Onward

A good friend snapped a photo of me in 2015 – walking out on the last day of duck season. It was nothing incredible; no brilliant sunset, no limits harvested, no special setting, and the photo was just on a cell phone. I remember the day well though. We started our hunt with high hopes from a pit that had produced well over the past weeks. The morning dawned, the skies a bit overcast, but the birds just didn’t work. We’ve all been there. The sting is slightly compounded on the last day though. Throughout the morning we would watch birds continually work the upper end of a field in shallow pools, which they had done over the years in late season. As other times, we decided to take a gamble and switch to that location. There was no blind, no cover, and the distance from the tree line we were tucked into was pushing the limit of comfort on shooting range.

The day just didn’t shape up as we thought it might. The shift in location was not productive, and it felt like season was just slipping away into the doldrums of the days ahead. You could almost feel it. You know the closing labor that lies just around the corner of that day; picking up decoys, vacating blinds, putting everything away, and remedying the pains of unforeseen things in season. The challenge is also that winter has not yet left. Many times it drags on for another month to 7 weeks; cold, wet, rather boring – especially if you’ve not traveled off to chase snow geese. That day would be compounded though. I remember standing in the trees feeling a bit lackluster of how the ducks hadn’t cooperated. The temps were a bit balmy. It just felt out of sorts. About the time we got settled in the trees I got a call from my mom telling me my grandfather had passed away from medical complications. The feeling was a bit helpless and almost surreal. I would process it the remainder of the hunt, the walk out, and all of the ride home. It was a strange ending.

While that was almost 5 years ago, it’s been a nice reflection to look back and see that the days marched onward. The seasons came and those seasons have gone – just according to the Lord’s will. There have been great hunts, plenty of sunshine, new additions to the family, and joy in the Lord. Equally, there has been searing loss, painful transitions, but a peace that can only come from God. I can’t say it’s been the only challenging moment or dismal hour in the past, nor will it be the last. Perhaps we would all say that this entire year has felt that way. From the political scene, to the civil unrest in these United States – it sure feels balmy, almost like things aren’t working right.

King Solomon wrote in his wisdom about, both, the sovereignty of God and also the futility of man; outside of understanding that sovereignty. In Ecclesiastes we find the seasons established, and times from Chapter 3 – as the mystery of time. But just below – we find complete assurance of God’s sovereignty even when things just don’t seem to be working correctly. Solomon writes, “Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is.” (Ecc. 3:15a, CSB) While proverbial and poetic – it is a foundational truth that God has sovereignly directed whatever is; whether it be the seasons of planting and growing, harvesting and storing, birthing and dying, or challenging days. Certainly, these times create a great

feeling of uncertainty – but how grateful we are that God has put “whatever is” to come - that it would already come to pass.

See you in the blind.

• Jonathan Brazell
  
  

Few know my entry into outdoor media and writing. While my industry influence isn’t as
extensive as some, my love of the field still runs deep. Many have heard that it all started with
one picture of one dog – “Doc.” Since, there have been hundreds of pictures; mostly of the
same dog. There is good reason for that, just as it is good reason he has commanded the field
in retrieving from blind to blind.

Last month on an equipment exchange, my good friend Barry (Doc’s owner) told me Doc had
developed blasto. It’s a terrible disease, and if you own a gun dog you need to know what it is
and what the warning signs are. Unprepared and uneducated, you might find yourself in a
heartbroken and irreversible place. To advance the story, the disease made a decision
necessary to remove one of my furry friend’s eyes. Since, thankfully, Doc is recovering well.
The reason I recount this tale is that it is; 1) very close and real to me 2) it makes me pause and
address tough issues in life. Maybe it’s a close companion, maybe a family member, maybe a
physical need in life. When Jesus spoke in parable regarding building the house on the rock
(Matthew 7), he never insinuated that the rain and the storms might strike. No, they came and
the storms of life will come.

