Hope (The Anchor)

My friend of fifteen years and now my co-laborer on the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene is Kevin Griffin. He recently wrote these inspiring words on "Hope." May they bless you as they’ve blessed me.

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil." Hebrews 6:19

   I spent some time thinking this week about what it means to HOPE in God, to place our HOPE in Christ. I was also in my mind wondering how much Faith and Hope are linked with each other. (I’m not sure you can have one without the other) At the end of 1 Corinthians 13, it states "now these three remain: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love. That indicates there must be some difference in the two words even though they are closely related. 

   One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about a man who had no hope, he was left paralyzed on the side of a road on a mat until "some men" decided to play a part in restoring hope. (Mark 2 and Luke 5:17-26) These men tried to get the paralyzed man to Jesus, but they couldn’t get him in the door, so they took him in through the roof (talk about persistence and a hunger to get others to Jesus) Jesus forgives his sins, then heals the man and scripture says that when he saw their faith, Jesus responded. Jesus does what only Jesus can do, he heals and forgives sins, but the men played a part in this story, they brought the man to the Savior. 

    My Pop-Pop, my dad’s dad, was a waterman on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He spent most of his time on the water in a boat, the water was second nature for him, it was like walking on dry ground for me. His boat was well equipped for work, but also for survival. Every once in a while, when things all around him got rough, when the wind gusted and waves crested and storms blew in out of nowhere, he had to use his anchor. The Anchor was to steady his boat, to sit tight and wait as close as possible to the harbor, until it was safe to move on. 

   The anchor is a visible sign for us, it grabs hold when all around is breaking free. Jesus is many things, he has many names, but Jesus is our Hope. We can put our full hope and faith in him, he is our LIVING hope, not just a historical figure of the past.

   My HOPE is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. I like the reassuring words of a similar song that says "Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free, Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me, You have broken every chain, There’s salvation in your name, Jesus Christ our LIVING hope. Our hope comes from him and our hope can be fully placed in him. 
   

Listen as my friend, Jim Cole sings “The Solid Rock”:

https://youtu.be/2Mqf2rQR3MU

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY! 

Pastor Kerry Willis

God Will Make a Way

In the early 2000’s, our local church hosted a concert series on Sunday evenings called "Live in the Shenandoah Valley." One artist who came more than once was Janet Paschal. Janet had battled with cancer as a young lady and knew “a wall of circumstances” looked like. 

One song Janet sang titled "God Will Make a Way" must’ve been the signature song of her soul. I’ve never heard it that good tears didn’t come to my eyes and great tenderness didn’t come to my heart. 

This morning in a text, my brother Billy Joe, reminded me of the title. Let’s experience some good tears and great tenderness together. 

Click the link as Janet sings the awesome song on an awesome sea, the Sea of Galilee. 

https://youtu.be/VAz7K72a8ks

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis

A Vulnerable Prayer For Us All During The COVID-19 Season

Dearest our Loving and Faithful Father God, by the Power of Your Holy Spirit of Truth we humbly yet confidently approach Your Throne of Mercy in the Name of Your Son and our Savior -- Jesus of Nazareth and King of Heaven -- yes, we cry out in His Awesome and Almighty and Amazing Name, the one Name that is above all other names!

We have been blindsided by this Coronavirus, nevertheless, You have known forever we would face these dark days and You have never forsaken us and You will never ever forsake Your own!

We look only to You, for You alone have the words of Life even though our enemies -- the devil, death, and hell -- seek to immediately disillusion us and even eventually destroy us.

Yet we remember! You have already conquered death, so what can death do to us for we belong exclusively to You? You are our Resurrection, indeed, yes, our Life Everlasting.

Trim our lamp wicks so Your wonder-filled light within our lives will illuminate our neighborhoods, even the nations. Let us declare that we are among the redeemed. In this seemingly hopeless season, shine Your Forever Hope brightly from us, Your sanctified sanctuaries. 

For the virus that is among us, we ask for victory whether it be by Your faithful virtue or by a vaccine. But most of all we ask that these days of darkness will cause an awakening like this world has never known.

Lord, let Your Church rise up and really embody and engage the search and rescue operation You had in mind when You declared about Yourself: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost!"

Almighty Personal God, give to us the continuation of Your Holy Presence among us, yes even with us and especially within us. Let us be carriers of Your compassion to family, neighbor, and stranger alike.

Finally, help our unbelief and uncertainty to be beautifully transformed into trust and trustworthiness. For Your glory and for the good of those who do not yet acknowledge that You, Jesus, are The Answer -- whatever the question -- please receive and respond to our vulnerable prayer.

In Your Victorious Name and by Your Powerful Blood, we desperately and fervently pray.

Amen, Amen, and Amen.

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis

God Will Take Care of You!

