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

TURNING AWAY FROM THE TRUTH

Dean Hulce — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:30:57 +0000

By Dean Hulce and Paul Taylor

II Timothy 4:3-4

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

My brother Dave was high up the mountain, above the dark timber and into the aspen grove. He had been bugling for elk and he heard what first sounded like a bull elk below him a few hundred yards.

After a while, He could hear that it wasn't actually a bull elk, but instead was our uncle. Our uncle was hearing Dave (who is a very good caller) above and he was fooled into thinking it was a bull. Our uncle spent over an hour sneaking up the mountain in an attempt to get in archery range of the "bull". When he got within about 25 yards of Dave's position, Dave stepped and said, "what are you doing on my mountain?" with that my uncle, a proud man, turned and stormed off, back down the mountain.

You see, my uncle was listening to the sweet sounds of what he felt was true, but he never studied what he was hearing, just kept following it blindly.

Timothy was in the heart of a city that was filled with fleshy desires, and looking around, the apostle Paul could see where the battle between the flesh and God's Truth would lead. And so, he issued a warning that's never been more relevant than today.

It's incredibly heartbreaking when a low view of God is preached, feeding a high view of self to their audience who have become so accustomed to it, that they fail to even recognize the cross is being diminished.
Scripture warns us about this. Why? Because the doctrine of self is easier to swallow than the blood of Christ.
Not many acknowledge that they have decided not to hear sound doctrine, but instead, they gradually allow their itchy ears to hear only the words that they enjoy hearing.

They say hard preaching is in the past, let us hear fables, (stories without conviction). Let us laugh and be entertained.
Feeling good about themselves, they leave looking forward to the next experience.
God is fun, and I absolutely love having fun with God, but never at the expense of God or a lost soul.
What I hear on Sunday shouldn't give me a troubled heart on Monday.

Friends, today the tickling of the ear is subtle and attractive.
Without biblical understanding, chances are, you won't recognize the difference. Without godly wisdom and discernment you may find yourself sitting there enjoying the show.

If we were warned 2000 years ago that the day was coming, maybe the day is here.
Listen for a high view of God and the sometimes hard truth about ourselves. If you don't hear it, I boldly suggest you run before your ears begin to like what they hear.

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GREATER LOVE - ALL GAVE SOME... But ONE gave all

Dean Hulce — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:30:41 +0000

Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Where were we to go? To ALL NATIONS.

This morning I am in the "nation" of TWO HATS RANCH and QUEST MINISTRIES in Big Rapids, Michigan. It's a beautiful "nation" filled with big whitetail bucks and even bigger hearts and heroes. This week, 4 soldiers have been here to hunt and they have been here to relax and share their struggles and joys. It has been a great couple days, so far, learning about their lives.

One of the things that brings this group together is that each of these soldiers has received a Purple Heart Award for being wounded in battle. They don't show it off but with a few of them... their battle scars are obvious. Others have battle scars that are hidden under their clothing... all of them have internal scars that can't be seen with the eye... just the heart. This week was set up to thank them for their sacrifice and give back just a little to show they are loved.

Over the years I've heard from some how they came back from Vietnam, only to be spit on, cursed at and attacked. Some have hidden their service because of the pain. Through the many years of doing this we've had soldiers that spoke for the first time of things that happened years ago and the emotional pain that went with it.

This morning I am asking for prayer. Prayer for these handful of men as well the countless others that are carrying both physical pain as well as emotional pain. Pray for their eternal liboats many don't know of the gift that God has set aside for them.

Please pray that every heart will be open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and that every doubt will be removed as to where each will spend eternity.

Each of these men have given so much... But Christ gave more and I want each to leave here knowing the Jesus that loves them more than they can imagine!

On every Quest Ministry hat is the verse John 15:13
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Christ did just that when He laid down His life for us all.

2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

We are told in Matthew 28:19 to "Go into all nations"... those nations might just be exactly where you are today... share what Jesus Christ did for you, to everyone who will listen.

ALL GAVE SOME... But ONE gave all.

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GUARD YOUR HEART

Dean Hulce — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:30:59 +0000

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

I've had an interesting series of things happen to me over the last several years. It's sad, but also very odd. The final thing happened a few years ago while driving across South Dakota. The speed limit is 80 mph on hwy 80 where we were and I was right on the limit. I noticed something above and to the left of me and looked up. I saw a duck gliding down quickly as if to land smack dab on the interstate. I couldn't swerve safely so I held my course. That goofy duck dove right down and hit the bumper of my pickup truck.

