The Greatest Hunt of All
As a boy of five or six, I saw my dad bring home deer and ducks, and I wanted to do that. I got my first chance at age nine when, after firing three boxes of shells, I brought down a mallard hen. In the following years I hunted ducks passionately and shot deer with my rifle. Then a friend introduced me to bowhunting, and that’s when I really got hooked. I was a bowhunter for life.
From that background came an even greater ambition—to make a living as a hunter. So in 1971, after three years in the U.S. Army and four years in college, I launched my lifelong dream of becoming an outdoor writer. Looking back, I realize the probability of my surviving as a writer and editor was about as great as my becoming a professional basketball player. Zero.
Yet, that dream has become reality. Not only did I survive as a freelance magazine writer for 25 years, but I was hired to write a regular bowhunting column for Sports Afield. I’ve also written a number of hunting books and I’m currently editor of Bowhunter magazine. How has a dream with zero potential blossomed so fully?
FACING REALITY When I graduated from the University of Idaho in 1971, my wife, Laura, and I were married and I started freelance writing. My first "job" was writing a weekly outdoor column for a newspaper in Klamath Falls, Oregon, for $15 a week, and I sold a couple of magazine articles. But the fact is, Laura and I were going broke. For more than five years, our lives anxiously revolved around the mailbox, and as rejection notices far outweighed paychecks, our bills mounted. I was failing. My dream seemed hopeless.
That was a blow not only to my career hopes but to my ego. I’d always prided myself in being strong and independent. I could do anything. I, I, I…Now I was failing. In despair, I conceded that maybe I needed help. But where? Who could write for me? My wife couldn’t. My friends couldn’t. I was doing my best, but that wasn’t good enough. Desperation forced me to search for a power greater than my own, a superhuman power. What about God—if He really existed?
In 1976, Laura met a lady who invited her to church. Through that association Laura "got saved," a term foreign to me at the time, and she started bugging me to go to church with her. I wanted no part of that. Christians were nerds with the wet look, thick glasses, plaid polyester pants, white socks, plastic smiles. No way. They were just a bunch of phonies. Hypocrites. No better than me. If God didn’t really change lives, what good would He do me?
Then Laura said she’d met a hunter at church, a man I’d met through my writing, and I thought, At least I can talk to him about hunting. So I went. To my shock, people stood up during the Sunday morning service and told how God had changed their lives. Cured their alcoholism. Mended relationships. Given them hope. For these people, Christianity was no dead religion at all. It was living and vibrant. God apparently has changed these lives. Maybe he can change mine; maybe he can help me succeed as a writer. With those self-serving thoughts prodding me, I yielded to God and committed my life to Christ. I "got saved."
GETTING SAVED What does it mean to accept Christ as your Savior—to get saved? The Bible says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Biblically, sin refers to anything that separates us imperfect human beings from a perfect God. To enjoy a relationship with God we must have some way to bridge the gap caused by sin between us and God. The Bible makes it clear that a blood sacrifice is needed to redeem sin. In the original dispensation, the Old Testament, that sacrifice was made with animals—doves, sheep, cattle—but under a new dispensation, The New Testament, Jesus became that sacrifice, and when He died on a cross, His blood was shed to cover human sins once and for all. Now, to bridge the gap between God and man, a person simply has to accept Jesus’ sacrifice by believing in Him, as these Bible verses attest:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name [Jesus] under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
LIFE CHANGES People commonly resist or reject God because they think they must give up their fun, their habits, their lifestyles. I was one of those. Indeed, God changes priorities. But He will give any believer far more than He will ever take away. Among countless others, here are three ways God has enhanced my life.
Career. When I accepted Christ, did my writing suddenly explode with success? No. But gradually, miraculously, the pieces began falling into place—an encouraging word from a teacher; a friend’s financial help at a critical time; getting fired from one job, which led to far better things; jobs opening at just the right moment; my wife’s unwavering support. God meticulously engineered my rise to success.
