J. Todd Vinson is the Founder and Executive Director of Willow Springs Boys' Ranch and
Jacob's Ladder Camps and Retreats in Chandler, OK.
Willow Springs Boys' Ranch provides a long-term home for boys who are displaced or whose families are in crisis. WSBR serves boys from across Oklahoma and the United States.
Jacob's Ladder Camps and Retreats strives to strengthen inter-personal relationships, develop character, leadership, and introduce the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jacob's Ladder facilitates groups for high school and college athletics, youth groups, service groups, prepares mission teams, couples and families retreats, rites of passage retreats, and corporate retreats.
Jacob's Ladders function is to help fund the mission of Willow Springs Boys Ranch.
Todd holds a B.A in Psychology and a Masters in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Todd is a former Young Life staffer in Norman, OK. He also is a former Kanakuk Kamp counselor. Both of these organizations have had a profound influence on his life as he works with youth and families.
Todd and his wife, Jeannie, have been married for fourteen years and have four girls: Mattie, Ellie, Avery and Murphy. They are active members of Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, OK.
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Dear Friends and Family,
What a roller coaster ride our country has been on in 2008! Between the economy and the election we may be wondering what is next! I pray that as you celebrate this season of Christmas with your family you would reflect on how big God really is! He is bigger than politicians, he is bigger than your 401(K) and He is bigger than anything this life may throw at you! May you remember the blessings that He has given you this holiday season, here are a few of ours!
Sweet little Murphy is 15 months and has finally decided to walk, talk and get into everything! She is such a joy and has blessed our house so much this year! She still loves her mommy just about more than anything but will branch out to other family members occasionally. She has her own little language that cracks us up and leaves us guessing at what she wants but our home would not be complete without her!
Avery (5) started Pre-K in the fall and loves it! She has become so independent this year and her little mind is absorbing so much. She wants to know how to spell everything and next year may be writing this letter herself! She is making so many new friends and growing into such a compassionate young lady. She constantly is asking for prayer for a little kid that got hurt on the playground that day!
Ellie is 8 and in 2nd grade. She is loving school and has produced such a competitive spirit this year with her studies. She recently read 40 books in one day for a contest in school! Ellie is also our little prayer warrior! She has such a selfless heart and when faced with a challenge immediately goes to her knees for someone in need! She has also become quite the soccer star! Her team took 1st place for the second time this fall.
We are completely convinced that we could not have four children with out Mattie (11). She is the second mother that we could not live without! She dresses, changes, feeds and reads to her little sisters faithfully, many times without being asked. She is becoming such a beautiful young lady and God is growing her into the women He created her to be. It is a joy to watch her learn new things and work through challenges on her own.
Todd is extremely busy with camp, construction, fundraising, house parenting, and anything else that needs to be done around the ranch and camp! I (Jeannie) am constantly amazed at how much he can get done in a day! Even with the challenges of the Ranch and Camp we still love being out here with the boys and the groups that come to camp! God has been so faithful to us in 2008 and we are honored that he chose us to minister along side Him at the Ranch!
God has revealed so much of Himself to me in 2008! I have seen just a glimpse of His love for me! God is still God, regardless of economy, politics, illnesses, family crisis' or anything that might burden us! He is mighty to save and I am learning that more and more everyday! Our prayer for your family and ours this coming year is that we would never stop desiring more of Jesus! We wait expectantly for the New Year because we know that Jesus is there!
Merry Christmas!
The Vinsons
I am excited about Jeff Woods new release: RAW WOOD. Jeff has started his own record label and also has a worship album and a Christmas Album.
Jeff is a good friend of mine and a friend of Willow Springs Boys Ranch. One of the highlights at the ranch each year is Jeff showing up with his guitar at the WSBR Christmas Celebration. His song, You're Never Too Old For Santa Claus is a ranch favorite.
Jeff Wood Records has designated a portion of the proceeds from sales to two charities: Willow Springs Boys Ranch and Wes Welker's 83 Foundation. Not only will you purchasing some of your new favorite music, you will be investing in two worthwhile charities. Where else can you do that? Click below to read the press release from Jeff Wood Records and get Jeff Wood's three new cd's.
Continue reading "JEFF WOOD RECORDS NEW RELEASE" »
I was disappointed today to hear that the story behind the song HEALER was not true. I read several posts tonight about the story. The lyrics to the song are powerful. The lyrics to the song are true. Unfortunately, the inspiration for the song is not.
