Great Faithfulness

The third and final verse of one old, beloved hymn of the church -- "Great is Thy Faithfulness" -- warmed my heart this weekend as I joined in with other voices singing it at two Christian funerals in Kansas City. 

Here are the heartwarming words:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thy own dear Presence to cheer and to guide, 

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow;

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis

A Wise Man’s Home-Going Celebration

I am enroute as I write to speak at my Bible College professor’s home-going celebration in Kansas City. My alarm sounded at 2:30 a.m. I arrived at the airport two hours before my flight was to depart. We had a 2 1/2 hour delay due to airplane mechanical issues. I once heard a seasoned plane captain say: "It’s better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than in the air wishing you were on the ground." So, all is well, though we are still waiting on the runway to fly to NYC in hopes I make my connection to KC. The service is tonight, Friday, at 7 p.m. central time.

Here’s the eulogy I plan to share tonight, assuming Delta cooperates and I can participate. 

* Spoiler Alert 🚨Don’t read if you plan to be present tonight at the celebration! 

Dr. Neil B. Wiseman -- Eulogy -- Kerry Willis

From the Book of Wisdom, Proverbs chapter 11 and verse 30 -- The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he that winneth souls is wise. (KJV)

My "hero and "friend", Dr. Neil B. was indeed a "Wise Man" and at times a "Wise Guy."

I had Dr. Neil B. Wiseman for Pastoral Theology and Sermon Construction At Nazarene Bible College 1992-1994.

He believed in me and wouldn’t let me get by just being average.

In Sermon Construction I wrote a sermon on one of his favorite passages (because he assigned it to me) -- John 15 -- "I Am the Vine and you are the branches, abide in me and I will abide in you."

He gave me the written sermon back with no grade and said "rewrite it." I said "why." He said your sermon may be better than all the others I received yet I know you can do better. I rewrote it.

As a result, John 15, became what Dr. Wiseman would call "a candy stick message" in my life. A go-to, staple message for my own soul.

In Pastoral Theology Class, I saved Dr. Wiseman’s reputation twice. He had a gray pair of trousers with a lousy zipper. Twice without anyone else in the class knowing -- because I sat in the front row -- I was able to signal Dr. Wiseman during his lectures, that his zipper was down. He made quick stealth recoveries... "on the fly".

And even after I saved his reputation, not to mention his dignity, twice in class and even though I had a high A average, he gave me a final grade of B. When I went to him for justice, he said: "B is a good grade. Besides a B will be good for you." It was my only B at Bible College.

In Pastoral Theology class, Dr. Wiseman taught me many things but three very essential things.

1. Saturation time with the Lord -- tending to my interior life.

2. That he would be on my shoulder for the rest of my life whispering truths like this into my ear: "Beware: There’s going to be at least one very attractive lady in your ministry who will make you feel like you’re special. You’re not! She probably just has a big problem and she wants to make you part of it. 

3. As a pastor, even if I didn’t like asking people for money, I’d eventually get over it.

Dr. Wiseman used to poke fun at my friend and worship leader, Joseph Stoner, whose Pennsylvania accent made it sound like he was singing: "All Hell (instead of All Hail) the Power of Jesus Name." 😆

I left NBC early. Dr. Wiseman didn’t like it because he wanted me to go to Seminary so in his words I could be "A General". I took him to Conway’s RedTop for a cheeseburger in Colorado Springs. He tried to talk me into staying in school but I left for Harrisonburg, VA to pastor because Professors John Williamson and Floyd Perkins gave me the green light.

A while later I called Dr. Wiseman for revival. It was a quiet drive when I picked him up at the airport. He broke the silence with three words: "I was wrong." (He knew the Lord had shown me favor at the local church and souls were coming to Jesus, so he apologized.)

He came again to Virginia and I booked him on a preaching tour of about 4 churches. He wanted to come so he could romance Mrs. Bonnie during the cherry blossom 🌸 season in Washington, D.C. Every time we were together after that, he thanked me for that trip. He loved beauty and he loved Mrs. Bonnie, who is one-in-the-same with beauty. 

