weary warrior

If you get a concordance and actually look it up, Jesus himself called what he did "preaching". And his preaching was chock full of stories, parables, similes, metaphors and simple illustrations of complex truths for the common man. And he didn't quote reams of Old Testament scripture while doing it. Just sayin'.
 
Mt 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mt 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
 

First - I think at the bottom of everything, you and I would probably agree that there are a lot of "preachers" today that are not actually preaching. I guess what is bothering me a little this morning is how you are expressing your dissatisfaction with these fellows, and the broad brush you are painting with. I sincerely doubt that you have been in "most churches" to witness and judge their preaching. And even if you have, Romans 14 is very clear that it is not our job to judge another man's servant. These men are not ours to judge. If he IS a man of God, and we set him at naught because of the weakness of his preaching, we ourselves are in danger of being brought to task by the very one that both the preacher and we ourselves actually answer to.
Second - as I pointed out in the post above, Jesus' own messages consisted predominately of stories. This sticks in the craw of the scholars among us (I can't for the life of me picture Jesus pointing out how many different languages He could read the scripture in), but the watchword for all of Christ's messages (be they "preaching" or "teaching") was simplicity and commonality. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't speak in terms of pusillanimous conduct. As "the right kind" of preachers, we use a lot of scripture and scripture words in our preaching, but those we preach to often do not have the same foundation.
I have preached in the jungle of a 3rd world country to a crowd who were illiterate and unchurched. I had an interpreter who would translate for me, and beside him was another translator who would then translate his translation into a third language. A chicken came in strutting down the aisle, a dog came in chasing the chicken and then a naked baby came chasing the dog. Down the middle of the hut / building and up on the platform and around and around before the whole circus was eventually shooed outside. You learn to put the truth down on the dirt, where the meanest can grasp it. That means lots of stories and illustrations. Parables.
Remember this, and chew on it long and hard. Like it or not, preaching is not the end. It is only the means to an end. The TRUTH is the end. And as a preacher, if you loose sight of the end while focusing on the means and methodology, you eventually loose both the method and the message. I don't know you, Omega. You obviously hold the truth, and you sound really smart and educated. Most people are not scholars, however, and most people don't like being talked down to. Even from the pulpit. Especially from the pulpit.
Bottom line? While we agree that there is "wrong" preaching, there is no one RIGHT way to preach. With over 7 billion people on this planet speaking 7,000 living languages and representing almost as many unique, distinct cultures, don't put the delivery of the message in a box.
As I re-read this, it comes across as a rant, and Im almost hesitant to send it. It's not intended as such, and I have no heart to offend or get in a slug-fest over this. I just wanted to express my heart. Those on here who've known me for the last few years have learned to understand my plainness without taking it personal. I hope you can as well, for I truly dont mean this as harsh as it sounds.
 

I'm sitting right now in my office as the principal of a Christian school. Outside the window of my office is the gym, and I can hear the student on break. They are playing, laughing, running and being children, as children should. On my right hip, covered up by a jacket, is a Kimber Warrior .45acp. On my left hip is a spare mag. At any time during the week there may be in the building as many as three of us with handguns on our person. We are a school with a total of 47 students. These handguns are tucked away behind suit coats or jackets or sweaters, depending on the individual's clothing style. They are never shown, flashed or discussed in front of the students, but the students, at least the older students, are all aware of their presence. Many of them know me from church, where I am head of security, and of course my 16 year old son is a student here as well.
I wonder how many of these students of mine had the thought flash through their mind as they watch the news unfold about the new school shooting in Florida, "Not in my school, we have Mr. Noel"? I watch as the news tells us of the heroic football coach there in Florida who gave his life shielding his charges, those who were placed in his care, those he undoubtedly loved, just as I love mine. And I ask myself, what if this good, brave man had possessed a weapon tucked behind his waste band? Just a little .38 revolver even? Something. Anything. What if someone had been allowed to be prepared to fight physical evil with physical means? 
We have sown the wind in this country, and now we are going to reap the whirlwind. Our schools have told the students there is no God, and thus no consequences, no eternal soul, no higher authority. We have fed them a steady diet of humanism, violent movies, games and "music" and all manner of Satanic influences. We have denigrated the Bible, parental authority, the police, the military, the flag, the anthem and our founding fathers. And then we wonder when these monsters start coming out of the woodwork.
The schools will have to start physically, violently defending themselves from the very hell that they have so foolishly and gleefully created, and the ONLY defense from a bad man with a gun is a good man with a gun. They will not, of course, do this.
I ask "why", but in truth, I already know the answers.

Matthew 1:21. 'Nuff said. He's just a man, my young brother. As we all are. Don't let the circus going on around you distract or disturb you. Stay the course.

