2010-12-27

Cook's Short Order Update

The steam from my hot chocolate (not a fan of coffee) is dissipating but the memories from the past year are not. We wrapped up almost 6 years of life and friendships at Appalachian Bible College. Our oldest son struck out on his own. We made two long trips in three days between West Virginia and Missouri to move our home. But in the midst of those tough changes God brought in the Whispering Winds Bible Camp family. And in the midst of that God brought more changes.

We hadn't anticipated how quickly we could love complete strangers. Most of the summer staff had enjoyed a long friendship and working relationship with the previous Summer Staff Supervisor. But God graciously allowed us to move into that spot and love them and learn from them. It was the Summer Staff who literally helped us through this first summer. When we weren't sure how things were supposed to be done the Summer Staff graciously pointed us in the right direction. These young people and young adults were, for the most part, very patient and gracious with us. I guess we all had our moments of "arggghhhhh!"

My cup is setting there full and I'm already thinking about the memories that will be created this summer, and how they will be different because we won't be flying with both eyes closed, at least, that's what it seemed like most of the time. This summer we hope to have at least one eye open... But the uncertainty is still there. Who will serve with us? What kind of bumps will we encounter along the road? What will we look like at the other end of the coming summer? We're already making plans and yet it seems like the Summer Staff just left a few days ago. So glad God is in control of this life.

At the same time I'm looking to the direction we want to take our new Outdoor Education Program. We want this to be a ministry that takes people back to God's word as the platform from which to look at God's created universe. Too many people (even fundamental church people) have accepted the lie that science and the Bible cannot agree. And yet they fail to consider that the God who wrote the Bible, and even before He wrote the Bible, designed the laws and principles and concepts that make science possible. Two of the oldest books of the Bible, Genesis and Job, are packed with references to the natural sciences. Pray with us as we seek to take people back to God's Word as the foundation for this program.

My hot chocolate is no longer...hot. But my God is sovereign, faithful, concerned about the smallest details of my life, has planned my future already. "Thank You, God!"

Thank you for praying for us,
Bruce Cook
for Michelle (my best friend), Bryan (20), Nate (18), Caleb (15), Kaitie (11), Seth (8).

Outdoor Education Director
Whispering Winds Bible Camp
A ministry of Bible Impact Ministries

2010-12-14

Cook's Short Order Update


Merry Christmas!

God was/is the first Outdoor Educator. "God's eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all he has made..." Romans 1:20.

Our "quarterly" prayer letter will be coming to you after the first of the year. You may notice a change. The thermometer on the left side of the back page that shows our support level will show some changes in numbers. First, the top number which indicates our monthly support need has gone up. After our first year we get a "raise" to reflect our growing knowledge and commitment to this ministry. Second, the smaller number has gone down. This is because our actual support has not increased while our monthly support level has been adjusted by the Board of Bible Impact Ministries.

We would like to thank each of you for faithfully praying for God's provision for our needs. We have many of them. We need to be faithful. We need to be godly parents. We need to grow spiritually ourselves in order that we may feed our children and our guests at camp. We need to be sacrificial to His call. We need to feed and clothe our family. We need to support our church and other missionaries. Will you pray that God will meet all these needs, and ask how He would want you to be involved with us?

Current Support level - 35%

Thank you for praying for us,

Bruce Cook
for Michelle (my best friend), Bryan (20), Nate (18), Caleb (15), Kaitie (11), Seth (8).

Outdoor Education Director
Whispering Winds Bible Camp
A ministry of Bible Impact Ministries

2010-12-09

Cook's Short Order Update

We were at Cumberland Bible Church near Douglass, KS on Sunday. Great bunch of God's people, too! Wonderful meals, games, fellowship, lodging. We had such a good time with these people.

On our way home we began counting hawks... because they were everywhere. We ended with 119. The hundredth one was special so we decided whoever saw it first would get something extra for lunch. Just as I finished saying this a hawk flew within 20 feet of our windshield. Kaitie screamed, "Is that a hawk?!" God has such a fun sense of surprising us.

