he’s a father of four daughters and a successful businessman.  I’m a father of one daughter and can vouch that his words ring true.  He takes the reader through his journey of fathering and “dating” his four girls.  He does this without talking down to the reader or making him feel guilty—just one guy sharing his thoughts with another guy.  A key word in his book is “plan.”  Being intentional.  Intentional doesn’t necessarily translate to perfect (good news for me and probably you).  A successful father raises his kids proactively and strategically.

Greg demonstrates his intentional approach by humorously describing his method for daughter dating.  He sees dating as an adventurous way to get to know his daughters, discover what they like, how they think, and how their peers influence them.  He’s found a way to do this by building trust and by not being overbearing.  Relax, dads; we can do this too.

What do you do when you and your daughter go to the bookstore?  Do you observe what books she gravitates towards or do you automatically rush to your favorite sports magazines?  Those books she’s been reading just might tell you volumes about your daughter’s beliefs, ideals or longings.  It seems that men are quick to solve problems, to ask probing questions, when really what we should be doing is observing, gaining trust and helping our daughters progress into womanhood.

Daddy Dates taught me the importance of treating my girl to a special time, a time of conversation, and two-way communication.  Greg suggests several practical date ideas, and he offers an easy survey which reveals your daughter’s personality type.  Understanding your daughter isn’t an easy task.  It takes more than quality time; it takes quantity time—a lifelong commitment.  Never give up.

The Book of Proverbs teaches us to know well the state of our flocks.  As fathers, we should know our daughters.  Daddy Dates places dads on the road to doing that

Okay, enough of my opinions.  Go and get the book and read it for yourself.  And if you do, drop me a note, and tell me what you think about the book.  I’m confident Daddy Dates will help you be a better father!

Here is a link to Greg’s website where you can learn more and purchase the book:

http://daddydates.thewrighttrack.com/

Fly Like an Eagle

The family and I had a wonderful time this past weekend at Guntersville State Park in Alabama.  The rain held off until Saturday evening, but that morning we spotted some eagles.  Some were soaring and some were on the nest.  We even spotted 3 eaglets being cared for by their mom (or maybe dad).  Thanks to my daughter for taking these wonderful pictures!  If you get the opportunity, go check out Eagle Awareness Weekend at Guntersville.  Next weekend will be the last weekend event for 2012.

Law of Life

I’m pleased to share an essay that my wife, Laura, wrote a while back.  She is an ESOL teacher here at a local high school.  I only hope that some day I can write like her.  She’s helped me tremendously with my writing and edits 98% of my stuff.  So the other 2% is where you’ll probably find the grammatical errors.  I hope you enjoy!

Law of Life:  The Direction of Your Life Depends on Who You Follow

by Laura Johnson

My father-in-law is a beekeeper.  One day while at his house, I had the good fortune of being able to accompany him on a beekeeping errand.  A swarm of bees had taken up residence in a small front yard in the midst of Columbus, Georgia’s suburbia.  A frantic lady, the owner of that residence, called my father-in-law, pleading for help.  He gathered up his beekeeping garb and an empty bee super, and we headed in that direction.

When we arrived, I saw a huge black ball on a small tree in the front yard.  This ball was covered with crawling bees, surrounded by flying bees, and was, itself, bees.  I gained a new respect for my father-in-law as I watched him don the beekeeping hat, veil and gloves, and wade in.  While I stood a safe distance away, he took the super, held it close to the big ball of bees, then proceeded to bend the tree over and shake the bees into the super.  Unfortunately, less than half of the hive fell into the super.  Great clumps of bees landed on the ground, while still more angrily darted about in the air.  Our family beekeeper let out a groan, expressing his disappointment, and said, “We can only hope the queen made it in.”

What I saw next amazed me.  Indeed the queen had fallen into the box, and all the other bees knew it.  The clumps of bees on the ground began organizing themselves and  marching in procession toward the super, up its sides and into its depths.  The angry, complaining airborne bees also quickly found their target.  In a matter of just a few moments, the bees were out of sight, their restless buzzing replaced by silence.  The tree was empty; the sky was empty, and the ground was clear.  These bees got a free ride back to the ranch where they lived happily ever after, and we all enjoyed the benefit of some most delicious honey.

