I got a telephone call one day from Les Otten, owner of Sunday River Ski Resort. He wanted to know if I could meet him at his office. When I arrived he was on the telephone heavily engaged in a telephone conservation concerning the sale of several new condominiums being constructed on the mountain. Twenty-five years ago, a few hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money. I waited.

Les wanted to know if I was interested in building on an addition to one of his ski lodges. We walked around the building and peered under a deck where the addition would go, both of us raising several questions about the existing structure. Soon, with Les in his work clothes (dress slacks and dress shirt) and I in mine (grubs), we were both crawling on our bellies through the dust, gravel, weeds, debris and just about everything else one might have the pleasure of finding under a heavily traveled ski lodge deck. I did make a couple of comments about our adventure but I’ll refrain from posting them here.

I’ve told that story more than one time but as I was thinking more about it this morning after getting off the phone with Les, that action actually is a pretty good characterization of him. Here’s a man who could have sat in the comfort of his clean office but instead did not hesitate to roll up his sleeves and get dirty.

I’ve known Les for perhaps 30-plus years and during that time he has given unselfishly to his community. Time and space will not permit the endless list of how he has impacted the people in his home town and surrounding area.

Les Otten is a businessman who understands many things, among them tourism, promotion, marketing, investment, providing a viable product and operating within a budget. Whoever resides in the Blaine House will face daunting tasks and challenges. I believe he is up for the challenge and can put together the right people to make it all happen.

One huge undertaking will be the financial shortfall of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, a depleted whitetail deer herd, an overgrown population of coyotes and other predators, and environmental groups eager to make a living serving up lawsuits to stop hunting, trapping and fishing. The hunting, fishing, trapping and general outdoor recreation brings millions of dollars into Maine each year. The next governor has got to find a way to tidy up fish and game and make sure that those running it are in sync with the mission.

True to character, Otten will “roll up his sleeves and get dirty” on this issue.

All of the United States is at a crossroad. Things are changing and many of us don’t care for the direction it is going. If there’s one weapon we have as free Americans it is the right to vote. That’s where we can begin to push back.

Outdoor sportsmen can be independent people. We love to be outside, in the forests, on the water, enjoying the peace and quiet and the beauty God gave us. But to protect that, we have to give a bit more than we take sometimes. I’m asking every sportsman in Maine to make it a point to vote on June 8, 2010. Vote for the candidate(s) that you believe best represent your ideals. Finding the right people is extremely important at every level of government. Don’t wait to see who comes out on top. Be the one who puts your candidate at the top.

Tom Remington

Editor’s Note: This is the second part of an article by Blaine Cardilli I published here recently containing the same title. Please follow this link to Part I of “God Has A Sign And It Reads: “Gone Huntin’”.

Last week I wrote an article titled, “God Has A Sign And It Reads: Gone Huntin’”. If you haven’t read it, scroll down this website and find it. It seems to be generating some talk so I thought, why not continue the discussion in a “Part II”. In the first article, I laid the basic ground work for hunting having a Biblically supported background, and I introduced you briefly to “Mountain-Man Outdoor Ministries”. In this installment, I’ll elaborate a bit more on why I believe hunting has a base in scripture, why I believe God wants, (and needs), to get involved on a more personal level with hunters, and what I plan to do about it. Hold on to your seats because I’m going to both challenge myself to take on a bold new ministry, challenge you to not only read these articles but open your camps up to a radical new outdoor preacher, and challenge the Anti-Hunters who are trying to use God and the Bible against us. You might just want to sit down for this one.

The Redneck Preacher Revealed

A few years ago, while I was in the process of trying to outline and develop this ministry, I was talking with a friend about my concerns. One thing I wanted to do was keep hunting and keep doing my pro staff work, yet try to bring God’s word into the mix in a way that wasn’t too “confrontational”. The other thing that scared me was the thought that some might think me a “Bible-thumper”, or worse, a hypocrite, because I was known to swear once in awhile plus I enjoyed a beer and a shot of good whiskey on occasion. Still do. Of course, I know the scriptural background to alcohol and drinking while many others don’t, and believe me when I say that topic is a whole bible study in itself. And before you condemn me, you might want to talk to me about it first, because the hype has been strictly religious and unwarranted. If you combine scripture with a little common sense, you’ll find out you don’t have a leg to stand on with that argument. Anyway, by the time the conversation was finished I had decided I had no other choice but to just “be me” and go with the flow, repercussions and all, and my friend wondered out loud how a redneck could become a preacher. I liked the concept and it stuck.