The book of Job is another great example of suffering. Job, whose entire business empire,
family, and health was struck, experienced tremendous suffering and pain. Many have been
here. Searing loss for many is fresh, and easily recalled on. While Job experienced restoration
at the end of the story, there was a point at which all he could do was rely on God’s
sovereignty. Just as God is sovereign over the cosmos – so he is over each of our lives. This is
where we land sometimes, in the storm – often with a lot of questions and uncertainty, but not
without hope.

By nature, the fowler is a planner; meticulous and attentive to detail. Blinds, spreads, camo,
shot patterns, wind direction, and etc. are all things we try to plan for and anticipate the best.
Often, as with life situations, we are not left with the best but with loss. Like the metaphorical
storm in the passage of Matthew 7, we find ourselves in the storm. Like the man in the
parable, and like Job, we can only be driven to God’s sovereignty and the promise of Christ; our
rock. Sometimes, when the storm hits we find ourselves feeling quite hopeless. All of our
planning and all of our anticipation is left in ruin. Life feels like it is out of control. Like Job, we
have to remember that there is only one who is in control; God. He is not only in control, but
knows our need and desires to remind us of the hope we have in him. While I am very thankful
my buddy Doc is on the mend, I am reminded to consider where I place my hope. A man might
not build a duckblind on a rock, but I pray that everyone would place their life on the rock,
Jesus Christ.

- Jonathan Brazell

Endless Days...

by: Jonathan Brazell

It’s hard to explain the world of sunrises and sunsets through our eyes.  It’s something that is experienced more than it can be detailed out in conversation.  Mornings are savored in the blind, after setting decoys, over steaming coffee. We strain and listen to the dark ghosts in the pre-dawn light whistle by, in anticipation that can’t be weighed on any scale.  The afternoons are not to be slighted though; the sun slipping away with neon skies. The feed ducks pouring in after shooting light – vivid, vocal, and almost magical leaving us to wish away the hours to the next hunt.

Days begin to blur together; from gas station stops to fighting ice and the freeze.  Before you know it, you’ve found yourself on the last adventure of the season. It doesn’t seem real.  All of the hours, all of the preparation, all of the laughs, and all of the moments teeter on the brink of the clock counting down.  Season has come, and it has now gone. I read a lot of posts, and I sympathize with so many in soft denial that this season we love is now over.  It’s almost an eerie feeling, like being in an old empty duck blind. You can see the memories, feel them, but cannot return to them until the fall.  We all seek that fulfilling joy in the field, but are challenged when season is gone.

“We’ve been given sixty days – to help point us to endless days.”

There are many things in the field and life that transition in seasons.  It is so by the design of the Creator – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” (Proverbs 3:1) This is fitting too, that we can only find temporary satisfaction in temporal things.  These temporary things are not a waste though. Stewarding creation, in these seasons, is a mandate that was put in place by God – that we would experience the Creator’s glory in his creation. The temporal pointing us to the eternal.

There is a great truth here.  It is a truth that overwhelms the emptiness with fullness in joy and hope.  The reason that we are left longing for more is that there is something so much more to be anticipated – eternity in heaven with Christ.  It is a joy that will be unending to which there is no season.God has granted us the seasons; the waterfowler – this harvest time.  He has done so, that we would not only find joy in his creation, but more-so that we would long for the eternal joy in the Creator.  We’ve been given sixty days – to help point us to endless days.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.  Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart…” (Proverbs 3:11)  

- Jonathan Brazell

What’s your least favorite Bible verse?

What is your favorite Bible verse? I often shy away from answering this question. Not because I am ‘holier than thou,’ but for me personally, I have grown most in my relationship with Christ through examining verses that are not my favorite, nor are they attractive or famous. I believe that all scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) and we are called to engage in reading and understanding the Bible within the sphere of its intent as a whole.

One of my least favorite verses: Psalm 90:12

As a modern outdoorsman, many of us have been “lost” in the woods in some form or fashion [insert corny Sunday School lesson about how we have all been lost because we were all born lost…]. In reality, being lost in the woods today is nothing compared to getting lost during biblical times. Today, you have sweet gear, GPS, Siri, and I think old gas stations may even sell maps still. Truth be told, if lost today, one could walk in any direction and more than likely find a county road or highway and receive emergency care if necessary. However, in the days of Moses, getting lost could be a deathly mistake. 

