Blessings: During the last two weeks of August, I safely traveled 3300 miles – from New Jersey to Kansas City to York, Nebraska, to Springfield, MO and back.  I definitely had a lot of time alone in my Dodge truck to think, to pray, to listen to westerns on tape, to be quiet before the Lord.

Blessings: I got to spend quality time with two of my sons and their families, two grandchildren (one grandson I had never seen before), and a 2 and ½ day visit with Dad and Mom, whom I hadn’t seen since May, 2007.  Blessings upon blessings!

Patti stayed home with Jessica and finished up her summer school grading for Rowan University and also prepared for her upcoming fall semester of teaching – both at Rowan and our children’s Bible program.  I missed my wife and daughter greatly, but was blessed with a much-needed break to head west and see more of my family.

Two things that were made clear to me again this trip:
1. How blessed I am to be a part of a congregation of God’s people who love God and love one another and show it!
2. How blessed I am to have parents who love God, love His people, love their 13 kids and 80 grandkids and great-grandkids – and show it!

One of Psalms’ fifteen “Pilgrim Songs” or road songs is Psalm 128.
“All you who fear GOD, how blessed you are!
  How happily you walk on His smooth straight road… 

Your wife will bear children…
  Stand in awe of God’s Yes.
    Oh, how He blesses the one who fears GOD!

Enjoy your grandchildren… Peace (Shalom)…!”  (The MESSAGE)

My road trip west found me counting my blessings – from New Jersey to Nebraska and back home again! 

God is good!  Mr. Steve

Last week I was walking down the hallway of a local nursing home and was (apparently) recognized by an older lady in a wheel chair not quite ten yards away.  Once she caught my eye, she quickly began motoring toward me with a toothless smile and an announcing voice, “It’s Santa Clause everybody!  Santa Clause is here!”

When she stopped at my feet and grinned up at me, I couldn’t think of anything else to say, but – “Have you been a good girl this year?” 
She gleefully nodded her head up and down and seconded it with a “yes” and merrily wheeled on down the hall.  The entire event took less than a minute but my nine-day contemplation has yielded the following truths:

1. I look like Santa Clause (SC).  There is no doubt about it.  Plus, I was carrying a sack of goodies to one of the residents!

2. I may look like SC but I assure you – I’m not SC!  Identification by recognition is NOT always 100% accurate.  Dental records, fingerprints, and DNA can prove my identity.

3. My given name is Stephen Charles (SC).  Having the first and middle initials “SC” is just coincidental in this matter.  My parents live in Nebraska (NE), not the North Pole (NP).

This experience has led me to think more about when neighbors and strangers observe me, what do they see?  Who do they think I look / act like?  More importantly, do I leave behind the fingerprint of Jesus wherever I go…the Spirit-living and Christ-likeness fingerprint of Jesus?  Now that’s an SC worth dying for!

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).”

God is good! 

Mr. Steve

One of my favorite books as a 10 – 12 year-old was, “The Tide in the Attic” by Aleid Van Rhijn; a story about the Wielemaker family and their struggle for survival during the Dutch floods of 1953.

I remember Mom reading this book to all of us kids (nine brothers and sisters—at the time) one summer.  With her rich alto voice and “so believable” sound inflections, Mom made Rhijn’s story come alive!  I was enthralled!  So much so that Mom gave me this “family heirloom” for my own when I was in my mid-twenties.  I picked the book up again this week, in between my studies of Ecclesiastes and Isaiah, and found it leading me to a spiritual truth rediscovered: reclamation.

Rhijn defines and describes land “reclamation” in his manuscript’s appendix as follows: “Holland is a low-lying country; its official name, the Netherlands, makes that clear.  Near the coast, a very large part of the country is below sea-level.  It consists of areas which the Dutch have reclaimed from the sea.  The process still continues.  Large man-made dams, called dikes, keep out the water and must constantly be looked after.  A Frenchman once said: ‘God created the world, but the Dutch created Holland.’  You can see what he meant.”

Imagine pushing back against the North Sea and winning!  Land reclamation from an almost all-encompassing body of water seems impossible, yet it has and is being done. 
“The motto for Zeeland, one of the Dutch provinces, has become the motto of every Dutchman: “Luctor et emergo – I struggle and I conquer.”
Imagine pushing back against sin and the evil one and winning – through Jesus Christ!  I struggle and Jesus conquers!

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).”

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD! 

Mr. Steve

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

“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).”
In stark contrast to Solomon’s quest for life’s meaning and personal happiness is Charles de Foucauld’s “Prayer of Abandonment,” referenced in Lee C. Camp’s book, “Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World.”

