BLOG - Can't imagine!
Just can't imagine living life without my wife and best friend, Diane. Just can't imagine life without our children, just can't imagine life without our grandchildren, just can't imagine life without friends, just can't imagine life without purpose, just can't imagine life without challenges, just can't imagine life without hope, just can't imagine life without waking up in the morning and knowing I am heading somewhere, just can't imagine life without helping someone, just can't imagine life without some one loving me unconditionally, just can't imagine life without forgiveness, just can't imagine life without sadness, the list goes on and on. (Ephesians 1:6-8)
Noah was chosen to build an ark to save lives and his challenges were greater than most of us will ever know or understand, but he didn't give up even though he was ridiculed and mocked day after day. "You are wasting your time, are you crazy let's just have fun, why build a stupid ark when there is no water? Just do what everyone else is doing and stop this ridiculous idea. Are you really 9sure you are listening to God?"
There are days that we out here at the ranch feel that way but like Noah we draw strength from a God who provides. One day the road seems too hard to travel, the load too heavy to carry and by morning everything has changed and there is a new light that shines on the tasks at hand. There is not a lot that Diane and I have not experienced or seen in the lives of others around us and the joy and peace that is always there never comes from something bought, built, or developed by the hand of man. In fact most of these things draw us farther from the real sustaining hope that every living human being needs to survive. Several days a week I get to be a service tech for a great plumbing and heating shop as part of the ranch training program and get to meet a lot of great people every day I work. Every day I see more and more people desperate to buy hope.
When I phone our ranch engineer and he provides the info we need and then says, "hey do you need some corn? " We have lots of fresh corn and I will bring some out and we can look over all the projects. That's Hope 4 More.
When we need a public bathroom and shower building for Hope 4 More outdoor festival and the call comes in from John, the owner of a local trucking firm, that he is heading our way with a washroom trailer and need help to unload it, the pay loader lent to the ranch years ago is ready to unload the large bathroom unit off the huge semi flat deck and not just to use for a few days but to keep for good. That's the kingdom of God at work!
When a church building is donated and the cost to move is unattainable by the ranch budget, a few phone calls and a group of neighbours and friends with hearts for hope join together to move this blessing with the gifts each one can provide also builds hope 4 more. Then the miracle of the day, a call from a rough and tough building mover with many struggles of his own, and a new believer in Christ, operating his business hours away from the ranch and never met or heard of us before, offers to move the building at absolutely no cost to the ranch. There is real hope 4 more.
Plans are to close the church building in for the winter and secure it as best as possible, but God had a different plan and he puts it on the heart of one of his children to tell us dig the hole and build the basement and all will be provided. So we start digging the basement for the church building. Friends passing through from Moose Jaw have their plans foiled in going up North to be with their children and due to heavy smoke, turn back homeward but are directed by God to stop at the ranch and see if we need help. They work on digging the basement as he is an equipment operator. That's Hope 4 More.
As Al is digging the basement our old and frail pay loader drops a ram pin and parts are broken bringing all to a halt. Forbes, an incredible man of God, and one of the best mechanics in the area sees the pay loader sitting by the shop and drives up to it and sees the problem and without a moment to spare drops everything and three hours later we are back digging a hole. That's God's children using their gifts and working towards Hope 4 More. When all hope seems run out and gone, there is Hope 4 More, IF that is what you are really looking for! Your marriage, your children, your job, your health, your finances, your loneliness, your future, your weakness, your relationships, your dreams, it's never too late to Hope 4 More!
Cutting grass on 80 acres with small mowers and others who help when they can. Then another miracle of the day as a local implement dealership donates a high 15' mower that fits on our ranch tractor just right. That's cutting edge blessings that proves God knows our needs.
Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, the rock of our salvation, and all the Hope you will ever need. Check it out, there's a best selling book with all the details. We got a few extra copies in case the book store ran out, so if you need a copy give us a call and let us know we will send you a copy.
Thank you once again for taking the time to view our blog. 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.
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 CORP./BRRC (Battle River Ranch Camp) or visit our website for direct-donating and more information. Thank you very much. We cannot do it alone. Please consider becoming a $25.00 a month donor today.
"Be a blessing to someone everyday."