When Dr. Wiseman led Small Church Institute for the General Church, he asked me to present two programs -- one on outreach for a live conference and a video presentation and one on people skills for a live event. He said don’t go to a book to prepare, just tell how "you" do outreach and how "you" deal with people. Now, Dr. Wiseman was an editor (That’s why I wasn’t surprised when Brother Daniel Vanderpool called and said "even though you are coming from the east coast to Kansas City, you only get 5 minutes to speak at a one-hour funeral, because that’s all Dr. Wiseman wanted.) Anyway, Dr. Wiseman, as I said, was an editor and when I sent him my Outreach manuscript, he basically reworded my whole presentation. I laughed and told him he could present it himself, because it wasn’t mine anymore, it was now his. He said: "You’re right. Please forget all of my editing suggestions and go back to your original writings."

I thought I went to Nazarene BIble College to become an evangelist, nevertheless, I left as a pastor who also did the work of an evangelist. Dr. Wiseman was a big part of the Lord rerouting my call. Dr. Wiseman said to his students -- passionately and often -- "The most beautiful word in the English language is the word ‘pastor’". 

I have always loved coming to Kansas City for meetings. Whether for General Board or Pension and Benefits Board or District Superintendent training, I always made it a point to contact Dr. Neil and Bonnie Wiseman for supper at their home place -- Santa Marta. 

🐑 This is a figurine from Germany that sat on Dr. Wiseman’s desk. The Wisemans lovingly gave it to me a few weeks ago at our last visit on Thursday, February 21, 2019. Dr. Wiseman cried holy tears at the supper table, as we all ate filet mignon and shared testimonies about the Lord’s faithfulness. 

"Dr. Neil B. Wiseman was a giant oak in our church." David Bowser, DS Mid-Atlantic

Dr. Neil was the real deal. He was real Wise, real faithful, and real funny. 

Finally, What I love about our church is this, over the long-haul, those who were initially your heroes can ultimately become your friends.

Time left for just seven more words...

"We shall meet on that Beautiful Shore!"

 

The Secret of Perfect Rest

"Entire surrender to Jesus is the secret of perfect rest. Giving up one’s whole life to Jesus, for Him alone to rule and to order it; taking up His yoke and submitting to be led and taught to learn of Him; abiding in Him, to be and do only what He wills. These are the conditions of discipleship without which there can be no thought of maintaining the rest that was bestowed in first coming to Christ. This rest is in Christ and not something He gives apart from Himself, and so it is only in having Him that the rest can really be kept and enjoyed." -- Reverend Andrew Murray 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Jesus, Your Wounds...

I wrote these words down, today, in my saturation time with my Savior:

"Jesus, the wounds You welcomed when Your back was against the wood, should (be more than enough to) woo the whole world to Your Wonderful Presence."

https://youtu.be/fsXgYI6k3YM

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

"Faithful Witnesses"

Do you dream at night? I often do. I awoke this morning with a dream underway. I was dreaming about my Granddaddy Gray and his brother who looked like his twin but was three years younger, Uncle Elton. I was in the church of my childhood located on The Old Ferry Dock Road, the Free Grace Pilgrim Holiness Church (it later became known as the Wesleyan Church) on Harkers Island, North Carolina. In my dream, I was standing in the sanctuary giving a personal testimony to an overflowing crowd about the faithfulness of my Granddaddy and Uncle. What’s unique about this dream is this: I remember mostly only the last four words that I was passionately speaking in my testimony. I ended by saying: "They were faithful witnesses!" 

Now, that I’m awake, I cannot get those words off of my mind. And ever since, Acts 1:8, is accented in my thinking, yes, the words of Jesus: "You will be My witnesses!"

When I was 20, around 1981, I sang in a Nazarene church singing group known as "The New Beginning Singers." We performed a musical in different churches titled "The Witness." I sang several solos, believe it or not, but the main song I sang had these lyrics: "I love you, Lord... and I’ll be Your witness to the end of my life!" Those words became my heart’s desire and still continues to this day. Like my testimony about my Grandaddy Gray and Uncle Elton, I long to forever be faithful in my witness of Jesus. Do you long to be His faithful witness? Lord, help us to be Your Faithful Witnesses! Yes, for forever and today! 

Here’s the song I spoke of from that 1981 Musical, "The Witness:" 

https://youtu.be/aj1NQjnhtuE

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Song of the Passion Season

This Charlie Hall tune is one of my all-time favorite songs of the Passion Season each year. I love the ancient words sung in a contemporary style. 

https://youtu.be/DqfffFk66I4

Presence Matters Most! 

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

More Images That Inspire Me

Yesterday, I posted a few images that have inspired me lately. Here are a few more...

