Book Reviews, Guest Posts, Interviews

Fathers, Sons and Brothers -Guest Post by Jason Pearcy (A Review of Nashville Mens Conference 2022)

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

Nashville Men’s conference is exceptional. And for me, my family and the Tower of Pentecost men, it is a priority. The Pursuit of Biblical Manhood is the driving passion in both the leadership and patrons of the convocation. That chase leads men of God to faithfully return to First Church on the third weekend of August year after year. When the Friday night worship begins hundreds of masculine voices rise in chorus with lifted hands. Something about brothers unifying to praise, laying wrath and doubt aside, is an incredible attractant to both God and men.

I began attending Nashville Men’s Conference as a teenager with my brother, father and grandfather. Those annual trips made a deep spiritual, mental and emotional impact on me that has shaped my purpose to be a man of God. This years’ conference was particularly special because it was the first that my son Jamon has attended with me. I hesitated to bring him. My concern was as a six year old boy he was too young. But he persisted and I decided to reinforce his desire to be with faith-filled men. It was the right decision. The altar service in the first Saturday morning service this year was one I’ll never forget. Simply being in the presence of God with Jamon and men of like precious faith radically strengthened my heart. Those moments are what every generation desperately needs.

I’ve never studied another time in history that is comparable to the spirit of the current age; it is opposing the sovereign design of God for men. Western culture is being emasculated by reprobate philosophies and the doctrine of devils. As Americans we are witnessing an unprecedented attack on Biblical Manhood. The writers of sitcom scripts and school curriculums, and even social media influencers are broadcasting an antichrist bias that puts a toxic warning label on masculinity. Simultaneously, the absence of the paternal roll in the North American home has been normalized. Compounded by the most potent synthetic drugs known to man and socially acceptable alcoholism, boys are losing their way before they ever have a chance to find their footing. If we would be bold enough to feel it, we will recognize that we’re in a social drift toward Sodom and Gomorra. These facts should affirm our conviction that a holy convocation of men has never been more relevant.

Biblically speaking, there are essentially three relationships that comprise manhood. Fatherhood, Sonship and Brotherhood are championed, celebrated and reinforced at Nashville Men’s Conference. The Apostle Paul shamelessly reminded us that he fathered us through the gospel and that his paternal roll could not be replaced by an instructor, coach or mentor. Discipleship ministries are not engineered in evangelical program laboratories, they come to life in the labor and delivery rooms of the reborn. Not even tens of thousands of Christian instructors are a suitable alternative to Apostolic Fatherhood. As Pentecostal men, we make no apologies for the everlasting paternal identity of God that is revealed in our drive to procreate disciples.

In the Hebrew culture, a son was considered a gift from God. Families understood that sonship held the promise and potential of familial heritage and spiritual “Messiahship”. Is it any wonder that Moses’ Pharaoh, Jesus’ Herod and our generation’s planned parenthood clinics set their sights on killing off what The Lord has gifted? Staring headlong into the end-time, we gather at Men’s Conference to remind ourselves that not all of those that will prophesy have been aborted. And not unlike S, sons are still being brought to The Church to serve The Lord.

The image and identity of God was revealed as The Son. Christ was the express image of His person. And His predestined purpose was to be the firstborn among many brethren. Following His resurrection, Jesus deliberately instructed those that saw Him alive to go and tell His brothers to meet Him in Galilee. Now as then, the design of The New Testament Church is activated when men dwell together with Him. And that Christlike camaraderie is a key driver in the spiritual motivation felt every year that I gather with my brothers in Nashville.

In our Sunday worship service after Men’s Conference, my son Jamon stepped out from his seat and danced in praise before The Lord. No one coaxed or commanded him. I simply believe after seeing it on full display in the preceding days, he too is choosing to Pursue Biblical Manhood. -Jason Pearcy

Bro. Jason Pearcy, along with his wife, Rahdona, are Tennessee North American Missions Church Planters. The Pearcys founded and pastor Tower of Pentecost United Pentecostal Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

*Nashville Mens Conference is an annual event, hosted by First Church, Nashville. 

GUEST POST by Doug Ellingsworth: How To Thrive Spiritually In Troublesome Times

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

Paul was most likely not struggling with a coronavirus pandemic when he wrote the letter we call Second Timothy, but there’s no doubt that he had plenty of troubles on his mind. A prisoner confined in Rome, Paul could feel the hot breathe of the executioner on his neck. Most of his missionary team was scattered throughout the region, leaving only Luke close at hand.

Paul had left a good coat and his books in a town he’d passed through some months before, and was desperately needing to see Timothy and Mark face-to-face. So, grabbing his pen and parchment, he sat down and wrote a quick note that he hoped would bring his friends, his coat, and his books to his prison in Rome before winter set in.