From that point on, I took it before God in prayer and made a deal with him; If he’d allow me to be myself without putting on airs, I’d do my best to make myself…and His Word….available to my fellow sportsmen; folks like me who love God but just don’t have the time to go to church. It soon became clear that the place to combine both my passion for hunting and my love for God was the all-American Redneck Hunting Camp. And you know what? I found out that God never intended for me to be anyone other than myself all along. Now, to those who have asked about my “credentials” and why I feel I’m uniquely qualified to actually teach christian studies, considering I’m so off-the-wall and edgy, here’s the skinny.

I’ve been a christian since age 10 but it wasn’t until 1991 that I rededicated my life to Christ and really started studying. I joined a local non-denominational church near my home, (I like non-denominational because I’m under no particular administration…which is how it should be, by the way), and I was baptized in September 1994. Between 1991 and 2010 I have logged somewhere between 35,000 and 36,000 hours of Bible studies and comprehensive research into the scriptures. That period includes a stint at a Bible college near my home where I took a 13-week course on “Understanding God”, a 12-week course on “Hermeneutics & Exegesis”, (go ahead…look it up), a 12-week course on “Theology & Church Doctrine”, an 8-week course on the “Art of Preaching and Teaching”, an 8-week course on “Discipleship” and one on “Apologetics”. It includes many hours spent in libraries doing exhaustive research on additional topics of interest ranging from crucifixion to Jewish history and culture. On top of that, I have conducted and/or been a part of men’s study groups, have put in more than a few hours of “pulpit time” helping my pastor, and served what I like to call ten years of “on the job training”. I say that because I was the only christian on a construction crew made up entirely of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 10 years. Believe me when I say, every single day was an in depth Bible study program. Seriously…I took my Bible to work everyday and we discussed issues constantly while we worked. Do that for awhile and then come see me. That’s an education in itself.

And the thing about me is that I have finally learned to accept who I am and what my unique calling is. I know I’m far from perfect; I get mad and swear once in awhile, and I enjoy a cold beer with my friends while we’re sitting around a summer campfire. I’ve always been appalled at the constant religious bickering and everyone insisting God has chosen their ministry as the only one he will accept, all others be damned. Excuse me but that’s a huge load of bull. When I present my case to someone with a topic of interest, we examine the whole context, not just a line or two, and after I’ve explained the true meanings of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic words in their original texts, I give counsel on what I feel it means, but in the end the issues are ultimately between you and God. It’s not my place to force any of my own opinions onto you. To do anything else would be legalistic, unless it’s a simple matter of someone clearly trying to exploit accepted Christian doctrines. That, I would oppose.

I’ve learned to let the ridicule and disdain from others roll off my back. I speak my mind and I tell the truth about the Gospel…the whole truth, not just the rhetoric that pleases a stubborn and religiously-strict society full of stuffed shirts and pompous asses. I’m here to reach a class of people who have literally become a class unto themselves…the Sportsmen and Hunters of this great country who aren’t afraid to open their camps and their hearts; A people proud to be American, proud to be redneck, and proud to defend both their country and their God. These are my friends, my co-workers, and my companions and it’s time someone with a Bible background stood in the gap with them and for them; someone able to bring God to the playing field in a way all will be able to understand.

Hunters Making A United Stand

It has been my experience that hunters and sportsmen in this country truly share a deep-seated love for family, tradition, for country, and especially for God. Go into any hunting camp from the deep South, to the Midwest, to the extreme Northeast and you’ll find the same type of people; open, honest, friendly, all-American, and God-fearing. And it doesn’t matter who we are “back in the world” either. When they get to Huntin’ Camp, the camos go on, the guns and bows come out, the beer coolers get filled, and I swear I see a literal change come across every hunters face, usually within the first 30 minutes. The stress vanishes once the talking starts, and the worry-wrinkles, made apparent through time and age, deepen now, but from laughter instead of fear. I can almost hear the twang of each man’s inner “good old boy” coming out, too, and you know what that is? It’s the camaraderie that only comes from spending time in Hunt Camp…or Fish Camp, or wherever we choose to leave the world’s chaos and problems behind. It defines who we really are…….Rednecks to the end, every one of us.

