Daily Devotional - God's Great Outdoors - Trail To Adventure

YOUR BEST RESPONSE

Dean Hulce — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:30:41 +0000

Colossians 4:5-6
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

It was opening morning of mule deer season in NW Colorado and I had dropped hunters up on a ridge high above camp. I was headed back to camp to clean up and start dinner. As I walked along our fence line I came upon a young man who was very excited and confused. As I walked up to him a saw a large buck laying at his feet. He started to explain that he had shot the buck earlier and had no idea what to do with it.

I was a little upset that he had actually harvested it literally right on the fence within sight of our camp, and I struggled with his raw language, but I felt a little sorry for him. I offered to help him dress the deer out and teach him how to do it for the future. Then we took it together into a shaded place and propped it open to cool so it wouldn't spoil.

I didn't want to do anything but get to camp. But I felt I needed to help. As Christians we have a responsibility to care for others in need.

This is really hard thing to remember on a daily basis. Our life should evolve to a place that we should be living wisely all the time in front of all people. Once we know the Lord we have two main responsibilities; to glorify God and to build his family bigger. We can't do either of those efficiently if our life isn't a reflection of Christ to the world.

Today, I challenge you to make a special attempt to be as loving and kind as possible to those that you run into. Love them by your words and actions... Because as John 13:35 says, ..." all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

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GROWING THROUGH ADVERSITY

Dean Hulce — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:30:05 +0000

James 1:12
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

Pete and Steve came back to camp right at dark with stories of more muskies than they had ever dreamed of. My two boys Ryan and Nick get excited and Ryan, Nick and Pete began making plans for the next morning's fishing. The three of them had to walk in quite a way through the thick woods, carrying, all of their gear, plus 2 gas tanks and more. They were already tired when they got to the boats. After a day of casting big lures, fighting huskies and hauling gear back to camp... the guys were fighting to stay awake at the dinner table. It was a terribly hard trek into the lake... but it was worth it.

The Christian life can be like that mountain, we know that it's going to take some hard work and occasionally some heartache to get to where God wants to bring us, but it will be worth it when we get there.

Consider the life of Job. God allowed Job to go through some horrific circumstances. God didn't cause those troubles but He allowed them to happen. Job went through things that I hope to never have to face, but when he made it through he was closer to God and he was blessed beyond what he had prior to the testing.

If I asked all of the readers of this today if they would want to live a trouble free life, I bet all would say, "yes please". But what would it really be like if we never faced opposition or a rough road? Life would be a little boring. Consider driving through the Colorado mountains, it can be tough going at times, but after 8 hours of straight, flat roads in Nebraska and eastern Colorado, that rough going is beautiful.

Recently I heard an illustration on the radio... "While the congregation sat with their eyes closed a pastor had someone play a song on the piano using only the white keys. Then he had them play the same song using both the white and black keys. The pastor then asked the congregation, 'which was more beautiful?'. Everyone thought that the second was far more beautiful. This illustrates that we could go through life with only the bright white circumstances, but, when we face some darker/harder times it gives us a much more beautiful future.

In Genesis 37 we read about Joseph who was much loved by his father. His brothers were very jealous and sold him into slavery. He faced extremely hard times for a while, but he grew from his experiences and became a very high ranking official. God took something that seemed like a disaster, and when His child persevered through it, He turned it into a tremendous blessing.

Whatever you and I are facing today, remember the words from James 1:2-4. Trusting God has a plan far greater than the trouble we're currently facing, push forward knowing that what is coming will be a blessing that far overshadows the hardship we're dealing with today.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

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Divine Protection

Dean Hulce — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:30:07 +0000

by Joel Raygor

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Tick-borne diseases are infections transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of infected ticks. The most common illnesses include Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Early recognition and treatment are vital to prevent severe complications.

This year there has been added concern about the Alpha-gal Syndrome. Alpha-gal Syndrome is caused by a bite from the lone star tick and it can lead to an allergy to red meat. Yikes, I don't want that!

Shortly before the start of the spring turkey season, all my camo and other outdoor clothes go on the clothesline and get sprayed with Permethrin. In addition to that, I also apply Picaridin lotion around my ankles, wrists, and neck when I head into the woods. Before I started doing this, every spring and summer I would find ticks crawling on me and some even embedded in me, but since I've been taking these precautionary steps, I almost never see a tick.