Images That Inspire Me

Sharing today some images that have inspired me lately...

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Some Days...

Some days are harder than others.

Don’t be surprised. 

Some days exercising faith is very challenging.

Believe anyway. 

Some days pain is greater than you expected.

Anticipate healing to happen. 

Some days your heart hurts more deeply.

Don’t stop loving God or others. 

Some days it seems the devil is winning.

Remember, Jesus has already won. 

Some days people don’t want mercy.

But don’t withhold compassion. 

Some days disappointment is more real.

Don’t become jaded. 

Some days it seems like the skies are brass. 

God still cares, keep sending up prayers. 

Some days it seems difficult to breathe.

Keep inhaling and exhaling.

Some days you see sin destroying people.

Worship the Lord in the beauty of His Holiness.

Listen to this, Morgan Pangle testimony. A half-hour of hope for your life: 

https://www.abeaconofhope.org/front-porch-talks/

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

My Prayer from Psalm 100:4

Join me in praying my personal paraphrase of the Holy Scripture, today, Psalm 100:4...

Lord, lead me to and through the glorious gates that reveal Your undeniable Presence. With gratitude I come; let my heart enter Your holy courts, for praising You is my passion. In Your Wonderful Name, I pray. Amen. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

My Deepest Desire in an 18-Word Prayer

My blog friends, today, I want to share -- in a simple, yet profound, 18-word prayer -- my deepest desire:

"My Jesus, let Your Presence be the Essence of my Existence and the Focus of my Forever. Amen."

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

I Am a Debtor

In Romans 1:14, (NKJV), the Apostle Paul began the verse with these four words: "I am a debtor..."

These four words have been an essential part of my own testimony ever since I first called on the Lord to save me from my sins. 

It’s all true. I owe my life, even my all, to my Good and Great God and as a result of His amazing grace and awesome mercy towards me, "I am a debtor", indeed, and not only to Him, but also to everyone else. Yes, I obviously now owe everything to God and I owe it to everyone else everywhere I go to be a wholehearted witness of the Hope He has extended towards me through His Son, Jesus.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus speaks five more words: "...you will be my witnesses!" His Holy Spirit is with and within us to make sure we make good on our debt of Love by living lives of Love and loyalty in His Name that we might point all others to our Lord who loves everyone. 

So I passionately pray:

Lord, you gave Your life, yes, Your all for me. How can I offer less that my life and my all for You!? I cannot. I must not. I will not. Please possess me -- own me and occupy me. My reason for breathing moment-by-moment is that Your Presence might be manifested in and through me to the world. Because "I am a debtor" to You, I owe my life, my all, first to You and second to others as Your willing witness. Get glory from my story. In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

A Pastor’s Beautiful and Vulnerable Prayer Request

Today, I received a beautiful and vulnerable prayer request from our newest pastor on the Philadelphia District, Pastor Frank Soufant, who is just beginning his ministry at our Maranatha Haitian Church in Philadelphia. 

Below is what he asked me to pray for him as he anticipates this new beginning in his life. Please join both of us in praying this prayer even now... 

"O Pastor Willis, 

Pray that I continue to humble myself under the mighty hand of God, and receive the wealth of his grace in Jesus Christ.

That I keep my mouth from flippancy and triviality.

That I cease to be great in my own eyes and become small that he might appear great. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

That he pour into my empty heart such a love as I have never known. 

That there will arise freely and joyfully a sense of gratitude so genuine and so visible that God will be greatly magnified as the merciful giver of everything I have and am.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve under your leadership, and am looking forward to learning a great deal from you. God Bless You. Pray for me!

Pastor Frank"

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Praying for You Really Matters to Me! (An Open Prayer Letter)

This is an open prayer letter that I sent earlier to the District Advisory Board members of the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene where I am District Superintendent. 

Pray with us and for us and include your own precious life in these vulnerable prayer petitions as well. I am a debtor to Jesus and to each of you who pray for me and with me. 

Here’s the open prayer letter:

Dearest DAB Brothers and Sisters: 

I want to let you know this today: "Praying for you really matters to me." So I am praying for you even now:

Dearest our Loving Lord God:

I lift each of our DAB members and their families and their concerns to Your Throne of Mercy because You are our Caring God. Your Mercy endures forever.

Lord, give us as individuals and as a team, a "GOD-CAN" kind of faith. Let Your grace and goodness make us optimists. You are Good and Great and Greatly to be praised!