I mentioned in my previous article that hunters & fishermen usually share a common sense of guilt when they take a Sunday off to head out into the woods or hit the lakes, when they or their families feel they should be in church. Some feel they’re in God’s true church every time they enter the woods or traverse the waters, and for most, a hunting or fishing camp is a place they can share a true spiritual experience, comparable to none found inside any four-walled building. I agree with them, which is why I plan on trekking across America every chance I get, so I can experience it with them and add strength to their convictions. The upside, for all of us, is that when I’m in camp with them, I can solidify their experience and ease that guilt, because I’m bringing a touch of God, (not religion), directly into their midst.

Do you know how many hunters get turned off by the arguments, rhetoric, and back-stabbing found in modern society? A lot. You know how many hunters have walked away from church in general because of all the bickering and legalism that abounds between them? Do you know how many are appalled at the extent the Anti’s are using God and the Bible against them now, and how some folks actually believe the lie? It’s no wonder hunters would rather plead their case for finding God in a tree-stand or in a ground blind somewhere deep in the woods. I don’t blame them. And I suspect much of the need to get away and experience “Hunting Camp” is rooted in the fact that sportsmen find a sense of true peace in worshiping God there. There’s acceptance, camaraderie, brotherhood, and best of all, no guilt.

Now imagine if you will, and I’m speaking to hunters and fishermen right now, you were told a preacher was coming to camp this week. Lie to yourselves all you want but I’ll tell you what your first reactions would probably be.

“Oh no….a Preacher? Coming here? Crap! That means hide the beer, try not to swear, and be someone I’m not until he’s gone.”

And in that vision you see a small meek individual, not impressive in frame or body by any means, who walks in, lays his shiny black Bible on the counter, and starts out with, “Shall we pray for each other, my brothers?” Every sentence is followed up with an “Amen” and whether you want to or not, you find yourself drawn into the falsehood of acting in a way you think he wants you to act. That would suck because I’ve been there. Now don’t get me wrong, I know some mighty fine outdoor preachers who don’t fit that bill either. I’m just saying.

Now imagine another preacher comes to camp. He walks in wearing a cut-off camo shirt not unlike Larry the Cable Guy, torn blue jeans, and a black leather cowboy hat with shades. He sets his ice cooler on the floor next to his camp chair, cracks open a Coor’s Light, and lays a really, really worn out tattered old Bible on the table next to him. He leans back, hands behind his head, puts his feet up and says, “So….you guys gonna talk all day about old hunting stories or are we gonna start making some new ones this afternoon?” He takes a haul off his beer, looks you straight in the eye, and immediately you feel at ease, thinking “Hey…this guy might be alright”. Ummm….in case you haven’t figured it out yet, that would be me.

Nothing changes when this Preacher comes to camp, I can assure you, and you certainly don’t want to be changing who you are for me. When I’m there, it’ll be me and a cameraman because we’ll be filming almost everything in hopes of laying down footage that someone’s going to want to see, either for an existing outdoor show or simply as a matter of personal record. No prank is too big and none too small, and all I’ll be is myself…which will be plenty. Want some spiritual advice? I can give it. Want to tell me why you hate “religion”? I can take it. I guarantee if nothing else, the spirit of camaraderie and brotherhood will be even stronger with me around. Why? Because I’m called to be there and nothing happens without a reason. I firmly believe that. The bottom line is that you need God just as much as he needs you, and with me, you not only get a fellow redneck, down to earth and a little rough around the edges, but one who can share the Word with power and authority and maybe even be able to help you find answers to some of your deepest questions. Plus my sense of humor is awesome, it really is!

