Reconciliation Day

Living Lesson: Reconciliation Day
by: Christopher Wiles

photo credit: StarTribune

Can you believe it?  I missed Reconciliation Day!  According to the calendar, April 2^nd was reconciliation day, and in my opinion, it’s a great holiday to follow April Fool's day. I remember pulling pranks of forking yards, putting Kool-Aid in the shower head, and prank calling people asking, “Is your refrigerator running?”  Reconciliation day was started in 1989 by newspaper columnist Ann Landers. The intent of this day is to patch up relationships and make amends, especially if you made someone mad by filling their yard with clear plastic forks.  

For the followers of Christ, we reconcile not because the calendar tells us to, but because in 2 Corinthians 5:18, “God reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”  You and I are called to help people reconcile with each other and with God.  How are you doing with that ministry God has given you?

photo credit: the Guardian

Take the next steps in letting go of your grudges. Pick up a pen and paper to start a letter. Open your email app to start a relationship anew.  Maybe you should make that phone call that will reconcile yourself with your loved ones.  Whatever avenue of communication you choose, be sure to speak kind words, say you’re sorry for your past mistakes, and forgive others as you would have them forgive you. You'll be glad you did. 

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” – Romans 5:10

Living Lessons are articles written for the weekly Washington Church of Christ bulletin.  You can find more by clicking HERE or searching for "Living Lesson" in the right sidebar search.

So Many Super Heroes

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

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It's amazing the amount of super hero movies, books, shows, and action figures that are being produced today.  Just walk through the toy isle of Walmart to see any amazing amount these heroes.  They are created to represent so many power of greatness:  running fast, invisibility, super strength, telekinesis, and we're just scratching the surface.

Some say we have so many amazing super heroes today because people feel a great amount of fear and desire to be saved.

There are attributes in the Bible that are developed, disciplined, and inspired inside of human beings by God's Spirit that bring about a lot of relief in our life from the fears that surround us.  Oh, and when we share them with others, we become heroes to them.  Paul calls them "fruit of the Spirit" and lists them as, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Then there is a true hero that history records coming in this world to save us, the one and only Jesus the Christ.  Who else would sacrifice so much?  Today, be a hero by modeling Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit, the real super powers, that God grants.  You'll be glad you did. 

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  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.
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Peyton & Fundies

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

credit: pinterest user - Bill Agee

I was surprised to see Peyton Manning trending in my twitter feed this morning.  Being from Tennessee, relocating to Indiana, I was able to enjoy Peyton as a QB for the Tennessee Vols and Indianapolis Colts, and I genuinely enjoy Peyton's personality.  In a news article by the Indy Star yesterday (catch it here), Manning shared this wisdom with some Hoosier student-athletes.

"If you ever think the little things don’t matter, and you can brush those aside, I promise you in whatever you’re doing, your game’s going to slip.”

Just like a good QB needs to continue working on the regular disciplines of the snap, huddle communication, and footwork, we too should focus on the fundamental daily disciplines in life.  The Bible says, Rejoice always (1 Thess 5:16), Pray continually (1Thess 5:17), be thankful in everything (1 Thess 5:18), read the Bible daily (Acts 17:11), and honor everyone (1 Peter 2:17).  These are some of the daily discipline fundamentals that often get lost in hectic schedules, and if they do, your game of life is going to slip. 

So today, pick one of these basic life fundamentals to focus on, study, and practice.  Decide to smile everywhere you go.  Decide to pray morning, noon, and night.  Decide to really meditate on the good Word of God.  Decide to treat others better than you want to be treated.  Trust me, focus on the fundamentals.  You'll be glad you did. 

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  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.
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Tough Wisdom on Tax Day

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

You know, America really is the land of opportunity because every single person has the opportunity to become a tax-payer!  In case you haven't heard, TODAY IS TAX DAY, the one day of the year that makes more liars out of people than golf! 