A few years earlier I had an owl come flying across a field for over ¼ mile and purposely turn into the drivers side door of the same truck, taking off three chrome letters from the side... what used to be a Chevy "Silverado" is now just a "ado". I once had a giant buzzard fly up from the side of the road and turn abruptly into the windshield of our vehicle. Grouse, blackbirds and others (even a bald eagle) have for some reason attempted to sacrificed themselves to my vehicles over the years, most of them looked as if they purposely flew into me. It's as if they saw something attractive and it cost them dearly.

I can relate to this situation in life, as most of have. We see something attractive and even though we know it's dangerous and wrong, we get too close. Or worse yet, we dive right in and before we know it we are in big trouble.

In Genesis 3:6 we read about Eve and the original human sin. She was attracted to the fruit, its beauty, it's taste and it's power (at least her perception). She wasn't attracted to the sin itself, but the object that led to the sin.

In Joshua 7 we can read of Achan who saw gold and silver, that was meant for God, was attracted by it and gave into the temptation and stole it. And like the birds that seem to be attracted by my vehicles, it meant death in the end. Achan wasn't attracted by the sin, no, he was attracted by the silver and gold. Sin was a result of Achan giving into his desire.

Each of us is attracted by those things that aren't right, like Eve, like Achan and many others in the bible. It's not the items that cause us to sin, but instead our desire and our weakness.

Satan knows our desires and our weaknesses and will play them against us. We must be on guard 100% of the time because if we let our guard down and move towards the attractive things in life, the things that are not meant for us, we will pay a big price. Some prices we pay will last a lifetime and sometimes the price we pay is with our life.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to be on guard. "23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." In another translation the heart is called, "the wellspring".

I've spent a lot of time in the mountains where there are a lot of springs bubbling up from the ground. These springs form small pools and the pools pour out and form streams, which form rivers which flow for many miles. If you plug the springs the rivers dry up and die. If you were to poison the springs it would eventually kill off all life downstream. We must protect our hearts (our wellsprings) from the attractiveness of sin, for if we don't, it will cause pain and death to everything else that we do.

So each time we see something that appears attractive but we know is sinful and dangerous turn and run from it. For if we run to it, we stand the chance of paying a big price or even death.

Guard your heart.

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Pulling Your Weight

Dean Hulce — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:30:27 +0000

By Tim Jones - God’s Great Outdoors

1 Peter 4:10

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

If you have ever spent time in a campsite with other hunters or fishermen, you know that cooperation and shared duties are essential for an efficient camp. It takes everyone working for a common goal and giving their full effort to make camp life run smoothly. It never seems to fail that there is always one person that doesn’t pull their own weight and contribute to camp life. That person doesn’t do his share of setting up camp, gathering firewood, cooking, washing dishes, or tearing down camp. For the camp to be hitting on all cylinders, everybody must pull their own weight and work as a team. There must be a clear mission where each person is committed to achieving the same goals. The God’s Great Outdoors Ministry vision and mission statement is a good example of working as a team for a common purpose. These statements declare “what” our vision is and “how” that vision is going to be implemented to achieve the goals.

Just as working as a team in a Christian ministry, Christians themselves are part of a greater team. As Christians gather and grow together with the help of each other, we can work toward completing the mission before us. Jesus gave his followers clear instructions just before He ascended back to his Father in Heaven. Matthew 28:19-20 states “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: …”

As believers in and disciples of Jesus, our mission is clear. Working together looks like Christians protecting, pursuing, restoring, and forgiving each other. We also have the responsibility to serve, encourage, and support one another as well as praying for each other. By doing this, we are fulfilling our duties as members of our faith community. Galatians 6:2 tells us that we are to “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”. These responsibilities are not optional. They are essential for spiritual growth and faith community health. By actively engaging in these duties, Christians create a nurturing environment that reflects their faith and their commitment to one another. Are you pulling your weight in camp?

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A Good Report

Dean Hulce — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:30:28 +0000

By Joel Raygor

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Today I picked up 100 pounds of Urea from the local farmer's elevator for my brassica food plot. The attendee asked what the Urea was for and when I said it was for my deer food plot, immediately there were questions which were kind of as follows:

Attendee: Do you think this new rifle law will hurt the deer population?

Me: I don't think it will make much difference and personally it won't make any difference for me, as all of my shooting is 100 yards or less.

Attendee: Is the rifle less safe?

Me: If hunters follow the 10 commandments of gun safety, there will be no difference. In fact the rifle is more accurate and might be safer than a shotgun. Last year over 186,000 Minnesota deer hunters hit the woods, and only one 25 year old man accidentally shot himself in the thigh.

Attendee: What do you think about CWD?

