by John Carpenter | Nov 18, 2016 | Ministry News
Praises, Prayer Requests, and Projects
Well, dear ones, by the time you receive this month’s news and prayer letter we will have had an election in our country for the leadership of our nation. May our Lord be pleased to deliver us from a corrupt and oppressive environment. Whatever will have happened in this regard — we need to be in continual, earnest prayer! And, especially, in this particular regard, please continue to remember Camp Del-Haven in all your praying. Be assured that we will be praying for you as you pray for us.
Pray for our children that, for the most part, are completely oblivious to the importance what this election means where they are concerned. The “god of this world” is busy blinding unbelieving and unwary eyes from beholding the light of the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that the power of God will protect and preserve all these youngsters from being overwhelmed by the ways of this fallen world and the Evil One and his seed. Pray for us as the battle intensifies.
Remember, if you will, the projects that we are saving for to be able to accomplish. Like the renovation of our restroom and shower house for the campers; and, also, the remodeling of our kitchen. We have yet another prayer request where our gate into the camp is concerned. When we installed the gate a few years back be put in place a solar powered gate that conveniently opens and closes via an opener. Well, the motor for the gate went bad and we are faced with an inflated cost as to replace it. It will take right at $500. We have received $250 from our dear friends at Pleasant Grove Bible church designated to go toward the total cost (Praise the Lord). Please pray with us that our Lord will send in the necessary remaining balance so that we can install a new motor for our gate. Thank you.
by John Carpenter | Nov 18, 2016 | Devotional
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Rom.6;6
This text begins by saying, “Knowing this”. Which obviously refers to that which has just been laid down by the apostle immediately before it. Ch. 6 begins with two questions: “What shall we say then? “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” To which is immediately replied, “God forbid!” The reason given is because we who have been immersed in Christ — have also died with Him when He died paying the penalty for our sins — and since we died with Him who died for our sins, then how is it that we should live any longer in this world enslaved to them? This leads right up to the wonderful message of Ro.6:4 which concludes by saying: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
What a wonderful Savior the eternal Son of God incarnated into being the Lord Jesus Christ truly is! He is, indeed, our propitiation — the one who has satisfied all the holy requirements in obtaining eternal remission and redemption from all of our sins. Praise the Savior! He is our sovereign Savior/substitute — our eternal Surety! Where sin’s losing its reign over us is concerned, Ro.6:6 comes directly into play when it declares: “Knowing this”. When by grace the Holy Spirit reveals this truth regarding the eternal person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it having been eternally accomplished for each of us personally, intimately and completely — then we understand what it means that we are eternally secure in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
All the remaining aspects about us still being sinners in this sinful world suddenly take a back seat to the glorious fact that although sin still remains as an immediate and dreadful part of our animated being — it does not reign over us as it once did before we came to the wonderful gospel truth concerning the eternal Savior Son of God (who is, indeed, our own personal Savior). The text says: “…our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed [or, lit., rendered inoperable] that (we who have been immersed in Christ; in His death for us; in His being buried for us; and in His being raised from the dead on our behalf) henceforth we should not serve sin.”
How totally marvelous that no longer will we religiously serve as a bond-slave our sins! No, rather, we become bond-slaves of Him who has bought and paid for us with His own holy body and blood. He is our strength; our peace with God; our hope for eternal life. He is our all and all; we follow Him; we totally trust in Him. To grow in this grace is to grow in the ever increasing knowledge of this truth.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Oct 11, 2016 | Ministry News
And now, another entry from our camp journal:
06/23/2016
“First camp of the summer…done!
This is my 10th summer serving as a counselor. I remember my friend, Sam, bringing me out here when I was 15…you could have never told my younger self I would be there this long. Over the years, Del-Haven was used by the Lord to fill a hole in my home, to draw me closer in love and knowledge of our dear Savior; to refine me to His likeness and grow me from a shy country girl. I’m so glad the Lord saw fit to keep me here this long. I feel so blessed to be able to serve and know others who love the Lord here.
