Steve Sikes Blog  

Since today is our last Sunday in our old building…

Since tomorrow is closing day…

Since we officially begin our tabernacling this afternoon…

I thought I’d “REACH BACK” into the annals of Jewish history and unpack how David handled one of his tabernacling experiences.

As an older King, David not only left his house of worship (as we are doing), but also his home and hometown!  David literally walked off into exile, into the unknown; he left everything behind except his family and a few of his faithful followers and passed over the brook Kidron toward the way of the wilderness.

On the beginning of his journey, David met five different men: one pledged his love and life for him, two returned to the city, one fed him, and one threw stones and cursed him (2 Samuel 15:13-16:14).

Transitions are hard; stepping into exile is not for the faint of heart.  Here’s how David handled his experience:
• He wept
• He kept moving forward
• He planned
• He kept on trusting in the Lord

Some of you have worshipped in our present building for 20, 30, or even 40 or more years!  I commend you for your faithfulness and endurance!  You above all (with many memories and emotion) will be prone to grieve and perhaps even weep this day. 

Then what?

My encouragement: keep moving forward; keep drawing our plans from the Lord; and keep on trusting in Him!  May we indeed as the body of Christ – keep “REACHING OUT IN FAITH!”
God is good! 
Mr. Steve

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.  The following are a few excerpts worthy of your consideration:

ON RULES – “If you’re not going to make them do what you tell them, don’t tell them to do it.” 

ON PARENTING – “Love them; Listen to them; Lead them; Limit them; and Let them go!”  (The 5 “L’s” of Rearing Children by Kirk Talley) 

ON EXAMPLE – “CATCH DAD” by Herbert Parker
To get his goodnight kiss he stood
Beside my chair one night
And raised an eager face to me
A face with love alight.
And as I gathered in my arms
The son God gave to me,
I thanked the lad for being good
And hoped he’d always be.
His little arms crept ‘round my neck,
And then I heard him say
Four simple words I can’t forget-
Four words that made me pray.
They turned a mirror on my soul,
On secrets no one knew.
They startled me, I hear them yet;
He said, “I’ll be like you.”   

Blessings on Father’s Day, 2010! 

God is good.  Mr. Steve

Two weeks ago at Family Camp I shared a proverb that positively impacted our family growing up: “Love wisdom like a sweetheart; make her a beloved member of your family.”  (Proverbs 7:4 TLB)

The first time I read this particular verse in the Living Bible, I was struck with the need to actually make wisdom a beloved member of our Sikes’ family!  When Patti and I “adopted” SISTER WISDOM into our family, our children were ages 4, 6, 8, and 10 (2 boys and 2 girls).  I remember writing the words, “SISTER WISDOM” on a blank sheet of typing paper and taping it face-up on one of our flat-bottom kitchen chairs.  For years we had “SISTER WISDOM” sit at the table with us or just off to the side, when we had company.

Patti and I worked hard in making her a member of our family.  When one of the children said or did something unwise, we instructed them to go and sit on their “SISTER’S” lap and listen to her (as they read from the book of Proverbs).  SISTER WISDOM was also very patient and persistent in helping our children learn the ABC’s of Proverbs while they sat on her lap:  A—Acquire wisdom; acquire understanding; B – Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed; C – Commit your works to the Lord. 

SISTER WISDOM never failed us.  I remember one morning our youngest daughter (when she was four-years old), asking her six-year old brother before breakfast if he had prayed for wisdom!  It seemed she didn’t like something he had said to her, and if he had prayed for wisdom – he wouldn’t have said it!  Ahhh… D – Death and life are in the power of the tongue!

Patti and I now have two grandchildren and one on the way; along with an old flat-bottom chair just waiting for a little one to sit in and say their ABC’s of Proverbs! 

God is good!  Mr. Steve

Last Friday-Monday (Memorial weekend 2010) was my first time at Family Camp.  There were over 50 families at Manatawny, plus a host of cooks, helpers, and other guests who showed up for the devotionals.  It was encouraging being with several of our own Pitman clan: the Pearl, Rinne and Vander Vennen families! 

Family Camp consisted of parents and a lot of kids, waist-high or less, running around, riding big wheels and bicycles, as well as horses and daddies’ backs.  These youngsters were just like you and me at that age – full of energy, wanting to go swimming and canoeing in the creek, hiking, water-balloon fighting, and ever-ready for roasting hotdogs & s’mores at the nightly campfires.  The kids continually talked about games, sports, canteen, pets, etc…..all but “Michael.”

I discovered that Michael is an “old soul.”  Michael is only eight years old chronologically, but this belies his conversational age of at least 50!  Michael just couldn’t keep from talking about his favorite subject – religion!  He shared about his family being Catholic, going to Mass, what he was learning in school, and about his wanting to be a priest someday.  I felt like I was sitting next to a young, 15th Century “Luther.”

In one of our religious conversations, Michael shared several quotes from his favorite saint (St. Francis of Assisi) and asked me who my favorite saint was.  Without hesitating, I replied, “Saint Patti.”  My answer startled him.  He hadn’t heard of Saint Patti.  I told him that she was my wife and best friend and that she was already a saint in God’s eyes. We discussed Paul’s introduction to 1 Corinthians and Peter’s writings in 1 Peter 2 about all Christians being saints and priests.  Michael thought for a moment and then moved on to another religious topic.

At the end of camp, I gave Michael my business card and e-mail address and encouraged our keeping in contact in the future.  His mother was thrilled that Michael and I had become “buddies” but no more thrilled or convicted than “yours truly” that God has great plans in mind for this youngster – created in His image and desperately craving for spiritual bread and drink.

The prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Because I was at Family Camp last Sunday, I missed our own teenage young men’s preaching, praying and leading our church family in communion.  I heard it was so encouraging!  Amen.

Dear, Parent: Who knows?  You may have another Joseph or Ruth or John the Baptist eating breakfast cereal at your table and asking questions.  Listen well—plant, water and weed wisely.  The fruit is on the way!  God is good!  Mr. Steve