ENCOURAGEMENT FROM YOUR SHEPHERDS

Encouragement from your Shepherds

Creator, Ordainer, Rock, Redeemer, Help...

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Dear Rochester church family,

At different times yesterday, Chris and I both visited with Pete Moody over the phone. During my discussion with Pete of all the chaos and changes going on, he encouraged me by pointing out several verses from Psalm 139.

Below are passages Pete shared to meditate on that will give encouragement and assurance on the HUGENESS of our God and our faith response.

God is good all the time.
Steve & Chris

7- “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8- If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9- If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10- Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11- If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,”
12- Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13- For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14- I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
15- My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16- Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17- How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18- If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You...

23- Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24- And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”

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Encouragement from your Shepherds

Dear Rochester church family,

Here are passages of Scripture to meditate on —think about, memorize —that will give comfort and encouragement during these challenging times. God is good all the time.
Steve & Chris

Psalm 46:1-3,10a

1- God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2- Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea,

3- Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah

Be Still and know that I am God

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"I Believe, Help My Unbelief"

​“During my junior year in college, I took a butter knife from my mother’s kitchen and scraped the Christian fish decal off the back bumper of the Plymouth hatchback I’d inherited from my older brother. Stripping off that sticker foreshadowed the day, a few years later, that I would walk out of church.”

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CONTINUING TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD

She was only six weeks old when she was mistakingly mistreated for a minor eye inflammation that left her blind the rest of her life.  Without any eyesight, you and I might have grown up bitter, but not her.  At the age of eight, she wrote the following 2 stanza poem:

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LIFE-CHANGING

What surprised you most in 2016?

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WORTHY

     When I was 14 years old I got my first pair of new shoes.  I’d had shoes before but they were usually hand-me-downs from my brother or from the children’s home storeroom. 

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I'M GLAD YOU SEE

What if you majored in adhering to law where “an eye for an eye” literally meant “AN EYE FOR AN EYE!”? What if you didn’t believe in angels or spirits?  What if you didn’t believe in the resurrection – either Jesus’ or you own?

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LIGHT CHECK

Six years ago, I shut my front door and realized too late that I had just locked myself out of my own house!  That very morning, I had been studying one of Paul’s exhortations to the church at Thessalonica: “In everything give thanks.”  Since this passage was so fresh on my mind, I just started thanking God for having a house I could lock myself out! 

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"SO THAT THE WORKS OF GOD MIGHT BE DISPLAYED"

I was a student at Harding College from 1972-1975.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Harding and have many amazing memories.  One of those memories was of a student who continually ministered and intentionally connected with blind students on campus.  I’d see him walking side-by-side with them to classes, assisting them in the cafeteria, library, chapel, etc.   I have to tell you I was convicted and impressed.  

Fast-forward 15 years. 

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NEW HEART

In February, 2014, I drove to Lincoln, Nebraska, to be with my oldest son to watch the University of Nebraska men’s basketball team play the Indiana Hoosiers. Before the game, a highly reputable Indiana cardiologist, Dr. Larry Rink (who has now been IU’s team doctor for the past 39 years) walked by my seat. I instantly said, “Dr. Rink, thank you for helping save my brother-in-law’s life.” 

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HEROES OF FAITH

I have many heroes of faith -- men and women I’ve personally known and loved, who have lived their lives for the Lord and are now eternally with Him.  They are souls I long to meet again and live with forever!  Of course Jessica and my Dad are part of my great “Cloud of Witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1)...

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RESURRECTION!

“TEN LITTLE STATEMENTS OF A RESURRECTED LIFE”

Almost four years ago I took notes as I sat at the feet of Dr. Little. The following are ten of my top LITTLE statements shared:

10.  On the Spiritual Discipline of Detachment: “In order to believe in God, we have to detach ourselves from things that keep us from knowing God.”

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THANK YOU, GOD!

Thank you, GOD, for…

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LETTER TO GOD

Below is a letter (I just ran across) that I wrote to God on February 27, 2012.  It’s raw and humbling, but it’s also exactly what I was feeling at the time.