Again on our way home, we came within a few miles of Oklahoma. How can you pass that up? So we bought lunch, detoured, and ate our lunch all the way from Kansas to Oklahoma. Man were we stuffed... ;)

Check the facebook link for pictures.

Current Support level - 35%

Thank you for praying for us,

Bruce Cook
for Michelle (my best friend), Bryan (20), Nate (18), Caleb (15), Kaitie (11), Seth (8).

Outdoor Education Director
Whispering Winds Bible Camp
A ministry of Bible Impact Ministries

2010-11-30

Cook's Short Order Update

"The person who can best appreciate God is the one who is familiar with the natural world He made." Charlotte Mason

We found a new church family to call home! While it's difficult to move on from Mount Tabor as our home, we're excited about having a new family here in Missouri. New Harmony Church is a place full of opportunities. Bruce, Nate and Caleb have been helping setup and tear down for various functions. That's a big job when several hundred people are involved. Bruce is also helping with Audio/Visual stuff. Michelle will be serving at the Sign-in station, where parents and the church take care of keeping children secure on a weekly basis. Kaitie will help Michelle. Nate is involved in the Youth Worship Team and Caleb is training to help in this opportunity as well. Seth is helping several other boys his age stay just on the edge of "in trouble".

So there you have it. A new church to call home where we can be involved as a family.

Thank you for praying for us,
Bruce Cook
for Michelle (my best friend), Bryan (20), Nate (18), Caleb (15), Kaitie (11), Seth (8).

Outdoor Education Director
Whispering Winds Bible Camp
A ministry of Bible Impact Ministries

2010-11-23

Cook's Short Order Update

Country living during hunting season is quite a bit different from the campus of ABC. But after a while you get used to gun shots... from who knows where. :}

Back from a week of backpacking and canoeing (yes, the water was really cold) in South East Missouri with our Wilderness Program Director, Jake. Doing a pre-trip for an off-campus adventure trip this summer. Rained all night one night but God cared for us and we had a good time planning. Such rough work we have to do here.

Nate and Caleb are full swing with a Basketball team in Rolla. Hard work but they are enjoying it.

We will be in Douglass, KS at the church of some of our Summer Staff on December 5th. We are looking forward to this time as well as the chance to catch up with several Summer Staff.

Thank you for praying for us,
Bruce Cook
for Michelle (my best friend), Bryan (20), Nate (18), Caleb (15), Kaitie (11), Seth (8).

Outdoor Education Director
Whispering Winds Bible Camp
A ministry of Bible Impact Ministries

2010-11-08

Cook's Short Order Update

Dear Friends,

Caleb turned 15 last Wednesday!!! Can't believe our middle child is... well... growing up so fast. Yikes!

Jake Amidon and I were at Appalachian Bible College last week for their Missions Conference. We'd like to be able to recruit several counselors and other summer staff for Summer 2011. Kaitie got to spend this time with her bestie, Candace, whose parents are on staff at ABC.

We had a great Spring Fall Retreat with 30 kids at camp. Man, it's really a great time to connect with these teens after a few months of summer have passed. Pray for those who interacted with God and His Word this weekend.

Looking ahead to presenting our ministry and needs with a church in about a month where some of our Camp Crew attend. We look forward to seeing them after so many months.


Thank you for praying for us,
Bruce Cook
for Michelle, Bryan, Nate, Caleb, Kaitie, Seth

2010-10-04

Cook's Short Order Update

Dear Friends,

We enjoyed a fast trip to WV, Creation Museum, and home. We got to spend some time with our sending church family, Mount Tabor Baptist Church (you guys are the best!) as well as meet some new friends from Johnston Chapel Baptist Church in Princeton, WV. Thank you John and Jeannie King for the honor. Enjoyed hanging out with ABC family for a day.

The highlight, tho, was not the Creation Museum or church family or ABC, but spending an afternoon and evening with our son Bryan and his friend, Cheri.

Looking ahead to making plans for my first Outdoor Ed class. Stay tuned. Also getting my Small Bore Rifle Instructor training through 4-H this weekend. Very excited about that. Hope to use this in the summer program at Camp as soon as possible.

