The Earth is the Lord’s: Earth Day 2012

Today is Earth Day and that’s got me thinking about a few things related to this 42nd annual observance:

The Earth and its resources belong to God “the land is mine” Lev. 25:23. “Whatever is under the heaven is mine” Job 41:11. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” Ps. 24:1. “The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours.” Psalm 89:11. “The world and its fulness are mine.” Ps. 50:9-12. Since this is the case, we should first consult the Lord regarding the use and habitation of His property. This being the case, it’s noteworthy that . . .

The Earth and its resources have been entrusted to people “And God said to them (Adam and Eve), ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish . . . and over the birds . . . and over every living thing . . . on the earth. And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant . . . that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree . . .” Gen. 1:28-29 The word translated “subdue” means to tread down or bring into bondage like a conqueror. And “dominion” means to prevail over -the idea of being victorious. We read further in 2:15: ”The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it.” The word ”work” means to serve, while the word “keep” connotes the idea of preserving. This covenant is renewed with Noah and all subsequent generations in 9:1-4. The point is that we are not simply part of the natural world, but also apart from it. As Norm Geisler said, “Man is not merely a peasant in creation; he is king over it.” We are duty bound to serve and preserve the earth -it is a huge part of what it means to be human.

For this reason, people have a sacred responsibility to care for the earth and its resources with the same diligence that God cares for it. (Ps. 65:5-13; 104:1-22) His covenant people are told of His special concern for their land: “the land that you are going over to possess is a land . . . that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are wlways upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.” (Deut. 11:11, 12) God gave His people several commands regarding proper care for and use of the land (Lev. 25:1-12), the animals and wildlife (Duet. 22:6; 25:4), and the trees (Deut. 20:19-20). As we have already seen, Adam tilled the ground (Gen. 2:15). He also named the animals (Gen. 2:19-20). Never before have humans had the technology to exercise so much power over creation as today. Forests can be cleared in a day, rivers can be tamed by dams and levees, and crops can be planted on land never before considered arable. This incredible capacity to do great harm or wonderful good to our earth must be anchored to our great calling to operate as God’s representatives both serving and ruling over the Earth as His image-bearers. But this is not always easy since . . .

The Earth and its resources have fallen into decay at the Fall and so have its caregivers. Romans 8:19-22 tells us that “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory fo the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” In other words not only did we fall at the Fall, but creation fell as well. The fact that creation is fallen means that it requires even greater stewardship. Sadly, due to our sin nature, benevolent stewardship of the earth has not always been practiced. The industrial mind-set that allows companies to virtually rape global resources is not hard to find -even today when the cry of “loving Mother Earth” is louder than ever. And Christians are not immune to such accusations. Contrary to what some would have us believe, however we do not understand the Bible to teach “that nature has no reason for existence save to serve man.” Some have interpreted the command to “subdue” the earth as a license to exploit it for selfish gain. Too many Christians believe, at least in practice, that the earth is not worth saving since our ultimate hope is the new heavens and earth, not this old one. We are all to blame. As the classic Pogo cartoon said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” If we accept that we Christians are as much to blame as anyone and we want to do better by our home, how do we wade through the agenda-filled, biased research since . . .

Environmental debates are an arena filled with hyperbole and misinformation. Topics such as deforestation, topsoil loss, toxic wastes, greenhouse gases and melting polar ice caps routinely fill newspapers and newscasts. Are we to believe Al Gore’s claim that 100,000 species become extinct every day? Or those who claim that it closer to 4,000 a year? Or those who claim that only 1,033 species have been documented extinct since 1600? I don’t claim to have all of the answers here, but the general operating principle is that as truth-loving people, we must be relentless fact-checkers. (For some recent reliable information, may I suggest Wayne Grudem’s chapter “The Environment” in his Politics According to the Bible.)

Before we go on, we may want to ask:

1) Should we as Christians care? Pesticides have been found in the fat of Antartctic animals. Environmental problems are a global issue. If you are breathing and your brain synapses are firing, you should care, and we should not be scared off by the fact that quasi-pantheists have run with the conversation and the effort to utilize our earth wisely.

