Hunting with Children

It's a little like cooking with children, things are a little more messy and it adds an interesting twist.

Let me back up a little. A few years ago I gave up hunting, it was...boring. You sat in the woods and watched for animals that didn't appear. It's times like that, that you begin to think about all the other things you could be doing. Things that don't include getting cold or wet.

Now fast forward a few years, a few of my friends introduced me to a different method of hunting called "driving". This included crazy things like stomping through briars and swamps while a few of your friends watched for deer. When you get to your "standers" (if you find them) you swap stories about near misses (or hits) and on the odd occasion you watch someone else gut a deer. There was camaraderie and action, it was not boring...hard work but not boring.

Then it happened 2 years ago, I got something, a buck, not big but it wasn't boring. Then last year I got something else, a bear, not big but it sure wasn't boring.

This year I was introduced to a new aspect of hunting, hunting with my children. Me and my group of friends was not nearly as successful as some years and so I attempted to remedy the situation on my own. I also purchased a mentor license for my son, only to discover that my oldest daughter also thought it would be fun to give it a try. Hmm.

It came down to the last week and I promised each child a turn, my gun was a bit big for an 8 year old so I was to do the shooting and he was to be quiet. You know how that worked out, right?

First we saw this guy...oops this wasn't while hunting.

Kicking snow in the stream

But alas we didn't see anything. That was Thursday.

Then it was Saturday and my daughter's turn. We got an early start of 9:30 AM and quietly crept into the woods, actually it was more of a crunch, crunch into the woods. We had a thin glaze of ice over the snow that loudly crunched when walking on it.

We found our first spot...but I wasn't satisfied, so we moved.

While Autumn watched through the branches...

I watched from beside the trail.

Later I discovered that I took this picture about 10 minutes before I shot the deer.

She saw the deer about the same time I did, she saw me get down and aim, but when I FIRED, she about jumped out of her skin!!!

No she didn't shoot it, but I believe she could have.

Yes it was a buck that had shed it's antlers.

And we were on our way home by 11:30 or 12:00. And I must admit that it helped to have some "drivers" nearby.

Hunting with children definitely adds another aspect to the sport (SHHHHHH!!! Be quiet!!). I suppose any activity that provides 1:1 time with your children builds character, sometimes more in the parent than in the children but nonetheless builds character.  That's good right?

I also informed my daughter that this could hardly be classified as "hunting". It was too easy. This was getting, not hunting.

How shall we live?

 I became a bookworm...well not really but I did just finish 2 books that have really gotten me thinking. The first one I finished was "How Should We Then Live?" by Francis A. Schaeffer. I should say that I "listened" to it rather than read it, that's the same thing, right?

In this book Mr. Schaeffer looks at the history of the culture and church from the time of Roman Empire at the time of Christ until the 1970's (or early 1980's). One of the things that he points out throughout the book is how art reflected the worldview of the culture and the artists. The main point of his thesis is how culture and man in general degrades when he resorts to humanistic thinking (ie. Man begins with himself to find the answers to life) and he revives when he turns to God for his answers and begins with an Almighty Creator as his foundation for thinking.

The second book, (I read this one) was "Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up" by David W. Bercot. (This is pronounced "Burr-so" not "Burr-kot".) Wow, did this one ever get my wheels turning. Mr Bercot has spent a lot of time studying the writings of the early church leaders particularly the Ante-Nicean writers (ante-Nicaean means before the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD not "against" Nicaea). He reviews how these early Christians understood the Scripture and the Gospel message. Mr. Bercot made a significant effort to find the teachings that were universally taught in various places and at various points in time.

There are several issues he discusses as examples of what these men taught and understood:

• Salvation
• Predestination/Free will
• Baptism
• Abortion
• Divorce
• Military Service and/or government involvement.
• Living in community/brotherhood.
• Prosperity ie. health and wealth gospel.

Then the writer switches gears and looks at how things changed in the early 300's with Constantine as well as the effects of Augustine's teachings. I never realized how much Augustine's teachings influenced the church from Catholicism to the Reformation. Much of the Reformed/Lutheran theology is based on Augustine's teaching. 

I don't want to create a tl;dr post so I will try to get to the point. I also don't want to insult your intelligence by re-typing the entire book(s) here...you can read them yourself (and you should). Here's my question: How should we then live? 

1. With an unwavering commitment to Christ despite rejection, persecution, trials, family ties, financial success or failure, and temptation.
2. A life of holiness.

Sounds simple...Jesus said that "my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11:30. This Gospel is still easier than carrying around a load of guilt and regret.

I was in prison

I was in prison...but they left me out again.

The only picture I was allowed to take.

What if you could equip a church in a town of 1200-1300 people? That's what we attempted to do last weekend when I volunteered with the Light of Hope Rebound seminar with several other men.

