The Wilkes Team

You’ve been assigned your task. Your duty is pretty straightforward and you’re ready to start, but then, it is there – as usual it arrives when least expected, as planned it is coming with hopes of a conquered victim. Now comes the question: Are you ready to respond?

“…Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”(Ecc 12:13) This is your assigned task. Seems pretty straightforward, now it’s time to start?

Well, if you’re one of the chosen of God, you’ve already started. Because of this fact I assume you have met with the arrival of that which always comes when you least expect and comes as a direct enemy to your Duty.

In the Bible,

Nehemiah, met this enemy by way of jealous men.

Daniel met this enemy by way of food.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo, met the enemy by way of a king.

Joseph by way of a woman.

Ruth by way of her Mother in law.

David by way of a giant.

and Peter by way of water.

Each of these individuals met the enemy. The physical person or thing wasn’t the enemy, they were just the avenues through which the enemy hoped to turn the individuals from their Duty to God. The actual enemy was temptation with its father being the devil. The Biblical men and women aforementioned each had to respond to the arrival of this enemy. Are you ready to respond?

The Chosen of God must be ready. They must respond by running to the Tower of Truth, the Word of God. Jesus Christ, when tempted counteracted with the God’s own words. We must do the same. Vain is the help of human reasoning and thought but glorious and rejuvenating is the strength found from God’s Holy Word. So in Conclusion, when it is there with all it’s force, mischief, and evil, be ready to respond with the sword piercing, life giving and unchanging Word of God. Herein is safety. Herein is eternal security.

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”(Job 23:12)

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

Who can cheer the heart like Jesus,

By His presence all divine?

True and tender, pure and precious,

O how blest to call Him mine!

All the thrills my soul is Jesus,

He is more than life to me

And the fairest of ten thousand

In my blessed Lord I see.

Thoro Harris (1873-1955)

This past week Jennifer & I had the opportunity of working one late afternoon & evening with Child Evangelism Fellowship in an outreach to the attendees of the Prince William County Fair.

CEF had rented a booth in the large vendor building with a simple sign inviting people of all ages to sit down and hear the story of the Wordless Book – the most incredible story in the world. Next door to our booth was a newspaper salesman, across from us an eco water system booth. People from all walks of life came by our booth. Our offer, was to invite whosoever would to come and listen to a story – the greatest story every told.

We had children as young as three all the way up to a dear elderly lady in her 70s come by our booth and hear the Good News of Christ’s free gift to all mankind.

Around 7pm, Jennifer and I took a short break. We walked through the crowds, through the food booths, by the entrance to the carnival, and over to the Grand Stand where a Demolition Derby was about to begin. This was to be a new experience for the two of us. Six ragged old cars lined up for round one. A countdown soon began and then vrooooooom – six cars roared to life.  Zooming back and forth, each car was doing all it could to crash into the others in hopes of halting the locomotion of every other vehicle on the track. Cheers from the audience erupted as the moving cars began to dwindle. In about 5-7 minutes it was all over and two battered cars remained able to move. These would later advance to the finals.

Yes it was thrilling but Jennifer and I walked away with a feeling that something just wasn’t right about all this. Upon making our way back to the CEF booth, we spoke with EJ, a missionary from Korea to the USA working with CEF, about the derby. He commented how that two years ago he had attended one of these demolition derbies. His response was one of wonder over how much Americans enjoy such chaos & destruction – similar in some ways to the thrill Romans had over attending the ancient ‘games’ held at the Coliseum in Rome. Is this all that thrills their souls? How about my soul?

We settled back down in the booth to begin sharing the Wordless Book. During the final hour and a half that we were  there, four children came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Oh the thrill of seeing those smiles erupt on their face as they came to realize what had just happened – Jesus had washed their heart from sin – praise the Lord. In simple faith believing, they came before the throne of grace. Christ with open arms welcomed them – they became children of God – sealed forever until the day of redemption. We were thrilled – joy overflowed.

And then the bigger picture came into focus…..

The thrill of the derby was suddenly contrasted in my mind with the thrill of lost souls coming to the Savior. For myself, the question comes to mind, what brings thrill to my soul in my day to day life? That evening, the Lord gave me a taste of the joy which comes from serving Jesus. How grateful we are for Dad’s encouragement to go minister. I see a constant need to renew my mind with this perspective. Vanity fair calls out – will we heed their thrills?

Oh may we earnestly desire to have all the that thrills our souls be Jesus! May we view all this world has to offer as paling in comparison to walking with our Savior.

“All the thrills my soul is Jesus,

He is more than life to me…”

7 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

Two weekends ago, Kenan and I had the joy of driving up to West Virginia for a weekend of encouragement and inspiration. The occasion was a commemoration of David Staddon’s advancement into the role of Godly manhood.  While the whole family was unable to attend, we came as eager representatives. What we witnessed was a boy embracing manhood and of a young man showing to all present that he had made a personal decision to follow Christ with his life.