The second reason I’ll be traveling to hunting camps will be to share a special hunt or trip with a special individual from time to time. Perhaps this person, young or old, has been battling cancer. Perhaps he or she has been crippled or incapacitated in some way that has made hunting almost an impossible chore without help from others. Or maybe the focus will be on a child whose life has been touched by tragedy. Maybe it’s a son whose father lost his life serving this great country in Iraq or Afghanistan, and this trip is for him because his dad had promised to take him turkey hunting when he returned….but he never came back.

The point is, we’ll all be together in that camp because we all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves…something life-changing. I think that’s what Hunting Camp is all about anyway, at least on some level. And I’m also here to provide assistance to already established organizations geared to help in circumstances such as these, but the reality is there are far more people waiting in line than there are organizations able to help, so whatever I can do, believe me I will. Time is of the utmost importance to these people. Time we should never ever take for granted because some are dying before ever getting the chance to live their dream. Every single hunt with an extraordinary individual battling against the odds leaves us teary-eyed, thankful and inspired to do more. That’s what I want to be a part of.

I’ve been a hunter and outdoorsman for almost 40 years, an outdoor writer and columnist for twelve, and been in the professional end of the hunting industry itself since 2002. I have made friends in the form of outdoor celebrities and personalities, and even outfitters and guides, and if I can come up with a plan to bring people together all in one place to make a special hunt happen for someone less fortunate than myself, I’m in. The plus side is I can give counsel and spiritual strength to the families and hunters involved, help solidify connections between organizations and families once the hunt is over, and if needed, I can even help call in turkeys or deer, right to the gun if no one else is available. And whatever happens, it will all be laid down on video because for some, memories will be all they have to hold on to.

A Challenge to Celebrity Hunters & Sponsors To Get Involved

Obviously, for this ministry to be successful, I need to generate money so I can help foot the bills necessary to make each hunt and trip happen….and I want to make a lot of these special hunts happen. Not only do I wish to use my connections between industry personnel and outfitters to get some basic hunts set up, there’s travel expenses to and from the hunting camp for the families to be considered, as well as other costs which unfortunately include maintaining this ministry and allowing it to expand and grow. But, and I can’t stress this enough, one thing I will never ever do is ask any man for money. It’s not scriptural to beg for funds when one trusts in God to make things happen. That, my friend, is called “faith”, and it’s a very powerful force. No, you don’t use people to get money; you use money to get people. I heard that somewhere and I liked it! This is not a religion I preach either. It’s a relationship. You’ll go far once you understand what that means. I intend to make this outdoor ministry flourish and be a blessing to everyone it touches and I have the assurance of the apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians chapter 9 that if I sow spiritual seed among you, it is my right to receive a material blessing from it as well. He goes on to say that Jesus commanded that anyone who preaches the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. I can only put myself out there in faith, and trust God to open the financial doors necessary to allow me to make this a full-time venture. Time will tell.

In the meantime, if you or anyone you know wishes to help me in any way, please contact me. If you’re an outfitter wishing to donate a hunt package, I need to hear from you and what you have to offer. If you’re a company willing to sponsor us with some much needed gear, I need to hear from you. We need basic equipment and camouflage clothing so we can outfit any special guests that ask for our help, and in return I will openly endorse each sponsor willing to provide it, and will do so publicly. If you’re a reader who feels you’re led to help in some other way, get a hold of me. And if you’re in the outdoor television or radio business and you’d like to have me on your show or in your camp as a guest, I’m available for appearances and interviews. Wanna spice up hunting camp with something extra like a men’s outreach or study group? Drop me a line, I’m ready and eager to be a part of it. Maybe you just want to kick back with a fellow sportsman who just happens to be a redneck preacher, and toss around a few spiritual ideas while sipping on a cold frosty one. I can do that, too.

Fortunately, the publicity goes both ways; I need your national outlets and venues to spotlight “Mountain-Man Outdoor Ministries” and get it embedded into the public eye, and any camp or sponsor willing to host us or help us will reap not only national recognition for their roles but more importantly, the satisfaction of knowing you made a public stand against those who would tear us down, while at the same time helping to get the Word out. And trust me, God will know and remember what each of you have done. I welcome any and all sponsors willing to give what they can for this cause, and one thing we’d really like to secure is a new truck that we can letter up with the ministry name and logo, along with all sponsors logos. So if you know of a dealership willing to provide us with one, simply for use, travel and advertising, I’d be much obliged to hear from you.

