markyj987

What video games do you play? Any XBOX Live? I'll be on there some today and maybe tonight playing Call of Duty: WaW. If you're an online gamer, my GT is the same as my name here, markyj987. Other than that, I'm going to a gun show and also to the mall. My niece has a build-a-bear bday party there and my stepson is going so my wife and I are going to walk around the mall for an hour or so--ack! I wish Gander Mountain was right by the mall.

Gotta go with the medium rare ribeye also--great stuff!

I think you've pretty much got it handled and am thrilled you accepted the position--not to mention I don't think we've ever disagreed on anything--LOL. If you ever do need help though, I would be willing. It's great to be back!

Thank you all for the warm welcomes back. It still feels like home so you all will have to put up with me again!

Thanks, William--it's great to be back. It's been too long!

Though I've been on once every couple months, I haven't actively participated for a couple years. I didn't realize until yesterday how much I missed this place when I came on to get some help with a handgun question. The people here are the best there are on any website (hunting or otherwise) and I'm glad to be back. My wife has said for months that I need to have more fun--get back to being me--instead of always worrying about work, finances, and family life. I've stepped back from the outdoors for too long and no more. This year, I resolve to fish the bass opener, FINALLY bowhunt, and hunt the gun-deer season like there's no tomorrow--and I look forward to sharing that with my good friends here on the site. You all will be sick of me in no time flat! Happy Easter!

Wow--I do not even know where to start here, but I will try to stay calm. Let's just look at some recent history. I'm going to put this in a simple list format: Obama--backed overwhelmingly by auto workers unions It costs GM/Ford/Chrysler about $90 an hour to keep a union employee working. It costs Toyota about $55 an hour to keep employees working here in the US. Obama--supported--called for--demanded--brought the uninformed to PANIC over how the world would end if OUR tax dollars weren't given to the big three--basically to keep the union workers--his most powerful group of supporters--happy. Once giving the money to GM, Obama steps in and calls for the CEO to step down--and he does. This IS socialism--the government taking control of the free market. It's wrong and something that NO Republican OR Democrat would have supported 30 years ago. This is not about helping the "little guy." This is about government taking control of the manufacture and distribution of motor vehicles in the us instead of letting supply and demand be in control. If it weren't for the government stepping in with tarriffs on imported cars, the big three would have failed long ago. I could go on and on with this part of my reply--but need to move on...to the war: If Obama were in the US Senate at the time (and he was not), he would have been in the minority of his own party if he did not vote for the Iraq resolution. Based on the intelligence we had at the time--as well as our allies--it WAS the right thing to do. We now know that the intelligence was not dead on--so it was REALLY easy for Obama to say he opposed it all along AFTER the fact. Hindsight is 20/20. Finally, the most ridculous thing you did was basically called opposition to Obama racist. (William, sorry buddy--you may need to step in here) That is the most idiotic thing I have EVER heard--Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Obama's racist minister would be proud of you. There were a lot of people on this site who have continually supported people like Alan Keyes--one of the brightest minds in our nation. Many who support Obama are racist and have thrown aside their own beliefs and voted for him just because he's black. Here is an example: I have a step-son. His mother, my wife, is caucasion. His father is half caucasion and half African-American. His father is a southern Baptist minister, staunch pro-lifer, supporter of the military, and actively involved in the pro-traditional marriage movement. When Obama clinched the nomination, this staunch Republican admitted to his son he was going to vote for Obama just because he was black. THAT is short-sighted, racist, and hypocritical. It makes me stick to my stomach. My step-son is 14 years old and the most color-blind person I know. I truly am thankful to God for giving him the intelligence to see through the hypocrisy. I highly advise you read through some of the discussions on this forum before you jump in here and start implying that people here are racist. Then again, you might just be a typical, uninformed Obama lover following blindly. (Okay William--go ahead and work your magic--I'm pretty hot about this one...lol) Now, do I HATE Obama? No, absolutely not. Do I HATE his policies? Yes--they are anti-American. Like Rush Limbaugh, I want his policies to fail because they are NOT good for our country.

