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Tired of all the negativity

17 Sep

I’ve got to admit something today … I am on edge.  I am really tired of all the negatives.  All around me.

I’m tired of all of the negatives at church.  Amazed at some of the things people will say about our church and our staff.  Tired of hearing things about my staff, much of which is unfair or untrue.  I wish people would have the guts to take their complaints FACE TO FACE to the source.  If we all did that, this place would be so much better.  And so much more Christ-like.  And I am amazed at some of the things people will complain about.  David Platt is right about our Americanization of the church … we really are turning the church into a straight-up consumer exchange, and that is NOT WHAT GOD INTENDED IN ANY WAY.  We are here for HIS PLEASURE, not OUR PREFERENCES.

I am also tired of all of the hate surrounding college football.  I LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL.  But I hate what it turns people into every fall.  And I’ve decided this year I’m not taking part in that stuff.  In person or on Facebook.  Just not gonna go there.  And when people write stuff on my wall that heads that way, thank God I can delete it.  And I WILL delete it.

I’ve been praying about this one, and the way I can make a difference is NOT TO TAKE PART IN IT.  To be as positive as possible!!  And if you feel the same way, maybe you need to do this, too!!!

An update on Dad

14 Sep

It’s been a while since I blogged an update on Dad.  My family and I greatly appreciate all of the prayers offered up for him, and we covet more.

Dad is still at home.  He stands and walks in therapy, and very slowly when transferring from his bed to his wheelchair.  He is not really walking at any other time.  Several months ago when they removed the shunt from his head, they finally replaced it with a smaller-volume drain implanted in his spine.  Since then, he’s had a couple of spinal taps to remove fluid and they make a big difference.  He is in this place where we cannot put another programmable shunt in, because the risk of subdural hemos is too great.  So, every few months, his memory and motor skills get really bad.  That is where he is right now.

He’s been taking outpatient therapy at Roger C. Peace, which has been a good thing.  That wheelchair-accesible van is the best thing we bought … Yesterday, they realized his knee is popping and hurting him pretty badly.  Mom is now trying to get him in to see the doctor about this, but this presents quite a dilemma:  IF his knee needs surgery, he probably won’t be a candidate because of his lack of ability to rehab it.

Today, we don’t know what all of this means.  For the last week or so, he has been able to do significantly less and less in therapy.  Part of it is the pain in his knee and part of it is his lack of being able to complete simple motor skills.  I don’t know what any of us can do but pray.

And I greatly appreciate those who do.

Did something I don’t like to do today

29 Aug

This morning we were engaged in an awesome time of worship today.  Mosaic from Anderson University was with us, and they were GREAT!!!  Jessica Dorriety, an EBC girl from birth, sings with Mosaic.  It’s always good to see them, and to see her leading powerfully in worship.

And then, it was sermon time … Here is where it becomes something I don’t like to do.  Today, for I think only the second time in the 11 years I’ve been preaching regularly at EBC (I began my tenure as interim in August, 1999) I preached from the floor.  Actually, I like that.  But a few weeks ago God put on my heart that today was supposed to be about personal testimony and I would share mine.

I am always careful when I do that.  I never want it to be all about David Wike, or the history of David Wike, or look what God is doing with David Wike.  I worked hard to make SURE that is not what it was …  Anytime we share our testimony, JESUS CHRIST and His redeeming power SHOULD BE THE MAIN TOPICS.  Also, I would never want to glorify my life before Christ.  There was very little glory in it.  My earnest prayer is that God can use EVERY TESTIMONY to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His plan to His people!!!

And God does JUST THAT when we are obedient.  When we permit Him to use us, GREAT THINGS ARE ACCOMPLISHED FOR HIS KINGDOM!!!!  God loves it when a plan comes together … and I love it when He smiles!!

Durned if you do, durned if you don’t

25 Aug

The story of my life … If EVER there was a living, breathing Charlie Brown, you are reading his blog.  And then I surrender to God’s call to ministry.  And I learn the REAL trap Charlie Brown was in!!