Me: I think CWD is real, but I am not concerned about it. CWD was first discovered in 1967 and back then Minnesota records show statewide harvest numbers at under 60,000. Last year the Minnesota harvest was 186,368 with an estimated state herd of 1.4 million whitetail deer. Every year my neighbors and I count the road kills on a 1.5 mile stretch of the county road in front of our homes. Last year there were 31 road kills and hunters in the same area took 28 deer. Since 2020 the cars have beat the hunters every year.

Attendee: What about EHD?

Me: EHD was first reported in Minnesota in 2018. The DNR now estimates about 20 EHD deaths in the state per year, but they say they don't even bother to track those numbers.

This young man asked questions that all showed his fear of what might happen. There was a negative feeling for everything and fear showed in his line of questions. What a shame to go through life looking at what might happen… We need to look to what God has planned.

Since that conversation, I've been thinking about how we as humans often just see the bad in every situation and rob ourselves of the joy of life. In Numbers chapter 13 we read where Moses sent one leader from each tribe into Canaan. The 12 men explored the region for forty days. They returned with massive pomegranates, figs, a huge bunch of grapes carried on a pole and giant clusters of fruit, confirming that the land God had promised them was simply fabulous. However, the majority of these spies, ten to be exact, gave a fearful report of strong people and walled cities. Caleb and Joshua, the minority trusted God and urged the people to go up and take the land. In fact Joshua and Caleb felt so positive about God giving them the land that they tore their clothes, telling the community that the land was exceedingly good and that God would safely give it to them.

What do you see when you look around? Do you have a good report for the future or is everything headed south? Is your hope in your bank account, your government or are you trusting God for tomorrow?

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

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THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION

Dean Hulce — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:30:19 +0000

Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

I've very rarely ever been checked by a game warden when I've been hunting or fishing. I've known several game wardens and they've known me well enough that even when they saw me they knew I wasn't doing anything illegal.

Even though I had nothing to hide and should have had no fear, there is always the quick feeling of guilt and shame when I saw a warden. It's like when you are driving down the highway and see a police car. Even if you are going the speed limit you look to check your speed and offen tap the brakes... we have a guilt complex even when we don't need to. We hide our guilt and shame, not wanting others to know that we have it. We push it down... because we feel guilty about feeling guilty. Once we start into that cycle it is hard to break

Oh how this can relate to our daily lives. Along the road of our lives we have sins that we've buried deep under ground, thinking that we will never exposed them again; we will never allow anyone else to know. It is our little secret. But this guilt, shame and hiding only destroys our joy in life.

Dictionary.com defines shame as "the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another."

We avoid talking about shame because it is a messy situation. It's an embarrassment that we don't want anyone to know about.

We see the earliest account of shame in Genesis 3, immediately after Adam and Eve's first sin in the garden. Prior to their sin, Scripture tells us they were both naked and unashamed. One chapter later they are binding fig leaves together and playing a game of hide-and-seek with God. With that one forbidden bite of fruit came our first bitter taste of shame.

Like Adam and Eve we do our best to hide our shame. We cover it up with modern day fig leaves or bury it deep and pour concrete over it. It would be so painful if the truth was known by others... At least that is what we believe.

If we are a child of God we need to read and reread the Romans 8:1 passage...
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Christ died to remove all guilt and shame. If we carry the shame of past sins with us then we have not given them over to Him... What we are really saying is that "Christ's life, death and resurrection was not sufficient to take away my sins, I'm going to hold these specific sins and I'll take care of them myself."

That is not the truth, it's a lie from Satan... Satan wants us to hide in shame... If he can make us do that we are not out sharing what Christ did for us. That's what shame does to the Christian... It immobilizes us and our testimony to the world is buried with our shame.

When shame attacks, hold tight to Romans 8:1 and immediately pray that our Heavenly Father takes your shame and immediately removes it. Don't allow Satan to win.

Chris Tomlin sang AMAZING GRACE - MY CHAINS ARE GONE, there is a main line that says,
"My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace"

God's love is unending and His grace is amazing. Remember your chains that bound you to past shame have been removed by Christ's death and resurrection. You are now free to live without shame. He took it all.

THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION

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The Scars That Remain

Dean Hulce — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:30:50 +0000

By Tim Jones - God’s Great Outdoors

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Most deer hunters wait all year for the rut to begin… It can be a very intense time to be in the whitetail or mule deer woods. The bucks are usually moving all day and night and you never know what might happen. When that time winds down there are still bucks in the woods and sometimes they doing all they can to refresh after a tough couple of weeks.

After the rut is over, most of the bucks I see have some evidence of the rutting season. These deer are carrying scars from fights with rival bucks. Some of these wounds are severe and the buck will live with the scar for the rest of his life.

