Edition #34e by The Christian Sportsman

THE CHRISTIAN

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Team Adventures for Your Ultimate Quest

Edition 34e

MATT MCPHERSON

THE MAN AND THE MISSION PAGE 6 Hunting the Big Five Glenn& Rebecca Gault Page18 Crystal Vision Brian Heaphy Page 26 Refine Tactics Hank Parker Page 32

TABLE OF

The Christian Sportsman

CONTENTS Letter From Publisher Richard Jordan

Matt McPherson, The Man and The Mission

New Product Review

Hunting The Big Five Glenn & Rebecca Gault

A Fisher of Men Pastor Larry H. Baker

Mission: The Christian Sportsman magazine encourages and empowers sportsmen to discover and develop a deep passion for Jesus Christ in the context of outdoor adventure. Staff Publisher — Richard Jordan Managing Editor — Jim Smith Editor — Amber Smith Marketing Director — Chris Marley Data Management — Terry Sams Business Address: P.O. Box 566547, Atlanta, GA 31156 telephone 770.335.1814 Speculative manuscripts and queries may also be sent via e-mail to: rjordan@thechristiansportsman.com.

Crystal Vision 26 Brian Heaphy Refine Your Tactics Hank Parker

Trophies of Grace

The Daniel Plan 40 Praying For Our Nation

Second Greatest Story Ever Told Steve Sanetti

New Product Review

How To Make The Most Important Decision

TCS magazine is not responsible for unsolicited materials that are lost, stolen or damaged. International Advisory Board Pastor Johnny Hunt Dr. Bob Reccord Dr. John Morgan Dr. Paige Patterson Evg. James Robison Team Advenures Pro Staff Alaska Subsistence - Brian Heaphy Alaska Adventure - Dave Lemaire Bass Fishing - Hank Parker Big Game Hunting - Bob Reccord Bow Hunting - Larry Baker Dog Obedience — Hank Hough Duck Hunting - Darin Sakas Family Traditions - Candise Farmer Father & Son - Paige Patterson Fly Fishing - Jim Young Leadership Training — Bruce Witt Men’s Ministry - Edgar Pierce Michigan Whitetails - Jerry Lambert Montana Outfitting — Bruce Smetana National Spokesman — Steve Bartkowski Outdoor Truths - Gary Miller Pheasant Hunting - Bob Pearle Stories from the Field - Jamie Murphy Veterinarian Care - Justin Payne Whitetail Trophy Hunting — Skipper Bettis The Christian Sportsman magazine endorses the Christian Sportsmen’s Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable corporation under IRS Code 501(c)3. The Christian Sportsmen’s Foundation promotes the Christian message to the outdoors community by securing and maintaining land and facilities made available to assist ministries in effective outreach. Copyright 2014 by The Christian Sportsman, Inc. All rights reserved. The use of whole or part of any material in this magazine without advance written permission is prohibited. TCS magazine is published quarterly by The Christian Sportsman, Inc., P.O. Box 566547, Atlanta, GA 31156; telephone 770.335.1814.

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The staff and management of TCS and the Christian Sportsmen’s Foundation assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, representations, or any other content or information presented in the magazine, whether provided by advertisers, magazine staff or contributing consultants. Except as expressly noted, neither TCS, Inc., nor the Christian Sportsmen’s Foundation endorses any product advertised or described in the magazine. The views expressed in the magazine are those of the individual writers, and are not necessarily the views of the staff or management of TCS magazine, TCS, Inc., or the Christian Sportsmen’s Foundation.

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Trophies of Grace 2014

Join with other sportsmen in “Climbing Legacy Mountain” as we build a strong foundation for establishing effective outdoors ministries in local churches across the nation. A fun skeet shoot is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Wolf Creek so bring your shotguns (or rent a loaner) and make sure to practice your aim! Round trip airfare into Atlanta from most cities is very affordable. Seating for the Leadership Summit is limited so make sure to confirm your registration today!

Theme: Trophies of Grace Presentations and break-out sessions for training includes:

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How to Launch an outdoors ministry in your Home Church How to Start your Centershot father/Son Archery Program How to Plan a Fall Alaska Wilderness Missions Trip How to Host a Multi-Chapter Special Youth Challenge for your State How to Host a Father/Son Shoot-a-thon Friendraiser How to Host Innovative Chapter Workshops & Clinics for Effective Outreach How to Coordinate EQUIPPING Camps for the CSF X-Treme Discipling Series

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Seating is limited so make your reservations early for this premiere event for 2014.

Call 770.772.6749 for more information.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

America’s Success Story On the recent cover of TIME Magazine’s December edition entitled, “America’s Pest Problem - Why the Rules of Hunting are about to Change”, the author described the ethical sportsmen’s tremendous success story in America produced over the last five decades, howbeit in negative terms contrary to God’s bountiful provision. “After nearly wiping out, any wildlife species 50 years ago, Americans are once again living close - sometimes uncomfortably so - to all kinds of feral creatures. Why wildlife in the U.S. needs stronger management. Time to cull the heard!” The photographs in the story show a black bear being shot out of a tree within a subdivision using a tranquilizer gun, moose in Anchorage walking the corridors of an apartment’s common areas, and alligator in Florida resting at the doorway of a subdivision home. The author’s conclusion: “Too many deer, wild pigs, raccoons and beavers can be almost as bad for the animals as too few. The same environmental sensitivity that brought Bambi back from the brink now makes it painfully controversial to do what experts say must be done; a bunch of these critters must be killed.” The question posed is “Whose responsibility is it?” to remove the animals

and “What method is most humane, cost efficient and consistent with the American culture”. Non-lethal strategies tend to be either ineffective or expensive or both. Loud noises, nipping dogs, strobe lights and blast of rubber buck shot do little to avert black bear. Contraception with medicated darts has been tried with no lasting success on free ranging deer populations. The bottom line, ethical hunters who are skilled archers not only pay self imposed excise taxes on equipment and supplies but also purchase state licenses and trophy tag fees. These funds are then utilized to monitor and properly manage wildlife populations based on proven wildlife biology studies.

within the outdoors community like Matt McPherson, featured on the cover of this edition. As an industry leader he continues to show an unrelenting passion to excel in the production of quality archery equipment while also introducing the joys of archery to the next generation of students through the National Archery in the Schools Program and Centershot Ministries. However, Matt’s passion extends even beyond such positive achievements as supporting the biblical mandate of stewardship. The cover article features insights into his life’s mission as a passionate follower of Jesus Christ.

The article concludes, “This is nature’s way: an equilibrium of prey and predator, life and death. Now it is wise to correct the mistake of killing too rarely.” For additional reading on the topic, Jim Sterba in his book “Nature Wars: The incredible Story of How Wildlife Comebacks Turned Backyards into Battlegrounds”, documents the superfauna revival and our ambivalent feelings about having wildlife walk close to human populations.

In this edition, the article “Praying for our Nation’s Hunting & Fishing Traditions” launches a major CSF initiative to respond to God’s call to corporate prayer for the outdoors community within several specific key categories of sportsmen. Then make sure to read the all new Healthy Living column highlighting The Daniel Plan from a local church in California. Do not miss the NSSF’s “Second Greatest Story ever Told” by their president Steve Sanetti. Other features reinforce the fact that hunting and fishing in our American culture are here to stay. Welcome to America’s great success story!

The long, hard fought battles regarding conservation management are accentuated by industry leaders

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Matt McPherson The Man and the Mission

“Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 1 Samuel 2:30 HCSB He launched an innovative archery company in 1992, becoming known by his competitors for his distinct company slogan, “Catch Us If You Can”. Mathews produces innovative bow designs that continue to break all industry standards. But what about the mission of Matt McPherson? His real and lasting mark within the outdoors community remains his strong personal story as a man of deep Christian passion who is first and foremost a man of integrity who has found an even higher mission than becoming number one in the archery industry. Matt’s mission extends beyond the archery industry and touches the lives of many as a husband, father, businessman, church leader and Christian sportsman. The staff of The Christian Sportsman was privileged to interview Matt to ask a few candid questions regarding his family, faith and friends. Matt, before we start I want to reference a short verse found in the Bible from 1 Samuel 2:30a, that the staff of The Christian Sportsman believes true, “God honors those who honor Him.” Thank you for standing tall in a culture that seems to be faltering especially in the business world.

1. Tell me about your family when you were young?

I was born in Eau Claire, WI in 1957. My family moved to St. Paul, MN, and to Minneapolis, MN and then on to Edina, MN where I have some very fond memories. I remember my Dad taking us bow hunting and fishing at a very young age. My brother, Randy, and I and my cousin Tim Mahoney were the main ones that dad took on bow hunting trips.

piece of buttered bread then eat it with a fork. This remains a tradition within my family. I remember times of traveling together on vacation as a family of nine along with our family dog. That was one packed car! My mother was the thirteenth of her family’s siblings, so the fact that I had three brothers and three sisters was not out of the norm.

We had a great upbringing in a traditional American family home. I have three brothers and three sisters, making up a family of nine so you can imagine the family times that we had together. Steve is one of my younger brothers and he serves as the President of Mathews Solocam and my other businesses. He is a man of integrity and deep faith.

3. Who was most influential in your life as a young adult? Any heroes or mentors? My dad said he would always stand up for what he believed even if he was the last man standing in the world. That created for me a resolve for making important decisions in life.

