Doorbell fun

2 Sep

(Today’s email from http://www.mikeysfunnies.com)

A priest is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach.

After watching the boy’s efforts for some time, the priest moves closer to the boy’s position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child’s shoulder, leans over and gives the doorbell a solid ring.

Crouching down to the child’s level, the priest smiles benevolently and asks, “And now what, my little man?”

To which the boy turns and hollers, “Now we run!”

today’sTHOT============================

Children are natural mimics who act like their parents, despite every effort to teach them good manners.

Constructive Criticism

1 Sep

What is the difference between criticism and constructive criticism??  Two things come to mind.  FIRST OF ALL, subject matter.  Is the criticism being shared a valid concern?  Is it something that will really help a person??  OR is it just a rant?  SECOND, was it shared from a GOOD HEART or in malice??

This week, I had a visitor.  A friend.  What he said to me is not as important as HOW he said it.  He shared a little constructive criticism.  OF COURSE, my initial response was to be defensive.  But, quickly, I realized what he said was valid and he shared it from a place of loving his pastor.  He wanted to help me by sharing it.  And it took great courage to share it.

How did I know this??  I could see it in his eyes.  I could hear it in his voice.  And it made me appreciate him even more than I already did.  It was the way he shared that told me.  Carefully chosen words and a gentle demeanor.  Honestly, I’ve heard much criticism in my day.  MUCH of it through the grapevine.  I also appreciated the fact that he came to ME instead of sharing it in the court of public opinion.

It IS the church BEING the church!  An older brother coming to the aid of a younger brother!  Man, I LOVE my family in Christ!!!!

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 ….

A tribute to Summer, 2010

24 Aug

This is today’s email from Mikey’s Funnies.  (You can subscribe at http://www.mikeysfunnies.com)

Read it and you will see why it fits Summer, 2010!!!

IT’S SO HOT THAT…

..The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.

..The trees are whistling for the dogs.

..The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

..Hot water now comes out of both taps in the sink.

..You can make sun tea instantly.

..You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

..The temperature drops below 95 F (35 C) and you feel a little chilly.

..You discover that in August it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.

..You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

..You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

..You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.

..Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, “What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?”

..You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

..Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.

[forwarded by Johanna Boman]

today’sTHOT============================

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Are you ready to choose?

23 Aug

Joshua 24:14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Are YOU ready to choose today?  EVERYDAY we make the choice.  Will we serve God, or will we serve OURSELVES??  I believe with all of my heart that God is sick of our lukewarm, selfish choices.  So … WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE TODAY??

The Y

20 Aug

I am about to go to the Y.  Something I do almost every day.  But before I do, I want to tell you a little story about some things that are going on and hopefully shed a little truth about some things you might hear in the coming months …

YES, it is true that the national Y organization is changing their logo and some of their emphases.  And YES, it is true that our local Florence Family YMCA is a part of the national organization, just like every other YMCA on the face of the earth.

The rumor that is out there right now is the Y is taking the “C” out of the YMCA.  That a concentrated effort is being made to remove Christ from the YMCA.  And that has some people riled up.  Angry.  Ready to drop their memberships and go to other gyms.

IRONY #1:  What other gym in the area places such an emphasis on Christian, family values than the Y??  Many other fitness centers in Florence are very successful, and have many Christian members, and place NO emphasis on Christ whatsoever.

I attended a meeting yesterday with Jerry Dixon (our Y CEO) and SEVERAL pastors from churches in our area who, like me, are regular Y attenders.  Several things were discussed:

We DO and plan to CONTINUE to emphasize the CHRIST in YMCA, no matter what happens with the official logo or name.  And I’ve been in several Ys across South Carolina … NOBODY does it better than WE DO!!  And our plan is to CONTINUE!!

Apparently a local Christian radio station broadcasted that all Ys are taking Christ out.  Well, I can’t speak for others, but I wish you guys had taken your journalistic influence seriously enough to investigate this before you broadcasted it.  Because that is NOT what is happening in Florence.