But you know preachers. They can’t just get to the point. They’ve got to surround every suggestion and instruction with a couple of sermons and a life lesson or two. And I’m glad that Paul did because, in his short letter to Timothy, we learn how we can thrive spiritually in these troublesome and turbulent days.

In chapter two, Paul lets Timothy know that, while he may be confined to prison, he is aware of what’s happening in the world. He knows about the debates and arguing and the push to choose sides. He’s aware that preachers have left the Church and are deliberately preaching the opposite of what they had been taught. He’s heard the endless wicked chatter spewed by men who fuss over words without giving the pain they are causing a second thought.

Paul knows that he can’t let the evil in the world suck the life and hope and faith out of these young men’s hearts. He wants them to know that the world’s most vile cannot overpower Heaven’s redeemed. And in his encouraging words to a young preacher two thousand years ago, we find a guide through the spiritual darkness that tries to blind us.

“Despite all these bad things I’ve just told you,” Paul wrote, “The foundation of God stands sure” (II Timothy 2:19). An earth filled with screaming and hateful humans cannot shake, tilt, or crack the foundation that God has laid. His foundation stands sure, and there is nothing that the forces of evil can do that will disturb it.

And the reason evil can’t touch it? The reason that hell’s best cannot faze it? Because that foundation is occupied, it is sealed, by the children of God. God knows them that are His.

And that is the foundation you can confidently stand upon. God knows you! And when you stand upon the foundation He has built, nothing man or hell can do can shake you out of His care.

That’s what God does for you. But the rest of your spiritual success is up to you. You’ve got to make choices and decisions that keep you standing firmly upon that sure foundation of God. You can not only survive through this pandemic, but you can thrive spiritually if you will do what Paul instructed Timothy to do in the rest of chapter two.


HERE ARE PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS:

  • First, he said to depart from iniquity – or unrighteousness. You’ve got to get out of sinful environments (verse 19). Stop sinning!
  • Next, he told him to quit hanging around with people who would not clean themselves up (verses 20-21). Choose your friends carefully.
  • He then told Timothy to stop letting his fleshly desires drive his decisions, but to think and behave like a mature person (verse 22).
  • The next instruction that Paul gave sometimes gets lost in the words surrounding it, so let’s look at verse 22 again. “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” So, in contrast to letting your fleshly impulses drive your actions, instead, Paul says, we should deliberately follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace. But note that he adds with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

You cannot thrive spiritually without a church family. Associating with a bunch of good people doesn’t fit the prescription. Neither does simply fellowshipping with people who call on the name of the Lord. Paul said, as you pursue these important things, you’ve got to do it with a group of folks who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Not perfect or self-righteous people, but people who have no other agenda than to be formed into His likeness by His word and spirit.

Do you need a church? Paul thought it was essential.

In summary, Paul said we can be secure in God IF we will stop sinning, IF we quit hanging around with people who love sin, and IF we will choose actions that produce righteousness, faith, love, and peace within a family of believers.

Oh, and one last thing Paul said:

  • Don’t be a quarreler. Be the kind of person that folks like to approach (verse 24).  God knows them that are His, remember? And that eliminates any need for a busybody.

If this sick and confused world has you worried, read this short letter again and you’ll be reminded that God’s people do not need to live in fear. Take courage and let hope soar! The foundation of God remains sure, and He knows you are His.

Now, do your part and thrive!
-Doug Ellingsworth 

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Doug Ellingsworth is a Pastor with the United Pentecostal Church International, Board-certified Crisis Chaplain, Husband to Anita, Father of two grown children, and Grandfather to twin grandboys. He is the author of several books, and is a prolific blogger. You can find more of his writing and information about his books at dougellingsworth.com 

Doug & Anita Ellingsworth

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Book Review of “Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D. (As it relates to the Christian life)

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

We had been extra busy with our travels this past year. (Belize, Oman, Jamaica, Trinidad, Malaysia. Not to mention all of our travels inside the States.) I needed a breather. I had big plans for this winter. Just some quiet time to refocus and recharge. I was going to have a staycation to read, write, study, pray and fast.

Besides being a Pastor, Global Missions Director, business owner, and farmer, my husband also takes ministers on guided duck hunts. It’s not uncommon for him and my boys to be away a few days each week during duck season, hosting clients. That being the case, once the holidays have passed and the last half of duck season is in full swing, is usually the perfect time for me to plan my Staycation.

Things don’t always (rarely) go as we plan. Unexpected circumstances usually dictate that some measure of impromptu/ad lib living be implemented. We live ever-changing lives from day to day, and often, hour to hour.

When my grandson’s preschool closing unexpectedly, naturally, Memaw was recruited to fill in keeping him a couple days a week. Mind you, I wouldn’t have it any other way, but the Little Prince is a high energy, full throttle, hands on kind of guy. Nothing else gets accomplished when he’s on the premises. This meant that everything I would have done on those days was shuffled to other days. Hence, not much time for a staycaytion in December, plus all of the holiday decorating, cooking, shopping, and end of year parties.