This added protection of Permethrin and Picaridin gives me some peace of mind and removes some of the concern about contracting Lyme and other tick borne disease.

As we read in Psalm 91, in a much more confident way we as Christians can rest assured that we have an added level of protection, knowing that God has sent angels to watch over us. We also read just a few chapters later in Psalm 121 that He promises divine protection from all evil and harm.

Psalm 91:11-12: "For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone."

Psalm 121:7-8: "The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore".

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KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

Dean Hulce — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:30:11 +0000

by Tim Jones – GGO President

Leviticus 6:13
"The fire shall ever be burning upon the alter; it shall never go out."

I like to camp, and one of my favorite activities while camping is just sitting around the campfire and relaxing. Doesn't matter if it's day or night, hot or cold weather, by myself or with friends and family. It doesn't get any better than a good cup of coffee and a frosty morning sunrise around the fire.

On a recent camp trip, something occurred that doesn't happen too often. I was having trouble keeping the fire burning. I had used up the wood I brought along from home and had to purchase a couple bundles from the campground. The wood looked good on the surface but obviously it was freshly cut and not seasoned very well. I had a terrible time getting it to catch and then all it produced was a large amount of smoke. No flames, no heat, and no light.

This reminded me how our Christian walk can get at times. It may look good on the surface but it is not on fire. There is no heat or light being produced. A Christian life that is on fire for God is a life that is evidenced by a passionate, zealous, and active faith. It is a heart that is consumed by God's love and a desire to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. The Old Testament passage in Leviticus was an instruction given by God to Moses concerning the Priests and the sacrifices on the alter. The fire was to be constantly burning and not allowed to go out. This is how our Christian life should be. We should live a life that is on fire for God and not be allowed to be extinguished. We should constantly be stirring the embers and fanning the flames. How's the fire in your life burning? Are you stoking your fire with God's word and meeting with Him in prayer? Is your flame visible to others? Does your flame give light and warmth to others or are you just smoldering and giving off a lot of smoke? Look to Jesus for strength and power to keep your fire lit. Allow His Word to be a burning fire in your heart.

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

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IT WILL ALL BE SEEN

Dean Hulce — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 08:30:06 +0000

Hebrews 4:13
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him.

The big mule deer buck was taking a drink was drinking in a creek straight below me about 100 yards. I watched him leave the creek and start up into the Wyoming rocky crevices. I watched him bed down in a place that looked like someone could sneak in on him. That someone was my dad who was up the valley 500-600 yards.

After the buck settled in I snuck out and got my dad's attention. I gave him as many hand signals as I could think of. Once he figured out what was going on I got in position to lead him to range of the buck who believed he was completely hidden and safe. That buck ended up being dad's last mule deer buck before he passed away.

There are times when in our lives we think we've gotten away with some sin. We think no one else knows about this. But like Randy with that Gobbler, there is always God looking from above that sees everything. Our Heavenly Father sees all that we do, the good and the bad. There is nothing hidden from His view.

Its spring and there a lot of new born fawns around... the other day we saw one lay down by the edge of the road. It thought it was hidden, but it didn't know that we could see it clearly. It reminded me that God sees and knows, even when I think I'm hidden. How many times in our lives have we done things that we would have changed if we had just remembered the verse above? There are things that we have literally cried over after the fact knowing that God could see us the whole time and we hurt Him with our sin. When we realize that the very God that created us and gave His Son as a sacrifice for just you and me... He can see us when we sin, and He is pained when we turn against Him each time we sin... it should break our hearts.

We are all going to make decisions that are wrong... We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). Next time you are at a crossroads and sin is right there in front if you, remember Hebrews 4:13 and know that HE sees and hears everything. Consider your steps carefully.

There is also a great promise here as well. If God knows our hearts and sees all things then He also knows and sees our struggles and our hurts. He sees our needs and our victories. And HE loves us so much that HE will meet our every need.

The next time you are tempted with sin, remember that maybe no else will know... but God will know and your sin will break the heart of the God that loves you more than you can imagine. That should stop all of us from making the wrong decision.

The good and the bad... nothing is hidden

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Just Wait!

Dean Hulce — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:30:53 +0000

Psalm 37:34
Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

I'm not always the most patient hunter. I like to see what's over the next ridge or at a different stand. My first trip to deer hunt in South Dakota made me wait and when I did it paid off.