Prayer of Abandonment
By Charles de Foucauld
“My Father,
I abandon myself to you.
Make of me what you will.
Whatever you make of me, I thank you.
I am ready for everything
I accept everything.
Provided that your will be done in me,
In all your creatures,
I desire nothing else, Lord.
I put my soul in your hands,
I give it to you, Lord,
With all the love in my heart,
Because I love you,
And because it is for me a need of love
To give myself,
To put myself in your hands unreservedly,
With infinite trust.
For you are my Father!”

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13).” 

God is good.  Mr. Steve

“The gospel is not an offer of after-death fire insurance, nor is it even an offer of merely personal peace and serenity in the here and now. More, the gospel invites us to participate in the kingdom of God, that long-awaited rule of God, in which the rebellion, with its corollaries of lust and violence and greed and self-seeking, is undone. The gospel invites us to follow in the way of Jesus who embodies for us the way of the kingdom.” (Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World, by Lee C. Camp.)

The gospel invited our teens this past week to follow in the way of Jesus, and they followed! I love Tim and Melody Davis! I love their ideas of teaching, working alongside and effectively mentoring our young people to embody the reign of God in love and service!

The Davises “captured” our teens last week and took them on three, single-day mission trips within our surrounding area. Our youth had no idea what each day held until it unfolded before them. On Wednesday they painted curbs, parking lines, and an electrical box at the local Pitman High School and Middle School; on Thursday they helped move a widow’s furniture to her room in a nursing home and the rest into storage; and on Friday they worked on the grounds of Derek and Leza Davis’ youth center.

When Jesus announced, “I have come to serve and not be served (Matthew 20:28),” He identified service as an integral part of the rule and reign of God! “But seek first His basileian (rule/reign) and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).”

WAY TO GO TEENS! MERE DISCIPLESHIP looks really good on you!

God’s reign is good all the time and all the time God’s reign is good!

Mr. Steve

Decades ago I met a man about TEN years my senior who had come to the hospital to visit the same person I had. While we were waiting in the hall for our visit, he and I struck up a conversation. We exchanged names and occupations. It just so happened we were both preachers in the churches of Christ. His congregation met in a small building about TEN minutes outside of town. I told him I’d come visit him someday (which I did many times over the next TEN plus years).

I then asked “Larry” where he was from and he said “Texas.” I asked him where ‘bouts in Texas and he said, “You wouldn’t know where it was if I told you.” I encouraged him to go ahead and tell me. When he said, “Dodson, Texas” – I exclaimed, “I grew up about TEN miles from Dodson; we played them in high school basketball and baseball!” Amazing!

Larry and I struck up a close friendship that lasts till this day – not because we both grew up on the Texas/Oklahoma border, and not because we both preached. In fact, Larry’s church family didn’t believe all of the same things we did, especially about having Sunday School classes. But Larry was the epitome of unity!

Larry was the one who organized (about TEN times a year) the gospel preachers in our area to get together and read and discuss the Bible, pray and then eat at a local restaurant. In view of our differences, we grew in our unity!
Then one day I suggested to Larry that our congregations merge. I’ll always remember his response: “We couldn’t do that, Steve. You’d rob us of our freedom.”

Larry’s answer at first stunned me. Then I pondered the connection between unity in Christ and freedom in Christ. It’s Christ! United, yet: free in Christ to choose and differ; free in Christ to be and become; free in Christ to live abundantly (John 10:10)!

Happy 4th, Larry!

God is good all the time.
Mr. Steve

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

Over a century ago, Mr. and Mrs. Martin traveled to Elmira, New York to visit some good friends who had experienced their share of life’s difficulties. Mr. Doolittle was confined to a wheelchair and his wife had been bedridden for almost twenty years.

During their visit, Mr. Martin commented on the Doolittle’s inspiring attitude of bright hopefulness and asked for their secret. Mrs. Doolittle replied, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” This simple statement of faith by Mrs. Doolittle inspired Mrs. Civilla Martin to write the following poem, put to music by Charles Gabriel:

1. Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home, when Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

2. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, and resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

3. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, for His eye is on the spar-row, and I know He watches me.

EL ROI, THE GOD WHO SEES ME, YOU ARE GOOD! (Genesis 16:13) Mr. Steve

“Live in peace with one another.  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”  1 Thessalonians 5:13-14

Patience is not only a command; it can be a lifesaver!  While I was preparing for our upcoming Family Camp, May 28-31, I came across an old song I used to teach to children in Indiana, Nebraska and Texas – HAVE PATIENCE.  Here’s how the song played out last Tuesday:

I was traveling in the rain back toward Pitman, after visiting in a Woodbury nursing home, when I came to the traffic light at Lamb’s Road.  I remember my patience being stretched as I waited for car after car to pass – all spaced at perfect intervals - blocking me from turning left.

