“That’s a Good Name”

A couple of weeks ago the Heart of a Sportsman fellas took part in one of the dog gone coolest events in North Carolina, the annual Southeastern Treeing Walker Days. The Rowan County Fairgrounds played host to coon hunters from over half of the United States. There was more Carhart bibs, camouflage, 4 wheel drive trucks, hunting dogs and spit cups than you could ever imagine in one place. Needless to say, we felt right at home.

Proverbs 22:1 says, “a good name is better than great riches.” I know that this verse of scripture is talking more about the person behind the name than the name itself, but I couldn’t help but think of this verse while I was reading a list of the names of coonhounds in the Walker Days hunting competition. Coon dogs have really cool names! Hardwood Elvis, Goose Creek Slammer, Bolt Action Reverend Jones just to name a few. Now those are good names! Although these names caught my attention, to the seasoned coon hunter they are nothing really special, just run-of-the-mill names. However, I did learn that there was a name that would particularly cause a cooner to raise an eyebrow. A special name that would cause a seasoned coon hunter to stop in mid spit and swallow his ‘baccer juice when he heard it. The name seemed to demand attention. The name was “Yadkin River.” Whether it is Yadkin River Pete, Yadkin River Joe or Yadkin River Jinx, any dog that had the Yadkin River title was special. Collectively called Yadkin River Dogs, dogs from this bloodline seem to be a cut above other coonhounds. They have the amazing ability to sniff out and tree coons with incredible speed and ease. The bloodline has produced more champion coon dogs than one could ever count. To many in the world of coon hunting, Yadkin River is the name above all names. I guess you could actually say that in the coon dog world, “a good name can mean great riches,” cause often times the puppies from these hounds bring thousands of dollars when sold.

While thinking about the cool names that coon dogs have, another name came to mind - the name of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in Acts 4:12 that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." After putting your hope and trust in Jesus, you belong to an amazing bloodline. Romans 8:16 even say that when we accept Christ, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” It’s an amazing bloodline to be a part of that comes with great riches: forgiveness and eternal life. Now that’s a name above all names!

Jeremy B. Harrill

Nice Rack

Our boy Shane shows off a behemoth monster Whitetail rack at the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh NC. I'm going to get my food plot going right now!

Hop in!

“Hop In”
I had a sick feeling in my stomach. My hands were sweaty and I could barely hear the voice over the beat of the heart pounding in my chest. I won’t lie, I was nervous as he asked me to “hop in the car.” I took a deep breath and stepped into the passenger side of the State Trooper’s patrol vehicle. After I sat down the Trooper told me to make sure I was buckled in good. Those words made me more than a little uncomfortable. No, I wasn’t getting a speeding ticket but participating in some specialized high speed driving as part of my law enforcement training. Once I was buckled in, we were racing around the track at unbelievable speeds. I had never gone that fast before, especially in curves. It felt as if the car was going to come out from under us at any moment and we would spin out of control crashing into the trees. This dude driving was crazy, I thought! It took me a while to catch my breath, and to trust the instructor, but once I did it was awesome and a time that I will never forget. I’m so glad that I got in the car for that wild ride.
I was watching a movie with my son a week or so ago and was reminded of my high-speed experience. We were watching the movie Transformers, which is about these cars and trucks that turn or transform into robots. Of course, there are good transformers and bad ones and the movie is about the classic battle of good and evil. The main character, early in the movie is terrified to learn that his car is a transformer. The boy and a friend of his watch as his car has a fierce battle with another transformer. After watching his car defeat the other transformer, it drives over and opens the door asking them to “hop in.” One of the characters asks the question, “ Do you think we should get in?” Then the boy responded by saying, “If you don’t, in 50 years you’ll look back and wish you had the guts to get in that car.”
What a statement! I think we all, no matter what age, wished we had done some things that we were asked to do for God’s glory, but didn’t for some reason or other. I’m not talking about just anything, but those things that the Holy Spirit put on our heart. If you are a believer you know what I’m talking about. You know, the time that you felt overwhelmed to help someone or to talk to someone about his or her faith, and didn’t. Do you remember the time that you felt the urges in your heart to join a small group at church? The time you almost said that you would teach a class or help the youth group. The time that you were asked to give your testimony but didn’t because you were afraid. The thoughts you had of starting some kind of ministry, but convinced yourself that no one would be interested and you weren’t good enough. I’ve sure had those feelings in my life, more times than I care to admit. I’ve often chosen to watch instead of ride with Jesus, so to speak. We have opportunities to get in and ride with Him, but don’t for all kinds of reasons.
We may often wish that we could go back and do some of those things that we turned down or rejected, but guess what? I can hear the gravel popping under the tires as the 4-wheel drive comes down the dirt road and is headed your way. What are you gonna do when the truck stops this time, and the door opens and you hear the voice of Jesus saying “hop in.” I can bet that your hands will be sweaty and your heart will pound in your chest. You may even think that the driver is crazy asking you to go along. After all, you and I are not equipped to do big-time “Jesus stuff.” No, we’re not, but He is and He wants to use you to glorify Him. He gave you your personality, your likes and dislikes, your skills and abilities. He can even use all that bad stuff from our past to bring others to Him. Who knows where that truck will take you along life’s highway? Have the guts to get in. God has a great adventure mapped out, if you’ll trust Him and hop in. If you do decide to get in, you won’t regret it. So lock in the hubs and buckle up, man, it’s gonna be a wild ride!