Lead us to love You with our all and to love one another like true Jesus-believers should, so that our families, our local churches, the district and even the world will know that we are Your devoted disciples. We want to be Your real worshippers!

There are surely specific needs in each of our individual lives, perhaps even unspoken, nevertheless, You know our needs and You will never abandon any of us. Help us to have Hope and Peace in Your mysterious and marvelous ways, a Hope and Peace that goes beyond our own limited scope of understanding.

Sustain us Jesus, as Your true believers. Flow Your resources our way so that we might make good on the Mission You have left in our hands. "To reach the lost before it’s too late" is our fixed focus. Reach through us, reminding us that Your "Presence Matters Most," O sweet Savior, our Lord. Be ever with us and even within us. 

Finally, Loving Lord, let us know Your mind in all things and enable us to live lives always above reproach as entrusted leaders. Be our Unity! Help us to prove our loyalty to you, to one another and to the Church, Your Bride. Place the awe and wonder of Holy Spiritual expectancy in our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. 

We pray all of this trusting wholeheartedly in Your Name, that is above all others names -- Jesus, The Nazarene. Amen and Amen. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis

District Superintendent

Philadelphia District 

Church of the Nazarene

Images of the Week

Today, I just want to post some images that have meant much to me this week.

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Four Winds Forecast -- March 13, 2019

<Note: This is my "Four Winds Forecast" to pastors and leaders of the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene. I share it also on my blog hoping it will encourage others everywhere and that many might pray for us in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.>

Greetings Beloved Philadelphia District Pastors and Partners:

I pray this Sacred Season of Lent is leading each of us once again to Jerusalem. Yes, we know a Crucifixion happened there, but so did THE RESURRECTION! I embrace Luke 9:51b especially during this Season of Hope -- "Jesus steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem." Let’s remember the journey Jesus made there and spiritually, let’s do the same. 

One thing I really miss about the Easter Season is planning for the Remembrance of our Lord’s Passion with a local church staff. Wow! What a blessing to repackage the Gift of Hope year after year and then be privileged to help unwrap it on the journey towards Easter Sunday morning! Pastors, don’t take your calling for granted! And include as many of your people as possible as you prepare for The Sacred Sunday. 

Instead of writing a lengthy commentary in this edition of my Four Winds Forecast, I will simply send you my updated calendar below. Please do read the "Personal Note" about my own calendar at the end of this mailing and a short paragraph I asked Kevin Griffin to write at the very end.

I also am sending a link below. It is Rick Warren’s Easter Sunday Checklist that always proved quite practically helpful for me as a local pastor. 

As you plan for souls to be saved during this especially holy time of the year, may the undeniable favor of Almighty God be yours. 

FYI: My next Four Winds Forecast emailing will be District Assembly focused. But for now, let’s give all of our attention to the essentials leading up to The 2019 Easter Event. 

Here’s the link I promised: 

https://pastors.com/easter-checklist-helping-people-feel-welcome/

If for some reason the link isn’t live from your end, Bing or Google: Easter Checklist: Helping People Feel Welcome, Rick Warren

SOME DATES UPCOMING:

MARCH

* Mar. 19 Finance Committee 5 p.m., then DAB Meeting / Royersford, PA 

* Mar. 24 - 26 Pastor Kerry in Revival / Pennsville, NJ 

* Mar. 30 - Chic Shaver Seminar / Lavelle, PA. 9am

* Mar. 28-31 Festival of Life / ENC

* Mar. 31 4 p.m. Darby Agape Church, PA, GS, Dr. Eugenio Duarte from Africa’s Cape Verde Islands will be speaking. Hope some can come!

APRIL

* Apr. 1 PCDC / Fairview Village, PA at 9 a.m. 1 p.m. (District Assembly Planning Team meeting to follow.)

* Apr. 6 District Ladies Retreat

* Apr. 14 Palm Sunday

* Apr. 16 1-3 p.m. Campmeeting Team Planning Meeting / Royersford, PA

* Apr. 21 Easter / Resurrection Day

MAY

* May 2-4 District Conventions and Assembly "The Gathering" at Lansdale, PA & Ordination at Fairview Village, PA Friday Evening. BE THERE!

(More details at PhilaNaz.org)

* May 17 Familiar Grounds, 2-4 p.m. Rosedale in Middletown, PA

* May 18-20 Pastor Kerry in Revival / New Holland, PA 

* May 21 Lordship/Stewardship Lifestyle Training Workshop for Local Pastors and Church Leaders led by Pastor Kerry / Royersford, PA 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (A Stewardship Sharpening Session.) 