Dear God,

     It’s been a long time, too long.  I repent.  The spray of the waves, the roar of the wind, the turbulence of the waters wrapping around my legs captured my focus and attention.  Interestingly enough, even though drowning, being overwhelmed, and finding myself powerless to save –     I failed crying out to You! 

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WHAT IS YOUR RALLYING CRY?

I began this Mr. Steve article on Friday, July 15, 2016, at 2:10 a.m. out of concern for men and women, brothers and sisters, families of all nationalities, and anyone in authority, who were said to be in harms way on the so-named, “Nationwide Day of Rage.”  I’m thankful to God that almost all of what was predicted...

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MEN OF COURAGE

“For years, I struggled with understanding his tears... tears of a broken man... hearing the stories that he would start, but could not finish telling... Then, there was seeing his deep faith/dependence in GOD... every evening he would sit at the dining room table and study his Bible... he prayed about almost everything... he served others... he gave liberally, yet was very frugal... he expected everyone to give 110% of themselves, like he did... it wasn't that he was a melancholy personality... I'm now sure he suffered from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) most of his life.  

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“A DIFFERENT SPIRIT”

 D -- DIFFERENT SPIRIT

“But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.”  Numbers 14:24

 I  -- IDENTITY IS IN ____________

 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me...” Galatians 2:20

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THE GOOD LIFE

The Good Life: What is it?  Let me guess... It’s having all the money you need, with a nice house, financial security, travel, and friends (you will surely have people around you with all that money!)  It’s health and little to no worries.  It’s having a voice where people stop and listen.  It’s sounding good, looking good, feeling good, but.... is this really the good life?  How much would you give for this kind of life?  Most people I believe would say “Everything!”

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TAKE ME TO YOUR.....SERVANT

   I have never heard anything like I did Friday at Mike Wiebusch’s retirement celebration.  After 42 years & 2 months of work, both of Mike’s bosses got up and delivered messages in Mike’s honor that were truthfully overflowing with love, appreciation and respect... for his servanthood!  Here’s a small sample of one of the speeches: 

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FOCUS

Distractions happen.

Distractions are all around us. 

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MY SHEPHERDS

(The following is an article I wrote on March 27, 2011, about my six New Jersey shepherds when Jessica and Patti and I were with the Pitman Road church.  I pray the spirit of this feature will depict our soon-to-be shepherds for years to come.)

My shepherds are not perfect and they’ll be the first to tell you so. 

Sometimes they get caught up in deacon work because they’re all servants at heart. 

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TRANSFORMED TO TRANSFORM

“When Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865, he was carrying a pocketknife, a linen handkerchief, a sleeve button, a fancy watch fob, two pairs of spectacles, a lens polisher, a tiny pencil, and a brown leather wallet (one section was engraved "U.S. Currency" and another section was engraved "Notes").

The wallet contained a...

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WHAT STIRS YOU UP SPIRITUALLY?

Peter made it a point to stir up his readers by reminding them: 

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HE SUFFERED WELL

 Sam Holdeman died a faith hero to many.  In the past two years, he suffered through heart problems, multiple surgeries, at least six amputations (hands, feet and lower legs), legal blindness, a broken hip, regular dialysis, and more.  Yet through it all, Sam’s faith just got stronger, his spirit kinder, and his love for praising God, deeper.

     Sam loved to sing.  As was pointed out in last month’s Christian Chronicle,

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26 ALLELON ASSIGNMENTS: BE KIND!

The following 26 Allelon (Greek word for “one another”) assignments are commanded by God for the building up of the Body of Christ. See #4 & #17!

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1 PETER: LETTER OF SEPARATION

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A SON GIVES THE BLESSING TO HIS FATHER

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“A Son Gives the Blessing to His Father”
    Dear Dad, I truly don’t have the words to tell you how much you mean to me – my identity as a man, father and husband; my self-esteem as a child of God; my purpose in life to bring the heavenly Father all glory and praise; my security to trust and trust and trust some more in one greater, higher and so Holy as the I AM; and my witness and advocacy for family! 