We humans carry scars as well. Some scars are from poor decisions that we made which resulted in some type of wound. A lot of these scars are self inflicted and some are caused by others. Many scars are not visible on the outside but a wound has left its mark on the inside. Life is full of circumstances and events that result in wounds and scars. Sin in our lives always leaves scars and each and every one of us guilty of sin.

Jesus himself had physical wounds that most certainly would have left scars. He had a thorny crown pushed into his head. He had spikes driven through his hands and feet and a spear thrust into his side. He was beaten until the flesh was ripped from his back. Not because he deserved it, but because we deserve it. He suffered, bled, and died that we may have eternal life. Jesus took the wounds that should have been ours.

Just as the scars on those bucks, the wounds on the precious body of Jesus tell a story. The wounds on the body of Jesus tell a story of immeasurable grace, mercy, love, and obedience to His Father. By His wounds we are healed. The Great Physician can heal all scars. All He requires is total faith and trust in Him for forgiveness and healing.

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HE WON'T DESERT YOU

Dean Hulce — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:30:20 +0000

Deuteronomy 31:8
And the LORD is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.

I remember it like it was yesterday, I was just 12 years old and it was just old enough to carry a gun for small game hunting. I was toting my little single shot 410 shotgun and following my dad hunting squirrels and Grouse. We had heard a squirrel chattering below on the side of the ridge.

Dad stopped and told me that I should sneak down the hill and see if I could get a shot. He watched me go and then paralleled me on the hillside. Eventually I harvested the squirrel, my first, and walked back up the hill and joined back up with dad. He gave me a hug and we kept hunting.

I knew that dad wouldn't leave me there alone and they he was always there for me. Even years later when I needed him, he was there with the help I needed.

Our heavenly Father is all this an even better. Once we've made the decision to follow Jesus Christ, we are never away from His reach and His love. We often hear people say that they, "have to go back to God". If they are a child of God, they have to go back anywhere to get to God... He's never gone anywhere, He's been right there all along.

Like my dad was for me, God can be that and much more for you. He is right there when we need Him.

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The Present

Dean Hulce — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:30:10 +0000

By Joel Raygor

Ephesians 5:15-16

So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

We aren't even to the opening of the fall deer season and I'm already thinking about my next spring turkey tour. Next spring I'll probably find myself thinking about the next deer season. I don't know about you, but I always seem to find myself thinking about what's next. I know it's wise to think ahead and it's a good habit to plan for tomorrow, but when we get so focused on tomorrow that we don't see today, then we need to correct our thinking.

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Other scriptures tell us that every day is a gift from God. While no verse uses the exact phrase "every day is a gift from God," several scriptures describe each day as God's creation, with new mercies, and as a good gift from above. If you gave someone a gift and they didn't acknowledge it or even say thank you, what would that be saying?

I just heard this quote: People wait all day for 5:00pm, all week for Friday, all winter for summer, all youth for adulthood, and all life for happiness. When we are always looking ahead for that next exact right moment, we are missing out on the present. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.

Lamentations 3:22-23, "His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning."

Today's prayer: "Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of this new day and for the grace that meets us fresh every morning. We come to You with grateful hearts, amazed that You have given us today. Forgive us when we don't appreciate Your gift and give us the vision to see all the blessings around us and to live in the present. Amen."

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Changing Our Patterns

Dean Hulce — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:08:04 +0000

By Tim Jones - God’s Great Outdoors

Colossians 3:10

“And having put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”.

The outdoors provides new discoveries, new opportunities, and new adventures each day. Encountering the unexpected can be the fuel that fires the outdoorsman. The outdoors and nature is often full of surprises and is ever changing. The outdoorsmen must adapt to changing conditions and going about things the same way because that’s the way we always have done it may limit the experience and success.

New tactics in a familiar territory, a discovery of new unsuspected game coverts, the strike of a fish from unproductive water are some of the happenings that brighten the day of the sportsman. I experienced this very occurrence recently on fishing trips to Canada. I had passed a certain area of the lake several times and had failed to explore or fish the water. When I decided to change my pattern, what I found was an underwater rock ridge that came up close to the surface and dropped off on both sides of the ridge into deeper water. This structure held large schools of nice walleye and became a very productive area.

Don’t get me wrong, it is often wise to revisit areas or employ tactics that have proved themselves in the past, but it is also wise to be receptive to new ideas that could broaden your repertoire and even increase the chance for greater success.

