When I look over all that God is doing at Ebenezer, I am just TOTALLY THANKFUL for the ministerial staff at our church. Ed, Pam, Justin, and Andi work VERY HARD every week. Some of it is out in the open. Some of it is completely behind the scenes. I wish all of you could see what I see!! This week began with an awesome staff retreat to talk about vision … since that meeting, we’ve had two months’ worth of trouble. But they’re THE BEST!! HANDS DOWN!
Update on Dad
19 OctIn the middle of the minefield I’ve been in lately, I talked to Mom last night. Not so good news from outpatient rehab: Dad is not making progress, not meeting his goals. They cannot justify his continuing in rehab. He has a few more weeks and will have to stop. We can see small blessings and results, but he is just not meeting the requirements to continue. What a downer.
Mom is so close to the situation that it’s hard for her to see these things. He really is not making vast improvement. Plus, I KNOW she feels she holds the glimmer of hope as much for her as for him. Please pray for my dad, Don Wike, and for my mom, Janet Wike, in this rough time.
Minister’s Retreat and other events
19 OctYesterday, the ministers of Ebenezer did something we don’t often do … We took some time to sit down and just talk about vision and what we see God doing around each of us. It was a really good time and I think brought encouragement to all of us.
And we would need it. We’d originally planned to go out of town for a couple of days, but the sad events of this weekend were reason enough to change those plans. Ironically, since that great time there have been several mine fields. And I really don’t know what to say about them …
And that, my friends, is life … And the one thing I hold tight to is the fact that Jesus Christ died for us. I try every day to live for Him and that is really all I CAN do. Yes, I make mistakes as we all do. And one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for our OWN lives.
Pastor Appreciation
18 OctThis weekend we made a quick run to the Upstate. Spent some time with Dad and with Krissy. It was a good trip but a hard one … But imagine my surprise when we pulled back into our yard at 9:30 Saturday night and found that a gang of rabid yard elves had come, CUT MY GRASS, WEEDED THE FLOWER BED, EDGED, and made my yard look REALLY GOOD!!!!
I found out it was the EBC College Class. They wanted to do this for Pastor Appreciation Month. It is definitely the most unique act of Pastor Appreciation I’ve ever received, and they did a REALLY GOOD JOB!! And it humbles me to know their gift was given by sweat and hard work! I’m not sure who all was over here, but I’ve heard rumors: Allison Triplett, Hunter Gregg, Matthew McCabe, David Daniel, Stephanie McCabe, and of course, Phillip the Frog. I might’ve left someone out, and if so, LET ME KNOW SO I CAN ADD NAMES!!!
That one was really thoughtful and the timing was JUST RIGHT!! THANKS COLLEGE CRASH!!!!
Caution: Objects are just what they appear to be
13 OctYeah, unusual title. I know. Tonight I heard a rumor. About me. About trouble. My blog was mentioned.
I hope that any reader of my blog would not read too much into what I write. YES, I DO write about me. My thoughts. How I feel about things. Sometimes I reflect on things. Sometimes I learn lessons. Sometimes I just make mistakes.
AND THAT IS OKAY. (Looks into mirror a la Stuart Smiley). AND PEOPLE LIKE ME.
Please don’t read anything into my blog that is not there. I promise my mental health is relatively stable. And I am not paranoid. And nothing more than the usual challenges that face any pastor are staring me down right now.
AND I AM OKAY.
Sometimes objects in the mirror are EXACTLY what they appear to be. And nothing more!
One of the flip-sides to Facebook
13 OctI love Facebook and use it as a ministry tool. It helps me keep up with what’s going on in the lives of my peeps, and that is a good thing. But there is a fascinating flip-side, which is a perfect example of an internet danger we overlook: Bending the truth.
Of course, people can bend the truth and slant it any way they wish with their posts and statuses. But that isn’t what I’m writing about … Today I stumbled onto a group (which anyone can create at anytime about anything). The particular group was dedicated, NOT to a political candidate or party, but SPECIFICALLY to NOT re-elect a friend of mine in his next local election. As far as I know, there isn’t even anyone running against him. But that is not why these folks joined and wrote in this area: They just don’t like this man.
I know this man pretty well. I’ve known him for over 15 years now. I read the things they wrote, and quite frankly, they are NOT true. But that doesn’t matter to Joe Facebook … Most people who read that stuff might possibly believe it.
