From Darkness to Light (abundant life)

Dear Battle River Ranch Camp followers,

I thought this was the perfect time to write my blog, now that I'm half way into completing the five month program here at the ranch. Many wonderful surprises have happened since coming to the ranch. Just to fill you in here a little about my background.  I’ve grown up in a dysfunctional family where my father had left my sister (Brittany ) and I because of his serious addictions to drugs and alcohol. My mother also had her addictions so life was hard.  As I grew up I did start to realize and understand the commitment my father had made. Praise the Lord! He has been clean since September, 02 of 1995.  My mother unfortunately has been continually struggling, and so I pray for her and ask for your prayers as well. Well, at age 13 I had been smoking cigarettes, marijuana, drinking alcohol and getting into trouble with the law! I was a troubled teenager having the ‘‘I don’t care attitude’’ disrespecting authority, elders, my self and not only that, our wonderful Father who has created me. I would only get worse from now on, eight years of probation for my crimes and always going to the extreme of trying all kinds of drugs. These drugs would bring me to my bottom of bottoms, hurting people to get my next fix, begging people for money downtown London Ontario. Stealing, lying anything to get what I wanted and when I wanted it. I had been so broken inside, seeing what I was doing to myself and to others. When I was serving more time in jail for another crime I had committed in January of 2012, I had started to pray to God again, for him to show me and guide me on the right road again. I had been learning and also knew inside my heart that God could somehow change me. I had read other testimonies about people way worst then me being totally set free by His divine power. I could feel it, but knew that was a commitment I had to be totally ready for. I was selfish and didn’t want to let go of everything. I thought to myself “I’m still young, I want to have fun."  Well shortly after I had miraculously been let go from jail I was straight back to what I knew best. While I had been in jail I met a man named Tim Horn an aftercare worker for New Life Prison Ministries. Tim would try to meet with me on a regular basis; he would always show me his love like Jesus would. Knowing he was a faithful man of God and when we would meet I would be so convicted I knew I had to change. I knew that I wanted to be like Tim one day! So I started to make contact with Teen Challenge Saskatchewan. I left Ontario knowing that if I left far away having no distractions whatsoever that I could spend one complete year at Teen Challenge seeking God so he could raise me up and use me for His kingdom. So I battled through the tough times at Teen Challenge learning how to cope and use my skills. Learning how to deal with life skills, always being in communion with Christ. Having good fellowship with my other brothers that are making that step to living the new life Christ offers. In my last three months I was getting close to finishing my program. I knew I always wanted to be a plumber. But the door wasn’t opening. I then was reminded of Harold and Diane Stephan from Battle River Ranch, and so my friend said to me “why don’t you just give them a call and see what happens?" and sure enough when I made that call God had already opened that door! Well you’re in for a treat now!! God has blessed me with a new life. I’ve graduated the twelve month program at Teen Challenge and now I’ve been at the Ranch and have been clean and sober for a full 15 months. I’ve been able to come to the Ranch and develop and enhance my skills in the trades. 1 Corinthians 2:9  "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

This Scripture blows my mind!!  And is truly real!  I’ve been places and seen things now that I couldn’t ever see lost or  trapped into my addiction. Blinded from the plans God had in store for me. God has taken me places because I started being faithful. Finally giving up the old life, He has blessed me ten fold and even a hundred fold. I am now half way into the program and those who have said that “they can learn nothing in five months."  Well I can truly prove that statement wrong. If you put your full potential into the short five months and ask God to help you and guide you! Piece of cake for Him!  Anyways, I’m trying to say that I am already training others to do plumbing!! Recently our other student here at the ranch has felt led by God to also pursue a career in plumbing. Haeden and I have had  the chance to do our first home together, setting up all the main water lines, system, shower hook ups and currently working on our drainage and that’s what I have learned today at Battle River Ranch.  Watching Harold’s sons teach me to do something I love doing, in a Christian way!! I am blessed again. Well I am also planning on my exit plan so I know five months can go fast. I only have two months left. I am praying that maybe I could stay at the ranch and get to work everyday. I am praying that God will provide a vehicle for me to get to and from. The reason why I want to stay at the ranch is because of the great atmosphere here. Coming from a broken life, living the dark life I was in and now coming to freedom through Christ. I am not ready to put myself into a situation where I don’t need to be if I don’t have to. I am also praying what great asset I could be to the ranch. So I am also praying that I could possibly be a mentor to our new students coming to the ranch. I have been asked by Harold to consider that. Well, that is currently where I am at the ranch. I have been encouraged In living the life God has designed for me today because of how encouraged I am being here at Battle River Ranch Camp! Only because you have made this possible through your support. I am thankful because I now have a career in plumbing, all because of God and people like you. Special thank you to Harold and Diane for being so faithful in carrying the vision God has given you. I pray Lord God that you keep them strong because we know this is not possible without you. I also thank you God for the people who have blessed us here at the ranch and now having me where you need me to be. God,you are good. Amen!