As Christians, we can experience newness everyday. We are new creatures in Christ and there are unlimited opportunities to live for and because of our Lord Jesus. Just like getting in a rut in fishing and hunting, it is easy to get lazy and content in living out our call to serve Christ and our fellow man. God has given each of us gifts and talents to be used for His glory. We are instructed and commanded to use these gifts for Him and His kingdom. We have been commanded to follow Him and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around us. In Colossians 4:22-24, we are told to put off the old man and put on the new man and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

This renewal is not a one-time event, but a daily process. We read scripture, pray, and choose to set our minds on what is right. As we do, patterns shift, old habits are lost, and our desires change. These shifts help us recognize God’s will for our lives and give us the power to act differently.

It’s time to get away from doing the same old, same old. What new adventure is awaiting you? God has a new trail of adventure for you if you will heed His calling and “make the move.” We must be willing to listen to the Holy Spirit's leading and allow Him to renew our thinking.

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?”.....

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A NEW ROAD

Dean Hulce — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:30:54 +0000

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

There are few roads on Kodiak Island Alaska. On the south end of the island the roads are fairly wide and most travel is along the ocean. However, on the north side of the island, in the small fishing village of Larsen Bay, there are only a couple miles of dirt roads. One small road goes straight up towards the top of the mountain, 2,200 ft above.

It's a hard climb. Rocky, some places muddy and at times and so steep that its sometimes frightening. When you make it to the top its an amazing place. To the North you can look across the Shelikof Strait, an extremely dangerous body of water, and see the mountains of the Katmai Park with its giant bears of the Alaskan mainland. To the west you can see the beginnings of the Aleutian Islands. It's worth the climb.

What a vision of life. Our lives are filled with new roads that open up ahead of us. Most of the roads are not easy but to get to where you want to be it will most likely be well worth the effort.

If God is opening a new road ahead of you, buckle up and get ready. The road will most likely be at times a hard ride... most of the victorious stories in the Bible were hard rides... but in the end God's awesome glory and splendor are revealed to us.

If you are heading down a new road, prepared by God now, know that He has gone before you. There is no fear in following the path He's laid out. Move forward in confidence, as the view when you get through the rough spots will have been worth the journey.

Psalms 23:1-4
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

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USING YOUR GIFTS

Dean Hulce — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:30:09 +0000

Hebrews 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

As a young boy I had big dreams. I dreamt of hunting down and harvesting a world record whitetail of elk. I dreamt of catching a world record trout or bass. I would carry my little fiberglass bow into the woods and hunt squirrels or rabbits, pretending they are something different or catch small bluegills thinking they are true trophies. I hoped to one day being a professional hunter or have my own TV program etc…

God gives us all gifts that we can choose to use for His glory, our own glory or not use them at all. We have a choice how we use or not use them. But according to the Scriptures, the gifts we are given are not for our glory, but His.

We so often think if, “if I only had his gift or hers, I could do great things". But God gave you the gifts that He gave you for a reason. Your gift might not be something that other easily see, like being a prayer warrior or it might be hitting a game winning homerun in the world series. Whatever it is, do it with all your heart, giving God the glory, and God will give you contentment, peace and joy in your life.

Sunday morning at church we sang the song ,”ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST". It made me realize that what God gives me is sufficient for my life. I don’t need someone else’s gifts, mine are enough to make a difference for God in my world.

ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone

And live so all might see

The strength to follow Your commands

Could never come from me

O Father, use my ransomed life

In any way You choose

And let my song forever be

My only boast is You

Wherever God has you right now, whatever gifts He has given you is just what you need. I’ve for Him with confidence.

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What Is The Answer

Dean Hulce — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:30:46 +0000

By Tim Jones

God’s Great Outdoors

John 14:6 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

God’s Great Outdoors President and radio host Dean Hulce recently interviewed Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis for the GGO radio show and podcast. If you're not familiar with Ken Ham, he is an Australian Christian fundamentalist, young Earth creationist, apologist and former science teacher living in the United States. He is a founder, CEO, and former president of Answers in Genesis, a Christian apologetics organization that operates the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in the State of Kentucky. He believes that the Bible is the literal, inerrant word of God and that the Book of Genesis must be interpreted as actual historical fact. This was a great interview and I highly recommend that you give it a listen.