If ever there was an occupation where you are durned if you do something AND durned if you don’t do it, it is ministry.  There are ALWAYS expectations out there that any pastor CANNOT meet.  Why??  Because churches are full of people … people that ALL have different opinions.  For example:  If the sanctuary air temp is 71 degrees, there are ALWAYS people fanning and complaining that it is too hot.  AND there are ALWAYS people shivering and pulling out their Snugglies because it is too cold.  And there are some that think the room is JUSSSSST RIGHT!!!  (We can call that the Goldilocks Syndrome)

When that syndrome is applied to preaching styles and topics, I hear the things I’ve heard lately.  “David is too positive …he never tackles the tough topics.”  “David is too negative … why does he have to be negative.”  “That sure was a good sermon.  Really stepped on my toes.”  Welcome to MY WORLD!!!!

How do I cope?  It’s really not a bad method … I ASK GOD WHAT TO PREACH!!  I TRUST HIM TO GIVE ME THE WORDS AS I STUDY AND AS I DELIVER THE MESSAGE.  I really do believe He leads me in His directions when I prepare.  So, the truth is, if anyone has complaints, they need to take them up with HIM!!!

As long as I remember that I answer to HIM, that HE is my boss, my sanity stays intact ….

Possibly more than you wanted to know …

11 Aug

What does Christ mean to me?  How did His power and presence change my life?  In a couple of weeks, I plan to share this in morning worship.  In detail.  But here are the highlights:

I grew up in church and knew nothing else all my life.  But the problem was I knew CHURCH, but not Christ.  I followed my younger sister down the aisle at a very young age and had no idea what I was doing or what it really meant.

Fast forward through the years … I became a teenager and young adult that KNEW HOW TO PLAY THE CHURCH GAME.  I was there, merely to please my family.  I could sing the songs and I could talk the talk.  But my heart was never in it.  You might say I was going hard and fast down that path of fully relying on myself in life, the path of the Christian Atheist (as Craig Groeschel so eloquently put it.  Groeschel appropriately terms a Christian Atheist as one who claims to know Christ, but lives as if He does not exist).

At the end of this path, there is no peace.  No fulfillment.  No meaning.  I realized my need for Christ in a unique place:  Counseling a couple of youth at a youth camp.  I was reading these words off a counseling guide and realized they meant nothing to me in my heart.  (Ironically, BOTH of those young men are now youth ministers in Greenville).

One of the most shocking things I’ve ever done in a church was walk that aisle, take my pastor by the hand, and tell him I realized my need for Christ.  It was hard for me and I could tell it was shocking for others who knew that I knew all the words and could play the game.

How has Christ changed my life??  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God walks with me every step of the way.  I find fulfillment when I live in the middle of His will and do things His way.  My life makes a difference, not because of me, but because of HIM!!  And I know, one day, I will go to be with Him in Heaven!!  I know God loves me, and I love Him and just want to serve Him!!  I am not perfect.  I make mistakes.  And He loves me anyway with all of His heart!!

And life is now more than just a pointless game!!!!

That is the short version … If you want to hear more, be there at EBC in three Sundays!!!

Five things

10 Aug

I’ll start with five things that bug me …

Dangerous topic.  Could be a dangerous post.  Could make some folks mad at me.  What’s new???  (Disclaimer: These are things that have been on my heart for sometime.  So don’t think that YOU are the reason I am writing it)

Five things that bug me:

1.  The craziness that has been going on for MONTHS NOW with the alarms and phone lines around here.  We have beaten our heads against the wall until mine has a permanent mortar line … Our lines seem to work perfectly.  Sometimes the alarms do, and sometimes they don’t.  Could be some of the roadwork going on around here, but we won’t know that until it is all finished, and I might be retired before that happens.

2.  Apathy among God’s people.  There are some fired-up people around this place, ready to charge the gates of Hell with a water pistol.  And then, there are some that ARE NOT.  Some that would just be happy if all that was required of them was sitting in a pew once a month or so, never having to give a dime to anything, and being thoroughly entertained (because, after all, worship is about OUR ENTERTAINMENT, RIGHT???).  I know that disappoints God.

3.  Failure to take responsibility for life.  Too many things I could write here, but the bottom line is IF YOU DID IT, MAN-UP (or woman-up) and TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LIFE.  You will never grow in life if you don’t.  Your momma or daddy will NOT be around forever to get you out of messes.

