Packinghouse Church Set to Host Men's Conference

Inland Empire men will be coming together once again for the annual Stand Firm Men’s Conference. The two day event at the Packinghouse in Redlands will be on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8. Guest speakers include Raul Ries, Levi Lusko and Dominic Balli. Raul Ries, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs, is a military veteran (US Marine Corps), featured in the documentary film ‘Taking The Hill." He's reached out to those who are serving or have served in the armed forces, speaking to countless men and women, from various theaters of military conflict, after their return home. In 2006, 40 years after fighting in Vietnam, Ries experienced flashbacks for the first time. Subsequently, he found three of the men closest to him, who fought alongside of him in the Marine Corps unit ALPHA 1/7, and have also suffered the consequences. Together again, they are taking the hill and finding healing. Levi Lusko is the pastor of Fresh Life Church, a multi-site church in Montana. Lusko lives with his wife Jennie and their daughters, Alivia, Daisy and Clover, in northwest Montana. In 2012, the Lusko family faced the tragedy of losing their 5-year-old daughter Lenya to a severe asthma attack five days before Christmas. He writes in a blog, “I don’t know why my daughter’s life on earth was cut short. One day I will know even as I am known, but not yet. Right now I look at all this through a dark glass. Not knowing doesn’t change anything for me though. I trust him. I trust his plan. He knows what he is doing. He does all things well.” Before speaking at the Men’s Conference in Redlands, Lusko will be on the O2 Experience Tour in Florida as he shares with youth a Biblical perspective on life, death, sex and romance. Dominic Balli is mainly known as a reggae singer and songwriter — but Balli won’t be playing guitar or singing this time around — instead, he'll be one of the featured speakers. Balli says, “There are a whole lot of good things we can do and in this life but at the end of the day, if we don’t have love then we are absolutely nothing. Abide these three — faith, hope and love — but the greatest of these is love. Love is the greatest commandment of all. I don’t want my life to be marked by just doing good stuff. I want it to be marked by love, and actions that are done in love.” Leading in worship will be Tim Timmons, singer and songwriter of popular Christian songs like Cast My Cares, is also a husband and father of four kids. Timmons was diagnosed with an incurable cancer over 10 years ago. “Cancer sucks,” he says bluntly. “So, I know it sounds crazy but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Yes, I’m ready to be healed and I’m asking Jesus for that daily... I actually live as though I will be healed at some point but in all of the craziness of cancer there is a gift. The gift through an incurable cancer, or any other sorrow we face, is perspective. And perspective is the gift that keeps on giving.” Timmons isn’t afraid to rattle the status quo and encourage those in the church to examine themselves and their posture with Jesus. “I want to spend my time talking to believers and inviting them to a place where they can own their response to Jesus,” he states. “Most times when we stand and sing worship songs to God, we honestly don’t connect with the emotion of words. But, if we stop and think of three things we are grateful for, or a make a mental list of our worries and then cast it all on Jesus as we worship him, we can own our response to him. And it is within this simple exercise, that the power of the spirit lies.” An interview feature will be with Pat Watson, videographer for reality TV shows like Mountain Men and Duck Commander, now known as Duck Dynasty. Watson filmed with the Robertson family for three years in its infant stages and has an interesting perspective, as he’s usually the guy behind the camera stomping through the mud for hours upon end. Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday night for a 7 p.m. start time. Saturday will continue the event, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at noon. No registration is needed as the conference is free; however a free-will offering will be taken. The Packinghouse is located at 27165 San Bernardino Avenue, Redlands.