Just as Ken is able to provide answers and walk you through the myriad of questions that many have concerning creation and the age of the earth, there is a book that provides all the answers to all of life’s questions. That book; the Bible, declares Jesus Christ as the answer. Jesus is the answer to all our problems, the answer to all our questions, and the light that guides us through all the dark moments of our lives. Jesus is not only our Savior but he is the source of our strength and comfort. When times get rough and troubled, He is the answer to achieving true peace. He is the answer to our identity crisis. We are made in His image and are valued by Him beyond measure. Jesus is the ultimate provider. He knows what we need even before we ask. When we rely on Him, we can live a life of gratitude and abundance, recognizing the blessings we have through Him. 2 Corinthians 9:8 states; “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Jesus is our healer. When we seek Jesus in our brokenness, He transforms our hurt into hope and our despair into joy. We are told in Psalms 147:3; “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Most importantly, Jesus is our Savior. This means that He is the answer to the greatest need of humanity, which is salvation. Without Him, there is no forgiveness, no redemption, and no hope of eternal life. Acts 4:12 tells us; ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Are you looking for answers? Jesus is the only answer to every question that could be asked. He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! Turn to Jesus for he is the answer to all our needs.

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The Lord Will Do Amazing Things

Dean Hulce — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:30:03 +0000

By Joel Raygor

Joshua 3:5: "Then Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

In just a few days I'll hang the trail cameras and trim out some shooting lanes. Then for the next few weeks I'll glass the fields and timber, gathering additional intel. Finally I'll start watching the temperature and wind direction before picking those best pre-rut and rut days to be in the woods. The more knowledge I gain, the better my odds are of successfully filling my tag this fall.

What if I told you there's a proven strategy that has led to the taking of many mature bucks? Would that get your attention? Well there is, and I'll share it now! First find a high concentration deer property, and then gain access. Next identify the bedding and feeding areas. Walk the land looking for well worn deer trails and old scrapes or rubs from previous years. Visualize deer movement and look for natural funnels. Carefully pick your hunting stand locations, while keeping in mind possible wind directions and easy access, so you can remain undetected. This is not a guarantee of a big buck this fall, but if you do these things, your likelihood of opportunities will go way up.

Likewise in life, there are no guarantees for tomorrow. The Bible does not promise that tomorrow will always be easy. In fact the Bible tells us we don't know what tomorrow might bring.

Proverbs 27:1: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

However, the Bible does promise that regardless of what happens tomorrow, God's grace and mercies are new every morning, and He is already waiting there to take care of us. In fact the scriptures tell us God will do amazing things tomorrow. We know that with God's guidance, there is no need to fear what tomorrow brings and we can be confident that our likelihood of opportunities goes way up.

Deuteronomy 31:8 "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."

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

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BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER

Dean Hulce — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:30:18 +0000

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

Dave and I had paddled the river all day, he in the front and me in the back. We had whispered when we talked because we had our bows and arrows across our laps, hoping to drift up on a buck along the riverbank.   We stopped and cooked a little lunch at mid day and sat and soaked in the sounds and smells of fall. At the end of the day we arrived in a still backwater near the boat landing. I had been there many times, as a kid, with my dad, and knew that I could find the landing in the dark so we just sat in the canoe well after dark. The night sounds filled the air; coyotes, owls and many other birds, all mixed with the sounds of fish slurping bugs off the surface of the water.

We just sat back in the canoe seats for a long time just enjoying God's creation.   Finally, while looking up at the star filled night sky, I broke the silence. I remember exactly what I said, "its hard for me to imagine that someone can take all this in and not believe there is a Creator". There was a long pause and then Dave responded, "I guess that's the way I feel". I was blown away. He was a young man in his late 20s that loved the outdoors as much as anyone I knew. He could survive for many days in the woods off of what he found and he understood how it all worked... he knew the creation... yet he didn't know the creator, he didn't even believe there was one. Dave listened to my explanation of why I have to believe in a God that created everything good. In the end Dave wasn't swayed. I've prayed for Dave for years and to this day I'm not sure where he stands with God

This morning I've been considering how someone can look around at all of nature (God's creation)and honestly say, "there is no God". I've watched a hummingbird out my window and marveled at how the paper thin wings could hold together as they fly at blinding speed, at times even in a pouring rain. I've seen a bumblebee on Linda's flowers and thought that without a God this overweight, oversized creature could never fly. I considered the human being and how a baby is formed from the act of conception to birth, a single cell splitting and splitting over and over until a baby arrives, and in seconds begins breathing on his own. I contemplate our earth and solar system. We are currently 94.11 million miles from the sun, if we to drift even 1% of that distance closer or further away, we could not survive... What holds us there?     I've come to the conclusion that those that can't find a way to believe in the true God, after all the evidence, have been blinded.

C.S. Lewis explains it this way...
"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito."

It seems that no matter how much we speak, how hard we try to convince someone of God's existence and the sacrifice of His son, some people just don't see. This however does not relieve us from the responsibility of sharing what Christ has given us to share. And our responsibility doesn't end at a belief in God... most already do. The arguments are as sound to the truth of Jesus Christ, who He was and is, and what He did and does. We must share Jesus Christ above all things. Be prepared from Genesis all the way through Revelations and the heart of what they teach.