By midday on the second day of a 4 day hunt the other 6 hunters were done and all had good bucks. I was the only one left to fill my tag. By the third evening we had decided I could hunt until 8:00 AM on the 4th morning. A big blizzard was blowing in and we needed to hit the road.

Overnight we got a few inches of snow and the winds were howling. I wasn't giving up. I had 2 hours to hunt and I was waiting it out. At 7:30 I saw a good buck chasing a doe and I hustled down a hill to get ahead of him. A few minutes before 8:00 I pulled the trigger and had a big 8 point buck.

There's an old saying that goes, "good things come to those who will wait." Most of us never see what it was that was coming... we aren't patient enough.

There were a lot of people in the Bible that waited patiently... then there those that weren't quite so patient.
Joseph Waited       15 years
Abraham Waited   25 years
Moses Waited        40 years
Jesus Waited         30 years

If God is making you wait, you are in very good company...

I did an entire sermon on this a couple of years ago. It is very true. We have heard, "wait on the Lord" but what does it mean to us? To me it means, Trust In HIS Timing, not my own. Abraham didn't trust in God's timing, he went ahead of God and thought that he knew best, see where it got him, were still paying tor his impatience yet today.

So today if you are anxious about something that you think God isn't doing fast enough... Relax, Trust, Continue to do the right things and "Wait for the LORD".

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BE RELENTLESS

Dean Hulce — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:30:49 +0000

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'" 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

A few weeks ago I was very blessed to sit and interview one of thw greatest fisherman of all time, Al Lindner, from Baxter MN. It was an amazing time talking about how Christ had changed his life. We didn't talk much fishing, but mostly just about the goodness of God.

As I contemplated what made Al such a great fisherman it came to me.... He was so good, because he was relentless in his pursuit of fish. He never gave up.

This is a great example of how our prayer life should be when God has laid something on our hearts. Not the things for our own personal gain, but the things for His glory.

Several years ago we laid to rest a very good friend. Just a few short weeks prior to his passing Linda, Micah a I had a chance to share the Gospel message with him and then pray together. I wasn't sure if at the time he comprehended what we talked about or not... But a few days later I learned something that boosted my confidence in my friends eternity

I was honored to officiate the funeral for our friend. I did my best to give a clear plan of Salvation that was tied to the funny stories and examples of the life that had just ended. While presenting the Gospel message Linda and I both noticed a young man smiling and nodding to the message. We didn't know who he was, but he seemed to understand the good news being shared.

After the service and the lunch and then a time of visiting in the friends yard, we prepared to leave. As Linda, Micah and I were getting in the truck the young man, Chad, that had been nodding came up and introduced himself.

With a big smile Chad explained that I helped answer 25 years of prayers. He told me that he had come to Christ 25 years earlier and had been sharing Christ with our friend, who was his uncle, ever since. He had been praying that his uncle would accept God's gift of salvation for all that time without success... Then God put his aunt and uncle into our lives for the last few years of hi life.

Chad was relentless in his prayer for his uncle's soul. He never gave up and it wasn't until his uncle's funeral that he learned after all those years of sharing and praying that God had honored his prayers.

We left there that Saturday lifted to know that we had been used by God to answer the persistent prayers of another.

What or who has God put on your heart to pray about? Are you persistent? Do you trust that God will honor your prayers even if it takes 25 years?

James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

If God has lead you to pray, don't give up, be relentless.

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GIVE THANKS

Dean Hulce — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:30:55 +0000

By Joel Raygor

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

It was the first week of November in central Manitoba and we were on a trophy whitetail hunt. Even though there were some truly big bucks in the area, it was probably the most miserable hunt I've ever been on. Every morning started out with below zero temperatures and then it slowly warmed up to zero Fahrenheit by noon before heading back into minus temps.

Then there was that hot year. Four of us were hunting mule deer on a big chunk of public land in northern Wyoming, the second week of October. By midday we all had big bucks on the ground, the temps had climbed to over ninety degrees, and we were about four miles in from the truck. Amazingly we got all the meat out without any spoiling.

There is a lesson behind these two stories. When you plan a hunt, buy a tag and lock in the dates, regardless of wind, rain or temperatures, just go hunting. And always remember.... The animals don't evaporate.

