The Pilgrim Nazarene. Volume IX The Official Organ of the Pilgrim Nazarene Church Number 5

Transcription

1 The Pilgrim Nazarene Volume IX The Official Organ of the Pilgrim Nazarene Church Number 5

2 the perspective editor s Volume IX Number 5 Perspective 2 from the General Superintendent 3 The Great Commisson 4 Grandma D s Story Time PNC Camp Collage 6 Devotions for Plain Folk 8 Tributes 9 Journal 10 EDITOR Larry W. Pettit GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT Stephen R. Snodgrass GENERAL SECRETARY David Taylor GENERAL TREASURER Micheal Covington GENERAL FOREIGN MISSIONS SECRETARY Stephen R. Snodgrass Printing and Circulation: Country Pines, Inc., Shoals, IN. com Photo Credits: Cover photo: Page 6 and 7: Jerry Esparza The Pilgrim Nazarene The Magi had come a long distance from the East, and the reason was they had seen his star in the east and had come to worship him. It was not only a dark night, but it was a dark day as well. Politically, Rome was ruling, freedoms were limited, life was difficult. Spiritually, life had eclipsed to a spiritual night for about four hundred years. God had not answered by prophet or by vision. Spirituality was at an all time low. The Pharisees were in spiritual bankruptcy with just the rules and traditions of their fathers. Jesus called them whited sepulchers, which in deed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men s bones, and of all uncleanness. ( Matthew 23:27) As you come to the close of a year and a new year stands before you, take a moment to look back. Last year did you have any occasion to follow a star and find a stable? Perhaps when you think of it, you will realize you have had that experience more than once. We are not that much different than the Wise men. To follow a star means a new adventure, a new pursuit, a new aim, goal, destination, and direction. What excitement and thrill of heart as one begins and pursues the star brightly shining on the horizon. Many times it is easier to do that than to tarry, it is easier to go than it is to wait. It seems more expedient to be busy than it is to get direction or to pray. As a result in the midst of the hustle and bustle and hurry of life, we too lose sight of the star. When we lose sight of the star, it leads us in a wrong direction. Have you had high hopes, dreams, plans, or even great visions of possibilities only to be discouraged, defeated, or swept over with a wave of depression? If so, you re in good company. Imagine, the Wise men in Jerusalem, certainly this had to be the way, the place, but it wasn t. Once they returned to waiting upon God and His Word, guess what? The star appeared once again. It had not gone out; they just lost sight of it. Now with fresh vigor and determination, they came right to the house where the baby Jesus was with Mary. They found God. They found God in the flesh and presented Him their gifts, praise, and adoration. This led to a change of direction. They did not go back the way they came, or carry on as before all things had changed. New direction brought new life, new hope, and a bright future. Just as stars had led to stables in the past, this year no doubt holds some of the same experiences for us. Politically and culturally around the world, things look dark. Spiritually, the dark clouds of the coming tribulation are gathering quickly and with great force. Nationally, our administration is turning its back on Israel. Israel will be left alone, and God Himself will rise to her defense. It remains for you and me to keep our eyes upon the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16) We can t afford to lose sight or miss our direction. Jesus remains the Author and Finisher of our faith. LWP