I guess what I’m writing today is this: Don’t EVER believe everything you read just because it’s in print, or on the internet!! GET TO KNOW THE TRUTH!! And, as Aunt Esther (and God’s word) says, “THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE!!”
One of those things they never told me in seminary
11 OctIn my theological education, I’ve attended two fine institutions: The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Erskine Theological Seminary. I will always appreciate those institutions, their faculties, and the students with which I attended. They prepared me for many of the challenges I would face in ministry. But there are a few things for which they didn’t prepare me … I chalk these up to the “human element” of church membership. But there is ONE thing I wish they’d been able to better communicate: The principle of “The Excuse.”
The principle of “The Excuse” is there are some people in this world, no matter what happens in their lives, that will blame their minister / pastor for their own problems. That will openly state they are sitting back and waiting for him to fall, fail, or to just leave. These are the folks that sit back and say “How dare he stand in the pulpit every Sunday and preach when he is so ________________ (you can fill in the blank with your favorite complaint or shortcoming)”.
I wish this principle didn’t get under my skin … but it does. Maybe it is pride, or maybe just the middle child coming out in me, but I want everyone to be at peace. And I know I make mistakes. And I know I am imperfect. And my family is imperfect.
I guess I never really understood the lengths that some people will go to excuse away their relationship with God and His church. And now, many years later, I am amazed. And greatly saddened.
Who do YOU think YOU are?????
9 OctEver had someone ask that of you? “Who do you think you are?” All of us have heard that at some point in our lives …
As for me, I thought through that this morning. And here is EXACTLY who David Wike thinks HE IS:
- A sinner, saved by grace
- A man with a second chance
- Fortunate to have a wife that loves me
- Blessed with two incredible children
- Imperfect
- Quick-fused (at times)
- Unique
- Not the best pastor in the world, and not the worst
- Hard-pressed (at times)
- Wants everyone to be happy
- Hates it when the above doesn’t happen
- Quick-witted
- Too heavy
- Needs to be more forgiving
- A good friend
- A fierce competitor (at times)
This list could go on and on, but I think you get the idea …
So who do YOU think YOU are??????
Reflections from a day off …
8 OctThings have been BUSY and ROUGH lately. That happens to any pastor, so I know I’m not alone. Tomorrow will be my first Saturday without something specific to do since the weekend after Labor Day. When times get this busy, I feel very much like I’m being ground down to dust. To top it all off, this was a particularly dicey week that I will probably NEVER blog about (but it will definitely make the book). After some reflection today, I’ve come to realize a few things …
1. Sometimes when you stick your neck out for people who need help, you get burned. Sometimes even by people you love.
2. Getting burned feels bad and makes you consider never sticking your neck out like that again.
3. God never guaranteed that I wouldn’t get burned, and in fact as the Great Physician, there is no burn invented that He cannot heal.
4. I WILL stick my neck out again.
5. I might get burned again.
6. God is in control.
7. It’s amazing how just a little time to step away from things helps to reset perspective.
The Blame Game
8 OctI know I’ve blogged about this before, but it continues to be a problem in this world … one with which I get to deal on a regular basis. The BLAME GAME. You know how it is played … NOTHING IS EVER MY FAULT. By extension, I must be perfect, because I never make a mistake. EVERYTHING that seems to be my fault is actually someone else’s fault. I (or my child) could NEVER do anything wrong.
I’d never experienced it quite like I have in the 15 years we’ve been in Florence, but I don’t think it’s a Florence-thing. Its more a sign of the times. Sadly, it’s grown into a worldwide epidemic. Yesterday’s youth have become today’s adults who NEVER DO ANYTHING WRONG, and EVERYTHING that happens to them must be someone else’s fault. I could state some examples, but all of you probably know someone who is there.
The only way to stop this epidemic is to MAKE OUR CHILDREN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for their own shortcomings. Here is the thing: EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES. I do. You do. Our children do. Why not allow them to face that reality and deal with it, rather than running interference for them until they are in their 30s and 40s and still living that way, and still running to mom and dad with stories about how EVERYTHING that happens to them is someone else’s fault??
God calls us to prepare them for life. How do you think He wants us to handle the Blame Game?
One Pastor's Perspective 