A Christmas Story
(from godsgreatoutdoors.org)
Welcome to God’s Great Outdoors
God’s Great Outdoors is an adventurous twenty-five minute weekly syndicated radio program hosted by producer and outdoorsman Gerry Caillouet. Join us on a journey to meet with well-known pro sportsmen. “Lindners’ Angling Edge’s” Ron and Al Lindner, Chuck Buck of Buck Knives, Joni Eareckson Tada of “Joni and Friends”, Jimmy Houston, “American’s Favorite Fisherman”, and David Hale and Harold Knight the “Game Call Pros” are just a few of the people who give helpful tips regarding the outdoors as well as reflect on their Christian walk.
About Us – How God’s Great Outdoors Got Started
If you ask me how the radio program of God’s Great Outdoors came into being, be prepared to spend some time listening. Because, as the story unfolds, you’ll discover God never takes us on a straight line from point A to point B. The Father must first prepare and change us. Thus, we travel on life’s path through God’s divine direction and always in His perfect timing.
In 1993, a group of men and women joined together and started a chapter of Christian Bowhunters of America. As the chapter grew and developed outreach programs, an idea for a hunt began to take shape. The hunt, called The Trophies Of Grace Whitetail Deer Hunt, became the ministry’s vision to see unsaved loved ones become the “Trophies”, not the deer that were harvested. Want to know more about the Annual Trophies of Grace Whitetail Deer Hunt? Go to www.lothac.com
The hunt became an annual event with the second year seeing hunters and their families attend from nine different states. (The fifth annual hunt saw twenty states represented.) Several weeks after the second hunt, I reflected on all the Christians who made their living in the outdoors. I also thought of all the different outdoor ministries I’d come in contact with in the last few years.
The Christian community needed to know about the sacrifices of both time and money that were being committed to reach unsaved outdoorsmen. Men, women, and children who will not attend church, listen to Christian radio, or watch Billy Graham on television are finding Jesus Christ because of these Christians’ efforts. With all this in mind, the idea for a Christian radio program about God’s Great Outdoors became a burning desire.
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Senior Chatters
I never heard of this radio station until now , I wonder how do they run it …is it a heavily religious program …is it a radio station or a program ?
I may google it up ,:-)
This is a radio program which links hunting with the Christian way of life. The blog title is meant to be ironic.
Laurie, I can see nothing Christian in hunting for sport,, I know many will disagree with my view but linking hunting and religion is distasteful. Pat.
My point exactly Pat though I would use a stronger word than distasteful.
My brothers hunt for sport, and they seem to be so sweet and nice and Christian, but what do they get out of killing awesome creatures?
That is a question I ask myself every day.
There were 2 deer, in my neighbor”s yard when I came home last night, a mature female and a much younger female. I cannot imagine wanting to harm them for fun.
I cannot imagine it either.
I am a grand daughter of a poacher and spent my childhood days and sometimes nights with my Grandpa.It was a way of life and food for the table.
I didn’t know it was illegal until I was 15 years…just thought everyone’s Grandpa did it.
He did teach me that everything was precious and never, ever to be wasted.A snare should be managed and regularly checked and never cause unnecessary suffering as it was a life.So I can understand the Association between Christianity and Hunting.
Wanton destruction should be deplored.
Now,sport is another case entirely,big business here in the Uk,but the money generated pays for the managed woodlands and coverts that provide a much needed habitat for our declining wildlife.So in a perverse way they are conservationists.
Sitting firmly on my countryside fence here folks.
Indeed you are placed firmly on your fence Gypsy, just as I remain solidly in my corner.
Nature is cruel and we need to be aware of that. Wildlife starves when their numbers grow to large. Some people believe we should all be vegetarian but that would not solve the problem of deer eating the crops and getting too numerous.
Laurie, the problem is not simple.
