The Lighthouse of Words: My Spiritual Journey from Abandonment to Divine Appointment

By Sylvester T. Gillespie

All of us need some kind of guidance when were navigating through the brutal, savage, vicious winds and storms of life. Yet never before has there been a time when we have been so confused, befuddled, and confounded in finding our way out of various dark and foggy conditions. Where can we find the light to guide us forward?

In The Lighthouse of Words, author and reverend Sylvester T. Gillespie explores these shady, vague, and dark places that have taken up residence in the canyons of our minds. Because we have allowed ourselves to be overwhelmed by this darkness, we are now lost in what has become a strange land in which to live. Yet from the Bible emanates a light that can show us the way of truth and righteousness, and in Gods Word we can seek the refuge we need from todays world.

We can find answers in the darkness that surrounds us, and we can move from this darkness into the light. Although our lives may be difficult, we can always turn to God and his Word, the Bible, to find purpose and not let the horrible experiences define our lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781532046537

Sylvester T. Gillespie

Sylvester T. Gillespie is the foster son of the late bishop Charles and Ida Golden of the United Methodist Church. He graduated from Rust College with a bachelor of arts degree before receiving his master of divinity degree from Gammon Theological Seminary, and for more than forty years he ministered, mentored, and lectured in churches and United Methodist colleges and universities across the southeastern United States. Reverend Gillespie retired from the US Army Reserve chaplaincy in 1995 as a major, and today he lives in the Baldwin Hills community of Los Angeles, California.

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Copyright © 2018 Sylvester T. Gillespie.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

32 Scriptures, King James Version, The Westley Study Bible, and The New International Version

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-5320-4652-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-4653-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018904531

iUniverse rev. date: 05/03/2018

Contents

Acknowledgements

Special Thanks

Foreword

A Salute to My Spiritual Heroes

Introduction

Where My Abandonment Began

My Family

My Barbara

A Tribute to My Sons

Prayers from the Author’s Heart

Words, Personal Quotes and Scriptures to Live By

Belief

Belonging

Church

Clever Expressions

Cutting Words

Discernment

Faith

God

Grace

Grace of God

Holy Spirit

Important Words

Inner Peace

Jesus

Knowledge

Leader

Leadership

Life

Longevity

Love

Meaningful Statements about the Devil

Miracle

Pastors

Perseverance

Rose

Self-Confidence

You

Wisdom

A Few Stories as Told by the Author

Looking Back

Man of La Mancha

Relentlessly Pursuing Perfection

My Chronological Appointments

Four Heartwarming Experiences

Experience 1 My First Ministerial Appointment

Experience 2 A Dream Come True

Experience 3 My Spiritual and Military Service Roles

Experience 4 My Final Appointment before Retirement

My Retirement Tribute to Grace United Methodist Church and some Personal Reflections from Members and Friends

Words of Encouragement from My Spiritual Heroes and others

Contributions along My Spiritual Journey

Benedictions

In Conclusion

About the Author

Keynote

All websites listed herein are accurate at the time of publication but may be changed in the future or cease to exist. The listing of website references and resources does not imply publisher endorsement of the sites entire contents.

The listed words and their explanations from Belief through Wisdom were chosen by the author. All quotes coincide with words and scriptures that represents his spiritual knowledge used while preaching actual sermons throughout his forty years as a minister.

Bible scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the (King James Study Version) Copyright 1988 by Liberty University and (Biblical Hub New International Version) Copyright 2011

Quotes of General Douglas MacArthur printed from an internet blog

from the Words that Linger dated February 24, 2011; www.oldsanta-fetradingco.com/blog/words-that-linger.

Quotes of Mother Teresa www.goodreads.co/author/quotes/m838305. Mother Teresa

Quotes of Charles F. Golden www.umc.org/find-a-church/church /78138

Quote of Don Henley, Eagle Member in Cutting Words

Quotes of Coach John Wooden printed off the internet from Lessons Learned from John Wooden http//sourcesofinsight.com/lessons-learned-john-wooden/izquotes.com/279354

Quotes of Vince Lombardi was printed off the internet from http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/9771155/32550Vince_LombardiJr

Quotes of president Barack Obama taken from the internet https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/arack_obama.htm

Quote of first lady Michelle Obama speaks following a screening of the movie, Hidden Figures, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House on December 15, 2016. Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images

Quote on the Morning Joe television program, President Obama stated that his most treasured line in the Good Book is taken from Isaiah 40:31.

Quotes of Mr. Gaddafi from the internet/ www.azquotes.com

Author/5263-Muammar_al_Gaddafi

Quotes of Mr. Sadat www.netfind.com/SadatQuotes

Words from song The Impossible Dream lyrics: Lyrics by Joe Darion In this song, Quixote explains his quest and the reasons behind it. In doing so, he captures the essence as sung by the cast of the Man of La Mancha. https://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/ … /theimpossibledream.htm

Tyson, Timothy B., Blood Done Sign My Name (New York: Three Rivers Press, 2004), 103-105.

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge all of the people, personalities and contributors who are too numerous to name. Many of them hold a special place within my heart and are named on pages 92 and 93 as they were most helpful in sharing my deepest thoughts and assisting in finalizing these written pages.

Special Thanks

I t is with sincere gratitude and special thanks that I acknowledge the progress of this project that has been facilitated through the extraordinary generosity of the following persons. May Almighty God bless and enrich each of your lives, for believing in my dream and supporting me in this effort. They are:

Captain Samuel M. and Mrs. Bettye Dacus

Members of Saint Mark United Methodist Church

Los Angeles, CA.

Mr. Lloyd and the late Mrs. Katherine Watson

Members of Scott United Methodist Church

Pasadena, CA.

Foreword

W hen one reads the life reflections of a person, it should be done with reverence, especially if they are from a person of the Spirit, like the Reverend Sylvester T. Gillespie. Indeed, it is like overhearing a private conversation one is having with God. In fact, he titles this volume The Lighthouse of Words . But if a reader pays attention to only Gillespie’s words, he or she will miss so much he intends to convey, for the writer often allows others to speak for him. And those words are as important to understanding his soul as the eloquent and revealing ones he chooses. So it is crucial when reading these life reflections not to skip over something that might appear at a quick glance to be filler or not especially relevant. And don’t read too fast! One should take great care when looking into the soul of another, especially when it is borne with such candor and utter honesty.

Early on, you will find that these reflections seek transparency. The author begins his story with these words: I was born on May 23, 1938, to a young fourteen-year-old girl named Fanny Kate Jones. Here it is: Stark. Jarring. Naked truth. Words from the soul. This is Rev. Sylvester T. Gillespie’s story. Not mine. Not yours. The value to be gained in its reading is to allow it to be uniquely