Going into prison is always intimidating. You think you need to empty your pockets when you go through airport security? Try entering a prison!

So what's it like? It's a little taste of Heaven. We worshiped with brothers from all sorts of nationalities and backgrounds. It wasn't quite the way I am used to worshipping. Perhaps you are used to a band in church, I am not. :) But that's OK.

When you think of prison ministry you think of going behind the bars and "ministering" to the people who are stuck there, perhaps lead someone to Christ and explain the Gospel to him for the first time. While that may happen, that was not my experience this time. I was challenged, blessed, and I am still processing some of the things I learned in the seminar.

There were about 30-50 men who appeared to make up the core of the church behind the bars. They told us that normal attendance on a Sunday service was in the 100-150 range. The men I met were men on fire. They glowed! I think if you would have turned out the lights, it would have been well lit.

This seminar was organized as a follow up to the spring crusade organized by Light of Hope Evangelistic Ministry.  Amos Stoltzfus was the main speaker although the volunteers had the opportunity to share.

Why was I so blessed and challenged? When you really stop and think about it I am really no different than these men. They are sinners and so am I. They face challenges and so do I. They fail and so do I. But here they were, serving the Lord with all of their hearts in a very difficult and dangerous environment. Wow!

Pray for these brothers! They have goals for reaching the lost both around them and outside the fence.

Time goes so quickly.

Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,

Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;

Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,

Making mem'ries of what was today.

Chorus: We have this moment to hold in our hands

and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;

Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,

But we have this moment today.

Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling,

For Daddy to hear just what she has to say;

And my little son running there by the hillside,

May never be quite like today.

Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee,

And someone who loves me and wants me to stay;

Hold them near while they're here and don't wait for tomorrow,

To look back and wish for today.

Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest,

And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay;

Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn,

And weave you a lovely today.

Gaither

Just some goofing around but they grow up so quickly.

Our Gift

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;

And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even

praise unto our God:

Many shall see it, and fear,

And shall trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust,

And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O LORD my God,

Are thy wonderful works which thou hast done,

And thy thoughts which are to us-ward:

They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:

If I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire;

Mine ears hast thou opened:

Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come:

In the volume of the book it is written of me, 

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God:

Yea, thy law is within my heart.

 (Psalms 40:1-8) KJV

We prayed and we prayed. What for? For a healthy baby, one with a palate! Twice we have had children who had a birth defect known as Pierre Robin Sequence. It falls in the category of Cleft Palates but is somewhat different because the airway is usually obstructed and causes breathing difficulties. So while expecting our 6th child this condition was on our minds. Will we have another one? 

Let me make one point here, I know there are many families out there who have experienced far worse issues in bringing children into the world, my heart goes out to you.

We had ultrasounds and the doctors felt confident...as confident as they could in their limited knowledge, that this baby was good to go.

On Friday at 7:31 AM a healthy baby girl was born to us! (I won't write the name here for privacy reasons.) She can breath, eat, and cry just like a "normal" baby should. HOW AMAZING!!!

God does answer prayers, and even if he hadn't answered this specific one the way we would have wanted, we would have praised Him anyway. But no, He gave us a wonderful, healthy child and we are rejoicing. 

So how do you praise God for something like this? Psalm 40:6-8 gives that answer: 

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8 I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

 (Psalm 40:6-8) 

Basically it is a gift...how do you repay a gift? You don't, that would be considered a purchase not a gift.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins:
Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee,
When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
And in thy book all my members were written,
Which in continuance were fashioned,
When as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
When I awake, I am still with thee.
 (Psalms 139:13-18)

Cardboard and Duct Tape

It Floats!

If you have several rolls of duct tape and some appliance boxes, what can you make? How about a boat? Why, of course! Everyone wants a cardboard boat.

This was our boat, dubbed "Speed Queen".

Once again it was time for our annual church retreat and our 2nd annual cardboard boat regatta (a sporting event consisting of a series of boat or yacht races). We had a lot of fun.

The first run on Speed Queen

In case you can't tell, it's a turtle. This was definitely the most creative.

The rules were actually quite simple cardboard, duct tape, and life jackets. The boat coarse was equally simplistic. Go about 50 yards, go around a buoy and row back.

Austin had the fastest boat, but the Speed Queen came in second.

Oh and it gets more interesting if not all boats fair well...

Some more pics from the retreat

It sure was enjoyable to spend the weekend with the church family and even some who called us their church family for a time. :)

The camp has a beautiful lake and a few fish.

Guess who won the archery shoot for the boys?

Bit sunny?

Waiting for the candy scramble? 

Yes this was *after* the archery shoot.

I didn't install that...

That's real bad!

How to (not) install junk programs on your computer.

From time to time people bring their computers to me and they tell me, "It's not working right. I get popups and stuff." 

So I slyly ask them, "Did you install anything recently?"