Not all creatures are as wise as bees.  We’ve all witnessed people flying off in all different directions with no clear life purpose, producing nothing—or nothing so sweet as honey.  Others choose leaders, but choose unwisely, their lives inevitably producing pain and bitterness for themselves and others.  In contrast, those who choose their leaders wisely and follow them whole-heartedly have the greatest impact on our world.  President Ronald Reagan is the favorite of many conservatives and admired by many across party lines for his courageous leadership and calm demeanor.  Who can forget his famous words, “Mr. Gorbechav, tear down this wall!”?  Someone once asked Reagan, concerning his prayer life, “Do you really believe somebody is listening up there?”  His response was, “Oh my!  If I didn’t believe that, I’d be scared to death!”  Ronald Reagan had found his queen bee, and the results were sweet.  In my own life, I have learned that the direction my life takes and the legacy I create for those who come after me depend on the one I choose to follow.  I can, unfortunately, look back and see large chunks of time wasted.   Not having a clear notion of whom to follow, or simply choosing not to follow, I have frolicked in futile activity or darted about in the infuriating expanse like a bee without her queen.  Yet, those times when I have been the most sure of my Leader and the most committed to following Him have been the times that produced life’s best honey.

Honey, I Forgot the Toilet Paper

Have you ever been on a camping trip, out in the middle of nowhere and realized you forgot an important item?  This happens to the best of us, but having good checklists can help jog our memories and make our stay in the wild places more enjoyable.  Over the years, I have created some checklists that have saved me much grief, and I’ve recently tidied these up as a FREE PDF which you may download and share with others.  You can share this in printed form or electronically.  You can even post it to your website or blog.

 

Here is a peek inside:

Scout Ten Essentials & Day Hiking Checklist

Fishing Checklist

Hunting Checklist

Car Camping Checklist

Backpacking Checklist

Click here to download a free PDF:   Outdoor Checklists

Hope these Outdoor Checklists help on your journey outside.  Take a minute and share any items I may have overlooked or items you just can’t live without.

Christian Books for Kindle: 99 Cents or Less

Don’t you just love getting something for free—or real cheap?  Technology continues to drive the cost of books down, and Amazon Kindle has been a big player.  Many have also embraced the ebook download craze with their Nooks, iPhones or iPads.  My iPod contains several audiobooks that I can easily play during my daily work commute.  The quality of Apple products continues to impress me.

Back in May I posted an article about my Kindle experience.  I’ve used my Kindle now for a little over of a year and love the ability to carry hundreds of books around in one hand.  I’ve also recently published two short stories on the Kindle Store; the process was amazingly simple.  It was recently announced that Apple will now allow independent authors to upload books directly to the iBookstore.  Before, you would have to do this exclusively through an aggregator like Smashwords.

For this post, I’m listing some favorite Christian classics for the Kindle and they’re priced at 99 cents or free.  Though these books are cheap, the wisdom of these writers and preachers is, no doubt, priceless.  May God be glorified through their gift of writing.  Note:  I can’t guarantee they will always be offered for these prices.

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

Secret Power or the Secret of Success in Christian Life and Work by D. L. Moody.

Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray

Jesus Himself by Andrew Murray

Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

The Attributes of God by A. W. Pink

The Weapon of Prayer by E. M. Bounds

Charles Spurgeon:  Christian Classic Collection

Please feel free to share any good Christian books that continue to influence you.

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Now, I won’t even come close to comparing myself to the great men and writers mentioned above, but I would like to share my latest short story, “Two Lions.”  It’s available on the Kindle Store for 99 cents and easily downloadable if you have a Kindle or a device set up to download Kindle books.

But for my blog readers, I’m making this short story available for free on Smashwords.  This offer will last until the end of January.  Just use the coupon code YB62F and you’ll have the option of downloading to your desktop, laptop or e-reader device.  Once again, thank you for following my blog.

