Of Calendars and Datebooks
This Saturday marks the first day of rifle season for deer in many valley counties including Shenandoah. Many hunters have been anxiously anticipating this date for several months and it has been on my calendar since this year’s game laws were first published. In addition, the seasons for black powder…
Operation Christmas Cargo
As we prepare to enjoy our turkey dinners in a few weeks and celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s important to remember those in other countries who do not enjoy many of the privileges of liberty we take for granted. In spite of strides made over the last 200 years, basic freedoms are…
Follow The Trail
This Saturday marks the transition from Archery Season to Black Powder. For the next two weeks, hunters in most local counties can up their weaponry to muzzle loading rifles in their quest for ever elusive whitetails. I plan to be one of them, God-willing. Using a rifle often results in…
Celebrating Five Years of Service!
How would you feel about a ministry that offered to help nearly 120 families including over 260 children in the next nine months without any local tax money? Help provided would include housing, budgeting, finding jobs, acquiring employment skills, transportation, food, and more. That is the 2021 record of Family…
The Time is Now for WRE
The Out of the Past photo in Monday’s Northern Virginia Daily brought back good memories for many readers. The picture of Shenandoah County Weekday Religious Education teachers from 1971 reminded many of us of great life lessons from women who knew and loved Jesus! As I reflect on that part…
Dad’s No Admittance Sign
Cool crisp mornings turn my thoughts to fall hunting seasons and fall hunting seasons bring fond memories of my father’s taxidermy shop. With the arrival of archery season each year, successful hunters began the parade of customers bringing game heads for dad to mount. Dad’s shop was divided into three…
Two Sudden Evacuations
A few weeks back, news cycles were dominated by the withdrawal of US troops and personnel from Afghanistan. Few Americans opposed the pullout but many continue to be very concerned by the lack of forethought and the swift takeover of the entire nation by the Taliban. The failure to adequately…
Physical and Spiritual Fitness
As I shared in a previous column, two years ago I was privileged to enjoy a trip to Colorado to hunt western game. My father’s taxidermy shop implanted a lifelong dream within me to pursue elk and mule deer and experience the Rockies. Having been warned by veteran hunters, I…
Recalibrating Our Hearts
One of my part-time jobs in high school was working for a huckster. My boss left Maurertown very early every Wednesday morning to travel to northern Virginia to sell fresh produce, eggs, and meat. He had a regular route and standing orders from customers that he filled faithfully each week…
Sharpening Each Other
Each trade has its own set of specialized tools. Auto mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and all others have their own instruments unique to their individual professions. But nearly all such vocations rely on some type of cutting tool. As a taxidermist, my father used countless knives during his career. In…