2. What traditions and memorable family experiences are most meaningful as you reflect back on your youth? Do you guys like to drink buttermilk and eat cornbread in Wisconsin? Like y’all in the south, we liked cornbread but only sweet cornbread with butter on it. One of our favorite meals was to pour baked beans over a

If you do not know why you believe what you believe then I find it really hard to respect you. I looked up to my father. I also look up to Billy Graham. He has been, and still is, a man of great influence but remains humble. Most people with such power would wield their position in the wrong way, but not Billy Graham. I have always believed that he is a man of integrity and has a great heart for serving Christ. I believe his son, Franklin Graham, is

following in his footsteps. 4. Why was family life so important to you then and even now that you have a wife and children of your own? I have always needed to know where center was in my life. So first of all, I worked through the questions “Who is my God and what does he expect of me and what can I do to be a good husband, father and friend?” Every real man should understand why that is so important. My wife, thank God, is solid in her faith. Even though we have been married for over thirty years my heart still jumps when our cars unexpectedly pass each other during a routine day. How awesome is that! She is not only my wife but also my best friend. We are consistent at keeping that spark and feeling that we had when we were first dating. 5. Do you remember how your parents instilled their Christian heritage in you and your brothers? What is special about having three brothers? Having a lot of brothers and sisters I always had someone to hang out with. I love my brothers and sisters. My mother consistently had devotions with us every night and this helped shape our faith in Christ. 8

6. What do you believe is the best way for a young aspiring entrepreneur to receive a quality education to prepare for success in life? I believe reading Proverbs, at least for a full year, before you start any kind of business will provide a solid foundation for life. I never went to college. If you put me in a college classroom I would have gone crazy. I am super high energy and fidgety. The academic classroom just does not work for me. I learn differently than others. I think and see in 3D rather than the traditional classroom approach. Schools are set up to learn through academics based on book knowledge. First of all one needs to know God as their foundation and a clear reason why you believe in Him. Then it is critical that we listen. He is always speaking to us, but the problem is that we are seldom listening. The key is to ask God for wisdom, to open and close doors that would be in His will. He has kept me from some really bad business dealings. On another note, it is a good idea to work for another company before starting your own business. However, always show respect to the person who mentors you and be very careful

to never directly compete with him. Character is important. If I asked you to quickly name five people who have integrity that you could trust with your life, it would be more difficult than asking you to name five people that are unscrupulous. People who have integrity become known within the business community as being someone you would want to do business with. 7. What cultural changes in America have you noticed most over your lifetime and what has been their impact on the next generation? I have noticed a greater lack of parenting skills and teaching integrity or, better said, calling children on their bluff. Our television media and Hollywood often mock parents, implying that children know life’s issues better than the parents. This makes it more difficult for them to influence their children. 8. When did you first come to a place of understanding God’s plan for your life? Explain. In 1961, when I was four years of age, I remember my mother praying with us every night and I would ask Jesus to forgive me of my sin and be my Savior. Eventually I realized that once I had made a decision for Christ I just needed to live for Him. I still remember looking out

Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected. Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:14-15 HCSB

of a window in our home and realizing… “I need a Savior.” It just made sense to me. I also remember feeling his presence at that moment. I determined early on that I was going to serve Christ. I was always a deep thinker even at a very young age. I never looked back. I did not want to shame my parents or my heavenly Father. I knew that God valued me and everyone personally and that’s what mattered most. In the late seventies I heard God say, “I‘m going to prosper you in business so you can be self-sufficient in ministry.” Those were the words he said! It was like a holy moment. Then in 1983, God spoke very clearly to me again, “I know every answer to every problem in the world.” He then said to me, “If men (mankind) would only ask me I would give them those answers.” The scripture talks about if anyone lacks wisdom then let him ask God and God would give it to him. So I got on my knees and asked God to help me further develop my interest

in launching an archery company. I had some novel ideas but I knew that God knew how to build a better bow than I did. Then a couple of weeks later I woke in the middle of the night with a new idea in making a bow that I had never thought of before. Sherry then woke up and asked me what I was doing. I told her that God was giving me a vision of a bow design on a piece of paper that was literally floating in front of my face - a new concept! I then got out of bed to get a piece of paper and drew the design just like it appeared to me in the vision. That design developed into what is now known as the McPherson “inner cam” technology. I continue to ask for wisdom every year when I start the new designs. 9. Tell me about your wife and her influence on your Christian faith? My wife is a wonderful, dedicated Christian and is always seeking a closer walk with God through prayer, reading the Bible, Christian books, and discussing Christian topics with friends. I have never seen

anyone dig into the Word of God like my wife. I have even heard her praying in her sleep many times! She has always been a tremendous support and blessing to me. 10. What has most impacted your Christian life as a husband, father and business leader? It is obvious that God has been the director in my life. I have come to realize that I could not have planned my life as good as God has. Do I have a perfect life? Certainly not! But nevertheless, a wonderful life. God has allowed some trials to come into our family with some medical problems that have been very challenging. I would give up everything to have those issues resolved. However, God orchestrates our lives together for His purposes. I now see how God has woven together my Christian life to allow Sherry and I to make an impact for Him. We are so privileged to support approximately 750 full time missionaries and their immediate families 9

BILLY GRAHAM IS ONE OF MATT MCPHERSON’S HEROES

around the world so that they can serve Christ to the fullest extent. We are also involved with many other ministries around the world that are making a huge impact for Christ. We get to make bows here in Sparta, Wisconsin which allows us to make a difference in lives around the world. We are so blessed! 11. How has your friendship with God developed over the years? I have an ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) prayer life. I can intensely pray for 6-8 seconds then I might notice a cow that I see in a pasture. Then I pray again for a very short time and then may see something else that distracts me. 10

I have learned to hear His voice that way, to be constantly listening for what He might be directing me to do. I believe that God is always speaking to us, we’re just not always listening. I never realized in my wildest dreams that we could impact so many lives through our financial and prayer support. We know that over two million people come to Christ each year through these efforts; also plugging them into Bible studies and starting new churches. If we had pursued being overseas missionaries, I do not think we could have been used by God to reach the same number of people as we have as being an archery bow manufacturer

here in Sparta, WI. 12. Who is your best friend and why? No question, outside of God, my wife, Sherry. I cannot imagine living without her. I love her so much! She is always praying for me and I often hear God’s voice through her. One of the keys in life, business and family or on a personal basis is that we should not seek to be important but rather do the important things that God calls us to. “It’s more important to do what is important than it is to be important!” When we look back on the tough decisions in life we see the wisdom in following God’s lead

regardless of who gets the credit. People are always watching a person who professes to be a follower of Christ. It is ironic that when we obey God in doing what he determines is important then the unsought outcome is that God many times puts us in positions of importance. 13. Do you believe that most men who attend church on a regular basis are effectively engaged in fulfilling the Great Commission? If not, why? Absolutely not. I believe that the reason most men attend church is because their wife makes them attend! Women seem to have a hard-wired advantage. When we interview new employees at Mathews, it’s the potential employee’s wife that inevitably asks about the health and retirement benefits. It seems that women are focused on the long term aspect of the employment relationship. Long term goals seem to be hard-wired into women. They are more concerned about their children’s future than about the good weather for the weekend fishing trip. For some reason men are more wired to think in the short term and it’s the women that are more concerned about the long term well being of their family. A guy

who has kids and is not active in a church and is not actively sharing his faith in Christ is probably not focused on discipling anyone, even his own kids. He is not bringing much excitement to fulfilling the Great Commission. Many men just have the attitude that it is the pastor’s job to disciple and make new Christians. As an engineer I am always looking at cause and effect in a relationship. As an engineer I bend and break bows to determine the cause and effect whether it be fiberglass, plastics, metals or string material. Whether dealing with archery bows or men fulfilling the Great Commission, there remains a cause and effect in any process. If men could be sent to hell for five minutes then transferred to heaven for five minutes our church composition would be changed. Many men are only looking for an experience. Perhaps they really do not believe in a literal heaven and hell. If men were convinced that heaven and hell are real then the Great Commission would likely become their focus in life. Once guys see the goal then they will give their lives and will wrestle that bull to the ground. 14. In one of our recent editions we were privileged to feature Franklin Graham on the cover

highlighting his Alaska brown bear hunt. Could you tell us about the recent experience when you and Franklin got together for a bow hunt? We go hunting almost every year together. Both of us are very intense about life and our Christian faith. I appreciate how he is never afraid to stand up for what he believes. Franklin is like a brother to me! The hunting provides a great opportunity to share the passion we have for our faith. 15. The readers of The Christian Sportsman will soon see your photograph on the front cover of the publication. What do you believe best defines a Christian sportsman? First of all a Christian is someone who is passionate about the change God has made in their life. When God originally created us we were placed in the Garden of Eden, in the outdoors to have fellowship with Him. So it is no surprise to me that when we are out in His creation we often feel closer to Him. 16. What inspired you to develop the Mathews Solocam technology? Briefly explain the innovation of this new technology? An engineer always looks for a simpler way of accomplishing a task. It is obvious that 11

THIS IS A CAPTION

a one cam bow is less complex than a two cam bow. Therefore a one cam bow is more consistent in shooting because there are fewer variables. One Cam bows dominate competition around the world, which proves the point. 17. As a leader within the archery industry what most inspires and motivates you, given the fact that you have been developing archery equipment for most of your life? It is a calling. I feel like God commissioned me to do this. Seriously, I take this as an opportunity to make a difference in the world for Christ. I want to be found faithful with what God has blessed me with. 12

As an example; with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) I have donated over $2,000,000 because of my commitment to the next generation. 18. How do you see the archery industry changing in the future in the context of your commitment to NASP and Centershot? We have known for years that archers are an aging group and something had to be done about getting new blood in the archery community. NASP introduces the sport of archery to youngsters who may not play any other sports. Many youngsters realize that traditional football, baseball and

basketball is not for them. However, if you place a bow in their hands many will excel quickly. There are now over 8,000,000 young archers that have been involved in NASP and many of them continue to shoot archery. Then there is Centershot Ministries that introduces the sport to another group of young people within the church community. Centershot Ministries has the potential to become bigger than NASP because there are over 300,000 churches across the United States alone. Centershot Ministriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goal is to change lives for Christ. 19. How do you value your constitutional freedoms

in the United States and the privilege of engaging in free enterprise and free speech? America is the greatest country that has ever been. I value the constitution and what it stands for. It is now being threatened and that greatly concerns me. The increase of government intrusion is troubling. It is as if the government is trying to control our thought process. There are schools in the former Soviet Union that have more freedom in bringing Bibles into the public school than we have here in America. We should be able to serve our God and follow our heartfelt convictions. We should be able to live our lives for Christ without fear or intimidation. Regarding enterprise, aspiring entrepreneurs should strive to be found faithful in the small things and know that God rewards the heart of a man. The Bible encourages us to be content in whatever employment position we find ourselves, whether sweeping floors or owning a business. Not only will God see your heart but your employer will see it as well. “Be faithful in little things and you will be trusted with much!” 20. Who are some of your favorite book authors and song writers? Why? Ken Ham “The Answer Man”, C.S. Lewis, Frank Peretti

who wrote “This Present Darkness”, Lee Strobel who wrote “The Case for Christ”. I like Apologetics. I like songwriters such as Lenny LeBlanc, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, even Dottie Rambo, if you can remember that far back! 21. How would you as a man, husband, father, businessman and church leader like to be best remembered in your legacy? Life goes by really fast so whatever you do, make your life count. Measure twice, cut once! (laughter) I am only interested in the score keeper that created us. I know that I can not earn His love but my desire is to have God look down someday and say “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Rather than use Christianity to promote and build our company, why not use our company to share our Christian faith. I was given some sage advice from an older man I once met, “Young man, run for Jesus, don’t walk.” I believe that God spoke to me through that old gentleman. Oh yeah, by the way, always carry a good flashlight because life’s road may get a little dark at times and we need to keep moving forward.

