2021 Fall/Winter Christian Waterfowler Magazine - Fall/Winter Issue by thecwa

Christian

FALL/WINTER 2021

WATERFOWLER PRESERVING OUR CHRISTIAN AND WATERFOWLING HERITAGE | THECWA.ORG

THE BEST HUNTING COMPANION THE ADVENTURE

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL DUCK HUNTING

TA BL E of C ONT EN TS THE HISTORY OF CWA

THE BEST GOOSE HUNTING TIPS COME FROM GOD’S CREATION

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL DUCK HUNTING

SILHOUETTE DECOY USE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

THE BEST HUNTING COMPANION

DEEP FRIED DUCK WITH PLUM SAUCE

THE ADVENTURE

THE BIND BAG: SOUL GEAR FOR WATERFOWLERS

GET READY

SENIOR EDITORS Tim & Rachelle Sallee Tara Sallee Brittany Banks CREATIVE DESIGN & EDITING

Vance Klemple

COVER PAGE PHOTO

Tom Martineau

CONTACT INFO INFO@THECWA.ORG 479.957.3033

PHOTO BY CODY GROUNDS CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

T HE HI STO RY O F CWA

“Preserving Our Christian and Waterfowling Heritage” The Christian Waterfowlers Association was formed by Tim and Rachelle Sallee in September of 2009. However, the idea for the CWA originated back in 2002 while on a duck hunt with his brother Anthony Sallee on the banks of the Arkansas River. Tim was first introduced waterfowling while serving as a youth minister in Fort Smith, Ark. almost thirty-three years ago. One of his youth members demonstrated using a duck call during a “Gong Show” talent night. He was fascinated with the call and after inquiring about the call and duck hunting was invited to go on a hunt by the youth and his older brother.

Since that time the CWA has launched close to fifty chapters in fifteen states and continues to add new chapters each month. Chapters meet monthly for food, fellowship, pro-tips, devotion and an invitation to know Christ. Chapters also hold various youth hunting, conservation, and CWA Hunts for Hereos events.

The hunt experience was incredible, with awesome weather and the perfect sunrise. Right after daybreak about fifteen mallards flew over our backs and circled back with their wings cupped and feet down. “Take Em,” yelled the youth, as Tim raised his gun to shoot. He was so moved by seeing ducks decoy, that he shot three times and did not hit one duck.

The CWA also hosts an annual benefit banquet. In 2019 the CWA celebrated its 10th Annual International Waterfowl Festival & Outdoor Expo. Over the past ten years, thousands have attended from nineteen states and Canada, with many accepting Christ during the two day event. The event features many competitions Including the CWA International Duck and Goose Calling Competition, Duck Waterfowler’s Trap Shooting Competition, 3D Archery Competition and Wild Waterfowl Cook-off Competition. Other activities included our Blue Wings Youth Kidz Zone featuring a fishing derby, seminars, Outreach/Fundraiser Dinner, Sportsman’s Chapel, concerts and more.

However, a few weeks later on his second hunt he bagged his first ever mallard and was hooked on duck hunting for life. Tim then introduced waterfowling to his older brother Mark Sallee, his younger brother Anthony Sallee and Mark’s sons Mitchell and Matthew. He always looked forward to spending time in the duck blind with his family and friends each year.

In 2012 the CWA held its first Blue Wings Youth Waterfowl Hunting Event during the Oklahoma youth waterfowl hunt. After receiving requests to organize a Wounded Veteran’s Duck Hunt, the first ever CWA Wounded Veteran’s Waterfowl event took place in January of 2014 at the Crooked Slough Hunting club in east Arkansas.

Anthony moved to Nashville, Tenn. in the 1980’s and early 1990’s to play bass for the Christian band “White Heart.” He went on to play for Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant and Matthew West to name a few. While taking a break from the road, he traveled back home to spend time with family as well as spend time in the duck blind.