* May 24-26 Pastor Kerry preaching Erma Memorial Day Campmeeting / Cape May, NJ

* May 25 noon, Campmeeting Planning Team Meeting / Cape May, NJ 

JUNE

* June 3 PCDC / Fairview Village, PA at 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

* June 9-12, Pastor Kerry in Revival / Mifflinburg, PA  

* June 24-28 NYI Camp / Dallas, PA

* June 30 p.m. -July 6 a.m. Philadelphia Family Campmeeting Gathering/ Erma Camp, Cape May, NJ (General Campmeeting Questions contact John Sharpless, 857-723-2964, Campmeeting Lodging Questions contact Shannon Gipple, 609-435-4422. Campmeeting Preachers and Teachers Rev. James Spruill and Rev. Linette Thomas, Holiness Teacher, Dr. Charles Gates.)

JULY

* July 11-15, Children’s Camp

* July 19-28, Erma Holiness Association Campmeeting, NJ

AUGUST

* Aug. 17-19, Pastor Kerry in Revival / Pennington Grace, NJ

* Aug. 30-31 NYI Back-to-School / Camel Back Resort 

SEPTEMBER

* Sept. 15-17, Pastor Kerry in Revival / Selinsgrove, PA

* Sept. 22-24, Pastor Kerry in Revival / Ephrata Grace Point, PA  

* Sept. 28 Word in Action presents Gospelrama / Center City Philadelphia / A Main Event

OCTOBER

11-13 Pastor Kerry in Revival / Fairview Mountain, PA

27-28 Pastor Kerry in Revival / Burlington, NJ

NOVEMBER

* Nov. 3-5 Pastor Kerry in Revival / Lansdale, PA Immanuel

* Nov. 22-23 MAC (TBD)

DECEMBER 

* Dec. 14 District Pastors & Leaders Christmas Brunch TBD

* PERSONAL NOTE: If you are wondering how I, Pastor Kerry, schedule my Sundays and Revivals, quite honestly -- for the most part -- I am simply making good on being present at the churches where invitations have been extended to me. 

As you can see above, my schedule is pretty full through 2019 with all local church invitations and I don’t even have all of my Sunday commitments listed, just the revivals, nevertheless, if you really want me to be at your church for a Sunday, a weekday or weekend event, or for a 2-3 day revival in the future, contact me personally and we can secure dates up ahead on the calendar. 

I am currently booking spring, summer and fall revivals for 2020. Absolutely, no expectation for an invitation, simply an explanation for a few pastors who have asked when I am coming to their church for a Sunday visit, etc. I might just show up unannounced, but probably not, as I struggle greatly with omnipresence. 

Remember, in addition to Melanie Cook and Sue Andrews being available in the District Office, also Brother BW Hambrick, Brother Kevin Griffin, and Brother Byron Hannon are all-in serving alongside me on your behalf. Feel free to contact any of these three men of God at any time. They gladly show up at the local churches weekdays and or weekends by either your invitation, my request, or as the Lord leads them. 

Brother David Hernandez is also available to do Spanish-speaking vision consulting, etc. as needed. 

Finally, Brother Trevor Oates diligently oversees our overhauled web page at PhilaNaz.org so be sure to frequent that resource.

I asked Kevin Griffin to write a few words about a recent teen retreat he was invited to speak at. Here it is:

"On the weekend of March 3rd-5th, a group of teens and adults who love teens gathered in the woods in central PA to seek Jesus. A wintry and beautiful place, a sacred space, where God's grace was extended to us. Relationships were strengthened through food, games, fellowship, prayer, worship, and communion. The theme for our time together focused on what does God our heavenly Father think about when he thinks about us. He loves us and he is faithful." -- Kevin Griffin, District Connections Partner/Coach 

Humbled. Grateful. We are surely better together.

Your prayers and partnership is so very appreciated! I am a debtor!

Presence Matters Most!

Pastor Kerry Willis

District Superintendent 

Philadelphia District

Church of the Nazarene  

Rev. 22:20b GW

www.romanstenfifteen.blogspot.com

www.PhilaNaz.org

Twitter @PastorKerryW

Instagram @bluegoose220

The Backside of the Desert

I was blessed to hear a young Nazarene Evangelist, Rev. Jon Parrish, from Concord, North Carolina, preach in Pitman, New Jersey. His messsge was taken from Exodus 3:1-14, about Moses on "the backside of the desert."

