Please Stop Pecking Yourself

Living Lesson: Please Stop Pecking Yourself

By: Christopher Wiles

     On Wednesday evening I arrived at the Wiles residence at 10:30pm after late night hospital and home visits.  Although I was tired and my family was already asleep, I went through my usual nightly wind down rituals, which includes emptying all my pockets on the kitchen table and feeding our eight new baby chicks. This night, the contents of my pockets included something out of the ordinary: a high powered green laser pointer that is used for presentations at church.  A laser pointer and chickens were both sitting before me; you smarties out there can probably guess where this is going.

     After 5 minutes of watching chicks run in circles pecking the bedding as they chase this wayward green dot, I got the bright idea of putting the dot on the side of a chick.  This chick wasn’t about to ignore the wing I was highlighting and it began furiously pecking itself trying to removed the intangible object it thought was on its wing.  Realizing the potential harm this animal could do to itself as a flurry of beaks, wings, and feathers flew about,  I put the laser pointer away and ruminated on what I witnessed.

     We are not all that different from this chick.  How many times has our culture highlighted a harmless, natural, and normal part of us driving us to “peck” at ourselves inflicting self harm?   The world says it doesn’t like your size, your hair color, your body shape, and your skin tones, so we die our gray hair with harsh chemicals, change our skin tones with harsh tanning beds, and develop destructive eating disorders.  So many of these activities have been proven to be harmful to men and women’s health, yet we continue to peck away at our natural selves with these activities year after year, rather than being content with what God created us to be.  Even I struggle at times with the pasty white skin leading to farmer’s tan lines before going to the beach, the thought of dying my hair as I find more gray encroaching, or finding unnatural ways to improve my physique before we going on vacations. 

     We could all find perfectly normal areas of our lives to peck away at as we try to appease the culture gods of modern media, but like these chicks, we would do more harm than good in removing what is unique to us.  I want to encourage you today to remember that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).  Remember that God doesn’t look at the outward appearance of a person but "the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).  Remind yourself that you don’t need to change your appearance to be a “new you” but follow Christ, “for if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold,  the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Help Wanted: Leadership - Message Minute

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

Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God.  Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”  One of the common complaints I hear in churches and communities is that our leaders are diminishing while our couch potatoes, deficients, and people expecting only to be served is increasing.  To combat this crisis, leadership training programs are cropping up all over the United States.  

You can see it in Washington High Schools with the CEO class, Beta Club, or National Honor Society.  You see it within the city’s adult community with the Leadership Training Program hosted by Purdue Extension.  You saw it yesterday as many of the areas leaders gathered at East Side Park to collaborate in improving the county’s public spaces.  You’ll see it this Sunday at Washington Church of Christ as we host a “Leadership Summit” with SteveDiggs of the “No Debt No Sweat Seminar.”  (P.S. You’re Invited, 3 Sessions, 9:30am, 5pm, 6pm.)

All over our area, we have seen the need to build leaders that we can remember, leaders that we can consider, and leaders that we can imitate.  It’s time to step up, because we need good leaders.  Would you like to become one in your home, family, or community?  I’m happy to help. Contact me through www.topherwiles.com, you’ll be glad you did.

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.  

You Can't Win Em All - Message Minute

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

Last night was a tough 1 point loss for the Hatchets in the sectional basketball tournament (click here to listen to the game on WAMW).  My heart goes out to those students, parents, and coaches that gave it their all.  My own highschool sports career saw many ups and downs playing baseball, wrestling, and serving from 1^st seed on the tennis team.  My favorite memory was a sectional tennis tournament on my birthday where I received a standing ovation from the crowd of coaches, parents, and players who gathered to watch an epic battle.

Even though I lost my best match 19 years ago ending my highschool career, I look back with fondness  on the memory because of the wisdom I’ve gained.  I know now that how I played, how I shook hands, and the relationships I made during the season, meant so much more than the score of that match.  It's nice to be the winner, but no one wins all the time, and over time, most of us do realize there's a whole lot more important things to dwell on than winning and losing. 

FFHE Racquet Club in 2015

As a dad who still plays and coaches competitive sports (click here to see a few of the teams I've coached), I know that I won't win them all.  But I take special comfort in a Psalm that helps carry me through when the losses come.  Psalm 37:23-24 says, "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in the Lord’s way, though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. "

Above all the winning and losing, focus on delighting on the Lord, and the God we created heaven and earth will pick you up when you fall.  

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.  

Anchor for the Soul

Good morning, this is Topher from Washington Church of Christ with your message minute. 

If you were at East Side Park like the rest of Daviess County yesterday you may have been treated to a funny sight out on Baumert Lake.  I had a couple of boys that wanted to go fishing in our little flat bottom boat on the windiest day of the year, which treated onlookers to the sight of me struggling to keep our row boat in place in the midst of a fierce gale because my 10 lb. anchor just wouldn't hold.

What is your anchor in life when the wind beats you up and tosses you about?  What do you hold on to to make sure you don't lose your place?  Hebrews 6 contains these words: "God made his promise that we may be greatly encouraged.  We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul."  Did you catch that?  What is the anchor for the soul in tumultuous times?  It's hope, especially hope in God's promises. 

If today is a tough Monday for you or someone else.  Focus on your anchor, which is hope.  Hope that tomorrow won't be Monday anymore.  Hope that Friday will eventually come.  Hope that this season too shall pass.  Hope that God is faithful and His promise of heaven is secure.  Hope, the anchor for your soul.

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. 

David's Sacrifice - Message Minute

Good morning, this is Topher from Washington Church of Christ, here with your Message Minute

David was a man after God’s own heart and he reflected that in loving God with all of his soul. In 2 Samuel 24 we’re told of an Israelite who offered to supply David with the wood and animals for a specific sacrifice. But David responded:  “… I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing…”2Sa 24:24 

David treasured God so much that he was committed to giving something to God that actually cost him something. 

Martin Luther once said, “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.” 

Today, if you treasure something as worth living for, whether that is a family member, a social movement, or especially your faith in Christ, then, rather than neglect it, invest your time, energy, and resources into it.  You’ll be glad you did.    


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. 

Winter Blessings - Message Minute

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

I'm seeing the posts becoming more frequent now on my Facebook and Instagram news feed.  Even though we've had a very mild winter compared to last year, people are saying that they are absolutely done with winter and spring fever has taken over. 

While hope does spring eternal, I encourage you to look for the blessings in the here and now that makes not only tomorrow worth hoping for, but everyday worth living.  

Look for the little blessings such as the complex design of the snowflakes hitting your windshield, the soothing feel of a mug of hot chocolate in your hands, the opportunity to snuggle with a loved one for combined warmth, the pristine white beauty of a snow covered field, or the glittery shine the snow takes on as the sun comes up. 

Paul says in 2Corinthians 9:8 "and God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 

Look for those blessings God is giving you so that you can enjoy every day.  You'll be glad you did.

  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.