We took a bunch of archaeologists and their camp into the mountains here on the Peninsula. This mountain bowl is pretty high up, and affords more spectacular views of the beautiful state

Ham, mashed potatoes, homemade biscuits, gravy and probably some vegetable I wont eat. Big dinner celebrating my twin daughters' 18th birthday.

There is "hard preaching" and there is "preaching hard". They are not the same, yet few can tell them apart. Any braying jackass can get loud, and any arrogant, self-righteous pharisee can get mean. To preach the whole truth plain and straight with courage, coupled at the same time with humility and love ... well. That's altogether a different story, isn't it?

Being the principal of an ACE christian school, and going to an IBC church, I hear a lot of salvation messages. We have visiting preachers and missionaries come through, and I will have them preach in chapel at school sometimes, and I am appalled at the inability of so many preachers to explain the gospel of salvation in a simple, coherent, understandable manner that reaches both children and the unchurched. These guys come through like hurricanes, scream and shout, spew out a lot of catch-phrases, "Baptistisms" and scripture, and then leave behind them a wake of confusion and contradiction. I've have 10 yr old kids in this school from Christian homes who have "gotten saved" 3 and 4 times already, because of the confusion generated by preachers who tell them to pray a prayer, followed by the preacher who tells them to repent, who is then followed by the one who says "just believe". 
Even on this forum, I read what some write about "getting saved" and "repentance - vs - easy-believe ism" and I scratch my head and wonder if we've all even met the same Jesus.
I preached a message in school chapel this week on salvation, which I rarely do. It's a little long, because I wanted to take my time and lay things out in a clear, understandable, interesting manner. This is my explanation on the single most important question for mankind. And I think what is not said is just as important as what is said. 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXSX_pIekng
 

Well WW, you had it on the money but talked yourself out of it. It was a video taken with one of the old, huge video cameras that used a VHS tape. I did grab that one frame  and what you see is the result.
I just knew you would get it. Unfortunately there is no prize  .  

One of the greatest joys that I remember shortly after I got saved was visiting with missionaries in various countries in South East Asia during the Vietnam War. It was a blessing in visiting the works that God gave them. The Lord gave me the honour of seeing dedicated, and sacrificial, men of God, their wives, and their ministries. A special missionary in my heart is Brother Earl Beegle. Brother Beegle was a missionary to the U.S. GI's on Taiwan. Brother Earl Beegle, helped a lot of young men gain a strong love for the scriptures, soul-winning (both Chinese and American),  and HOLY living. Brother Beegle is in heaven now rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus. I love missionaries. I love supporting missionaries. I love being around missionaries.
As far as I am concerned, the command of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 is the marching order of the Captain of our Salvation until He calls us home. A New Testament church is a missions minded church.
 

WW, I watched your last Sunday School lesson and found it very well done It was also nice to be able to connect a face and voice with the person we talk to online. Thanks for making these lessons available online for others to enjoy and be edified by.

OK, next on the list of wild meat harvesting after Moose, Grouse and water fowl is Caribou. I liked to leave this harvest until last for two reasons. The first reason has to do with time in relation to my work schedule. Mid winter was a slow time of year at work, so I could take the time needed to hunt Caribou. I needed a lot of time for this because caribou were not plentiful where I lived and I had to travel about 300 miles to hunt them on Alaska's North Slope. You have to be able to haul everything you need with you. There are no stores, gas stations or even people where you are going.
The second reason had to do with quality of the meat. In mid-winter all of the rutting season is over with. If you take Caribou during or right after the end of the rutting season it is inedible. The meat actually stinks and the taste is unbearable. This is in relation to Bulls, there is no season for cow Caribou.
Caribou hunting on The North Slope can be enjoyable, cold and dangerous depending on weather conditions and location. It is done mostly by Snowmobile because many times great distances bust be traveled in search of a herd. Shots can be extremely long range because the country is open Tundra with little to no vegetation. The Caribou can see you coming a long way off. I addition to a Snowmobile I also pulled a sled to facilitate getting the meat back to camp. Camp??? Yes, to hunt here you have to be able and knowledgeable enough to camp out in temperatures that can reach minus 50 degrees F. 
I'll post this picture again so you can get an idea of the conditions.

Caribou are plentiful here and the law allows for five animals for each hunter. They are also a major source of meat for the indigenous peoples of the north. These people are of two classes, The Inuit or Eskimo people and the Athabaskin, or Indian people. These people span the entire  far northern continent, from Alaska and all across northern Canada.
I would be remiss if I didn't include a picture of a live Caribou. Here is one of a bull caribou in his prime.

Caribou hunting brings hunting seasons to their end. Now there is only the long winter wait until fishing seasons begin in mid to late summer. I usually finished out the year with trapping, which opens in November and ends in March.