2) Does God really care about these issues? I taught pre-schoolers -1st graders today the story of Noah’s ark. In this story, God cared enough about the environment to preserve the Earth’s creatures from the flood (Gen. 6-7). He cares about land conversion and habitat destruction: Isaiah 5:8-10; He cares about land degredation: Leviticus 25:2-4; He cares about resource conversion: Ezekiel 34:1. Yes, God cares. Get over your fear of entering into an evolution debate and do something about this issue that God clearly cares about.

So what is the solution? It is certainly multi-faceted. I don’t claim to have cornered the market on answers, but here are a few things to consider:

1. Understand that God is not only the Creator of the Earth, but also the Sustainer. Hebrews 1:3 teaches that Christ “upholds the Universe by the word of his power” and Colossians 1:17 says that in Christ “all things hold together.” Bottom line? Don’t freak out when the alarmists sound off. He will allow the Earth to survive as long as He wants it to.

2. Nature should not be worshiped (as in pantheism). God is not one with nature and neither are we. Killing animals and cutting down trees are not only permitted but encouraged if they serve good purposes (and these good purposes can be as trivial as decoration. Solomon used Elephant tusks in this way).

3. Progress is not the highest goal and technology should not be used to destroy the environment (as in Ayn Rand’s naturalism). Though nature exists for man, man also exists for nature. You cannot have one without the other. To love the progress of man, you must exercise care for his environment.

4. Money and patience should be used to treat the land properly. As Schaeffer asked, “Are we going to have an immediate profit and and immediate savings of time, or are we going to do what we really should do as God’s children?” The general principle is that we should strive for a balance between mankind’s obligation to reproduce and nature’s -without one overrunning the other.

5. In this day and age of lightning speed transition it is all the more important to study what the Bible has to say about stewardship of resources. Sadly, recent studies show that the more one attends church, the less one understands and respects ecological relationships. Study it and pass it on to the next generation before they learn the ”Mother Earth”/globalism junk taught in our schools and media.

Of all the great religious and philosophical systems, none gives greater dignity to the material creation than does the judeo-Christian tradition. Both Testaments support the contention that the physical universe is good (though fallen), and that it reflects the glory of its Creator (Ps. 19:1; 1 Tim. 4:4). We must face the fact that not to love our environment is to not love one another. To quote Geisler again, “Am I my earth’s keeper? If I am not the earth’s keeper, then it is becoming increasingly evident that neither am I my brother’s keeper. This is my brother’s earth, and if I do not keep it, then it will keep neither him nor me.”

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by cfhall on April 23, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on April 23, 2012

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We Serve a Good God, so Let the Wild-Game Feast Begin!

So often, we focus on what God has told us not to do. Since the days of our first parents in the Garden, we may choose to focus on what God has said we may not do rather than on what we may do (Gen. 1:29-30; 2:16-17; 3:1-6). In doing so, we rob ourselves of enjoying God’s good blessings. We begin to see God as a cosmic overprotective mother-hen, rather than a good Father who loves to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11).

Yes, it has been this way since time began. You can imagine how the theocratic nation of Israel must have struggled with this temptation. Consider the following divine restrictions to their diet selected from Deuteronomy 12 and 14:

Don’t eat any abomination. Don’t eat any animal with its blood. Do not eat a young goat boiled in its mother’s milk. Do not eat meat devoted to God anywhere but at the central place of worship. Do not eat any animal that chews the cud or has a cloven hoof. Do not eat any water animal that has no fins or scales. Do not eat any unclean birds. Do not eat any animal that has died a natural death. Do not eat any unclean winged insects.

Our 21st Century minds struggle to make sense of such dietary laws. And even though such restrictions are no longer binding on God’s people (Mark 7:19; Acts 10:9-16), even we tend to focus on what is forbidden rather than what is permitted. Consider the following verses from the same chapters (emphasis mine):

However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your towns, as much as you desire, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the deer. . . . When the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you crave meat, you may eat meat whenever you desire. . . . Just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it. The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it. Deuteronomy 12:15, 20-22

These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. Every animal that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. . . . Of all that are in the waters you may eat these: whatever has fins and scales you may eat . . . . You may eat all clean birds. . . . All clean winged things you may eat. Deuteronomy 14:4-6, 9, 11, 20

