Steve Sikes Blog  

A group of our ladies came together months ago to pray for God to lead them in selecting the speaker for our next Pitman Women’s Retreat in April, 2010.  They’ve listened to speakers via tapes, plus, below are events I’ve recorded since their prayer:

    1. A sister-in-Christ contacted one of our ladies on the selection committee and said, “We just had Dr. Becky Holton speak at our ladies’ retreat.  She was the best speaker we’ve ever had.  Get her if you can.”

    2. Patti and I traveled to Chicago this July for our oldest son’s graduation from medical school.  On Sunday, following graduation, we unexpectedly ran into Becky and her husband, Kerry, at church.  We discovered they had recently moved to Chicago as part of a new church plant. 
    3. A young man called the Pitman church this summer and asked if he could speak to our congregation about his mission efforts in Africa.  While attending one of our men’s prayer sessions, we discovered he knew and had worked with another African missionary – one of the sons of Becky and Kerry!

    4. Dan arrived back home from Springfield, MO.  He brought me greetings from someone he said knew me.  “She is now married to the youth minister at the church where I spoke.  Her name is _____” (daughter of Becky & Kerry Holton)!

A group of our ladies came together months ago to pray for God to lead them…  Dr. Becky Holton said “Yes”— she’s coming to Pitman next April! 

GIGATTAATTGIG!  Mr. Steve

I received a telephone call a while back from a man who had grown up at the boy’s home in the 1960’s where my Dad was the superintendent.  We hadn’t talked for over 15 years!  He said he was just calling to check up on me.  He is happily married (37 years), has 3 sons and is attending a church of Christ in the South.  He said, “Steve, your dad is a great man.”  I replied, “I know.  But why do you think he’s a great man?”  His response impressed on me how important our words are.  He said, “At my high school graduation party your dad announced to everyone in the room that I could become anyone and do anything I set my mind on becoming and doing.  I’ve never forgotten those words.” 

The Proverb writer says, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)

In last week’s Daniel’s Den, Dan Cooper said some pleasant words about me.  He said he was “getting even” because I had said some pleasant words about him the week before!  I think God likes the way Dan “gets even!”

I want to encourage all of us to major more and more in saying pleasant words to one another – especially when words can last a life time!  God is good!  Mr. Steve

CALL NUMBER ONE:

This past May, Stacy, my oldest brother, called me from Rochester, MN and said, “Steve, we have a Christian family from Minnesota who has temporarily moved to Philadelphia, PA.  The man is seeking cancer treatment and I was wondering if you could reach out to them?”  I asked Stacy their names and telephone number and contacted the family immediately.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that as a teacher at York College (1995-2002), I knew the wife and mother of the family, as well as all of her siblings as ex-YC students.  A few days later, on Saturday, May 30, I put some groceries together for the family and drove across the river to Philadelphia.  I visited with Scott and Bonita and their four little children (Mac (6), Rhone (5), Ayla (3), and Alia (1)) in their single-bedroom efficiency – thus beginning a relationship that will forever impact my life for good.  Scott gave me his “card” that on one side is the picture of his and Bonita’s four children with the statement, “We pray for our Daddy”; on the other side the words “GOD IS GOOD” (Psalm 73:1) and the following note – “Your prayers for Scott’s healing are greatly appreciated.  His updates can be found on the following website.  http://www.caringbrindge.org/visit/scottmcendree”.

The next day, Sunday (May 31, 2009), the McEndree family drove 45 minutes to worship with us and participate in our 5th Sunday fellowship.  The children loved the hot dogs!  Scott put it this way on his daily post: 

Sunday, May 31, 2009 8:36 PM, CDT
    “Today was a relaxed, enjoyable day.  We had been checking on a couple different churches in the area.  God blessed us today as we worshipped with the Pitman Church of Christ http://www.cochrist.org .  At the beginning of worship we stood up and they prayed a special prayer for us and some members gathered around us.  Afterwards we met and spoke with many members and joined in their 5th Sunday picnic downstairs.  The kids loved the hot dogs and chips and we all enjoyed ourselves.  We feel blessed to have a church family with connections even though we are so far away from home.”

