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I was reading Oswald Chambers this morning. His devotion hit me square between the eyes! I am struggling with an area right now that I am trying to figure it out on my own, or work ing the decision out by my own abilities, That is not faith. That is Todd. To my detriment, I sometimes get Todd an God confused. Below is a good reminder from Chambers:

Let us go into Judea. His disciples say unto Him . . . Goest Thou thither again? John 11:7-8.

I may not understand what Jesus Christ says, but it is dangerous to say that therefore He was mistaken in what He said. It is never right to think that my obedience to a word of God will bring dishonour to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonour is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honour in place of what He is plainly impelling me to do is never right, although it may arise from a real desire to prevent Him being put to open shame. I know when the proposition comes from God because of its quiet persistence. When I have to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate come in, I am bringing in an element that is not of God, and I come to the conclusion that the suggestion was not a right one. Many of us are loyal to our notions of Jesus Christ, but how many of us are loyal to Him? Loyalty to Jesus means I have to step out where I do not see anything (cf. Matt. 14:29); loyalty to my notions means that I clear the ground first by my intelligence. Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way.
Are you debating whether to take a step in faith in Jesus or to wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with glad reckless joy. When He says something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a conception of His honour which is not His honour. Are you loyal to Jesus or loyal to your notion of Him? Are you loyal to what He says, or are you trying to compromise with conceptions which never came from Him? "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."

Chambers, O. (1993, c1935). My utmost for his highest : Selections for the year (March 28). Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.

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We had a great spring break week at Jacob's Ladder. Faith Baptist Church of Harrah, Oklahoma spend three days on a service project at the camp. They did some final cleaning and washed windows in the Nichols Graduate House on the boys ranch. Graduates will be moving in the last of May. They also built timber walks up to the bunkhouses at camp and planted pine trees. The youth pastor of this group came eight years ago as a middle school student. His church served on our first ever mission trip in 1998. Now he is bring back another generation of students to invest in others. How cool is that!

Crosspointe Church of Norman brought over 40 kids to a children's spring retreat this weekend. They had a blast! Four children began a relationship with Christ this weekend! That news was the highlight of the weekend!

JL now has groups booked on the weekends now into October. We are also hosting 200 men in May from Henderson Hills. This will be our largest group to date. The HHBC group will be 100 over capacity for our bunks. Some of these guys will be lodging in the "Great Outdoors".

It is exciting to see the growing impact that WSBR and JL is having in our state. Calls for groups this size is becoming the norm. With the addition of our multipurpose gym, the camp now has the capacity to host groups up to 300 people as bunk space is available. JL camps has begun a capital campaign for 10 additional bunk-cabins. JL has already gotten some great commitments in the past few weeks. Life Church is coming in June, July, and August on a four-day regional missions trip. They will be bringing 80-100 each trip. After the concrete is poured and rough-in plumbing is complete, Life Church has skilled workers would like to frame, roof, sheetrock our bunks. We also have a commitment for doors, cabinet doors, trim, and bathroom counter-tops. This is a tremendous opportunity and a God-Sized project with the time line that we are looking at. The cost for each cabin is projected to be 40k per cabin. Please let me know if you know of someone who would like to participate with us this project. This will give JL Camps a 280 bed capacity. The revenues generated from camp will have a tremendous impact as we serve boys in the WSBR program. This is an exciting time and an exciting opportunity. Thank you for all of you who make WSBR and JL Camps happen!

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Take a look at the power of One Solitary Life.

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I spent the day at the Graduate House working, getting it ready for boys to move in. We hung blinds, air vent and return air cover. There are seven men volunteering to come tomorrow to put up the rest of the lights. All of these jobs go easier when you have the right tools.

At the ranch we use the phase, " Work Smarter, Not Harder." That is easier to do with the right tools. Part of our purpose at the ranch is too help guys put the right tools in their toolbox.

I read a devotional today by Stan Toler that lists some of those tools. It comes from his book, Minute Motivators for Men. Some of the tools he mentions are Self-Control, Courtesy, and Spirituality.

A few more that we like to add into toolboxes at the ranch are disciple, a strong work ethic, character and a heart to help others. What tools are you sharing with young people around you? Tasks are easier to accomplish when you are using the right tools.

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"Without vision...people perish." Vision is what give us purpose. We all want to be part of something great. Vision is what drives us. Vision is what gets us up in the morning. We want to be part of something greater than ourselves. I want to invest in something of value. Something that will last and have eternal significance.

My friends, Shari and Troy just sent me a song tonight, SOMETHING BIG by John Waller. They are involved in something big themselves as they prepare to go serve others over-seas. The lyrics are powerful. I just downloaded the song. It is worth the download.

What is your something Big? Does it drive you to God, or away from Him? My "something big" is the ranch and camp. My something big is just the vehicle, not the destination. Sometimes I get that confused. Okay,... I often get that confused.

The ranch is what has lead my family on the journey. The destination is the relationship that God includes me in. That is something BIG! God pursues me, wants to include me, wants a personal relationship with me, now that is BIG.

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He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing
John 15:5

Too much taken up with our work, we may forget our Master; it is possible to have the hand full, and the heart empty. Taken up with our Master we cannot forget our work; if the heart is filled with His love, how can the hands not be active in His service?

~Adolphe Monod

The abandonment of God

God so loved the world that He gave. . . John 3:16.

Salvation is not merely deliverance from sin, nor the experience of personal holiness; the salvation of God is deliverance out of self entirely into union with Himself. My experimental knowledge of salvation will be along the line of deliverance from sin and of personal holiness; but salvation means that the Spirit of God has brought me into touch with God's personality, and I am thrilled with something infinitely greater than myself; I am caught up into the abandonment of God.