Wow, that is a huge variety of meat! It’s obvious that God not only wants His people to “get by,” but He even wants them to revel in His abundant blessing of food. What variety He offers to His people! What freedom He gives! Did you notice that all of His people are free to partake: clean and unclean? And did you notice the part that says you can eat it whenever you desire!? And just because you crave meat!? Consider what King Solomon’s court, palace, and extended family consumed every day at the height of Israel’s prosperity:

1 Kings 4:22-23 Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. For he had dominion over all the region . . .

Why would God allow such extravagant feasts? Because He wants all to know that He is a good God who loves to pour out blessings on His people. Think back to the most blessed times in your life and you will probably remember that food was involved in one way or another. Let there be no mistaking: God gives us the gift of meat as a symbol of His blessing and He is pleased when we enjoy it as such.*

So, how do we apply such neglected truths?

1. Enjoy God’s good blessing of food. This must be one of the ways we eat to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

  1. 2. Enjoy variety in God’s gifts of food. Experience His goodness in the fact that not everything tastes like chicken (contrary to what some would have us believe).

3. Fight the good fight of faith to not be dominated by food, but rather to maintain dominion over food so that you may rightly enjoy it.

4. Don’t be a vegetarian or vegan (unless for legitimate health reasons of course)! And especially, don’t say that it is more honoring to the Lord if you are!

5. Yes, remember the divine prohibitions in Scripture (they are there to set us apart as His people and for our joy), but please, please, please also pay close attention to the divine commendations of Scripture as well. In so doing, you will recognize that we serve a very good God indeed!

*Let me insert a couple of editorial comments for clarification: I am vehemently opposed to the modern-day, man-centered “Prosperity Gospel” which reduces God to a cosmic genie and misinterprets Scripture to make man the center of the Universe rather than God. Please do not misinterpret this post to support such a position. I also am well-aware that many believers struggle with making an idol out of food (thereby making it a curse) rather than enjoying it as the blessing it is intended to be, but this fact does not change the truth that we were given all varieties of food simply as a good gift for our enjoyment.

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by cfhall on March 21, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on March 21, 2012

http://dominionmandatedotorg.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/we-serve-a-good-god-so-let-the-wild-game-feast-begin/

My Best Muzzleloader Story

Disappointment. Every hunter deals with it -some of us deal with it better than others. Having only hunted a brief while, I’m still learning to deal with it gracefully. I’m not quite to the point that I can say, “Well, at least we got to get out and enjoy the great outdoors” and mean it -but I’m working on it.

One recent example was this year’s muzzle-loader season’s epic failure: a missed shot at a HUGE bobcat. You see, last season I shot at a HUGE bobcat at about 150 yards during muzzle loader season and missed. (I blamed that one on a gun that wasn’t sighted in.) That made this year’s missed 50 yard shot all the more painful. (Unfortunately, it’s hard to blame this one on the gun!) I felt almost sick -unbelievable. No fur. No blood. No nothing. Just a hole in a fallen tree. Ok, I WAS sick. How in the world could I miss?

So, why do I title this My Best Muzzleloader Story? Well, (1) since I’ve yet to kill something with a muzzleloader, I don’t have a “good” muzzleloader story. But more importantly, (2) I believe there are more important things than killing an animal that are happening when I step outdoors to go hunting.

Namely, God is shaping me to make me who He wants me to be (Romans 8:28-29). In this instance, He definitely wanted me to learn the importance of self-control (Galatians 5:23), endurance (Romans 5:23), and most importantly: humility (Colossians 3:12)! If you are like me and believe that the God who controls all things also directs all things to make us more like His Son (Ephesians 2:10), then strive with me to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) -even after that disappointing missed shot.

Our lives are not about us. They are about Him. If a disappointment like this can remind me of this truth, than I guess I can call this “My Best Muzzleloader Story” . . . so far.

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by cfhall on January 31, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on January 31, 2012

http://dominionmandatedotorg.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/my-best-muzzleloader-story/

Caption this pic

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by cfhall on December 15, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on December 15, 2011

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How would you caption this picture?

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by cfhall on November 30, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on November 30, 2011

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In order for me to legally bowhunt in Western KY this season, I need to . . .

