Steve Sikes Blog  

Yesterday I ate lunch with Matt Fortunato and Rachel Cooper.
We spent over an hour planning our upcoming Collingswood – Pitman Young Adults’ LIFE Group. During our conversation, Matt reminded us of the meaning of the Greek word hospitality:philoxenos (a “lover of strangers” 1 Peter 4:9) or “a love of strangers” Romans 12:13).
Job was a lover of strangers! “The alien has not lodged outside, for
I have opened my doors to the traveler.” (Job 31:32)

This past week’s online Christian Chronicle shared a “lover of strangers” story concerning twenty-five New Orleans’ evacuees fleeing from hurricane Gustav. When they fled New Orleans three years ago and
were housed by our brethren in West Monroe, Louisiana, they were
strangers. Last week they were welcomed back as family!
Some “hurricanes” that take place in our lives are not physical, and guests are not all “strangers.” I thank God for you as a church family
for your ongoing hospitality. Right now, the Coopers have opened up
their home to five guests! Go, God! Hurricane Hospitality is among
us! God is good all the time!

In 1958 the Everly Brothers recorded a song called “Dream.”  The song begins with the words – “Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream…”  Last Sunday Night was the finale of our six summer dream sessions.  Great stuff! The following synopsis is what I heard:
*Body over building: “Our church body (family) is so much more important than a new church building.  We are so gifted, so diversified and yet so unified.  Let’s grow via each member using his/her giftedness for the Lord (Romans 12); in our diversification, let’s keep pursuing unity (Ephesians 4); and let’s keep serving God and one another, no matter where we move or what we build.”
*Faith over feeling:  “Faith is what God wants.  We all have feelings concerning what we would like to do, but let’s keep walking by faith and see where God leads.”
*Love over all:  “To many, the Pitman church is known for her love for God and one another (John 13:34-35).  Let’s keep love a priority and grow even more in this area.”
*Outreach/Inreach:  I was particularly intrigued and encouraged by Charles Peterson’s 19 word dream statement: “My vision for the Pitman Church of Christ is that our desire for outreach matches our desire for inreach.”  Talk about a church without walls!
NOW WHAT?  Remember… when God gives a dream, He expects action – NOT as the song says, “I’m dreaming my life away!” CHH: Dream, Decide, Dare, Do It!  GIG!

D.B. is a father of two, a Special Education teacher, a counseling graduate student, and a minister of the Gospel of Christ.  He teaches, he preaches, he leads songs, he goes to hospitals and nursing homes, and he makes house calls – lots of house calls!  D.B. has a heart for ministry; he simply loves God and loves people. 

D.B. is genuine.  He is what most of us would call the “real deal.”  There is no pretense about him.  In a word, D.B. is SINCERE – which helps to explain why many people find him easy to talk to, easy to listen to and easy to follow.

“An often repeated folk etymology proposes that sincere is derived from the Latin sine = without, cera = wax.  According to one popular explanation, dishonest sculptors in Rome or Greece would cover flaws in their work with wax to deceive the viewer; therefore, a sculpture “without wax” would mean honesty in its perfection.”  (Hartford Courant) 
There is some controversy whether the above study of word origins is actually true or not.  I can’t say.  But what I can say is this: D. B. is definitely honest; and without a doubt, D.B. is “without wax.”
For the past few years, Derrick Busch has been hired to shore up our church staff needs during the summers.  Derrick has done an outstanding job again this year, and as a staff, we look forward to more “without wax” summers ahead!  God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

By definition, the word “Vespers” means “an evening church service.”  On August 2, a group of thirty or so of us came to the building and participated in a very insightful vespers.  I was inspired!  We sang, we read from God’s word, we prayed, and we discussed ways that we could become more and more a church without walls – a people for God’s own possession affecting a world in desperate need of Jesus!  Our youth intern for the summer, Rachel Thies, developed this particular vespers around five stations of reflection, vision, service, encouragement, and mission.  All of the above took place on a Saturday night.  The previous night, quite a few of our young adults had come to our house for a party and a devotional and ended up staying till 11:30 pm.  They talked mostly about how they could make a difference for Jesus in our community and with our youth group.  The night before, three of our young adults had taken flowers to one of our hospital’s emergency centers, and then drove up to a fast-food restaurant and gave flowers to all the workers! 3 nights of serving; 3 nights of praising; 3 nights of being Jesus – all because of 1 Sunday morning 2000 years ago!  GIGATT!