Small sample from Wikiversity’s long list of “Environmental and Animal Organizations Publicly Opposed to Hunting”:
ASPCA: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Best Friends Animal Society
Born Free Foundation
Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting (CASH)
Friends of Animals
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
Royal Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) — Australia
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) — United Kingdom
From Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting (CASH):
Argument from Overpopulation
Some hunters argue that without hunting, wildlife populations will exceed “social carrying capacity.” In fact, hunted herds have been shown to demonstrate a greater percentage increase in population one year after a hunt than unhunted herds.
Argument from Ecological Destruction
Some hunters argue that “culling” deer populations is necessary to preserve plant life, or that “culling” predators is necessary to preserve prey species. However, many more factors are involved in environmental changes such as decreases in a particular plant species, from climate change to soil erosion, and hunting is more likely to contribute to imbalances in the ecosystem than to serve as a “corrective” for ecological change.
Argument that Overpopulation contributes to Car Collisions
Some hunters argue that if it weren’t for hunting, there would be even more wildlife-car collisions. In fact, more animals are on the move during hunting seasons, resulting in a consistent increase in collisions between wildlife and automobiles.
Argument that Overpopulation contributes to Lyme Disease
Some hunters argue that the more dense the deer population, the more rampant Lyme Disease will be. In fact, the population of ticks carrying Lyme disease is related to the population density of rodents rather than deer.
Argument that Non-Lethal Methods of Population Control are Impractical/Expensive
Immunocontraception is relatively inexpensive and has worked successfully in parks and urban/suburban settings.
Much more information available at CASH website.
Why do people who hunt always try to justify themselves. Why can’t they just be honest and admit they enjoy killing animals it gives them a thrill.
Pat it’s a mystery to me too.
Most unfortunately, the encouragement of young kids to learn to hunt and handle guns in certain parts of the US has in some instances made for a familiarity and skill with weapons.
This in turn has left us with school killings that have devastated communities. Too easy to get used to aiming and shooting to kill when it’s part of your existence and you’re young and troubled.
Gael a tragic example of one of those devastated communities is Newtown in my home state of Connecticut.
Sad Laurie and we’ve seen that repeated too often in the US.
Why is it any different killing an animal you’ve hunted for food than buying the meat from the butchers ( animals that someone else has killed for our consumption ? )
Unless we are vegans, the reality is that we are all guilty of some animal cruelty in one way or another .
Commercial meat products come from animals specifically raised for food, not killed for sport. An alternative now available is called Humane Friendly. The website of America for Animals which sponsors the Humane Eating Project has all the information on this.
I disagree with the killing of animals for sport . But I don’t disagree if the animal is to be consumed as food .
In my opinion to raise animals for food is not better than hunting them for food .
But that’s just my opinion 🙂
Then let us agree to disagree.
I’m confused, Whats the difference in commercial killing and sport killing? They’re both done at the hands of humans for human consumption of some sort right?
When I am confused I educate myself. I suggest you do the same. Knowledge is power. I stand by both the opinions I have expressed here and the sources I have cited for further information on this issue. Thanks to everyone for your comments.
Totally agree nmod.
one example is someone complaining of killing pigs while scarfing down
their sausage biscuit or the ones marching protesting the killing of cows wearing their leather shoes and jackets LOL
Can’t say I agree with that view jsmile. We kill animals to eat just like some animals kill to eat. What I find abhorrent is the need for humans to kill animals for some twisted sense of enjoyment.
There are hunters who abuse the sport that I will admit. Where there’s “people” involved in anything there’s going to be abuse. I do not hunt but have friends who do. They are respectful to the sport. This seems to be a topic based on opinion for or against hunting. Both side have their points. Hunting however is as old as mankind. It’s not going away. My suggestion to those who don’t like it don’t support it. That includes not buying animal based products including furniture food and any clothing. The fact of the matter is, those who support animals being raised in confined conditions are perhaps uneducated to the harsh conditions these animals live and die. It’s a double standard to support one type killing and not another. Those who wish to support “animal rights” simply wish to control the activity of another human they disagree with. I do not support abortion but I have no right to muzzle them who do. It’s not my place. Just my contribution.