Since the beginning of CWA, hundreds of lives have been impacted by the Gospel of Christ. We invite you to join the Christian Waterfowlers Association today in preserving our Christian, waterfowling heritage. To become a member visit www.thecwa.org or call 479-957-3033 for more information.

While on a hunt in 2002, Tim and Anthony first brought up the idea combining a passion for Christ with the passion for waterfowling, as well as the idea of a Fellowship of Christian Athletes for waterfowlers, but the idea didn’t get much further than Anthony designing a sample logo or two. After hosting a Wild Game Dinner in September of 2009, Tim saw firsthand the impact of bringing sportsmen together for fellowship and introducing them to Christ. The idea for CWA resurfaced. After much prayer and consideration, he felt it was time move forward with the launching of the CWA website and forum as well as crafting the CWA mission statement: “Preserving Our Christian and Waterfowling Heritage” 3

CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

(The Christian Waterfowlers Association is incorporated in Arkansas as a non-profit religious organization. The Christian Waterfowlers Association is also registered with the IRS as a 501 (C)(3)non-profit religious organization. All donations are tax deductible except for any gift items and magazine received with your support membership)

CWA Founders Tim & Rachelle Sallee

Tim Sallee (Left) Anthony Sallee (Right)

THE B E ST GO O SE H U N T IN G T IP S COME FRO M G O D ’ S CR E AT IO N BY GEORGE LYNCH The most important key to successful goose hunting is looking at God’s creation and mimicking it as closely as possible. God designed geese with an innate need for food, water, and habitat as well as self-preservation instincts which are executed by analyzing the terrain and other birds on the ground. Therefore, the first tip to hunting God’s goose bounty is to prioritize scouting, i.e. location, location, location! Fill up the tank and put some miles on the road. Take time to follow the flocks to find the locations where the birds have found temporary sanctuaries. Some may think the roost is important, but only as much as to observe the roost for purposes of determining which types of birds are in the area, because roosts should never be shot. Very often, if not most often, you will need to obtain permission to hunt property. Manners, etiquette and approaching landowners with respect for permission can make or break a huge opportunity. It doesn’t hurt to offer the landowner a little something in return as a thank you which, on a side benefit, yields a more favorable repeat response for future hunts. It goes without saying, God created prey to be watchful for dangerous and unnatural changes to their environments, therefore, concealment is even more important than equipment. If you aren’t hidden, the best decoys and calling in the world may not be enough to close the deal. The best concealment is the natural vegetation in the spot where you are hunting. I call this God’s camouflage. Mimic what God has provided wherever the birds are located. Use attractants that best mimic God’s design, whether it’s realistic goose sounds of the calls or the appearance of decoys. When it comes to decoys, use the most anatomically correct decoy within your budget and give special attention to the entire flocks’ presentation of body positioning. In other words, think like the game you are hunting. When the birds approach your field and see decoys, they immediately and automatically read the body positions on the ground for a sense of comfort or caution. Are the decoys feeding contently or are too many of the decoys in century positions - alert and watchful with heads up? An old school rule of thumb is that for every dozen decoys, there should be no more than one century for every 11 feeders. Today, I still believe this to be true, except for in the later season when sleepers and resters are necessary to help ease birds into a spot after a long 5

CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

season on the run. There are two types of decoy setups: hunting the X and hunting traffic birds. When hunting the X, the number one mistake I see both beginners and seasoned hunters make is using too many decoys. Remember, the field first belonged to the geese before it became yours, so when they show up the next day and see a gigantic flock of outside birds (your decoys) on their territory, their senses have been alerted to a drastic change. Therefore, I recommend that you set up the least number of decoys needed to invite birds to your spread rather than overpower the natural environment with numbers. Using decoys on traffic geese, however, is very different. I like to use more goose decoys and select fields with high visibility to draw the eyes of newcomers in with a greater sense of security using numbers. I left calls and shotguns out of equipment, because you could have the best calls and shotgun in the industry, but if you don’t practice calling skills and shooting skills, the equipment is not going to deliver success. To the hunter who practices their calling and shooting, even less than desirable equipment can still yield success, so practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. Lastly, prayer, which should be the start and end to all situations, can make even the impossible possible.