In much the same way, throughout our lives we all will have some very cold and very hot days. There will be rainy days along with some dry weeks or even months. Sometimes it's hard to be happy or thankful during these times, but the scriptures remind us that regardless of our situation we should always be thankful. King David said in Psalm 9:1 "I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds."

The next time things are not coming together like you had hoped or planned, stop and take a moment to thank God for His continued goodness to you. And when someone asks how you are doing, simply answer, "better than I deserve".

Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

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ONE BODY

Dean Hulce — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:22:21 +0000

Romans 12:4-5
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

On Lake Michigan I was fishing with a friend on his boat. We had gone about 5 miles out looking for some king salmon. After a couple of hours the winds picked up and the waves followed. We headed back towards the boat landing and soon we were fighting 6 foot waves in a 16 ft boat.

We tried to zigzag through the wave but eventually we had to turn directly into them. We were doing ok, but all at once we were hit with a big rouge wave which through me high into air. When I came done I landed on the corner of the deck, right on my tailbone. I was in terrible pain for the rest of the day... and for weeks to come.

We all deal with such pain in our physical bodies and as we grow older the injuries we had at a younger age come back to give us discomfort. And as we feel pain we deal with it... We don't ignore it hoping that it will go away. We don't throw a body part away because it is hurting.

The same needs to be true with the Christian family, we are a body. The hand cannot work without the arm, the shoulder, the neck etc... We need each other to survive and thrive. When you see a part of the body/family hurting rush to it and love it back to health. You wouldn't look down at your leg, seeing blood gushing out and think, "someone else will take care of that"... You would care for it. The same should be true with the body of Christ.

Desmond Tutu once wrote, "You don't choose your family, they are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

Treat each part of your Christian family as a precious gift from God. Care for it, love it and keep it healthy

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THE TRUE HEART OF HIS WORD

Dean Hulce — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:30:45 +0000

Psalm 118:8
It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.

We were guiding elk hunters on a ranch in NW Colorado. The weather was warm and the elk were bedded early each morning. My brother and I decided to hunt across the timbered side hill of a long canyon and get into bedding areas of the elk. We planned to meet on the far west end at the head of the canyon.

I took the higher route and was in an area I had never walked. About half way through I came to a side canyon that I hadn't known was there. I came to a place where I wasn't sure what direction to go? My brother had told me what to do, but now I was at a loss. After considering his exact directions, I cut across the side canyon and worked my way to the place we were to meet.

Like that place of question on that mountain, how often in our lives have we wondered what God's will is for our lives? I know over the years, when I was younger, I have not only thought this but I have asked godly people how I find it.

What I have figured out is simple; to live a life centered on Him. God's will for my life is to seek Him first and foremost. When I do this I am living within His will and He will direct my day to day life.

We can look for His will all we want, but if our life isn't centered on Him we won't find it. God wants our relationship with Him to be an intimate one. As I wrote yesterday, He wants us to be able to call Him, "Abba, Father".

Proverbs 3:5-6 makes this clear...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Verse six doesn't say, in some of your ways, or once in a while. It says, "in all your ways". It's then that He will reveal His will... How? In the King James translation the last part of the verse say, "He will direct your path". Now that's living in God's will, when He directs your path, He is revealing His will.

Over the last 30 years I have guided well over 1,000 hunters and fisherman. Through all those years and all of those clients I have only had a few that wouldn't listen to me. It seemed if I told them to do this, they would do that... If I said "stand in front of that tree, I'll call an elk up to you," they would move to another tree.

These hunters and fisherman can not be, will not be successful, if they refuse to listen to their guide. They may be looking for success and even have a sincere desire for success, but it won't happen if they don't give up of their own ideas and trust in the one guiding them. This is much more the case when looking to God for His guidance.

Recently I read that the verse in the very center of the Bible is Psalm 118:8

The next time you are wondering what God's will is for your life, go to the very center of His word, to the heart of the Bible.

Psalm 118:8
"It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man."

Add that verse to Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path".

Look to your guide, trust His guidance and go to the very heart of His Word...

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HE SEES OUR STEPS

Dean Hulce — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:30:28 +0000

Joel Raygor and Dean Hulce

Job 34:21
For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

Over the years I've spent countless hours glassing outcroppings, thickets, fence rows, ravines, prairie grass and big timber looking for big bucks. Sometimes I've been successful in spotting them before they spot me, but often I've moved too soon, only to watch them bound away and disappear.