Why Hunting Camp Embraces Every Man’s Spirit

You know, for me, there’s nothing more gratifying than walking down a moonlit trail at 3:30am, on my way to a pre-designated turkey-hunting spot, hundreds of yards from nowhere. By moonlight I place my decoys out and then nestle into the darkness of a secluded stone wall on the edge of a blueberry field here in Maine. With my back resting comfortably against a huge old oak, I await the stirrings of life. Within an hour the birds begin serenading the dawn and the first gobbles echo across the valley; music to my starving ears. As the mist rolls across the blueberry barren, knee-high and ghostly in the early light, I see the forms of several deer appear on the opposite woodline, silently moving their way back to bed. As the distant gobbles continue to announce that the dawn has indeed arrived, two Barred Owls resonate their familiar cadence of “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all”. As I close my eyes and open them again, relishing this moment and thanking my God for it, I see a lone coyote trotting a hundred yards away, on his own little mission and oblivious to my presence. It is here that I, the Redneck Preacher feel closest to my Creator, and I know I am not alone. You feel it, too. That strange pull and the same sense of peace. Why? What is it and who can explain it? This is what I can share with you in Hunt Camp and this what I have to offer…

Over a crackling campfire on a calm clear evening I would ask you to consider the many passages of scripture relating to this spiritual connection we share out here. I would put you at ease and remind you that in Psalm 50 God said that every bird, every creature, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to him. I would remind you that in Job chapters 38 and 39, almost everything you feel or relate to as an outdoorsman is explained, from the forming of the ice on a lake, to the breath of the wind against your face, to the birth of a fawn in the wild. And let us not forget that in Genesis God gave us the responsibility of conserving and managing all His natural resources, of which hunting and fishing are merely tools of the trade for the responsible Christian outdoorsman. Who was it that said “rise, kill, and eat” to Peter in Acts chapter 10? Was it a man? No, it was God.

When you’re in Hunt Camp, why do you think you feel such tremendous peace and camaraderie, and such a spiritual bond with God? I’ll tell you why. Because in Psalm 84 we find the true nature of God’s presence and of his church explained in outdoor terms we can understand. For in that passage it says that out in the woods even the swallow and the sparrows have found a home, and a place to raise their young…a place near the altar of God. For the hunter, no other place of worship can compete with the solitude of having your back against a tree in the spring turkey woods or the joyous laughter of good friends in Camp. And God is aware that hunters have been misunderstood, persecuted, mistreated and even attacked for their traditions and values. The sad part is that many are now using the Bible against you; Against us. Well, rest assured I know more than enough to stand in the gap with you publicly, privately, or both, and I’m outspoken enough not to care what others think. They want to bring God into the equation to condemn us? Guess what…I’m going to prove they picked the wrong argument this time. The Redneck Preacher is here to make a stand alongside all the other brave outdoor warriors who have already laid it all on the line to make a stand for America and the right to hunt. I believe I’m in very good company and Uncle Ted was certainly right; When we’re experiencing Hunt Camp each and every season, putting meat on the table for our families and friends, and honoring our God, we truly are enjoying the Spirit…….of that which is Wild. Hey Uncle Ted, give me a call, brother!

(Blaine Cardilli is a freelance outdoor writer and christian speaker who enjoys the prospect of sharing his faith in God with hunters & sportsmen in churches and hunting camps across the country. If you’d like to learn more about “Mountain-Man Outdoor Ministries”, would like to discuss hunting, the Bible, or both, or would like to invite Blaine into your camp or on your radio or television show, he can be reached at the following: www.facebook.com/theredneckpreacher or at indianwd@hotmail.com)

“God Has a Sign And It Reads: Gone Huntin – Part II“, is now available for reading.

Okay, before you go into a tizzy and start screaming “blasphemy” or some other nonsense, give me a chance to explain the title. Believe me, it’s warranted. Many people in this country have fought long and hard to remove God from the docket, but I’m here to tell you, he’s alive and well, and rooted deep inside the hearts of a lot of American sportsmen.