You Are Important to CSF! Tell us what you like and want to see in future editions. Also share with us which articles are the most helpful. Send your ideals to info@christiansportsman.com Read our back Issues at: issuu.com/thechristiansportsman Share your photographs. Send your photographs with a short exploration to: info@christiansportsman.com Visit our website to learn more about the organization, our many resources and diverse opportunities. www.christiansportsman.com Do you have a story to share? Request a copy of CSF’s author guidelines via email to info@christiansportsman.com FYI: Christiansportsman.com Launched in 1995 as a non-profit membership organization now with over 22,000 members and 350 chapters started in local church communities in 38 states and three other continents. You can join the 22,000+ other sportsmen today. Click here to become a member.

Product and Promotion Reproduced in part with permission from the trade publication, Inside Archery, Colorado Springs, CO 800.322.6087 by the late Bill Krenz, (Bow models adapted for accuracy) Previously, the readers of Inside archery were polled to see who they would like to learn more about regarding archery related products and equipment. Plenty of notable archery industry personalities and companies were suggested, but one name popped up more than any other. The name was Matt McPherson. For many, Mathew’s founder Matt McPherson is an enigma. McPherson doesn’t actively seek the archery spotlight. He seldom appears in the Mathew’s catalogs. He doesn’t show up at scores of archery events. Matt McPherson just quietly designs better bows and directs a company that many believe is at the pinnacle of its field. If you cut through the mystery that is Matt McPherson, what you’ll find is a confident, articulate, well rounded individual with a gift for business and mechanical design, and surprisingly accurate gut instinct for what archers want. In 1992, Matt McPherson founded a brand new bow company he named Mathews. 14

He had one employee and a wild idea for something he called a SoloCam. His new technology has produced cutting edge products, most notable the Mathews Creed XS and Chill R. The Christian Sportsman field staff has chosen to use the Creed because of the innovative features and highly recommends the Mathew product as its bow of choice. “The Creed has been my bow of choice over the past few years for hunting whitetail, black bear, coyote and turkey. The Creed XS is probably the only bow that has really gotten my attention and could cause me to change equipment now that I have become an avid archer over the past ten years.” Richard Jordan, Publisher of The Christian Sportsman magazine. The company had to scramble to make them quick enough. If you can imagine a twelve year old bow company at the time, which was already at the top of its game, experiencing a 50-plus percentage increase in sales over a two year period, then you have an idea of just how successful the Mathews Creed XS and Chill R were for Mathews and its happy dealers. A grand slam homerun in the World Series is a fair analogy.

“The key to long-term success is great product and great promotion. Anything less will keep your company from achieving its full potential”. McPherson stated during the earlier interview. Matt normally talks quickly, but he pauses when asked about where all those innovative bow designs come from. “That’s difficult for me to explain,” he says. “I was born with certain strengths and weaknesses, just like everyone else. One of my strengths is the ability to see abstract design concepts in my head and be able to apply those concepts to a variety of products. But I don’t take credit for that ability.” Matt pauses again. “It is no secret that I have a strong faith in God and that I believe He has blessed me with whatever I’ve been given. The ideas keep coming” In 2013, Mathews unveiled two brand new designs with the product names Creed XS” and “Monster Chill R”. Known for an even lighter weight these new Mathews bows are fast and have an uncommon smoothness while shock-free and quiet. The combination of those four factors has made both an overnight best-seller.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Creed has been my bow of choice over the past few years for hunting whitetail, black bear, coyote and turkey. The Creed XS is probably the only bow that has really gotten my attention and could cause me to change equipment now that I have become an avid archer over the past ten years.â&#x20AC;?

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Hunting the Big Five in South Africa by Glenn and Rebecca Gault

author:

Hunting the Big Five in South Africa By Glenn and Rebecca Gault

“We’ll just stop here so you can get your shot…be quick and quiet, that female lion could be on us in 1.2 seconds,” said Jacques, our accredited ranger guide in whispered, Dutch-accented English. He had maneuvered the open-air Land Cruiser, brimming with ten photohunters, a few yards away from the path of two lionesses with five cubs in tow. The first lioness crossed the road in front of us and disappeared into the veld. The second watched us warily from the edge of the road as the cubs playfully romped across to join the first. Only the click of cameras disturbed the air. Murmurs of “extraordinary,” “beautiful,” “amazing,” came just as the lions completed the crossing. “Where is the male lion?” I (Glenn) asked. I was right to anticipate the presence of the king of the jungle. “He’s nearby, probably scouting his territory. We’ll watch quietly a bit longer,” Jacques replied. “There he is.” A collective gasp emitted from the jeep as the majestic hunter came into view. With one quick survey, he knew the peopled automobile was not a threat and continued after his pride, never giving us a second glance. This came at the end of a full day exploring the HluhluweImfolozi National Game Reserve in Central Zululand, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, a short drive from our lodge. It is a state-run conservation park noted for its proliferation of “The Big Five:” lion, African

elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. The term is derived from the difficulty in hunting these

kudu, wildebeest, warthog, Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, elephant, giraffe, zebra, rhinoceros, leopard, and

JAMIE AND HIS 9 YEAR OLD SON, BARRETT, WHILE ON A RECENT DUCK HUNT TOGETHER

animals and in the degree of danger involved. Shoot to kill or you will become the hunted. The nearby Zulu Nyala Lodge where we stayed assigned Jacques to our party for safe yet close wildlife viewing. No one carried guns, not even Jacques. Jim Lang, a friend of mine from Dallas, won this photo safari at a charitable auction and invited my wife, Rebecca, and me to join him and his wife, Bonnie. The six-night package included lodging, food, and daily guided-safaris twice a day, with morning safaris at 5:45 a.m. and afternoon safaris at 3:30 p.m. Zulu Nyala Game Lodge and Zulu Nyala Heritage Lodge sit on a 4,500 acre preserve replete with impala, nyala,

cheetah along with many exotic birds. This preserve purposefully excludes lions (a short trip to either Phinda or Hluhluwe-Imfolozi provides this opportunity.) We split our nights between the game lodge on the hill and the Hemingway tented camps at the Heritage. Each day we crossed paths with several of these inimitable, heartstopping creatures. The fierce, wild beauty of God’s untamed planet struck me from the beginning. His diversity of animal and plant species, rock, mineral, and soil astound the mind. Our first encounter came when we spotted bold patterned necks craning above the bush willow trees. Jacques, a wonder with a manual transmission

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and four-wheel drive, perched the Land Cruiser within close viewing range from a herd of giraffe. The Impala population was the densest; what started out as novel soon became rote as we came upon herd after herd with week-old offspring at their hooves. We travelled through the Fever Forest with its yellow barked trees (named for the onetime prevalent yellow-fever found there) to discover the favorite watering hole of the hippopotamus. The leopard padded stealthily through the grasslands, the wildebeest clung to the lowland bracken, the shy nyala, kudu, Cape buffalo and rhinoceros traversed the hillsides, and the warthog and zebra grazed our camp day and night. The rhinoceros is mercilessly hunted and stripped of its horn. Poachers leave rotting

carcasses and sell the horn on the black market for upwards of $90,000.00 per kilogram. Buyers believe in its magical and medicinal properties, its usefulness as an aphrodisiac and, most recently, as a party drug. Poorly armed rangers man blinds that dot the landscape, and hunt for militantly armed poachers. I asked Jacques, rather tongue in cheek, “What do they do when they find a poacher… shoot them?” Jacques turned to look me in the eye and gravely replied, “Sometimes.” Over the course of our week ranging through the Zulu Nyala Preserve, we encountered every animal they boast of except the elephant. The neighboring Bayete Zulu Game Reserve offers a unique elephant interaction. I (Rebecca) was ready with my camera the day we visited.