Less than one minute later, I was praying a prayer of thankfulness for my temporary delay!  As I started to round the curve by the lake, I watched helplessly as a car spun out of control in the other lane and skidded over into my path doing a 180 degree turn right in front of my truck.  No one was hit, no one was hurt!  Thank You, God, for my wait at Lamb’s Road Crossing!

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  Psalm 46:10-11

Waiting on God is a discipline; waiting on others is a virtue; waiting on traffic may in fact be a lifesaver! 

Children’s Song: “There was a snail called Herbert, he was so very slow.  He caused a lot of traffic jams wherever he would go…Have patience!  Have patience!  Don’t be in such a hurry…”

GOD IS PATIENT!  GOD IS GOOD!  Mr. Steve

Have you ever prayed to be like a son of Issachar?  I have.

Issachar was one of the twelve sons of Jacob; his mother’s name was Leah.  In one of our Old Testament readings this week, Issachar’s sons are described in 1 Chronicles 12:32 –  “Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.”

Wow!  Wouldn’t you like to be described as someone who understood the times and then knew what should be done?  I’ve prayed this prayer more than a few times, “Lord, help me to understand what is going on around me and give me the wisdom to do what You would have me do.”

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES: As a church family we are embarking on a time of great transition!  We will be leaving our present building and “tabernacling” for the next six to eight months (who knows where) until our new building is completed.  Times of transition and uncertainty require intentional decisions of connectivity and oneness. 

KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TO DO: Plans have already been made to extend our present Spring Quarter classes for most of the month of June.  We will begin combining our adult classes into one auditorium class on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, beginning June 23 and June 27, respectively.  Our teens will be meeting in the fellowship hall beginning June 23, and our elementary classes will also undergo some classroom modifications.  No classes will be held in Wisteria house after Sunday, June 20.

Please continue to pray for our oneness and humility of spirit during this very important transition time.  I am excited about God’s plans to unify us, mold us, mature us, and develop us even more into His army BEFORE we reach 500 N. Pitman Road!  Be prepared for the testing and the blessings!!

GOD IS GOOD!  Mr. Steve

Three things I remember my mother telling me over and over again: Steve, I love you, I’m proud of you, and you can be anything you want to be.  Even when I gave my mother a hard time, she didn’t change any of THE BIG THREE: I love you; I’m proud of you; and you can be anything you want to be.

I never doubted THE BIG THREE – even when Mom spanked me.  I remember the last time she selected one of Dad’s belts, folded it in half and told me to bend over.  I did and she commenced to carry out her mission.  After she was finished, I remember her looking at me and saying, “My spankings aren’t affecting you anymore.  I’m just going to have to let your father spank you.”

Oh, I wished that I had cried!  I wished that I had acted like her spankings were working!  Alas, it was too late.  Why did I have to act so tough?  Mom never spanked me after that.  She would just quietly say, “We’ll just have to wait till your dad gets home.  But I want you to know, son, I love you, I’m proud of you and you can be anything you want to be.”

Oh, the power of godly discipline embedded in parental love!  Sound familiar? 
“My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either.  It’s the child He loves that He disciplines; the child He embraces, He also corrects…. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun… Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.”  Hebrews 12:7, 11 (THE MESSAGE)

God loves; God disciplines; God matures His children.  Thanks, Mom, for helping me see God through you and Dad!  GIGATTAATTGIG!  Mr. Steve

My story begins (over 41 years ago) on a Sunday morning as our Sikes’ family and the children’s home chorus traveled 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. 
It began to rain, but that was no problem.  I quickly turned on the wipers’ and felt a little smug about my 16 year-old abilities to handle any situation.  We then came to a hilly stretch of two-lane road, but that was no problem either – I was born to drive.  The bus passed a slower vehicle and after checking ahead for clearance, I began to follow suit.  However, while in the passing lane, I noticed two things instantaneously: 1) I was passing in a “NO PASSING ZONE” and 2) the vehicle I was passing was a police car!

The rest of the story is quite humbling: I received a ticket and we were all late for worship.  Why?  We had to wait a long time for the tow truck to show up.  What tow truck?  The one that had to pull us out of the bottom of the ravine because I had temporarily forgotten about the side of the road being so waterlogged!  My ego and lack of experience contributed to my overlooking every warning signal in the book! 

Last week I came across an article by Lindsey Curtis, M.D., entitled, “Seven Warning Signals of a Troubled Marriage.” 
1. When common courtesies are abandoned.
2. When couples begin to think in terms of “I” instead of “We”.
3. When they stop complimenting each other.
4. When stubborn silence replaces common-sense communication.
5. When they stop praying together.
6. When they fail to sense and meet the needs of each other.
7. When they fail to express love.

HOW’S YOUR DRIVING? 

God is good.  Mr. Steve