Did you know that in Genesis, Chapter 9, God commissioned man with the job of wildlife management? He did. Did you know that Nimrod and Esau were very skilled hunters who hit the woods and fields with bows and arrows harvesting wild game for food? They were. Did you know that deer, antelope and other wild game were the chosen foods, even before man started eating domesticated meat? Read Deuteronomy Chapter 12. Did you know in Proverbs 12:27 it says that a lazy man neglects to roast his game, but the substance, (the meat taken through hunting), of the diligent man is considered precious? Well, it is. How about in Acts Chapter 10 where God himself commanded the apostle Peter to “rise, kill and eat” when he was hungry…and the passage spoke specifically about animals?

Yup…it’s all in there. The list of scriptures goes on and on my friend. And don’t even start about fishing. Jesus and several of the apostles were fishermen; some of whom even cast “lines” for fish, as well as nets. It was Jesus himself in John Chapter 21 who broiled some fish over a campfire for breakfast, and you outdoors-folk will also be glad to know that an occasional beer or glass of wine is not anti-biblical, no matter what you thought you heard. That’s right, I said it and I can back it all up.

So what’s with the title of this article? Why would it say that God has…’Gone Huntin’”? It’s because I’m bringing him into any and every hunting camp that will personally invite us both in, that’s why.

Not Just Inside Four walls

I’m a hunter, born and bred, and I’ve fished since the age of seven. I’ve got more outdoor stories inside me than you can shake a stick at, and yes, I was raised like most country boys, with a good Mama and a strong Christian background.

However, sad as it may seem, many outdoorsmen today, myself included, have little time for the standard church ceremonies. And I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, and I’m certainly not blaming anyone. Most of my friends are what I affectionately call “modern rednecks”, and that’s a good thing. The guys and gals I know, who love to share hunting and fishing stories over an open fire-pit in the summertime, are also God-fearing, red-blooded Americans, and very proud of it! They work extremely hard…often six days a week or more, they love their families, and any time off they may get, is spent out in the woods and fields or on the water, with family and friends in tow.

Unfortunately, many of us only get the traditional Sunday off as a day of rest, and though we firmly love God…and our pastors…we find it difficult at best to squeeze in a mid-day or evening service that could potentially be spent in camp or on the lake. Obviously, I need to stress that anytime we, as individuals, can make the time to go to church, we should. Our families need the support and so do the countless pastors who strive hard to keep us spiritually fed and “on track”. However, there are a myriad of sportsmen across the country who simply feel they don’t have time on Sunday, and who instead, go “out there”, all the while just trying to enjoy themselves after a hard week, yet still feeling a sense of guilt about it. And that’s where I come in…

Spiritual ‘Road Trips’

About two years ago, I was struggling as a concrete contractor, (self-employed), and found myself working long, hard hours, often six and seven days a week, just to keep the jobs moving. I found that there was little time for church anymore, and with my spiritual upbringing, I was guilt-ridden, especially if I tried to squeeze in a few days for spring turkey hunting or fall deer hunting. In time, I messed up my back and found I couldn’t do the strenuous work anymore so I quit…and immediately found myself unemployed and practically starving. The up side was that my situation drove me back to the books and most importantly, my Bible, and after many months of contemplating where my life was headed, I made the decision to bring both my faith and my outdoor passions, together. The only thing I didn’t want to do was change who I was and become some stuffy old Bible-thumper, knocking on people’s doors and shoving “God” down everyone’s throats. One day it came to me that I didn’t have to change, and ‘Mountain-Man Outdoor Ministries’ was born.

I won’t bore you with details but suffice it to say I’m a redneck, a hunter, a fisherman, and an outdoorsman, and I just happen to like sharing my faith when I can. What better way to do that than to just “be me”, and preach the Word, redneck attitude and all, through which I have also been appropriately referred to as “The Redneck Preacher”. Funny how God works sometimes, isn’t it? We are developing outreaches and programs designed to help kids, and are very interested in working to help set-up special hunts and trips for special people, (any age, disabled or incapacitated beyond their means), who are unable to enjoy hunting on their own anymore.