 Sincerely,

 Jason Primrose

       Thank you once again for taking the time to view our blog. The Battle River Ranch Camp is a non profit organization that is focused on developing trades, life skills and training opportunities for men and women that are searching and find it difficult to get the opportunities needed to develop a productive and positive life skill. A strong confident man or women of God will impact the darkness in our service industry in many ways.

TO DONATE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE;
If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever right here at home PLEASE consider making a donation to:  CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC, (Battle River Ranch Camp) or visit our website for directdonating and more information, thank you very much we cannot do it alone. Please consider becoming a $25.00 a month donor today. Thank you so much.
*Be a blessing to someone every day*.

   

 

 

 

 

When you least expect

      

     The last day of skiing, the last few hours of the perfect day. As usuall we have been blessed with many great family ski trips over the past 35 years. 

     As I was sitting by the huge windows watching the new skiers in our family and keeping an ear open for sounds from baby Ethan I continued making crosses and I must admitt a few original and very nice crosses. A guy that was standing behind me commented on the crosses and said his dad used to make them also we shared a bit and he took all of the ranch info. I continued to finish up a few crosses when he walked up to me, I guessed him to be about 14 years old. Tay was his name and he had been watching me and was curious as to what I was doing. His parents stood nearby also and they were excited to hear that I was a Christian and why I made the crosses. I asked Tay if he'd like one and he gladly picked one out. I wan't quite ready yet so they headed out for one last run down the mountain. When Tay returned I had the cross ready and the look in his eyes was great as I gave him the cross. That's when the unexpected happened. Tay asked me to pray for him as he has lung cancer and test were not great. He may loose part of his lung soon. He said he would keep me up todate on how it goes. So I told him I would ask all my friends to pray also. Just when you think you have it so rough God put a need before you that needs prayer and healing big time. So please each of you out there please lift Tay up in your prayer times and more.

     Thank you and God bless each of you.  

Doors opening all the time

      

As I look around this incredible ski lodge and all the people from every walk of life that God loves each one of them every bit as much as me, so what he did for me he wants to do for them. Hmmmm go figure!!!!  

     Just another great day on the slopes and God continues to clear the way to open doors and opportunities to share of his love and provision for all mankind. Got to share with a store teller that would like tke to move on in his life but has no idea what he can do or get into, what a greT opportunity to share about the ranch and his possible future.

     Also shred with a shef and he has friend that works hard but would like a trade and gas no idea where to start. 

    Than today getting a chance to sit with a 74 year old skier who has been shing since he was seven years old. Not sure how God does it but in no time at all we are talking about the ranch and his words were that a place like this is way over due to help get more men and women into the work force and a trade they were made for.

          Thank you once again for taking the  to view our blog. The Battle River Ranch Camp is a non profit organization that is focused on developing trades, life skills and training opportunities for men and women that are searching and find it difficult to get the opportunities needed to develop a productive and positive life skill. A strong confident man or women of God will impact the darkness in our service industry in many ways.

TO DONATE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE;
If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever right here at home PLEASE consider making a donation to:CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC, (Battle River Ranch Camp) or visit our web site for directdonating and more information, thank you very much we cannot do it alone. Please consider becoming a $25.00 a month donor today. Thank you so much.
*Be a blessing to someone every day*.

   

MARRIAGE - for better or worse or whatever

   

    

This Recently Married Man Just Realized Marriage Is Not For Him. 

This is Seth Adam Smith and his wife, Kim. They’ve been married a year and a half, and Seth just realized: marriage is not for him.

He realized it’s MUCH more than that. This is a recent entry from his blog. It’s well worth reading.

Having been married only a year and a half, I’ve recently come to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for me.