4.  Gossip.  If you need to talk to someone about an issue you have with them, please do it.  Sharing it with your Sunday School class, co-workers, or any other group that will lend you an ear is not always the best thing to do.  I have several friends who believe in hitting things head-on, and honestly that IS the best policy.  It might seem abrupt or in your face, but it really is the right thing.  See Matthew 18 if you don’t believe me.

If you DO NOT have an issue with someone, and are just passing along juicy tidbits, please stop.  Gossip acts like a colony of termites in the foundation of any church.

5.  Realize that EVERYTHING you put out on Facebook, Twitter, and any other type of social media IS OUT THERE.  For the WORLD to see.  If Christ is your Savior, be aware that you now have a SOCIAL MEDIA WITNESS to maintain.  Look at your act, and clean it up if necessary!

NOW that those are out of the way … How about five positives and possibilities for Ebenezer:  (be reminded that these are things on the top of my heart and head … nothing official here, just some speculation)

1.  What if we started worshiping in the FLC for more space??  Even if it were at 8:30, with 11:00 still held in the Sanctuary??  Some will like this idea.  Some will hate it.  All it will take is the greenlight from God and people willing to help make it happen (logistically)!!

2.  What if we started a second Sunday School hour??  Maybe we would shift our schedule to something like this:

Early Worship, Children’s Church, and 1st SS – 9:00am

Late Worship and 2nd SS – 10:30am

(And we can beat the Methodists and Presbyterians to the restaurants!!)

3.  What if we started a bus ministry to Creekside?? Maybe another locale??  Would we accept our new guests???

4.  What if we changed some things in our programming and really made a commitment to GO DEEP with our relationship to Christ??  What if we went to a year-round small group format on Sunday nights??

5.  What if we REALLY believed that Jesus IS the only way of salvation and started living like it??  And TELLING like it??

To Blog or Not to Blog

10 Jul

Lately I haven’t blogged as much as I normally do.  We all hit those times in life when it might be better to keep our thoughts to ourselves …  Don’t worry!!  I am fine!!  Just needin to keep things to myself right now!

On the other hand, I’ve been on quite a tear of working around the house!!

Places of Great Faith

1 Jul

You know how everyone goes through patches in their lives where it seems the attacks are coming from all sides and all you have as your shield is Jesus Christ???  Yeah … I’m there right now.  There are difficulties on many fronts right now.  Diana and I are facing many opportunities for our faith to grow!!  And I am thankful to be facing them with her …

Where do YOU turn in places like this?  I am thankful that no matter how crazy things get, God is there and He cares!  And He has a plan!!!

Weekend

28 Jun

So, how was YOUR weekend?  Do anything interesting?  I DID!!

On Saturday, I participated in TWO weddings.  Within two and a half hours of each other.  One at First Presbyterian and one at Ebenezer.  Dustin and Ellen Fails were wed at First Presbyterian.  I’ve known Dustin for the entire 15 years I’ve been at Ebenezer.  It was quite a privilege to be part of that one.  Billy and Margaret Early were wed at EBC, to a standing-room-only house.  Margaret was at Clemson when we got to EBC, but she and her family have been great friends to us, so it was equally an honor.

I call this the double-header … I’ve never had to do two weddings in one day.  Now, there was another minister in each wedding, so I didn’t have to do two complete weddings.  But it was interesting just the same.

After the second wedding I came home, cooked out for the family, and watched the Tigers not hit the ball and lose to USC in the CWS.  And, regardless of some of my Gamecock friends that have told me I am not allowed to do this, I have EVERY INTENTION of cheering for USC as they try to beat UCLA tonight.

And the cherry on top of all this:  A BEAR WAS CAPTURED IN FLORENCE THIS WEEKEND!!!  A BEAR!  IN FLORENCE!!  They apparently caught him at All-Star Lanes.  And the sad thing was he was on track to bowl around 250 until they cuffed him and stuffed him!  (They really DID catch him near the bowling alley.)

Hope your weekend was a good one!

Some days are good, some not so good

7 Jun

How did my Sunday go??  Well, have you ever felt like a kid playing in the surf when the surf gets rough.  A powerful wave knocks you down, and about the time you get back to your feet, another one hits??  THAT is what my anniversary Sunday was like.  Wow.  You really can’t imagine it and I can’t blog about it, although it definitely will make it into my book.

All I can say about it is, at least today is MONDAY.

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