George Lynch Game Call Designer Legendary Gear, LLC.

LegendaryGearUSA.com CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

PHOTO BY CODY GROUNDS

TIPS FO R SU CCE SSF U L D U CK H U N T IN G BY AARON ADAMS

Here are five tips that might mean the difference between a good day and a great day hunting: TIP 1 Make sure your gun is clean and ready for the hunt. How many times have the ducks come in and “click,” no shot? Then you spend the next hour trying to fix the problem. Clean and check your gun before the hunt. TIP 2 Make sure you reload! Once again, the ducks light and “click,” you forgot to reload from the last volley. Take your time and make sure you are prepared for the next wave. TIP 3 Go the “extra mile” on hiding. On a tough day, you don’t want lack of a good hide to be the reason for a great group of mallards to flare. TIP 4 Use the lightest decoys you can get away with on calm days. The lighter the decoys are, the more they move, and movement is such a key to getting the ducks to light. The new foam decoys on the market today are a great option. TIP 5 Remember to soften your calling when you have the ducks’ attention. Once you make a loud, awkward sound with them close, you usually have no chance of getting them back. When in doubt, less is usually more. Aggressive calling should be performed on turns and when the ducks are at a distance. Extra Tip: Have Fun! Don’t make it about the limit; make it about the fellowship and enjoyment of what God has created. If you do this, every hunt will be successful!

Aaron Adams Adams Insurance & Financial Springdale, AR CWA Executive Board Member

AdamsinsuranceFinancial.com CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

PHOTO BY CODY GROUNDS

SI LHO U E T T E D E COY U SE : F REQUE NT LY ASKE D Q U E ST IO N S BY AL FALKENSTEIN

As a hunter and silhouette decoy manufacturer, I have been asked a variety of questions about them over the years. Probably the most frequently asked question is: “How many silhouettes does it take to make an effective spread?” The answer to that is five dozen and up. While some may say three dozen and others may say 10 dozen, I feel that five dozen is an optimal entry level. Since the placement of the decoys is not always apparent to oncoming waterfowl, I feel that 60 forms is good considering they will only see about half of them at any given time. The different angles that the silos are set at is important, as the birds approach your spread and will be able to see full sides of silhouettes as they work. This also creates an optical illusion of movement as one goose appears, disappears, and then reappears. The second most asked question is about spacing: “How far should I set them apart?” I suggest about five ft. apart as a minimum for geese. Ducks can be four ft. as a minimum. Some have success with spacing up to eight ft. apart. I feel that you can close that distance down just a bit during that mid-late season when birds are feeding heavily and are congregating tight! Another frequently asked question is, “How or why should I deploy black and white silos in my goose spread?” You can run a full spread of full spread of black and white silos or add them to your colored spread with no issue. Black and whites are powerful 15

CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

for drawing birds from a distance! Also, when mixed in with colored decoys, the black and whites have the look of shadowed birds when feeding tightly. I would add them in at a tighter spacing with the colored versions along the outside of a group. This replicates a tight, later season feed that you observe as the “X.” Black and whites are also great to use on sunny days! Another question is, “Can I mix silos with full body or shell decoys?” The answer is, yes! Absolutely. Use the silhouettes as your main volume decoy and come back in your spread and spice it up with full bodies or shell decoys in key areas; usually near the kill hole and areas that may require a more confident feel. patterns change primarily with the weather. Get out and enjoy a day in the field!