Three habituated African elephants roam the 55,000 acre rhino reserve, coming promptly each morning at 10:00 a.m. to the visitor’s area. Rambo, Rachel, and their baby, Jabulani, learned to crave human interaction through a nearly fatal culling operation. Several years ago, Wange National Park in Zimbabwe was overrun with elephants, and a selective slaughter was announced as part of a culling process. Rambo and Rachel escaped the first day and the tired hunters left their demise to the next. However, they fell in love with the elephants and befriended them instead. Upon their release, the elephants became destructive, knocking over water tanks and rooting up trees in what was recognized as a cry for attention. Rambo,

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a still growing five ton bull, Rachel, and now threeyear-old Jabulani (Zulu for “happy one”) make their home at Bayete Zulu with two mahouts. These mahouts, named Gift and Vusi, prefer to be called “companions” or “handlers.” Jacques explained, “Mahout is a job title. For these men, this is their passion, their calling.” Gift and Vusi stay in thatched huts on concrete slabs at night and walk, typically 25 miles per day, with the elephants from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., never carrying any kind of weapon. They tell of Rambo and Rachel chasing away circling lions while they try to nap, feeling protective of these two men whom they consider family. Unprompted by Gift or Vusi, the young family casually walk each morning into small corrals at the interaction location for

grain and water. By twos, the gathered visitors entered the thigh-high corral lined with high voltage wire. Vusi instructed the pair how to feed Rambo while Gift kept Rachel and Jabulani occupied until their turn. Rambo lost one “finger” of his prehensile trunk in an accident, forcing him to eat like an Asian elephant. We placed the grain in the scoop he formed with his trunk and then he carried it up to his mouth. We felt along his muddy tusk, up into the flesh folds where they enter the skull; we felt his rough skin with wiry hairs, behind his ears, between his front legs; his teeth and finally his massive tongue. All the while Vusi spoke Zulu to the animal in soothing tones. “Once in a lifetime experience!” Jim said with

awe. And that became our refrain for the rest of the trip. Jim, Bonnie, Glenn, and I have a seven year friendship now enriched by the wild beauty of South Africa and God’s providence. Providentially, I pray we enriched other lives along the way. Between safaris one rainy day, we sat in the lodge playing games, talking and praying. At the buffet that night our chef and server asked if we were Christians. When we said yes, she said, “So am I. I saw you praying and thought you might be.” I asked her if she went to church here, and she told me no, that she went to church when she was home. Most of the staff are Zulu from the nearby village. They receive food and lodging from Zulu Nyala Game Reserve while they work a rotation of several

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weeks, and then they return home for a few days in between. “What’s your name?” I asked her. She replied, “Oh, I like my name! It is Tholakele. In Zulu it means ‘to be found.’ And I was found!” (Referring to her Christian faith.) We were able to fit in one last safari the morning of our departure. At long last we saw the cheetah, another cat that could cover the ground between us in under two seconds. Afterward, Jim drew Jacques aside to find out if he is was Christian and was prepared to present the gospel if needed. He learned that Jacques is a strong believer, engaged to a woman whom he described as being even stronger. “Take it from a man who has been married

48 years,” Jim told him, “one of the greatest things in my life is being married to Bonnie, but you will need your faith in Jesus Christ to make it strong.” Park flags were lowered the last two days of our visit in observance of Nelson Mandela’s death. The emotional frenzy of Johannesburg seemed remote. Locals wondered aloud what corrupt politicians might make of his death. Other than the curio shop at the lodge playing “Zahara’s” (a South African singing sensation) tribute song to Nelson Mandela, workers carried on as usual. New visitors gathered for safari drives, staff rotated, and “The Big Five” waited to be shot.... by a camera.

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EQUIPPING THE SAINTS

A FISHER OF MEN by Pastor Larry H. Baker

In the spring of 2004, I returned to my hometown of Hornell, New York to join some of my high school friends in pursuit of a mature gobbler and to engage in some trout fishing. In preparation for my trip, I prayed for an opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ with one or more of my high school friends. Growing up, many of them were exposed to the message of the cross; however, I never observed any evidence in their lives that proved they had made a commitment to the Lord and were living for Him. Since my high school days were in the early 1960s and over forty years had passed, I felt that time was of the essence. As a pastor, I have taught my congregation that the Holy Spirit is the One who convicts men and women of sin, and that we are dependent upon the Spirit to draw men to God.

In the State of New York, the hunting regulations allow you to hunt from sun up until noon, which leaves the rest of the day to take a nap or go trout fishing.

Our responsibility is to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to discern where He is at work, and to join Him. In 1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) the Bible explains our responsibility: â&#x20AC;&#x153;But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.â&#x20AC;? When God is at work, witnessing is not a struggle, a contest or a debate.

One afternoon, an older gentleman who was a friend of mine, took me trout fishing in a remote area outside of Andover, New York. Upon arriving at the location, I noticed a spring fed pond, a cabin nearby and a young man doing some landscape work on the property. My friend and I baited our hooks with live minnows that were accessible from a minnow trap at the pond. I then walked to the far end of the pond, cast my line out towards the middle of the pond, sat my pole on a nearby log, and made myself comfortable with my Bible in hand. Fifteen to twenty minutes later, I noticed my line stretching out, indicating that a fish was taking my

And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:13-17 HCSB

bait. I reached down, took up the slack, gently set the hook, and commenced to battle a large fish. After a five minute battle, I managed to haul in a 9 ½ pound rainbow trout! In my excitement, I lifted the fish up

and shouted, “The blessings of God!” My friend and the young man came running with surprise written all over their faces; they had obviously not realized there were such huge fish in that pond. My excitement and thanksgiving to the Lord caused the young man to question me about the Lord. I told him who I was, and then shared with him

my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and the hope that I have in Him. I could see that God was already at work in this young man’s life and that he was seeking God for some answers. I asked him if he wanted to make an exchange that day. I asked him if he was willing to forfeit his life (die to self) in exchange for the gift of eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ, who wanted to live His life in and through him. He prayed and asked Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior, to forgive him of all his sins, and to give him the power to live for God. I am amazed at how God works. I was directing my prayers and witness towards my friends, and God directed me to a young man who was a total stranger. I call this the ricochet effect. As believers, we must realize that we need to prepare ourselves every day to

be used by God. He is the One

who has the right to interrupt our work schedules, our fishing trips, our plans and our agendas. As a memento of this event I had the fish mounted, and it now hangs on the wall in my office to remind me of that special day. I thank the Lord for allowing me to catch the largest trout I have ever caught, but most of all I thank Him for the greater joy of being allowed to be a “fisher of men.”

Crystal Vision

BRIAN HEAPHY The profile and perspective of a professional Christian landscape photographer

UNCOMMON MOSAICS GRACE THE UPPER YUKON RIVER VALLEY IN AUTUMN. IMPRESSIVE YET FLEETING, SUCH PATTERNS SET THE STAGE FOR A WINTER THAT IS TYPICALLY PROLONGED, SEVERE, AND ALL BUT VOID OF COLOR.

DESPITE A SEASONAL DEFICIT OF COLOR IN ALASKA’S UPPER YUKON RIVER VALLEY, THE SHEER DIMENSIONS OF THIS LAND ALONE SPEAK WELL OF ITS UNSPOILED BEAUTY.

Ten years ago, I began practicing a subsistence lifestyle in Alaska’s remote upper Yukon River valley in order to search out and identify those things that truly matter in life, and those that do not. I streamlined and simplified my existence dramatically in order to experience the truths that would result from living a “raw reality” in one of the most unforgiving environments on the planet. This approach involved a great deal of sacrifice and self-discipline over a considerable period of time. The results, however, have been valuable beyond measure, and my “search” is now over. The gifts of truth and discernment are certainly life’s greatest treasures. Prior to undertaking this “process of elimination lifestyle,” I had been employed as a U.S. Navy SEAL Officer, a State and Federal Law Enforcement ALL IMAGES: COPYRIGHT © BRIAN M. HEAPHY.

Officer, a Fish and Wildlife Technician, a Wilderness Guide, and a Public and Private School tutor. As such, I was certainly no stranger to society or to the ways of the world. While working in all of these previous capacities, however, I was indeed a stranger to the God of the Bible. Like many, I “believed in God,” but I did not know Him. I simply tried to be a good or moral person but all too frequently, my conscience alerted me that I failed to consistently satisfy even my own standards. Having come close to losing my life on any number of occasions, and having accomplished nearly every goal which I had ever set before myself (yet with no lasting satisfaction or fulfillment), life was beginning to seem meaningless and empty. What was my purpose and where was I heading? Well, I

just didn’t know. This realization came despite many awards, considerable recognition, and a resume that read like an adventure novel. I was working hard and achieving much, yet I was accomplishing nothing of any lasting value. I now look back in absolute amazement as I consider how a person such as I could have spent so much time in so many different places on this planet and yet never have heard an accurate account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the time, I was totally unaware that I was a member of “the legion lost” and “the walking dead.” I was, in fact, among the many who Jesus described as being on the broad way to destruction. (Matthew 7:13) I needed some answers, and having already invested a tremendous amount of time and energy according to the world’s prescription for

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF DAYLIGHT COMBINE WITH SUMMER STORM CLOUDS TO CREATE AN UNFORGETTABLE SKYSCAPE IN ALASKA’S UPPER YUKON RIVER VALLEY.

success, I knew that I needed to turn elsewhere for guidance. My life was speeding by and it seemed to me that I had nothing of any significant meaning to show for all of my efforts to date. So, that is how I found myself at the place where this article began –having thrown all else overboard, I endeavored to add back only those things which would “earn their keep” from an eternal point of view. This, of course, was much easier imagined than done since I first had to identify these things before I could even begin to embrace them. As such, I needed to adopt a standard for establishing my selection criteria. It was by God’s grace alone, that I wisely chose to use the Bible for my moral compass and measuring stick when I set out to “start over” in life. In Scripture, God has written,

“You will seek Me and you will find Me when you search for Me with ALL your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) This means that anything less than maximum effort, total devotion, and unswerving allegiance will fall short of the mark. God clearly wants (and deserves) first place in our lives; He is to be the center about which all other things and relationships revolve. The Bible also says that, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) As I have already mentioned, it was primarily a “failure to hear” that was responsible for my deficit of faith to begin with. And so it was, by God’s circumstantial providence and by His Word, that my early restructuring initiatives were necessarily divided between two mainstays: spiritual development and physical survival.

