God's Great Outdoors

As he was traveling to speak at a Game Dinner in western Wisconsin, Gerry rendezvoused with Arnie Wolf, who is the owner of Rushing Wind Retreat Center in Ontario, Canada. The two men are joined by Larry Drossart who shares about his personal struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and many of his fellow veterans as well. Arnie mentioned to Larry of his desire to do some type of wounded warrior (style) event at his fishing camp located a little over an hour above International Falls, Minnesota. That struck Larry hard as that day he’d heard of 4 Wisconsin veterans who’d committed suicide and felt something had to be done to stop this trend. Speaking that summer not only impacted Larry and his relationship with Jesus Christ, but helped another man in camp too! Since then the special week has grown in attendance and in the scope of how it’s helping other Vets with their struggles also.

Gerry is joined on the Trail To Adventure! by the Heislers, at the tail end of the Family Fun Fossil Hunt that God’s Great Outdoors does near the Creation Museum each year. Jon & Deb reflect on the couple’s retreats that takes place in Canada each summer at the Rushing Wind Retreat Center in Ontario, an hour above International Falls, Minnesota. The two share how they are ministered to at the event, even with the special attention required because of Jon’s health issues. This includes full access to time out on the water in God’s beautiful Creation as Jon’s heath has him using a wheeled walker. The couple tell how the owners of Rushing Wind, Arnie and Dee Wolf have even helicopter-ed in a fleet of pontoon boats to this remote fly-in fishing camp, so everyone can be out on the water. Jon also tells of a wounded warrior (style) event there that is helping Vets find Jesus and heal from their past emotional damages!

This week’s Trail To Adventure radio program is a time with a man who has made his living related to God’s great outdoors and it’s natural wonders for many years. Dave Battle lives in Anchorage, Alaska and tells of the way that he was raised to believe in Jesus, the Bible, and creation, as he was immersed in experiencing it with his father. However, in his college years everything he was being taught as he studied to become a wildlife biologist was telling him, not only was evolution a fact but there wasn’t even a God necessary for life to exist. Yet, one day in class, an eye-opening look at how each skull he was required to examine and study from the different animal species revealed that they had to have been both intricately and intelligently designed for that animal to exist at all as the precise location of these many openings was proof positive.

On a trip to the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky to speak to this ministry’s staff during their morning devotions, Gerry connected with this week’s guest. Robert Smith’s story was about being blessed by God on an all-day whitetail deer hunt where only a half hour before dark he shot a monster buck. No ordinary deer, this typical ten pointer harvested on November 11th of 2000 with his rifle in northern Kentucky became a new state record buck. Robert, realizing that the Creator is truly the “Lord of the harvest” was thankful for this animal. Being what he calls “a meat hunter” he certainly had plenty of meals, but said when it came to the antlers value, it wasn’t a big deal. When an antler collector offered to buy the set, Robert knew the money could be used for an upcoming mission’s trip his church youth group was taking to Jamaica. Selling them was giving back to God, resulting in salvations abroad!

Gerry is at the Archery Trade Associations, 2016 Outdoor Trade Show held in Louisville, Kentucky on this week’s Trail To Adventure! In this interview he is visiting the Nature Blind booth connecting with the business founder and owner, Tim Thomason. These ground blinds and animal game feeders are well camouflaged as they look like tree stumps. Tim shares how on his first Texas deer hunt; the outfitter put him in an elevated shooting house and gave him a can of wasp spray. Not liking heights or those flying pests, he did his morning devotions and then, he asked God for a good idea. God answered and the tree stump shaped blind was the result. The biggest surprise is lives are being changed for eternity as the company products have scripture verses incorporated in their bark design and it’s doing a work for God!

This week's Trail To Adventure! program guest is the well known New Yorker, wildlife photographer and outdoor writer Charlie Alsheimer. Gerry drops in on Charlie at his studio/office on his farm in the Empire State and the two discuss how Charlie got involved in the outdoors. Charlie also shares that it was during his tour in Vietnam, and because of his boss there, an avid photographer, he decided to purchase photography equipment while in the Army and got started learning this craft. Interestingly enough, he cannot remember even taking one photo before this time. Charlie reflects on how he started doing wildlife photography and then later began writing an article for a local paper. With time he became a speaker at church outreach events and now has seen many come to Christ at game dinners and such.

This interview about a once in a life time adventure you can take someone on where they’ll have the Creator God speak to them by way of the outdoors, speakers and the fellowship of others! The owners and operators of Rushing Wind Retreat Center share with Gerry and the listeners how God worked it out in their lives to own this facility. This couple also talks about all the amenities of the facility, how they work in setting the stage for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. This fly-in adventure fishing camp is a place where men can invite friends and relatives to join them for the five days. Also, there are couples retreats that have helped restore marriages and seen changed lives for eternity.

Looking toward the coming months and getting outside more, this week’s guest will give all real safety thoughts to consider first. Kenny Ratliff begins this interview by describing great times in the outdoors with his dad and reflects on how he introduced him to spending time afield and stream. This later in his life became where he directed his vocation and passed up opportunities to wear a suit and tie to work. Kenny then goes into the story of how on Father’s Day some years back, and at the same time, the family was celebrating his dad’s and his youngest brother’s birthdays, something tragic happened. Kayaking on an area river, both of these two loved ones were taken home to be with the Lord because of a boating accident.

On this week's Trail To Adventure! Gerry interviews one of the two founders of Knight and Hale game calls, David Hale. Knight and Hale is probably one of the best-known game calling businesses in the outdoor industry. David shares on how the business got started because of one article written about the tube turkey call the two of them built in the back of Harold Knight’s barber shop. He reflects on the journey they have had as a game call company, and how incredibly blessed they are because of their Creator God. Gerry and David discuss how we are without excuse in God’s creation not to see that there is a great Creator God. Also looked at, is “The Great Commission,” and the ways outdoorsmen can reach others with the love of Jesus Christ, to keep them from the flames of Hell when they die!

Gerry visits the Creation Museum that is located in Petersburg, Kentucky with Mark Looy, from Answers in Genesis. Mark shares about this apologetic ministry focusing on the importance of the first book of the Bible and the new exhibit to open in July 2016 called the Ark Experience. This life size Ark is expected to have 1.4 million visitors in the first year and is a way to evangelize those who come to explore this rescue craft straight out of the Bible! God’s Great Outdoors, Family Fun Fossil Hunt’s annual adventure on August 20th in Ohio, is just a little over an hour from the Museum, and the two would be a great summer combo trip. Along this year is Dr. John Whitmore, who teaches geology and paleontology at Cedarville University, as he’ll share with the hunters and the discussion will revolves around Noah’s flood.