For the next two months, we enjoyed worshipping and fellowshipping with the McEndree family every Sunday.  On one occasion I remember they couldn’t make the 1 and ½ hour round trip because of Scott’s poor health, and another time they had worship as a family on the Jersey shore.  Otherwise, they were with us, blessing our fellowship of believers.  Scott never felt very good – he just didn’t want to miss anything! 

On Wednesday night, July 22, 2009, before the McEndrees returned home to Minneapolis, MN to decide further treatment, Patti and I had them and the Mansdoefer family over to our house for supper.  Afterwards, we all went to our Pitman Wednesday night prayer meeting where the elders called Scott and Bonita and children up front and prayed over them.  After receiving the elders’ blessing, Scott, blessed our church family.  This simple act epitomized Scott McEndree: he was blessed and he blessed.  Praise be to God!
 
Even after the McEndree family moved back to Minnesota, we kept up with them through their website.  Hardly a prayer session went by without someone praying for Scott’s healing and for Bonita’s strength and courage as well as for the entire McEndree family.  The months of August, September, and our present October found Scott and Bonita continuing to pursue any cancer treatment leads possible, asking for prayers all along the way.  Scott lived life to the full as much as anyone I’ve ever met!  He continued to work when possible, he and Bonita took their kids to the park, Phillies’ games, fishing, to the softball field, to the pool, and of course, to church.  Plus, Scott went camping on two separate occasions in the last two months.  Almost a month ago before their flying to Reno, NV to see about another cancer treatment option, one of our brothers from the church, Brian Mansdoerfer, spent a week with Scott and some other men on a camping trip just south of the Canadian border.  What a man’s man!  What a husband and father!  What a brother in Christ!  What a friend! 

CALL NUMBER TWO:

My brother, Stacy, called me yesterday afternoon (2:54 pm EDT, October 22, 2009) and said, “Steve, Scott McEndree has died and gone on to be with the Lord.”  I cried out “Oh, No!”  After hanging up, I wept and wept.  This morning during our men’s Friday a.m. prayer session, I couldn’t stop weeping for Bonita and the children.  Yes.  I know Scott is in a much better place; I know he is no longer suffering; I know he is where we all long to be.  But, I can’t help but cry for a faithful young widow who freely gave years of her life, since 2002, to serve her husband and stand in the gap for his healing.  My mind races back to one of Scott’s earlier website post about his thoughts about his wife, Bonita:         

Friday, March 20, 2009 1:01 PM, CDT
    “I think of all I’ve been through and the stress it can take on a family, and on a marriage. I have thanked God many times for my wife. If I were not a Christian, or if divorce was an option, then I would worry about Bonita wishing to leave me and get away from the cards we have been dealt. Before I ever asked Bonita to marry me, I knew divorce would never be an option for us. We both believe that God wants us to stay together to uphold the promise we made to each other before Him. “In sickness and in health” No matter how bad it may get, or how good things may be, I never worry that Bonita will leave and I never think of leaving her. We are married, stuck together… WHAT A BLESSING!”

Yes.  The blessing of marriage – two godly servants, matured and maturing in the fires of suffering, faithful to God and to one another, and in tune to the other’s needs… so, I cry for Bonita.  And I can’t help but cry for four small children who will never again have the blessing of sitting in their daddy’s lap, having him stroke their hair and bless them with words of kindness and wisdom.  I can’t help but cry for a godly family that will never, on this earth, be the same.  I cry for Scott’s parents who have lost a godly son, his sister who has lost a godly brother.  I cry for Bonita’s family – her parents, brothers, sisters, and brothers-in-law who also accepted Scott as family.  Traditions like family camping trips will never be the same.  I cry. 

As I’m sitting at my computer typing these words I can’t help it, the tears just keep rolling down.  My faith says Scott is better off and at peace; my feelings cry out in pain.