After meditating on Isaiah 40 this week, and in the midst of today’s needs and unrest, I couldn’t help but take Isaiah’s words of wisdom and declaration personally:

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

My nephew, James, had a severe seizure a couple of weekends ago in Canyon, TX and took a hard blow to the back of his head. The CT Scan in Lawton, OK showed a skull fracture and pressure being put on his brain.  He was also bleeding outside the brain and quickly taken to OU Medical Center. 

When I heard the above, I remembered a time when James (and his parents) came to visit Patti, Jessica and me in NJ. 

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What’s your fleshly knee-jerk response when you are told by someone that you can’t do something?  For most of us, its: “JUST WATCH ME!”  We’ve been giving this response for a long time.  Remember when you were two years old and ....

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IN MY BOOK, SHE'S AMAZING!

When someone has gone through as much difficulty as she has and continues to pursue God --  amazing is the word that comes to mind.

Over the years, she and her husband have lost three children due to medical complications.  I said, “THREE CHILDREN!”  I’m not doing very good after the loss of one child.  I can’t begin to imagine losing three!

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THE FURIOUS LOVE OF GOD!

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Today I invite you to read, contemplate and read again the following two paragraphs from Brennan Manning’s classic, The Ragamuffin Gospel:  

Paragraph #1: “For those who feel their lives are a grave disappointment to God, it requires enormous trust and reckless, raging confidence to accept that the love of Christ knows no shadow of alteration or change.  When Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened,’ He assumed we would grow weary, discouraged, and disheartened along the way.

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED YOUR MOST IMPORTANT EVENT?

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I truly enjoy listening to Dr. Jerry Rushford tell true stories of Christian pioneers.  Dr. Rushford is a very passionate speaker and writer of this particular genre (e.g. “Christians on the Oregon Trail”).  In his manuscript, “Glorious Was the Cause: Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in Early Washington 1851-1916” – Dr. Rushford 

STUFFING OR SECURITY?

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When he first came to live with our family, he was about 18 months old.  He was too young for one of the children’s home cottages, so my parents brought him home to our farm house.

For many years we had an old couch in the den that had a hole in the back corner.  Almost like a magnet, our innovative little resident was drawn to that hole from the very start.

THE DAY I MET ELMER SAVAGE

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I was a fourth grader and in trouble.  I really don’t remember why the bigger boys wanted to beat me up.  Honest.  I’m sure I’d done my part in making them mad, but exactly what I did or said, I don’t recall. 

What I do remember, however, is that Elmer stepped between me and them and said, “If you wanna fight somebody, come and fight me!”

OUR PRODIGAL GOD!

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During the last few weeks, Jerry Horning, one of our own members and a Vietnam veteran, and I, have spent several hours over coffee and hot tea discussing patriotism and Tuesday’s upcoming Veterans Day.  Today’s lesson, in part, is a bi-product of those discussions. 

THE GOSPEL TRAIN

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When was the last time you were on a train?  I remember traveling with my wife, Patti, from Nebraska to Washington, DC via Amtrak in the fall of 1988.  I fondly recall sitting by the love of my life in the train’s observation car, surrounded by glass and being mesmerized by the brilliancy of harvest colors as we journeyed from state to state.  God is good! 

GOD OVER ALL FOREVER REIGNS!

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"God is God; He sees and hearsAll our troubles, all our tears.Soul, forget not, 'mid thy pains,God o'er all for ever reigns."

"Fear not death, nor Satan's thrusts,God defends who in Him trusts;Soul, remember, in thy pains,God o'er all for ever reigns."

LET US ARISE AND BUILD

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Reading the book of Nehemiah this week reminds me when I was a teenager in Oklahoma. Dad had his sons, and all of the boys at the children’s home, doing “brick work.”  In our spare time, we tore down old church buildings and houses and saved their bricks for building new cottages for the Boy’s Home.  There were instances I found myself walking on wooden planks a couple of stories high, breaking up brick and tossing them down into a net for storage. 

I’M ADOPTED!

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Esther 2:15 (NIV) says that Esther was adopted.  

In a way, Jesus was “adopted” by Joseph.

