My Ten Most Popular Facebook Pictures in 2020

Below are the most popular pictures taken and posted on my Facebook account (all but three via Instagram) in 2020. Only one picture doesn't contain a smile, so it appears this is what people want to see. We'll keep working on that. Here are my most popular pics from Facebook in the past years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019. Happy New Year!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:4

A shout-out goes to Diana Tkachuk for the great family pic at the State Hospital Park.

Megan and I took this selfie on our 16th anniversary. It has been an incredible journey!

Josiah Lee and I went camping at Beall Woods State Park in southeastern Illinois.

Josiah Lee caught this bowfin (over two feet long and a new Wickersham record) all by himself.

Grace Noel scored a couple of goals, including the game-winner on Rosalie's senior night.

We enjoyed the beautiful March weather and went hiking at Lincoln State Park.

On Christmas Day, I showed Rosalie the Purdue campus where I attended from 91 to 93.

I tap into my inner middle schooler and get in the Christmas spirit at ECS.

I caught this record-setting bass on my kayak at Blue Grass FWA.

Another picture from Diana Tkachuk on a beautiful fall day in southern Indiana.

Wick's 2020 Highlights

2020 was a wacky year, but 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says to rejoice always. Below are some ways that we rejoiced this year. If you're looking for more, here are past Wickersham highlights: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019. Rejoice!

January - Josiah Lee plays in his first-ever organized basketball game as a member of the Huskies in an Upward Basketball league. I can't say enough about how Upward Basketball is a slam dunk.

February - Grace Noel and I go to Memphis, where she guest plays for an older Sporting SI squad in a college soccer showcase. She knocked in her first goal for the club, and the team left with two wins and a tie.

March - Schools close their buildings, and Megan and I start providing emergency remote learning. I tap into my Japanese side and create a YouTube channel for school purposes, and learn how to use Google Meet and Zoom.

April - I get the honor to give the middle school & high school Easter chapel talk at ECS. I continue to learn that I strongly prefer speaking to a live audience instead of into a camera. Despite my introverted ways, I really do like seeing people.

May - Megan and I find ourselves doing activities we haven't done in ages. Occasionally, I skateboard with Josiah Lee, and Megan and I visit the tennis courts. I don't ever remember as a 16-year-old getting sore from skateboarding. What happened?

June - Josiah Lee and I go camping and fishing at Beall Woods State Park in southeastern Illinois, and the entire Wickersham clan visits Gulf Shores, Alabama, at the end of the month. Everyone enjoys the beach, and to my delight, I catch several new species.

July - We make a stop in Montgomery, Alabama, and meet up with some old "China" friends. I also decided to accept a club soccer position that allows me to coach Josiah Lee and see him hit the back of the net and dish out some assists. 

August - I complete my third two-week course and earn an Evangelism & Leadership in Crisis certificate from Wheaton College, Megan's alma mater. My soccer squad loses its first three matches, but they win four of its six matches in October. HUGE improvement.

September - We are thankful to see Rosalie and Grace Noel competing on the soccer field together. ECHS has a dream season and goes 9-1-1 during the regular season and finishes with a #7 ranking in Class 1A. Rosalie served as one of the captains again and was named ISCA Academic All-State for the second time.

October - Despite nearly getting into a panic after I spotted a bear, we had a great time during our fall break in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. At the end of the month, ECHS wins the NCSAA soccer tourney, and Grace Noel is named to the all-tournament team.

November - Josiah Lee starts playing basketball for ECS, and I give a presentation about Eric Liddell at Faith Bible Church. Grace Noel has a match that Sunday morning, but we leave it early so she can hear me talk about the "Flying Scotsman." 

December - We celebrate Christ's advent with Megan's parents. Fred comes home from the nursing home on Christmas Eve, and we drop off some gifts with my parents. God is good.

Ten Reasons Why I'm Thankful to Live in Evansville

We've been back in Indiana for nearly 1.5 years now, and I'm extremely thankful our transition has been good. We certainly miss various aspects of our lives in China, but we know this is where we're supposed to be. I often think how great it is to live in Evansville. Below are ten reasons why I'm thankful to live here.

1. Church - We worship at a solid Bible-based and Christ-centered fellowship on Sundays.

2. House - We were able to purchase a nice home in a peaceful neighborhood that is close to parks, hospitals, restaurants, stores, and our jobs.

