Outdoor Truths Ministries

11/03/2026

Join me in the morning at 7:30 eastern time, 6:30 central, 5:30 mountain, for the Big Idea from my Outdoor Truths Article. Here's the link. I hope to see you soon. https://outdoortruths.org/tuesday-morning-study-zoom/

11/02/2026

In a few days I’ll leave once again for Missouri. Dear friends and big deer make the trip something I look forward to each year. In the early years, I grabbed my climbing sticks and a cheap lock-on tree stand and hunted either from my lock-on or from a stand that was already there. While both were effective, neither provided enough comfort for an all-day hunt. The older I got the worse it got. So, after several years of antsy pain I bought the most comfortable stand I could afford. And it is wonderful. Now I don’t dread day after day sitting for long periods of time. Last year, however, instead of moving my stand I decide to hide in the middle of a bush within 30 yards of a trail. I sat on the ground and positioned my backpack in front of me to hide as much movement as I could. Sure enough, after only a short time, a buck and doe came through. I shot the buck but hit him high and never found him. Thankfully he lived long enough to become a trophy for the neighbor. What I discovered was, while my nice oversize, comfortable, and elaborate tree stand was nice, I really only needed a bush and a backpack. Let me take this to a place you’re not expecting.
I think of how comfortable our churches have gotten and how oversized and elaborate we have made this thing we call worship. The song leader is now a worship leader. It’s his or her job, along with a worship band to create an environment so that we can worship. He admonishes us to stand, sing, wave, and wait until the Spirit fills the place, so we can worship. The truth is that most people (especially men) don’t even know what worship is. If we were to ask them (us) I’m afraid we couldn’t define it very succinctly. And if that’s the case, how do we even know if we have accomplished this feat? I’m not downplaying men. Just the opposite. I’m saying that we men need/want things plain and simple. I have often said, if men had been in charge, Crayola would have never had a box of crayons that had more than eight colors. We just don’t understand fuchsia, periwinkle, or burnt sienna. We just like red, blue, and green. Elaborate worship is great. I love music. And I personally love it loud. I love great musical performances. And I love new spiritual songs. But I just need to be reminded sometimes that worship is not a deliverance but a decision. I can decide to worship from a stage or on the ground. I can do it with accompaniment or in solitude. And the only urging I need is one that comes from a simple desire to achieve what worship is and does. Worship is simply this. Recognizing who God is, in comparison to who we are. When we have done that, we have worshiped. No matter where we are or who we’re with.

Gary Miller
outdoortruths.org

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10/28/2026

This lesson reminds us that the burdens we carry in life are not always meant to be removed, but sometimes are meant to prepare us for something greater. Just as a hunter willingly carries a heavy backpack because he understands its purpose, we can learn to view life's struggles through God's perspective. Whether facing sickness, loss, guilt, or uncertainty, we can trust that God has not abandoned us and that our circumstances are never greater than His power. His promise of peace doesn't always mean our burdens will disappear, but that our hearts and minds can find rest in Him. Sometimes God doesn't lighten the load; He changes the way we carry it.

This lesson reminds us that the burdens we carry in life are not al...

10/26/2026

I’ve always considered myself a prepared hunter – some would say over prepared. I very rarely go into the woods without my backpack. During the colder months this is especially true. Since I’m never absolutely sure as to what the weather will bring, I take just about everything. My backpack is over three-thousand cubic inches. I strategically place additional clothes in it or strapped to it. I carry additional socks, gloves, headgear, and even an extra base-layer shirt just in case I sweat too much while getting to the stand. The nooks and crannies are stuffed full of other things like snacks, a drink, reading glasses, a book, paper, pen, and my phone. And there’s also my umbrella and rain gear. In addition to all of this I carry a f***y pack as well; full of calls, scents, rope, compass, trimmers, and anything else that suits my fancy. Now some of you are already laughing at my overkill. You’re not the first. I’ve never weighed my gear, but I figure it really doesn’t matter because the burden of the load is a small price to pay in order to be a more prepared, and even satisfied, hunter. Sometimes the weight is cumbersome. Walking the hills most assuredly puts a toll on my legs, but as the season progresses it eventually becomes almost unnoticeable.
Some of you, right now, are carrying a load of a different kind. It’s a burden that weighs on your heart and mind. It may be one you have caused or one you had nothing to do with. These burdens come through all sorts of circumstances from sickness, the concern over a child, the loss of a job, divorce, or a host of other things. Your mind is questioning the purpose of such a burden and the devil is quick to answer your question by casting the guilt squarely in your lap and telling you, “If you had only (fill in the blank) this would have never happened, and now God will abandon you to suffer the consequences alone.”
The Bible is clear about the devil and his ways. It says he is the father of lies and his purpose is to destroy your faith by causing you to doubt and disbelieve the Word of God.
The truth of the scriptures assures us of several things. They tell us we are loved by God, He will never leave us, and that He has promised to bring good to our lives even in the midst of our burdens. He has also promised us peace. Having peace, many times, doesn’t come from the burden being taken away but by changing our mind concerning it. My backpack was not a burden because I knew in my mind it would make me better prepared. The weight was the same, but my mind counted it worthwhile. What you may need right now is not your burden removed but only to see it from the perspective of God. It is not bigger than He. In fact, it is simply a tool in His hands to prepare you for what He is making you to be. Ask God to give you peace in your trial. The Bible says He will give it in such a way that it will surprise even you.