Family and Relationships. In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." That rock is Jesus. Yes, storms have come, as they do in all marriages. Yet, at this writing Laura and I have enjoyed nearly three decades of marriage, and we have no concern about breaking our marriage vows—till death do us part—because our foundation, the Rock, is immovable.
Eternal Life. Temporal benefits—strong career, solid family, health—in themselves justify belief in God. But they pale in comparison to the promise of eternal life in heaven. The Bible offers two alternatives after death—heaven and hell. Those who believe in Christ are assured of a place in heaven. Those who reject him.... Personally, I prefer the prospects of heaven. Christ has eliminated the fear of death by assuring eternal life in heaven to anyone who believes in Him. For Christians, funerals are not tragedies but celebrations.
FINAL THOUGHTS Many of us hunters think the mountains and forests are our church, and we worship God by spending time outdoors. Indeed, the mountains, animals, and wild beauty are works of the Creator, but they are not the route to God. The Bible clearly explains that the only way to God is through Jesus Christ. Simply spending time outdoors and thinking lofty thoughts won’t cut it. We must make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. That commitment does not tarnish the joy of hunting or other outdoor pursuits. It only makes them much richer because you not only gain a far deeper appreciation of creation, but you get to know the Creator personally. That’s the greatest hunt of all.
—Dwight Schuh
So how do we come to God? Just as Dwight Schuh did, we can receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior when:First, we admit that—despite any good deeds we have done, or any special talents we might possess—we have all sinned.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
Second, we understand the consequences of our sin are death and eternal separation from God.
"For the wages of sin is death." (Rom. 6:23a)
Third, we realize God’s provision for us is Jesus Christ.
"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)
Fourth, we accept Jesus into our lives to be our personal Savior.
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life." (John 3:36)
You can use a prayer like this:
Dear God, I admit that I have sinned and ask that You forgive me of my sin. Jesus, I believe that You paid the penalty for all my sins when You died on the cross and that You rose again to give me eternal life. I ask You to come into my life and be my Savior. Amen
The Master Arrowsmith
If you enjoy archery, you understand the importance of proper arrow flight. Most people depend upon the experts to build their arrows, but a few of us enjoy doing the work ourselves. Just recently, I have begun crafting my own arrows; and I have learned to make my arrows fly true. I have learned some valuable spiritual lessons as well.
God's Polished Shaft In Isaiah 49:2, the Bible says, "He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me." It is clear from the context of this chapter that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is God's "polished shaft." In the Bible, God often describes Himself as an archer. Here, He describes Himself as an arrowsmith.
God's Arrow of Judgment The first time God sent Jesus Christ into the world, He came to die on the cross, paying the penalty of our sin: "...Christ died for us..." (Romans 5:8). God raised Jesus from the dead, and He is now seated at the right hand of God. The next time Jesus comes to the earth, He will come as the arrow of God's judgment. Zechariah 9:14 says, "...his arrow shall go forth as the lightning..." (See also Matthew 24:27.)
God, the Master Arrowsmith We can only be saved from this judgment by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour: "...as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God..." (John 1:12). Once we are saved, it is God's desire that every Christian be "...conformed to the image of his Son..." (Romans 8:29). As an arrowsmith builds an arrow, so God builds Christians.
An Arrow Must Be Straight Only Jesus Christ was without sin. (See Hebrews 4:15.) God begins to straighten us at the moment of salvation and continues until we are taken to Heaven. It takes pressure to straighten an arrow, and God will use the pressure of His Spirit to guide and correct us. God is patient and faithful in His work (see Philippians 1:6), but He will be firm if we resist His will (see Hebrews 12:6).
An Arrow Must Fly Straight A straight arrow will only fly straight if it is properly spined and fletched. Spine refers to an arrow's stiffness. An arrow can be too stiff or too flexible. God cannot use a person who is weak and fearful. God uses the trials and experiences of life to properly balance us. (See Romans 8:28-29). Fletching serves to slow the nock end of the arrow so it will fly straight. God will use trials and burdens in our lives to keep us straight as well.