 

Changing Your Conjunction

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:24

“Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?”  Many of you remember this little song from Schoolhouse Rock.  This isn’t a post about grammar, but this particular part of speech can make a huge difference in our lives.  And the Matthew 6:24 verse certainly can go beyond just money, meaning other areas we set up as gods:  career, hobbies, material possessions, etc.

Tacking an “and” to the end of your Christianity absolutely wreaks havoc.  Do this and you risk sliding into the ranks of the Pharisees, legalists or any particular cult of the day.  It brings huge amounts of stress and distress to our lives.  We wind up doing things God never asked us to do, assuming life burdens He never meant for us to bear, following after beliefs that are either destructive or counter productive.  God doesn’t want any part of “and.”  He demands our undivided attention and worship, a singular mindset.  As we focus on Him, all the other things in our life fall correctly in place.

Have you considered changing your “and” to an “or”?  No, I’m not talking about choosing God or something else.  I’m shifting now to our day-to-day decisions and goals.  I’m first to confess that I want to do it all.  I seek success in my career, I want to write novels, publish short stories, I want to pursue my outdoor hobbies, I love to serve my church, I want to spend time with my wife, and I deeply desire to be a great father.  But as I try to balance all of these things, and many more, I can’t become great at any one.

That little conjunction “and” leaves us exhausted, shallow, divided, diluted, unfocused and sometimes obese.  Here’s how most people try to solve this problem:  time management and self-improvement.  They try to manage all these things into the limited 24 hours we all possess.  We simply try to improve our abilities to multitask and juggle.  Instead of time management, I suggest priority management.  Not everything in life is a priority, but we do treat them as such.  And not everything in life is about me.  Choose wisely what your priorities will be in 2012.  You don’t have to do it all.

Enter the power of “or.”  By incorporating this even shorter conjunction, we can change many daily decisions and our annual goals.  Earlier, I mentioned obesity.  Think how this concept even applies to what we eat.  Instead of having sweet tea and the huge entree and the slice of chocolate cake, I’ll have the tea or the nice entree or skip dessert.  Or I may elect to eat half the meal, drink water and enjoy my cake.  For 2012, instead of working on a new novel and writing several short stories and starting a new blog and taking up a new woodworking hobby, I’m planning to focus on one, maybe two of these activities.  The combinations are endless, and you must prioritize, but what a great way to streamline your life.

Remember:  you don’t have to do everything in 2012.  Thank you God for the opportunity to worship and serve you this year!  I want to serve you more than anything else.

How about you?  How can you change your “and” to an “or” in 2012?

Recapping 2011

Thanks so much for following my blog in 2011.  Hard to believe this will be my 110th post.  I continue to change up my blog, to improve the content and to create topics relevant to you, the reader.  The challenge with any blog is discovering your audience and discovering your own voice–what it is you want to say, exactly.

One improvement I want to make is to narrow the scope of blog post topics.  I created this site primarily to glorify God and to encourage others to grow in their faith.  God inspires much of my writing via the medium of nature, so I will carry on with that theme.  You will probably see me posting more articles about my faith and some more devotionals.  I also want to blog about blogging and writing, and share any helpful tips I have learned.

Looking back on my site statistics for 2011, here are some of the more popular posts:

Top 5 Devotional and Inspirational Posts

• A Noble Thing
• Lessons From the Eagle
• Manly Meditations –the Outdoors
• 31 Days in Proverbs — Part 1
• Spiritual Grit

Top 5 Outdoor Travel and Recreation Posts

• Mount Cheaha State Park
• On the Trail Again–Providence Canyon
• Biking the Silver Comet
• Raccoon Mountain Caverns
• Chimney Rock State Park

Top 5 Outdoor Knowledge and How-to Posts

• How to Make a Survival Bracelet
• The Sacrifice Bracelet
• Great Books for the Outdoorsman
• Metal Detecting 101
• Shed Hunting and Antler Craft

Thanks again for your support!  Any suggestions for future posts are greatly appreciated.  I’m also open to other like-minded bloggers who would like to post articles on this site.  Just use the contact link to let me know.

