Posts Tagged With: archery

Happy Birthday Fred Bear, and Thank You.

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Doug Gilmer

Today is Fred Bear’s birthday. If he were still alive Papa Bear, as they called him, would have turned 110 years old. Each year I recall his birth date, just as I remember the day he died in 1988.

I suppose in a way I was born into a privileged class. Certainly not privileged by monetary or material standards, but because I was born a northern Michigan native and grew up in the shadow of Fred Bear. My earliest memories of him are seeing him at the Bear Archery headquarters just a few miles down the road. My dad had become a bowhunter, no doubt inspired by our neighbor, and the hobby meant frequent trips to the only archery supplier around.

On one such occasion Fred Bear greeted us at the door. While my dad took care of business, Fred led me around the store by my hand. I remember him telling me to hold his hand as we walked around as there were many things that could hurt me if I were not careful. I viewed in complete amazement the magnificent trophies he collected from around the world and even received my first archery introduction from the father of modern bowhunting himself. On a later adventure to Bear Headquarters (they were all adventures for a little kid) I received my very first bow from Fred Bear. I don’t know if it was truly a gift or if my dad bought it and just allowed him to give it to me. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I still have a bow today that transferred from his hands to mine.

I have no doubt, that despite my young age, it was Fred Bear who ultimately influenced my love for archery. At the time I did not recognize him as a celebrity or legendary figure.  He was just Fred Bear. It was not until many years that I recognized just how fortunate I was to have known, even for just a while, this great man. I am forever thankful for his influence and I wish there more people like him in the world today.

He once said, “I feel like one of God’s chosen people, having had the opportunity to share, with many fine companions, these varied and lovely realms of our natural world.”

And I, Papa Bear, truly believe I was favored by God for the opportunity to have spent time with you.

 

Photo of Fred Bear from the Bowhunter’s Hall of Fame http://www.bowhuntershalloffame.com/members/bearfred/index.html

Categories: Archery, Hunting | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

Let’s Put this in Terms an Archer can Understand. The Daily Devotion for December 14.

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Doug Gilmer

He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. 2 Chronicles 12:14

It’s not easy being good. We really have to work at it. It’s not in our nature to do good. We do good but it is because we determine to do good. It’s a choice, a conscious decision. Even when we are surrounded by reasons to good it isn’t always easy. We are born with a heart that is intent on doing evil. Think about it, we do not teach our kids to lie or steal but from very young age they automatically begin this behavior; a small lie to avoid trouble or sneaking candy or cookies when they are not supposed to. Don’t get me wrong, I am not calling you or your kids evil, there is plenty of good we are all capable of as well, we just have to work at it and we learn it by the examples of others. This was the case with King Rehoboam, the person referenced in this verse. He had plenty of reasons surrounding him throughout his life that should have prompted to do good. Instead, he did evil because he did not determine in his heart to seek after God.

The phrase “set his heart” can also be translated as “determined”. The phrase actually infers that one makes a conscious effort to stand, firm, upright, and strong or with a firm and stable stance. It’s not unlike an archer. I know as a bowhunter how important a proper stance is to good shooting.  Nick Viau (@Nick_Viau on Twitter and at http://www.longbowblogger.com) is a diehard traditional equipment bowhunter from Michigan. He reinforces the need for setting a good stand stance when shooting, especially a long bow. Nick says keeping your shoulders aligned with the target, your bow arm strong and framed is critical to making a good shot. If you want to hit the target you must determine to hit the target by first setting the right stance. It doesn’t come naturally.

It’s interesting to me that the most common word for sin (evil) used in the Bible is a Greek word, hamartia, which translated means “to miss the mark.” It is an archery term that refers to one missing the target. There are a lot of different reasons one can miss a target when shooting a bow and arrow, however, not first setting oneself into a proper, upright, stable stance is often a fundamental reason.