I'm not interested but will comment anyway (my wife says I never listen). What I will say though is that is a great shotgun and would rather buy it from snapper for a few dollars more than some random person on some random website. snapper would never screw over another hunter--and what he's asking is still a heck of a good price. If I was in the market, that gun would already be on its way to me.

The reason I listed those two models is because those are the two 357s available for rent at the range. Any other similar models I should look at?

Socialist

I haven't been on for a while, but my wife and I are considering purchasing a handgun for plinking and home protection. The gunsmith at our local Gander Mountain recommended a 38/357. Seeing as I've never been led astray on the forums, I thought I'd throw this out there. Is a 38/357 the way to go? If not, what else do you suggest? Also--any recommended reading? I'm a total novice and don't understand the difference between a revolver that costs $400 and one that costs $1,100. I cannot justify spending an arm and a leg but am not married to any particular price range. There is an indoor range nearby and I'm thinking about going there today and renting on of theirs--they have a Taurus 605 and a Smith & Wesson 686. Are either of these good starting points?

Pastor Scott--you'll be in my prayers as well. Steve--I don't know the whys to this kind of thing either, but I had something similar happen to me. Last may, I shattered my finger playing softball for my work team. Over and over, the hospital kept trying to ask me what happened, if it was anybody's fault, etc. They like to look for someone--or preferrably a company or insurance company to sue. It must be all those starving lawyers.

John, Reformation Day, October 31, is the anniversary of the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg and is considered the start of the Protestant Reformation. (There were movements prior to this, of course, but once these were printed and distributed to the masses, the Reformation spread throughout Europe). It's a minor festival, but commemoration of a major political event and really the starting point for religious freedom.

I was just wondering if any one else's church celebrates Reformation Day and if so--are your services any different? I think with virtually all Lutheran churches it is celebrated in some fashion and A Mighty Fortress is our God is one of the hymns for that day.

I was wondering where I'd first seen that. Hopefully you don't mind--or maybe I could use "ingrown armpit hair" instead. LOL

I am a Lutheran (Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) and believe that when I die, I immediately will be with my Savior in paradise. When he returns, my body will be resurrected and restored to the sinless way in which God intended. Jesus told the thief on the cross, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) This alone doesn't tell me about a "sleep" or lack of awareness--but that the day I leave this world, I will be with rejoicing with Him in heaven. Since the topic of denominations was brought up, I thought I should throw this out there. The idea of denominations seems to take a beating at times but there is comfort in going to a different church when you're away from home and knowing they teach the same thing, that they have seminaries and professors dedicated to apologetics, Bible study, and teaching. A denomination that faithfully preaches the gospel has the ability to support missions, take part in local outreach, etc. Just because I disagree with a certain denomination on x, y, or z, does not mean they lack saving faith because the light of the gospel can shine through our sinful and weak minds and hearts. Any and all who are brought to faith in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit are my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. If God chooses my part of that body to be nothing more than a nose hair, I will rejoice!

Since all PETA cares about is "animal rights," I guess this is not surprising. However, it is another display of their warped sense of reality and what truly is important. It goes along the lines of how they picket and protest and call for stiff prison sentences for someone that abuses an animal---though this may be right, they don't care about the child that's abused--or the woman that's raped by some thug. Perhaps that's an unfair criticism because, I suppose, it wouldn't be fair to criticize the NRA for not protesting lead paint...lol. Then again, I never claimed to be fair--only to be right.

sluggunner--welcome back, buddy!!! I've been trying to forget my first car. My little sister and I shared a 1980 Chevy Malibu. It was tan, tan, tan everywhere and it blew three transmissions. The first car I bought on my own was a 1980 or 1982 Pontiac Phoenix which was also a piece of junk. Neither car turned the ladies' heads---I just had to rely on my good looks...LMBO

Two movies I really enjoyed were "In the Beginning" and "Luther." "In the Beginning" I think was actually just a made for TV series and focused on the Old Testament--it was done very well in my opinion. I also enjoyed "Luther" as well. For anyone that also has an interest in history, it was pretty faithfully done as well and shows some of what spawned the Reformation.