John 20:31
but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name

The 2nd book of Timothy tells us to study and to work... and be prepared.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Peter 3:15
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you...

Watch for any and every opportunity to share what God has done for you... Be prepared to give an answer...

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HOME SWEET HOME

Dean Hulce — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:30:50 +0000

Philippians 1:21-24
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

I've always loved to travel. It's a good thing that I enjoy it, I do an awful lot of it. Making new friends, seeing new places, experiencing new things and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is what makes travel enjoyable for me.

Several years ago my wife gave me a Christmas gift of an airline ticket to Alabama where I flew to hunt deer. While I love to hunt deer, the highlight of the trip was the wonderful friendships I made. I expected to get to know Bo and Tricia, which I did and fell in love with that family.... But the other handful of friends that I met made the trip worthwhile as well.

Now, at this time Linda and I are traveling more than staying home. We are blessed to continue to share Jesus with others and making countless friends as we go back and forth across the USA.

What I've noticed about my travel is, as much as I love the travel, I love heading home as much or even more. When it's time to head towards home, my heart just aches to get there. This is especially true when my family is not with me.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote that he was torn between wanting to stay and going home. He was talking about his eternal home. I think as we get older, we long more and more to be home with our Lord. What an awesome assurance we have to be with Him someday. We become hand pressed to choose which we want more... to remain here in this life or to pass on, into our eternal glory in heaven.

God has built a homing instinct into each of us.... We were made with a desire to be in heaven one day. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has planted eternity in the human heart.". God has even built a desire to be "home" into the wildlife that He created.... In San Juan Capistrano, year after year, the swallows return to their nests. I saw it on Kodiak Island Alaska as well, where millions upon millions of salmon return to where they were born.

If you don't now have a desire to be home with the Lord, please consider your relationship with Him. He has established a homing desire in all His children. As much as I long to be in heaven one day, God desires even more to have me there.

Are you longing to be home? God is waiting to meet you face to face. Are you ready? Until we go, we have just one job to do.... To tell others about Jesus and the gift He has to offer.... Do it well and your homecoming in heaven will even be sweeter.

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Choose Life

Dean Hulce — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:30:34 +0000

by Joel Raygor

Deuteronomy 30:19

"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life."

Depending on the time of the year, the temperature, and rainfall, my wife will head to the woods to hunt mushrooms. She'll say, "Today could be the day they decide to pop out." Her favorites are Chicken Of The Woods, Golden Chanterelles, Hen Of The Woods, and of course Morels.

Actually, mushrooms don't just pop out, they grow to reproduce. They are the "fruit" of an underground network of fungus called mycelium. When the weather conditions are just right, this network sends up a mushroom to release tiny spores into the air, in the same way a plant grows a flower or fruit to produce seeds. The mycelium is underground and what we see and call the mushroom is actually the flower containing the fruiting part of the organism.

God's creation is an amazing thing to behold. God created all things full-grown and mature, but with the ability to reproduce, each one "according to its kind" (Gen. 1:11-12). The flower would bring forth flowers "according to its kind," the mushroom would bring forth mushrooms "according to its kind," and the human would bring forth humans "according to its kind." That's the way God designed it.

However, God gave humans something special... 'free will'. So even though I might look like my father or mother, I can choose to act differently and believe totally differently than they did.

Throughout the Bible we see examples of people making their own choices and then facing responsibility for their decisions. In Proverbs 16:9 King Solomon wrote, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."

God tells the people in Deuteronomy 30:19, "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life." Every day we all have choices to make.

Joshua 24:15 "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."

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A Fortunate Man

Dean Hulce — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:31:56 +0000

By Tim Jones

1 John 5:13

These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God

I heard a statement the other day that went something like this; “fortunate is the man that knows his destiny”. I immediately began thinking about how nobody knows the day, time, and manner that they will leave this world. Nobody knows the exact circumstance of their death. The Bible tells us that our life is but a vapor and then we are gone. Our days are actually numbered and only known to God. James 4:14 asks the question; “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. This verse teaches us about the fleeting nature of life, urging us to make the most of our time here on earth.