In the gospel of Matthew, Joseph is not mentioned as the father of Jesus but the husband of Mary.  (“Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.” Matthew 1:16) 

PRIORITIES

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The book of Haggai is a book on priorities.  God first, followed by everything else.  The following are a list of priority quotes:

“Action expresses priorities.” 

― Mahatma Gandhi

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” 

― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

HOW’S YOUR DRIVING?

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I’m getting ready to take a much needed road trip today. Beginning a trip on a Sunday reminds of another Sunday morning 46 years ago.  Our Sikes’ family and the children’s home chorus were traveling 90 miles to Lawton, Oklahoma for a special morning service.  The chorus was just ahead of me in the home bus, while I skillfully followed behind, driving our family’s station wagon with Dad sitting in the front seat next to me. 

TOO BUSY?

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“The conditions of modern-day living devour margin.  If you are homeless, we send you to a shelter.  If you are penniless, we offer you food stamps.  If you are breathless, we connect you to oxygen.  But if you are marginless, we give you yet one more thing to do.  Marginless is being thirty minutes late to the doctor’s office because you were twenty minutes late getting out of the bank because you were ten minutes late dropping the kids off at school because the car ran out of gas two blocks from the gas station – and you forgot your wallet.  

ONE LINERS

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“Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.”  Ezekiel 37:13

It’s amazing how much truth can get packed into one line!  Here’s a selection of some other one-liners:

ANCHOR MAN

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Jeremiah and Ezekiel are written indictments against godless leadership in government, religion and family.  For positive family leadership, my mind goes back to a book I have read several times called “Anchor Man” by Steve Farrar.  In one chapter, Farrar gives 50 coaching tips to parents (especially men) on how to coach your children.

Here are twelve of his coaching tips:

Coach them how to pray.

ABC’S of JESUS

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Ezekiel is called the “son of man” 93X in his book.  Interestingly enough, this is the title Jesus uses most often to refer to Himself!  Some other names of Jesus include:

3 Questions for Peter

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To all partakers of the divine nature: We all remember Peter denied the Lord three times before a certain rooster began the day.  OK.  I’ve denied the Lord before.  Haven’t you?

STUCK ON AN ELEVATOR WITH DANIEL

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Several years ago I went into Philadelphia to Pennsylvania University Hospital to visit a brother-in-Christ.  Afterwards, I paid for my parking and entered the parking garage elevator to go to my truck.

HAVE PATIENCE

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Patience is not only a command; it can be a lifesaver!  Yesterday, during our one day VBS at the Barnacles, we sang an old song I used to teach to children in Indiana, Nebraska and Texas – HAVE PATIENCE.  Here’s how the song played out several years ago in New Jersey:

FASTING FROM SIN

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I once knew a married couple who for several years set aside each Monday as their fasting day.  Then in the late afternoon, they would come together and read (out loud) 10 chapters in the Bible along with some discussion.  Afterwards, they’d go to a diner or small eatery and have a meal celebrating the day.  Is that great stuff or what?  I love it!!

HEPHZIBAH

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Neil T. Anderson in his book, “Who I Am In Christ” , is quoted as saying about our culture, “Our IDENTITY is wrapped up in our acceptance, our security, and our significance.”  He went on to write...

GOD IS…

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Several years ago, i taught a teen class in which we each committed to read a certain section of Scripture so that together we could cover the entire Bible in three months!  Our primary purpose, however, was NOT to read the entire Bible in ¼ of a year, although we did.  Our major mission was to come to a better understanding of the nature of God.  Therefore each Sunday, no matter what section of Scripture any of us had read during the week, we each came prepared to share our “GOD IS...” discoveries.

THE LORD HAS DIRECTED ME

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I’m grieving.  Our brother-in-Christ, Otor Opiew, left on the bus for Tennessee yesterday, (July 5).  Otor is traveling ahead of his family so he can, Lord willing, find a job and a place to live.  Willow and their three children, Emmanuela, Aballa and Tedujowk, plan to join Otor in Tennessee next month.  We will indeed miss the Opiew family greatly!