I’d like to think that the many friends and contacts I’ve made in the professional outdoor industry would be willing to help me in this venture by donating trips, hunts, and much needed gear. If you or anyone you know, wishes to become an active partner in this ministry, please contact me. I am available for interviews, discussions, and studies, and would love to be invited into your hunting camp this season! There’s no better way for me to share my faith than to visit hunting camps across America, share some campfires with redneck sportsmen just like me, hunt and fish with them, and, in effect, bring God straight into the heart of the American Hunting Camp.

I just wonder how many invitations I’ll actually get! You think Waddell and The Nuge could stand the extra excitement in camp? A Redneck Preacher with a Bible in one hand, a rifle or shotgun in the other, and a turkey call hanging out the side of my mouth. Hmmmm….I dunno… Let’s praise God, pass the ammo, and find out. And did I warn you I’d be bringing a camera and cameraman along for the ride? I didn’t? Uh oh…

(Blaine Cardilli is a freelance outdoor writer, industry prostaffer, and seminar speaker on hunting; He also enjoys teaching christian studies to rednecks & sportsmen, and has been referred to as The Redneck Preacher. He can be reached on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theredneckpreacher)

Photo from fOTOGLIF

AUGUSTA – The Maine Warden Service is urging people to not venture out onto any ice that may be covering Maine’s waterways.

Throughout Maine, the state’s lakes and ponds may appear to be frozen in parts or their entirety, but safe ice conditions cannot be assumed even though temperatures have been below freezing in recent days and at night. Also, any snow covering thin layers of ice acts as insulation and slows the freezing process.

“There are no safe ice conditions anywhere in the state right now,” said Col. Joel Wilkinson, chief warden of the Maine Warden Service. “I understand that people are anxious to begin winter activities, such as ice fishing and snowmobiling. But don’t risk your life or the lives of others by traveling onto thin ice.”

As the temperatures continue to fall in the coming weeks, and the ice begins to thicken, the Maine Warden Service is recommending that people check the thickness of any ice before venturing out for any activity on frozen water.

If you must go on the ice this winter, the Maine Warden Service offers these tips for ice safety:

· Never guess the thickness of the ice – Check it! Check the ice in several different places using an auger or some other means to make a test hole and determine the thickness. Make several, beginning at the shore, and continuing as you go out.

· Check the ice with a partner, so if something does happen, someone is there to help you. If you are doing it alone, wear a lifejacket.

· If ice at the shoreline is cracked or squishy, stay off! Watch out for thin, clear or honeycombed ice. Dark snow and dark ice are other signs of weak spots.

· Avoid areas with currents, around bridges and pressure ridges. Wind and currents can break ice.

· Parents should alert children of unsafe ice in their area, and make sure that they stay off the ice. If they insist on using their new skates, suggest an indoor skating rink.

If you break through the ice, remember:

· Don’t panic.

· Don’t try to climb out immediately – you will probably break the ice again. Reach for solid ice.

· Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice. Once on the ice, roll, DON’T WALK, to safety.

· To help someone who has fallen through the ice, lie down flat and reach with a branch, plank or rope or form a human chain. Don’t stand. After securing the victim, wiggle backwards to the solid ice.

How Thanksgiving began is varied, all for reasons of being thankful. Today, Thanksgiving has become to most Americans, a time to gather as families, eat far too much food and perhaps even watch a little football.

I hope you will also take some time from your busy to schedule to reflect back on all the things you are thankful for. And, by the way, make sure to share at least one of the thanks with someone else.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tom Remington

The Alan Jackson song, “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning” (available below for you to listen to) asks that very question. I was getting a hair cut. When I left and got into my car, I turned on the radio, something I don’t often do, and there was a lot of chatter. Nothing made sense for quite awhile, as nothing made sense to anybody for quite awhile.

After a few minutes, I realized what was going on but I didn’t know what caused it. I rushed home and turned on the television. Beginning that day, my life was changed forever.

Don’t ever forget!

Tom Remington

August 18, 2009 – Skinny Moose Media launched its weekly newsletter ‘The Skinny’ on Tuesday as a new medium to inform the public in regards to industry news, new products, and special deals. With a handful of informed bloggers, Skinny Moose Media will be turning to their writers for help. “Our writers are always posting about the latest news and the newsletter will not only keep people informed but will assist in promoting our individual bloggers in the Network,” Steve Remington, President of the media company, said.

