LOSS OF A DEAR FRIEND

Our deepest sympathies and condolences, as the Board of Directors and management staff, go out to Rev. Douglas Enck and his family in the loss of his dear wife, Janet.  Doug is Associate Pastor at Lancaster (PA) Alliance Church where Janet faithfully served alongside him leading the dynamic Kid's World children's ministry. She was a longtime friend of Summit Grove, having spent many summers here leading the elementary age programs for our Kids' Camp and Family Camp.  Her husband, Doug, is also a member of our Board of Directors and chair-person of our Family Camp Program Committee.  After a long battle with cancer, Janet went home to be with the Lord on May 14th.  She is greatly missed, and we covet your prayers for her immediate, extended, and church families.

What if Worship was like an NBA game?

Three Basic Ingredients of Servanthood by Charles R. Swindoll

The Word of God lays a solid, biblical foundation for what it means to have a servant mentality. But let's get some handles on what's involved in pulling it off.

For starters, let me suggest three basic ingredients of servanthood: giving, forgiving, and forgetting. Two key passages come to mind:

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)

Once you and I make up our minds to implement the truth of Philippians 2:3-4 (taking a special interest in others) and Galatians 5:13 (serving others in love), these three basics will begin to emerge.

Instead of always thinking about receiving, we'll start looking for ways to give. Instead of holding grudges against those who offend us, we'll be anxious to forgive. And instead of keeping a record of what we've done or who we've helped, we'll take delight in forgetting the deed(s) and being virtually unnoticed. Our hunger for public recognition will diminish in significance.

Giving, forgiving, and forgetting . . . as a servant of Jesus Christ, which of these three do you need to apply most today?

The Believer's Transformation Ezekiel 36:25-27, by Dr. Charles Stanley

I marvel at the metamorphosis of a caterpillar. A crawling, slimy, and spiky bug disappears into a chrysalis spun from its own body, and before long, a delicate and graceful winged butterfly emerges. It is magnificent.
Our change at the moment of salvation is just as radical and miraculous. From a death-bound, sinful, and depraved heart, God brings about a brand-new creature—one that is forgiven, made righteous, and designed to be the place where He Himself resides (2 Cor. 5:21; John 14:17).

Have you ever wondered why, then, we continue to struggle with sin after trusting Christ as Savior? Shouldn't all the habits and tendencies of our old heart have vanished? The answer is that the term "new creature" refers to our position in Christ. It is true that believers are forgiven and eternally secure as children of the heavenly Father. Yet we remain in fleshly bodies, and as long as we are on earth, there will be an ongoing battle between spirit and flesh.

Throughout our life, God is transforming us to be increasingly like Jesus—His Spirit residing within helps us to combat sin and teaches us how to live. This process, called sanctification, is a journey that will last until we are called home to heaven.

While salvation is a one-time event, sanctification is a life-long adventure. And though the Lord sees believers as righteous, we still have the capacity to sin. Thankfully, God's Spirit guides and empowers us to become more like Jesus, and as we yield to Him, our behavior and thoughts will change.

Bonjour!

Sick of the snow and cold? Think tropics and sun! Check out Matt Stoudt's (our Director of Programs) blogsite- www.notmyshow.com. Matt is in Gabon, Central Africa and daily adding posts and pics.

Living the Call Together...