A new family has joined in supporting us, which takes us up a bit. We are at 38% of our monthly need. Thanks for being involved and...

thank you for praying for us,
Bruce Cook
for Michelle (my best friend), Bryan (20), Nate (18), Caleb (14), Kaitie (11), Seth (8).


Bruce Cook
Outdoor Ministries Coordinator
Whispering Winds Bible Camp
Bible Impact Ministries
St. James, MO
573-265-7445 x103

09-03-2010

Cook's Short Order Update

Our Family Celebration weekend and Labor Day Auction/Concert were awesome times to get to meet the WWBC family, those who have come here for years to learn about their Creator and experience spending huge amounts of time interacting with God in a carefully designed place.

More than 50 people joined us for the weekend, and almost 200 hundred were here to enjoy the activities on Labor Day. Whew! What a fun weekend. Now to get ready for more rental weekends.

I will be the speaker for a group coming September 22-24. Please pray that I will carefully deliver God's Word to these 5th and 6th graders through 4 messages.

Thank you for praying for us,
Bruce Cook
for Michelle (my best friend), Bryan (19), Nate (18), Caleb (14), Kaitie (11), Seth (8).

2010-06-07

Cook's Short Order Update

Well. Missouri. Here we are. I don't believe we've connected since before we left West Virginia. So much has happened since we last sent out an update. Yet it seems like we just got here.

We got through Summer Staff Training with only a few bumps, and now we are into our first week of Teen Camp. Pray for soft hearts. I believe the speaker will be used by God to grab the attention of some needy teens.

Pray for stamina for Michelle and I as we are up early and stay up late. She is indispensable to this ministry and we've barely started. I couldn't do what they've asked of me without her oversight. Pray for Nate. He is serving as a counselor. He will be stretched this summer. Caleb is serving with the summer staff that takes care of all the "grunt" work. He is also being stretched.

Bruce Cook
for Michelle (my best friend), Bryan (19), Nate (18), Caleb (14), Kaitie (11), Seth (7).

2010-05-01

Cook's Short Order Update

Let's stay in touch:
Email
Facebook Page...Cooks at Whispering Winds Bible Camp
brucecookfamily.blogspot.com
Bible Impact Ministries
Quarterly Prayer Letter Update (we need your physical address)


My new address at Bible Impact Ministries/Whispering Winds Bible Camp:
bruce.cook@bibleimpact.org

Praise the Lord!!! Sarah, one of our teens, became God's child this weekend! Two more friends have joined our team, taking our support to about 35%. My boss has offered to move a van load of stuff to our new home. God bless you Jay! We're finding it hard to focus on enjoying our last few days in West Virginia while we focus on preparing to leave. We have cleaned the basement, emptied the attic, and now focus on packing each room. We invite each of you to join us at Mount Tabor Baptist Church, Beckley, WV as we are commissioned as missionaries of MTBC. It will be an honor to see you there.

Our Calendar
Now Frantically pack the house
May 2 Commissioning Service at MTBC, 11am
May 3 Pack the moving truck
May 4 Clean our apartment
May 5 Move to Missouri
May 6 Unload the truck
May 7 Sleep for a while

Please pray that:
1. God will protect and help Sarah grow (a brand new Christian).
2. God will prepare us for ministry with the Counselors and Camp Crew at WWBC this summer.
3. God will prepare the hearts of those who will experience WWBC this year.
4. God will provide as we go on faith to serve at WWBC this summer.
5. God will provide churches and individuals who will commit to take our support level from 35% to 100%. Will you ask Him if He wants you to join our team?

We appreciate you,
~Bruce for
Michelle (getting more beautiful), Bryan (19), Nate (18), Caleb (14), Kaitie (10), and Seth (7)

2010-04-10

25 days to MO! Beautiful day to pack and clean. Look out basement. You're mine!!!

Upper Big Branch Mining Explosion, Big Branch, WV

Please pray for students and staff of Appalachian Bible College as they seek to serve families affected by the mining explosion in Montcoal, WV. This team has been helping on site for several days. Pray for wisdom as they seek to help bring comfort and God's love to these hurting people.