One early morning in Wyoming on some public land, I'd spotted a buck and after a two hour stalk, I'd worked into position and glassed the hillside below me. Just when I was about to give up and get up, thinking he had probably moved on, he turned his head and the sun reflected off his antlers. He died right where he lay, at less than one hundred yards.

In life, I wonder how often I've moved or given up too soon, when maybe another minute, another hour or another day would have brought different results. It's reassuring to know that God already knows our every day and our every move. Always remember that regardless of what happens tomorrow, God sees all our steps.

In Psalm 139:16 we read, "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

We can rest assured that God has a plan for the life of every one of His children. We can also be sure that He allows for our free will. He knows all of what will happen in our life and His hand is on us. Wait Him out and allow His had to guide us in His timing.

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LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

Dean Hulce — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:30:53 +0000

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

It had been a long and exciting evening. I was guiding a bear hunt many years ago in NW Ontario and just before dark I had gotten contacted by one hunter that he had hit a bear with his bow. It was just getting dark when I arrived by boat. The hunter was shooting a 95 pound draw weight bow and his arrow had angled forward through the body, putting him down instantly. We grabbed the bear and drug it off from the bait to clean it.

I began into the bear’s body cavity and as I reached into the chest cavity, I felt something move. I jumped back, not knowing what I had felt. I put my hands back in and realized while the bear was paralyzed and I’m sure brain dead… no one told his heart… it was still beating. I’ve had it happen with deer before, but a beating bear heart in my hands was pretty creepy and a little frightening.

After loading the bear we headed to another stand and picked up another hunter with his bear. As we pushed the boat away from that stand site fog was setting in very quickly. We were about 10 miles from camp, it was pitch dark and now the fog was so thick on the water I couldn’t see anything. I had a long way to navigate in total darkness… I went strictly by feel.. I could have kept my eyes closed but I was too afraid. It was probably the most scared I have ever been in the woods (except for the grizzly bear attack). I was shaken.

Ever since earlier this decade fear has gripped our nation. Starting with Covid and continuing through one scare after another possible additional pandemics. Now with AI becoming increasingly more prevalent and we no longer can tell what’s real and what is unreal.

John 14:27 speaks of Jesus, as he talked to His disciples right before He headed to a day of torture and then the cross. One of the most amazing things to me is the fact that Jesus was facing unimaginable pain and death and where were His thoughts? … on the peace and comfort of His disciples. If it had been you and me, I believe we would have been looking for a place to hide, a way to fight the fear building up in ourselves or just running… But Jesus was looking to help His friends fight their fear.

This verse in the book of John was not only written to Jesus’ disciples that were there with Him that day. It was also written directly to you and me. We can count on all that Jesus said.

“My peace I give to you", imagine going through life if we made use of God’s peace in our lives… It’s been given to us by God. Why aren’t we relying on Him.

“Neither let it be afraid “… if we accept His peace and keep our hearts from being troubled, we will not be afraid.

Who can harm us? Why do we fear? Someone or something could take our human life, but if we know Jesus Christ, nothing and no one can touch our eternal life. Philippians 1:21 tell us, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” What’s the worse that can happen to us? We end up in the arms of Jesus.

Fear and worry are the two biggest things that rob our joy and actually can shorten our lives. God gives us a way out. “Let not your hear be troubled.”

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WHERE THE PEOPLE GATHER

Dean Hulce — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:30:53 +0000

2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

The night before the alfalfa field had been full of deer... does, small bucks and 2 large shooters. It was a day too early, season opens a day later. That next evening Linda and I were sitting watching that same field but tonight was different, one fawn had been the only deer in the field until the last few minutes of daylight when first, one big 10 point buck than a second showed up. After a quick comparison I gave Linda my opinion... the big buck on the left. It was the biggest buck of Linda's life at the time.

We were there that evening because there was green alfalfa and was were the deer were gathering. It's the place to be when it's time to hunt.

Several years ago I was asked to come and speak at an event in Western Wisconsin for a fundraising event for an equestrian ministry that cared for wounded and disabled veterans.

After I arrived they showed me where I would be speaking, right in the middle of the bar room. Not what I expected, but it's where God wanted me at the time. My talk went just fine and I shared the Gospel and did my best to raise my voice over the voices of those ordering drinks and talking at the bar just 30 ft away. When I shared what Jesus did and that He had done it for all those there that day, you could have heard a pin drop. God had a plan in me speaking in that bar... although it wouldn't have been my plan.