An Arrow Must Be Sharp Just as an arrow must be sharp to be effective, God wants us to be sharp spiritually. In Hebrews 4:12, God's Word is compared to a sharp, two-edged sword. In II Timothy 2:15, we are commanded to study the Word of God that we might use it properly. We must learn to depend upon God's Word to build our faith (see Romans 10:17) and to touch the hearts of others (see I Peter 3:15).
Trust the Master Arrowsmith I really enjoy archery and bow hunting, but my service to God must come first. Serving God does not rob me of these joys. Instead, He enriches every part of my life. (See I Corinthians 1:5 .) If you are not saved, let me urge you to turn from your sin and trust Jesus Christ: "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10: 13). If you are already saved, I hope you will be encouraged to faithfully live for the Lord. Trust the Master Arrowsmith!
Ultimate Hunt
It's been quite a journey for a kid who grew up on a potato farm to become one of the top white-tailed deer photographers, writers and hunters in North America. During the last twenty years Charlie Alsheimer's pursuit of the white-tailed deer has taken him across North America. His photos have won numerous state and national photo contests and his articles and photographs have appeared in nearly every major outdoor publication in America, including Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Sports Afield, and Deer and Deer Hunting. In addition he has written and co-authored two popular books on the white-tailed deer.
Perhaps Charlie's greatest talent is his ability to communicate. As a result he's in great demand as a seminar speaker and lecturer. His path to the top has been bumpy and full of curves, but today he knows where the road leads. Here's how Charlie tells his story:
Surprised by Life's Turns I'm amazed when I think of how I grew up and what I'm doing now. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if it's all real. Being able to make a living hunting, photographing, and writing about whitetails and nature is a dream come true for me.
My dad was a tremendous athlete and very macho kind of guy who taught me that I could do whatever I wanted in life if I put my mind to it. So, with his help I channeled all my efforts into sports while growing up. In the process baseball, basketball, and hunting became my gods. Though I was very good at all three, I had no time for anything else. Occasionally my mom tried to get me involved in church, but it really didn't interest me.
After a successful high school athletic career I took my basketball ability to the college hardwood courts, where I became a starter in my first year. In spite of this success I wasn't a very happy person. With my life in neutral I dropped out of college after the first year and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1967. While in the Air Force my life changed. In October of 1969, with a year and a half left in my enlistment, I received orders for Vietnam.
One night two weeks after arriving in Vietnam I came to grips with the reality of life when the Viet Cong attacked the base where I was stationed. GIs scrambled for cover as rockets and mortars landed all around. I never made it to the bunker. In all the chaos I "choked," stayed in my bunk, and prayed. It's the first time in my life I can ever remember praying. Though I wasn't hurt, men died that night. Feeling a need to get closer to God I began going to church in Vietnam and went regularly until I came home in December of 1970.
Challenged by Life's Opportunities When I returned to the States I was a changed person. Nam had given me a greater appreciation for America and the benefits of living here. The experience had also given me a desire to make something of myself. I went back to college and began dating a school teacher by the name of Carla Todd, a wonderful Christian girl I had dated off and on since high school.
This time around my college experience was different. I was a dean's list student and a member of the varsity basketball team with seemingly everything going for me. In spite of all the successes I was struggling inside. The more I tried to do things on my own the less peace I had in my heart.
But things were changing. From the time I came home from Vietnam I had been going to church with Carla. Between her and those in the church, I was beginning to realize the love of God. Early in 1971 a church member introduced me to Dick Snavely, the Executive Director of Family Life Ministries in Bath, New York. After that I regularly used FLM's basketball facility, and Dick and I became good friends.
On April 23, 1971, during a workout at FLM, Dick asked if I was a Christian. My response was that I was, and he asked me to tell him about it. I couldn't tell him anything! Though I had been going to church I knew little about being a Christian or what "being saved" was all about. I figured that if people went to church they were automatically Christians. Rather than changing the subject, Dick asked if he could talk to me about it. Because I respected him I said yes, and we spent the next two hours in his office discussing Christianity.