IRONY #2:  Some people hear something like this on Christian radio and take it for the gospel truth.  SEEK OUT THE TRUTH FOR YOURSELVES!!  The things broadcast DO NOT APPLY to the Florence Family YMCA.  I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I AM IN THERE EVERY DAY!!  Would love to talk to YOU about it one-on-one if you’d like.

Our discussion made its way around to the fact that so many Christian people, members of OUR churches, are members of the Y.  Hear this well, Florence:  THEY WILL NEVER TAKE CHRIST OUT OF OUR Y UNLESS THEY TAKE US OUT, OR TAKE HIM OUT OF US.  And according to the very words of Christ, NO ONE IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SNATCH US OUT OF HIS HANDS!!!

Did you ever think that WE are the C???  WAKE UP, FLORENCE.  THINK FOR YOURSELVES!!!!

Well, enough of this … time for me to go be the C at the Y!!!

Remember the plans!!

18 Aug

Remember what God told the children of Israel through Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:11??  “For I know the plans I have for you, ” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  SO … God has a plan for HIS PEOPLE!!!  If you belong to Him, He has a plan for YOU!!

Easy words to hear, but hard words to live.  Especially when it comes to relationships.  I am one of those who believe that God has a plan for every aspect of your life, EVEN MARRIAGE.  And, if you want to know the fullness and completion a marriage is supposed to bring, you need to find the right partner!!  Paul knew what he was saying when he wrote that we should not be unequally yoked.  The marital relationship should be a reflection of the love, mercy, and grace of God, and bring glory to Him!!

Consider the story of two brothers, each of whom knows Christ.  Each married for his own reasons and on his own timetable.  One of them married young and against the wishes of many friends and family.  He wanted a bride to complete his life.  He did what he thought would make him happy.  (When we pursue our happiness over God’s plan for us, it NEVER works out to our advantage.)  In a couple of decades of marriage, he has endured emotional abuse, separations, infidelities, and much misery.

The other brother took his time.  Sought God’s face about it.  Found a bride who is also a believer.  Marriage, for them, continues to be a great journey.  Now, don’t get me wrong:  They face obstacles, temptations, struggles, and great problems.  But they face each one hand-in-hand, and they work hard to put their hands into the very Hands that formed the world.

These are real brothers.  These are true facts.  Neither has a perfect life, but would you rather walk through the harshness of life WITH God or WITHOUT??

REMEMBER THE PLANS.

The Second Time

16 Aug

For the second time in her life, we packed Krissy off to Clemson.  Honestly, the second time wasn’t quite as bad … people tell me it gets easier every time.  Now, that doesn’t mean it will EVER be easy, just a little easier.

This weekend went with very few hitches.  Much smoother than last year, and last year we had a ton of FCAers helping to take her stuff up the stairs to her room!  Krissy, Diana, and Jonathan were on campus by 7:45 am, and Drew and I followed with the bulk of the stuff around 9.  We had all of the stuff in the room by 10:30 (except for a chair we had to get from Diana’s mom) and spent the remainder of the day cleaning, storing, and sorting.

I am very proud of Krissy.  My prayer for her this year is that she can focus on a tough schedule and get the job done well!!

A Crazy Summer

14 Aug

By far, this has been the craziest summer of my Ebenezer years.  It all began with the great lightening strike of 2010.  Since then, Drew has worked (VOLUNTEER BASIS) at the church a couple of days every week!!  We are almost out of the hole as far as getting everything back to normal (still a couple of issues with the fire alarms, but other than that we are back).  And just in time, because school starts back on Monday.

Looking back,  I cannot believe the summer went this fast.  There are also several things I cannot believe happened, but I can’t blog about those … saving them for my book!!

As the school year begins for colleges, high schools, and on down the line, I hope you and yours have a great year!!  I pray the same for mine!!!

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