Having been raised in a very conservative church as a child we didn't go near places like I had just spoke in. The places where "sinners" gathered were the places to stay away from. But why not share the good news of Jesus where people need it the most? Even if that is a bar or even a prison cell?

God's plan is that His message go out even to places that are indifferent or hostile to the Gospel. For the apostle Luke, this even gave (and still gives) persecuted Christians an important role: "It will lead to your giving testimony."(Luke 21:13)

Even today disciples who are brought to trial will be able to use the occasion to share the good news. Kings, governors, synagogue officials and prison guards who would never have encountered an evangelist heard the Gospel in Luke's time and can still today. Even through persecution the disciples revealed God's kingdom to those who might never have heard. When we come under persecution today, we have the same opportunities.

Who did Jesus share the message of salvation with? Anyone that would listen. Matthew was a hated tax collector, Jesus called him and what happened? Matthew immediately called his friends to come and hear the Good News of Jesus. Nicodemus was another tax collector that came to Jesus. Jesus went to his house, a place where the spiritual leaders of the day would never go.

In Matthew 2:14-17 we read of Jesus and his answer to those who would have looked down on Him for eating with those that were "sinners" in the eyes of the "spiritual" leaders of the day.
14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

So, with who do we share the gospel? Anyone that will listen. Where do we share the gospel? Wherever there are those who will hear.

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A NEW DAY

Dean Hulce — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:30:16 +0000

Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

There have been many mornings I've sat with my back against a tree and watched the woods come alive or in a boat watching the reflection of a bright orange sunrise. There's something healing about watching the sun's rays find their way through the woods or over the water. Maybe you've never seen this. Well, the good news is, it will happen again tomorrow morning and every morning thereafter.

An hour ago, I got a call from an area code that I recognized and I hated to answer. I was the son of a friend of mine from the Orlando area. His dad had hunted with me many times and we loved every minute of it. He rarely killed anything on his hunts but he enjoyed sitting in God’s country and watching the sun rise. We always talked about going fishing together on the ocean, what he loved to do… but we only fished freshwater a couple of times. We’ll see each other again soon, as He was a brother in the family of God.

As I said, Bill loved the sunrise and just like the sunrise, God's love and faithfulness are new every morning. The scriptures tell us His mercy is not a one-time event but a never-ending gift. Until the day God calls us home or Jesus comes to get us, we will see His mercies every morning in the sunrise.

The next time you feel like giving up and everything seems hopeless, just remember God is not done with your story. Paul wrote about this in his letter to the church in Philippi.

Philippians 1:6 "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Yes, our plans might be derailed and our hopes dashed, but remember... "God's plan is always better than your plan."

Isaiah 55:9 – "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways."

Enjoy tomorrow's sunrise. It's gonna be spectacular! And if you miss that one… God will show you another one each and every day!

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SPIRITUAL BACKPACK

Dean Hulce — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:30:41 +0000

Hebrews 13:20
Now may the God of peace, equip you with everything good that you may do his will working in us.

When I was young and just beginning my hunting adventures, I would leave camp with my pockets stuffed with a sandwich, some cookies, and apple, knife and flashlight. At the time I felt that I could accomplish anything in the woods with what I carried in those couple jacket pockets.

Once I began hunting in the mountains, I realized that needed much more to meet every need or emergency that I might come up against. It was then that I began carrying all my "tools" in a back pack. I added things to the list that I had carried before. Things like; water, flights, emergency blanket, first aid kit, calls etc. To be prepared and successful on a hunt, I needed many things that I hadn't thought of when I was younger.

As we go through life we have many needs and we must be prepared to have the correct tools to take care of those needs. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read, "All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

This scripture answers the question of what we need to take care of most any spiritual or emotional need that we face. There's isn't any situation that we come up against that God's word doesn't have something to say about it... or antler question that can't be answered with His word.

This passage emphasizes that God provides us with His word for practical use, for spiritual growth, and for service. It is a complete guide for our faith and actions, helping us to be prepared for whatever comes our way.

We can find what we need in our Bibles, it's true. But, there are times when we need to move quickly to answer a problem in our mind or in a circumstance. It's then that it's important to know God's word, to know the answers.

Fill your spiritual backpack with the word of God, it will be needed.