Gary Miller
Outdoortruths.org

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10/23/2026

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10/20/2026

This lesson reminds us that some of life’s greatest lessons come through shared experiences. Just as time spent hunting and fishing helps us understand and connect with others, Jesus willingly entered our world to experience the pain, suffering, and struggles of humanity. While God may not always give us the answers we seek when life becomes difficult, He has given us something even greater—a Savior who understands our suffering firsthand. Through His life and sacrifice, Jesus demonstrated that He is not distant from our pain but intimately acquainted with it. We may not always understand why we suffer, but we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus understands what we are going through.

This lesson reminds us that some of life’s greatest lessons come th...

10/19/2026

My favorite time of the year starts right now! It begins on Halloween and goes for about 6 weeks. In deer hunting terms these few weeks involve the pre-rut, rut, post-rut, and secondary rut. Each of these periods offers some exciting times to be in the woods. And if one is limited in the amount of days he or she can hunt, concentrating on this window of opportunity will provide the best chances to bring home a trophy. In years past I couldn’t wait for opening day. I was not only looking for meat to put in the freezer, I also thought that one big buck might just show up anytime. Therefore my “window of opportunity” started the end of September and ran through January. This was not only a long period of time but it was also very draining on me physically and on every other area of my life. I was obsessed and every day I couldn’t go hunting, I knew would be the day Mr. Bruiser Buck would walk by. I’m glad I got older and wiser, and slightly more mature. Today, I still love to hunt but I understand that not only do I have more important life responsibilities; I can save my time and energy for a much smaller period of time and still have fun and be successful. It’s the quality over quantity thing. It’s also just being a better manager of life.
The benefit I have that some do not is that hunting and fishing are important for what I do as a writer and speaker. I know that sounds very convenient, and my wife is not very impressed by that excuse either, but nevertheless these experiences give me fuel to write and help me identify with those that I speak to. It allows me not so much to tell my story but understand theirs – and yours.
This is also the story of Christianity and Jesus in particular. It is the story of commonality. It is the story of shared experience. It the story of one window of opportunity that Jesus took – willingly, that gave Him understanding of our story. You see, we live in world that is full of suffering and the most difficult question to answer for those who undergo such tremendous suffering is “why.” Why God, do you allow such pain? Why God, is there so much evil? Why God, are there so many people who are without? God has not chosen to give us very satisfying answers at times, but what He did choose to do was identify with our suffering. And in one small window of time, Jesus (God in the flesh) died; not only so He could tell us of His story of salvation for all, but so that He could understand our story of pain as well. Whatever we may say about Jesus, there is one thing we cannot say… we cannot say He knows nothing of our suffering. And for that He stands alone among all other religions.

Gary Miller
outdoortruths.org

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10/13/2026

This lesson reminds us how easily the beauty of God’s creation and the blessings of everyday life can become overlooked when we get caught up in our routines, responsibilities, and goals. Just as the first day of deer season awakens our senses to the wonders around us, we should approach each day with a renewed appreciation for what God has given us. From the beauty of nature to the incredible way we are fearfully and wonderfully made, His handiwork is everywhere. Sometimes we need to slow down, lift our heads, and recognize the blessings we’ve been too busy to notice.

This lesson reminds us how easily the beauty of God’s creation and ...