2010-04-06

Cook's Short Order Update

Let's stay in touch:
Email
Facebook Page
brucecookfamily.blogspot.com
Bible Impact Ministries (see Bruce's mug HERE but be warned...)
Quarterly Prayer Letter Update (we need your physical address)


My new address at Bible Impact Ministries/Whispering Winds Bible Camp:
bruce.cook@bibleimpact.org

Happy Birthday, Nate. 18 years old last week!!!

March 22 at 1:20 am Michelle's sister, Patty, after a short battle with lung and brain cancer went home to be with Jesus at the age of 61. Pray for family and friends who need comfort in many ways at this time. The Word was clearly proclaimed at the funeral. Please pray that individuals will trust God with their life and death, and others will submit to His will in their lives.

God was gracious and we were able to enjoy an awesome vacation last week near Gatlinburg, TN. Friday we traveled the near 500 miles from Tennessee to the viewing in Indiana. Saturday we drove the 500+ miles home to Bradley. Sunday we helped our teens at Mount Tabor Baptist Church host a banquet for the Senior Citizens. We share these details to praise God, as He amazingly sustained us through this demanding time.

Praise the Lord for His sustaining grace.

Our Calendar
April Frantically pack the house
May 3 Pack the moving truck
May 4 Clean our apartment
May 5 Move to Missouri
May 6 Unload the truck
May 7 Sleep for a while

Please pray that:
1. God will prepare us for ministry with the Counselors and Camp Crew at WWBC this summer.
2. God will prepare the hearts of those who will experience WWBC this year.
3. God will provide as we go on faith to serve at WWBC this summer. We will resume fund raising at the end of the summer.
4. God will provide churches and individuals who will commit to take our support level from 30% to 100%. Does He want you to join our team? Will you promise to pray about it?

We appreciate you,
~Bruce for
Michelle (getting more beautiful), Bryan (19), Nate (18), Caleb (14), Kaitie (10), and Seth (7)

Prayer Letter

Our latest prayer letter is viewable here.

2010-03-19

Cook's Short Order Update

Let's stay in touch:
Email
Facebook Page
brucecookfamily.blogspot.com
Bible Impact Ministries (see Bruce's mug HERE but be warned...)
Quarterly Prayer Letter Update (we need your physical address)

Bible Impact Ministries, our mission agency, is remodeling their website and other technical stuff. The "other technical stuff' involves a new email address for me. It is:

bruce.cook@bibleimpact.org

My personal address is brucelcook@gmail.com. Both of these addresses get to me just the same.

Praise the Lord! We were able to get a moving truck for 5 days for under $500. Who'da thunk you could bargain with these people... Our next few weeks are going to be busy. Pray for patience for us to set a godly example in front of our kids of how to work through the circumstances God allows. Next week we are taking a few days to get away as a family before moving. Don't you feel sorry for us??

Our Calendar
March 19 Lock-in with our teens at Mount Tabor Baptist Church
March 28 Big youth activity at Mount Tabor
April Frantically pack the house
May 3 Pack the moving truck
May 4 Clean our apartment
May 5 Move to Missouri
May 6 Unload the truck
May 7 Sleep for a while

Please pray that:
1. God will prepare us for ministry with the Counselors and Camp Crew at WWBC this summer.
2. God will begin preparing the hearts of the many kids who will experience WWBC this year.
3. God will provide as we go on faith to serve at WWBC this summer. We will resume fund raising at the end of the summer.
4. God will provide churches and individuals who will commit to take our support level from 30% to 100%. Does He want you to join our team? $10-$20 a month is such a help.

Sorry this is not quite a SHORT Short Order Update. So much going on.

We appreciate you,
~Bruce for
Michelle (getting more beautiful), Bryan (19), Nate (17), Caleb (14), Kaitie (10), and Seth (7)

2010-03-09

Cook's Short Order Update

Let's stay in touch:
Email
Facebook Page
brucecookfamily.blogspot.com
Bible Impact Ministries (see my mug HERE)
Quarterly Prayer Letter Update (we need your physical address). New one coming out next week.


We have exciting news!
We are very excited that God provided so we could pay off our van!!!