3. Location - A big reason we moved back is to be closer to our parents. A three-hour drive north sure beats an overseas flight.

4. Megan's Jobs - Megan gets to teach ESL to people from around the world.

5. My Job - I work with a great team of teachers, partner with super supportive parents, and help guide a diverse group of students.

6. Nature - Although Evansville is the third largest city in Indiana with a population of 120,000, we're surrounded by lots of places to fish, hike, and view wildlife.

7. People - The people are friendly, and you see folks from all walks of life. We fit right in.

8. Restaurants - There are all kinds of eateries here, including multiple BBQ & sushi joints. Both sides of me get their fill!

9. School - All three of our kiddos receive a top-notch education at a school they enjoy.

10. Stores - We don't have IKEA, but Evansville has every other store imaginable. Walmart is just a five-minute drive, so I'm good.

So there you have it. God is too good to us. Live here? What do you like about Evansville? Live elsewhere? What makes your community special?

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Eight Reasons Why Fishing is Da Bomb Diggity

Last year, I lived in a Chinese city with an urban population of nearly 13 million. That's the population of the entire state of Indiana times two. Now I live in a "city" of 120,000. Life has changed a wee bit. One of the countless changes that have taken place is that I'm surrounded by less concrete and a lot more greenery and places to fish. Change can be hard, but I really like this change. Family and close friends know that I enjoy being in the woods and that I'm often seeking out water bodies to cast a line. So what's the big deal about fishing? Below are eight reasons why I think fishing is da bomb diggity.

1. I like the quiet. I'm not a fan of noise and crowds, and living overseas for so many years probably made me more introverted.

2. I like the pace. Sometimes life feels a little hectic when you have a million responsibilities screaming for your attention, so fishing provides a little relaxation.

3. I like the sport. Fishing can require a certain level of skill - what lure to select, where to cast, when to fish, and how to reel are all to be considered.

4. I like the strike. Fishing requires some patience, but when a big fish hits, it's all worth it!

5. I like what I'm learning. I'm constantly learning about new fishing techniques, terms, bait, equipment, locations, species, and more.

6. I like who I meet. Fishing has allowed me to build relationships and, surprisingly, given me opportunities to have deep conversations about tough topics.

7. I like creating memories. I love watching my brother pull in a big fat channel catfish, or when Josiah Lee gets excited when he catches a tiny green sunfish.

8. I like the time to pray and reflect. Sometimes when I fish, I'll take a break and read Scripture, and I frequently pray and think about this amazing life we live.

Fishing isn't really a big deal, but it is definitely a blessing that I thank God for. If you've never been fishing or your pole has been collecting dust, unplug and find some water. I'm sure it can be a blessing to you as well.

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, Genesis 1:21a

This evening, I caught this largemouth bass on a Strike King gizzard shad crankbait.

Wick's 2015 Highlights

The Father blessed me a great deal in 2015, and below is a little glimpse of those blessings. Here are past Wickersham highlights: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, & 2014.

January - I traveled to Nanjing International School with the TIS Kids' Read team and served as a judge at the competition. It's exciting to see middle schoolers get pumped about books.

February - After years of considering the Kairos course, I finally find the energy to give up some vacation time to participate in it. Definitely worth it.

March - Soccer, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling are all sports I've coached. Now you can add basketball to the list since I served as the assistant coach of the 7th-grade boys' basketball team at TIS.

April - It was announced that I will serve as the TIS girls' high school varsity soccer coach in the spring. This will be my first high school team since 2003. Where does the time go?

May - Megan and I worked at an English Camp in nearby Jixian. It was great to get away from the city and teach English to youngsters.

June - I coached five weeks at the Indy Eleven Youth Soccer Camps, and Rose and Grace joined me for three of those weeks. I'm thankful to have daughters playing on some of the same fields I did as a kid.

July - I professionalized and renewed my Indiana educator's license, so I'm good to teach U.S. history, geography, and sociology in the Hoosier state for at least another ten years.

August - We moved over a gate and to the ninth floor to occupy a beautiful two-story apartment, courtesy of LDi. It was the seventh apartment move in 12 years, but each apartment was an upgrade.

September - My in-laws and nephew from Indiana paid us a visit, and we celebrated Fred's 70th birthday in style at Pizza Bianca.

October - I presented a coaching workshop at the ISC Conference and reconnected with some old friends. It was wonderful that I didn't blow chunks and have the Hershey squirts like last year.