Then there was the weather. Everyone knows you can’t control the weather. It’s winter, so you expect it to be cold. Single digit cold, however, is too cold. Now, you may not know how that affects duck hunting. Ducks need open water to find food. If they don’t have open water, they stay put, usually on wildlife refuges. If they aren’t flying off the refuges to look for food, there are no ducks for hunters to hunt. Hence, the reason I had anxious hunters at home for two weeks of my staycation. That was my last week of December, and my first week of January.

Lastly, came the flu. Influenza. Most of you know it is as nasty as it sounds. First my son, next my daughter, then myself. We actually cancelled midweek service at Church because so many of our families had been stricken by this malevolent bugger. Perhaps you think that gave me extra time to stay at home and do my thing…really? You thought that???

Maybe you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Mr. N. Flu Enza, or perhaps it’s just been a while, and you have forgotten his particular charms. Body aching like it went through a car crusher. Skin sizzling like it’s about to combust from fever. Limbs convulsing from being chilled with hypothermic blood…Happy Staycation to me!

I said all that to say this, things change. That’s just living. It’s important for us to learn how to adjust to changes in a healthy way. Enter this little jewel…

My changing circumstances reminded me of a little book titled, “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson, M.D. You can find it at SPENCERJOHNSON.COM or AMAZON.COM.

It’s a parable about two little mice, named Sniff and Scurry, and two little people, named Hem and Haw. These four characters represent four distinct ways of responding to changing circumstances within each of us. Sniff and Scurry represent our simple ways of responding, while Hem and Haw represent our more emotional responses.

In the story, the mice and the little people get up every day and find their way through a maze to find cheese at various cheese stations located throughout its corridors. They have been enjoying a large stash of cheese at Cheese Station C for an extended time, and become quite comfortable and satisfied with their situation.

The cheese at Cheese Station C, however, begins to dwindle, over time and little by little. One day the mice and the little people arrive at the station, as they have done for a long time, only to discover the cheese is completely gone.

Sniff and Scurry do what their names imply. They immediately put on their running shoes and begin to scurry about and sniff out in the maze to find more cheese. Hem and Haw, on the other hand, have purely emotional responses. Their reactions range from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other, as do ours most often, when our circumstances change.

Finally, Haw decides he must go out into the maze in search of new cheese. He knows if he stays, he will die. He feels empathy for his friend, Hem, but cannot afford to wait any longer, and sets out on his own. In the end, he does find new cheese and learns a lot about how to react to change in the process, leaving a handwritten trail for Hem should he decide to come in search of new cheese, as well.

So, you may be wondering how this little parable applies to your life? How is this a spiritual concept? “Who Moved My Cheese?” isn’t written from a Christian perspective. It teaches a principle, however, that can be applied to any area of our lives.

Things change. That’s just living. Learn how to cope in a healthy manner. Click To Tweet

Nothing stays the same. Weather, seasons, finances, jobs, health, age, relationships, opinions, Church, responsibilities. These are all extremely fluid.

What you want, and feel you need, in each of these areas is the metaphorical cheese. As Christians, our relationship with God is the cheese.

When circumstances beyond our control change in any area of our lives, we have a choice of how we will respond. Often we think that to respond in the simplistic ways of scurrying around and sniffing out a new venue for keeping our relationship right with God during difficult times is backward and foolish. We usually tend to use our highly intellectual or highly emotional reasoning.

Telling God how unfair our situation is. How we don’t deserve what has come upon us. How angry we are, even at God Himself, for allowing this change of circumstances. How we are going to refuse to be budged from what we’ve always done, and always thought, and always seen results from.

Denial can be deadly. Click To Tweet

Panic paralyzes. Click To Tweet

Stubbornness is a form of rebellion, which is sin. Click To Tweet

Anything worth having, takes maintenance, and once that something is gone, it is worth seeking after.

As Christians, we must always remain focused and aware of the Cheese -Our relationship with God.

When circumstances in our maze of life begin to change, we should respond in the most simple way in order to locate more Cheese. Neither anger, fear, distrust, accusations, nor any other emotional response, will solve the problem of locating new Cheese. Nor will any highly intellectual program, performance or plan.

A friend of mine, Scott Armstrong (@PastorSA), recently tweeted, “Date the methods. Marry the message.” How simple, yet profound is that? The sooner we figure out that it’s not the methods that sustain us, but our relationship with God (the Cheese), the less traumatic it will be to put our noses and knees to the ground in search of Him.

Quite simply, the only way to find what new thing God is doing through your changing circumstances is to search diligently for Him. It’s what Sniff and Scurry would do.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

As always, feel free to leave a comment, share to social media, email me at PAT@PATVICK.COM, and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my mailing list.

Warm Regards, -Pat