Next, we want to invite you to attend a special service at Mount Tabor Baptist Church, Beckley, WV. On May 2 our sending church will commission us as missionaries of Mount Tabor Baptist Church. This will take place in the evening service at 6pm. It will be an honor to have you, our friends, attend.

Please pray that:
1. God will prepare us to be a huge blessing to the Counselors and Camp Crew at WWBC this summer.
2. God will begin preparing the hearts of the many kids who will experience WWBC this year.
3. God will provide as we go on faith to serve at WWBC this summer. We will resume fund raising at the end of the summer.
4. God will provide churches and individuals who will commit to take our support level from 30% to 100%. Does He want you to join our team? $10-$20 a month is such a help.

We appreciate you,
~Bruce for
Michelle (getting more beautiful), Bryan (19), Nate (17), Caleb (14), Kaitie (10), and Seth (7)

2010-02-22

Cook's Short Order Update

Let's stay in touch:
Email
Facebook Page (Video and text)
brucecookfamily.blogspot.com (Video and text)
Quarterly Prayer Letter Update (we need your physical address)

Reminder: we will eventually stop sending our Short Order Update from our personal Facebook friends lists and update only through our facebook page at Cooks at Whispering Winds Bible Camp, our blog at brucecookfamily.blogspot.com, or email as you see above.

Last update we had planned on moving to Missouri around mid-May. That date has changed to May 5th. Before that, we need funds to move. God has already provided part of this expense but there is still more need.

After talking with the Dean of the graduate program at ABC it became clear that another year will be needed to complete Bruce's graduate studies. This will allow for more thorough research and a better project for God's glory.

God is quickly lining up Summer Staff for Whispering Winds Bible Camp. Pray as Bruce prepares to lead and disciple these awesome teens and college students this summer. As Summer Staff we are stepping out in faith that God will provide for all our needs. Our only income this summer will be through your support. Currently we are at 30%. However, the BIM Board of Directors is requiring us to resume support-raising at the end of the summer. We praise the Lord for their willingness to let us serve for the summer. Can't wait!!!

Please pray that:
1. God will give us grace in the months ahead for packing and cleaning.

2. God will provide the funds to make the move on May 5th.
3. God will provide churches and individuals who will commit to take our support level from 30% to 100%. Does He want you to join our team?

We appreciate you,
~Bruce for
Michelle (getting more beautiful), Bryan (19), Nate (17), Caleb (14), Kaitie (10), and Seth (7)

2010-02-02

Cook's Short Order Update

Let's stay in touch:
Email
Facebook Page (Video and text)
brucecookfamily.blogspot.com (Video and text)
Quarterly Prayer Letter Update (we need your physical address)

Reminder: we will eventually stop sending our Short Order Update from our (Michelle's and Bruce's) personal Facebook friends lists and update you through our facebook page at Cooks at Whispering Winds Bible Camp, our blog at brucecookfamily.blogspot.com, or email from bruce.cook@wwbccamp.com.

Our current plan is to be on site at Whispering Winds Bible Camp in Missouri around May 19 of this year. Before that, we need funds to move, Bruce needs to finish 3 tough classes for his graduate program, we need to finish the school year with the kids, we need to pack, and we have to clean our apartment. Praise the Lord for someone who sent us a gift to help cover our moving expenses. Our God is so gracious.

Praise the Lord! Bruce has been working with Brent at Mount Tabor Baptist Church to take his place on the sound system when we leave. Brent will be such a blessing to Mount Tabor.

After meeting with BIM's/WWBC's Interim Director Jay Penner recently, we have our responsibilities lined up for this summer. Bruce will supervise and disciple the Camp Crew and Counselors (high school and college age workers). Also, he will train those who will facilitate the outdoor climbing tower. We praise the Lord for the many hours he has gained in rappelling, high ropes, and high angle rescue in our time at Appalachian Bible College.

As Summer Staff we are stepping out in faith that God will supply our needs. Currently we are at 30%. The BIM Board of Directors is requiring us to resume support-raising at the end of the summer. We praise the Lord for their willingness to let us serve for the summer. Can't wait!!!

Please pray that:
1. God will give us grace in the months ahead as Bruce finishes his graduate studies, we pack to move, we continue our responsibilities here in West Virginia till we move.