Dick shared with me Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, no, not one" and Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." He also explained John 3:16, "For God so loved the word that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Changed by a Lifetime Decision I asked many questions and for the first time in my life someone explained to me why Christ came to earth, died on a cross for my sins, then rose from the grave. And he told me how I could be saved by accepting Christ as my Savior. I knew then that the emptiness I had was because I didn't know Christ as my Savior. Before leaving I knelt in Dick's office and prayed, admitting I was a sinner, asking Christ to forgive me of my sins, and asking Him to come into my life.
When I got up I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. I had been hunting for peace for years...the hunt was over! My goal ever since has been to make Christ the center of my life.
In 1972 Carla and I were married, and after graduating from college I took a sales and marketing position with a large corporation. Though I loved the job, God had a different plan for my life. During this time I taught Sunday school classes and became more involved in nature photography and writing. I was not only growing in my relationship with Christ, but my hobby was becoming more than a hobby.
I took the big leap in 1979 and went full time into outdoor communications. Though some questioned my judgment, I knew it was Christ's will. He opened many new doors the first year. In addition to the writing and photography assignments, opportunities to speak mushroomed. I enjoy those opportunities the most because so many people have come to share my trust in Jesus Christ during my speaking engagements.
When I was growing up on the farm I was convinced by the natural things around me that there was a God, but I just didn't know who He was. Now that I know God personally through believing in Jesus Christ, I realize God deserves all the credit for my dreams coming true. Since 1971, Proverbs 3:5 and 6 have been my life verses--"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." I've trusted, and He has guided and directed me.
As I reflect on the many good things that have come my way, I'm convinced of this: When you turn your life over to Christ He can make you a better banker, teacher, truck driver, lawyer, doctor, factory worker, nature photographer, writer or whatever...but you have to let Him take charge of your life. As I found out in 1971, only through Christ will you find peace in your heart, fulfillment in life, and know for sure you are going to heaven.
Charlie has ten multimedia nature programs he presents to churches, civic clubs, camps and public schools across the country. For information on securing Charlie as a speaker:
Charles Alsheimer
4730 Route 70A
Bath, NY 14810
Phone: 607-566-2781
Questions about your personal search for peace or Christian Bowhunters of America? Contact us!
As a boy of five or six, I saw my dad bring home deer and ducks, and I wanted to do that. I got my first chance at age nine when, after firing three boxes of shells, I brought down a mallard hen. In the following years I hunted ducks passionately and shot deer with my rifle. Then a friend introduced me to bowhunting, and that’s when I really got hooked. I was a bowhunter for life.
From that background came an even greater ambition—to make a living as a hunter. So in 1971, after three years in the U.S. Army and four years in college, I launched my lifelong dream of becoming an outdoor writer. Looking back, I realize the probability of my surviving as a writer and editor was about as great as my becoming a professional basketball player. Zero.
Yet, that dream has become reality. Not only did I survive as a freelance magazine writer for 25 years, but I was hired to write a regular bowhunting column for Sports Afield. I’ve also written a number of hunting books and I’m currently editor of Bowhunter magazine. How has a dream with zero potential blossomed so fully?
FACING REALITY When I graduated from the University of Idaho in 1971, my wife, Laura, and I were married and I started freelance writing. My first "job" was writing a weekly outdoor column for a newspaper in Klamath Falls, Oregon, for $15 a week, and I sold a couple of magazine articles. But the fact is, Laura and I were going broke. For more than five years, our lives anxiously revolved around the mailbox, and as rejection notices far outweighed paychecks, our bills mounted. I was failing. My dream seemed hopeless.
That was a blow not only to my career hopes but to my ego. I’d always prided myself in being strong and independent. I could do anything. I, I, I…Now I was failing. In despair, I conceded that maybe I needed help. But where? Who could write for me? My wife couldn’t. My friends couldn’t. I was doing my best, but that wasn’t good enough. Desperation forced me to search for a power greater than my own, a superhuman power. What about God—if He really existed?
In 1976, Laura met a lady who invited her to church. Through that association Laura "got saved," a term foreign to me at the time, and she started bugging me to go to church with her. I wanted no part of that. Christians were nerds with the wet look, thick glasses, plaid polyester pants, white socks, plastic smiles. No way. They were just a bunch of phonies. Hypocrites. No better than me. If God didn’t really change lives, what good would He do me?