There simply wasn’t going to be any time or energy available for “trivia,” needless distractions, or misguided affections. On the one hand, I began to saturate myself with God’s Wisdom through diligent Bible study and, whenever possible, supplemental audio sermons, Christian radio broadcasts, and apologetic reading materials. On the other hand, getting ready for winter here became a year-round job. Doing things the old-fashioned way takes time and operating as “oneman-band” raises the hurdle that much more. When temperatures in Interior Alaska plunge to minus fifty or sixty degrees Fahrenheit with only three hours of daylight, it is simply too late to play catch up, so I had to be prepared in advance. And so it went that my days became portioned between concentrated spiritu-

SUMMERTIME MEANS THUNDERSTORMS IN THE UPPER YUKON RIVER VALLEY. TEMPESTS OFTEN COME AND GO WITH EXCEPTIONAL SPEED AND INTENSITY.

al and physical effort, and my days were very full. For the first time in my life, I truly knew what it meant to live purposefully and to waste no time. It soon became (and still remains) my daily prayer that God would “teach me to number my days” (ref. Psalm 90:12) and that I would not be found wasteful in any dimension. Needless to say that, over time, such a regimen enabled me to build a very firm spiritual foundation as well as a very satisfying lifestyle. Using the Bible as my ultimate reference manual for ALL matters, I became increasingly confident in my ability to address any difficulty that God might allow. While this certainly did not mean that my life became easy, or that I did not experience loss or discomfort, it did mean that I minimized the possibility for self-defeat. As my faith

and understanding matured, I began to seek out fellowship from near and far and, in time, I found myself richly blessed with the friendship of several noteworthy pastors, ministry leaders, and Christian program producers. As a result, I received a great deal of encouragement and I eventually experienced a true and lasting conviction that my faith was indeed living and real. Regarding my present occupation, it was only in recent years that I decided to advance my creative pastime of wilderness landscape photography to the professional business level. For many years, I simply chose to share my images with others as gifts in the form of hand-fashioned prints and greeting cards. Along the way, however, comments and compliments from a significant number of friends, relatives,

and associates caused me to consider the possibility of a formal career in photography. Although it certainly seemed to be a long-shot consideration at first, its undeniable persistence kept me from dismissing it entirely. I eventually began to apply my faith to the matter by prayerfully evaluating whether or not the various aspects of such a business might somehow be useful in furthering God’s kingdom purposes. Over time, it became increasingly more reasonable for me to believe that things could actually work out in a God-honoring way. The concurrent interest and prompting of several world-class artists and photographers finally convinced me to take the next step and begin taking pictures “for real.” Along these lines, my chosen manner of living has not only helped to enable my spiritual

SOLAR-POWERED MAJESTY INFUSES THE MERCURIAL WATERS OF THE YUKON RIVER ON A QUIET SUMMER’S EVENING.

success, but it has also afforded me the discipline and framework necessary to succeed in an extremely competitive profession. The present world is flooded with photographic images and practically everyone owns a good camera. As such, my work has to stand out; it must be particularly striking and uncommon from a marketing perspective. With this in mind, an important benefit of having adopted such a narrowed lifestyle was that it forced me to develop some very discriminating standards, as well as an elevated threshold of significance. When applied to my work, this has translated into a photographer who is not easily impressed. It takes something fairly stirring to make me stop whatever I might be doing at the time and reach for my camera. I do not go out on photo shoots per se; I have neither the time nor the resources. Rather, I live and work

in the country and I wait to be interrupted by the irresistible. My work might best be described as “wilderness river-scape photography” –the art of merging both static and dynamic environments into a seamless, uninterrupted image. This type of photography affords me a very effective means by which to decompress from my previous stress-saturated occupations as I focus on the magnificence of God’s creative genius. It is my hope that others may likewise benefit by viewing the results of my efforts to preserve priceless moments in time. If I can come up with a half-dozen “keeper” images per year, I am doing very well. They don’t come easily or often but when they do come, the blessings must be shared. As such, premium quality note cards and large, framed prints and canvases are favored mediums for my photographic expres-

sions. My personal format of choice, however, is an Inspirational Card series which I have recently developed. This new line of cards matches striking images of Creation with the timeless Words of the Creator Himself. As such, you get “the whole picture” and then some. Combining God’s handiwork with appropriate verses from the Bible produces a very powerful result. By the grace of God, my work is now on display in prominent gift shops, fine art galleries, Christian book stores, and museums across the country. My work is also available for viewing and internet sales at www. brianheaphy.com. To see my Inspirational Card images along with their corresponding verses from Scripture, you may go to the “Product Information” page of my website and then click on the appropriate locations under the “Greeting Card” section.

TWO BULLS FROM ALASKA’S FORTY MILE CARIBOU HERD CROSS THE UPPER YUKON RIVER IN AUTUMN. HEADS AND TAILS HELD HIGH, THEY’LL MAKE THE HALF-MILE SWIM WITH EASE.

In closing, God has granted me a tremendous opportunity to be a witness for Him. By His providence, my background and experience afford me legitimate credibility while my present profession allows me a very effective platform. All that remains is that I choose to invest in God’s character daily by placing my entire trust in the authority of His Word. In so doing, I may utilize every situation and circumstance in my life as an opportunity to bring Him glory by simply obeying His commands. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 1 Peter 4:11) I certainly cannot change the past with respect to my failure to hear an accurate presentation of the Gospel until later in life. I can, however, spend the present time looking out for the eternal security of others by offering them the very same opportunity which I missed. As

Christians, we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ someday and we will all have to give an account of those things that we have done in order to further God’s kingdom purposes in this world. (2 Corinthians 5:10) More specifically, we will be asked to account for what we have or have not done with respect to effectively proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, it is within each of our abilities to use our lives in ways that will allow us to answer this question joyfully, and according to the Bible, this is to be our primary concern. (Romans 10:14-15, Mark 16:15. Luke 19:13)

BRIAN HEAPHY - Former U.S. Navy SEAL Officer, Federal Officer, and Wilderness Guide, Brian Heaphy now makes his home in Alaska’s remote upper Yukon River valley. While practicing a subsistence lifestyle, he photographs creation and writes about “Living on purpose at the speed of life.” TM Brian most enjoys formatting his award-winning images as Scripture-versed note cards and Christmas cards. These Christian cards (along with his museum quality prints and stretched canvas products) are available for viewing and sales at www.brianheaphy.com (view the cards via the “Product Information” tab on his website). Brian’s work may also be found at fine art galleries, museums, and gift shops nationwide.

Refine your tactics this Spring by Hank Parker

I love fishing this time of year. You can fish just about any method you prefer and find active fish, but the challenge is catching quality bass consistently. The beauty of the spring is that you can find fish in the pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn mode simultaneously over the next couple of months. Most are shallow and aggressive so just pick the technique that you like to fish and get after ‘em. The problem is that there are a lot of small fish in the mix and you can be lured into complacency or reluctant to change. Who wants to give up on a pattern if it’s producing fish? Well, I do if I know I can make an adjustment and catch bigger bass. Sometimes the adjustment is minor, yet it can make all the difference in the world. Say you’re catching a lot of bass on a floating worm in the shoreline bushes, but the fish are small. By pulling off the bank and fishing those larger stumps in slightly deeper water, you may find the bigger fish; maybe not as many, but bigger. Or you could move to secondary points and catch good ones on a crankbait or go into the backs of pockets and hammer chunky females on a spinnerbait or soft plastic jerkbait. You have to be flexible and willing to move around, but once you find the quality bass pattern, you’ve hit the jackpot. During this time of year, conditions can change hourly and you’ve got to change with them, but a lot of anglers don’t. That doesn’t mean the fish always move from a spot,

but they will reposition on the cover near which they were holding. Cool nights drop shallow water temperatures but they warm quickly as the sun gets higher and the air

temps warmer. The water may be in the high 50s during the morning but can rise 10 degrees by afternoon. When this happens, the bass come off the bottom and suspend just beneath the surface to take advantage of the warmer water. I’ve seen times where I could catch bass on a jig in shallow bushes in the morning but couldn’t get a bite in the afternoon. That’s because the morning fish were nestled on the bottom where the water was warmer, but as the sun warmed the water, they moved off the bottom and suspended nearer the surface. You’ll notice this right away if you see big swirls next to the bush you’re fishing before your bait gets in the strike zone. It’s an occurrence I’ve seen everywhere I’ve fished in the spring. Some anglers think the lure is spooking them, but it’s the line coming through the water and raking across

their backs that freaks them out. If you’re wearing quality polarized sunglasses and look closely, you can probably see these holding just beneath the surface. Those fish can still be caught, but you must change your presentation and be a little sneakier. First, choose a lure that stays in the upper part of the water column, like a smaller spinnerbait, jerkbait, floating worm or something that doesn’t sink fast. If they’re on a jig bite, downsize the jig and swim it through the top 10 inches of water. Secondly, and this is critical, use a longer rod and hold your rod tip high to keep the line out of the water as much as possible. This is when mono works better than fluorocarbon line because it doesn’t sink as fast and stays near the surface. So remember this spring if you’re catching small bass, look nearby for bigger fish. And if you’re spooking fish, downsize your bait and keep your line out of the water. You’ll catch more fish throughout the day and bigger ones too!

Hank’s television series, “Hank Parker’s Outdoor Magazine,” launched in 1985 with national syndication. The following season the series moved to The Nashville Network. In following years the series has aired on The Outdoor Life Network, The Outdoor Channel, Pursuit Channel and NBC Sports. More information http://www.hankparker.com/

Trophies of Grace Experiencing the Adventure of Authentic Manhood The first in a four part series - by Richard Jordan

Trophy of Grace (DEF) The gift of God’s empowering presence on display in the life of a man who realizes his completeness in Christ without the need to develop a performance mentality. But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing Him. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NRSV) Since men seem to gain more clear understanding through a logical flow or an organized sequence of events, the seasons of a man’s life are shown graphically in the “Climbing Legacy Mountain” discipling plan. Spiritual formation is not a prescribed formula or system for success. Spiritual formation is the process of understanding our true identity as a son or daughter

of the Living God as we follow Jesus Christ wherever He may call us to serve. We travel through life’s adventures, encounter trails and temptations, then discover that God works in and through us as his Trophy of Grace in unique and powerful ways. We discover our purpose as a friend to God and a friend to my neighbor in fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Yes, God reveals himself through His created order found in the great outdoors and all the adventures we may find ourselves, but no subject especially the topic of grace can be fully assimilated into one’s life apart from the inspiration of God’s empowering presence. The propositional truths of the Bible become the Living Word in a man’s daily life. Such compelling evidence as discovered through God’s living Word combined together with the display of His

created order ignites a conducive environment to exercise faith in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Scripture states that without faith it is impossible to please our Heavenly Father. Passion ignites our faith which in turn takes us through a process of experiencing God’s abundant grace which then points us to the only true Trophy of Grace, the person of Jesus Christ, who has taken up residency within His followers.