Abandonment never produces the consciousness of its own effort, because the whole life is taken up with the One to Whom we abandon. Beware of talking about abandonment if you know nothing about it, and you will never know anything about it until you have realized what John 3:16 means, that God gave Himself absolutely. In our abandonment we give ourselves over to God just as God gave Himself for us, without any calculation. The consequence of abandonment never enters into our outlook because our life is taken up with Him.

Chambers, O. (1993, c1935). My utmost for his highest : Selections for the year (March 13). Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.

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I WOULD BE TRUE
~Howard A. Walter, 1883-1918

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws. (Psalm 119:30)

The yearning to achieve a trustworthy, strong, brave yet humble character is an unusual goal for a young person, especially in today's self-seeking and materialistic society. The text for "I Would Be True," however, was written by a young man in his early twenties in a poem that he titled "My Creed."

After graduating with honors from Princeton University in 1905, Howard Arnold Walter spent a year teaching the English language in Japan. While there he sent a copy of his "creed" to his mother back home in Connecticut. Mrs. Walter sent the poem to Harper's Magazine, where it appeared in the May, 1907 issue.

Returning to the United States, Howard Walter entered Hartford Seminary and upon graduation served as an assistant minister at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut. One day he showed his poem to an itinerant Methodist lay preacher, Joseph Peek. Although Peek had no technical knowledge of music, he immediately whistled a tune suited to Walter's words.

Several years later Howard Walter left for India to teach and minister to Mohammedan students. In 1918, a severe influenza epidemic there caused the death of this devoted young man. His credo lives on, however, in the numerous lives of those who have since sung this hymn and realized anew that God is more interested in what we are as a person than even what we may do for Him. In an environment today that can easily corrupt even the purest of minds, how important it is that we seek God's daily help to live a life that is true.

I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care. I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend of all-the foe, the friendless; I would be giving, and forget the gift. I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

I would be prayerful thru each busy moment; I would be constantly in touch with God, I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper; I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

For Today: Psalm 51:2, 10; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 4:8

Make this credo your personal goal. Above all, be "in touch with God" and "tuned to his slightest whisper." Be a Christian who is known for his integrity. Carry this portion of the hymn with you as you go-

[Page 84]
Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. Includes indexes. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.

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My friends, Rick and Marcia, are gracious enough to be at the ranch this weekend serving as houseparents at the McClendon House. Marcia has been telling me that I need to go see this movie, AMAZING GRACE. The movie is about reformed slave trader, John Newton.

The past few weeks I have noticed that I have been using the word "amazing" quite often. It is because of God's grace that I get to witness so many amazing things at the ranch and in my family's life. GRACE is AMAZING.

I have not seen the movie yet.I have watched the trailers tonight. I would be interested to know if anyone has seen it and what they think.

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My friend, Tom, sent me this news-clip. The story made me stop and think about impressions. Things that happen to us when we are young can influence us for a lifetime.

Impressions are powerful. It is mind-boggling what my children remember. It can be a song that I played in the car on the way to school. It may be a word spoken to them about how good they are at something. I talk often about the positive impressions that my family has left on me. I hope and pray that my children can say the same when they are my age.

I see the effects that some impressions have had on the boys that come to the ranch. I also see how impressions can change. We talk often at the ranch about the impression of Christ and the life changing power that He has in our lives. His impression on our life changes the way that we see our past, view our currently situations, and look at our future.

Impressions are powerful, not just on a goose. How do your impressions affect you? What impressions are you making on others around you? What impression are you allowing Christ to have in your life?

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As I was reading this morning, I came across a book that gives a history of many familiar songs. Much of our faith in God is based on simple principles....as simple as the song Jesus Loves Me. I tend to make life complicated. The issues of life is simple for my three girls. They rest and trust in their father. I hope you enjoy this simple story and rest in its simple truth.

JESUS LOVES ME
Anna B. Warner, 1820-1915

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. (Luke 18:17)
The story is told of a brilliant professor at Princeton Seminary who always left his graduation class with these words: "Gentlemen, there is still much in this world and in the Bible that I do not understand, but of one thing I am certain-'Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so'-and gentlemen, that is sufficient!"Without doubt the song that has been sung more by children than any other hymn is this simply stated one by Anna Warner. Written in 1860, it is still one of the first hymns taught to new converts in other lands.
Miss Warner wrote this text in collaboration with her sister Susan. It was part of their novel Say and Seal, one of the best selling books of that day. Today few individuals would know or remember the plot of that story, which once stirred the hearts of many readers. But the simple poem spoken by one of the characters, Mr. Linden, as he comforts Johnny Fax, a dying child, still remains the favorite hymn of countless children around the world.

Jesus loves me! this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong.
Jesus loves me! loves me still, tho I’m very weak and ill, that I might from sin be free, bled and died upon the tree.
Jesus loves me! He who died heaven's gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, let His little child come in.
Jesus loves me! He will stay close beside me all the way. Thou hast bled and died for me; I will henceforth live for Thee.

Chorus: Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

William Bradbury, the composer of the music, was one of the leading contributors to the development of early gospel music in America. He became recognized as one of the pioneers in children's music both for the church and in the public schools. In 1861 Bradbury composed the music for Anna Warner's text and personally added the chorus to her four stanzas. The hymn appeared the following year in Bradbury's hymnal collection, The Golden Sower. It had an immediate response.

For Today: Genesis 33:5; Psalm 127:3; Matthew 11:25; Mark 10:16
"If there is anything that will endure the eye of God, because it still is pure, it is the spirit of a little child, fresh from His hand, and therefore undefiled." Ask God to give you this kind of spirit.

[Page 74]
Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. Includes indexes. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.

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