Then Laura said she’d met a hunter at church, a man I’d met through my writing, and I thought, At least I can talk to him about hunting. So I went. To my shock, people stood up during the Sunday morning service and told how God had changed their lives. Cured their alcoholism. Mended relationships. Given them hope. For these people, Christianity was no dead religion at all. It was living and vibrant. God apparently has changed these lives. Maybe he can change mine; maybe he can help me succeed as a writer. With those self-serving thoughts prodding me, I yielded to God and committed my life to Christ. I "got saved."
GETTING SAVED What does it mean to accept Christ as your Savior—to get saved? The Bible says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Biblically, sin refers to anything that separates us imperfect human beings from a perfect God. To enjoy a relationship with God we must have some way to bridge the gap caused by sin between us and God. The Bible makes it clear that a blood sacrifice is needed to redeem sin. In the original dispensation, the Old Testament, that sacrifice was made with animals—doves, sheep, cattle—but under a new dispensation, The New Testament, Jesus became that sacrifice, and when He died on a cross, His blood was shed to cover human sins once and for all. Now, to bridge the gap between God and man, a person simply has to accept Jesus’ sacrifice by believing in Him, as these Bible verses attest:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name [Jesus] under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
LIFE CHANGES People commonly resist or reject God because they think they must give up their fun, their habits, their lifestyles. I was one of those. Indeed, God changes priorities. But He will give any believer far more than He will ever take away. Among countless others, here are three ways God has enhanced my life.
Career. When I accepted Christ, did my writing suddenly explode with success? No. But gradually, miraculously, the pieces began falling into place—an encouraging word from a teacher; a friend’s financial help at a critical time; getting fired from one job, which led to far better things; jobs opening at just the right moment; my wife’s unwavering support. God meticulously engineered my rise to success.
Family and Relationships. In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." That rock is Jesus. Yes, storms have come, as they do in all marriages. Yet, at this writing Laura and I have enjoyed nearly three decades of marriage, and we have no concern about breaking our marriage vows—till death do us part—because our foundation, the Rock, is immovable.
Eternal Life. Temporal benefits—strong career, solid family, health—in themselves justify belief in God. But they pale in comparison to the promise of eternal life in heaven. The Bible offers two alternatives after death—heaven and hell. Those who believe in Christ are assured of a place in heaven. Those who reject him.... Personally, I prefer the prospects of heaven. Christ has eliminated the fear of death by assuring eternal life in heaven to anyone who believes in Him. For Christians, funerals are not tragedies but celebrations.
FINAL THOUGHTS Many of us hunters think the mountains and forests are our church, and we worship God by spending time outdoors. Indeed, the mountains, animals, and wild beauty are works of the Creator, but they are not the route to God. The Bible clearly explains that the only way to God is through Jesus Christ. Simply spending time outdoors and thinking lofty thoughts won’t cut it. We must make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. That commitment does not tarnish the joy of hunting or other outdoor pursuits. It only makes them much richer because you not only gain a far deeper appreciation of creation, but you get to know the Creator personally. That’s the greatest hunt of all.
—Dwight Schuh
So how do we come to God? Just as Dwight Schuh did, we can receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior when:First, we admit that—despite any good deeds we have done, or any special talents we might possess—we have all sinned.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
Second, we understand the consequences of our sin are death and eternal separation from God.
"For the wages of sin is death." (Rom. 6:23a)
Third, we realize God’s provision for us is Jesus Christ.
"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)
Fourth, we accept Jesus into our lives to be our personal Savior.
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life." (John 3:36)
You can use a prayer like this:
Dear God, I admit that I have sinned and ask that You forgive me of my sin. Jesus, I believe that You paid the penalty for all my sins when You died on the cross and that You rose again to give me eternal life. I ask You to come into my life and be my Savior. Amen
The Master Arrowsmith
If you enjoy archery, you understand the importance of proper arrow flight. Most people depend upon the experts to build their arrows, but a few of us enjoy doing the work ourselves. Just recently, I have begun crafting my own arrows; and I have learned to make my arrows fly true. I have learned some valuable spiritual lessons as well.