First of Four Marks of Authentic Manhood identified while Climbing Legacy Mountain Most everyone, especially sportsmen, can relate to setting out on a journey to climb a mountain, especially outdoorsmen who camp, hunt, fish, hike, or photograph the great expanse of God’s creation. Again, how can anyone, especially

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALASKAN QUEST WWW.ALASKANQUEST.COM

an outdoorsman, observe the beauty of the great outdoors and not want to more fully know the One who spoke all of creation into existence! The following four camps are experienced while Climbing Legacy Mountain and will help you to fully understand the four passions of authentic manhood. Adventure - Identity - Leadership - Transformation Let’s examine more closely the first mark of authentic manhood BASE Camp - (Adventure Lived “Come & See”) When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” John 1:37-39 The way forward is to first realize that something incredible has happened, even inside of the person reading this article! God, our Father, the Creator

of the universe, sent His son into this world to completely restore mankind from the tragic consequences caused by sin. We were totally alienated from our Creator as well as our fellow man. Miraculously, His provision redeemed us from the ravages of sin when Jesus Christ suffered death on the cross to become the sin sacrifice for us thereby allowing man to enter into an eternal life of unconditional love and acceptance. God remembers our sin no more. This ultimate adventure is an understatement! Those whom Christ has set free are free indeed! The empowering presence of God’s Spirit goes before us in the routine of our everyday lives allowing us to experience God’s display of grace in the lives of each person with whom we come in contact. Our faith and trust in Christ is established when we realize His care, provision and personal interest in every minute detail of our life. Suffice it to say, this ground breaking experience takes place at what we will describe as a BASE Camp event... the first of four distinct camps in the

discipling process of spiritual formation. Such events may include a Sportsmen’s Banquet & Wild Game Tasting, Father/ Son Center Shot Archery, Hunter Education Classes, Bible Study, or any other occasion when a creditable offer from Jesus Christ is placed on the table for consideration, even when participating in recreational pursuits like hunting, fishing and target shooting. Alaska is a destination location for many sportsmen. Men’s allurement to the Great Outdoors is especially magnified when considering the Last Frontier state. The natural resources found in our 49th state are abundant and impactful. Many sportsmen have a deep longing to travel to Alaska to explore then conquer the many adventures found in this cold Northern region of our nation. You will learn much more through the narrative of the book soon to be released, Trophies of Grace, regarding a spring season Toklat Brown Bear hunting experience where the adventure in Climbing Legacy Mountain began for the author.

BASE Camp serves as life’s true beginning where Christ is discovered by newcomers to the Christian faith when they are invited to “Come & See” who Christ is through fellowship with other men who are passionate about outdoors adventure while acknowledging our Creator and building deep friendships with others of like faith and passion. Where are you in your spiritual journey? What adventures in your spiritual life have you experienced lately? Realize that God is presently working through your life. You are a Living epistle, open and read by all men (2 CORINTHIANS 3:2-3)! While setting out on the journey of life to experience authentic manhood, rest assured that you are becoming who you already are ... A Trophy of God’s Grace! Authentic manhood is discovered as we fully experience life adventures at BASE Camp in our quest of Climbing Legacy Mountain! ______________________________________ Christian Sportsmen’s Fellowship’s vision is to serve as a fellowship for sportsmen and their families in experiencing the love of Jesus Christ through the shared passion of the great outdoors!. We hope to inspire sportsmen to realize that those whom Christ Jesus has set free from sin are free indeed, with no need to develop a performance mentality in trying to please Him. As Trophies of Grace we are complete in Him and bring pleasure to the heart of God because of our inheritance as sons and daughters. The grace of God’s empowering presence always precedes us as we are Climbing Legacy Mountain!.

Silent Auction Item: David Livingstone 2015 Commemorative Bronze The limited edition bronze commemorating the life work of David Livingstone is being offered at auction during the Sportsmen’s Prayer Breakfast to bring special recognition to the hunter-conservationist and outdoors adventurer for whom the award is named. David Livingstone was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. The legendary Livingstone will be forever remembered by the comment of Henry Stanley who was sent by the New York Herald to find Livingstone in the interior of the African continent after he had been reported missing. The search ended in 1871 when Stanley met Livingstone at the town of Ujiji, on Lake Tanganyika. Stanley greeted him with the now-famous words: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Value: $4,995 Reserve Bid: $3,500 Large Male Lion atop a Cape Buffalo Horn mounted on a Walnut base at 24” in height Sculpted by Mark Smart Bronzes, Great Falls, MT 406.761.3586

Your membership supports the mission: CSF serves as a fellowship for sportsmen and their families to experience the love of Jesus Christ through the shared passion of the great outdoors.

Please consider supporting CSF There are five ways for you to choose from, so you can start helping today!

Subscribe to The Christian Sportsman Online Digital Magazine

FREE! Order Your Subscription Today!

Receive Your Online Digital Edition Today!

For your COMPLIMENTARY membership visit www.christiansportsman.com

Have you thought about joining Christian Sportsmenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fellowship or have you been putting off renewing your exisiting membership? Please consider responding today! Your support and involvement helps us continue to promote the ideals and goals of CSF. Bonus!

CSF Knife and Camo Bible!

Your CSF Membership Supports the Ideals and Goals of CSF! All-Weather Wax Wear Cap

Become a Supporting Member Receive Charter Membership Kit plus Silver Hawk Knife and All-Weather Wax Wear Cap

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Personal Magazine Ministry 12 Magazine Gift Subscriptions sent to family and friends $19.92/mo. or $239 Per Year Appreciation Gift

Become a Life Member Receive Charter Membership Kit plus All Weather Wax Wear Cap and a Hunterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Companion 3Pc. Knife Set

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Personal Magazine Ministry 24 Magazine Gift Subscriptions sent to family and friends $41.67/month for two years or $1,000

Become a Founder Member Receive Charter Membership Kit plus All Weather Wax Wear Cap and CSF Signature 12 Gauge Shotgun or Special CSF Hunting or Fishing Adventure

Knife Set

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Personal Magazine Ministry 36 Magazine Gift Subscriptions sent to family and friends $83.33/month for five years or $5,000 12 Gauge Shotgun

HEALTHY LIVING

The Daniel Plan An Innovative Faith-based Approach to a Healthy Lifestyle Are you an active outdoorsman? Or do you aspire to take family members outdoors for recreation around hunting, fishing, camping or just exploring the wonderment of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outdoors classroom? Then good physical fitness and health will ensure that you are positioned to live life to the fullest! Lifestyle practices and planned daily routines can impact our enjoyment of such adventure pursuits. A simple and effective approach to achieving and maintaining good health is essential in achieving our goals.

A unique approach CALLED The Daniel Plan It is based out of a local church known as Saddleback Church, located in Lake Forest, California, and is really quite simple by encouraging you to optimize five basic life components:

Faith Food Fitness Focus Friends 41

Revolutionize Your Health! ... Once and for All! The story began during an afternoon of baptizing over 800 people when Pastor Rick Warren realized it was time for change. He told his congregation he needed to lose weight and asked if anyone wanted to join him. He thought maybe 200 people would sign up, instead he witnessed a movement unfold as 15,000 people lost over 260,000 pounds in the first year. With assistance from medical and fitness experts, Pastor Rick and thousands of people began a journey to transform their lives. Welcome to The Daniel Plan. Here’s the secret sauce: The Daniel Plan is designed to be done in

a supportive community relying on God’s instruction for living. When it comes to getting healthy, two are always better than one. Our research has revealed that people getting healthy together lose twice as much weight as those who do it alone. God never meant for you to go through life alone and that includes the journey to health. Unlike the thousands of other plans on the market, this plan is not about a new diet, guilt-driven gym sessions, or shame-driven fasts. Nor is it a “do it all now” approach. The Daniel Plan shows you how the powerful combination of faith, fitness, food, focus, and friends will change your health forever, transforming you

in the most head-turning way imaginably---from the inside out. The Daniel Plan has begun revolutionizing the concept of a healthy lifestyle. God designed our bodies to be healthy, providing everything we need to thrive and live abundantly. And with assistance from medical and fitness experts, Pastor Rick Warren and thousands of people from his congregation at Saddleback Church started a journey to transform their lives. The result: 15,000 people lost over 260,000 pounds in the first year. But the changes in people’s lives went far beyond the pounds they lost.

Feast on Something Bigger Than a Fad, The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life by Rick Warren, Dr. Daniel Amen, and Dr. Mark Hyman is far more than a diet plan. It is an appetizing approach to achieving a healthy lifestyle where people are encouraged to get healthier together by optimizing the key five essentials of faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends. The Daniel Plan shows you how focusing on the powerful combination of the key essentials can change your life forever . . . one choice at a time. The concepts in The Daniel Plan will encourage you to deepen your relationship with God and develop a

community of supportive friends who will encourage you to make healthy choices each and every day. The result for you: gradual changes that transform your life inside and out.

brain he gave you. He will then empower you with His supernatural strength!

Dedicate your body to God. Ask for his help, and get involved in a small group of some kind that will support you on your journey. Then start making healthy choices — such as replacing donuts with fresh fruit and making exercise a part of your daily routine. Make whole foods a regular part of your diet. Live a more active lifestyle. Get more sleep. Cut down on your stress. It’s not rocket science. It’s just good, common sense. After all, God expects you to use the

The editors of The Christian Sportsman magazine desire to feature practical information regarding healthy living from excellent sources to help our readers with the best outdoors relevant, timely and applicable insights available today. Enjoying life to the fullest ... healthy spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially! Your ideas and comments are welcome and will help encourage and empower other sportsmen to discover a nd develop a deep passion for Jesus Christ in the context of outdoors adventure.