Most Victories, 1946-2007
1. Oklahoma 535
2. Penn State 503
3. Texas 501
4. Alabama 499
5. Nebraska 497
6. Ohio State 495
7. Michigan 490
8. Tennessee 485
9. Southern Cal 480
10. Notre Dame 470
Best Winning Percentage, 1946-2007
1. Oklahoma .762 (535-163-13)
2. Ohio State .747 (495-162-20)
3. Penn State .733 (503-180-9)
4. Michigan .728 (490-178-15)
5. Texas .714 (51-196-11)
6. Nebraska .703 (497-207-10)
7. Alabama .702 (499-205-20)
8. Notre Dame 696 (470-201-14)
9. Southern Cal .696 (480-202-23)
10. Tennessee 695 (485-206-23)
Most Weeks Ranked No. 1 in AP Poll
1. Oklahoma 95 (Of Course OU should be on top)
Notre Dame 95
3. Ohio State 93
4. USC 86
5. Nebraska 70
6. Miami (Fla.) 68
7. Florida State 59
8. Texas 42
9. Michigan 34
10. Alabama 31
Most Weeks Ranked Top 5 in AP Poll
1. Oklahoma 352
2. Ohio State 298
3. Nebraska 294
4. Notre Dame 276
5. USC 274
6. Michigan 272
7. Texas 253
8. Alabama 243
9. Florida State 204
10. Miami (Fla.) 201
Weeks Ranked No. 1 in BCS
1. Oklahoma 18
2. Ohio State 15
USC 15
4. Florida State 7
Miami (Fla.) 7
6. Nebraska 5
Tennessee 5
8. LSU 2
9. Texas; 1
UCLA 1
Most Weeks Ranked Top 5 in BCS
1. Oklahoma 38
2. Ohio State 33
3. USC 31
4. Miami (Fla.) 30
5. Florida State 25
6. Florida 20
Texas 20
Virginia Tech 20
9. LSU 17
10. Tennessee 16
Most AP National Titles (Last)
1. Notre Dame 8 (1988)
2. Oklahoma 7 (2000)
3. Alabama 6 (1992)
4. Miami 5 (2001)
Southern Cal 5 (2004)
6. Minnesota & 4 (1960)
Nebraska 4 (1995)
Ohio State 4 (2002)
9. Texas 3 (2005)
10. Seven Schools 2 (2007)
Most All-Time Points Scored (Thru 2007)
1. Oklahoma 29,772
2. Michigan 29,347
3. Nebraska 29,124
4. Notre Dame 28,720
5. Texas 27,757
6. Penn State 26,645
7. Ohio State 26,502
8. Alabama 26,317
9. Southern Cal 26,011
10. Tennessee 25,446
My family sent me on a "Man Trip" for my 41st Birthday. It was one of the best birthday gifts that i have ever received from my family. Thank you-Mom & Dad, Dan & Nancy, Jeannie and the girls.
I made my annual trip to Westcliffe, Colorado with my good friend Skip. We 4-wheeled up Hermit Pass, fly-fished on Grape Creek (pulled in 8 trout with the largest being 16" on some hand tied flies by my good buddy Jerome), and hiked 11 miles up to Lake of the Clouds. As we were coming off the mountain, the rain began then an breath taking sunset following right behind. I looked to the east and saw a complete double rainbow. Looked like God was just showin' off that afternoon!
While we were there we stopped in at the corner Mexican restaurant, Edwardo's. Skip and I had a hankerin' for a Chicken Chili Burrito. All they had were beef and been on the menu. So I asked for one. Now when you go to Westcliffe, you need to stop in for a new menu item. It's called the "Skip & Todd's Chicken Chili Burrito." Some of the best green chili I've ever had! Huge plate for $6. Should be on the new menu this week! That made the trip!
School starts tomorrow for my girls and all the boys on the ranch. Six guys worked full time this summer. Derin and I took them to lunch today and told them how proud we are of them. Pray for them and the new school year. We also added a new boy in the Nichols' Graduate House. He is 19 years old and will be going to Wellston to complete his senior year. Please pray for the applications for boys that we will interviewing and accepting this fall.
The mountains were beautiful. We saw alot of ranches. One south of town raised buffalo, elk, and is a wolf preserve. They were also a beautiful reminder of what we raise on our ranch. We have a precious commodity, raising up Godly men. Thanks for all of you who faithful support us and this mission.
This week our girls got a great gift from their aunt and uncle. They each got a gift certificate from KIVA. My brother-in-law met the the founders last weekend in Washington DC during the National Prayer Breakfast.
KIVA is a micro financing organization that allows people to finance entreprenures in under developed countries to help them work their way out of poverty.
KIVA has been featured on Oprah, CNN,and other TV Shows. 97% of the loans get paid back in the allotted time. This allows you to recuperate your funds, or hopefully make another loan.
Our family got on the site today (www.kiva.org), set up an account, got out the girls' Geo-Safari Globe for them to find out basic facts, and let them pick what loans that they would like to participate in. The girls had a great time after they understood the concept. Jeannie and I have also gotten involved. KIVA is a great way to get outside our own white picket fence and invest in someone who wants to work for a better opportunity for they family. You can make a loan for as little as $25. It is a great way to get your family involved in helping people who are working to lift themselves out of poverty.