God's Polished Shaft In Isaiah 49:2, the Bible says, "He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me." It is clear from the context of this chapter that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is God's "polished shaft." In the Bible, God often describes Himself as an archer. Here, He describes Himself as an arrowsmith.
God's Arrow of Judgment The first time God sent Jesus Christ into the world, He came to die on the cross, paying the penalty of our sin: "...Christ died for us..." (Romans 5:8). God raised Jesus from the dead, and He is now seated at the right hand of God. The next time Jesus comes to the earth, He will come as the arrow of God's judgment. Zechariah 9:14 says, "...his arrow shall go forth as the lightning..." (See also Matthew 24:27.)
God, the Master Arrowsmith We can only be saved from this judgment by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour: "...as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God..." (John 1:12). Once we are saved, it is God's desire that every Christian be "...conformed to the image of his Son..." (Romans 8:29). As an arrowsmith builds an arrow, so God builds Christians.
An Arrow Must Be Straight Only Jesus Christ was without sin. (See Hebrews 4:15.) God begins to straighten us at the moment of salvation and continues until we are taken to Heaven. It takes pressure to straighten an arrow, and God will use the pressure of His Spirit to guide and correct us. God is patient and faithful in His work (see Philippians 1:6), but He will be firm if we resist His will (see Hebrews 12:6).
An Arrow Must Fly Straight A straight arrow will only fly straight if it is properly spined and fletched. Spine refers to an arrow's stiffness. An arrow can be too stiff or too flexible. God cannot use a person who is weak and fearful. God uses the trials and experiences of life to properly balance us. (See Romans 8:28-29). Fletching serves to slow the nock end of the arrow so it will fly straight. God will use trials and burdens in our lives to keep us straight as well.
An Arrow Must Be Sharp Just as an arrow must be sharp to be effective, God wants us to be sharp spiritually. In Hebrews 4:12, God's Word is compared to a sharp, two-edged sword. In II Timothy 2:15, we are commanded to study the Word of God that we might use it properly. We must learn to depend upon God's Word to build our faith (see Romans 10:17) and to touch the hearts of others (see I Peter 3:15).
Trust the Master Arrowsmith I really enjoy archery and bow hunting, but my service to God must come first. Serving God does not rob me of these joys. Instead, He enriches every part of my life. (See I Corinthians 1:5 .) If you are not saved, let me urge you to turn from your sin and trust Jesus Christ: "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10: 13). If you are already saved, I hope you will be encouraged to faithfully live for the Lord. Trust the Master Arrowsmith!
Ultimate Hunt
It's been quite a journey for a kid who grew up on a potato farm to become one of the top white-tailed deer photographers, writers and hunters in North America. During the last twenty years Charlie Alsheimer's pursuit of the white-tailed deer has taken him across North America. His photos have won numerous state and national photo contests and his articles and photographs have appeared in nearly every major outdoor publication in America, including Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Sports Afield, and Deer and Deer Hunting. In addition he has written and co-authored two popular books on the white-tailed deer.
Perhaps Charlie's greatest talent is his ability to communicate. As a result he's in great demand as a seminar speaker and lecturer. His path to the top has been bumpy and full of curves, but today he knows where the road leads. Here's how Charlie tells his story:
Surprised by Life's Turns I'm amazed when I think of how I grew up and what I'm doing now. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if it's all real. Being able to make a living hunting, photographing, and writing about whitetails and nature is a dream come true for me.
My dad was a tremendous athlete and very macho kind of guy who taught me that I could do whatever I wanted in life if I put my mind to it. So, with his help I channeled all my efforts into sports while growing up. In the process baseball, basketball, and hunting became my gods. Though I was very good at all three, I had no time for anything else. Occasionally my mom tried to get me involved in church, but it really didn't interest me.