One of those verses that is not super attractive to most people is Psalm 90:12. In fact, many skim over it because it seems somewhat inconsequential when read alone. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” I mean, it would make a cool wood-burned piece for your entry way, but not life changing alone. The simple message is, time matters. But the power in this verse, at least within my own walk attempting to glorify God, comes with the realization that the author was documenting his prayer to God. Not to say that this was some random author, it just so happens to come from the mouth of Moses who, at the time, was wandering in the desert until death.

How did Moses get there?

 As documented in Numbers 14:20-30, the Israelites had sent messengers to explore the land of Canaan that God promised to deliver to his people, and they returned afraid and unwilling to take possession of the land. All except Caleb and Joshua who declared that “if the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us” (Numbers 14:8 NIV). When I read this I like to pretend I share their faith but I often fall short in comparison. Due to the Israelites ignoring God’s promises to deliver this land, they decide to return to slavery in Egypt or, better yet, take their chances dying in the wilderness. Hearing this, the Lord was displeased and decides to make good on their wishes…

“I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness your bodies will fall… except Caleb… and Joshua…” (Numbers 14:28-30).

Which leads us back to one of the most impactful passages of Scripture, Psalm 90:12. Moses, a prophet of the living God, would be wandering in the wilderness until death because of the fear of the people of Israel. The God of Israel continues to reign sovereign today, however the revelation of himself is not the same since Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Before Christ, God revealed himself to the nation of Israel and led them through the use of prophets. This is why the entire people group that God liberated from slavery in Egypt was punished. As a nation, they went against the man of God, Moses, and decided to succumb to fear. This is why Moses shared in the punishment, God had not yet sent his Son to pay the price of our sins and God was choosing to deal with the Israelite nation as a whole. When God revealed himself in the form of man through sending “[Jesus Christ], who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21), a direct relationship was now accessible between man and God. In that moment, the Holy Spirit was to dwell within the individual hearts of believers, rather than as a pillar of cloud and fire to a nation. Because this individual grace is available in Christ alone, Paul declares that our body is now the temple of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:19). Once we understand that God made himself available to each of us individually, time becomes a pretty important aspect of our lives. 

The Challenge of Psalm 90:12

As Moses was wandering in the desert, still honoring God, he prayed, “teach me to number my days.” While writing this article and studying this passage, I cannot help but think about how boring it is to wander aimlessly in the desert with the knowledge that this is where you will ultimately perish. I would have personally prayed something that strongly contrasted the prayer of Moses, “Lord please allow time to fly by so I can just die and be with you. I am sorry that the rest of the nation ignored me and questioned your power… can I come home yet?… Amen… talk to you soon… is it time yet?… p.s. could you invent the iPhone and wifi a little sooner than planned? Thanks, Brandon.”

As outdoorsman, we number the days of the season, we number the days of offseason, but I do not believe we emphasize the moments. Meaning is found in moments, not in millenniums. Time is one of the most precious commodities. It is arguably the most valuable non-renewable resource in existence. But when it is gone, it is gone. Regardless of time-zones and daylight savings, each individual is limited to 24 hours per day. There will only be 365 days a year, and each of us has an unknown amount of this resource in storage. The challenge is to approach each moment open to God using us to bring glory to him. Carpe Diem, Mesopotamian in origin by the author Horace, means “seize the day.” This anthem can be found today in tattoos, on coffee mugs, and all throughout the glorious mom blogs you wont admit you read occasionally just to see if you are parenting “right.” However, seize the day limits us to ignoring the future, and the term lacks any guidance from a sovereign God. It should not be our goal to seize the day, but be available for the moments. It is kind of like toilet paper, when the roll is full, it is safe to grab more than necessary to make sure the job is clean and complete. But when you're in a bind and there are three squares at best, plus whatever you can scrape off of that last piece that always sticks to the cardboard roll… heck if it gets real dicey you could use the cardboard (this is not a testimony, just a rabbit trail I seem to be unable to get away from)… all joking aside, time does play the role of toilet paper in that odd metaphor. There is a purpose for every person, and their time, occupying planet earth. We must decide if we will be strong and courageous like Joshua and Caleb or if we will wither in fear as the rest of the Israelites. 