God bless you and Happy New Year!

Keeping Your Family History Alive

Uncle and Great Uncle after a Michigan deer hunt

I love to study my family’s history.  It all started when I discovered the dilapidated photo of my great-great grandfather Britton (see below) who was a private in the Civil War.  I also discovered a booklet written by a great-great uncle; he chronicled his many adventures in the Civil War.  Several ancestors fought on both sides of the that great war.  Suddenly, history became much more personal.

If you enjoy writing like I do, your family history can also be an inspiration for your stories.  The ideas for my novel, The Guide and my short story, The Better Country, were born from studying my family’s past.  You’ll notice a major theme in my writing being the outdoors.  And at some point, all of our ancestors were outdoorsmen.  We can learn so much from our ancestors and the trail they have blazed–even if it’s just a deep appreciation for the life they lived.  It has forced me to consider what legacy I’m passing down to my descendants.

Original Picture of my Great-Great Grandfather Britton

Anyway, I wanted to pass on a couple of great free resources that will help you with organizing your family history and restoring old family photos.

1. https://familysearch.org/products  I’m not a Mormon, but my Mormon cousin shared this free resource that you can download and keep track of your family history.  I have used this tool for organizing and storing my family records.
2. http://www.getpaint.net/  This graphics/photo editing program can be downloaded for free.  This program took the old picture of my great-great grandfather and transformed it into the picture below.  I used the cloning tool to remove the tears, the cracks and to fill in the missing parts.  I loved this picture so much that I made it the cover for my eBook short story, The Better Country.

Restored and Edited Version

 

After I restored the original picture, I hired a graphics designer and he created the final eBook cover below.

Final eBook Cover Art

If you’d like to download a free copy of my short story, The Better Country, click here and then use the coupon code FY37Q.  I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

What about you?  I would love to hear how your family history has inspired you.

20 Last-Minute Gift Ideas for the Outdoorsman

Benchmade Folder

I’m sure all of you have your Christmas shopping done by now.  Yeah, right.  Okay, here are a few items you might want to consider for that outdoorsman in your life whether they hike, hunt, fish or do whatever outdoors.

• Gift cards are always great:  Bass Pro Shop, Dicks Sporting Goods, REI, Cabelas, Academy, etc.
• The Bear Grylls knife made by Gerber.  A full size fixed blade knife.  Comes with a fire starter and honing stone is built into the sheath.  Spend a little extra and get a Benchmade folding knife.  I carry this knife with me everywhere I go.
• Nikon Monarch binoculars.  Terrific lens quality and compact.
• The Hunter Safety System fall protection harness.  This gift could save your loved one’s life.
• GPS Unit.  I personally love the Garmin brand.  Great for hunting, bushwhacking and geocaching.
• A deer cart.  What a great invention.  If you don’t have a 4 wheeler, this little device will help you transport your deer easily.
• Portable chair blind.  I have two of these and have actually shot deer from them.  For those hunters who like to keep their feet on the ground.
• Summit Tree stands.  Strong, durable, quiet and TMA certified.  I purchased the Goliath.
• Katadyn Water Filter.  Great for hiking and backpacking.
• How about a trip:  hunting, fishing, hiking, snow skiing, etc.  I’ve known families who have given up gift giving for Christmas and just taken a nice family vacation.
• Under Armour base layers.  I enjoy the Cold Gear products and purchase them on sale at Dick’s.
• Depth finder.  Helps locate fish and determine lake depth.
• Subscription to a favorite outdoor magazine.
• An annual parking pass to your state parks.
• Keen Sandals.  Great for fishermen.  I like the Newport.
• Therm-a-Rest Prolite sleeping pad.  I absolutely love this pad for backpacking.  I even will take this car camping instead of the big inflatable mattress.
• The Tracks Lite Staff hiking stick.  I really like this walking stick.  It’s lightweight and only one section.  I found this at Bass Pro Shop.
• How about some devotional books?  “Swim Upstream” by Dave Myers is a good one.  Look for an upcoming post, and I will list my other favorites.
• 550 Paracord bracelets.  Makes a great stocking stuffer.  You can make this yourself by checking out this free resource.
• For the outdoor cooks, check out the Dizzy Pig seasonings and the Pigtail Food Flipper.  Awesome products!  I have found these products at some Ace Hardware stores.