The young, anointed preacher shared vulnerably how he has recently been on the backside of the "desert" in his own life and while there he’s been learning some important lessons -- 10 lessons to be exact: 

 1. Humility 

 2. Weakness

 3. Inadequacy

 4. Futility 

 5. Pruning 

 6. The Peace of God 

 7. The Power of God 

 8. The Provision of God 

 9. The Purpose of God

10. The Presence of God 

He also said, Moses did some things when he came face-to-face with The Presence of God in the burning bush on the backside of the desert. Here is his outline with a few of my own notes intertwined: 

1. Moses Acknowledged God’s Presence even though it didn’t make sense and it changed Moses’ life immediately and many lives ultimately. The same thing will happen in our lives if we will acknowledge God’s Presence. 

2. Moses Approached God’s Presence, yes, redirected Himself and moved toward God while God stood still in the burning bush. As a result, Moses saw God begin to respond in his life. God spoke to Moses. The same thing will happened if we approach God’s Presence.

3. Moses Adhered to God’s Preeminence. Yes, Moses took off his shoes, adhering to God’s Preeminence, and this was a way of signing a transaction with God, yes, Moses resigned his life when he *took off his shoes and accepted the arrangement that his sheep-herding ground was now God’s sacred ground -- holy ground. Moses was saying if my life is ever to mean anything that matters from this point onward, I need you, Almighty God, to be the Master of my life. The same thing must happen if we want our lives to really matter. We must surrender our lives to Him as Master. * (*Read Ruth 4:7)

If you’d like to book Evangelist Jon Parrish, He’s got my recommendation. So, here’s a link that will lead you to his information. Maybe you will just go to his website to donate funds to support his preaching ministry. It will be an investment in eternity. 

https://www.jonparrish.org/

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Humble Leadership

A great article on humble leadership. Click link below: 

https://danreiland.com/12-traits-of-a-humble-leader/

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Pure Chaos? Perfect Peace!

If you are able to honestly characterize your own life right now with these two words -- "pure chaos" -- I invite you to call on the Name of the One Who is The Prince of Peace -- Jesus! Why? Jesus calms and cares! 

There is so much confusion in our world today, nevertheless, there’s Good News! Yes, God has given us His Answer to all of our unanswered questions -- His Son, Jesus! My favorite bumper sticker ever printed contains these words: "Jesus is the Answer! Now, what was your question?”

One song my Dad kept singing during his final weeks of life as he battled cancer was: "Jesus is the Answer for the world, today. Above Him there’s no other. Jesus is The Way!" As a result, Dad conquered chaos and had perfect peace as he crossed the line of worlds from earth to eternity. 

One of my favorite songs ever for those seasons of "pure chaos" in my own life has been and continues to be a simple, peace-speaking, southern Gospel song. I first heard it in the early 1980s on a Sunday morning at the Nazarene Church on Roosevelt Street in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It was written by a piano playing singer-songwriter, yes, a used car salesman by trade, named Mr. Ross from North Carolina. Here are the lyrics to his soul-soothing song of peace:

"Just, remember Jesus cares. He cries when you cry. And He lifts your case, to the Father up on high. Place your trust in Him today, for He is The only Way. Just remember Jesus cares. Just remember Jesus cares."

A saying I often see in Jerusalem painted on Palestinian pottery in souvenir shops seems like the best way to end this blog post:  "Shalom, Y’All!" Yes, I pray the perfect peace of Jesus will overcome the pure chaos in your life. Even now. Amen. 

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Some Days I’m More Sentimental Than Others, Even Homesick

Some days I’m more sentimental than others. Like today. While I absolutely love being in Cape May, New Jersey, I still miss our son in Virginia, our daughter and son-in-law and even our grand-dog in North Carolina. I miss my Mom along the shores of the Outer Banks and my brothers and their families in their homes away from home. I miss many other loved ones -- friends and relatives -- that have been present throughout my lifetime. I especially miss my Dad and Grandparents in Heaven. Earlier today, I ached with a longing to see for the first time ever the face of my Jesus. Someday I will. 