2. God will provide the funds to make the move on May 19.
3. God will provide churches and individuals who will commit to take our support level from 30% to 100%. Does He want you to join our team?

We appreciate you,
~Bruce for
Michelle (getting more beautiful), Bryan (19), Nate (17), Caleb (14), Kaitie (10), and Seth (7)

Freedom of Speech

This typically isn't the type of thing we post here but I encourage you to read this, slowly. It's NOT about Mr. Tebow or a pro-life message or whatever. It's about freedom of speech. Quickly vanishing here...


Washington Post Article

It's snowing. It's beautiful. It's God's way of reminding us that He is in control. As long as there are seasons we can be assured that God is controlling our universe (Dan 2:21).

Cook's Short Order Update

This is longer than normal so take a deep breath... try to stick with us. :)

About 100 of you responded to our last update regarding our issue with the Facebook Friends Lists. That means about 270 of you are still getting our update this way. This method has become unreliable and time consuming to maintain so we will eventually be discontinuing it. Please either give us your email address or add yourself to our blog or facebook page. PLEASE NOTE: We are not discontinuing contact through our facebook page, "Cooks at Whispering Winds Bible Camp," or our blog at, well, right here.

We also understand several have had issues subscribing to our update through this blog. Does anyone know how user-friendly Wordpress is? We have considered switching to this site but several factors are keeping us from that move. Any input is helpful.

Let's stay in touch:
Email
Facebook Page (Video and text)
Blog site at brucecookfamily.blogspot.com (Video and text)
Quarterly Prayer Letter Update (we need your physical address)

We are still making plans to be at Whispering Winds Bible Camp in Missouri around mid-May of this year. Before that, we need funds to move, Bruce needs to finish 3 tough classes for his graduate program, we need to finish the school year with the kids, we need to pack, and we have to clean our apartment.

Once in Missouri, we will not yet be full time with WWBC. We will fill the role of Summer Staff, but since our support is still far short of joining the staff full time (30%) this will be a big step of faith. "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). The BIM Board of Directors is requiring us to resume support-raising at the end of the summer. We praise the Lord for their willingness to let us serve for the summer.

Please pray that:
1. God will give us grace in the months ahead as Bruce finishes his graduate studies, we pack to move, we continue our responsibilities here in West Virginia till we move.

2. We plan now to move mid-May. Pray for the funds to make the move and all the hick ups that go along with moving a family.
3. God will provide churches and individuals who will commit to take our support level from 30% to 100%.

We appreciate you,
~Bruce for
Michelle (getting more beautiful), Bryan (19), Nate (17), Caleb (14), Kaitie (10), and Seth (7)

Cook's Short Order Update

About 350 of you are on our Friends Lists in Facebook. This method has become unreliable and time consuming, so we will eventually be discontinuing this method of contact. See the methods listed below then either give us your email address or add yourself to the blog or facebook page. PLEASE NOTE: We are not discontinuing contact through our facebook page, "Cooks at Whispering Winds Bible Camp," or our blog at "brucecookfamily.blogspot.com" at this time.

Let's stay in touch:
Email
Facebook Page (Video and text)
Blog site at brucecookfamily.blogspot.com (Video and text)
Quarterly Prayer Letter Update (we need your physical address)

Are you taking down your Christmas decorations yet? We did this weekend. Man, the house seems so bare... But we at least have room to turn around in the living room now. Snowed off and on Friday and Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. This doesn't happen often here, so it's a beautiful sight, and more expected. Now we turn to packing as we are making tentative plans to move to Whispering Winds Bible Camp in April or May.

Please pray that:
1. God will give us grace in the months ahead as Bruce finishes his graduate studies, we pack to move, we continue our responsibilities here in West Virginia till we move.
2. We plan to move in April or May. Pray for the funds to make the move and all the hick ups that go along with moving a family.
3. God will provide churches and individuals who will commit to take our support level from 30% to 100%.

We appreciate you,
~Bruce for
Michelle (getting more beautiful), Bryan (19), Nate (17), Caleb (14), Kaitie (10), and Seth (7)