FREEDOM DAY

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Generally when Americans think about a day in which we celebrate our freedom, we think about July 4th.  However, there is another independence holiday that is celebrated in the United States called “Juneteenth” (also known as “Emancipation Day or Freedom Day”).  

GOD IS PREPARED FOR YOU...

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Reading the book of Amos this week, especially his oft quoted line, “Prepare to meet your God”,reminded me of the following true story: Several years ago I received a long distance call from a granddaughter of a 93 year-old shepherd, my shepherd.  “Papa is dying; I don’t think he’s going to make it” were the words whispered on the other end of the line.

“CATCH DAD”

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Over the years I’ve read many books and articles on marriage and parenting, listened to a number of tapes and have attended an abundance of workshops concerning family.  (I’m a slow learner.)  

The following are a few excerpts worthy of your consideration:

“BLESSED ASSURANCE”

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Our Bible reading this past week in 1 Kings has been filled with unrest, conflict, and division; anything but blessed assurance.  After reading last Monday’s assignment, my mind went back to the following true story:

A Time for Everything

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“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.”  Ecc 3:1-4

Ricky

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When I was in grades one, two and three – he was one of my best friends.  We sat in the classroom, played baseball and swam in the pond together.  I moved at the beginning of my fourth grade year and didn’t see Ricky until college, nine years later.  Being reunited was such a blessing!

I Marvel At the Wisdom of My God!

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Reading through the wisdom passages, in the book of Proverbs this week, has brought back a flood of memories. When I was in the 5th grade I remember walking home from school and encountering a funeral procession of cars passing between me and my house.  Unusual for the occasion, the mourners in the vehicles seemed overly-occupied with what was going on in our front yard.  When the road was clear and I crossed the street, I quickly discovered their distraction.

MAMA

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Save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.”  Psalm 86:16

As David shared about his mother’s faith, so shall I.  Mama Sikes has always been there for me!  

She's still my biggest fan - telling me I can do anything.  She's my heroine of faith and prayer warrior.  She taught me to pray to God for the littlest of things, like missing socks.  "Stephen, God wants to hear from you about everything" she’d encourage.  

C.A.R.E.

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Connect - When someone is hurting, we often don't know what to say or do. But even simply expressing, "I'm sorry and I care about you," can make a tremendous difference.

Accept - When we try to help someone, it's easy to direct their emotions or give advice. But emotions need to be shared openly. You'll be a blessing by providing a safe place to grieve.

Respond - While it is important to take action. What you do can be practical (like providing a meal) or symbolic (like sharing a thoughtful gift). “Thank you, Rochester church family!” 

Kidsʼ Prayers

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Many of the Psalms are direct prayers from the worshipper to God. Here is an anonymous sample of some children’s prayers to God:

1. Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Joyce

2. God, I read the bible. What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison

“MOST PITIED?”

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Who in this life is to be most pitied?

Is the most pitied the orphan from the slums of this world, without family, without support, without hope?

Is the most pitied the extremely affluent of our world with no desire to use his or her riches to better the lives of mankind?

Is the most pitied the person who has never loved nor been loved?

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR SONG?

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Since PSALMS has become a vital part of our daily reading through the Bible, here’s a “psalm story” by Annie Chapman: “All alone, she sat in the back of the church. The rest of the 500 women at the women's conference that weekend had already exited the auditorium. I was gathering up my books, papers, and props when I saw her at the back of the room. I walked over to where she was sitting; her head was bowed low, and her shoulders were drooping. I sat down, and she began to tell me her story.

GOD USES YOUTH TO DO GREAT THINGS!

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Megan is now an eleven year-old granddaughter of one my closest friends. Over the past 9 years, my friend has sent me “Meagan Stories.” Since we have just read about David & Goliath, I couldn’t resist sharing the following story he sent me when Megan was six:

FOLLOWSHIP

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Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Matthew 16:24).”

True or False: _____One of the easiest things in the world to do is……

FOLLOW! _____One of the hardest things in the world to do is……FOLLOW!