3 from the desk of the General Superintendent Rev. Stephen R. Snodgrass One of America s greatest poets was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The year was 1860, and it found Longfellow happy in his life and happy with the recent election of Abraham Lincoln which he believed signaled the triumph of freedom and redemption for the nation. The following year, the Civil War began. On July 9, 1861, Longfellow s wife, Fanny, was near an open window sealing locks of their daughter s hair, using hot sealing wax. Suddenly her dress caught fire and engulfed her with flames. Longfellow, sleeping in the next room, was awakened by her screams. As he desperately tried to put out the fire and save his wife, he was severely burned on his face and hands. Fanny Longfellow died the next day. Longfellow s severe burns would not even allow him to attend Fanny s funeral. In his diary for Christmas Day, 1861, he wrote, How inexpressibly sad are the holidays. In 1862, the toll of war dead began to mount, and in his diary for that year Longfellow wrote of Christmas, A merry Christmas, say the children, but that is no more for me. In 1863, his son, who had run away to join the Union army, was severely wounded and returned home in December. There is no entry in Longfellow s diary for that Christmas. But on Christmas Day, 1864, at age 57, Longfellow sat down to try to capture, if possible, the joy of the season. He began: I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat, Of peace on earth, good will to men. As he came to the third stanza, he was stopped by the thought of the condition of his beloved country. The Battle of Gettysburg was not long past. Days looked dark, and he probably asked himself the question, How can I write about peace on earth, good will to men in this war-torn country, where brother fights against brother and father against son? But he kept writing. And in despair I bowed my head: There is no peace on earth, I said, For hate is strong, and mocks the song, Of peace on earth, good will to men. Longfellow closes his song by turning his eyes to the Prince of Peace and wrote, Then peeled the bells more loud and deep; God is not dead, nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men. As the poet wrote, it is a comfort to know that even though our world may be filled with turmoil and terror, the Christian can, let the peace of God rule in their hearts. May each of you have a blessed Christmas, and may you experience the peace that He gives. SRS Special Notice : Over the past nine years, the Pilgrim Nazarene Church has published the Pilgrim Nazarene Herald. Under the direction and vision of the first Editor, Rev. Jay Pannebaker, a first class holiness paper was brought into existence. With monthly contributions from the Editor, Rev. Dale Hayford, Rev. Larry Pettit, Rev. Barry Jenkins and Dorothy Tiethoff (Grandma D) it has helped to encouraged and inform our people all across this land. I was blessed to be the editor for a few years, and then Rev. Larry Pettit stepped into the position, and he has done a fine job for the past few years. A few months ago, the General Conference delegation voted to suspend the publication and distribution of the Herald due to financial restraints. In its place will be a newsletter distributed via for anyone wishing to receive. We deeply regret this necessary action, but are attempting to be good stewards of our resources. If you would like to receive the , please send a request to pncgs1@gmail.com. Thank you for your support over the years, and my God bless each of you richly. SRS

4 the Great Commission Dear Friends of Missions, Following the General Conference, Bro. Johnpaul Pinapati, Bro. Isaac Pinapati and I, took a little road trip and visited several of our churches before they had to fly back to India. We started in Pleasant Grove, Alabama. Bro. David Fogleman and his people from the Jasper PNC came and joined with us, and we had a great service together. We spent a few days at my house before we "hit the road" and made our way to Westlake, Louisiana, where Bro. and Sis. Kennith Adamson received us very warmly. Sunday morning, we presented the India work to the Westlake congregation and traveled on to Whitehouse, Texas for the evening service. Monday was a day of rest for us, as we did not have a service scheduled. I found a nice little Indian restaurant for us to eat the dinner meal. The Pinapati brothers liked this very much. Our next stop was in Durant, Oklahoma, with Pastor Chuck Dodd IV and his family and congregation. It was a privilege to be in Durant and see new faces in their congregation. They are certainly working in the "mission field" at home! Wednesday, August 15th, we held a service in Sherman, Texas, where the Dallas Spanish PNC joined with us in worship. There was a great time of fellowship and food at home of Pastor David Taylor. I think it was a great encouragement to everyone. Bro. and Sis. Cable and the Whitehouse congregation treated us so well and showed support for the work in India. The next morning, we made our way to Duncan, Oklahoma, to the home of Bro. & Sis. Mike Covington. The Covingtons had just returned home from London. They had been there working with Bro. Joe Taylor and Gospel Publishing Mission evangelizing at the 2012 Olympics. It was good to be with them and hear how God had helped them and this whole endeavor. That night we had a joint service with Duncan PNC and Osage Hills PNC.