Steven--get out of my head, buddy! I was actually going to come in here and post something about clubs. I'm a very beginner golfer and bought some used Yamaha irons and some other brand (no idea what) of woods used a few years ago. I didn't play for a long time and went out a week ago and am hooked. Anyone else have other recommendations for a decent set of clubs that aren't going to break the bank?

You're definitely right on that! She's fantastic.... Thanks to all for the warm wishes. So far, everything's going great.... I'm kind of bummed because she got a new job within AT&T and leaves for Cleveland on Sunday for a week of training. Our first big test....LOL.

Erin and I took the plunge on Saturday before God, our families and friends. It became crystal clear to me in April of last year that we were meant to be together and I asked her to marry me. Now after a little over a year, I am overjoyed that we will spend the rest of our lives together. I'm truly blessed to have Erin for my wife and that I now have two wonderful stepsons, Nate and Jasper. Of course, I also have a bunch of new in-laws that I love dearly as well as new nieces and nephews! Speaking of families, I wanted to be sure to share this with my Realtree family and thank you for your warm wishes and prayers. The love not only of husband and wife, but of brothers, sisters, and of all on this earth is most certainly a gift from God who showed his love for us by sacrificing his own son that we may have eternal life. Today we sat down for our first devotions together as husband and wife and I cannot even begin to express how close we felt to each other and to Jesus Christ. Our first kiss as husband and wife! My stepson, Jasper! My stepson, Nate!

swampfox had some excellent suggestions! I found a series of lectures on the modern church (Reformation-present) taught by Dr. David Calhoun, a theology professor at a seminary. It is from a historical perspective and pretty unbiased (though he does point out the obvious--that he's a Calvinist in a lecture). You can download the series, lecture by lecture from http://www.covenantseminary.edu/worldwide/en/CH320/CH320.asp I kind of want to expand on what Jeramie said about finding a church that is comfortable and one that does not bend the Word of God. I used to go to a church that made me feel very comfortable. The pastor and congregation were very easygoing, said all the right things, and their motto was that their church wasn't a place of judgement, that they accepted all, etc. After studying the church's doctrine, we learned that they basically ignored what the Bible had to say on many things. Never once, for example, did he even address the fact that my fiancee and I were living together before marriage. It sure made me feel good! What I'm saying is don't find a church that makes you feel comfortable at the expense of the truth. Since we went to our new church, there have been many times the preacher talked about something that made me uncomfortable. Even with the right church, you will feel uncomfortable when God's word shines on you and you realize that you have sinned and need forgiveness. I can't even tell you how many times I've squirmed in the pew and thought to myself, "yep, I'm guilty of." That's the beauty of the gift Jesus gave to us though--through repenting and calling on him, we are forgiven.

Happy Birthday, Bret---hope you're having a great one!

One week from today, I will be getting married. Erin and I got engaged in April of 2006 and I'm just amazed at how quickly this day is approaching. As it's gotten closer, I have kind of been on hiatus and have not been here as much as I should. I apologize for my lack of involvement as of late. It's amazing how humbling this is: How many times I've asked myself: Why am I so blessed? What did I do to deserve such a wonderful woman for my wife? She loves, me, is completely supportive of me, and shares the same vision of marriage that I do. How will I ever live up to a man like my dad, who was the most wonderful husband to my mother and father to us? He's been gone over five years now, but I still remember how much he and my mom loved each other and after 29 years of marriage how much in love they were. Even beyond my relationship with my future wife, I'm blown away by the love and support of our families and friends. Even our co-workers have been very kind with their warm wishes and generous with unexpected gifts. As our day approaches, I ask my friends here at Realtree to pray for that day and for our marriage--that we love, honor, respect each other, and most importantly keep Jesus Christ at the center of our marriage. I also ask you all to keep Steve and Chris in your prayers as well as the family of David Ashburn.