Those are some of my gift ideas.  What would you like to add to the list?

Announcing Antler Pen Winner!

The Antler Twist Action Pen

Congratulations to Don Morse.  He has won the antler pen and a free copy of my novel, “The Guide.”

Don – Please use the contact tab to send me your preferred mailing address.  I will also try to contact you if I can.

Thanks for everyone’s participation.  Since this was such a big hit, I plan to give away another antler pen or two in February or March.  Please be watching for that announcement.

Merry Christmas and God bless,

Scott

Job and the Creator

No doubt many of you have read the book of Job.  I find this to be a remarkable book, and my favorite passages begin in Chapter 38, ending with Chapter 42.  God never truly answers Job’s questions about why suffering and tribulation have found him, but God does respond in a very astounding way.  He reminds Job that He is the Creator and graciously enables Job to see Him with new eyes.  Job’s perspective of God–not to mention Job’s own plight–changes dramatically.

I encourage you to go back and read chapter 38 to 42, but here are a few favorites:

 ⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? 
   Tell me, if you understand. 
⁵ Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! 
   Who stretched a measuring line across it? 
⁶ On what were its footings set, 
   or who laid its cornerstone— 
⁷ while the morning stars sang together 
   and all the angels shouted for joy?

Job 38:4-7

 ³¹ “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? 
   Can you loosen Orion’s belt? 
³² Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons 
   or lead out the Bear with its cubs? 
³³ Do you know the laws of the heavens? 
   Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?

 ³⁴ “Can you raise your voice to the clouds 
   and cover yourself with a flood of water? 
³⁵ Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? 
   Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

Job 38:31-35

¹⁹ “Do you give the horse its strength 
   or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? 
²⁰ Do you make it leap like a locust, 
   striking terror with its proud snorting? 
²¹ It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength, 
   and charges into the fray. 
²² It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; 
   it does not shy away from the sword. 
²³ The quiver rattles against its side, 
   along with the flashing spear and lance. 
²⁴ In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground; 
   it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. 
²⁵ At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’ 
   It catches the scent of battle from afar, 
   the shout of commanders and the battle cry.

Job 39:19-25

¹ Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook 
   or tie down its tongue with a rope? 
² Can you put a cord through its nose 
   or pierce its jaw with a hook? 
³ Will it keep begging you for mercy? 
   Will it speak to you with gentle words? 
⁴ Will it make an agreement with you 
   for you to take it as your slave for life? 
⁵ Can you make a pet of it like a bird 
   or put it on a leash for the young women in your house? 
⁶ Will traders barter for it? 
   Will they divide it up among the merchants? 
⁷ Can you fill its hide with harpoons 
   or its head with fishing spears? 
⁸ If you lay a hand on it, 
   you will remember the struggle and never do it again! 
⁹ Any hope of subduing it is false; 
   the mere sight of it is overpowering. 
¹⁰ No one is fierce enough to rouse it. 
   Who then is able to stand against me? 
¹¹ Who has a claim against me that I must pay? 
   Everything under heaven belongs to me.

Job 41:1-11

Notice Job’s response to God in Chapter 42:

¹ Then Job replied to the LORD:

 ² I know that you can do all things; 
   no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 
³ You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ 
   Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, 
   things too wonderful for me to know.

 ⁴ You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; 
   I will question you, 
   and you shall answer me.’ 
⁵ My ears had heard of you 
   but now my eyes have seen you. 
⁶ Therefore I despise myself 
   and repent in dust and ashes.

