May - Pics from the past month
Please Pray
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.”
Too often we only pronounce this above passage from the book of Jude at the “end of the service”.
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What power would be available if we pronounced this in full realization at the beginning of each day?
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We are grateful to God that he is merciful and assists us in the many times that we stumble. I just love this verse and the fact that in Christ… we don’t have to stumble.
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What victory!
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And we can be presented faultless full of joy before The Almighty. Now that is victorious living. Jesus Christ is “All in All”. Wow! Just read that last line again.
I have started this letter three or four times. The first included an update of the ongoing drought and the uncertainty that went with that. We honestly had many unanswered questions.
And then Thursday it started to rain. A beautiful rain. Over four days around four inches. Wow… Ponds and dams were rising. Even our Big Dam received quite a good amount. Grass was going to grow. Summer season looked so much better
We enjoyed Mother’s Day. Rain moving out. Everything looked so much better. And then just after we had gone to bed… we heard a crash. Going to look in the basement, we discovered a large portion of the north wall had totally caved in.
What now? We knew our Monday was going to be busy. One of us was needing to take some cattle to Sheridan. We had a shipment coming to the camp via semi. And we knew that the remodel job at RBR’s Dining Room was pushing on us so that we would have everything ready by summer. We would be looking forward to Molly coming to visit and the excitement of Julia’a graduation was certainly present.
We have much to be grateful for…. Camp looks to be nearly booked up for the summer. We have a good staff. But I will be honest, the load looks pretty heavy now.
Please pray. We need to press on together more and more each day.
There is so much more that I could share… and wanted too.
I will just end this letter as I started…
Jude writes, ““Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.”
Julia's Graduation - Lonetree School Class of 2023
ETERNAL IMPACT
"FIND SOMETHING YOU WOULD DIE FOR. THEN LIVE FOR IT.
Are you having an ETERNAL IMPACT with your life? Or just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?"
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This is from a letter that our friend, Ken Korkow, wrote. We so appreciate his and his wife, Liz, and their ministry.
A PRIVILEGE
Do you recognize these kids... We had the privilege of watching them become adults. What a blessing.
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Over the years... 43 years to be exact. RBR is gearing up. We have some hills to climb however before camp starts. Please pray for God's strength, wisdom and provision.
THE CHURCHWELL FAMILY... LONG-TIME FRIENDS
PHOTO BY RACHEL DEJONG
Robin and I were more than thrilled to be in this photo with the Richard and Judy Churchwell Family. Richard and Judy were celebrating their 60th anniversary. Wow... what a blessing. However, there is so much to this story. We met the Churchwell family in 1980. That is when they brought their daughter Jody out to be a camper at one of our first camps of of RVR. Yes, one of 27 campers in 1980. As time went on, Jody's brother, Dan and sister Sarah also were campers at Rainbow for years. What is an extra blessing is that both Jody and Sarah served on staff, as well. They were top of the line. In around 1983 Richard was also on the board of directors for many years. To say that the Churchwell family has been influential in the story of Rainbow Bible Ranch would be an understatement. We love this family. To God be the glory. For the kids for the Kingdom
Easter Sunday 2023
With calving chores and all... we did not make it off the ranch today. We are grateful for the nice weather. This is not the first Easter that had found us at home. Spring on the ranch sometimes does not allow for us to leave. However, we celebrate the wonderful power of the resurrection and fellowship of God's mercy and grace.
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We did enjoy a delicious meal. Robin made sure of that. Easter ham, broccoli in cheese sauce, "Really good potatoes"... that is my name for them, and a wonderful salad. Robin also made popovers... and they turned out perfect. When they come out of the oven, you pierce them to let out the steam. They are golden brown on the outside and hollow (empty) on the inside. Thus signifying the empty tomb... perfect for Easter. Lemon cake with even a tangier lemon sauce with good black coffee to follow up. Excellent.
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Cows and calves are looking pretty good after a crazy week of weather. Today Caleb and Danny noticed a cow way off by herself. It was one of Caleb's cows. She had calved, but the calf was unexplainably dead. Caleb rode out on his big saddle horse, Rooster, and brought the cow in and proceeded to graft another calf on her. Just part of Easter Sunday on the Lonetree.
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Chores are nearly done... Robin is in the kitchen making popcorn... A Sunday Evening Tradition... Oh yes there will be some other food as well... But there will always be popcorn made the old fashioned way on the stove top in a kettle... and at the last pop... poured into a big bowl topped with melted butter and just the right amount of salt... sometimes she will add honey as well. As Andy Griffith used to say... "Mmm-mmm Good".
