This past weekend my wife’s Uncle Edward lost his battle with cancer but his faith will win the war over death and we’ll see him again. Edward Adams was a country minister dedicating his life to service in small churches all across the southeast. When I joined this family a number of years ago Uncle Edward was one of the interesting people I got to know. At the family gatherings he always seemed to be the center of attention at least until he said grace and we could get to the food. He had a love for the outdoors and he and I often swapped stories about hunting and fishing. I never got to actually hunt or fish with him but the stories we shared were special.
The story that has been sticking out in my mind this week was one he told me at Christmas a while back about how he’d gotten a deer that year. It seems he was driving home after visiting some sick folks at one of the local hospitals when he spotted a buck feeding in a small field behind a house. He stopped at the house and went up to the door and knocked on it. A woman answered the door and he introduced himself and then asked her if she minded him hunting in the field behind her house. I guess cause he was a minister she told him that be fine. That in and of itself is pretty funny but what he did next to me was hilarious but it’s within his character to do. He asked the woman if he could borrow her bathroom to change into his hunting clothes. After changing he went out there and snuck up on that buck and killed it.
That story brings a smile to my face every time I think about it and seeing a deer standing in a field near a farmhouse brings it to mind often.
Uncle Edward loved the outdoors ; chasing rabbits, surf fishing at Carolina beach, hunting turkeys in South Carolina. I’m going to miss him and I’ll miss hearing his tails of adventure in God’s great outdoors. His love for the Creator who made this world and his desire to teach others about God’s Love is even more important. I hope and pray that you have Peace With God like Uncle Edward did and I do.

I pulled the December Field & Stream and magazine from the mail box and tossed it into my hunting pack to take it with me to deer camp. As I was thumbing through it a few days later I came across the article “Following Our Father” the amazing story of Faith and the life journey of two brothers after the tragic death of their father in the PA Deer Woods. Now they share their story and their faith at Sportsman Dinners and Churches around the country.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.

“And all I could think was ‘You are the wretch, God, for allowing this to happen to my dad,’” Dan says. “I internalized all the anger. It just built up in me.”
For Dan, spiritual healing was first revealed in a conversation he had when he was in his early 20s, with a former neighbor named Peter Cabin.2 At the time of Witt’s death, Cabin owned one of the hard-drinking bars in Meyersdale, and when Dan questioned God about his father’s death, the question was always the same: Why Dad and not a man like Peter Cabin?
Then one day, while visiting his grandmother, he heard someone calling his name from a nearby house trailer. It was Cabin, and he wanted to talk.
“I knew who he was,” Dan says. “And I was thinking, ‘You’re the one that should be long gone. I should be talking to my dad.’” But Cabin told him an astonishing story. Walt, as it turned out, never passed up an opportunity to share his faith with Cabin, and after the hunting accident, the barkeeper converted fully to Christianity.
“And that’s not all,” Dan says, shaking his head, amazed at the turn of events even after 25 years. “He sold his tavern. He started preaching. He began a ministry in retirement homes because he felt that those people didn’t have much time left before eternity. And for years he helped smuggle Bibles into China. All because of my dad’s death.
“When he told me that story,” Dan continues, “it was like God hit me right between the eyes with a two-by-four. This light came on of God telling me, ‘Dan, if you were in charge of this, if you were God, Peter Cabin would be dead today, and he would have to spend an eternity with no hope. I didn’t make a mistake with your dad.’ It was an epiphany, and the beginning of the healing process for me a decade after Dad’s death.”

Field & Stream
A story that would be more common for Guide Post was a refreshing addition to the Field & Stream. I encourage you to read the entire story and see how God has used this accident to change lives. When you get right down to it our Faith is more important than any hunting trip or tip. So if you’re not sure if you died today where you would spend eternity I urge you to check out “Peace With God”

Daybreak is something we as outdoorsmen enjoy often and a special time I never get tired of. Bring Easter I was at the Sunrise Community Service celebrating the resurrection of our savior as the natural world woke up around us. To me praying to the Creator as the world wakes up is a perfect way to begin a day and I know a number of my friends feel the same way. As I looked around at all those gathered at the Sunrise Service I thought only a few likely ever experience this more than once a year at Easter.
I hope everyone had a great Easter.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Be safe and lets hope 2011 is even a better year. Pray for our troops and lets hope they are safe no matter where they are serving our great country

-Moose-

Thanksgiving is always a special time for me we certainly have a lot to be thankful for. I’m not sure why Thanksgiving is just seem it always has been. Growing up I always looked forward to it some of those were during some tough times but it was always great family time. No matter what we always took time to thank God for his faithfulness and providing for us throughout the year. I still do that to this day.
Growing up in the city and a non hunting family it wasn’t till college before I began hunting. Hunting has added to my tradition by providing me some alone time. With it falling right in the middle of deer season I often have a lot of time to sit and reflect as I enjoy nature all around me.
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.

Mt Olivet Baptist Church had their third annual Sportsman Rally earlier this month and I had to check this out. I’ve been to a number of Sportsman Wild Game Dinners over the years but what I experienced this weekend blew all of them out of the water.

Most of the time these events attract mostly men and boys with the opportunity to try some wild game but this event attracted the entire community. Entire families were there this was the happening event for this rural community. As it got close to the time for them to begin serving dinner I was amazed at the size of the crowd and I’ll admit I wondered if they could possible have enough to feed everyone. The line snaked around the large tent out into the parking lot and all the way to the other side of the church. I guessed it to be close to 1000 people.