THREE VIEWS OF GOD

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I was pretty ornery growing up. My report cards, during my first grade through third grade years. nearly always included the word “mischievous” at the bottom of each card – next to “student’s attitude.” I remember my mom explaining what that word meant the first time I saw it… “ill-behaved, impish, ornery.”

CHOOSE COURAGE!

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CHOICE: Where would we be without it? Perhaps in a garden somewhere near the Persian Gulf?!

It is a fact that choice remains one of the greatest consequential gifts ever given to mankind. We make thousands of choices daily, among which include reading the rest of this article!

A TRIBUTE TO MARRIAGE

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A TRIBUTE TO MARRIAGE “Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...”

(Movie: The Princess Bride)

Since Patti and I are in Kansas leading a marriage retreat, and since our Bible reading this past week included Moses reviewing the marriage covenant, the following research is presented for your consideration:

What Spurs Me On to Love and Good Deeds?

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1. Prayer

2. Encouragement: cards, notes, personal statements of how God used me for His glory in someone else’s life

3. Seeing someone else love others and do good deeds – especially in the midst of suffering

4. Full attendance: Bible classes, worship, outings, etc. with God-seekers, visitors present 

A Dream-Like Interview with Jesus’ Half-Brother

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Some people dream about being an Olympic figure skating champion. Some people dream about who they are going to marry. I “figuratively” dream about meeting different Bible characters face to face! ......Over 5 weeks ago I dreamily knocked on his door and he invited me in. I sat on a not too firm chair in his living room as he offered me some figs filled with goat cheese and some kind of hot fruit drink.

MOSES and PORTIA NELSON

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Among many other things, you can find Moses’ autobiography in the books of Exodus - Deuteronomy! By definition, an autobiography is “an account of somebody’s life written by that person.” If you were to write an autobiography what would it say?

SUPER BOWL VERSE

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We all need a future and a hope…especially when we realize calamity is coming or we are already in the middle of it! Our little church family has suffered much in the past weeks and months, just read our prayer requests!

JEWISH PASSOVER: abbreviated version

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  Made up of 3 Parts and 4 Cups: The Four Cups represent the four expressions of deliverance promised by God Exodus 6:6-7:      

  "I will bring out," "I will deliver," "I will redeem," and "I will take."

TO JUMP or NOT TO JUMP?

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I’m told that in 1939, America let out a collective gasp when Rhett Butler (played by Clark Gable in the movie “Gone with the Wind”), said the now infamous curse word.  Yes.  Clark Gable cursed on the big screen!  Of all the nerve!  What’s this world coming to?  

EL ROI: “THE GOD WHO SEES ME”

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One of the gold mines of reading through the Bible is the discovery of the numerous names of God.  One of my favorite names of God is “EL ROI” (pronounced: EL raw EE, “the God who sees me”).    

God sees everything; He always has!  His eyes were on Abraham and Sarai’s maid, Hagar (Genesis 16:13), and His eyes are on you and me.  I love the following story and the song that it inspired!

SOMETHING’S FIRST

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Something’s FIRST in your life. What is it? My “FIRST” has changed over the years:I remember my “first-FIRST” was horses. Riding horses – I loved it! At a young age, I can remember riding Shetland ponies through the tall grass, weaving in and out of imaginary traps and battlegrounds. I loved the wind blowing in my face and the feel of a fast steed under me, from Shetlands to Appaloosas to Quarter Horses.

Name That Baby!

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   I remember congregating in our “soon to arrive” baby’s room with my wife, Patti, my sister, Shawna, and sister-in-law, Pam, – trying to come up with a name for our future daughter!  Patti was scheduled to deliver the next day and we were playing, “NAME THAT BABY!”  O the names we came up with over 30 years ago!  We ended up naming our beautiful baby girl, Jessica Janette Sikes.  

Mystery of the White Formal Dress

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My Dad and Mom worked in children’s homes for 35 years;   18 of those years, Dad was the Superintendent of Westview Boys’ Home outside of Hollis, Oklahoma.  Westview was completely supported by the generous donations of individuals and the Christian brotherhood.  Clothes, food and other items were given to Westview on a regular basis to help take care of the 65 boys.