We took a bunch of archaeologists and their camp into the mountains here on the Peninsula. This mountain bowl is pretty high up, and affords more spectacular views of the beautiful state

Very glad to hear you are well, Allen. If there is anything we can do ...

Thank you so much for your help.

I found your latest lesson from the link you gave. If anyone clicks on your name on that page it loads your channel.
But for those of us who are not tech savvy I will include a direct link to your channel  HERE
I will listen to your whole lesson later tonight in my alone time.

Very glad to hear you are well, Allen. If there is anything we can do ...

Jim, Im not sure how to give a link to a channel. I'm sorry. I'm tech challenged. Here is the link to this Sunday's lesson that I just got uploaded, I was able to figure that out. Can you find what you need from that?
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxX7EggavmI
 
PS - I make verbal stumbles sometimes, as we all do when we get going, but I have not yet figured out how to edit without butchering the whole video. So, for instance, in this video, Im aware that the prayer of Jesus is in John 17, but I said Luke 17. Still getting used to this video stuff.
 

We took a bunch of archaeologists and their camp into the mountains here on the Peninsula. This mountain bowl is pretty high up, and affords more spectacular views of the beautiful state

Jim, Im not sure how to give a link to a channel. I'm sorry. I'm tech challenged. Here is the link to this Sunday's lesson that I just got uploaded, I was able to figure that out. Can you find what you need from that?
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxX7EggavmI
 
PS - I make verbal stumbles sometimes, as we all do when we get going, but I have not yet figured out how to edit without butchering the whole video. So, for instance, in this video, Im aware that the prayer of Jesus is in John 17, but I said Luke 17. Still getting used to this video stuff.
 

Bear is one of my favorite game meats, IF it is black bear and taken during the right time of the year. And cleaned proper. I shot a grizzly once, (it was one of those sudden, surprise meetings that happen at times in the bush and I was forced to act) but it had been eating fish and turned out to be completely inedible. I wouldn't eat anyone's bear jerky, even if I knew them really well. Bear is related to pig, and can carry the same diseases, including trichinosis, and must be thoroughly cooked. That's why you never see commercial pork jerky at the store. I know some guys that do it, but I draw the line there.

Bear is one of my favorite game meats, IF it is black bear and taken during the right time of the year. And cleaned proper. I shot a grizzly once, (it was one of those sudden, surprise meetings that happen at times in the bush and I was forced to act) but it had been eating fish and turned out to be completely inedible. I wouldn't eat anyone's bear jerky, even if I knew them really well. Bear is related to pig, and can carry the same diseases, including trichinosis, and must be thoroughly cooked. That's why you never see commercial pork jerky at the store. I know some guys that do it, but I draw the line there.

I agree completely WW. All your points are good ones. You did leave out one caveat regarding Grizzly, which is that, unlike Black bear, Grizzly does not keep well in the freezer. Grizzly meat has more and different fat content than Black bear and it tends to turn rancid even if frozen.
You are right about bears that have been eating fish, they are nasty. But on the other hand a late season bear that has been eating Blueberries is wonderful. We had a lady at church that slow cooked barbecued bear ribs in the oven, they came out tender and tasty.
I do agree that Black bear is very tasty, especially a well cooked rack of ribs. Bear hunting in Alaska's Interior is such a hit and miss thing that I didn't purposely do it. Most bear hunting in the Interior is done over bait, which is usually a 55 gallon drum full of used KFC oil, which turns to a lard like substance after its used. My bear hunting was most;y left to chance encounters or a bear that wandered into, or near hunting camp. Here is a picture of one that was attracted to a moose gut pile the day after I shot the moose.
                       

I am amazed and excited about the way things are progressing in Colorado. I have gotten almost daily calls and texts from the folks that are there, many concerning questions of doctrine, policy and what can they do to facilitate things. They have been reaching out to folks daily that they know have been seeking, that have been hurt or marginalized, or that are just unhappy with the modern, compromising state of things. It appears that the Lord has already begun a work before we even arrive. After the last several years in a ministry "desert", I feel like a desert plant feeling the first drops of rain that I have felt in a long, long time.

I was in a conversation with a good friend of mine in Western Colorado this morning. He had contacted me with some questions about the ballistics of a certain hunting rifle I have, and in course of the conversation, the subject of church and my seeking God's will came up. He said that there is a big need for a good church where he is, and he knows several people who would come right off if one was started. We had a good conversation about the overall church situation in the area, and both of us have begun prayer for the Lord's specific leading and guidance in this. I would really appreciate it if anyone would join us in prayer about this. I worked there for several months in the oilfields a couple of years ago, and love the area. I have a number of contacts there, and my family loved it as well. I just want to be sure of his guiding. My parents in Kentucky will encourage us to go where ever God leads, even if it means not being close to them.