The next question we should be asking about our destiny is where we will spend eternity after we die. We are not like the animals that do not have a soul and when they die, their physical bodies are returned to the dust and they are gone forever. Humans are created by God with an eternal soul that will leave the body at the time of physical death and spend eternity in one of two places. Those places will be one of peace in paradise and being in the presence of Jesus Christ or one of torment, separation, and eternal damnation. You don’t know when and how but you can know where. There is hope of things eternal for the Christian. In John 14: 2-3, Jesus told His disciples: “In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. The thief on the cross knew his destiny. He knew he was going to die a horrible death but he also knew where his soul would be after his death. Jesus told him “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise”. That thief recognized that he was a sinner and was receiving what he deserved but Jesus was being unjustly crucified and asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. We too can have that confidence in our eternal destiny. If we confess our sins and repent, and place our trust in Jesus Christ for our eternal salvation, we truly will be saved to eternal life.

I consider myself a fortunate man because I know whatever befalls me in this physical life, I know my eternal destiny.

Praise to the Lord and to Him be all the glory!

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Don't Settle For Good Enough

Dean Hulce — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:30:08 +0000

Isaiah 64:6
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy rags; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away.

It was a great day of hunting in 1986 in Illinois. Sam Townsend had been in the stand for a while and it was the best day of hunting in his life. There were bucks all around him and he was trying to get a shot on one of the biggest. He was just about ready to shoot a good buck when suddenly a buck of many lifetimes stepped out into the area. Same lost all interest in the bucks that had held his attention and immediately turned his attention to the bigger buck. In a just a matter of second Sam had a buck that is one of the biggest bucks ever taken in Illinois.

The first group of bucks were good bucks, maybe very good... but if Sam had taken one of those bucks, whole he might have been satisfied, no one in the whitetail hunting world would never have known his name. A friend if mine that speaks at a lot of churches has used a quote often, "Good is the enemy of great".

This saying is true in our lives as well. We can go along in life and settle for good... doing what seems right and even moral, we might look good to others, but in God's eyes, if we've not accepted the gift He's given, we are filthy. You see, God gave His Son, Jesus Christ so we can become perfectly clean in His eyes. Without Jesus, we are what they verse above says we are.

Are you settling for good in your life? Or are you striving for greatness through a relationship with Jesus Christ? Where is your heart. It doesn't matter how good we can be, we're never good enough on our own.

Don't settle for good, we'll never be good enough, allow God to make you great!

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THE BLESSINGS OF SERVING

Dean Hulce — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:30:10 +0000

Philippians 2:5-7
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

I don't Remember a time when I wasn't guiding someone, somewhere, for something. I guess it probably started when I brought school friends to our hunting camp and showed them some places to hunt. Or maybe it was when I brought a few others trout fishing on some streams I loved to fish. Without knowing it, taking a couple people with me, here and there, turned into a lifelong passion and a career. It might not have made much money... but it was worth every cent I never made.

Over the last nearly 40 years the span of places I've guided has taken me from our southern border, just north of the Rio Grande River, to the mountains, rivers and lakes of Alaska. I've loved nearly every minute of it.

One of the things that I have enjoyed the most about guiding, whether for money or for free is the serving part. To see the excitement on the face of a young boy or girl or old man that just took their first buck, gobbler, elk or bear makes all of the hard work worthwhile. There's something about serving and seeing results that lifts the person doing the service work.

A couple of years ago we volunteered to host a deer hunt for a couple of kids from other parts of the country. One young lady in particular came from down south and she and her family had very little in possessions. She was so excited about everything she experienced here. When she took her buck, (a big 7 point) to see the tears in her eyes and her dad's eyes was more valuable than me shooting a record book buck myself. That's what serving others is all about...

God calls us to serve. He's give you and I skills or knowledge that someone else doesn't have, God put us together as a family and prepared us with different abilities for a reason, to serve one another. Mark 10:45 tells us, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

When Jesus speaks about serving, we should listen to Him. Here is the very God of the universe Who came as a Man to serve. The word He uses for servant is the Greek word "diakoneō" which is where we get the name "deacon". Diakoneō means; "to be a servant of, to serve, wait upon, or minister to." That is what every one of us is called to do. Not to be a deacon but to be a servant of the members of Christ's Body, the church and to the world beyond. He served to the uttermost, giving His very "life as a ransom for many."

How do we not serve others in simple ways, when Jesus did what He did for us? I've found that the serving others is a true blessing to me as well... We see these blessing in different ways, but they are always there. There is true reward for serving others. As we serve others we are serving God Himself.

"Serve the Lord with gladness." — Psalm 100:2

What a great thought for the one that loves the Lord. Serving is a sweet aroma to the one that is focused on others and the Lord. But to the one that is living for himself, "serving" is a bitter thought. The very thought of serving is drudgery, work, even painful. There is no joy in the effort to those that don't love the Lord.

If we look around and listen to the needs of others, we will see and hear of needs and opportunities to serve. There is little that is more gratifying than filling the needs of a friend or a stranger.

Share the blessings.

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