November - I started coaching the under-12 boys' volleyball team at TIS. All of my players are my students, and most of them were on my soccer squad.

December - We hosted a Christmas Eve gathering after singing Christmas carols in the neighborhood. We've done this for a few years now, and it felt extra special this year to be able to open our home.

Reviewing Keith Mathison's A Reformed Approach to Science and Scripture

How old is the universe? R.C. Sproul, who provides the book's foreword, was asked this question at the 2012 Ligonier Ministries National Conference. Dr. Keith Mathison explores the question and more in this very short book. If you are a believer who has any interest in science, you might enjoy reading A Reformed Approach to Science and Scripture. I do believe some will expect a more in-depth analysis of the topic. Below are the titles and summaries of the seven chapters.

1. All Truth is God's Truth - A God-centered view of truth
2. General and Special Revelation - What is the Reformed distinction?
3. Interpreting General and Special Revelation - An examination of Martin Luther's and John Calvin's responses to new sixteenth-century astronomical theories
4. Luther, Calvin, and Copernicus - How can we learn from the mistakes of others?
5. Earthly Things and Heavenly Things - The fall's impact on human reasoning
6. When Science and Scripture Conflict - How should Christians respond?
7. The Age of the Universe and Genesis 1 - Dr. Sproul's answer

The Wonderful School of Pain

The first of Cru's four spiritual laws is: "God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life."

With absolutely no disrespect intended toward the late Bill Bright, I would like to add a few words to Cru's first principle that explains the Christian message of salvation: "God loves you and offers a wonderfully perfect and at times, a gut-wrenchingly painful plan for your life."

Pain is a gift from God, yet we often do not think of pain this way. Typically, we don't thank God for massive migraines that make us feel like our brains are going to explode or thank Him for debilitating depression that makes us want to crawl into a hole and hide. We are creatures of comfort who complain and whine about why we must endure any form of hardship.

Approximately a decade ago, I read about Dr. Brand's work with lepers in India. He observed that many of his patients would lose their fingers and toes during the night. He shockingly discovered that rats were chewing on his patients' fingers and toes while they slept, but they never woke up because they had no sense of pain. Dr. Brand also noticed that young children with leprosy would gnaw off their fingers because they had no sense of pain. Thank you for pain, God.

Although pain is one of the numerous results of the original sin, without pain, we would not know when medical attention is needed. James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." When we endure painful trials, we can take joy in knowing that God is at work in us to sanctify us, to make us more like His Son, Jesus. This applies to all kinds of pain - emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical pain.

The good news is that Jesus died on the cross in our place for our sins, suffering the most excruciating pain, the holy wrath of His Father. This includes paying the price for my respectable sins of discontentment and ungratefulness. Jesus understands the pains we go through and endured the greatest pain to redeem us and glorify His Father. 1 Peter 2:24 says, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." One day, death, mourning, crying, and pain will be a thing of the past for all believers in Christ (Revelation 2:14). Draining elbows and drilling kneecaps will be no longer.

Although pain is a huge part of life, God provides us with the grace to persevere. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." Pain shows how weak we are and can demonstrate the comforting, healing, and perfecting power of God.

Like you, I experience different kinds of pain from time to time. In my 40+ years, my body has endured a couple of broken bones, been under the knife on several occasions, been stitched up in multiple spots, and has had numerous cuts, bruises, blisters, sprains, and strains, as well as a few lost toenails and fingernails. Many of these injuries have resulted from activities I once enjoyed, such as kicking a ball and climbing trees. Recently, a painful bout with elbow bursitis and the decision to have ACL surgery this summer have resulted in me throwing myself a grand pity party despite being blessed with so much, and while so many are experiencing far greater pains than me. God, in His mercy, has once again shown me how sinful I am and how much I need Jesus Christ.

God's plan is wonderfully perfect and downright painful at times. I shared a couple of pains I am enduring, and I could share more if I discussed all of the mental, emotional, and spiritual anguish I battle. I thank God He is refining me through painful circumstances, that the cross is a source of comfort, and that our Sovereign Lord will soon provide us glorified bodies free from sin, suffering, and sickness.

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7

Floating Water Vapor

During my trip to Malaysia earlier this month, I was captivated by the blue skies and the amazing array of clouds. Blue skies are not common in Tianjin, and clouds like these simply can't be seen in this neck of the woods.

Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge? Job 37:16