Kamora told me (I asked the girls what scared them) that she was afraid of being kidnapped, shot or hurt – where she lives. She occasionally goes to church (described with great, dramatic, Kamora-style words), but it sounds like they rarely have scripture focused time at church, and that it is based on feelings. Keep her safe, Lord. Save her soul, and lead her to have her focus on knowing you; not just knowing how you apply her life, but how you want her to live for you – and that knowing and loving you intimately is the greatest treasure of all!
These children (and all of us in this world) need so much grace and mercy and truth that is only found in Christ in their daily lives. Teach us to flood their week with that when they are here.
Kendle L.
Please remember to pray for Kendle. Pray that the Spirit of God continue to use her for the glory of Christ. Pray for her needs – both of this world and more importantly, her spiritual needs.
by John Carpenter | Oct 11, 2016 | Ministry News
Dear friends and family in Christ, already it is upon us – the beginning of the autumn and winter end of 2016. This year has been another real testimony that our Lord truly does hear and answer our prayers. There is an abundance of evidence that our camping season has been fruitful in the lives of both our campers and our staff. This proves the real value of continual prayerful support. For this we thank God for you – and we also do not forget to pray for you all. We love you.
Please remember the boys and girls that the Lord sent here to hear His Word of truth; and please pray for us who are always engaged in the ongoing struggles that ever accompany the soldiers of the Lord. Pray that He draw us to Himself; for He is our strength, our refuge, and our peace.
A special need and prayer request of ours was ultimately met by a group of men from the First Baptist Church of Oak Grove, MO. We had an old trailer that needed to be demolished. They stepped up to the task and did the job! Thank you, Lord! Richly bless those men for their labor of love for you! By the way, this same church has (through their VBS) donated to Del-Haven $3800 toward a much needed renovation of our Shower House and their WMU has applied for and received a grant toward renovating the kitchen, $1292.36. After 50 years, it needs it! The whole job will take about $6700. Please pray with us that this need can and will be met…for Christ’s glory.
by John Carpenter | Oct 11, 2016 | Devotional
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves – covetous – boasters – proud – blasphemers – disobedient to parents – unthankful – unholy…(5) having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.”
This text from 2Tim.3 very aptly describes the current state of affairs of our present culture in this nation. It seems that everywhere in our society there is opposition to God and His incarnated eternal savior Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This, indeed, is a direct cause in the breakdown of the fulfillment of the Biblical description of the family structure (as it is supposed to be). For example, we live in a land where there are laws against Christian prayer and Bible reading in our schools. This, by itself, engenders a general attitude of spiritual indifference as a rule among our students. This, in turn, adversely affects the teaching vocation as a whole. Our educators are diligent to make no positive reference to God, or the Bible, in the course of their teaching.
From 1Jn.2:15-17 we read: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – is not of the Father, but of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
How is this text relevant? Worldliness is running rampant – not only in our society as a whole, but also in our churches! Worldly ways, means and music has been, and is being, adopted and accepted as an attraction to accomplish and increase church attendance. Hence, our children are being trained to become citizens of this world – instead of heaven [Phil.3:20]. They are being assimilated into a predominantly carnal culture [Ro.12:1-2] Christianity, itself, is being massaged and manipulated to fit in with this fallen world that it is supposed to resist and avoid. Our children are being proselytized into a false carnal “christian” way of living instead of genuinely being evangelized and regenerated by the Holy Spirit in accordance with God’s Word! So called gospel presentations are being performed according to worldly wisdom – and are, therefore, not even able to be effective in producing any real change in a person’s life. This contributes to the misconception that worldliness is acceptable with God – when it is not!
Jesus said from Jn.16:33 : “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer – I have overcome the world.” In addition, He said from Jn.17:9 “I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me – for they are thine!”
Because of the current course of opposition to God that our culture is on – and the fact that worldliness permeates even the presentation and profession of true Christianity – unfavorable judgment from our sovereign, holy God is being poured out upon our nation as a result. Hence, there is only one course of corrective action that will deliver us; and that is to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ in earnestly and effectively praying – in the Spirit — for His good and Godly leadership in every way and at every level of our country’s government.
Jesus also prayed from Jn.17:15 “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one).” He then declared from the next two verses: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (lit.) in thy truth. Thy Word is truth.” Let us praise His mighty Name!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