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PREPARED FOR PROTECTION

Dean Hulce — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:30:31 +0000

Psalms 91:4
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge, his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

It had been a beautiful evening hunt on Monday evening, sunny fairly warm and calm. When I left camp on Tuesday morning it was clear and calm a little chilly, but I had dressed for it. When it broken light the weather changed quickly. Low clouds rolled in and shortly afterwards the winds picked up and sleet started falling... I hadn't dressed for this.

Shortly after daylight I saw a big buck on a rim across from me as he moved towards me he disappeared into a small bedding thicket and never came out. I assumed that he was tending a doe was bedding with her. He couldn't come out without me seeing him... I wasn't going to leave until I got a shot.

The wind picked up and the sleet continued all morning. I began to shiver and soon I knew there was no way I could make the shot when he came out. Finally I had to leave as I was miserable and I feared hypothermia was setting in.

If I had prepared myself for the sit with a good base layer to wick away moisture, then layer of wool or fleece and then a wind and rain barrier I would have most likely have harvested that big buck.

In our spiritual life, scripture says protection comes from God. He is described as a shield, refuge, and fortress for those who put their trust in Him. In Psalms 91 we read that God will protect us from harm, deliver us from evil, and give us divine guidance. In Psalms 91:4 I can't help but see the image of the mother hen with her chicks gathered under her wings. Psalm 91:11 states that God "shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways,".

The scriptures tell us, to have this kind of protection we simply must put our faith and trust in God. If we allow Him to protect us we have no fear, He covers us in all things.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

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A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE

Dean Hulce — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:30:58 +0000

Habakkuk 3:17-19,
Even if the fig tree does not blossom, And there is no fruit on the vines, If the yield of the olive fails,
And the fields produce no food, Even if the flock disappears from the fold, And there are no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will triumph in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like deer's feet, And has me walk on my high places.

Joel arrived in camp a few days before season was over and headed right out to look for turkeys and turkey sign. When he took off on his own I asked him if he was OK on his own he said he was fine as he had ONX on his phone... a type of GPS.

He walked around the property for an entire day and though he at times might not have known where he was for sure... each time h3 questioned, he looked to his GPS to figure it out.

You see he had been looking down all day, but the GPS got it's signal from above and it was where the true direction and message came from. It kept him on the straight path and he was back where he should be way sooner than if he had relied on his own abilities.

Habakkuk learned how to trust God and not be affected by the negative stuff going on around him. He knew that no matter how bad things looked on the ground level, God was above and was in control. He knew that he had no real worries and could rejoice in all things.

When you're in a tight spot and problems are raging all around, there is a sense of uncertainty that tries to envelop the mind. If we are not careful, it is easy to get mentally sidetracked. By focusing on our problems and never looking up, we will fail to experience the peace of God. When we find ourselves concentrating on the daily issues and problems on an earthly level, we fail to look at it all from a Godly perspective. He has a view that not only clearly sees everything in the moment, but also sees everything in an eternal perspective. If we look at what we are going through with that same perspective, our problems disappear.

Isaiah 26:3 tells us,
"God will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him, all whose thoughts are fixed on Him!"

Whatever we are going through today, we need to stop looking at it from a ground level and start looking up to get a heavenly perspective. It will change everything.

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KEEPING OUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE

Dean Hulce — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:30:31 +0000

KEEPING OUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE

Colossians 3:1-2

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2, Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

The first morning of of guiding during elk season is always an exciting time. We would scout for a few days and locate some good bulls and be close come daylight that first morning of season. 2014 was looking like a great first day. Way up high in the headwaters of a small stream there was a valley with water, food and... BIG BULLS.

At daylight we looked up from the valley floor, up to where the bulls had been, and there they were up on the ridge a mile above us at about 12,000 ft. They were higher than they had been all week but we didn't have time to get to our backup location so we decided to climb up to the elk. It was a hard climb and very strenuous. If the bulls had not been in sight above us, I might not have made it. With every step I struggled with continuing the climb. I looked up and kept pushing. Eventually we got to where the bulls had been, but we never got close enough to take a big one with the archery gear that our hunters were carrying.

Life is an ongoing struggle and climb. Many days it is just one step after another all day long. It seems as though it's an endurance race to get up the "mountain" that we face day in and day out. I've learned that as a Christian man, I must keep looking up that "mountain" each day and look to God to get me through. I must fill my mind with godly and heavenly thinking.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

We fill our minds with so much that isn't godly or good... So much that doesn't build us up. Our world around us and bombards us with that which is not; "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy". Satan is certainly ruling this world right now and is working overtime to bring us down.