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One last thought... if you have not read I Corinthians 15 lately... you should... We as Christ Followers are most blessed.
AND MONDAY'S COMING...
Maunday Thursday...
Good Friday...
Silent Saturday...
Resurrection Sunday...
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What are you going to do with Monday?
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... And the days following?
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Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. I John 4:7-11
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If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has [d]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.I John 5:9-13
"HATS OFF..."
Hats off to this outfit... Geidel Construction put us on their schedule and showed up in a timely fashion. We are repairing some structural damage in the dining room and replacing some floor in the main hall that is quite cracked up. Their work will be completed next week. Leonard and his hard working crew did a great job of dust control as well. That will save us time in the future.
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It is quite easy for contractors to move us down the list. We have several that have done that to us. I am sure that all have their reasons/excuses. However, Geidel's demonstrate that projects can get done. We have projects that were to be addressed last fall and we are still waiting.
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Everyone is busy... I hear that line often as well. I do not ask to be moved up the "to do list". However, I don't appreciate being moved down the list either. We don't ask for deals or reduced pricing... we just expect a job well done.
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And when we experience a job well done... We will let others know. On the contrary, if work is not done in a timely fashion and with quality workmanship... we will not talk badly, but we will not promote either.
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Thank you Leonard and Chris and crew of Geidel Construction.
UPDATE - APRIL 1, 2023
I find myself enjoying the sunshine and blue sky over the white landscape. Yesterday provided us with much needed moisture. It was a little bit rough on the baby calves, but challenges are to be expected. I really am aiming to get this note of gratitude out on Monday since we have a doozy of a storm in the forecast next week. We will do all we can to prepare.
Many of you know the “partnership” of life on the Lonetree Ranch and the ministry of Rainbow Bible Ranch. It is this setting, along with the purpose and goals of ministry, that make RBR so unique in the camping ministry. It is real life in action. The RBR staff certainly is given different insights that many are not privileged to. This does not make us better than other ministries by any means; however, the life lessons and experiences add to the distinctiveness.
We so enjoy “sharing life” with those who God brings our way. The camp numbers are looking very good. I have no doubt that we will once again be filled to capacity. We are still working on our theme and Growth Guide. We pray that God will once again inspire Robin to write that special song that will be sung countless times during the summer and well into years ahead. Staffing is coming together. There are challenges that come along with meeting the needs of all involved in this mix.
We are in the process of remodeling the dining room at Rainbow. A portion of the floor will be replaced and new flooring will put down over the entire area. We are also replacing much of the drywall due to some cracking in the settling of the floor. Pray that we are able to get this and several other projects completed by camp season.
Our Legacy III Bible Study just finished a study of the Apostle John’s three letters. So very pertinent are the writings in these small but powerful books. I will be speaking in Belle Fourche this Sunday and in Nisland in a couple of weeks. We will also have a presentation in Hill City in April.
We have had several memorials come to RBR in honor of the life and memory of loved ones. This is amazing to us. To be included in this time of memory by family and friends is remarkable. Our prayer is that many lives will continue to be touched for the Glory of God.
We will always ask for your prayers. God’s work done in God’s way is our desire. And we will ask that you prayerfully consider giving to the ministry of RBR as the Lord God directs you. We must not ever be found lacking when so much is at stake. God will bless.
2023 Hunter's Harvest Buffet
Wow... What an evening!... Full House at RBR's Annual Hunter's Harvest Buffet. And the food was plentiful and fantastic... and I am not just saying that. An amazing presentation of delectable game dishes. Lucas Stolhammer did a great job of speaking ... sharing thoughtful stories and making clever analogies. We love our game feed because so many prepare outstanding recipes that are amazing. Plenty of good salads and desserts, too.
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Oh, and by the way.. Over $3000.00 was raised for "Outdoor" projects for RBR kids. An interesting note on the silent auction. That has sort of "just happened" over the years. The game feed is not a fundraiser. But so many folks just want to help out and a few years back, people would bring items for the silent auction... "just to help out".
SOME OF THE DISHES PREPARED LAST EVENING
BBQ ELK MEATBALLS Maddie Meyer
SMOKED SALMON - Jim Meyer
MARINATED ELK BACKSTRAP - Jim Wiese
BLACK BEAR FIESTA - Mindi Rueb
SMOKED RAINBOW TROUT - Julia Reinhold
MIGHTY MO PADDLEFISH - Seth Sperling
GOLDEN PHEASANT - Larry Reinhold
VENISON MEDALLIONS - Danny Reinhold
SMOKED BACKSTRAP - Zack DeLong
CANADA GOOSE & ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE CHILI - Hunter H Hameister