So, you see I was being vulnerable when l confessed that I am at times quite sentimental, yes, very tender, even overly emotional. Maybe the best way to say it is "I get homesick for that Place where I will one day be in never-to-be-broken-again relationships with the One and the ones I love." These things shared truly make up my deepest eternal desires. 

Being sentimental leads me almost always to being grateful -- deeply grateful to my Father God for loving the world, even me, so very much that He willingly gave His only Son to come to earth and make a way, even to be the Way, for my deepest eternal desires to one day become possible. That’s why I testify often: “My God’s Name is Faith and my name of Grateful!”

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

After an Agony

None of us are ever the same after an agony; we are either better or worse. -- Oswald Chambers 

https://youtu.be/E8HffdyLd0c

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Question to Think On...

Today, for my blog post, I’d like to simply offer a seven-word question for us to think on:

What’s

possible 

if 

we 

live 

holy 

lives?

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Ash Wednesday 2019

The Scripture that comes to mind most clearly for me on this Ash Wednesday leading us into the season that points us towards our Lord’s Passion is Luke 9:51. "He (Jesus) steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem." (NKJV) 

And this song, "Take Me to the Cross," helps me to prayerfully enter this sacred journey of remembrance: 

https://youtu.be/UyD_VPQa3bc

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis

Jesus, You Are...

Jesus, You are... 

...my Hope...

...my Life...

...my Peace...

...my Joy...

...my Love... 

...my Holiness...

...my Savior...

...my Sanctifier... 

...my Lord...

...my Purpose...

...my Desire...

...my Light...

...my Rock...

...my Comfort...

...my Friend...

...my Shepherd...

...my Breath...

...my Strength...

...my Wisdom...

...my King...

...my Everything!!!

Amen, Amen, and Amen, Again!!!

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

 

Souls Now in Hell... (A Warning for Us)

A word of warning for us today... 

2 Peter 2:4a (NLT) -- "For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into Hell..." 

Souls now in Hell realize that every prayer, every sermon, every gospel song that they ever heard was a lifeline thrown out from Heaven to rescue them from the awful whirlpool of sin. They now see that all churches, no matter how humble, were "Heaven’s Lifesaving Stations" along the River of Time, to stop perishing souls from going over the falls of Eternal Death. They also now realize the fact, that the Bible, the book they despised, was a great beacon of light sent from Eternity to Time, to lead fallen humanity to life.  -- J.M. Humphrey, 1912

2 Corinthians 6:2b (NIV) "...now is the day of salvation..." 

And, there is a Savior from Sin, Jesus, what a Friend!

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love. 

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Misc. Quotes, Etc

Here are some misc. quotes, etc. from the past few days...

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

In My Mind...

James Taylor sings a tender song to my North Carolina native heart... "In my mind, I’m going to Carolina." Honestly, most always when I hear or even think about that song, I experience tears. Yes, I can easily become homesick for things most familiar to my southern upbringing. 

However, more often I find myself homesick for the native Home of my forever soul, yes, a place called Heaven. The thought of that Eternal Destination always especially can lead me to tender tears.

This morning, a friend texted me a devotional writing titled: "HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?" Honestly, I never got past the title. It alone is enough for me to think on all day. Why? Because, I realize that only as I continue in an up-to-date, right relationship with Jesus will my eyes ever behold the sacred shores of my desired Eternal Home. It’s that simple and yes, it’s that profound. Jesus is My Way to Heaven. Yours, too. 

So, "HOW IS YOUR REALTIONSHIP WITH JESUS?" Trust me, that’s enough to keep your mind busy seeking Him all day, I pray.

At least "In My Mind... (I’m) Thinking About Home!" 

https://youtu.be/78O6--THTF0

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Love God, First! Love Others, Second!

This was my Instagram post a few days ago and I cannot get past it in my mind and so am now posting it on my blog. 

“Sometimes we think we are showing love to others by letting them feel they are just fine living in sin, nevertheless, sin nailed God’s Son to the Cross. Sin separates us from God. 

Let us love God above wanting others to think we somehow support them at the expense of approving of their Sin, thereby, hating God. Surely, we value all people, but we must be careful not to validate lives of Sin. 

The first command is to love God. The second is to love others. If we bypass the first one, keeping the second one will make us lovers of others at the expense of loving God — idolaters. 

Finally, if we love Sin, we are not true lovers of God — besides — if we love Sin, can we truly even love others? Since, God is Love?”

Presence Matters Most!

That is... Presence. Unity. Souls. Love.

Pastor Kerry Willis