5 preaching, we thanked the Lord for His hand upon us. A big "thanks" to each pastor and congregation for having us in your homes and churches. As I waved goodbye to the Pinapatis, I thanked the Lord for allowing me to be a small part of big work that He is doing in the dark country of India! SRS Our next stop was in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where Bro. Troy Truitt and his family were there to greet us. Bro. Truitt has a vision for India, and this is where Bro. Johnpaul and Bro. Isaac have their PNC membership. We had a great day at Trinity Grace Chapel, and our hearts were warmed by the reception we received. After many miles of traveling and speaking and Story Time with Grandma D upon a time there was a king who was very Once worried that someone would dethrone him, and he would no longer be king. He worried about this day and night. The queen announced to him one day that he was soon to become a father. This so worried the king that he became obsessed with the thought that if the child was a boy, he would have him killed. He knew that a son would be next in line to become king. Can you imagine a father wanting to kill his own son? When the day arrived for the birth of the child, the king heard the trumpets blowing and knew a son had been born. He immediately called one of his servants and demanded him to have the baby killed. The servant however, was a kind man and during the night he took the baby and fled to a faraway land. There he found a shepherd and wife who had no children of their own and wanted a baby boy. They dearly loved little Daniel (their name for him). Daniel s new father taught him to be a shepherd. How he loved the sheep, especially the little lambs! He grew up thinking, of course, that the shepherd and his wife were his parents. Life for him was truly great. They were God-fearing parents who taught him about Jehovah God. One day when Daniel was grown, a stranger appeared at their home and announced that he was the king s servant who had brought the little baby to them. He told Daniel s parents that the king had died, and the queen had urged him to bring back her son, who was now the rightful heir to the throne. Daniel was shocked at this news. After discussing the proposition with his parents and praying about the situation, the three of them thought the right thing for him to do was to return and take up the throne. He was reunited with his biological mother and became the best king the land had ever known. What became of the shepherd and his wife? They were now aged and unable to take care of the sheep and the farm. But they need not have worried. Daniel sent for them and provided a lovely home for them and took care of them the rest of their lives. Boys and girls, did you know that you are the son or daughter of a KING? He has a place for you in His kingdom. If you have not given your heart to Him, you are living beneath your privileges. You will never be an earthly king (as Daniel became), but God wants to save you and prepare you to reign with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom someday. Walk worthy of the King ~ God!

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8 Rev. Larry W. Pettit The old year is behind, Happy New Year! and a brand new year stands before us. I always like the New Year time of the year. It is a time for reflection, to look back on my heart and life in this past year. It is a time to draw near to God. It is a time to look ahead, to pray for guidance, direction, and His anointing in our lives. As we do so, I am so glad for Jesus Christ and the difference He makes in my life. This verse stands out to me as I begin a New Year, and I face the question, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ. This is really a question we should all ask ourselves. Pilate, unbeknownst to him, was having a meeting of greatest import and magnitude that would shape his eternal destination. It was a direct question and a disturbing question, an answer must be given. It was a personal question, and it had pressing implications both for now and forever. What shall I do with Jesus? Every human being will face this question. Let s look and see what kind of response we could give. We could crucify Him by our indifference to the question, saying it does not apply, or I am not interested. We can crucify Him with our ingratitude, after all He has done for us (He came to earth to live, die on a cross and rose from the dead that we can have forgiveness of our sins). We could also crucify Him with our positive love for sin, or we can choose to admire his manhood, He is God in the flesh, our Redeemer, our Savior. We can admire His talents and abilities, His character and teachings. We can choose to repent of our sins, accept Him as our Savior and enthrone Him in our hearts as Lord. What can I not do with Jesus? We cannot mistake Him for someone else. He is most unique. John 1:1 tells us, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Verse 14 says, and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. We can not change His terms. He said, Except ye repent we shall all likewise perish. We can not get along forever without Him. We may do so now and face life s sorrows, life s pains and may even endeavor to face death without Him. But, then all will face Him for the Bible tells us, For it is written, as I live saith the Lord, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God Romans 14: That brings us to the next question, what have I done with Jesus? Some have repented and accepted Him as Savior and Lord of their lives. What blessings of such a life, guilt for sins removed, a life changed by Divine transformation, a hope, peace and love implanted into our hearts. Others have refused to repent or acknowledge His Lordship over their lives. Some have promised to do so or to do better but have not. Some have agreed that this is what they should do but have not. Some have protested to God s whole plan of salvation or have delayed making a decision to do something for their eternal welfare. Why should I do anything with Jesus? The answer is because of sin in our lives, because of the depth of sin we have gone to and the fact that death and the judgment stand before us. As we face a New Year, consider what that means to ourselves, what it has meant to Jesus, and the possible answers we could give. We could remain indifferent or reject Him completely, or we could choose to love and put our faith and confidence in Him. When should I decide that question? Not yesterday, for that is gone and we won t have it again. Not tomorrow, for that day is not here yet, and it may not ever come for us. Today is the time because we have no assurance of another tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation. I look at the New Year and am so glad to reflect, inspect and expect what God has for each one of us in the days ahead. What will you do with Jesus? LWP