In order for me to legally bowhunt in Western KY this season, I need to:

-Make sure I complete the hunter education course

-Make sure I spend at least $50 on a hunting license and deer permit

-Make sure I only hunt during Sept. 3 – Jan. 16

-Make sure I only shoot between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset

-Make sure I only hunt on public hunting land or on private land that the owner has given me written or verbal permission

-Make sure if I do any scouting at night, I don’t spotlight any deer (even with headlights)

-Make sure I carry picture ID, hunting license and tag, hunter education course completion card, and harvest log with me when hunting

-Make sure I fill out a harvest log (in ink) as soon as my deer is recovered and before it is moved

-Make sure I call the toll-free automated phone-in telecheck system before midnight on the day I kill my deer to check it in

-Make sure I know the code number of the county in which I killed the deer to provide for check in

-Make sure I write the confirmation number on my harvest log before I give my deer to a) my friend to haul it in his pick-up, b) a meat processor, or c) my taxidermist because I will need to fill out a carcass tag before handing the deer over to them

-Make sure I call to telecheck my deer prior to removing the hide or head

-Make sure I telecheck my deer before I take it out of state

-Make sure I don’t track my shot deer into the neighbor’s land without asking permission from the neighbor first

-Make sure I wear a solid (not camo-patterned) hunter orange vest and hat when bow hunting on Oct. 8-9, 15-16, Nov. 12-27, Dec. 10-18, and Dec. 31-Jan. 1 since some hunters may be hunting with firearms during those dates (unless I’m hunting on a Wildlife Management Area where firearm hunting is prohibited)

-Make sure I’m not in a car or other vehicle when I shoot my deer

-Make sure any public hunting land I am hunting on doesn’t have any additional hunting rules that apply to me (especially tree stand regulations and extra antlered deer allowances)

-Make sure that if I find a dead deer or his sheds while I’m out in the woods, I don’t sell, trade, or barter with his antlers or any other parts of him (this goes for any turtle shells I find too)

-Make sure I don’t use my dog to hunt deer, only to track him (if leashed) after I’ve shot the deer

-Make sure that after I’ve shot my deer during bow season and found him, I don’t go home to get my rifle to put him out of his misery because legally, he has to be finished off with a weapon that is in season

-Make sure that after I’ve killed my doe at sunrise light only to find out later that she is a buck, I don’t call her in to telecheck as a doe or a button-buck. I also may not kill a whopper of a buck later and call him as a doe to make up for the tiny little buck I “accidentally” shot earlier in the season. And I also may not kill said whopper buck and telecheck him in as my daughter’s deer.

-Make sure I don’t sell any inedible parts of my deer unless it is to a licensed taxidermist

-Make sure I don’t start a fire within 150 ft. of any woodland or bruchland during the days of Oct. 1-Dec. 15 unless its between 6 pm and 6 am -or unless the ground is covered with snow

-Make sure my deer calls and decoys I use (and possess) are not electronic (Note to self: silence my grunt call cell phone ringtone prior to entering the woods)

-Make sure I don’t chemically treat any of my arrows or broadheads

-Make sure my broadheads are at least 7/8″ wide and not barbed

-Make sure I’m not feeding deer with grain, seed or manufactured animal feed (other than right by my house) between March 1 and May 31

-Make sure I don’t kill a turkey without paying an extra $30

-Make sure that if I see another animal and want to kill it, I had better know if it is in season or not

-Make sure I don’t kill more than two deer without paying an extra $15

-Make sure only one of those two deer is an antlered buck

Wow! That’s a ton of stuff to keep track of -especially with adrenaline and excitement flowing! And that’s just what’s in the guide I got in town -it doesn’t even count all of the applicable laws on the books in Frankfort and DC!

But, I have a confession to make: I poached last season -didn’t get a license at all. It started with me wanting to try hunting for the first time . . .

and then I got hooked . . .

You know how it is -you don’t want to pay the full amount to hunt half of the season when you’ve already made it through the first half. Problem is, bag limits tend to slip right out the window when you do such things. Scarier still, I found myself thinking of what lie would work to cover up this violation or that one. Don’t jump to conclusions -I sinned boldly and I don’t think I tried to cover up my illegal actions even once. But it sure was a slippery slope and it sure did taint my hunting experience. So, now . . . I am a reformed hunter -well, I try anyway. I didn’t fill out my tags this year until after I got home, and I think I had already cut the head and skin off, and I know I let my buddy bring it home for me in his truck without a carcass tag . . .