More info: www.danielplan.org

Check out our blog at: www.christiansportsman.com/ mens-ministry

“Morning by morning, O Lord, You hear my voice as I lay my request before you and wait in expectation....”

Praying for our Nation’s Great Hunting & Fishing Traditions

Prayer (DEF): Sincere, earnest, personal communication with our Heavenly Father for the purpose of acknowledging His sovereignty in response to our petition, thanksgiving and worship, as the name of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.

A growing contingency of outdoors organizations within America believes that God is calling outdoors enthusiasts to corporate prayer. Christian sportsmen are seeking His wisdom to more accurately understand biblical truth in perpetuating our great hunting and fishing traditions. Our Founding Fathers understood that liberty is not free but cost the lives of patriots who fought for our freedoms, many of which are now found embedded in the United States Constitution. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings great freedom to a nation whose trust is in Him. Yes, America is often enamored with a political agenda which only further motivates God’s remnant in this exceptional nation to remain vigilant in standing for truth as inspired through scripture regarding stewardship, responsible ethics and passing the Christian heritage down to each succeeding generation. As with any great move of His Spirit, God reveals the

impending perils that will inevitably face those of us who are complacent and detached from His divine plans and purpose. The overarching message found in the Bible is God’s desire for man to be conformed to His image, in body, soul and spirit. Most often understood as “Following His Will”, God’s purpose for man is revealed as we walk with Him in the daily routines of our everyday life through a more clear understanding of the following three concepts: Christian Heritage Outdoors Conservation - and Responsible Ethics Our Christian heritage is rich and varied in this nation as the result of the founding of a great constitutional republic based on a democratic process where each and every person has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The first two of these historically embedded, inalienable truths are straight forward. However, the “Pursuit of Happiness” might get a little vague, depending on who is doing the interpreting. Consider the following: 1. The sportsman can pursue happiness by fulfilling his call to pass the Christian heritage down to the next generation while he enjoys

outdoors adventures with family and friends. Lifetime bonding is experienced when a father takes his son on his first deer hunt to score a trophy whitetail. The great outdoors provides a prefect backdrop for dialoging with others about God’s creative order. As salt and light we can rest assured that the One who created all that we enjoy while in the woods or on the water will continue to work in and through each of us as salt and light to influence the next generation. 2. Secondly, outdoors conservation is deeply rooted in the Biblical command known as stewardship of the natural resources which have been placed on the earth for man’s enjoyment, sustenance and proper management. The sportsman conservationist is careful to leave the wood pile higher than when he arrived and understands the critical importance of remaining vigilant in commitment to the many conservation organizations across the nation. His membership and support of conservation groups can bring essential volunteer resources and funding to the forefront in properly managing game and fish populations. Established regulatory seasons by state governmental agencies together with private trophy 45

management initiatives by conservation organizations has caused wildlife populations to flourish. 3. And lastly, responsible ethics is found throughout Biblical teachings as one of the bedrock virtues of the Christian faith especially when it comes to instilling integrity, honesty and trust into the next generation of young sportsman. The ethical sportsman only takes game in season and carefully observes bag and stringer limits. He does what is right even when no one is looking! The outdoors community is made up of a growing population of hunters, anglers, target shooters, hikers, campers and gun enthusiasts who are pro-active in several distinct categories of sportsmen as follows: • Second Amendment Rights Groups • Conservation Organizations • Industry Manufacturers, Distributors & Retailers • Outfitter & Guides • Outdoors Ministries • Local Churches

Why is God calling our nation to corporate prayer, even the specific segment of our population, numbering over 67,000,000 hunters, anglers, target shooters, hikers, campers and gun enthusiasts? 46

The new initiative called National Sportsmen’s Prayer Alliance is designed to call the outdoors community to stand together in a unified front to not only create the narrative but to express the specific reasons as to why we call ourselves sportsmen. God has given sportsmen and their families opportunity to become engaged in their local church for the purpose of connecting with other outdoorsmen who need the gospel. Tragically, those associated with the anti-gun lobby, animal rights activists and environmental extremists continue to mount their misinformation campaigns. Some groups have become militant even resorting to intimidation tactics toward television executives in an attempt to censor outdoors programming. Growing numbers of citizens in the United States are now being informed about issues which are critical to the mission of many hundreds of outdoors organizations within each of the above categories. Many are becoming civically literate about our constitutional rights and liberties! Within this framework our nation affords the church a platform for connecting with outdoorsmen in local communities on a real

and practical level for building friendships around the great traditions of hunting and fishing. Please join us in mutually praying for one another and all of those who call on God in the critical times of peril now facing our nation!

Tragically, those associated with the anti-gun lobby, animal rights activists and environmental extremists continue to mount their misinformation campaigns.

THIS IS A CAPTION

PRESS RELEASE

Second ‘Greatest Story Never Told’: What we never hear about firearm safety trends... by Steve Sanetti

Last year marked the 75th anniversary of the PittmanRobertson Wildlife Restoration Act, by which each and every purchaser of firearms and ammunition pays for the lion’s share of conservation in America. And that’s for the benefit of the entire public and all species, game and nongame alike. Yet very few people know this. Ask anyone, “Who pays for conservation in America?” and the common (and incorrect) response will likely be some “green” group. The truth, that sportsmen pay for conservation, has been somewhat sardonically called “The Greatest Story Never Told.” But there’s another great untold story, one that is extremely topical today. In fact, it should control one of the most important debates of our time. I’m referring to the fact that both crime and accidents involving firearms have decreased dramatically during the last 20 years. Yet the mass media and public sentiment in many quarters keep repeating the opposite— that we are experiencing “an epidemic of gun crime” or that “guns in the home are proving

Steve Sanetti President and Chief Executive Officer, NSSF

deadly for kids,” to quote just two examples. Please don’t just take our word for this. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics report, released in May 2013, shows that firearmsrelated homicides dropped 39 percent between 1993 and 2011 (49 percent when corrected for population growth), and that non-fatal crimes involving firearms fell an astonishing 69 percent during that same period (75 percent when corrected for population growth). Mass shootings now account for less than 1 percent of all homicides. School homicides?

They actually dropped by half. Not exactly what you’ve been hearing from pundits or news organizations, is it? They focus on such horrible events, and beseech us to ban “military-style weapons” and “gun shows” instead of focusing on the true causes of crime. So, as long as we’ve gotten on these topics, what does the Justice Department Report say about them? Well, only 1 percent of inmates are in prison for a crime in which they carried a rifle, and slightly more than 2 percent of those were armed with a military-style semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm. Furthermore, fewer than 1 percent of inmates who possessed a gun to commit their offense obtained their firearm at a gun show. This dramatic decrease in gunrelated crime comes during an unprecedented period of growth in firearms sales, gun owners, and licenses to carry firearms. So clearly, more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens does not cause an increase in crime. Accident fatalities with firearms have also continued to decline—by 22 percent

in the last 10 years—and National Safety Council Statistics place them far behind poisoning, motor vehicles, falls, choking, drowning, fires, and suffocation. All of this goes to show, in the words of James Carville, “We’re right and they’re wrong.” That may be gratifying, but a larger question is, What good does this information do if nobody knows about it? In that regard, the news is downright awful. A new research report released a day after the Justice Department Report revealed a stunning anomaly: Only 12 percent of Americans believe that violent crime with firearms is down, and 56 percent believe, falsely, that violent crime involving guns is actually increasing! Twenty-six percent believe, also incorrectly, that crime involving firearms stayed about the same during the last 20 years. Women, non-white adults, and senior citizens are the most likely to mistakenly believe that such crime is up. A third survey, released in early May, was performed by the Gallup Organization, and it showed that, despite mass-media saturation of news and commentary with anti-firearms messages, out of 20 categories, the American public rated gun control second from the bottom of what our national order of priorities should be, well behind most economic issues affecting our nation and its citizens. Clearly, when armed with the facts, Americans will

see beyond the hype, and they will focus on the truth. learly, more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens does not cause an increase crim It is so important for responsible firearms owners who follow the law and exercise their constitutional rights to help spread the truth about crime and firearms. So, please, help us get the word out!

About NSSF® The National Shooting Sports Foundation® is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 8,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

NEW PRODUCT

MATHEWS® UNVEILS NEW ARROWWEB® CT™ QUIVER Sparta, Wisconsin – The new ArrowWeb® CT™ is Mathews®’ lightest, most compact quiver to date. The CT™, which stands for “compact,” features a reduced profile that improves bow balance while shaving excess weight. At a glance, the first thing you’ll likely notice is the new GridLock™ hood which parallels the latest technology found in Mathews®’ bow risers. The new ColorShield™ hoodinserts come in 10 distinct colors and enable shooters to match their quiver color with their other Mathews® Genuine Accessories. “Mathews® Genuine Accessories™ are designed to enhance the performance and experience of Mathews bows,” said Marketing Director, Brad Treu. “While the ArrowWeb® series are among the best selling quivers of all time, we’re never satisfied. After countless hours of R&D, we took to the drawing board with the feedback of our loyal customers in hand. Out of that has come the ArrowWeb® CT-Series™ . . . undoubtedly the best quiver our team has designed,” Treu said. The ArrowWeb® CT-Series™ Quiver will accommodate expandable or fixed blade broadheads up to 1 1/8 inch. The redesigned foam insert will keep your blades quiet and in place while the new removable BladeShield™ (included) will keep your edges sharp and fingers safe.

Other noteworthy features include the new Quick Release arrow grip, Spider Claw® quiver mount and Harmonic Damper®. We invite you to check out the Mathews® ArrowWeb® CT™ quiver in its 10 available colors at www.mathewsinc.com. For purchase, please contact your nearest Authorized Mathews Retailer. See it here.

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How to Make the Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make 1. God’s Primary Purpose & Desire for You . . . is Salvation.

for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Q - What was God’s motive in sending Christ to earth?

Q - What can keep you from being separated from God?