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With all the joking aside, can I just share with you some thoughts that help me through taxes?  As I did the dirty deed of dropping a check in the mail, I tried to remember the following.

• I am blessed with a free education.
• I enjoy safe drinking water.
• I have parks to play in.
• I have paved roads to drive on.
• I have few cares because a relatively safe place to live compared to much of the rest of the world.

I know that tax day can hurt, especially if you drop a check in the mail like me.  Trust me though, it'll soften the blow if you try to remember the wisdom in 1 Thessalonians, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess 5:18)

So today, if it is a day you dread, try to give thanks for the benefits you have received because of it.  You'll be glad you did. 

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  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.
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Beat that Easter Hangover

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

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I know what you’re thinking.  Good morning, yeah right!  I know you don't want to go to work today.  I know you don't want your normal routine back.  I know you don't want to do your chores.  I know you are loathing school at this moment. 

Let's face it, this past weekend was good.  You had great weather to spend outside.  You enjoyed a lot of good time with family all around you.  Odds are, you spent some extra blessed time honoring the Risen Savior this weekend.  Now you feel like it all has to end because BAM, just like that, life has come back!

What you're experiencing is "Easter Hangover."  It comes from not having much of family, friends, faith, and fair skies in your regular schedule, then getting tons of it all in one weekend.  It can be rather intoxicating.

There's good news though.  Daily life doesn't have to be deficient of these wonderful things.  You just have to devote a little extra time in your daily schedule to enjoy these blessings of life.  So start this morning by reading or listening to a bit of the Good Word.  Write a quick short letter or text message telling your family how glad you were to see them.  Be determined to encourage whatever friend you see next today.  Go outside on your lunch break for five minutes.  Make sure to thank God during the day and before going bed.  Get yourself in a good daily routine filled with God's blessings so you don't suffer from a Monday morning Easter Hangover.  You'll be glad you did. 

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  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.
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Spiritual Hangover

Living Lesson: Spiritual Hangover

by: Christopher R. Wiles

Credit: The idea of a Spiritual Hangover came from David Srygley of Corpus Christi, TX.

What’s better than an aspirin and a cup of coffee?

I’ve worked with alcoholics in and outside of ministry and I’ve often explained the simple physiological effects of a hangover. People consume so much alcohol, which imitates certain chemicals in their brain, that their brain ceases to produce those much needed pain killing chemicals naturally. When they wake up the next afternoon, their body has absorbed most of the alcohol but their brain has not yet begun producing the natural pain killers. Therefore, everything hurts their head! They have headaches. Lights hurt their eyes. Sounds hurt their ears. Viola, a hangover!  They “overdid” it and are now paying the price.

So how does one have a “Spiritual Hangover”? It’s probably obvious, but let me explain. You went to church on Easter, sang songs, watched videos, fellowshipped with a hundred people you haven’t seen since last Easter, and heard or participated in sermons that overloaded you with thoughts and images of a loving God who died for your sins and a loving Father who glorified his Son by raising him from the dead. It’s pretty intoxicating stuff.

Now in the days after, all that joy, fellowship, Bible teaching, and singing start wearing off. Your life is such that you have no way to “normally” produce that joy, fellowship, and love. There is no time with God in your busy life. There is no time for church with your busy schedule. There is no means for maintaining the level of spiritual food on which you happily gorged on Easter Sunday. You begin to feel the pressure building in your head. You begin to feel the burden of life on your shoulders. You begin to feel the world entangling your feet. It’s going to be bad, and you know it. You think to yourself, “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.” If we are talking about alcohol, you’re right, but we’re talking about worship of God!

This problem isn’t new. Moses, in a similar way, experienced a “Mt. Sinai Spiritual Hangover.” Whenever Moses appeared before God his face glowed, but after a while the glory would begin to dull. So Moses made a veil to wear over his face so that the people wouldn’t see that the glory was fading (Gen. 34:33-35). Of course, whenever he went to speak to God, the glory was recharged and he would take the veil off so the people could see his face shining.