Aaaarrrrgggg!!!! I try and try and still can’t manage to keep all of the laws and regulations!

I’m sure you too have broken (or maybe just “bent”) a hunting law or two before even if you’ve only hunted one season. Maybe you just weren’t aware of the rule? or you just forgot? or you just didn’t care? Whatever the reason, I believe that God’s word calls Christians to be the most law-abiding hunters in the woods.

Jesus himself told us to pay taxes to our government even if we find them corrupt, blasphemous, and unjust (Mt. 22:15-22). Paul gives us the reason for that by explaining that rebellion against our earthly authorities is ultimately rebellion against our Heavenly authority who ordains all human governors (Rom. 13:7). He also explains that to obey the laws of the land will result in the approval of the law-makers of the land and by contrast, if we disobey those same laws, we will pay the consequences. Which leads us to Peter’s point: Christians should be law-abiding citizens for the Lord’s sake. It is his reputation that is at stake not just ours, because we are his people reflecting his authority (1 Pet. 2:12-20). As he puts it, “if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” And, “who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. . . . having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (3:13-17) Peter is saying that how we live in relation to man’s laws reflects back on God’s laws. If we suffer (through mere inconvenience or full-blown persecution) for keeping man’s laws, we will be blessed by God.

“But wait!” you may object. “It’s my God-given right to hunt and the government shouldn’t interfere when I’m exercising that right!” This is a common objection, but has God actually told you that you must hunt? Or has he merely said that you may hunt? Even if He has told us that we must hunt, that does not negate the passages of Scripture noted above that call on us to obey all hunting laws.

“Well, a lot of those state-wide laws only make sense in other parts of the state. If they made laws for where I live and hunt, they’d be a lot different.” There may be some validity to this objection, but this is also no reason to disobey Scripture. While laws may make certain activities more cumbersome than they should be or may not seem to make sense in our context, our submission to them still reflects our submission to God.

“But, wasn’t there people in Scripture who obeyed God by disobeying man’s laws?” Sure, lots:

-The Hebrew midwives refused to obey Pharoah’s orders to kill the newborn male children of the Hebrew women and God approved (Ex. 1:15-22).

-Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image of himself in Babylon and God blessed them (Dan. 3:1-18).

-Peter and the other apostles refused to obey the ruling Sanhedrin’s orders that they not preach in the name of Jesus, choosing instead to “obey God rather than men” and God blessed them (Acts 4:19; 5:29).

Do you see the difference? God only blessed those who disobeyed goverment because the government was calling them to sin! The irony of those who use this argument is that they sin in not obeying the government. Unless the hunting laws are mandating sin, we must obey them or we find ourselves in sin.

I certainly don’t agree with every way the Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife spends my money. I don’t understand the rationale behind all of the hunting laws. And quite frankly, many of the laws cost me time, money, and inconvenience, but if I love Jesus, I will submit to the authorities placed over me. And I will not just obey begrudgingly, but I will honor my governing authorities -not because they deserve it (as if you or I do either), but because He is worthy of my honor and He has decided that these law-makers serve in authority over me. As a result, I believe that I will be blessed -maybe not with the biggest deer like my poacher friend, but blessed in more eternal ways. And I will shine as a brighter light to those around me who do not know Christ.

I don’t always keep every law perfectly, but thank God Jesus kept the law in my place so I could count on His righteousness. Yes, I have repented of my poaching ways -never to return. And I sleep a lot better.

(By the way, if you don’t know where to begin in discovering your state’s hunting and fishing regulations go to: http://www.huntnfishregs.com/. Huntgeek.com has also designed a shooting hours calculator app that can be accessed at http://www.huntgeek.com/Hunt-Geek-Mobile-Apps.php.)

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by cfhall on November 29, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on November 29, 2011

http://dominionmandatedotorg.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/in-order-for-me-to-legally-bowhunt-in-western-ky-this-season-i-need-to/

You Eat What?!