Two phone calls: I am forever blessed.  I was introduced to a family where the man was the godly shepherd of his flock and the woman, his strong helpmate and loving companion.  I came to love and admire four little children, who even in their own unique personalities and different sets of energies and inquisitiveness were so obedient to their parents and exceptionally respectful and kind to others.  I witnessed a family as I believe God envisioned family to be.  Not perfect – just as complete as I’ve ever witnessed a family.  Now a great loss has come and I cry out, “O God, please hold this family close in Your lap; speak Your blessing upon them; stroke their hair and lead them through this life and forever more where we all long to dwell – with You!”
I’ll finish my thoughts today with one of Scott’s website post over eight months ago (February 8, 2009) and a word from God:

    “The personal challenge I face is to keep my chin up and walk forward. Many of us are able to praise God when our lives are going well. How many of us know we can praise God during the storm? It makes me think of the Casting Crown’s song “Praise You In This Storm.” Here is a link to the song lyrics if you are not familiar with the song http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/castingcrowns/praiseyouinthisstorm.html  My heart is torn, but I will praise the God who gives and takes away. To help us praise God everyday through these treatments, Bonita and I have been gathering some scriptures and what we’d like to do is post a scripture everyday. We will be thinking on and praying on these scriptures each day and would encourage you to do the same…”

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:1-11)

God is good.
Mr. Steve

I miss Patti’s grandmother; what a spiritual giant!  “Granny” passed at age 95 over six years ago, 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 to the Lord in her 90’s!

This past Monday I pulled out her infamous pie crust recipe and made homemade crackers for Jessica: (2 and 1/4 cups unbleached flour; salt to taste; 1/3 cup of cold water; 2/3 cup canola oil; mix, knead, roll and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes).  Tasty!

Granny’s recipe reminded me of God’s blueprint for a growing, loving church: Holy Spirit-led shepherds; Bible-based teaching and preaching; compassionate care-giving; mission-minded focus; marriage and family support; James 1:27 authenticity – all mixed, kneaded, rolled and baked with 24/7 prayer!  Tasty!

I thank God regularly for bringing the Sikes’ to South Jersey!  I love my Pitman church family!  Like Granny, may we all continue to … “grow up in our salvation, now that we have tasted that the Lord is good” (1Peter 2:2b-3).  TASTY! 

God is good all the time and all the time…!  Mr. Steve

He was gone for nine days and I missed him big time!  I can’t do all he does and I’m OK with that.  His spiritual gifts are numerous and his level of energy and passion for ministry, almost limitless.

He may not be…”faster than a speeding bullet; more powerful than a locomotive; able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.”  But…

He preaches, teaches and counsels; he envisions, plans, and organizes; he visits, studies and encourages; he leads, pleads and administrates; he writes, face-books and e-mails; he’s wireless, tireless and without guile; he does seminars, graduate work and guest-lectures; he serves tables, feeds the homeless and opens his home to the needy; and above it all – he prays, prays and prays some more!

The Apostle Peter exhorts:  “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.  (1 Peter 4:9-11).”

Who is this Spirit-led, un-masked man? 

He’s the ever-prepared “always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you” – Dan, the man, the preacherman!

I love you, Dan.  Welcome home!  GIGATT!  Mr. Steve

Crisis: We know the word; many of us have experienced one crisis after another. 

Today our front page bulletin and my Mr. Steve are dedicated to different crises.  Did you know our world is experiencing an orphan crisis?  There are over 143 million orphan children in the world; that’s almost half of the population of our America!

Many of you know, my dad and mom worked in children’s homes for over 36 years.  Growing up, my best friends were boys from children’s homes.  Small wonder I have a heart for kids who come from unhealthy homes or no homes at all.
When Larry Bertram contacted me recently from Minneapolis, MN concerning Orphan Sunday, he knew my rich history of orphan ministry.  He is also a member and past preacher for the Richfield church of Christ in Minneapolis, MN where Scott and Bonita McEndree and family now worship.

Larry works for Orphan’s Lifeline of Hope International (http://www.orphanslifeline.org/orphansunday.html).  Orphan Sunday is one day out of the year when thousands of interested individuals and about 200 congregations located across the United States give monies to help the great work that is being done by Orphan’s Lifeline of Hope International. 

If you would like to make a contribution or have any questions, see me.  Brochures are in the auditorium.  “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world (James 1:27).” 

God is good.  Mr. Steve