Al Falkenstein “ Big AL” Big Al’s Decoys USA Norton, OH

www.bigalsdecoys.com

PHOTO BY BIG AL’S DECOYS

PHOTO BY CODY GROUNDS

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T HE B E ST HU N T IN G CO M PAN IO N BY CHRIS YIELDING

I’m not sure how you started out hunting ducks, but if it was anything like me and most of the people I ran around with as a kid, it didn’t involve hunting with a dog. My buddies and I would throw our decoys and waders in the back of the pickup, rush out to public land while trying to beat the crowds, hope to get in some good shooting, and take turns trudging out to any ducks that we were lucky enough to kill. A New Partner As I aged a little, and became somewhat more responsible, I made the decision to get a four-legged, furry hunting buddy. This turned out to be a game changer. Not only did I have a way to get my ducks without wearing myself out, but I had a partner that was ready to go at the drop of a hat, and would stay out in the blind as long as I wanted to without complaining! There was not one time that I got up and started loading my gear and she said, “Nah, I’m just not feeling it today!” She was always ready to go. There are more benefits to having a dog than just the retrieving aspect. Owning a dog can without a doubt change your life for the better.

On top of all this love, this unbelievable bond, is the fact that he or she lives for hunting, more specifically, hunting with you! When you start to get the decoys and shotguns out, you can see the dog start to get almost hysterical, whimpering and sometimes trembling with excitement. They are so eager to go at this point. When you are out in the timber or the flooded rice field, and they explode out like a rocket when you send them on a retrieve, they cannot wait to get back just to get praise and affection from you, the best friend they will ever know.

Once you have started hunting with a dog, it is hard to want to go hunting anymore without one. Watching your dog work for you in the field is truly one of the most enjoyable parts of duck hunting. If you have never used a dog, I highly recommend taking on a new hunting partner in one. It will most definitely change your life, and let you see even more of God’s beauty in His creation.

Dogs require a lot of attention, but when you devote the time to training your pup, it takes your focus away from the chaos that we all have to battle through in this life. Whether it is job stress, financial worries, or political anger you are feeling, when you are one-on-one with your dog, you forget about all the other problems you are facing. Your dog is looking you in the eyes, wanting nothing more than to please you. It is impossible to focus on anything else at this point! An Immeasurable Bond With the amount of time you spend with your dog, you create such a tight bond. Over time, you and your dog will become closer than you could ever imagine. He or she will hang on every word or action you say or do, just waiting for the next command or praise you dish out. When you get up in the morning, your dog will be there wagging its tail, just waiting for you to give it attention. If you have had a tough day at work, when you get home to your dog, it all gets swept away when you see them just waiting for you. It is the purest form of love, completely unconditional.

Chris Yielding

Backwater Cypress Retrievers Ward, AR

www.backwatercypress.com

CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

DEEP-FRIED DUCK WITH PLUM SAUCE

Scott Leysath The Sporting Chef

What’s wrong with a duck that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside? Absolutely nothing. The preparation works best with a high BTU burner (30K or more) and a large pot with plenty of oil, but it can be done in the home kitchen as well. If you use a small pot, the duck will cool down the oil, so just do a little at a time to keep the oil from dropping below 350 degrees. Making certain that the duck is at room temperature before placing it in the hot oil will make it less likely to cool the oil. The recipe specifies mallards…reduce cooking time by a minute or two for medium ducks and 2 to 3 minutes for teal. You can improve the sauce by adding in some chopped fresh, ripe plums.

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO FIX

4 whole mallards skin intact

Pat ducks dry with paper towels.

2 cups flour

1/4 cup onion powder

Combine flour with the next 5 ingredients and season ducks with flour.

1/4 cup salt

2 tablespoons black pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Heat enough oil to submerge ducks completely. When oil is hot, about 375 degrees, but not smoking, add ducks, one at a time. Allow a few minutes between ducks so that oil can maintain temperature.

Peanut or corn oil for frying

Turn ducks over 1 or 2 times and remove after 8 minutes.

1 cup plum preserves

1/2 cup applesauce

1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced

2 teaspoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

5. To prepare sauce, heat plum preserves and applesauce in a small pan. In a separate bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients and then add to the pan. Heat until it starts to thicken. Serve plum sauce on the side for dipping with ducks.

CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

PHOTO BY CODY GROUNDS

THE A DVE N T U R E BY KEVIN ERDMIER

As an avid waterfowler, I live in the worst place for waterfowl hunting. In Southeast Georgia, we have no migration. We have wood ducks and a few other species in small pockets, so, during duck season, I spend a lot of time on the road. It’s not all about the kill, it’s about the adventure; the sights along the way, the people you meet, the stops you make, and the expected and unexpected (traffic). I spend a lot of time in Southeast Missouri and Arkansas. This means all day or all night trips. Most of the hunting trips are 11-13 hours of drive time, so I have to decide to lose a day of hunting or drive all night to hunt the next day. Most trips I do without anyone to help me drive. I am also traveling with retrievers so I have to make stops to let the dogs out for potty breaks, along with stops for fuel and coffee breaks (especially at night). My dogs and customer’s dogs travel with me. When I am on the road, I depend on Dakota 283 Kennels. Dakota Kennels keep my retriever safe and comfortable. Dakota Kennels are lockable to keep pets secure while on the road. The kennels are roomy, comfortable and safe. I trust Dakota 283 Kennels with my Pointers and Retrievers and my customer’s dogs also. A personal story on the toughness of Dakota Kennels: I had an empty Dakota kennel on the back of the truck that was strapped down, but not tightly. The kennel came unstrapped and flew out of the truck on the Interstate (no dogs in the crate) and slid down the interstate at about 70 mph. A car hit the kennel and knocked it off the road. Basically no damage was done to the kennel (see picture), just a few scratches. This is why I love the Dakota Kennels; they are tough, light, lockable and dependable. While preparing for a hunt, expectations run through my mind; the mental checklist of things to do in preparation for the hunt, the checklist of hoping I remembered everything from home or wondering if I left it at duck camp. Duck camp for me is in the Bootheel Missouri region. I hunt flooded fields in Missouri and flooded timber in Arkansas. Other than Missouri and 27

CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

Arkansas, I try to hunt a new state or area each hunting season. In 2020-2021, I traveled 4,500 miles between several midwest trips. To say I love it may be an understatement. The longer the road trip, the more the anticipation builds. I can’t wait to see the first group or single duck enter the spread. To see all the migrating birds flying south, and to see the workable ducks gets me excited. Even after all the miles, the sleepless nights, and the preparation, I do not kill limits everyday, but it’s not about the killing, it’s about the comradery, the chase, and the friendships. It’s about watching the dogs work that I have trained. The puppy retrieving their first wild duck. The old dog possibly retrieving their last. It’s about the sunrises and sunsets. The sights and the sounds. The working ducks and geese. It’s about the adventure. The adventure is a mindset, the anticipation, the excitement, the adventure.

Kevin Erdmier Southern Pine Kennel Blackshear, GA

southernpinekennel.com

Blue Wings is our initiative to teach and engage young people with the great recreation that is waterfowl hunting. We all have a call to pass on the knowledge and heritage of our pasttime to the next generation. At the Christian Waterfowlers Association, we do that through our Blue Wings events.

CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

THE BLIND BAG: SOUL GEAR FOR WATERFOWLERS BY TIM SALLEE 3

Fellowship One aspect of waterfowling that I absolutely enjoy, whether it be hunting as a guest at a duck club or hunting with my family and friends, is the fellowship. I love being outdoors along the riverbank, marsh, or slough at sunrise when all creation begins to awaken and the ducks begin to fly. There’s also nothing quite like hearing the sound of whistling wings as ducks jet over your head, cup, and splash down in the decoys. However, while all of those things are great, I enjoy the fellowship of hunting with others the most. When I go hunting with others, we typically drive around two hours to our hunting destination early in the morning. We are so wired up from the anticipation of the hunt that we usually talk during the entire trip, getting caught up on the latest of our families or getting to know a new guest on the hunt. We also don’t usually take the time to stop and eat breakfast, but bring along the food and utensils to cook breakfast in the blind. There’s nothing like a fresh, hot, egg, sausage, and cheese sandwich made right in the boat while watching for ducks to appear. After the hunt, we are usually both exhausted and hungry again from setting up and tearing down, that we stop for lunch or dinner on the way home. We usually stop at a meat and three where we continue the fellowship and relive everything about the hunt from that day and past hunting experiences. When I was young, I remember first hearing the word fellowship while growing up in church. Fellowship in the Bible comes from the Greek word, Koinonia. Koinonia’s primary meaning is, “fellowship, sharing in common, communion.” The first occurrence of koinonia is found in Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” I was taught early on that Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is what koinonia is all about.

