by John Carpenter | Feb 18, 2022 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, we are definitely in the midst of “winter-in-the-woods” here at Del-Haven! It is beautiful – and quiet! God’s glorious creation magnificently manifests itself in all of its different seasons…and that includes winter. The sense of solitude with its silence invites meditation upon the greatness of our absolutely sovereign creator God. Praise His Holy Name!
1Cor.:15:58 encourages us by saying: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord – forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain – in the Lord.” With that in mind, dear fellow prayer warriors, please do not become complacent in remembering to pray for all our camper/children – along with all of our staff and their helpers. Do not ever forget that God’s Word teaches us that pure gospel preaching is made effectual through our constant saturation of it with all our prayers! We pray for our staff and campers before we even see the boys and girls that our Lord sends to camp for us to present to them the wonderful news of the gospel of God’s grace. And, we continue to pray for them after they leave us and return to their different home and school environments. This is what they really need! In fact, this is what we really need as well.
Please do not forget to pray that we may be able to once again be allowed — without restrictions, to return to holding regular camp weeks once again! Our sovereign God can do anything! Things seem to be loosening up a bit. We hope to be able to venture back into a regular camp program. We pray that we will successfully be able to do so. Your faithful prayerful support is much appreciated. We love you – and we pray for you all as well. We thank our Lord for all He does for us through you!
Also, for all of you that have faithfully donated to Del-Haven in 2021 – annual receipts have been mailed out. If any of you have not received a receipt for what you have given – or, if you have — and there is an error of some kind – please do not hesitate to bring it to our attention so we can get the matter corrected. You can call us at (816) 425-0460.
by John Carpenter | Feb 18, 2022 | Devotional
(2)“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – hath made me free from – the law of sin and death.(3)For what the law could not do – in that it was weak through the flesh – God – sending His own Son – in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Ro.8:2-4]
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth – that shall he also reap! (8) For he that soweth to his flesh – shall of the flesh reap corruption – but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting!” [Gal.6:7-8]
To pick up where we left off last month – we are looking at what the “Law of sin and death” refers to. Once again – let’s look at how scripture interprets scripture. The Holy Spirit from 2Cor.3:7-8 says: “But if the Ministration of death – written and engraven in stones was glorious – so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which (glory) was to be done away: (8) How shall not the Ministration of the Spirit – exceed in glory!”
So, therefore, from the Ro.8:2-4 text the Holy Spirit of the Holy Word of God contrasts the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” with that which He calls the “Law of sin and death”. And, from the 2Cor.3 text He is comparing the same two by calling the one “the Ministration of death” and the other “the Ministration of the Spirit”! These two different texts interpret and expand each other! Praise the Holy Spirit of the Holy Word of God!
It is obvious that the “Law of sin and death” refers to the “Holy, just and good Law of God” [see: Rom.7:12] that was delivered unto Moses on Mt. Sinai by God, Himself! Hence, does Gal.3:19 pose the question: “Wherefore then – the Law?” Or rather: For what purpose did our God give to us His Holy Law? Especially when we are plainly told from Ro.3:19: “Now we know (i.e. we know without a doubt) that what things soever the Law saith (or, whatsoever the Law literally means) it saith (or, it utters; or, it preaches; or, it declares) to them who are under the Law: (or, to them who have been born under, and in, the Law – which includes everybody in the history of fallen humanity) that every mouth may be stopped (or, that every language of every mouth of fallen-in-sin humanity may be silenced) and all the world may become guilty (or, condemned — by the curse of the Law) before God.”
This leads us right up to what is plainly put forth from Ro.3:20 which delivers God’s divine conclusion by saying: “Therefore, by the deeds of the Law – there shall no flesh be justified in His sight”. – Why?! – Because: “for by the Law is the (full) knowledge of sin.” So, you see, the scriptures from here declare the absolute weakness of the “Law of sin and death” to justify our fallen-in-sin flesh – or, to declare before Holy God – us, in our flesh, as being righteous in God’s sight. This is because by God’s Law we can only come to fully know and understand that we are hopeless and helpless sinners! We need God to be our Savior – from God – and ourselves – under “His Holy Just and Good Law”! In other words: We need the Lord Jesus Christ! He is the only Hope that we have of our ever being eternally saved! Praise His Holy Name!
The Lord willing – we shall continue to see how this plays out in our walk through this world.
by John Carpenter | Jan 21, 2022 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, the camp buildings have all been winterized and put to rest as usual this time of year. All is peaceful – except for the sounds an occasional chain saw and maybe a splitting mall. The work around here never ever really stops – it just changes forms. Nevertheless, our seeking the Lord on behalf of the ministry is perpetual. God’s Word tells us from Lk.18:1: “And He (Jesus) spake a parable unto them – to this end – that men ought always to pray and not to faint.” How true this is!