9 Tribute to Trent Harbison the piano and sang the song that goes like this, And it won t rain always, the clouds will soon be gone; the sun that they ve been hiding has been there all along. And it won t rain always, God s promises are true. The sun s gonna shine in His own good time, and He will see you through. With sorrow and renewed hope, Stephen Snodgrass General Superintendent Pilgrim Nazarene Church Tribute to Sis. Lena Dillard It is not very often that you meet someone that is a close friend to everyone; yet my friend, Trent Harbison, was that kind of a person. As I watched people leave the church after his viewing, I witnessed little children, teenagers, middle-aged and seniors grieving the loss of their friend. Trent had that uncanny ability to reach out and make you feel special. He knew how to listen. His smile would melt the strongest heart. His song never failed to minister. Speaking to Bro. Harbison, Trent s grandfather, the comment was made that Trent loved life to the fullest. Trent loved and honored his parents. Scott and Lorna, you have much to be proud of. He loved his family. He loved the outdoors. He loved to hunt. He loved to spend time with friends. But most importantly, He loved his Savior and never grew tired of singing about Him. Today we weep because we are hurting. Today we weep because a dear friend has left us much too soon. But as we weep, we weep not as those who have no hope, but we look with greater anticipation to a Great Day that is coming. Today we renew our determination to make it to Heaven and to join our friend in the Heavenly choir that sings continually the praises of our Great God. Scott, Lorna, Tim and Kristin, please be assured that the prayers of God s people are with you today and for the days ahead. The last song that I sang with Trent was with Bro. Robert Jones. We stood around It was with sad and heavy hearts that we received the news of the passing of Sis. Lena Dillard. Knowing the influence and impact that she has made as she remained a solid member of the church over the years makes it so hard to say goodbye. With the passing of each saint from this generation of trail blazers, the burden of responsibility grows greater each day for those of us who are left behind to carry on the message of holiness to the nations. Sis. Dillard will be greatly missed in her local church. Her smile, her clear testimony, her encouraging words to her pastor. Most of all, her faithfulness. There is one character trait that will always stand out when we think of Sis. Dillard. Faithful! Faithful to her family. Faithful to her friends. Faithful to her church. Faithful to her God. My wife, Connie, joins me in expressing our deepest sympathy to Jackie, Sharon, Ken and their families at this time of sorrow and loss. We join with your church family in praying that with each day your hope will grow stronger and days will become brighter. May the God of all comfort hold you close today. Stephen Snodgrass General Superintendent Pilgrim Nazarene Church