Philippians 2:1-2 declares, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Koinonia is also about being in agreement with one another, being united in purpose, and not only serving others, but also each other. Our koinonia, or fellowship, with each other is based on our common koinonia with Jesus Christ. First John 1:6-7 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” I was once invited to hunt at a prestigious duck club in East AR. where most of the newest members had to wait years for an opening, as well as pay a large amount of money to join. I remember being happy for the members who invited me for a memorable, flooded timber hunt, but I also thought about the fact that only a few would ever be in the position to become a member or be invited to be a guest and fellowship with the other members. The good news is that when it comes to spiritual fellowship, the invitation to be a part of the family of God has already been given, and the price to join has been paid by Jesus Christ when He gave His life on the cross at Calvary. It is up to you to accept the invitation to fellowship with Him.

Tim Sallee CWA - Founder Northwest Arkansas

theCWA.org CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS

GE T R E ADY BY CHUCK McALISTER

Since waterfowl hunting is not a year-round activity, waterfowl hunters must patiently wait for the season to begin. As the humid days of summer begin to shorten, the signs of another waterfowl season on the horizon become more evident; leaves start to change color, the first cold front comes through, there’s a sudden crispness in the air, and there’s the first formation of migratory geese heading south. When the signs of the upcoming season are increasing, it is time to get ready. Everything is changing. You can feel it in the air. There are plans to be made, decoys to be checked, waders to be tested, shotguns to be cleaned and oiled, and licenses and duck stamps to be purchased. The waterfowl hunter who fails to get ready, to prepare, will set the stage for a disastrous season. When the signs are apparent, the waterfowl hunter who fails to get ready is foolish indeed. We are living in an unprecedented time. On one occasion, the disciples asked Jesus, “…what will be the sign of your coming…?” (Matt.24:3). Jesus gave His disciples a detailed list of signs and told them these signs “are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:8). In other words, these signs will increase in frequency and strength just like the contractions of a woman in labor getting ready to deliver a baby. Never before in human history have these signs converged and been so apparent as they are now. It is time to get ready. Jesus told His disciples to look for these signs to indicate that we are in the season of His return:

DECEPTION “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” (Matthew 24:5) There will be mass deception marked by a dramatic departure from church. Experts tell us there has been a 33% or greater decline in church attendance since COVID burst on the scene. The young adult generation is leaving the church at the rate of 700 a day, never to return.

DISSENSION “…Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…” (Matthew 24:7a) The word “nation”, in the original language in which this verse was written, is the word from which we get our word, ethnicity, referring to race. One sign of the imminent return of Jesus is increased racial violence within countries. There will also be an increase in violence between nations as the entire world will be characterized as 33

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“ kingdom against kingdom”, i.e., wars between nations. As of 2020, there were 45 wars raging around the globe, the most wars occurring at the same time in human history. The vast majority of these wars are being waged by Islamic Terrorists and are continuing to intensify and become more frequent.

DEVASTATION “…There will be famines…” (Matt. 24:7) The 3 major grains that feed the world; rice, corn, and wheat, are currently at their lowest level in history. Food supply chains are shutting down. The water table is shrinking at a rate never before seen as fresh water is being drained faster than it is being replenished. Pollinators are dying at an alarming rate marked by a 40% decrease in the bee and butterfly population since just last year. With 822 million people suffering from malnourishment in the world, it is truly the perfect storm for a famine.