Job 42:1-6

Bulletproof Birds

For many, the sport of hunting can be controversial.  Perhaps I can write a future article on the virtues of hunting.  But I can understand people’s point of view when they observe outdoor channel stars high-fiving and performing a jovial dance right after flinging an arrow through a deer’s heart.  The perception, however, is different from the reality.  No hunter that I know (and I’ve been hunting for years) actually takes pleasure in killing an animal, and, to be honest, wild game do receive a sporting chance; which is much more than can be said for the thousands of grocery-store-variety chickens, cows or hogs.

Back in September, I gave about 100 doves a very fair chance.  I managed to only knock one from the air, and my companions didn’t fair much better.  If you’ve ever hunted dove, you know this to be a familiar outcome.  Anyway, I’d like to share a poem I recently put together.  It came to me after that day on the field.  Maybe you can identify with it.  Hope you enjoy!

Bulletproof Birds

by S Scott Johnson

Birds

Bulletproof birds,

Streaming over the dawn-lit canopy.

Defying gravity, escaping lead, pellets

Raining overhead.  Gray Barons,

Rulers of air.

Missed.

Wings

Unfailing wings,

Gliding through the man-made storm.

Plastic shells sum, empty mementos lining

The ground below.  Magicians,

Sleight of hand.

Gone.

Odds

Unbelievable odds,

Barreling over wild-eyed, bewildered men.

Shooting again, and again, shaking hats at

The sad stats.  Mathematicians,

All bets off.

Lost

My 5 Favorite Outdoor Websites

Looking for some helpful advice about the outdoors?  Maybe you’d like to learn how to cut down a tree or sharpen a knife or do some research for an upcoming camping trip.  Below, I’ve compiled 5 of my favorite outdoor websites.  Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a conservationist or just an all-around nature-lover, these sites have something for you.  Some sites contain forums where you can:

Ask a question or answer a question.

Encourage people who are like-minded.

Share or learn valuable skills and information.

Develop friendships.

Enter free giveaways.

Here are the websites:

GON Forum

Christian Outdoorsman

Outdoor Blogging Network

Mother Nature Network

The Art of Manliness

Many of the forums cover a wide range of topics:

Camping, hiking and backpacking

Hunting and fishing

Kayaking and rafting

Talk about your faith

Outdoor photography

Showcase your outdoor crafts

Share recipes and cooking tips

Learn survival skills or primitive skills

Metal detecting

I hope you enjoy these.  Please leave a comment and share an outdoor website you enjoy.

A Short Story Gift for You

I can’t think of a better way to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War than to write a short story involving one of the battles fought in Spotsylvania, Virginia.  I credit the inspiration for this story to my own family history.  If you trace your family history, chances are great you’ll find an ancestor who fought in the Civil War.  I found family members who fought on both sides.

“The Better Country” is a story about a Civil War chaplain who decides to join the battlefield, but quickly discovers the tragic cost of war.

I’m giving you a coupon code FY37Q so you can download the story for free on Smashwords.  Click on add to cart and use the coupon code to download it for free.  You can download this in different formats.  If you have a Kindle, you can copy the mobi file version to your Kindle.  This offer is good for the next two weeks–my gift to you.

As a short story, it won’t take long to read, and I think you will enjoy it.  If you do, please let me know.  I’d also appreciate you leaving a review with your honest feedback.

Make a Paracord Cross Necklace

Paracord Cross Necklace

I learned how to create a new paracord project at fushionknots.com.  The Paracord Cross consists of Square Crowned Sinnets with Diamond Knots finishing off the top and bottom.  I used four 6 ft lengths of 550 paracord (tan and red colors).  My attempt didn’t exactly turn out as expected, but I’m still pleased with the results.   I think the finished product is probably too large to actually serve as a necklace, but I might strap it to my backpack or hiking stick.  It would make a great conversation piece and could certainly open up witnessing opportunities.

The Paracord Cross Necklace took me about 2 hours to make, and it was my first one.  To view the video for making this project click here.

