Campmeeting Time is Here!

It is that time again. Summer rolls by fast, even with hot weather and all. Chandler Interdenominational Holiness Camp-Meeting began Sunday Night July 31th with our annual Prayer service hosted by Boonville Wesleyan Church, and led by Rev. Sue Lochmueller and Camp President, Rev. Dennis King of Newburgh Nazarene Church. World Gospel Missions Missionary to Africa, April Hershberger will be sharing with us tonight, Monday night at 7:00PM. Evangelists and Singers John and Linda Blair will be with us 7:00PM nightly Tuesday 2nd through Saturday the 6th, then at the concluding Service on Sunday the 7th at 6:00PM. Please be in prayer as our workers travel and for the Camp-Meeting. Due to the oppressive heat, Campmeeting will be held inside the Air-Conditioned Sanctuary of Chander Nazarene Church directly across the street from the Camp Grounds. Camp Board Meeting and annual elections Saturday night at 6:00PM before the service at 7:00PM. Find us on facebook at Chandler Interdenominational Holiness Camp.Please be in prayer and we hope to see ya there!

In Memorium

Norma J. (Farley) Franz Boonville Dateline – Norma J. (Farley) Franz, 81, left her earthly home on Thursday, May 13, 2010 to be with her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Mrs. Franz was a devoted member of the Otter Creek General Baptist Church. Her life was her family and her church. She never met a stranger and she loved to talk. She enjoyed cooking and she wrote the Otter Creek News for the Boonville Standard for many years. She enjoyed singing at her church and was a member of the Pleasant Hill Homemakers Club. Surviving Norma are a son, Stephen Franz and his wife, Cindy of Boonville IN; a brother, Elmer Farley of Chandler IN; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren; nieces and nephews and her special church family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward in January 2010, a daughter, Sharon Brown in May 2010, a sister, Lila Christian and her parents. Services for Mrs. Franz will be held at 10 am, Tuesday, May 18, 2010 from the Otter Creek General Baptist Church with burial in the Maple Grove Cemetery. Rev. Gene Koker will officiate. Friends may call from 2 to 8 pm, Monday at Bradley’s Colonial Chapel in Boonville IN and from 9 am to 10 am Tuesday at the church. Contributions in memory of Norma may be made to Relay for Life, Southern Care Hospice or her church. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bradleyscolonialchapel.com.

Wesleyan Life

Holy Living

By Dr. Ronald D. Kelly

“Wesleyan” because of a church you attend? Or are you called Wesleyan because of the truth you believe? In an age of creeping universalism (one way or another, everyone is going to heaven), God has set a different standard: holy living. Leviticus 11:44 says, “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” Holiness is something we seek actively and continually because it is God’s will for us.

Pure in Heart

When God called Abraham to leave his home and set out for the Promised Land (Gen. 12:1), He called him to model holiness by living above the standard of the surrounding culture. Jesus Christ reaffirmed this lifestyle in Matthew 5:8, when He reminded us that the “pure in heart . . . will see God.” When Christ prayed for His disciples (John 17:17, 19), He prayed that they would be “sanctified” (that is, set apart for holy use). Why do some Christians struggle to live a life of spiritual wholeness (holiness)?

Carnal Nature

All followers of Jesus Christ begin their journey with a determination to grow in the faith. But it isn’t very long before they come to a spiritual speed bump—a point at which they have to deal with something that hinders growth in their walk with Christ (Rom. 7:21–23). The problem is as old as the first man, Adam, but as fresh as today’s inner struggle: original sin (Rom. 5:12). We are born with a spiritual DNA that includes a tendency to live by self-law and self-strength rather than God’s (called a carnal, or sinful, nature, Rom. 8:5–8). Spiritual maturity and positive response to God come to a grinding halt when self rules.

Now or Later?

Many churches believe that original sin remains in a person after he or she is spiritually reborn. And many recognize that something must be done to deal with the tendency toward sin. While many believe it is a process that is finalized only in heaven, Wesleyans believe that original sin (the carnal nature) can be dealt with in the present (on earth), and that we can have victory over sin in our daily lives (1 John 1:7).

Entire Sanctification

We believe God has provided a solution through what Christ did on Calvary (Heb. 9:14). The theological term for that solution is “entire sanctification.” Wesleyans believe that once we are convicted (inwardly convinced) of our need, and admit that our solution comes from God alone (Eph. 4:12–14), we can make a definitive (entire) surrender of self and selfishness to God (Rom. 12:1–2). We believe that in response to our asking in faith, God will do a second spiritual work of grace in us through the power of the Holy Spirit, cleansing our heart of the limitations of original sin (Acts 15:8–9) and allowing us the freedom to love and serve Him with joyful obedience (Gal. 5:22–23). Wesleyans believe this is more than an article of religion; we believe it is a way of life!

- Ronald D. Kelly is General Secretary and General Editor for The Wesleyan Church.

This article is from Wesleyan Life Magazine, which is published quarterly.The current issue,not yet online has an excellent article on the leadership of Women in the Church. As Wesleyans, we were the first to ordain women and African-Americans and admit them to our colleges and universities. Pick up the current issue from the table in the foyer, or go online: Click here