DISEASE “…There will be…pestilences…” (Matt. 24:7) We have passed the 5 million mark in deaths caused by COVID worldwide. Our entire world has been turned upside down from the supply chain to our children’s education. Our lives have been changed forever by the COVID pestilence, and, with breakthrough infections of the disease now attacking the fully vaccinated, this pestilence will continue to intensify.

DISASTERS “…Earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24:7) The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) tells us that the number of earthquakes greater than 6 on the Richter Scale is increasing dramatically from the single digits in the decade of the 1950’s to over 170 in the decade from 2010 – 2019. Correspondingly, the Smithsonian Institute Global Vulcanization Program says the number of volcanic eruptions in the world is now at the highest number recorded in human history. This dramatic increase in volcanic eruptions is releasing massive amounts of chlorofluorocarbon gases into the atmosphere and creating a domino effect that is directly contributing to the global warming we are currently experiencing. Were the industrialized nations of the world to suddenly end the release of all toxic pollutants into the atmosphere, global warming would continue being driven by the dramatic change occurring in our atmosphere. There has been a 4% increase in moisture in the atmosphere resulting in more frequent and intense storms. The thinning atmosphere has

has resulted in greater evaporation of soil moisture, resulting in the worst wildfires we have ever seen. In addition to these disasters, the warming planet is witnessing the melting of the polar ice caps at rates never before seen in human history so that they are now melting 6 times faster than in the 1990’s. In the book of Job, God stated, “Have you entered the treasury of snow…which I have reserved for the time of trouble?” (Job 38:22-23). The “time of trouble” refers to the 7-year period of tribulation immediately following Jesus’ extraction of His church from the world. The “treasury of snow” refers to the polar ice caps. In other words, when we see the polar ice caps melting, we are on the verge of the return of Jesus.

DEATH “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matt. 24:9) Those who follow Jesus will be killed in unprecedented numbers leading up to the return of Jesus. Nina Shea, in her book, “In the Lion’s Den”, stated, “More Christians have died for their faith in (this) century than in the previous centuries combined”. Recent studies indicate that 12 Christians are dying every hour of every day for the crime of loving Jesus.

DISLOYALTY “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” (Matt. 24:10) Churches will be gripped by scandal and animosity as many “fall away” from the gospel by trying to impose their pettiness and personal agendas on the church, showing themselves disloyal to the cause of Jesus.

While we cannot usher in the coming of Jesus by proclaiming the gospel, we can proclaim the gospel because He is coming… soon! The signs of the return of Jesus are converging as never before. Everything is changing. You can feel it in the air. When the signs are this apparent, the person who fails to get ready is foolish indeed. But how do you get ready? Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” (Rev. 3:20). The best way to get ready for the impending return of Jesus is to invite Him to come into your life and heart so that you are prepared for all that will soon happen. He will help you get ready. Invite Him into your heart today by simply praying this prayer: “Jesus, I need you. Please forgive me of the mistakes I have made as I have ignored the intensifying signs of your return. I have sinned against you. Please forgive me. I surrender my life to you and invite you to come live in my heart. Thank you for saving me, Jesus.” If you prayed that prayer, and you meant it with all your heart, you have taken the most important step in getting ready. Welcome to the family of God. Very soon Jesus will return and take you home to be with Him…forever! As the signs become evident that waterfowl season is approaching, the smart waterfowler will get ready. Enjoy the approaching season. It could be our last.

DELUSION “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” (Matt. 24:11) A wholesale abandonment of the truth, driven by “false prophets”, intensifies as we approach the return of Jesus. Recent surveys indicate that nearly 75% of all adults no longer believe in the existence of absolute truth. We are becoming a deluded people.

DEFECTION “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12) When truth is abandoned personally, it follows that truth will be abandoned culturally and the rule of law is lost. Savagery replaces order. People become cold and self-centered as savagery erodes their very soul.

DECLARATION “But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:13-14) Technology has allowed the gospel to be proclaimed throughout the world as never before.

Chuck McAlister Founder Adventure Bound Outdoor TV Program Founder Promise of Hope Ministries Board Member CWA CHRISTIAN WATERFOWLERS