Looking across America, the disparaging statistics reveal a   mass exodus of young people from the church (upwards of 80%). In his recent book, Already Gone, Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis reveals  the truth that most of the young people who appear to have forsaken Christ during their college years actually had ‘left the faith’ years before. Satan is lurking to and fro in search of those he may devour. He sees the value of youth and so seeks to sift them  as wheat with adolescence and the accompany frivolity and independent spirit so many ‘teenagers’ have. One way to stand against this tactic is through encouraging maturity at a young age – skip the teenage years. Under the  leadership of his father, David has chosen to forsake the  foolish and go in the way of understanding. At now the age of 13, he has left childhood behind and advanced into Godly manhood (1Cor. 13:11).

We rejoice over the mighty generation of Godly men God is raising up – a generation who is being equipped to stand in the gap. Kenan and I left the weekend greatly encouraged to advance onward as soldiers in this most worth cause – the cause of Christ!

A few pictures Kenan and I had the joy of taking on our return trip to Virginia Sunday afternoon. What a joy it was to spend this special time with Kenan…

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it (1Th 5:24).

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Ministry Reports

Last year, our family had the joy of beginning the wonderful responsibility of bee keeping. Over the last 16 months, we have begun to appreciate the remarkable process in which bees convert nectar from a variety of sources into honey. There is an abundance of remarkable lessons to be learned from this insect: their sensitivity to the needs of the hive, the instinctive disposition (swarming) of the bees to ‘go into all the world,’ their wholehearted work ethic (some bees only live 6 weeks), and their desire to follow only one leader (one queen).

There have been plenty of learning experiences, mistakes & mishaps, a few stings , but much excitement and anticipation.

A couple weeks ago, we had the blessing of having a few Staddons join us for a work day at the property. Many memories were made working in the garden together, target practicing, exploring, and enjoying wholesome fellowship.

A highlight of the day was having Michael inspect the hives. His expertise and advice from years of beekeeping were much appreciated. And as a result of the hive inspection, an unexpected 8 medium & 2 deep frames of honey were collected – Thank you Michael!

The process of extracting the honey was a memorable family event:

We are thrilled over the harvest the Lord provided and look forward to the many more lessons that will come. And yet, as sweet as honey is to our taste, what does God say is even sweeter than honey? His Word.

"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (Ps. 19:10)."

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart (Jer. 15:16a)."

God created this world in such a way that it is constantly pointing us back to Him, the Creator. May we take the time to learn the lessons God has for us in the beautiful world of nature (Job 12:7-8)!

Deuteronomy 26:15  Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

11 Comments » | posted in Farming 101, Outdoor Adventures

… it was the worst of times…*

The cup was half empty, The cup was half full

The milk dumped all over the floor! There still was a whole cup’s worth in the jar!

The right shoe always seemed to be missing! The left shoe was always in it’s place!

The Car constantly has problems! The Car ran smoothly yesterday!

The weather rained incessantly. The sun peeped through off and on.

The bugs infested the salt shaker. The salt shaker was bug-less plus one.

The tomato was half rotten. Half a tomato was perfectly ripe.

The children hardly ever obey! The children are hardily learning to obey!

For all the effort, it twas only a few solitary pennies. For all the effort, it twas a blessing of pennies.

Oh what a chair – it’s leg just had to give way! Oh what a chair – it lasted for so long!

If there is a God, why do people die? If there is a God, why do people live?

The sinner’s destiny is hell! The sinner’s salvation is Christ!

The Wicked are multiplying like weeds in a garden. The harvest is plentiful and the righteous must be ready!

Sin is always at the door. Christ is always the doorkeeper.

Death is tormenting. Death holds no sting.

No Christ no heaven, Know Christ no hell.

The glory of man is his strength. The glory of God is His strength.

It was the period of languishing. It was the period of rejoicing

Joy emerged. despondency ruled.

Everyone understood. No one understood.

It truly was the best of times and it truly was the worst of times.

How can this all be true?

Because perspective determines the proper response. For example, one individual perceives his life as full of problems and he is sad, yet just change his perspective and the same problems can be the means of bringing tears of joy.

Reader, may your perspective be in accordance with God and his word. May you see as He sees. May his Word lead you and guide you into the understanding of all Truth. May you rest in His holy promise (even when you feel otherwise) that “all things work together for good to them that love God and to those who are the called according to his purpose.”** Yes, situations may seem at their worst  but from God’s perspective they are working according to his best and perfect plan. Trust in him.

*A quote from a book by Charles Dickens

**Romans 8:28

9 Comments » | posted in Sunny-Side Up, Tid Bits