Compare King Rehoboam to King David in the Old Testament. God said David was a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). God looked at David and saw a man, not a perfect man, but one who more often than not took a stance, a determined position to follow Him. David knew a little something about shooting too. He didn’t have a bow, but a sling. And as you may recall David used it quite effectively to not only protect his flocks from marauding predators but also with one, well placed shot, brought down a giant named Goliath. David’s accuracy with his sling I am sure did not come by accident. Neither did David’s faith.

There is no doubt it requires less work to do evil than to do good. It takes far less effort to miss the target than to hit it. To do good means we must first decide we are going to do good and then determine we are going to do good. It means we have to take a proper stance, a stance or posture that in many ways may be a little awkward and unnatural.  It’s not easy and it requires some work and effort on our part.

Are you tired of missing the mark? Do you really want to do good? Do you wish to be remembered at the end of your life as one who did good, not evil? Begin with the fundamentals. Eliminate the distractions that cause your eye to wander off target and focus on the goal. Then deliberately set your stance. Just as in archery as you take up a solid, determined shooting position, set your heart to seek the Lord in the same determined manner. It will make hitting the mark much easier, much more likely, and you will feel better about yourself in the end.  

 

Categories: Daily Devotions | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

You think you have it tough now? Just wait. The Daily Devotion for December 5

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Doug Gilmer

If you have raced with runners and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?  Jeremiah 12:5 HCSB

Recently, I have had a few friends who have experienced some pretty big trials. Ben Summers, of TRU Ball, the maker of archery releases and bow sights, just completed his first full Ironman Triathlon in Florida. The pain and exhaustion Ben endured increased throughout the race; it didn’t start out hard and get easy. That’s not the way things work. Each stroke, each push of the pedal, each stride was just a little tougher than the one before. Two other friends, Chris and Casey Keefer of the TV show, Backcountry Quest, just recently returned from a month-long adventure in Alaska. They shared with me how at one point, when things were at their seemingly possible worse, the situation went even further downhill to a point of almost complete desperation. In the end, however, Ben completed his Ironman and Chris and Casey safely returned from Alaska, albeit a good bit lighter.

Things can always be worse. No matter how bad things are right now, how hopeless the situation feels, it only requires a little thought to think about just how much worse they could be. This is not to make light of any situation or circumstance anyone reading this is going through right now. It could in fact be the biggest crisis of life you have ever faced until now. Chances are though; you will face a bigger one eventually. Having spent a number of years working with youth and college age students, I am no stranger to the major life issues they often deal with. I don’t have to think hard to remember my own time at that age. However, now that I am older, I think that if those were the biggest issues I had to deal with today I would be a lucky man. It seems as if the issues we face in life only grow in size and complexity as we grow older.

Jeremiah was complaining about the circumstances he was facing. In this case, Jeremiah, in the verses leading up to today’s, asks God, “Why me? When people all around, even the evil people, tend to prosper, why do I have it so hard? Why do they get it so good when I am the one that is faithful?”  God responds to Jeremiah in verse five. God asks Jeremiah, “If you can’t hang with human runners, how are you going to keep up when the race is against horses? And furthermore Jeremiah, right now you have it pretty good overall, what are you going to do when things get really tough?” Things can always get worse. Times can always be tougher. There’s nothing like a little perspective from God.

So how do you make it through? When the situation you are facing now seems hopeless what do you do? First, put it in perspective and remember it could be worse. Second, know that at some point in your life you are likely going to face something even tougher and so whatever it is you are facing now is good practice for later on when you have to run against horses or are forced to enter the thicket. The good news is, you don’t have to run the race of enter the thicket alone. God can go too, right by your side.

Take comfort in these verses:

Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling…The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:1-3, 7 

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

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. Psalm 94:22

When Ben completed his Ironman, he received not only a medal but also the honor of having done something only a small fraction of a percent of people will ever do. When Chris and Casey exited the Alaskan bush, they did so knowing they overcame tremendous odds and the first do what they did. By the way, Ben didn’t run his race alone and Chris and Casey didn’t enter the Alaskan wilderness alone. They took God along with them on their journeys. He saw them through. He can see you through as well.

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