Jeremy B. Harrill

PS – I know that Jesus had to have been a good ole’ boy because he hung around fishermen all the time. That’s why I can imagine Him in a 4 -wheel drive. I bet he would even have a horn on that truck just like the one in the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard. Duh na nuh nuh nuh , nuh nuh nuh nuh na !!!!

The Duck Commander

The Duck Commander
Have you ever been to a Billy Graham Crusade or seen one on TV? He is awesome! He is known around the world as a man of God who preaches the Gospel to all who will listen. At the end of his sermons he will always give an “alter call” where flocks of people come to the stage and pray to ask Jesus Christ as Savior. After he issues the alter call, he ask a simple question. “Want you come, want you come?” And people do – they answer the call.
I thought of this recently when a friend of mine, Nick Jones, asked me to go to see Phil Robertson who was speaking in Conway, SC. You may know Phil better as “The Duck Commander.” He’s like the Billy Graham of duck hunting. He eats, sleeps and breaths duck hunting and he’s a killing machine from the duck blind. A follower of Christ, Phil Robertson was born with a gift to sound like a duck. He has his own line of duck calls that set the standard in the duck calling industry. When he blows on his duck call, it’s like he’s giving that Billy Graham alter call to the ducks saying, “Want you come.” And they do… by the hundreds.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go with Nick, but he told me all about the great time he had. It turns out that people got to hear more calls than just those of mallards and wood ducks when the Duck Commander got up to speak. He also spoke of the call of Jesus and the invitation for all men to follow Him. How cool is that! Nick hasn’t stopped smiling since he got back and I wouldn’t swear to it, but I think he’s even started growing his own Duck Commander beard.
“Arise, kill and eat.”
Acts 10:13

LOOKING FOR A “FIX”

LOOKING FOR A “FIX”

Doctors say, and many people can attest to the fact that drugs can take control of a person. Drugs can make a person do crazy things that “normal people” just don’t do. I’ve heard it said that thoughts of when and where your next “fix” will come from obsess your mind. I’ve heard that it only takes using certain drugs one time and you are hooked forever. Now I’m not a doctor, or psychologist, and I’ve never been on drugs, therefore I’ve never totally understood the “how’s” and “why’s” of these addictions…UNTIL a few days ago!

It all started one foggy morning when a friend of mine named Joe Finney took me on a duck hunt. We got up at dark-thirty and proceeded to wade chest deep in the dark through frigid swamp water. We made it to our hunting spot, set the decoys in place and then waited for the ducks to cooperate. During the hunt I made some new friends and hunting buddies including Joe who I’ve already mentioned, Matt Stanly, and Matt Benfield. These guys were experienced, hardcore duck hunters. We had a great time tellin’ lies, laughing at each other falling in the miry swamp, and we even got to pull the trigger on a few ducks.