Document for your moments

One of the best ways to remember those moments in the field, or at home, is to document them.  Our memory is momentary, so make it last. I am proud to team up with More Than A Calling and they have generously provided the perfect tool for this task. Head over to the store tab at morethanacalling.com and get your More Than A Calling Field Journal. This journal will allow you to document the moments in life that make an impact on your story. Maybe God reminds you of his glory in a sunset or in your child’s first steps. My challenge is that you would take time to write about it. This isn't a diary, it is a log of all that God has done in your life and is continuing to do. Do not miss out on this opportunity. 

I encourage you to join me in this prayer: 

“Teach me to number my days oh Lord, that I may make a difference in this world as you have called me to be set apart from society. Teach me to lead those that you choose to cross my path, and teach me to have a heart of joy as I trust in your plan. Just as Moses joyfully and earnestly followed you in the wilderness, I long to seek you in daily tasks. Allow me to bring glory to your name through the moments.”

See you in the blind. 

- Brandon Trentham

Day 60

It’s Day 60. The days leading up to now have been hard worked, tiring, filled with friends, ducks, and laughter. Any season and any pursuit is a process that yields humbling moments, treks through waters of difficulty, and embrace of the success of what we are aiming to harvest. This is a day that is bittersweet to our waterfowl friends. It is a humbling gift to be able to look back and reflect on these past 60 days to cherish & examine what all was experienced. No matter how prepared we may be for the upcoming season, it never fails that God can do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). We long for you to not just experience waterfowl season, but to experience God as he works & furthers his kingdom in the waterfowling community. Seasons come and go and It is said that nothing good lasts forever. We are reminded that even though seasons will change, God remains the same (Hebrews 13:8). Duck populations fluctuate, flyways shift, hunting buddies come and they go, days able to hunt differ from year to year; change is a constant and so is God for he is the administrator of all things. Looking back over the last 60 days I’ve seen both hearts and duck straps full. I’ve seen smiles that have grinned from ear to ear and memories made that will last a life time. So here is to reflecting on this past season, and embracing the anticipation for the season to come. 

A word from the MTAC family

Purpose 2018 Conference

Upon pulling into the driveway outlined by pick-up trucks, I never could have imagined the story God was writing. A simple Bible study is all I expected… no different than a lifetime of growing up in the church… however, Purpose2018 became something that none of us saw coming. 

A four week study of the book, Wild at Heart by John Eldridge, and hours of discussion about masculinity was the result of this room full of like-minded outdoorsman. Discussion covered how society is urging men to become something they were never created to be. Manliness is not to be defined by repetitions in the gym, or number of girls you are “snapping;” instead, masculinity is defined, in Genesis, as our role in the story of our Creator. From naming the animals to being joined by a woman, manhood is a picture of order and leadership, not a clever hashtag on media. 

The final week of our group was the longest meeting of them all, not because of the discussion depth, but the awareness of what we thought was our last night together. Luckily, this was only the end of the book, not the story of #Purpose2018. 

Following the Bible study, a vision was born for an event based on a passion for more outdoorsman to hear the message of the gospel. The planning and vision was a result of a guru in the industry, Reagan Renfroe. His dream enabled a group of guys from all over the country and outdoor industry to gather together on a three day hunt in the center of the universe, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

On January 7, whether by plane, truck, or trailer with a load of nine dogs, each outdoorsman (two legged or four) arrived to the lodge for a home-cooked supper. After re-fueling, a quick devotional, and game planning session, each hunter went to bed dreaming of a hunt that would not even come close to the real-life version to follow. 

