by John Carpenter | Mar 17, 2024 | Camp News
Well dear ones, we are presently preparing to once again reach out to the families and care providers of the children for them to choose a day to come out to Del-Haven and experience all that goes on throughout a whole week of camp. They can fish – swim – do crafts – enjoy the playground – hike the camp paths – and of course have a Bible Study Time. This is where we will be able to present the gospel unto the whole family. Some interesting and – it is believed – profitable discussions have been experienced through this added camp ministry reality. Please pray with us that our Lord will use this to reach both the adults and the children.
Please remember that we are still seeking from the Lord those that we can train and use to rebuild our staff — with spiritually awakened and quickened male and female servants of the Lord — to fill positions of cabin and camp program leaders for regular camp weeks. A camp season would begin in mid June and run till early August. A camp week would start on Monday noon and end around 1pm Thursday. This would be every week – except the week where July 4th would fall. We have had such good feedback in regards to our Family Camp excursions that the regular camp season may contain a few of those as well. Please be in prayer for us in this regards.
The economy that we are in has been an added trial – to say the least! Thank you all so much that have continued to support us financially (as well as with your prayers). You have been a real answer to our prayers.
Don’t forget that beginning with April 6th – and every weekend – we have a tradition of Saturday Work Days. This is when we get the campground cleaned up and set up for the activities of whatever is on the schedule. If you or a group from your church would like to help us out – please give us a call at 816-425-0460.
We love you all – and we pray for God’s blessing upon you.
“So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper
in the thing whereto I sent it.”
[Is.55:11]
by John Carpenter | Feb 19, 2024 | Devotional
“And therefore will the Lord wait – that He may be gracious unto you – and therefore will He be exalted – that He may have mercy upon you! For the Lord is a God of Judgment. Blessed are all they – that Wait For Him!” [Is.30:18]
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time – but at the end – it shall speak and not lie. Though it tarry; – WAIT for it – because it will surely come! It will not tarry!” [Hab.2:3]
These texts of holy scripture should communicate much encouragement to every true child of God’s eternal family in this present sinful world! Whenever the enabling Grace of Christ – the only Savior that there is – causes His saved ones in this world to earnestly and persistently seek Him for a much needed supplication – whether it be seemingly small or obviously great – He, Himself, also, will burden His child to earnestly pray for what they so desperately need! It is then – at this time – that He will communicate the bottom line message of both of these texts unto their Regenerated hearts and souls.
Take note of how the prophecy of Habakkuk begins – 1:2 “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence – and thou wilt not save! (3) Why dost thou show me iniquity – and cause me to behold grievance?…” This (iniquity and violence) was the sad state and condition of things in and among the Nation of Judah! Therefore, the Lord – through the minor prophet – boldly declared unto Judah: “Behold ye among the heathen – and regard (or, diligently consider) – and wonder marvelously! For I will work a work in your days – (lit.) ye will not believe – though it be told you.” This verse, the apostle Paul – in his day and time – quoted unto the Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue in Antioch on the Sabbath. You can read about this from Acts 13:14-52. The reason why Paul quoted this same text unto the Jews of the first century — which was Holy Spirit inspired through Habakkuk (a contemporary of Jeremiah) in 626BC – is because the Jews of the first century AD had become equally as idolatrous as their predecessors! The only difference was that – their idols were not exactly the same. Nevertheless, idolatry is idolatry – no matter what generation it happens to be -– and God judges and condemns it! With the Lord God, it is a damnable sin to fear and to follow anyone or anything except Him and Him alone.
Isaiah, who preceded Habakkuk, accurately prophesied what was taking place in both Habakkuk’s and Paul’s time (and as well in our own time)! This is what made Habakkuk relevant to Paul – hence, he quotes Hab.1:5 in his message in Acts 13:41. All of the Bible is completely and contemporarily relevant unto all of us, at all times! The Spirit of God bears witness to our spirits that this is the Truth! Otherwise, why was Paul also inspired to write Ro.15:4-6> “For whatsoever things were written aforetime – were written for our learning – that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (5) Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (6) that ye may with one mind and one mouth – glorify God – even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Therefore, when we read Is.30:18, we can rest assured that it is absolutely relevant to us even in our earnest praying and seeking the Lord God for the earnest supplication(s) of our hearts! Indeed, the context of Is.30:18 has much relevant considerations for us to wisely take note of – for our learning. For our learning to truly seek Him – and to wait for Him – to unfold His grace unto our hearts and our circumstances. Lord willing: we will address this in a future missive.— John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Feb 19, 2024 | Camp News
(Shown above, a recent February sunrise over the Camp Del-Haven dining hall.)
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up.” [Ps.5:3] “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me! (17) Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” [Ps.55:16-17]
Well dear ones, already the days seem to be getting longer – and a little warmer…at least warmer than the frigid cold we have recently had to endure. What is right upon us as camp season is concerned – is our intention of contacting our camper families to see about scheduling them for a day of Family Camp Activities. Please be in prayer with us in this regard – that we will get a good reception. There were many great times that we had last year – with encouraging responses from the children and their parents and care providers.
We are still seeking the Savior to send us male and female staff help. What we are asking for is for truly awakened and quickened folks to fill the bill of being cabin and camp leaders – so that, Lord willing, we can resume having boys and girls camp weeks like we had before. Let us keep this matter before our Lord – in accordance with His sovereign will and good pleasure.
