ADVOCATE OF ANIMALS & LIVESTOCK
RAINBOW BIBLE RANCH IS HOME TO MANY
"AND GOD CREATED ANIMALS
Whether it is “man’s best friend”, a herd of cattle grazing peacefully, the crow of a rooster at sunrise…
Most of us enjoy animals and their antics. We appreciate their companionship. We are taken by their diversity. Now, Rainbow is not a zoo and we are not striving to take anything away from “Old McDonald”, but we do have our share of animals. We like it that way. We are blessed by their presence each and every day. We learn much by being their caretakers. And many of them make our life easier and certainly more pleasant. Let’s face it. Not everyone can enjoy the many animals that you will find on the ranch. But you can enjoy them when you visit us. And that is important. One can learn much about life in general. We are able to learn about life and about death. We learn of the predator and the prey. We learn the need to protect and provide.
ADVOCATE OF KIDS
A KID CAN BE A KID AND STILL BE RESPONSIBLE
RESPONSIBLE CHILDHOOD
Whether it be “pre kindergarten”, more homework, make the peewee team so that may play in the NFL or at least get a scholarship.
Wait a minute. It does not take long to observe the news and just looking around that in our endeavors to “prepare” the next generation, we see that many are falling flat on their face or at least short of the goal. And so the establishment and the talking heads say we need to do more to prepare the mental of our youngsters. But what is happening? Kids aren’t kids taking proper steps to become an adult, but rather we treat them as if they can be programmed to perform according to a cookie cutter idealism. Each child is different and all need to be accepted that way. Each child should learn to be responsible. There is a place for legitimate risk that will challenge unlike the perils of being as “sitting ducks” where we accept that many will fall through the cracks. Rainbow Bible Ranch recognizes the value of “legitimate risk”. Under proper supervision, kids will be encouraged to rise to a high level of expectation. And we are not just looking for the natural achievers in any one area, but rather we strive to give hope and promise to every camper that attends.
ADVOCATE OF OUTDOORS
ADVOCATE OF AGRICULTURE
THE FIRST OCCUPATION GIVEN BY GOD THE CREATOR
THE FIRST INDUSTRY
The art, science and story of agriculture is overlooked. One and a half percent of the population in the US is involved in production agriculture. Approximately two thirds of the American population do not even garden. Realize that God created Adam and Eve and put them into a garden to be stewards of the garden. I know that not everyone is to be a farmer. However, the basis of agriculture should be understood and appreciated. Rainbow is located on a working ranch. This setting provides invaluable opportunities for youth and their families to learn. Agriculture is food and fiber. Agriculture is soil and stewardship. Agriculture is essential and enduring. However many have lost appreciation for this most basic practice.
ADVOCATE OF A STRONG WORK ETHIC
ADVOCATE OF A STRONG WORK ETHIC
Based on Honesty & Respect
Let me put it this way, “Have you been around for awhile and are you disheartened that the workforce is shrinking, not because our population is dwindling, but rather due to lack of energy and integrity?" Rainbow Bible Ranch will continue to impact, influence and develop young people that will make a positive difference in what God calls them to do. Chores are a part of camp. And we love to see our kids continue on into the Legacy camps and a number of them will serve on staff encouraging other young people and serving the Lord. I will say that nearly all former Staff members of RBR would be a premium in any organization or place of employment.
ADVOCATE OF BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
OVER THE RULES OF HUMANITY
"GOD'S STANDARD IS..."
“God’s standard is the best choice for life and we believe it is important to share that with others?" From the very founding, we have held to the importance of the Biblical standard and we were not going to hide that fact. Even our name would proclaim that. I often get asked what we teach at RBR. I simply reply “The Bible”. We leave “man’s dogmas and doctrines” elsewhere. We will never back down from that.
"FITTING IN"
FITTING IN
“But if you would have fit in, you would have never stood out!"
Just a line from a cheesy Christmas movie that seems to keep coming back to me...
But really. Every single day we try to fit in. Try to have the best pictures on Instagram. Try to not be that awkward person with an overloaded cart at Sam’s Club (that was me you saw yesterday). Try to be the cool kid and the "everyone else is doing it" kid and on and on it goes. Sometimes I think it gets better as you get older,and sometimes I think that we can be just as bad as anyone.
But what's the point? Is it really going to make you happier if you have 1 Million followers? If you actually look like you always have it all together? Like doing and saying the things all the other kids are is going to make your life better? It's not, and it doesn't.
I know.
We have one life to live..."Why fit in...when you can stand out?"
Stand up when everyone else is caving in. Stand out when the crowd's running in.
Don't give to the pressure of your peers. They'll eventually wish they had the courage you had.
Walk away when the devil lays his traps; no, RUN!
Run with all you have in the opposite direction.
Be aware and alert in every situation. The hardest test comes when you least expect it.
Fight. Fight like it's a matter of life and death for your family. In reality, it is just that.
Never forget who you are and where you came from. But most importantly,
Who you belong to and where you're going.
And if you don't know the answer to the last declaration...
Please call me. Life is too short to not know where you're going.
SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON
I've been walking through the book of Hebrews this month and thought I might share a couple of insights with you. Hebrews 10:24 has long been a favorite verse: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Perhaps you've seen this passage printed artistically on a western photo; it does seem "popular" in the cowboy culture. But let's break it down and ponder it a little deeper. After all, "consider" literally means "to mull over, reflect on, think about". So let's do it!
First, how about that spur? I suppose some folks see a spur on a cowboy's boot and they picture that cowboy digging those spurs into the side of a horse. Now, for a true horseman, that would be a pretty rare occasion. You see, a spur is simply a tool, and, used properly, it is not going to hurt the horse, but simply encourage him to give the results that the rider is seeking. If the horse is stubborn and unwilling to respond, more pressure may be necessary, causing some discomfort so the horse will learn to yield and respond. We'll come back to that thought in a moment.
Let's talk about the "one another" part of this verse. Sometimes I think when I read this, I have a tendency of "jumping over" the people in my closest sphere of influence. And who would that be? It is the people in my home -- my husband, my children. Do I encourage them? Do I spur them on toward love and good deeds, looking for results of deeper devotion to God and more Christ-likeness? It would be a crying shame if I were to neglect those closest to me -- the ones that God has placed in my life to influence and impact the greatest.
So just how do we encourage each other toward love and good deeds? What is love? The Bible says in 1 John 4:8 that "God is love." To know God is to know love. The closer we walk with Jesus, the more naturally love will flow from us. Good deeds will be an outpouring of our faith, as James 2:18 says, "...I will show you my faith by what I do." And again in verse 26, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." Good deeds do not get us to heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9); rather, we do good deeds because we're going to heaven. To encourage others toward love and good deeds could be simply helping them to keep the Lord first in all they do, to walk in the Spirit, to love and obey God in all they do. But I think it can also be more specific, promoting action and reaching out to show forth Christ.
Now, going back to that stubborn horse that might need to feel the spur a little more, I have to ask myself, "How do I respond when someone else is spurring me on toward love and good deeds?" Am I sensitive and do I yield to those nudges? If not, I may need some more pressure, and that could be uncomfortable. I want to be soft and supple, just like I want my horse to be with me.
Putting it all together, this verse is so much more than a neat quote on a pretty western picture. It challenges me in many ways. How about you? Who are you spurring on toward love and good deeds? Don't forget the ones closest to you before you reach out farther. Consider how you can encourage those in your home to know Christ more fully and share their faith in practical, tangible ways that will in turn point others to faith in Jesus!
Robin Reinhold