After a successful high school athletic career I took my basketball ability to the college hardwood courts, where I became a starter in my first year. In spite of this success I wasn't a very happy person. With my life in neutral I dropped out of college after the first year and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1967. While in the Air Force my life changed. In October of 1969, with a year and a half left in my enlistment, I received orders for Vietnam.
One night two weeks after arriving in Vietnam I came to grips with the reality of life when the Viet Cong attacked the base where I was stationed. GIs scrambled for cover as rockets and mortars landed all around. I never made it to the bunker. In all the chaos I "choked," stayed in my bunk, and prayed. It's the first time in my life I can ever remember praying. Though I wasn't hurt, men died that night. Feeling a need to get closer to God I began going to church in Vietnam and went regularly until I came home in December of 1970.
Challenged by Life's Opportunities When I returned to the States I was a changed person. Nam had given me a greater appreciation for America and the benefits of living here. The experience had also given me a desire to make something of myself. I went back to college and began dating a school teacher by the name of Carla Todd, a wonderful Christian girl I had dated off and on since high school.
This time around my college experience was different. I was a dean's list student and a member of the varsity basketball team with seemingly everything going for me. In spite of all the successes I was struggling inside. The more I tried to do things on my own the less peace I had in my heart.
But things were changing. From the time I came home from Vietnam I had been going to church with Carla. Between her and those in the church, I was beginning to realize the love of God. Early in 1971 a church member introduced me to Dick Snavely, the Executive Director of Family Life Ministries in Bath, New York. After that I regularly used FLM's basketball facility, and Dick and I became good friends.
On April 23, 1971, during a workout at FLM, Dick asked if I was a Christian. My response was that I was, and he asked me to tell him about it. I couldn't tell him anything! Though I had been going to church I knew little about being a Christian or what "being saved" was all about. I figured that if people went to church they were automatically Christians. Rather than changing the subject, Dick asked if he could talk to me about it. Because I respected him I said yes, and we spent the next two hours in his office discussing Christianity.
Dick shared with me Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, no, not one" and Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." He also explained John 3:16, "For God so loved the word that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Changed by a Lifetime Decision I asked many questions and for the first time in my life someone explained to me why Christ came to earth, died on a cross for my sins, then rose from the grave. And he told me how I could be saved by accepting Christ as my Savior. I knew then that the emptiness I had was because I didn't know Christ as my Savior. Before leaving I knelt in Dick's office and prayed, admitting I was a sinner, asking Christ to forgive me of my sins, and asking Him to come into my life.
When I got up I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. I had been hunting for peace for years...the hunt was over! My goal ever since has been to make Christ the center of my life.
In 1972 Carla and I were married, and after graduating from college I took a sales and marketing position with a large corporation. Though I loved the job, God had a different plan for my life. During this time I taught Sunday school classes and became more involved in nature photography and writing. I was not only growing in my relationship with Christ, but my hobby was becoming more than a hobby.
I took the big leap in 1979 and went full time into outdoor communications. Though some questioned my judgment, I knew it was Christ's will. He opened many new doors the first year. In addition to the writing and photography assignments, opportunities to speak mushroomed. I enjoy those opportunities the most because so many people have come to share my trust in Jesus Christ during my speaking engagements.
When I was growing up on the farm I was convinced by the natural things around me that there was a God, but I just didn't know who He was. Now that I know God personally through believing in Jesus Christ, I realize God deserves all the credit for my dreams coming true. Since 1971, Proverbs 3:5 and 6 have been my life verses--"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." I've trusted, and He has guided and directed me.
As I reflect on the many good things that have come my way, I'm convinced of this: When you turn your life over to Christ He can make you a better banker, teacher, truck driver, lawyer, doctor, factory worker, nature photographer, writer or whatever...but you have to let Him take charge of your life. As I found out in 1971, only through Christ will you find peace in your heart, fulfillment in life, and know for sure you are going to heaven.
Charlie has ten multimedia nature programs he presents to churches, civic clubs, camps and public schools across the country. For information on securing Charlie as a speaker:
Charles Alsheimer
4730 Route 70A
Bath, NY 14810
Phone: 607-566-2781
Questions about your personal search for peace or Christian Bowhunters of America? Contact us!