One day shorty before his passing to glory, my dear Dad, Capt. Billy, made a visit to his oncologist. Before the visit, Dad said God had given him a song deep in His heart: "God Will Take Care of You!" 

Hear it for yourself now as this COVID-19 season is causing hearts to be faint.

https://youtu.be/92_BfspZngQ

Also, a link to my YouTube message from yesterday titled “The Joy of Our Hearts — Double-Pumped Giving.”

https://youtu.be/MqYCSj3-vug

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

 

He’s Got it All in Control

This old 1979 song seems perfectly timed for these days... 

https://youtu.be/puflyB58PZU

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Motto of the Holy Heart

"Suffering according to the will of God is Christ-like. The saint (the one who belongs exclusively to God) is not responsible for suffering allowed by God and can relax in His care. The motto of the holy heart is: My Father can do what He likes with me; He may bless me to death, or He may give me a bitter cup, or a cup of blessing. I delight to do (to be) His will. Father into Your loving care I commit my well-being as Your child in this world." -- Oswald Chambers

Lord, no matter what I may lose, I choose Your desire, yes even The Refiner’s Fire. -kww

https://youtu.be/uZtgJKJCqXM

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Shalom — Pastors Reaching Out to One Another and Praying for One Another

I received a lovely email this morning. 20-plus other pastors were copied in as well. The subject line was just one word: “Shalom!” 

The email was a direct answer to a prayer our district staff prayed earlier this morning that our pastors would spontaneously reach out to one another during and beyond this COVID-19 unusual season. 

The pastor who sent the email was asking all of us included how he could serve us and/or how he could pray for us. This was my vilneeable reply to His inspiring email: 

Thanks for reaching out Pastor Jonathan. 

i am a debtor. 

Please Pastor Jonathan (and all included in this mailing) join me in praying these prayers specifically today...

1. ...for the mind of Christ to increase in me/us like never before. 

2. ...for His compassion within me/you to overflow to others like never before. 

3. ...for His presence to be with all of you/us as pastors like never before.

4. ...for the Good News to gather souls everywhere/wherever we are like never before. 

5. ...for the church to find our God-desired present and our future purpose like never before.

6. ...for us to resource one another relationally and otherwise like never before. 

7 ...for Jesus to be lifted high as we worship Him in the beauty of His Holiness. 

In The Name of Jesus! Amen! 

Let me know how I can help you relationally or otherwise.

Shalom, indeed! 

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis

FOUR WINDS FORECAST -- March 22, 2020

< This is the official newsletter of the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene and is posted here for all of those who also partner with us in prayer. >

Sunday, March 22, 2020

FOUR WINDS FORECAST 

Dearest Philadelphia District Family:

All is well. Go and tell. Immanuel.

This will be a different forecast than usual because of the unusual COVID-19 / Coronavirus Season we find ourselves in. 

A few things most of you already are aware of:

1. District Assembly -- there will not be a 2020 public district gathering. The NMI, SDMI, NYI Conventions along with District Assembly scheduled for April 30-May 2, 2020, have been cancelled. 

Nevertheless, The General Board of Superintendents have given authority to District Advisory Councils across the USA and Canada to conduct and to complete the business of this year’s district assembly. The meeting be conducted virtually in a Zoom business meeting online probably on Friday, May 1. We are waiting now on the final approval of our General

Superintendent in jurisdiction, Dr. Carla Sunberg. She has been very engaged with us as a district during this uncertain season we find ourselves in. 

A. Ordinations will sadly not happen of course. If there happens to be a regional ordination service scheduled later in 2020 we will of course let you know, but it seems ordinations will probably be delayed until 2021. Any questions please contact Board of Ministry Chairman, Rev. BW Hambrick.

B. Pastors’ Reports are still to be completed. Contact District Secretary, Paul Thornhill if you have questions. We have to complete the yearly handbook and the journal. Please help Pastor Paul in this labor of love.

C. Pastors’ Elevator Vision Outreach Speeches still need to be sent to the district office. The 5 questions are in February’s Four Winds Forecast. Send these please to the district office email. We will share these in various ways in the months ahead. 

D. Portions of the Virtual DAC "District Assembly" Meeting will be made available to the local churches on a platform like YouTube. To be decided. And we hope to plan another celebration gathering day for the district to worship, pray and be inspired by God’s Word and one another sometime later in the year after COVID-19. As God wills. Stay tuned. 

2. While We Must Be Physically Distanced from One Another, We Must Not Be Socially Disengaged.

A. District Office -- We as a district staff are doing all we can to stay connected and to communicate with each local church. Contact us anytime. 

B. Various Communication Options -- As a district are trying to model how to communicate and are praying that our local churches will do the same in order to stay in touch with our people, the Nazarenes. E.g. Emails, Facebook, Facebook Live, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Conference Calls, Zoom Online Meetings, Phone Calls, Mail, and especially, Calls To Fervent Prayer.