UBUNTU!

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“An anthropologist proposed a game to children in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that whoever got there first won the sweet fruits.

I ALMOST SLIPPED!

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“But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped.  For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat.  They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind…. always at ease, they have increased in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence....” (Psalm 73:2-5; 10-14)

Tasty!

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I miss Patti’s grandmother; what a spiritual giant!  “Granny” passed away ten years ago, at the age of 95, but I still think of her often.  Right up until she went on to be with the Lord, Granny was leading Bible studies in the nursing home with other residents.  She brought several men and women to the Lord in her 90’s! 

BEHOLD, THE MAN!

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Our culture has a lot to say about who is a “real man” and who isn’t.  For instance, if a sport’s star goes to the sideline in a very important football game because of (let’s say a knee injury), but is still able to stand up along the sideline – his toughness, courage and even his manhood is questioned!

Women!

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The Gospel of Luke has been called by some “The Gospel for Women” because it contains more stories about women than any other Gospel.  It is a book that opens up with the stories of three women: Elizabeth (old and barren); Mary (young, unmarried, and a virgin); and Anna (an 84 year old widow without any children).

The Good Life

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“Superficiality is the curse of our age.  The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.  The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”  (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline)

I believe most of us want to be “deep people.”  Don’t we?  “Deep calls to deep.”  (Psalm 42:7)

GOT LIFE? GOT CHRIST?

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I googled “Bible Facts” and came up with all kinds of information on the Bible. Here’s just a sample:

The Bible can be read aloud in 70 hours. There are 8,674 different Hebrew words in the Bible, 5,624 different Greek words, and 12,143 different English words in the King James Version. 

REVERSE THINKING

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REVERSE THINKING

David D. Dietrich

I WILL LIVE MY LIFE ACCORDING TO THESE BELIEFS.

God does not exist.  It’s just foolish to think that there is an all knowing God with a Cosmic Plan.  That an all powerful God brings purpose to the pain and suffering in the world.

Is a comforting thought however it is only wishful thinking.  People can do as they please without eternal consequences.

Mere Discipleship

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The following is one man’s journey for meaning, ending in true discipleship, and another man’s 

“I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.’ And behold, it too was 

futility. I said of laughter, ‘It is madness,’ and of pleasure, ‘What does it accomplish?’ I explored with 

my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely… I provided 

for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men — many concubines… All that my eyes 

desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure… and behold all was 

vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11).”

“THE ONLY MAN-MADE THING IN HEAVEN”

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Several years ago when we lived in South Jersey, I arrived at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (C.H.O.P.) to visit a patient.  I watched from a distance as the security officer stopped every vehicle, checking each driver.  I had my visiting minister’s badge on and was ready in advance for his triad of questions: “Who are you?”  “Why are you here?” and “What’s the name of the person you’re here to visit?”  

MERCY, FORGIVENESS AND A RING

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When I was 10 or 11 there was a college student (I’ll call him, Sam) who would stop by and visit the children’s home on occasion.  He and I didn’t get along.  Maybe it was because I felt he picked on me; maybe it was because I called him names. 

MERCY CAME RUNNING

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I found myself on my knees on an office floor surrounded by three godly men, all “Aaron’s” and “Hur’s” to me (Exodus 17:10-13).  For years, these three men had been my main source, outside my own family, of encouragement and support.

SURRENDER

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I’m convinced that everyone has something they need to surrender: a stubborn will, an addiction, having their way, a pet peeve… a sinful life!  It is humbling to note that Jesus had to surrender more than any of us in order for us to receive Him!  The Bible reveals that Jesus surrendered: 

• Heaven for earth

• His will for the Father’s will

• His throne for the cross

• His life for our death

At Home

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The boxes are off the truck(s) and in our house “neatly” stacked up!   Thank ‘YOU ALL’ for your help, love and encouragement: moving us in; feeding us; moving us in again!  You haven’t spoiled us, but you sure have wet our appetites for what “family” means around here.  Plus, our neighbors pitched in and helped like we were part of their family!