Hence, please do not forget to pray for all our children. Lift them up before our Sovereign Savior and pray for their spiritual and physical welfare and preservation. Satan has been after the children from the beginning of his wicked work in the Garden of Eden! Our Savior has been exalted to be the Head of all principality and power and might and dominion [see: Eph.1:19-21]. And, the devil – has never been – and, even now, is no match for He who Sovereignly rules over him! Praise His Name, our prayers are used by our God – not to change His will – but to accomplish it. This is why we are continually coming to know that it takes a great Savior like this to save any of us! That’s also why we ask, as always, that when you pray for the boys and girls – please do not forget to pray for Del-Haven’s immediate future for 2022 – that we be led of the Lord to be able to have regular camp sessions once again. And, also, include in your prayers — the provision and spiritual stability of our staff and their many helpers.
Also, dear ones, we ask that you pray for Ken Edens. Ken served on the board of Del-Haven for years until he had a stroke which hampered his ability to attend meetings. He has recently suffered another stroke and is once again in the hospital. He seems to be recovering well. Pastor Larry Tennant of Pleasant Grove Bible Church has had to have a quintuple bypass. The Lord has brought him through this event in a marvelous way. We ask that you pray for his complete recovery.
Once again, thank you, dear faithful friends, for your continual encouragement and support – especially during these difficult times. It is wonderful to know that you are there. We love you all and we do pray for you as well – that you all will have a richly blessed New Year.
by John Carpenter | Jan 21, 2022 | Devotional
(2)“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – hath made me free from – the law of sin and death.(3)For what the law could not do – in that it was weak through the flesh – God – sending His own Son – in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Ro.8:2-4]
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth – that shall he also reap! (8) For he that soweth to his flesh – shall of the flesh reap corruption – but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting!” [Gal.6:7-8]
These two passages of holy scripture provide for us true children of 3xholy God — a wonderful New Year’s Resolution. In fact, they exhort us to pursue a resolution for a whole new life and walk through this sinful world. A resolution to follow – not the law – but the Spirit of Christ!
Rom.8:2 contrasts the freedom of “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” with the bondage of “the law of sin and death”. With the sound principle of studying the Word of God — that stands absolutely true when it tells us that — “scripture interprets scripture” – let’s examine what the whole context of Ro.8:2 is here saying.
First of all, let’s contemplate what God’s Word refers to when it says: “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus”. Remember 1Co.15:45 that says: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul – the last Adam (Christ Jesus) was made a quickening Spirit.”. And, from Jn.10:10 Jesus said in reference to those who are described as being His sheep (for whom He died) – He said, “I am come that they might have Life – and that they might have it more abundantly!” And then there is also Jn.5:21 from where our Lord Jesus declares: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them – even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.” All of which makes perfect sense! Jesus is – without a doubt — the incarnated eternal Son of God. This means that He is – One with God the Father and One with God the Holy Spirit – and they are One with Him. This means that the Lord Jesus Christ — He is God!
Now what does the Word of God tell us concerning “the law of sin and death”? What exactly is this law? The Holy Spirit tells us from Ga.3:10-13> “For as many as are of the works of the law – are under the curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law – to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by [or lit. in] the law in the sight of God – it is evident! For “The just shall live by [or lit. out of] faith”. (12) And the law is not [out] of faith; but the man that doeth them [i.e. anyone that doeth — the works of the law] shall live in them.”
According to the Spirit, this scenario constitutes a fallen human effort in futility! Because, there is no approved and acceptable Justification before God that we can even hope to manufacture from our striving to live a righteous life out of the works of the law. But, Praise the Lord God our eternal Savior for vs.13 – which says: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law – being made a curse for us – for it is written: Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.” This is the truth of the Gospel of Christ’s glory only! He bore the consequences of our curse so we could be clothed with His perfect righteousness! We will look more deeply into this next time.
For Christ’s Glory Only! John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Dec 20, 2021 | Camp News
My dear friends and family in Christ, the end of 2021 being right upon us – let us not forget to continue to earnestly pray for the children who have been in the hearing of Del-Haven’s gospel preaching camp program. Please pray that our sovereign Lord will be pleased to allow us to be able to hold regular camp sessions once again. Pray for the boys and girls and also for our staff leaders and helpers. Nothing is too hard for our Lord. He can lead us victoriously through this whole ordeal!
From what we have experienced during this difficult time is indeed amazing! Our new thrust of ministering the gospel to family groups has been very rewarding as well. We may be able to incorporate a few sessions of that in addition to having regular camps. Pray with us – for the Lord’s leading in this regard. We love the opportunity of being able to proclaim the gospel to the whole family as well.
Again, we want to express our sincere thankfulness unto the Lord God for the way that you have maintained your much needed prayers and gifts during these last two years. By God’s great grace you have been so marvelous in hanging in there with us! We just Praise the Lord for all of you!
You are continually in our prayers. We love you – and wish all of you a wonderful and meaningful Christmas Season.