Go to www.kiva.org.
A friend sent me this radio interview by a boy named Logan. Logan is a 13 year old boy from a small town in Nebraska and wise beyond his years. This young man is wise beyond his years.
My button to create a link has disappeared. Copy and paste the link below to your web browser.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY
I received this video-clip today of guys in flying squirrel suites. The clip is unreal. It is the most insane thing that I have ever seen! Looks like someone has been consuming to many Monster energy drinks to me!
I received a copy of an interview by Rick Warren. I appreciate his purpose in life and his perspective.
Interview with Rick Warren
This is an absolutely incredible interview with Rick Warren, author of "Purpose Driven Life" His wife now has cancer, and he now has "wealth" from the book sales. In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:
"People ask me, "What is the purpose of life?" And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body--but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and v alleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, “which is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.
First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on ea rth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD. "
Chuck just introducted me to GodTube.com today. Thanks for sharing the clip. This is a powerful video. It reminds me of Young Life Days at camp. The video also reminds me of the passage that says the Enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Christ came that we might have life, and have it abundantly.
I watched this video with my girls. I looked up and my seven year old had tears in her eyes. She said, "Daddy, I know what that video means." And then she began to talk about the symbolism depicted in the video with the words of a seven-year-old. The skit is a powerful life-lesson that I hope each of us understand.
Chuck just introducted me to GodTube.com today. Thanks for sharing the clip. This is a powerful video. It reminds me of Young Life Days at camp. The video also reminds me of the passage that says the Enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Christ came that we might have life, and have it abundantly.
I watched this video with my girls. I looked up and my seven year old had tears in her eyes. She said, "Daddy, I know what that video means." And then she began to talk about the symbolism depicted in the video with the words of a seven-year-old. The skit is a powerful life-lesson that I hope each of us understand.
My latest blessing came with the birth of my fourth daughter. Many blessings, however, arrive unexpectantly and from unexpected sources. Marcia, thanks for sending me the following interview with Tony Snow from Christianity Today. It is powerful reminder of how we should view life and blessings.
Continue reading "Blessings Arrive in Unexpected Packages" »
Well,...She's here! Murphy Ann was greeted today at 1:28pm by 3 excited big sisters, friends and family. Murphy is 19.5 inches and 7 lbs 5 oz. She looks alittlle bit like each of her sisters, and her mommy. Whew!!! Could have been years of therapy! Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement today. It is a blessing to have friends and family like you.
I was in the OKC BACKWOODS Store yesterday spending a birthday gift card.
For all you outdoor gear hounds, I just got introduced to a cool website: STEEP AND CHEAP. They post one sale item at a time. Items are seriously discounted. Check it out.
Take a look at the power of One Solitary Life.
My family went to World Mandate in Waco, Texas last weekend. The worship was indescribable, not to mention the conference. My Romance is one song that led us in worship. I've had it stuck in my head ever since I returned home. Click on the link. I hope it gets stuck in yours! Maybe even a little further South!
May your heart finds His Romance.
Continue reading "My Romance" »
I have a Colts helmet autographed by Tony Dungy. On it is his life verse:
"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" ~Matthew 16:26
The boys from WSBR and I met Coach Dungy at an FCA Banquet in OKC before the season began. What a man of character and a tremendous leader. I was impressed with the comments that he made during the post game interviews. Jim Nance talked about the social significance of Dungy's win. Dungy agreed that being the first African-American Head Coach to win the Super was significant. However, being a Christian Coach and winning the right way was what was most important. This is a picture that is worth a thousand words. What a way to acknowledge the source of this team's success. Looks like the team has bought in and followed Dungy's lead. Good guys can finish first!
I love how we name storms in Oklahoma. Our family "battled" the second wave of ICESTORM 2007 as we headed out to the movies to see Night at the Museum. As I left the theater, a young couple stopped me and asked if I had any jumper cables. He had left his car lights on and his battery was dead. I had just bought a set a few weeks ago that had not yet been opened. As I walked to the back of my truck, a jingle was still going through my head from a commercial during the previews.
An animated Coca Cola commercial caught my attention. It wasn't your grandfather's Coca-Cola's commercial. No people on the hill singing, "I'd like to teach the world to sing....". However, there was a familiar message: "You reap what you sow." You develop a reputation by what you sow. You reap it later and you reap more than what you originally sowed. I think about that fact everytime I drive by the acres of newly planted trees at the Deep Fork Tree Farm.
Philip Lovejoy tells the story of a grandfather, " I shall never forget a ride I had in the early days of 1955. A lumber merchant friend of mine drove me in a jeep up Mt. Cushman in Vermont. Near the tip of the mountain I noted some six-inch deciduous seedlings. I asked him when they would be good as lumber and he replied, “In the year 2015 A.D.” Since that was far beyond his span of years, I asked him why he had planted these trees and he replied, “Because my grandfather planted some on the other side of the mountain for me.”