Eating cui (guinea pig) on a trip to the Ecuadorian jungle

Having traveled to Ecuador, Papua New Guinea, and Brazil, I
have had several opportunities to eat interesting meals. Ranging from cow’s
tongue and monkey’s brains to guinea pig and sea turtle, some I have found
tastier than others. Every culture has different standards regarding what is acceptable
and unacceptable to eat. Here in Kentucky, most of us would never eat a horse
or a cat and yet one or two generations ago, it was normal to find possum meat
or squirrel brains served on our tables. Go to Europe today, and it is
perfectly fine to eat horse meat. Visit Asia today, and you can enjoy a variety
of recipes that feature cat or even scorpion. Christians from vastly differing
cultures enjoy vastly differing kinds of meat. These differences beg the
question:

Is there such a thing as a kind of animal that is
displeasing to God for us to kill and eat?

And a related issue: Is God dishonored by our killing
animals for other uses that serve mankind?

Scripture is not void of answers to this issue, but the
entirety of God’s revelation must be considered to find a complete answer.

Genesis 3:21. We must remember that God was the first to
kill an animal. Though not for nourishment, the death served a double purpose
of 1) proving that sin brings death and 2) meeting
man’s need for a covering. (Side note: This broadly shows us that our
attempts to cover sin and its effects will always fall short –what we need is
God’s covering –or atonement.) For the purposes of this discussion, let’s
notice that God met man’s need to cover
his nakedness by killing an animal.

Genesis 9:2-3. Two pertinent passages shine further light on
our search for answers in the life of Noah: 1) He is instructed to take two of
every animal and seven of every clean animal (for sacrificial purposes). This is
interesting, because we have no scriptural record of differentiation between
clean or unclean animals prior to this, yet it precedes the Law of Moses. 2) Included
in the ground rules that God lays down for Life on Earth – take two, He says
that man is allowed to kill animals and also that animals now have an unnatural
fear of man. (I have to wonder if one of Noah’s sons couldn’t help themselves
and killed a dinosaur or other ancient animal prior to their first post-flood
breeding season leading to their immediate extinction! Thanks a lot, Shem!)

Genesis 10:8-9. Flash forward a few generations, and we read
a brief mention of Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord. We do not know
exactly what is entailed in this accolade, but he apparently honored the Lord
through his killing of animals. Perhaps he was used of God to meet the needs of
others through his kills?

Exodus 13:8-13. Amazingly, our merciful God provides food
for His stubborn, complaining people during the desert wanderings by slaying
thousands (or even millions?) of quail.

Leviticus 11 clearly details what God’s expectations are
regarding clean and unclean animals for eating and sacrificing. This leads to hundreds
of years of Hebrew cultural standards upheld by many to this day.

Mark 7:14-19. It was in this cultural climate that Jesus
enters the scene. He points out that the Jews of His day were so focused on not
defiling themselves through food that they paid little to no attention to the
defilement coming out of their hearts (sin). Mark provides a Holy Spirit
inspired editorial comment in verse 20: “thus he declared all foods clean.”

Acts 9:43-11:18. Peter must have been there when Jesus
declared all foods clean, but such lessons are slow to sink in prior to the
help of the Holy Spirit I guess. So, the Lord gave him a vision teaching that
not only are all the dietary laws of Leviticus 11 abrogated, but also Peter’s
understanding of Gentiles as recipients of God’s saving grace was wrong.

So, what are some take-aways from these passages?

  1. If you are counting on your strict diet-keeping
    as a determinor of your standing before God, study the Scriptures to see if
    these things are true. Go eat some shrimp and pork to the glory of god.
  2. If you are using “weird food” as an excuse to
    justify cultural prejudices, you are going to have to look for another one, or
    stand in direct violation of God’s revealed Word.
  3. Hunters, let’s not forget that hunting is not
    just a trophy sport, but Scripturally it is also a means for God to provide for
    man’s needs.
  4. Animal rights folks (and even uber-tenderhearted
    folks), please open your eyes to the fact that God nowhere forbids the killing
    of animals for the use of man, in fact He often initiates such killings.
  5. Christian vegetarians, take note that we are
    nowhere called to return ourselves to the presumed vegetarianism of the Garden
    anymore than we are called to be nudists. Also note that Jesus took part in a
    fish breakfast during one of His post-resurrection appearances –in His
    glorified body (John 21:9-13).
  6. Let us strive to be wise stewards of God’s
    living creatures. Let’s not just kill for sport’s sake. Let’s utilize as many
    parts of the animal as we possibly can. (Controversial suggestion: Maybe what
    we need instead of no-kill shelters is “kill to eat shelters” to solve both the
    problem of pet overpopulation and the problem of hungry malnourished people.)
    Let’s continue striving to get over our cultural assumptions for the good use
    of our living natural resources.