Now before you start making assumptions, keep reading.

I met my wife in high school when we were 15 years old. We were friends for ten years until…until we decided no longer wanted to be just friends.  I strongly recommend that best friends fall in love. Good times will be had by all.

Nevertheless, falling in love with my best friend did not prevent me from having certain fears and anxieties about getting married. The nearer Kim and I approached the decision to marry, the more I was filled with a paralyzing fear. 

Was I ready?

 Was I making the right choice? 

Was Kim the right person to marry? Would she make me happy?

Then, one fateful night, I shared these thoughts and concerns with my dad.

Perhaps each of us have moments in our lives when it feels like time slows down or the air becomes still and everything around us seems to draw in, marking that moment as one we will never forget.

My dad giving his response to my concerns was such a moment for me. With a knowing smile he said, “Seth, you’re being totally selfish. So I’m going to make this really simple: marriage isn’t for you. You don’t marry to make yourself happy, you marry to make someone else happy. More than that, your marriage isn’t for yourself, you’re marrying for a family. Not just for the in-laws and all of that nonsense, but for your future children. Who do you want to help you raise them? Who do you want to influence them? Marriage isn’t for you. It’s not about you. Marriage is about the person you married.”

It was in that very moment that I knew that Kim was the right person person to marry. I realized that I wanted to make her happy; to see her smile every day, to make her laugh every day. I wanted to be a part of her family, and my family wanted her to be a part of ours. And thinking back on all the times I had seen her play with my nieces, I knew that she was the one with whom I wanted to build our own family.

My father’s advice was both shocking and revelatory. It went against the grain of today’s “Walmart philosophy”, which is if it doesn’t make you happy, you can take it back and get a new one.

No, a true marriage (and true love) is never about you. It’s about the person you love—their wants, their needs, their hopes, and their dreams. Selfishness demands, “What’s in it for me?”, while Love asks, “What can I give?”

Some time ago, my wife showed me what it means to love selflessly. For many months, my heart had been hardening with a mixture of fear and resentment. Then, after the pressure had built up to where neither of us could stand it, emotions erupted. I was callous. I was selfish.

But instead of matching my selfishness, Kim did something beyond wonderful—she showed an outpouring of love. Laying aside all of the pain and aguish I had caused her, she lovingly took me in her arms and soothed my soul.

I realized that I had forgotten my dad’s advice. While Kim’s side of the marriage had been to love me, my side of the marriage had become all about me. This awful realization brought me to tears, and I promised my wife that I would try to be better.

To all who are reading this article—married, almost married, single, or even the sworn bachelor or bachelorette—I want you to know that marriage isn’t for you. No true relationship of love is for you. Love is about the person you love.

And, paradoxically, the more you truly love that person, the more love you receive. And not just from your significant other, but from their friends and their family and thousands of others you never would have met had your love remained self-centered.

 THANK YOU once again for taking the  to view our blog. The Battle River Ranch Camp is a non profit organization that is focused on developing trades, life skills and training opportunities for men and women that are searching and find it difficult to get the opportunities needed to develop a productive and positive life skill. A strong confident man or women of God will impact the darkness in our service industry in many ways.

TO DONATE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE;
If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever right here at home PLEASE consider making a donation to:CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC, (Battle River Ranch Camp) or visit our web site for directdonating and more information, thank you very much we cannot do it alone. Please consider becoming a $25.00 a month donor today. Thank you so much.
*Be a blessing to someone every day*.

   

First day on the slopes

Just a great first day of skiing God is so good. So many people to meet so many opportunities to share so many looking for hope and it's great to talk to so many people and and direct them to what's happening at the BRRC, God opens doors and we get to walk-through praise Lord. 

         THANK YOU once again for taking the  to view our blog. The Battle River Ranch Camp is a non profit organization that is focused on developing trades, life skills and training opportunities for men and women that are searching and find it difficult to get the opportunities needed to develop a productive and positive life skill. A strong confident man or women of God will impact the darkness in our service industry in many ways.

TO DONATE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE;
If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever right here at home PLEASE consider making a donation to:CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC, (Battle River Ranch Camp) or visit our web site for directdonating and more information, thank you very much we cannot do it alone. Please consider becoming a $25.00 a month donor today. Thank you so much.
*Be a blessing to someone every day*.