The newsletter has a strong concentration in the outdoor and recreational industry, especially hunting, fishing, shooting, and conservative politics but the Network is expanding their Internet presence every day. Signing up is simple. Browse to skinnymoose.com and fill in your name and email address in the form.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I’D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN’T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
‘SANTA DON’T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON’T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.’

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN’T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL.

I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, ‘CARRY ON SANTA,
IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.’

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
‘MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.’

This poem was written by a Marine.

The following is his request. I think it is reasonable…..

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming
soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and
women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we
owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and
dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your
small part to plant this small seed.

Posted by Tom Remington

Thanksgiving means different things to different people. For us here at Skinny Moose Media and from Tom and Steve Remington, we want to take a few minutes and just thank everyone for being a part of our lives.

All too often we can get caught up in so many bad things going on around us that we forget about how many things we should and can be thankful for. And as such, I am thankful for you and both Steven and I and everyone associated with Skinny Moose Media want to wish you the absolute very best Thanksgiving Day. And may it be the most special day of all.

Tom and Steve Remington

>rent a car bulgariaw is information I received from a friend of mine in Maine who does volunteer work for Buckmasters Disabled program. She didn’t ask me to post this. She was only sharing and seeking help.

~~~~~~~

Jennifer Turner didn’t get the house she’d been planning for this summer, but the quadriplegic Auburn resident has some new help and a new timeline.

She now hopes to start construction next spring.

Turner, 38, was injured in 1985 when a pulp truck hit her family car, leaving her with a broken neck and vertebrae, no use of her legs and limited use of her arms and hands.

In 1993, she moved into a Barker Mill Arms apartment with the hope of being more independent. She busied herself in the grounds around the building, planting flower gardens in any empty space she could find. She soon became known as New Auburn’s flower lady and she helped raise money for physical education camps for children with similar injuries.

But her physical problems worsened two years ago. Years of relying on her arms to maneuver her wheelchair and pull herself from room to room, combined with damage from her original injuries, left her with severe tendon damage in her wrists. Surgery last year has helped, but not much.

Her Barker Mill apartment is not handicapped accessible. She can’t turn the doorknobs, turn on the faucet or even get herself out of bed. She relies on family and neighbors to get her up in the morning and to let her in and out of her apartment. A powered lift would help, but the structure at Barker won’t support the weight of the system.

Her choice: go into a nursing home or build her own home with the equipment she needs to be self-sufficient.

Last spring, the city agreed to sell Turner a half-acre of tax-acquired land just north of Anita Avenue for $39,500, its assessed value. She won’t have to pay for the mortgage on the land until she sells the property or ceases to live there.

With that agreement and help from a variety of programs and grants, Turner had hoped to build her home over the summer. But the federal housing program she’d been counting on changed and her funding suddenly disappeared.

About the same time, a childhood friend saw a story about Turner in the Sun Journal. The friend, Tammy Nosek, was a civil engineer in New York and she got the American Society of Civil Engineers, a charitable group, involved.

The society agreed to design the house, help with a drainage plan and solicit donations. Other people and groups have offered to pay for the lift, provide electrical services, paint the house and provide other donations.

Turner still needs excavation services, adaptive equipment and accessible appliances, building materials and construction management. If she can get that help, she hopes to start construction in the spring.

For more information or to offer help, call Auburn Community Development Coordinator Gail Phoenix at 333-6601, ext. 1336 or Tammy Nosek at (845) 567-6656.

Posted by Tom Remington

This latest video was filmed and edited by Carter Davidson and Gray Ghost Productions. The Upper Androscoggin River, as listed and promoted by the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance, runs from the Maine and New Hampshire state border near Shelburne, New Hampshire down to around Rumford, Maine. It flows through my hometown of Bethel, Maine.

I grew up on this river, noted for being one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the United States. The efforts of many have returned the river to a point that it has become one of Maine’s destination fisheries. As a matter of fact a new state record rainbow trout was taken by Steve Day from this section of the river shown in the video.

I hope you enjoy it.

Tom Remington