I’m sure there are more lessons that may be
learned and I hope you will comment with your thoughts. Who knows what kinds of
food we will be feasting on around the table at the Great Wedding Supper of the
Lamb (Revelation 19:9)? I hope to see you there.

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by cfhall on November 9, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on November 9, 2011

http://dominionmandatedotorg.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/you-eat-what/

The Perils of Good (and Bad) Luck

Like many hunters, I enjoy watching the Outdoor Sports Networks. One thing consistently bothers me about the shows I watch. The use of the word, “luck” shows up over and over. In one sense, the hunters that use the word are merely acknowledging the fact that they are not skilled enough, smart enough, or strong enough to make every hunt successful. All those things are helpful, but in order to have a successful hunt, one must have “a little bit of luck.” I can appreciate the humility in a statement like that.

But, in another sense, they are (surely unknowingly) dishonoring the sovereign God of the universe. I believe every word of the Bible and the Bible teaches that even seemingly random or chance events are decided by God. This is the teaching of Proverbs 16:33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” So much for “luck.”

So, what are some of the practical implications of this doctrine for hunters? Consider just a few:

Instead of, “With a little luck, I’ll have a good hunt,” how about, “If the Lord wills, I’ll have a good hunt.” –James 4:13-17.

Instead of, “Wow, what a lucky shot!” how about, “Wow, what a good gift from the Father!” –James 1:17.

Instead of, “Daggumit! If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all!” how about, “I’m going to rejoice and give thanks even though this has been a difficult and unsuccessful hunt.” -1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18.

One example of bad “luck” for me was when last year’s Ky. muzzle-loader season when I missed a huge bobcat and a doe in the same morning. It ate me up one side and down the other! I learned two lessons that day and neither had to do with luck: 1. When you are hunting with your friend’s gun, make sure it is sighted in correctly first, and 2. If the Lord cares that much about a bobcat and a deer, how much more does He care about me? (Luke 12:6-7)

So, let’s vow to season our conversation with Gospel salt by doing away with “luck” and speaking Biblically. And the next time you hear a fellow hunter talk about “luck,” use it as an opportunity to share Christ explaining how the sovereign God of the universe is at work ruling over all things and that He does all things well, for the glory of His name and for the good of His children.

Bow season starts tomorrow in my state. Have a blessed (not “lucky”) season!

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by cfhall on September 2, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on September 2, 2011

http://dominionmandatedotorg.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/the-perils-of-good-and-bad-luck/

Leave a Crockett-Sized Legacy (or bigger)

Who was Davy Crockett?

A legendary hunter.

Fiercely independent.

A military volunteer.

A fascinating storyteller.

A frontiersman.

A politician (one of the few that opposed Jackson’s Indian Removal Act).

A hero that ended this life at the Battle of the Alamo.

He was all of this and more. Davy Crockett was the stuff legends are made of. And plenty of legends surrounded him. But was he a Christian?

His ancestor, Antonine Desasure Peronnette de Crocketagne was a well-reputed Frenchman that converted to Christianity under the influence of the Huguenots and moved to Ireland in the 1670’s to flee persecution. Soon after, the name was changed to Crockett and the family came to the New World. So, he definitely had a strong Christian background only a few generations back. But was he a Christian?

I know just enough about Davy Crockett to be dangerous. I’ve read some of his autobiographical material and done a little research online. In studying Crockett, a couple of undeniable character qualities shine through. For starters, he had a very strong sense of right and wrong. He also was a man of conviction who did not back down when he was convinced of a perceived right. And he certainly acknowledged God on more than one occasion. But, was he a Christian?

Historian and biographer, Michael Wallis’s most recently published book is entitled, Davy Crockett: the Lion of the West. He and I recently corresponded via e-mail in preparation for this blog. Michael informed me that, “Crockett certainly as an adult had no religious affiliation and left absolutely no trace of evidence that he was ever what one might call a religious person.” So was he a Christian?