Dear family in the Lord, please include Jeff Hall, our longtime camp assistant, in your prayers. He has been having pains in his chest, and after seeing a heart specialist – he has been prescribed some mild medication – as well as put on a schedule for further tests. Jeff will be 57 on his next birthday. Please pray that the Lord continues to strengthen and sustain our dear Brother Jeff!
Also, as a “heads up” to our supporters – our traditional first Work Day is coming up. It will be the first Saturday in April. We do have quite a bit of outside campground work to do if any of you – or a group from your church – feel like lending us a hand. Our camp number is (816) 425-0460.
Thank you all for continuing to pray and financially-support our efforts in presenting the pure Word of the truth of the gospel of the glory – only – of the Lord Jesus Christ. We love you – and pray for you. — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jan 17, 2024 | Devotional
And He spake a parable unto them – that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (2) Saying: ‘There was in a city — a judge – that feared not God – neither regarded man. (3) And there was a widow in that city – and she came to him, saying: Avenge me of mine adversary! (4) And he would not for awhile, but afterward he said within himself: Though I fear not God – nor regard man (5) yet because this widow troubleth me – I will avenge her – lest by her continual coming – she weary me.’ (6) And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge saith! (7) And shall not God avenge His own elect – which cry day and night unto Him – though He bear long with them? (8) I tell you that He will avenge them speedily! Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh – shall He find faith on the earth?” [Luke 18:1-8]
The Lord Jesus Christ – the eternal Son of God incarnate – is our eternal Savior. We have been eternally saved — according to the perfectly performed merits of His obedient righteousness; and the eternal efficacy of His sin-atoning shed blood; and the omnipotent power of His sovereign Grace! As being our great Savior – He was, is and always will be – in all things – our excellent example. Although He is much more than just our example – and always will be – we who are truly His chosen sinner/children – will – by His grace seek to pattern our lives after Him.
1st Peter 2:21-24 plainly says: “For even hereunto were ye called – because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps. (22) Who did no sin – neither was guile found in His mouth. (23) Who, when He was reviled – reviled not again – when He suffered – He threatened not – but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. (24) Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree – that we – being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness – by whose stripes ye were healed! (25) For ye were as sheep going astray – but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
From Jn.13:15, Jesus says: “I have given you an example – that ye should do as I have done…” Jesus shows us by example how to walk according to His faith through this sinful, fallen and passing away world. He shows by example what it means to truly love – both – Him and one another. And, He demonstrates for us how to suffer patiently by committing ourselves to the sovereign care of our heavenly Father! He shows us that just by living in this world of trial and adversity – walking by His faith and believing in Him – we are, in fact, serving Him by being reflections of Him!
In the matter of prayer, for instance, our Lord is an absolutely exemplary example for us to imitate. From His Word, He tells us to “continue in prayer” [Col.4:2] and “pray without ceasing” [1Th.5:17], which surely means that He has willed for us to do just as He has done! As such, this Godly activity of prayer, along with many other disciplines, is a living example of a true close relationship with Christ!
And, when you think about it – if ever there was a man who might not have a need to pray – it would be the God/man! After all – He did no sin. He knew no sin. He had no sin. But, it was He who became sin for all those for whom He died! He had a Holy Soul! The lusts of the flesh that in this world always wage war against all the fallen-in-sin souls of God’s chosen sinner/children – absolutely could not even come close to subduing the Holy Soul of our Savior! That ever constant daily battle was bravely fought by Him — and through His faith in the Word of His heavenly Father – He was overwhelmingly victorious over sin! And, through Him – so are we!
by John Carpenter | Jan 17, 2024 | Ministry News
It is indeed our prayer for you all – that you have experienced – and are experiencing – a truly Blessed New Year of 2024!
Our diligent seeking from God for a staff of awakened and quickened cabin and camp program leaders (both male and female) – ever continues. Please be in earnest prayer with us in this very important matter! We are living in not only spiritually oppressive times – but also financially trying times! The costs of living in this present economy have considerably increased the ongoing day to day burdens of food, fuel and utilities. All of which tends to make it more difficult for anyone of us to be able to pay attention to anything other than our being able to keep up with these particular personal needs. Nevertheless, our Great Shepherd – the Lord Jesus Christ – can lead us through these dark and difficult days victoriously! Let’s seek Him first – and follow Him each step of the way. Amen(?)…Amen!
The Word of God from the gospel of Isaiah declares to us the only circumstances where God, Himself, waits – for anything. Is.30:18 plainly says: “And therefore will the Lord wait – that He may be gracious unto you – and therefore will He be Exalted – that He may have mercy upon you! For the Lord is a God of Judgment. Blessed are all they – That Wait For Him!”
This is a profound portion of holy scripture! Our absolutely Sovereign God – is a God of Judgment! And, His Judgment can be either favorable or unfavorable. David wrote in Ps.119:20 “My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy Judgments at all times.” I hardly think that he confessed here that his soul longed for God’s unfavorable judgments at all times! No. His longing was for God’s sovereign providential good and favorable judgments. Circumstantial judgments of victory, peace and deliverance from the Evil One! Which judgments he experienced – as well as God’s unfavorable ones – in this fallen-in-sin world. And, beloved, so do we! We are the ones – in the here and now — that make up the Church Militant – still in this world; we look forward to becoming the Church Victorious – in heavenly glory! All praise and glory be unto God our Captain and Savior!
Until then – by God’s enabling grace – we have to continue to wait patiently for Him to unfold before us His leading us in that which is His will and good pleasure. Your continued prayerful support of us during this particular time is greatly appreciated! We love you all.