Consider what life could be like if we had our hearts set on these heavenly things day by day. What would life look like if our eyes were lifted up to look for God Himself as we climb through the drudgery of daily life. If we truly had "heavenly thinking" all the time.

My prayer for you (and for me) today is that our minds and our eyes will be set on "heavenly things". It will change our lives.

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A SERVANTS HEART

Dean Hulce — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 08:30:28 +0000

Proverbs 17:2
A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

After nearly 40 years I've come to the realization that the life of a guide is not an easy life. Many people have told me that they would give anything to live the life I've lived. Ha! They have no idea.

It's coming up on the end of turkey season and it reminds me of all that years when I guided all season for turkeys. I was always sleep deprived for 3 months. Many times it rained most every day and yet we kept going. Often when guiding, I still work regular hours for my main job. No one looks at this parts of guiding.

The life of a guide, a good guide, is that of a servant. There is little financial reward and some weeks there is none, when you look at the costs. However, if you love what you do, it's well worth the energy expended.

The best guide and servant that ever lived was Jesus Himself. He left His life in heaven's paradise to give 100% for those of this world, those that despised and hated Him. His servant attitude was His sole reason for coming. Then His dying and rising again was to finish the job.

Mark 10:45 explains it.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many"

There are amazing rewards for those that commit to being a servant. The writer of Proverbs wrote of it in the verse above. He wrote of the reward to the servant that shares in an inheritance as a child of the family because of his dedication and service.

Acts 10:38 says, "See how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth who went about doing good."

Jesus just got up every day and did good, no matter what. Even though He had a purpose and He was headed somewhere, Jesus allowed Himself to be interrupted by the needs of people. For years we've attempted to study the steps of Jesus. We need to study the unplanned stops of Jesus as well. The things that He stopped for, the things that interrupted His plans, where He would change His plan and help and serve somebody here and there.

Matthew 20:26
but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

If we truly love others and want to live the life of a servant, other's needs must come before our own. The Lord rewards those with a servant's heart.

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LIFE IS FLEETING, MAKES YOURS COUNT

Dean Hulce — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:30:35 +0000

LIFE IS FLEETING, MAKE YOUR'S COUNT
Joel Raygor and Dean Hulce

Psalm 39:4
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life is.

About 60 years ago, there was an old man named Billy McCall who would tell me hunting and trapping stories. Actually he would share some of what he did when he was younger. He had guns and more guns, probably well over one hundred. There were many lever action and bolt action rifles and he had a big collection of side by side shotguns too. They were all displayed upright in his custom built gun racks all around the walls of his living room and dining room. I could look but I couldn't touch.

Billy told me that in the 1930s during the great depression, when nobody had work or money, he would walk his three day trap line and each night he would start a fire, cook a meal, then wrap up in a blanket and sleep out in the Minnesota cold. Keep in mind, this was during the winter months when the pelts were prime. Sometimes he would catch a muskrat or a beaver, but he really was a fox trapper. He would get up to $20 for a nice red fox pelt. Today that might not sound like much but, in those same years my dad was working for a farmer for .25 cents per day. You do the math.

Billy didn't trust banks, so every time he got some fur money he bought another gun. He only bought upper end high quality guns, because he thought they would be more likely to hold their value. I recently did some searching and found that back in the 1930s the Parker side by side was selling for around $40 and the Winchester 94 lever actions for about the same.

In his old age Billy had a stroke and died, taking his stories with him. His guns were sold and his name has been forgotten by most.

God's word tells us that life is fleeting, a vapor. We're here one day and gone the next. Some people go through life without focus or ambition. Then there are those like Billy, gathering all they can for "someday" and "someday" eventually comes and everything they worked for was for naught.

There's an old saying that says, "You never a hearse pulling a trailer." All that we collect in life stays here when we someday leave. Psalm 49:17 says, "For when he dies he will take nothing with him; his splendor will not go with him."

In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus tells us something that we should listen carefully to. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

Where are your treasures? Like Billy, are they in your rifles and shotguns, are they in your house, cars, or toys? Remember you cant that them with you. Invest in God's work here on earth and someday you will see the eternal benefits and rewards

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