Being a rookie duck hunter, I had some important lessons to learn. One lesson that I quickly learned was to always keep your eyes on the sky. Just looking up at the tree line around the edge of the swamp wasn’t good enough. You must look up – almost to the point of getting a crick in you neck. The ducks that we hunted dropped out of the foggy sky like feathered rockets. If you’re not focused on the sky it just happens - they seem to materialize out of thin air and you miss your chance only to hear them break the sound barrier as they pass. At that point it’s over and there’s nothing you can do!

After this happened the first time, I realized that there was a great life lesson there in the midst of that flooded timber. If I can just keep my eyes on “the sky,” focusing on God, I’ll always stand ready for whatever life drops out of the fog. All too often I take my attention off Him and miss out on His perfect will for my life. Fortunately for us, God is a God of second (and third and forth etc.) chances. If we just look up we can get back on target, and pull the trigger on living life to the fullest – the way God wants us to.

Now, when I lay my head on the pillow at night, I see ducks flying over the decoys. I wonder where and when I’ll get my next feathered “fix.” I just can’t wait to get out my shotgun and stick my feet back in the freezing swamp water. I’m hooked after only one hunt. Imagine that!

“Hello, my name is Jeremy and I am a Quack-addict.” However, I’m not alone. There are others who taste the gunpowder and smell the swamp water when they close their eyes. I guess we’ll just have to help each other through it – cause that’s what hunting buddies do. Thanks for the hunt fellas – KEEP LOOKING UP!

Keep your eyes on the Lord!

You will shine like the sun

and never blush with shame.

I was a nobody, but I prayed,

And the Lord saved me from all my troubles.

Psalm 34:4-6 (CEV)

Jeremy Harrill

"Dad....I'd rather go coon hunting"

Man, that critter is bigger than my son Jack! I (Brad) am away from town this weekend. Seems like between the Army and preaching and teaching I'm away from home way too much. I'm up in Gatlinburg for the Crossroads Winter Conference (www.crossroadsworldwide.com). Its a great weekend for high school and college students. Jack was supposed to go with us this year and hang out with all the staff from Crossroads and get to be a "big guy" for a few days. But last weekend, Jack came to the realization that some things are just more important. He found out that the HOS guys were taking a bunch of young boys on a coon hunt and it was on like a neck bone. Jack very calmly said to me, "Dad, I'd rather go coon hunting with the guys." Now a part of me was hurt, but a bigger part of me was proud. He made his own decision. He chose to do something outside of his normal box. And the proof is in the pictures. He didn't shoot it, but he was there, stomping through the underbrush, in the dark listening for the drone of a coon dog with a bunch of men. It don't get much better than that. I just hate I wasn't there with them. Way to go guys, can't wait till the next one.

Rabbit Boxes!

The guys at my church had a great little event for the little guys this week. They helped all the boys build cedar rabbit boxes. A rabbit box is a wooden trap to catch anything that that will crawl into it and try eat whatever bait you have in there. The door stays open until there is a critter caught. I'm in an Army school at FT Bragg until February so I couldn't be there to help but my buddy Jeremy sent these great photos. They used the traps to teach the boys a lesson from proverbs. I talked to my son, Jack, last night and asked him about the trap. He said he was going to catch some squirrels and some rabbits. When asked what he would do with his prey he said, "Well, if I catch some squirrels I'll let them go, but if I catch some rabbits I'll kill them and skin them and make a hat and some stew." I can't wait for that one! I'd like to thank all the men at Cornerstone Baptist church. You have all been instrumental in helping father my son while I am often gone serving our country. I am so grateful that my friends have come along side my son to provide some amazing teaching moments for him. Thanks especially to Gary Mosely who every week takes a few hours to mentor all the little guys in our church. Now all we need to do is catch a few rabbits!