Yet it doesn’t have to be this way for us. We don’t have to suffer an Easter Spiritual Hangover. We can, instead, continue to spend time with God—daily, in fact. We can continue to learn from God’s Word, to enter His courts with thanksgiving, and to fill our lives with joy and fellowship. The spiritual “high” of Easter is actually available every day to those who live in the Kingdom of God!  We don’t even need a veil because God’s glory in the lives of those living daily for Him NEVER FADES!

“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, ¹³ not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.  ¹⁶ But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” – 2 Corinthians 3:12,13,16

Be done with hangovers and veils by turning to the Lord and let’s fill ourselves daily with His goodness!

Living Lessons are articles written for the weekly Washington Church of Christ bulletin.  You can find more by clicking HERE or searching for "Living Lesson" in the right sidebar search.

Your Identification Please...

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

Yes, I confess, I've been pulled over a time or two: twice when I was 16, once at 18, 21, 26, and 34.   Each and every time, those wonderful men in uniform wanted some information about me immediately, so they asked for my ID. 

In America, we have an amazing database system implemented that gives a lot of information about you based on the Identification Card that you give to the police officer, an ID card that you aren't supposed to leave home without. 

On Thursday of the Holy Week, just after Jesus has identified his betrayer, he gives his disciples an ID Card, a way that everyone would know who they serve, who they pledge allegiance to, whose follower they were.  In John 13, Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  (John 13:34-35)

Friends, an ID card is a useful thing to always have with you, but there is identification that is better than your driver's license that you shouldn't leave home without, Love. 

Today, choose to show an extra measure of the love of Christ to one another and others will know that you are His disciples.  You'll be glad you did.  

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You intended to harm...

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Good morning, this is Topher from Washington Church of Christ, bringing you a positive Message Minute.

Historically, Wednesday of the Holy Week sees very little teaching from Jesus in the gospels.  Yet all three of the synoptic gospels record the plotting and planning of betrayal by the religious elite and one of Jesus' own disciples, Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:1-16).

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Jesus isn't the first one to be betrayed by someone that should have loved him.  I remember back in the book of Genesis when Joseph had been given a rough way to go from his brothers.  This is no small sibling rivalry, the boys sold Joseph off into slavery!  Even when they made amends and Joseph treated them kindly, they still didn't trust him, which prompts Joseph to share this nugget of wisdom about God's plan.

He said, "Don't be afraid… You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish...the saving of many lives." (Excerpts from Genesis 50:19-20)

If you feel as though you have been betrayed, that someone who should love you doesn't, that forces of evil are conspiring against you, then do these three things. 

• One, continue to serve God. 
• Two, know that along with Jesus and Joseph, you're in good company. 
• Three, God is allowing you a history that may save others. 

So, trust in God's saving Grace today.  You'll be glad you did.  

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Teaching Tuesday on the Holy Week

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

About 1984 years ago, give or take a few, Jesus was in Jerusalem during what we now call the "Holy Week" of Passover.  On Tuesday of that week, the man who was the Christ, the Messiah, was teaching on weddings, marriage, and the Kingdom of God.  These teachings stunned and astonished some of the religious elites called the Sadducees. (Matthew 22:33)

Upon seeing that their political and theological opponents were stumped, the Pharisees got together and put one expert of the law to test Jesus with a question.  He asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"   (Matt 22:36)  Jesus gave my favorite reply to all the many questions he was asked here in Matthew 22.  Here's the Topher summary of what Jesus said in just seven short words.  

The Son of God basically said, "Loving God and Loving People fulfills everything."(summary of Matthew 22:37-40, see also Deuteronomy 6:4-6 for the quote in the Old Testament)

This Tuesday, we could do no better than to focus the truth that Jesus shared on a Tuesday so long ago.  Friends, simply endeavor to Love God and Love People today.  You'll be glad you did. 

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