C. A Nazarene Pastor’s Story -- One pastor told me that he contacted by phone this week every family in his church to access their needs, to encourage them and to pray with them. He was obviously moved very deeply in his own heart by the experience. 

D. A Nazarene Layman’s Story -- One layman, a young business man who owns a trailer home park told each of his troubled tenants "I don’t want to see any money from you until May. Your rent is forgiven at least until then."

I could say many more things, but I am already communicating many things in real time, being as vigilant as possible. 

So let me begin to close. "Let us not be alarmed or alarm others, but let us be awakened and awaken others!

And, let us pray all the time!" 

Finally, Gethsemane Gatherings for prayer together are gaining steam online with some of our local churches. For such a time as this, let us work for the night is coming. 

Nevertheless, we remember that The Light of the World, yes, King Jesus Himself, is with and within us, and we know He never forsakes His own! 

Pastors, even though our local church meetings are now virtual, be sure to conclude your preaching and teaching messages, as often as possible, with invitations to pray. Why? People are tuning in looking for hope. So be sure to offer them a personal relationship with Jesus. After all, we know Hope has a name -- it’s JESUS!

Let’s be the church and go all out for souls. You are beloved and believed in. 

Deo Volente -- Whatever God Wants! 

* Word fro PK by YouTube:

https://youtu.be/qxl41Y6HyME

Pastor Kerry Willis

District Servant (Superintendent)

Philadelphia District 

Church of the Nazarene

philanaz.org 

P.S. Find me now on Facebook

www.romanstenfifteen.blogspot.com

www.PhilaNaz.org

Twitter @PastorKerryW

Instagram @bluegoose220

“The Name of Jesus!”

Whenever I pray, I always desire to close my prayer with perhaps the seven most powerful words every strung together -- "I PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS!"

Anything I would ask in my own name or in any other name besides "The Name of Jesus" would be powerless and meaningless because only "The Name of Jesus" gives us undeniable access into the Throne Room of God!

Years ago when I was a teenager, I loved the Motown-sounding Gospel group, Teddy Huffam and The Gems! Seems they started every wonder-filled worship concert with their signature song titled "What a Lovely Name, The Name of Jesus!" Enjoy this very certain song, especially during these very uncertain days.

https://youtu.be/NEN_7zh5o8w

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Images and Inspirations

Today, it may seem like we are in the perfect storm with COVID-19 breathing down our necks, nevertheless I have good news: we belong to the King, we are children of His Love and He never forsakes His own!

Also, I cannot get this idea out of my head: we may be in the perfect storm but Our Storm Silencer -- JESUS OUR LIFE SAVIOR-- is more perfect still! Therefore, let us be still  and know that God is God and that we are not! Our King will never abandon us in the storm!

Below are a few images that I hope will also serve to be inspirations of peace in your life. God is love and you are loved. (And there’s one bonus YouTube song link at the end.) 

And one bonus song: 

https://youtu.be/8eZK9Vg2Bkk

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

The Main Question is... (COVID-19 Season and Beyond)

This verse is one of my life-verses and today it came to mind so very vividly:

"Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."" ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

During this COVID-19 season, as in any and every season, the main question is "Do we belong exclusively to God?" Or more simply we must ask: "Are we His?" 

If our answer is "YES" then the words my Dad taught me are ours for the claiming: "No sad stories here! Everythings’s gonna be alright!" 

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

A 16-Year-Old’s Bible Prophecy or Just A Coincidence?

I awoke early this morning with a heavy burden about the approaching Coronavirus possibilities in our country. After watching it’s deadly wake across China, Korea, Europe, and especially Italy these past few days has my heart humbled in prayer before our Lord.

Then, in the first email I received today, a dear friend of mine, a precious grandfather from North Carolina, sent me this sobering scripture and strong message that his 16-year-old granddaughter texted him last evening:

The Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NIV (13) "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, (14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Her Message: "First this year there were the fires in Australia with no rain to put them out. Then, there were the locusts outbreak in Africa, and now the COVID-19 outbreak all over the world. I don’t think this is a coincidence."

Could this be Bible Prophecy from a 16-year-old? At the very least, I think she’s onto something we all need to strongly consider. I think it is pure spiritual brilliance how she connected the old passage from God’s Word to our current context in the world.

Will we pray and obey what 2 Chronicles 7:14 has to say, today and day-by-day?

This song will help us to begin praying now:

https://youtu.be/_LWv9g2yIy0

And here is one more song if you need it. It’s my dear friend Brian Arner singing "Almost Morning":

https://youtu.be/Rwp2-5es9ds

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis 

Photography is Therapy

Photography was once my career, but since 1994 when I became a pastor it’s been more like therapy to be honest. Maybe these latest images of mine will provide some therapy to your heart, mind, soul and strength somehow.

HERE! Presence Matters Most!

No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis