Thursday, May 26, 2016

What Do I Need - Living Lesson

Living Lesson: What do I need?
By: Christopher Wiles

“What do I need?”  Sometimes I wake up like America, feeling a little drained, so I asked the question today, “What do I need?”  Asking this deeply thought provoking meta-cognitive question about my own spiritual condition, I came up with more answers than Trump has boasts, than Hillary has lies, than America has problems.  Delving into the depths of my own spiritual psyche looking for solutions is like cracking open a fortune cookie looking for an answer to solve all my problems, it’s worthless.  Realizing the futility in answering the question by myself, I sought to find the answer to my spiritual needs through my daily calendar Bible readings.  It involves one part OT History, two parts wisdom Literature, one part NT inspiration.  Surely God would give me something interesting and exciting for me to achieve today spiritually! 

Check out the theme laid out in my reading below.

Psalm 119:97-98 “Oh, how I love your instructions!  I think about them all day long.  Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.”

Proverbs 16:20 “Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.”

John 18:20 “Jesus replied, ‘Everyone knows what I teach.  I have preached regularly…’”

2 Chronicles 35:4  “Prepare yourselves according to your fathers' houses, according to your divisions, following the written instruction of David king of Israel and the written instruction of Solomon his son.”

Thanks God (sarcasm intended).   I wanted some excitement, something passionate, amazing intellectual entertainment, or something so thought provokingly wild that I’ll mull over it all day long.  Yet I find what I need to find spiritual life, joy, and guidance is not in all the spiritual fluff given by deep televangelists or the latest best seller Christian author on the bookshelf.  What I need spiritually is simply the Lord’s instructions, His teachings, and His preachings from His Holy Word, and then I need to listen to it. 

Maybe America and I have a lot in common.  Maybe we don’t need to solve our problems by asking ourselves, by entertaining the issues away, by the next well written party platform, or by following a popular pontificating politician.  Maybe we all simply need the Lord’s instructions. 

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

In-Law Outlaws


Good morning, it's Topher, back with another message minute. 

School has ended and the season of family vacations has begun!  Yet you may find yourself wondering, "Why do I ever pay money in travel to visit people that irritate me?"  So traveling with family and to family isn't always everyone's favorite moment.  I get it, they talk different than you, they believe different than you, they even go fishing different than you, that's the worst.  By the end of a trip you view your in-laws as out-laws! 


For a positive family experience, take a page from Paul's book of "How-To-Get-Along" in Romans 12.  The church in Rome struggled with two different groups of the Christian family who were different theologically, traditionally, and probably had different accents, so he gives them this nugget of principle in verse 18 "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all people." 


I know, it says, "if it is possible".  What you and I should focus on is the "as much as depends on you" part.  All you can control is you, not anyone else.  In verse 10 Paul gives the nuts and bolts to change our attitude to live peaceably saying, "give honor and preference to one another."   That's right, treat that in-law outlaw as someone of honor, more important than yourself.  Consider them worth your effort at peace and you'll have a visit at peace with them, as much as it depends on you.  

Message Minutes are sponsored by  Washington Church of Christ and recorded for the public 107.9 The Memories WAMW morning radio program.  They air at approximately 7:35am on Weekday Mornings.

To find more of the Message Minutes that have been uploaded to this blog CLICK HERE.  

Monday, May 23, 2016

Blessings In Wait - Message Minute


**Mistake Notification**  Yes, I did rush things a bit when I mistakenly said, "My four YEAR old daughter!"  Lol, I'm rushing a little too much aren't I?  I hope you enjoyed the laugh!

Good morning, this is Topher from Washington Church of Christ bringing you a message minute.  

I’m joined by a special guest this morning, my 4 day old daughter, Clara.  Clara, say something to the listeners, …..  Alright, maybe we’re rushing things a little bit.  Speaking of rushing, here’s something I wrote to encourage you just moments before Clara was born.  


I quote:  “I’m waiting in the hospital, in mere minutes we'll finally know all about our fourth child by seeing him/her face to face.  Yet I’m in no hurry.  It drives some crazy when we wait to find out the sex of the baby. If I had a nickel for every person that said, "Oh, I just can't wait"..... as if it wasn't really up to them.

Hurrying, rushing, peeking, pushing, these actions caused by impatience just wear us and others around out.  

Patiently waiting is on the Lord’s good timing is something we desperately need to learn, because we are blessed by it!  

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.  - Isaiah 40:31

https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif This morning, you may be rushing to work, rushing to your last day of school, rushing to get a project finished.  Please remember this old counter cultural adage affirmed by the Bible.  Good things really do come to those who wait, especially when waiting on the Lord!


Message Minutes are sponsored by  Washington Church of Christ and recorded for the public 107.9 The Memories WAMW morning radio program.  They air at approximately 7:35am on Weekday Mornings.

To find more of the Message Minutes that have been uploaded to this blog CLICK HERE

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Blessings in Wait - Living Lesson



by: Christopher Wiles 
 
The wait is over, we now have 4!
It is early Thursday morning as I write this bulletin article and wait by Ashley's side in the hospital. In mere minutes we'll finally know all about our fourth child by seeing him/her face to face.

In September 1992, Alabama expressed well the sad sentiment of our culture when they sang the song, "I'm in a Hurry (and I Don't Know Why)".  Christians are no exception in expressing their own slavery to the impatient mantra.  It drives some people crazy to wait in the hospital.  It drives some crazy when we wait to find out the sex of the baby. If I had a nickel for every person that said, "Oh, I just can't wait"..... as if it wasn't really up to them.

Ashley and I have been taught a few things about waiting from those who are wiser than us. Consider the advice we heeded when we we chose to NOT kiss on the lips till the day we said, "I do."  I can attest,  that was an amazing and memorable first kiss!  We believe there are blessings that come from waiting; not knowing everything immediately, not having sex before marriage, not peeking at Christmas presents, not having a car loan, not knowing if your baby is a boy or a girl, not indulging in instant gratification.  From my perspective, things are more enjoyable when you let the anticipation build for that big surprise, wait for that new car you till you pay cash for it, and wait to give your child that precious name till you see them.  You may call us old fashioned,  and maybe we are our of touch with the times on babies, loans, and kisses, but at least on some spiritual topics we can affirm with authority that it is better to wait.

Heaven is one of those topics that we believe God purposefully chose to make us wait and not to give us a limited description.  People who can't wait will write many stories about heaven, and many will be false like Alex Malarkey's book,  "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven. " Yet our impatient culture will continue to devour books about heaven,  even if the authors admits the farce, because "We just can't wait..."  Yet David says that waiting is a must to enjoy that blessed land of the living.

"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" - Psalm 27:13-14

So we urge you, if you really want to wait,  you can!  Don't rush into everything.  Don't be anxious to know everything.  Don't believe you have to peek.  You have a choice.  Good things really do come to those who wait, especially when waiting on the Lord!

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31

Friday, May 13, 2016

Love Never Fails - Message Minute


Good morning, this is Topher from Washington Church of Christ, bringing you a positive way to start your day. 

Last night, I sat surveying the beautiful scene of my three children laughing, playing, and loving each other.  At times I wonder, my wife and I love these kids so much, how in the world will we be able to give the same amount of love to a fourth child, who is due to enter the world in a little less than a week?

We often erroneously think of love like jelly being spread on a PB&J sandwich.  The more sandwiches you make, the thinner you have to spread that jelly to make it last longer.

But Love from God doesn't work that way.  He's an infinite God, and He gives you a never ending jelly jar of love, from which you spread all the love you can handle. 

We have an infinite God, who loves us so much that John said in his 1st letter, "God IS love." (1 John 4:8)  The love that comes from God between best friends, a husband and wife, between a parent and child, will never run out.  

Believe in the message from Psalm 107:1 which says, "Oh, thank God - He's so good!  His love never runs out."

Message Minutes are sponsored by  Washington Church of Christ and recorded for the public 107.9 The Memories WAMW morning radio program.  They air at approximately 7:35am on Weekday Mornings.

To find more of the Message Minutes that have been uploaded to this blog CLICK HERE.