Hunting and the Bible
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Hunting and the Bible
Comments by Jeff Dunn - 2 Mar 2006

Frank and Mary,

Oh, I agree with you that these animal farms are often cruel, and many animals are treated the wrong way. In fact, I don't buy processed foods from these types of farms. In fact, I prefer the opposite...meeting these animals in their natural habitat, unharmed and where God made them to be.

So, you said in your email that God gave a concession (which means He allows us) to eat flesh, but not to be cruel. What is your definition of cruelty towards animals? To eat flesh, the animal needs to die, so the death of an animal cannot be a sin if God gives us this direction...so therein the problem lies with how the death is carried out. Clearly, the death of an animal is not the sin, it is the form in which the animal is raised and the killing takes place...agree?

With that said, I would like to give you a glimpse of what the outdoors truly mean to an outdoorsmen like myself. Please read this carefully and understand that it is not about killing, cruelty, or sin...but something better. I wrote this some time ago, while reflecting on my memories, most of which were obtained while hunting. I hope this gives you a new perspective on those of us who hunt the way our Creator designed it.

A Glimpse of �God�s Country�

There are various names for what many enjoy�the wilderness, the great outdoors, the woods�but no matter the title, it is a special part of God�s Country. The truth is, God designed us in His image and is giving us a glimpse of Himself and the glory to come through His unimaginable creation we may reflect upon�

This magnificent earth,
the countless stars,
the feeling of true darkness in the shelter of the wilderness,
the satisfaction found in a breath of the freshest air,
the brittle crispness of a cold high country morning as you wait for the sun to peak out in
the brightening horizon,
the infinite view towards the heavens just before daybreak�as the shades of black and
dark blue in the west fade at the rising colors of oranges and white,
the marvel felt as visible stars faint away in the illuminating sky,
the sight of breath and feeling of warmth as you breathe into your hands,
the relief of a brilliant sunrise which with each comes a new challenge,
the insecurity of the being in the wild,
the stirring anticipation of the uncertain,
the quiet calm peering down on a fog filled valley,
the resounding sound of a bugle echoing throughout a canyon,
the intense shiver which runs up your spine as your ear senses something,
the unstoppable pounding in your chest at first sight,
the slow midmorning rise as fog lets go ascending to the sky,
the smallness felt in view of a mountain vista or towering snowcapped peak,
the beauty of a blooming hillside,
the comfort of a soft meadow waving in a slight breeze,
the display of a glossy stream flowing softly,
the power imagined as a loose boulder has paused for a season in a dry riverbed with high
cut banks,
the burn of the climb and the relief of conquest,
the unexplainable quench from a mountain spring,
the breathtaking view as you tilt your neck back in awe of the towering trees allowing
only narrow rays of daylight to pierce through,
the curious wonder that each step may be unexplored territory�where no one but God
has been before,
the splendor in the shifting colors of fall,
the eeriness of walking through a thick fog,
the crunch of a deer approaching in the wintry leaves,
the dance of a falling snowflake,
the stark white of a snow,
the glimpse of a salmon gliding up stream,
the revival of liveliness as your bobber goes under,
the calm excitement as you realize it is indeed the real thing,
the spectacle of that first jump out of the water,
the ghostly sound of a flock of ducks flying overhead before first light,
the awakening sound of a field full of geese,
the anxious wait for a chance,
the uncertain sensation of speaking to God�s creatures,
the respect of the terrain and its inhabitants,
the appreciation of just being there,
the silence of evening,
the grandeur of a sunset,
the overwhelming happiness felt from experiences shared with others,
the gourmet tastes shared after success,
the stories told around a fire,
the time spent silently reflecting on life,
the snapshots only remembered in our mind,
an immeasurable heavenly hope,
and a great thanks to our God and Creator.

Perhaps you can relate to one or all. Perhaps it�s all about the memories or glimpses of future hope. Perhaps it is for satisfaction or a sense of achievement�maybe just for relaxation and to get away from the norm. Perhaps for all of us there is an innate sense of splendor in feeling close to God and seeing His creation more fully. Whatever your reflection, capture it�

Let me know what you think...I hope you feel better about me at least, and I promise their are others lime me out there...so please don't look upon every hunter harshly. Some of us do it for the love of God's creation.

In Him,
Jeff

Go on to: Comments by Frank and Mary Hoffman - 2 Mar 2006

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