A - To express His great love for you by saving you! The Bible says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16–17) Q - What was Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth? A - To forgive your sins, empower you to have victory over sin, and enable you to live a fulfilled life! Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) 2. Your Problem . . . is Sin. Q - What exactly is sin? A - Sin is living independently of God’s standard—knowing what is right, but choosing wrong. “Anyone, then, who knows the 52

good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17) Q - What is the major consequence of sin? A - Spiritual “death” . . . eternal separation from God. “Your iniquities [sins] have separated you from your God . . . . For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23) 3. God’s Provision (solution) for You . . . is the Savior. Q - Can anything remove the penalty for sin? A - Yes! Jesus died on the cross to personally pay the penalty for your sins. “God demonstrates his own love

A - Belief in (entrusting your life to) Jesus Christ as the only way to God the Father. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6) 4. Your Part . . . is Surrender. Q - How do I surrender? A - Stop placing your personal desires, wants and wishes as your top priority. Give Christ control of your life—entrusting yourself to Him. Then you will have things placed in the proper order... The proper sequence. “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross [die to your own self-rule] and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find

it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?’” (Matthew 16:24–26) A - Place your faith in (rely on) Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and reject your “good works” as a means of earning God’s approval.

Is Your Name in God’s Record Book of Life?

“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9) You will never ever be alone... The moment you decide to believe in Him—entrusting your life to Christ—He gives you His Spirit to live inside you. Then the Spirit of Christ enables you to live the fulfilled life God has planned for you, and He gives you His power to forgive others so that your heart can begin to heal. If you want to be fully forgiven by God and become the person God created you to be, I can hear Him knocking on hearts... He will not force Himself in, you must make the decision to open the door... you can tell Him your door is open wide in a simple, heartfelt prayer: “God, I need You in my life, .....and I need Your wisdom..... My limited knowledge is not enough..... I’ve made too many wrong decisions..... I admit that I’ve sinned—choosing what I knew was wrong... I understand that my sin separates me from You.... Please forgive me for my sins. Jesus, thank You for all you did on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. The doors of my heart I’ve opened wide, Come into my life as my Lord and Savior. May the Holy Spirit be my mentor, my comforter and be the Key Decision influencer throughout my entire life. I Surrender my will, I give you control... Change me into the person You want me to be. In Your most wonderful and precious name I pray. Amen.”

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3) Did you know that you can have your name permanently recorded in God’s book of life today?

HERE’S HOW: A) Admit that you need him - Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23a: “For the wages of sin is death...”, B) Believe that Jesus died to save you - Romans 6:23b “...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” C) Confess Jesus as your Savior and Lord by turning from your sin and calling on his name - Romans 10:9-10: “That if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:13: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 3:19: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out...” Our response is to receive Jesus Christ.

Does this prayer say what you want to say to God? Dear God, I believe that your son died for my sins and ask your forgiveness. I receive Jesus Christ now as my personal Savior and invite him to be the Lord of my life from this day forward. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Please contact us about your eternal decision: csf@christiansportsman.com or Call us at 770.772.6749 CSF, P.O. Box 566547, Atlanta, GA 31156

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Or54call 770.772.6749

CHURCH LEADERS!

CLICFKOR HEREORE M FO IN

Order Your Chapter Chartering Package Today!

Launch an effective outdoors ministry today by chartering your own church-based chapter of Christian Sportsmen’s Fellowship! Individual Charter Membership Kit includes: For a suggested minimum contribution of

All this for only

$74.50

1. Charter Sportsmen’s Cap 2. Window Decal 3. Magazine Subscription 4. F.I.R.E. Publications

5. Camouflaged Bible 6. CSF Pocket Knife 7. Exclusive web content

Just as Jesus modeled leadership by investing time with ordinary men in establishing the first century church, today’s leaders can also encourage and empower others to serve with a lifestyle of passion. Become a core member in your outdoors ministry in your church community by launching a CSF Chapter. Your local church can order a Chapter Chartering Package to receive essential tools for launching an effective outdoors ministry. The Package will include 12 Charter Membership kits for twelve men who have been called to serve by joining your chapter. Each Charter Membership is valued at $74.50 if ordered individually!

CHAPTER CHARTER PACKAGE INCLUDES: • Twelve Charter Membership Kits • Facebook Website for Personalized Member Communication • Box of Fifty of the Printed Edition of The Christian Sportsman magazine plus the NEW digital editions • Directors Resource Notebook • Chapter Ministry Planning Template for Customization • Digital Files for Designing CSF Logo Sportswear and Promotional Materials • Regional Director Assistance in Planning Your Annual Outreach Agenda • Registration for Chapter Director to Participate in the CSF National Leadership Summit * Bonus CSF Display Banner for Event Promotion * Bonus Book: The Perfect Leader, by Ken Boa

Contact CSF Headquarters today at 770.772.6749 to order your Chapter Chartering Package and join as a CSF Charter Member

www.christiansportsman.com 55

Christian Sportsmen’s Fellowship

Needs Your Help in Casting the Net!

Social Media Integration IN LIFE THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE: Those that “make things happen”, “watch what happens”, and those that wonder, “what just happened”. And no one wants to get caught in this last category! “Sometimes it’s very challenging to adapt to change, especially when it comes to the unfamiliar technology accelerators that are now driving our outdoor communities. Over the past few months several cutting edge applications have been developed for web surfers using computers, smart phones, ipods, etc. Efficiency helps in finding success when living in an over-communicated culture” — Richard Jordan, CSF President Each strand of the “web” leads to another line of communication. The World-Wide-Web (www) connects us all together. But within the web there are great ways to inform and entertain like Flikr for sharing photographs or Youtube for sharing video experiences. Christian Sportsmen’s Fellowship’s (CSF) goal is to keep you inform so that lifelong friendships can be built with other like-minded sportsmen!

Consider “the web” as more of a net, a fisherman’s net. Jesus stated: “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:19) Call CSF headquarters with your questions, to obtain links, or for technical assistance at 770.772.6749 56

World-class trophies and Alaskan adventure! Contact us for more information and season reports

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Stonewood Lodge & Peninsula Bear Camps

Hunt Big Brown Bears on The Alaska Peninsula

We hunt spring and fall for Brown Bear on the Alaska Peninsula with many trophies exceeding 10 feet. We have exclusive areas, professional staff, and cover every detail of the trip. Combination trips are available for wolf hunting and fishing.

Visit Preston Cavner & Staff at the Houston Safari Club, SCI Convention booth #3703 - 3604 & Dallas Safari Club Booth #1547 - 1648

Preston Cavner, Cavner & Julian Inc. • Stonewood Lodge • 1 Dice Bay, Port Alsworth, AK 99653 • (907) 223-9386

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Send Your Church Mission Group to Alaska! Wild Gourmet Alaska Smoked Salmon Church Group Friendraiser Campaign 100% of Net Proceeds Invested in Alaska Wilderness Missions

GET STARTED TODAY CLICKIT FOR MORE INFO

CLICK TO

CSF needs your help in …Bringing Hope to the Next Generation of Alaska’s Youth! Finally, a very simple and streamlined approach to funding your father/son mission trip to Alaska has arrived! How does it work? Enter Christian Sportsmen’s Fellowship with a fourteen year proven success record in accommodating church groups in planning, preparation and participation for the purpose of helping sportsmen and their family members travel to Alaska on a mission/construction trip. What is the plan?

The answer … Wild Gourmet Alaskan Smoked Salmon! That’s right! Delivered directly to your church address securely packaged and preserved to require minimum handling with excellent potential in funding your entire mission project. Who do we send to Alaska? Imagine … A dad and his son sharing this mission trip opportunity with friends, neighbors and extended family members who would like to support their vision by purchasing a packaged quantity of the absolute best smoked salmon on the face of the earth.

Great for seasonal gifts! A personal letter from your church’s Alaska Mission team inserted into each box shares the vision for … Bringing Hope to the Next Generation of Alaska’s Youth! Adventure to a Higher Level!

* Suggested Contribution $59.90 per Sampler Gift Package (Delivered) Wild Gourmet Alaska Smoked Salmon Coho (Silver) Salmon Filet ¼ lb. Chinook (King) Salmon Filet ¼ lb. Sockeye (Reds) Salmon Filet ¼ lb. Pacific (Pinks) Salmon Filet ¼ lb.

Leaving a Legacy Through Estate Planning Christian Sportsmen’s Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization. The foundation is supported by the prayers and generosity of Christian sportsmen and corporate sponsors. One way that you can ensure that outreach to sportsmen continues is to consider including the foundation in your estate plan.

If you are interested in establishing a charitable gift annuity for the Christian Sportsmen’s Foundation, please contact Richard Jordan at 770.335.1814 or speak with your estate planning attorney. Your financial support has helped launch over 350 church based chapters across the nation since 1994 to impact thousands of sportsmen for eternity, along their sons and daughters.

CSF Camouflaged

SPORTSMEN’S BIBLE Some sportsmen have used the CSF Camouflaged Sportsmen’s Bible while in the tree stand deer hunting and believe that this edition of God’s Word is an invaluable tool for a successful season. Whether the action seems slow or you just want to take a moment to reflect in seeking inspiration from a favorite scripture reference, this small pocket bible is just right for the active Christian sportsman who takes his deer hunting seriously. The CSF Camouflaged Sportsmen’s Bible makes a great gift for family members and friends. Stock up today so that you will be, “Ready in season and out of season” to give an account for the hope that you have within you!

770.772.6749 or www.christiansportsman.com 59

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FREE

Click Here for your Complimentary CSF Membership and your FREE The Christian Sportsman magazine! Thanks to our National Sponsors you can receive every digital edition featuring articles about sportsmen who combine their Christian faith with great hunting, fishing and target shooting adventures. Each edition is chocked full of human interest stories around sportsmen and their families along with great insights about adventure destinations motivated by the passion to live for Jesus Christ! Please take the time to TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF while you are registering for the magazine. Contact us today to begin receiving your FREE magazine subscription! www.christiansportsman.com â&#x20AC;˘ or call 770.772.6749 61