10 From my journal... June 1st - October 31st, 2012 June 1st, Connie and I traveled to Cabot, Arkansas to attend the funeral of Sis. Ida Taylor, the mother of Bro. David Taylor, our pastor in Sherman, Texas. Sis. Taylor s life was spent in selfless service to her Lord and family. Following the service, Bro. Mike Covington and I spent some time working on the matters of the church at the hotel and later we had a great time of fellowship with the Mike Swearengins. We traveled home on the 2nd to be home and in our home church for the Sunday services. On June 11th, Connie and the girls went to Youth Camp in Fulton, Missouri, while I traveled to Indiana and Kentucky. On June 12th, I was with the David Seeley family and the congregation. The Lord is helping Bro. Seeley as he leads this church. Wednesday, June 13th, I had a wonderful meal in the home of Bro. Nathaniel and Sis. Annalisa Taylor. Following the meal we traveled to Winchester, Indiana, where I assisted with the annual church meeting. God is helping the Taylors in Winchester, and they are doing a fine job. On Thursday, the 14th, I was able to spend some time with our pastor in Muncie, Bro. Scott Turner and Trenton. It was great to be with them and enjoy some time relaxing for the day. The next day, I was in the Don Bates Jr. home where they fed me a wonderful meal. We have been friends for a very long time, and it is always great to spend some time catching up. Saturday morning, I traveled to southern Indiana and met the Shelden Wrights for lunch at Ryan s Steakhouse. That is always an experience. I appreciate the Wrights and their years of service to the Lord. They are now in retirement and seem to be adapting! Following the meal, I drove to Millersburg, Kentucky, where I spent the night with the Terry Jollys. It is always a delight to be with the Jollys in Millersburg. They have done a wonderful job, and God is blessing in a wonderful way. We had a good number out to church on Father s Day, and I was blessed to be there and to be able to speak to the fathers. It was good to see the Bro. and Sis. James Jolly and their entire family in church that morning. I left Millersburg and traveled home where I was able to spend a couple of weeks preparing for the upcoming General Conference. July 28th, my family and I traveled to Dickson, Tennessee, where the 2012 General Conference and Camp took place. We arrived to much excitement and anticipation for a great camp and conference. We were blessed by the anointed preaching of Bro. Marc Dodrill, and the singers from our churches presented the music in a God-honoring manner. To each of those responsible for the many duties at the camp, I say, Thank you! The General Conference was blessed with the presence of the Lord and everything ran smoothly. We conducted the business in a quick and cordial manner. I wish to thank the Conference for the wonderful vote of confidence for my family and me. We do love the PNC family and expect many great things for its future. God is still in control, and we are following after Him. One of the highlights of the camp was to have Bro. Johnpaul Pinapati and Bro. Isaac Pinapati from Tenali, India. Bro. Troy Truitt presented the India work and introduced Bro. Johnpaul and Bro. Isaac to the people. I appreciate the overwhelming offering that was taken to support the work in the service. Following the camp, Bro. Johnpaul and Bro. Isaac came home with me, and we held a joint mid-week service with Pleasant Grove and Jasper congregations on August 8th. The next two days I spent with my wife, who had surgery and was in the hospital for a couple of days. On August 11th, Bro. Johnpaul, Bro. Isaac and I, hit the road and began our tour of as many Pilgrim Nazarene churches as we could possibly visit before I had to have them to the St. Louis airport on the 21st. We traveled 2,804 miles and visited 10 churches in that time period. (See page 4 for the details of the trip.) I thank the Lord for traveling mercies for the many miles that we covered. After returning home, I learned of the home-going of dear Sis. Lena Dillard. Sis. Dillard was a faithful member of the Cabot, Arkansas, church and is missed greatly by that congregation. August 27th, I drove over to Cabot and spent the night with the Swearengins. As always, it was good to be with the Swearengins, they are always such gracious hosts. Pastor Mike Swearengin and Bro. Spencer Johnson officiated in the memorial service. Our hearts and prayers remain with the family. Following the funeral service, I traveled home to spend a few days in the office before heading out again.