Well, it looks like Crockett shared many characteristics with Christians, but apparently he was not a Christ-follower. As a matter of fact, were he alive today (though he would be 225), he would probably have more in common with our modern day “Good Ole Boy”. Good Ole Boys have a firm sense of right and wrong, they are men of conviction, and most have a godly family heritage. Are there things we can learn from Crockett? Certainly, but in determining his faith, it appears we shall have to stop short at Good Ole Boy Outdoorsman. Again from Wallis, “I know of no credible source that has ever considered Crockett to be a Christian.”

So this leaves us with another question: What kind of legacy do you want to leave 225 years from now? Crockett has several things named for him including Theodore Roosevelt’s Boone and Crockett Club. Is that a goal of yours –to have a hunting organization named for you? Or maybe you’d like to have entertaining tall tales told about you for years to come? Before you can answer a question of your legacy, a more important question to consider is not if Crockett knew Christ, but if you do. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a Good Ole Boy as long as your life shows that your supreme affection is for the risen Christ and that you have been crucified with Him. And that the life you now live, you live by faith in the Son (Gal. 2:20).

So, how do you leave a legacy that is more lasting than morality, courage, and a stewardship of the outdoors? (Of course, those are good things to leave too.) I think the answer comes from the legacy of Moses who wrote down God’s instructions to Israel a few thousand years ago: You shall teach [these words from God] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deut. 6:7) If we tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord and his might, and the wonders that He has done (Ps. 78:4), I think we are on the legacy leaving track.

At some point, the Crockett’s stopped telling their stories of faith and perseverance through trials. I know, because I am a direct descendant of Davy Crockett’s uncle. Fight Good Ole Boy Christianity and Good Ole Boy Outdoorsmanship in your life and the generations to come by living a radically God-centered life and 225 years from now, you’ll be praising Jesus around His throne for the glory He received for lavishing you with such undeserved grace.

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by cfhall on August 24, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on August 24, 2011

http://dominionmandatedotorg.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/leave-a-crockett-sized-legacy-or-bigger/

Squirrels and the Fall

I’ll never forget my first successful squirrel hunt. It was late February and my oldest daughter and I went out in the late afternoon to some woods that had not had a lot of hunting pressure. As soon as I would shoot one, another would show himself and we’d be off in pursuit. We ended up taking three that day. I also remember the somewhat grossed out look in her eye as she wanted a closer look at the butchering and cleaning process. And I still remember the trepidation around the dinner table as we served squirrel for the first time in the Hall house. All of these experiences have kept me going back into the woods one season after another to look for more clever little tree-dwelling rascals to fill my quota.

In Kentucky, the Fall Squirrel season runs from August to February and the Spring season is in May/June. This seems like a long season, especially compared with other seasons regulated by the State. Some have wondered why we would hunt such a defenseless, “fun-loving”, entertaining creature. This question has prompted me to ask, “What if we didn’t have squirrel seasons? Wildlife management experts tell us that without hunters to keep squirrel populations in check, diseases and loss of habitat/food would decimate the population. Not to mention, the cute little tree rodent would become a nuisance (as some of you probably already know). And indeed, history has shown these effects to be true with many animal species.

Why are all of these horrible possibilities so? Because of the Fall of Man (Genesis 3). Sin took what was good (like squirrels), 1. cursed it, and 2. turned it into a curse. Since the Fall, even the little Acorn-cutters (and their acorns) have been affected. Man’s sin didn’t just bring forth man’s death (Gen. 3:19, 22), but affected all of creation as well (Rom. 8:20) –even little chattering tree rats.

The ultimate solution to the problem of disease, over/underpopulation, loss of habitat, nuisances, etc, is, of course the return of Jesus Christ. Even squirrels long for this day: “The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God . . . in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” (Romans 8:19, 21-22). We can and should manage and steward our environment as well as the squirrels and other animals that inhabit it, but we must never think that we are the ultimate solution. Rather, He who is making all things new and who will do away with all pain and death in the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1-5) has got all of that under control.

But that’s not all. In the meantime, I get to enjoy the fun of a fair-chase hunt, time with my family in the great outdoors, and some food on my plate. The season starts this Saturday! Isn’t that just like God to turn a curse back into a blessing?

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by cfhall on August 18, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by cfhall on August 18, 2011

http://dominionmandatedotorg.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/squirrels-and-the-fall/

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