It has been said that the best day to plant a tree is twenty years ago or today. What trees are you planting today?
"You give alitle love and it all comes back to you. You gonna be remembered for the things you say and do."
Look at my Tivo and you can tell that I live in a house full of females. Jack Baur, you are no longer held hostage by Rachael Rae and Paula Dean on the dvr. Bear Grylls has arrived! I have a new favorite TV Show: MAN vs. WILD. This is a guy that I wouldn't mind tagging along on my next hiking trip.
MAN vs. WILD is a guy's show if I ever saw one. Grylls puts himself in situations common to many sports or outdoorsman. He gets dropped off in a remote area with usually only the clothes that he is wearing and a knife. Great show! It is not the typical reality show. There is some great information on survival and rescue. Grylls speaks internationally. His motivational talks include leadership, teamwork, motivation, communication, inspiration.
SLEDDING AT CARTER PARK
Who knew they had coffee at the top of the hill?
Nate and Jamie
The view back to the slopes
Jade, Angie, and Dax
Team Vinson ready for tubing
Bottom of the Hill
LUNCH IN TOWN WITH THE FAMILY
Columbine Cafe may have the best breakfast burrito in Breckenridge.
This is a picture of my girls, not the Breakfast Burrito. Would have taken a picture, but it would have embarrassed the family.
However, they would not have been as embarressed as I was the day before. We ate lunch up on the mountain. I walked up to Jade while he and Angie were in line at the cashier. I grabbed one of Angie's cheese-fries. They sure looked good. Funny thing was...it was not Angie! Cheese-fries taken from a stranger are not near as good.
The girls had to make a Chocolate Chip Cookie Run
to Mary's Mountain Cookies.
SNOW-SHOEING AT SPRUCE VALLEY RANCH
Skip, this picture is for you. Thanks for the snow-shoes! Can't wait to take a trip with you!
Watch that step to the left. It's a doosey!
The view south of Breckenridge
Tom & Todd
My friends, Tom and Bobble Roe, took me down a beautiful 1.5 mile trail in Spruce Valley Ranch.
Continue reading "Friday in Breckenridge" »
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance."
"We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare
We have killed our unborn and called it choice
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem
We have abused power and called it politics
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program The Rest of the Story and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.
THE FIRST NOEL
English carol, before 1823
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (Luke 2:8)
Although no Christmas season would be complete without the melodious singing of this tuneful carol, very little is known about its origin. It is believed to have had its rise in France during the 15th century. Noel is a French word originating from Latin meaning “birthday.” The song is thought to have been brought across the channel to England by the wandering troubadours. The carol under the English form, “Nowell,” became a great favorite for Christmas Eve, especially in the west of England. This was when the entire village gathered for singing and celebrating the bringing in of the Yule log. At this time carols were thought of as popular religious songs meant to be sung outside the church rather than within.
“The First Noel” portrays in vivid narrative style the story of the birth of Christ. All six verses are needed to complete the entire event when the hymn is sung. The sixth stanza urges us to join together to sing praises to God for the marvels of His creation and for the salvation provided through Christ’s shed blood. The repetition of the joyous “noel” in the refrain is equivalent to our singing out “happy birthday” to someone.
It is interesting to observe that the “King of Israel” was first announced to “certain poor shepherds” only, but in the final stanza the phrases “let us all” and “mankind hath brought” remind us that Christ came to redeem the whole world.
The first noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay—in fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
They looked up and saw a star shining in the east, beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night.
And by the light of that same star, three wise men came from country far; to seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went.
This star drew nigh to the northwest; o’er Bethlehem it took its rest; and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay.
Then entered in those wise men three, full rev’rently upon their knee, and offered there, in His presence, their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heav’nly Lord, that hath made heav’n and earth of naught, and with His blood mankind hath bought.
Refrain: Noel, noel! Noel, noel! Born is the King of Israel!
For Today: Matthew 2:1–12; Luke 2:8–20
Let’s allow the joy of Christ’s birth to be reflected on our faces and heard in our glad singing of praises to Him all through this Christmas season.
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Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. Includes indexes. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.
An article came out in the Norman Transcript today. One Norman cul-de-sac has produced 5 NHS QB's Two of those QB's are family, Jade Noles and Brian Hartsock. Another cousin Jake is listed as having walked on at OU. Jake played at OSU....sorry Jake! That street also produced a cousin, who also played football for NHS and does missions work overseas, a sister and brother-in-law who direct the training school for missions at Antioch Community Church in Waco, TX. My wife, Jeannie, also grew up on that street. What an amazing street that only has 13 houses on it.
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