The menu consisted of a wide selection of wild game; Alligator, bison, wild boar, deer, all kinds of fish, rattlesnake, and a number of other things I’m surely forgetting it was truly amazing at what there was to choose from. It took a while but everyone got through the line and there was still food left.
A gospel quartet “Unashamed” performed and they really got the crowd into it. I’d never heard them before but they were really good. After that my good friend Mike Noles from Conman’s Guide Service brought the message about “Thirsting for the Lord”… “Like the deer pants for the water so does my soul pant for you…” I’ve known Mike for a number of years and have heard him share the Lord with individuals it was great to see him talking before such a large crowd. There were a number of folks that responded to the message and got themselves right with God.

After the service they drew names from all those who registered earlier in the evening when they showed up at the event for the free raffle. They gave away fishing equipment, hunting equipment including some guns. At a time when folks are really struggling an event like this is amazing. There was absolutely no cost for any of it the church and those in organizing it covered it all. There was a bucket for donations but zero pressure to give. This was truly an outreach ministry by the church to the surrounding community.

A tip of the hat to all those involved in putting this event together it was truly a remarkable evening. If there is anyone thinking about doing something like this with their church it is worth it to talk to the folks at Mt Olivet Church in Franklinton NC to get some tips on how to put on event like this.

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The duck season ended for most with a winter storm across most of the state. I was suppose to head to Orange county but given the weather forecast and the fact that scouting of the area by a few of the guys had shown that there was very few ducks there the days leading up to the hunt. The snow was the kicker so Friday morning the Saturday hunt was called. What normally would be a 70 minute ride in the conditions we had would have been more like a 2 ½ hour trip. Ducks seem to like the nasty weather so I’m sure those with places to go and could get there they were rewarded with a pretty good hunt.
Yesterdays snow, sleet, and freezing rain has been replaced today with cold air and sun. Growing up in New England temperatures below 20 are cold but I leave the “bone chilling” description, which is getting thrown around here a lot, for when you get down in the negatives. 15 to 20 bellow my bones might be getting a bit cool.
Today with the conditions the way they are would be a perfect day to turn some beagles lose on some rabbits but this is North Carolina and hunting on Sunday is not allowed even those Sundays that most churches have decided to close their doors. The roads are now like many of the roads in places like Northern Maine packed snow and ice but minus the big snow banks to keep ya out of the ditch. There is not much in the line of snow removal equipment in this neck of the woods so we’ll have to wait for Mother Nature to clear the roads which could take some time given the “bone chilling” temperatures we have to endure.
We ventured out last evening to the Carolina Hurricanes game and it was fun to drive on roads that reminded me of my youth. Less than 7,000 of us showed up (over 14,000 tickets had been sold) to watch our last place Hurricanes knock off first place Black Hawks. A great game and good evening of fun. I was glad that we stopped and got something to eat before we got to the arena because it seems that most of their employees stayed home. The only concession stands that were open was on the first level and only about half of them at that.
The thermometer says it is about 18’ right now a warm cup of coffee and the gas logs going... Mother Nature can take her time on clearing the roads. I like this “bone chilling” “snowed in” type of weather while I sit and dream of the sound of beagles on a hot rabbit. I got to wonder if we can't get Hunting on Sunday if the church is closed?

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The death of a friend is always tough especially when they are so young. I just found out that David Rillo a man I knew as LBK from the internet died earlier this month. I had talked with him a number of times on line and actually met him for the first time at a get together we had last month. On the computer and in real life he seemed like a great guy.

My last conversation with him was not any earth shattering deep talk just a conversation on where a couple of big old boys could find hunting equipment in our size. We also talked about hunting in Maine. I enjoyed meeting him and only wished I had gotten to know him better.

I’ll admit that there are some thoughts running through my mind that as a person that regularly deals with troubled people was there anything I could have done to help him. I know there is not because like many from our website we did not know that he was troubled and contemplating suicide . The day we all spent together in September was really a great day of fun and I think a time we all forgot about the daily troubles and struggles we wrestle with.

David Andrew Rillo, age 34, of 304 Tremont Dr., Asheboro died Sunday, October 18, 2009 at his home.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 2:00 pm at Balfour Baptist Church with Chaplain Dwight Ayers and Dr. Ron Chaney officiating.

Mr. Rillo was a 1993 graduate of Southern Davidson High School, received his associate degree in Criminal Justice from Randolph Community College and was a deputy with the Randolph County Sherriff’s Department. He was an avid fisherman and hunter.

He is survived by his wife, Duwana V. Rillo; step-daughter, Samantha Tubbleville of the home; parents, Jerry and Kathryn Rillo of Candor; brothers, John Rillo of Norman, Paul Rillo of Star; sister, Courtney Rillo of Candor; grandfather, Ronald Chartier of Peru, ME; grandmother, Lorette Rillo of Ellerbe.

The family will receive friends Thursday from 12:00-1:30pm at Balfour Baptist Church, 1644 North Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC.

Arrangements by Pugh Funeral Home, Asheboro.

Memorials may be made to David Rillo Memorial Fund, c/o Randolph County Sherriff Department, 727 McDowell Rd., Asheboro, NC 27205.

I hope LBK rests in peace and I’m glad to hear that he was a born again Christian. His family is in my prayers and I hope that anyone that reads this and maybe struggling with suicidal thoughts will seek out help.