After watching fourteen industry professionals set up the decoys and blinds in record time, the group was like a kid on Christmas awaiting the first flight of the morning. As shooting time came and fourteen safety buttons clicked to fire, outdoorsman from across the nation were, in an instant, brought together as if they had been brothers since birth. As muzzles exploded like the Fourth of July, the dogs of Southern Oak Kennels hit the water on mission to bring the mallards to hand. Before long, there were 56 birds down, and it was time to make a decision on waiting out our limit or calling it a day. Due to a lack of plans at the lodge, we sent a crew of guys to the local McDonalds for bags full of quarter-pounders and the nostalgic fries that the arches are famous for. As the sun set and we ended a twelve hour sit full of great shots, stories, and multiple pranks, we snapped a thousand word memory with a single shutter click. 

A home-style meal and devotion was waiting at the lodge before bed and preparing for Day 2. The next morning we hunted with Bluestem Waterfowl and it happened to be an epic feed. As soon as the sun peeked over the tree line surrounding the wheat field, cackling and honking became the soundtrack to an unforgettable morning. Groups of 100-500 Lesser Canada Geese were dumping in, feet down with empty bellies. Not quite the welcome party the geese expected, the 14-barrel firework show ended with 71 geese getting their pictures taken by a barrage of Optifade-wearing paparazzi. That evening, we found ourselves in a field full of stubble and dreams for a mallard limit. The ducks had other plans, and put on a marvelous aerial display 2 minutes after shooting time had passed. We watched them cup and dive into the field with strategic perfection and thanked our creator for his wonderful masterpiece. This was the final hunt with all in attendance at #purpose2018. Southern Oaks Kennels headed to the DFW Airport to pick up a pup, many had to go to work the next morning, and a few remained to grind out another good hunt on Wednesday. 

What remained? A lot of birds for next year (most of us are better with a camera than a shotgun), biblical challenges for us as we returned to our families, and friendships unrestrained by miles, age, or occupation. Our love for the outdoors and our devotion to following Christ brought us together to form a bond that none of us expected. We will never have everything figured out, but through Christ, we can trust in what is unknown.

“ “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord””

— Romans 8:38-39

So let me ask you the same question we asked ourselves, 

What is your Purpose? What is God orchestrating in your life? What areas in your life do you need to hand over control?

See you in the blind. 

- Brandon Trentham

Prepare to Harvest

Preparation is essential in every aspect of life. Preparation is essential in the pursuit of waterfowl and that journey that unfolds from doing so. The issue or the difficulty of it all is that preparation is a process. In the midst of a culture and world where self gratification and instant results is sought out, it is uncomfortable. A process can be lengthy and challenges a person mentally, physically, and spiritually. The tools and knowledge of being able to prepare is not always handed to you, but are always available through seeking. Every step of preparation is for something greater, some type of goal that is wanting to be achieved by doing so. Just as the goal of having a game tote full of birds requires preparation, so does the goal of sharing the gospel, the good news of Jesus, in hopes that folks would come to know him.

“To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

— Ephesians 4:12

Jesus prepared God’s people for works of service. He did so for his kingdom, his body, and his mission would be built up and sent out. Jesus did not come down to earth for mere enjoyment or adventure. He came with purpose and for a glorious love story. That is what we desire here at More Than A Calling and what God has given us the clarity to do for his kingdom; to prepare you for discipleship opportunities, tough conversations, and sharing the gospel throughout the waterfowl community.

- Seth Dortch 

Train Your Heart

Hunting isn’t always about the harvest. The early morning trips to the blind, the sunrise view when you get there and the memories made with the ones you love.  Its teamwork "an ability to work together, which determines success". It’s the partnership between man and dog. For you it’s a sign of a job well done. A time commitment worth making and a bond like no other. Just as our four legged companions show to be a great tool in the field, the creator of us all uses the tool of our heart to bring others to the kingdom of God.

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

— 2 Timothy 4:2

If you neglect the training of your dog in the off-season and don’t keep them active, they can be more of a hindrance than a tool. We are the same way. If we don’t stay in the word constantly, when the time comes for us to share our faith we will be unprepared. Make an effort to dig into God’s word consistently. You will become a great tool out in the field for the Lord.

-Nick Johnston / Cameron Goad