"No, I don't think so." Or they reply, "No, but my [children, cousins, neighbors, etc] used it and when it came back it didn't work right anymore."

Let me guess, you have several toolbars, your home page is either called "MyWebSearch" or "Conduit" and when you click on a link it takes you somewhere unexpected.

So how did you get these programs installed? The unofficial name for them is "PUP" (Potentially Unwanted Programs). I decided to give some illustrations and some removal tips. Perhaps I can save you a few dollars and a trip to the local computer repair shop. Don't worry I don't think I will suffer from a lack of work.

What you need to learn to do is look for extra programs that are trying to "sneak" along with another install. Here are a few...and some are extremely sneaky.

Several culprits

Adobe Flash Player. Flash itself is not a problem but have a look at this:

See the "Optional offers". Even Google likes to get into the act. Simply uncheck the offers.

Ever wonder where McAfee Security Scan comes from?

Java is yet another:

These programs are actually important and useful. 95% (maybe more) of all Windows computer have them installed. But be careful.

Then you have the really sneaky ones:

I decided to download some YouTube video and I found this nifty software called FreeSmartSoft Downloader. Safe? No. I found this in the user agreement :)

(c) Support Services.

FreeSmartSoft may provide you with support services related to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT ("Support Services"). Any supplemental software code provided to you as part of the Support Services shall be considered part of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT and subject to the terms and conditions of this EULA. 

Wonder what "supplemental software" is?

No, Optimizer Pro is not useful.

The next series was from an install of PowerISO, something useful but contained a total of 3 junkware installers. In fact Chrome marked it as malicious. (A little side note: The version I downloaded from CNet was clean, this version was straight from PowerISO's site. Nasty.)

BTW Pay attention to things like this.

Search Protect certainly messes with your internet, it does nothing to protect you.

I guess you can't call them dishonest, but how do you skip this install?

Oh, there it is.

Deja Vu?

Why do they do this? To make money. It's advertising.

Another sneaky trick played by some "legit" download sites is to put an advertisement on their download page that says "DOWNLOAD NOW". Here is an example from bleepingcomputer.com, I clicked on the download button which took me to the download page complete with an ad that is begging me to download something.

The tricky part is that the download will start automatically, but if you are not observant or impatient and you click on the "Start Download" button you will get the next webpage.

Not at all what I wanted to download.

Removal tips

1. Go to Programs and Features and begin uninstalling the junk. To find this screen click on your Start button and type: "Programs" and the icon should appear. This part can be a little tricky because some drivers and required system programs can appear here. I look for programs named Search Protect, Default Tab, Coupon [anything], Savings [something], or any other generically named software published by no one familiar (ie. not Microsoft or Google).
2. Download, install and run MalwareBytes. Make sure you get it from the right place, especially if you are attempting to download straight to an infected computer. www.malwarebytes.org is the correct site. Download the free version and at the last step of the install uncheck the box that says "Malwarebytes Pro Trial". Next run the Malwarebytes scan and quarantine all the items found.
3. Download and run TDSSKiller from Kaspersky. Download from this list. (Sometimes I run this first)
4. If you are having trouble downloading or running #3 and #4, you might have to go for the bigger guns. Try scrolling down to the Kaspersky virus removal tool here. Or Emsisoft standalone scanner from here. Just remember my point about the "Start Download" button. This download starts automatically.
5. If that doesn't work, maybe you do need professional help. No pun intended.
6. There are cases where virus removal leads to other problems. I have had computers where the viruses were removed but the computer was left in a broken state. You may even need to re-install windows or "Reset to Factory".

Prevention Tips

1. Use Firefox or Google Chrome. As noted above Chrome marked the one installer as malicious. These are browsers and essentially replace Internet Explorer.
2. Find the Adblock extension for Firefox or Chrome.  These extension eliminate the ads on the websites you visit. Often times the ads attempt to lure you into clicking on them in order to install their bad programs, and it cleans up the webpage.
3. Run an anti-virus, and please make sure it's getting it's updates. If it says your subscription has expired, you are not getting the updates. Yes I have a preference, but I have found that almost any anti-virus is better than no anti-virus. If you like free you can try Avast, Avira, AVG, Panda Cloud, or Microsoft Security Essentials. If you want something better try Norton, GData, ESET, Trend Micro, or F-Secure.
4. Be observant. Does it look like a junk program? It probably is.
5. Is the site you are visiting a bit sleazy?
6. I really shouldn't have to mention this but it is a well known fact that porn sites are big distributors of viruses...'nuf said.
7. Buy a Mac, Chromebook, or run Linux...ok most of you won't and that's fine :) They are less susceptible, but not perfect.

Back to school and other stuff...

A week at Grandma's house.

Fun with cousins

Whatcha' looking at?

The best part of Grandma's house.

Bunnies!

School...

Traditional first day of kindergarten picture.

First Day

Other Stuff...