If you’re interested in making paracord crafts, you might also want to check out my from free resource on How to Make a Survival Bracelet.

Good luck and please share any paracord craft ideas you may have.

Thanksgiving Origins – Thinking Back on some Extraordinary Outdoorsmen

I recently came across a two-part interview with Reverend Peter Marshall concerning the origins of Thanksgiving.  He talks about how God intervened in the Pilgrims’ lives and how the Indians helped them recover from the harsh winter.  In the interviews, Marshall covers several things you may or may not know about the origins of Thanksgiving:

• Abraham Lincoln established the Thanksgiving holiday during the bloody Civil War.
• The Pilgrims were not fleeing religious persecution.  Instead, they came to the New World to discover better living conditions, to preserve their culture and to propagate the gospel.
• The original Pilgrims were a separate group from the Puritans.
• They formed something called the Mayflower Compact, the seed of American democracy.
• The story of Squanto and God’s miracles in his life.  Using his Indian lore and outdoor skills, Squanto assisted the Pilgrims and taught them how to survive.
• Quotes from William Bradford, governor of the Plymouth Colony.

Click on the links below to hear this two-part interview:

Origin of Thanksgiving I     (16 min)

Origin of Thanksgiving II     (19 min)

Visit Sermonaudio.com to hear more sermons from Peter Marshall and other well known preachers.

God Revealed in Nature

Just wanted to share about a new book I discovered, God Revealed in Nature by Pat, Harry and Amy Franklin.  Pat is a retired elementary schoolteacher and Harry is a retired journalist.  The book showcases a collection of family poems, most of them written by Pat.  Pat has also included some journal entries from her daughter Amy who past away in 1996.  Below is an awesome excerpt from the book, a poem called Tiny Little Crosses.

Tiny Little Crosses

by Pat Franklin

Tiny little crosses

Swaying in the breeze,

Gentle little reminders

That bring us to our knees.

Tiny little crosses

Towering high above,

In the tops of pine trees

Symbols of God’s love.

Tiny little crosses

How they touch our souls,

Bursting forth at Easter time

To proclaim The Greatest Story Ever Told.

Tiny little crosses

Reminders-our debt is paid,

When upon our Savior’s shoulders

All of our sins were laid.

Tiny little crosses

Our Father’s supreme sacrifice,

Dying on the cross for us,

The gift of eternal life.

Tiny little crosses

Cause our hearts to overflow,

In praise and thanksgiving

For the One who loves us so.

Longleaf pine trees start their new growth the weeks before Easter.  At the top of them, you will see yellow shoots.  As Easter Sunday approaches, the tallest shoot will branch off and form a cross.  By Easter most of the pine trees will have tiny crosses on all of the tallest shoots stretching to Heaven. 

Antler Pen Giveaway

The Antler Twist Action Pen

The winner of this giveaway will receive:

• My handmade twist style writing pen (pictured above).  I made this pen on my wood lathe.  It’s made out of whitetail deer antler.  Antlers are very durable and, when polished, leave a beautiful glossy finish.  Deer shed their antlers every year, so I used a renewable resource to make this pen!
• A personally signed copy of my novel, The Guide.

The Rules:

1. You are automatically entered to win if you post a comment at the end of this blog post.  Although it’s not required, feel free to mention an outdoor organization or conservation effort you admire or support.
2. One person per entry.  However, you can earn extra entries by linking to this contest on facebook, twitter, or in a blog post about this contest – one extra entry per link up to five.  Let me know where you have linked to this contest so I can verify it and give you extra entries.
3. Cut-off date and time:  11:59pm EST, December 9, 2011.
4. A winner will be selected from a random drawing.  I will have a 3rd party do the drawing, and I will announce the winner sometime that following week.  The winner will then contact me with their mailing information, and I will ship the pen and book, free of charge.
5. No purchase required.

Check out my blog and if you like what you see, you can become a follower by clicking on a button in the right hand sidebar.  By subscribing, you will receive email updates on new articles and future giveaways.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Thanks and God bless!!!

S Scott Johnson