11 On September 8th, Connie, Tara, Madelyn and I drove up to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to begin a revival meeting the next day. It was good to be back in Mt. Pleasant. God is helping Bro. and Sis. William Carpenter and the great people there. We had many guests attend the revival, and it was easy to preach night after night. I believe the Lord used us, and that is our greatest desire. While in Mt. Pleasant, we drove over to Davenport and had lunch with the Larry Pettits one day. It was good to be with them and spend some time together. I appreciate the ministry of Bro. and Sis. Pettit and have great confidence in them. It has been a very hard year for them, but their spirit has remained sweet, and their devotion to God is strong. Also, during the meeting, the Carpenters traveled with us to visit the grave of our second daughter, Robyn René, in Newton, Iowa. It is hard to believe that it has been seventeen years since we went through that valley. As Bro. Carpenter led in prayer, we renewed our pledge to see her in Heaven someday. I m so thankful for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ! On September 17th, we traveled home, and I immediately got to work on preparing for a General Board meeting that was scheduled in two weeks. It was good to be home and attend our home church. I appreciate our pastor, Bro. Robert Jones and the work he and his family are doing in Pleasant Grove, Alabama. October was a very busy month for us. On the 4th, we drove to Little Rock, Arkansas, where the newly elected General Board was meeting. The attendance was great and many of the board members wives were able to come along. We started at 8:00am on the morning of the 5th and worked all day on the matters of the church. I appreciate the vision and burden that each of these men have for the Pilgrim Nazarene Church. As we bowed before God at the end of a very long day, we gave thanks for His help and leadership in all that we accomplished. We believe that there are great days ahead for us and we look forward to the challenges ahead. General Secretary, David Taylor, later informed me that we had seventeen pages worth of meeting minutes. That is a lot of work for such a short period of time. Connie and I drove home on Saturday, the 6th. After spending a day at home, we decided to take a mini vacation with our girls. We could only be gone for three days, so we decided on Gulf Shores, Alabama. But shortly after arriving, we learned of the tragedy that had struck some very dear friends of ours, the Scott Harbisons. The passing of Trent Harbison is still hard to understand and grasp. Trent was an outstanding young man who would be the pride of any father and the joy of any mother. His attitude, spirit and demeanor was always uplifting. We traveled home almost immediately and offered whatever help and encouragement we could. You would have had to have been in attendance at the viewing and funeral to fully understand the impact Trent made on so many lives. Our sympathy and prayers continue to be with the Harbison family. I was able to take a few days off and spend some time in the deer woods with my girls. We did not bag anything, but had a good time together enjoying the great outdoors. On October 27th, I traveled alone to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and filled in for Pastor Troy Truitt. The Lord is helping the congregation in Cape. There are new faces, and they have a heart for the lost in their community. Thank you Bro. Dave and Sis. Heidi Boardman for opening up your home and making me fill welcome. Sunday night, following the service, Luke Truitt and I traveled to Birmingham arriving around 2:30am, thankful one more time for the Lord s hand upon us. As we close this installment of my journal, I want to say thank you to each of you for your kindness to my family. The prayers, the love, the calls and the love offering this summer was more than we deserved. May God continue to bless each of you. We may be living in a dark day, but we would agree with the song-writer that our hope built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I m looking forward to His Coming!! SRS Notice: In an effort to bring operating costs of the Pilgrim Nazarene Church in line with receipts, the General Conference has made a decision to suspend the publication of the Pilgrim Nazarene Herald in its current format. As a result this issue, Number 5, will be the final issue. There is a monthly newsletter (The Pilgrim Nazarene Herald Newsletter) being published via that is free of charge to all who desire. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please send a request via to: pncgs1@gmail.com Thanks for your understanding in this necessary action by the General Conference.

12 The Pilgrim Nazarene 5428 Walnut Drive Sylvan Springs, AL Every year, the Pilgrim Nazarene ministers gather together for a time of worship, instruction and fellowship. These times have proven to be a lifeline for many over the years, and this year is no different. We will meet at the Pell City, Alabama, Pilgrim Nazarene Church on February 20th for the first service at 7:30pm. Rev. John Parker, pastor of Village Park Bible Methodist Church in Greenfield, Indiana, will be our special speaker. Ministers, please make arrangements to be in attendance. Congregations, please see that your pastor is able to be there. This time of fellowship and instruction will have lasting effects on his ministry. Rev. John Parker Guest Speaker