Chip Wheeler.com

Enjoy The Journey

Awesome Sunday yesterday! Finally finished up our “Deadliest Catch 2: Making The Most Of Marriage” series – and I’m fired up at all that God is doing in the marriages in our church. This week we’re starting “Warrior Poets” – and you do not want to miss the first message in this series.

Yesterday was great, but the story behind Sunday is this: Our Kid’s Ministry Is Exploding. We are primed to take the next step in our kid’s ministry – and it starts this week. Don’t forget to get there early (and set your clocks forward for DST) this Sunday. You’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to check your kids in and make your way to the worship center.

Here are some thoughts from yesterday:

1) Little decisions can make a big difference. Thankfully God is big enough to change personal and generational patterns.

2) Marriages that are built to last are built upon the spiritual – not the stuff.

3) Marriages that are built to last are built upon Salvation for security.

4) Marriages that are built to last contradict culture.

5) Finally – Loving Christ Most Enables Us To Love Our Spouse Best!

God is up to some big stuff at RHC! Don’t forget that this Wednesday is “2nd Wednesday.” We are calling the church to spend their lunch hour praying and fasting for the needs of the community and for our church. If you’re in Winder – come on up to the church office and join us for prayer! Have a great week!

I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about upcoming Sundays – as I am right now. Do not miss the next Six Sundays – I believe that this will set the pace for our church in months – and perhaps years to come. Here is whats going on:

March 7: I was suppose to be out this Sunday (meaning – not preaching) – but I really felt like we needed one more week of “Deadliest Catch.” This message, is perhaps, the most important message of the entire series. DO NOT MISS IT! Also our first annual D-Now weekend for students begins today!

March 14: We’re launching our new kid’s ministry. This is an incredible step for our church – and I’m looking forward to all that God is going to do. Also we’re starting “Warrior Poets” – and the first message from this series is something I’ve been waiting to share with our church for months – the text for this message has been rocking my world for weeks. (Don’t forget to set your clock forward on Saturday March 13)!

March 21 – More “Warrior Poets” – how God calls men to be the warrior – but at the same time the poet. You’ll find out what that means, but you may want to watch “Braveheart” to get pumped up for the series.

March 28 – More “Warrior Poets.” Plus – NIGHT OF PRAYER, WORSHIP and COMMUNION. This starts at 6:30 – something we’re restarting in our church – do not miss this (this is in addition to our regular Sunday morning worship).

April 4 - EASTER. Starting a series called “Losing My Religion” – and we’re challenging everyone to invite 10 people for our Easter service. Also – we’ve secured national recording artist and worship leader Matt Papa to join our band and lead worship – it is going to rock out (click here to check out Matt – http://www.mattpapa.com/).

April 11 – Our annual spring festival after worship. Catered meal, games and a lot to do with the kids. It is going to be great!

Get to church early – because we’re expecting some big crowds! Have a great weekend!

Today Sarah Beth and I have been married 10 years! WOW! Ten years. For many people, ten years is a drop in the bucket, but today – we mark a milestone. I can honestly say that I am more in love with her today than I was the day we said “I do.” During my time alone with God, I was compelled to read Proverbs 31:10-31. This is a great passage of Scripture – outlining the perfect wife.

Verse 10 states “An excellent wife who can find?” Well – I have found her. Sarah is incredible. She is a servant, a great mother, an intellectual, has a wonderful smile. She provides for our family – cut coupons out for hours, manages our money and household – and works her fingers to the bone to make sure we “feel” at home. She provides a soft place to fall after a long day. She demonstrates patience and grace when I mess up. She is all together a gift from God to me.

Later on in vs. 29-31 is says “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all…” This is my wife. She surpasses every expectation and desire that had 10 years ago. She is the “excellent” wife. Totally selfless. But this is what I love most – and vs. 30 captures my thoughts perfectly: “a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” My wife loves Jesus – and that allows our marriage to be more than it could ever be.

With that in mind – I want to apply vs. 31 “Praise her.” My wife is incredible – and I am so thankful that she said I do ten years ago today. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since that day – but it has been an awesome ride. I’m thankful for God’s grace and provision. Soli Deo Gloria!

Many people have asked about the audio for our Deadliest Catch 2: Making The Most Of Marriage Series. Most of our messages are available online – click this link to download our current Deadliest Catch 2 teaching series:

http://www.churchatriverhills.com/sermon-archive/deadliest-catch-2/

All sermons: http://www.churchatriverhills.com/sermon-archive

Being a parent of two very inquisitive children, I am bombarded with questions: “Daddy who was Bubba Fett’s dad and which Star Wars was he in?” “Daddy can I have more cookies?” The list can go on and on. When it comes to our spirituality, we tend to ask questions, rather than take action. Here are three common questions that I find myself asking:

Why? The “why” question goes something like this: “Why is this happening to me?” “Why do I feel this way?” Typically “why” questions are great. Einstein would have never given us the theory of relativity if he hadn’t asked why. Many of us, however, don’t get past “why.” “Why” is a going starting point, don’t let  it become a sticking point.

How? The “how” goes something like this: “How am I going to pay these bills?”"How am I ever going to live a life pleasing to God?” How questions are great, when you’re trying to develop a strategy or build a skyscraper, but if we get stuck on “How” – we’ll miss the opportunity to “Trust.” Moses asked “How” – and God said simply – “trust me, I am God.”

What? The what question is my favorite question – because it ultimately leads to action. Questions like “What do you want me to do in this situation?” “What do I need to correct?” “What is preventing me from accomplishing a specific goal?” When I read the book of Acts, I don’t find this early church asking “Why did our leader die?” or “How will we ever go on without Him?” – they asked – “What next?” And the Bible says they turned the world upside down.

Asking Why and How isn’t wrong, but we have to find our way to What!

Awesome day yesterday! Really sensitive topic and from what I’m hearing – God showed up in a big way. Yesterday we discussed how God is glorified through sex. A little awkward, but very relevant. Here are some thoughts from yesterday:

1) Sex was created by God – so therefor it is good. The problem is that sin taints it – and we have to work in order to guard our hearts and minds.

2) God’s intention for our sexuality is that we honor him through our bodies. Ultimately sex is a representation of our relationship with Christ. If we are to be “one” with our spouse then we must embrace faithfulness. Our relationship with Christ is no different.

3) God call us to “Biblical Sex” in order to guard and guide our sexuality. Read I Corinthians 6:15-7:6.

4) My prayer is that God would use this series (and this message in particular) to break down the strongholds in our lives that are effected by sexual sin. Sex is good – when it is practiced in the context of God’s plan.

5) Ultimately we live a life that honors God through our bodies because we are bought with a price – because Christ loves us and has redeemed us for something better.

Yesterday was intense, but from what I’m hearing – God is doing some really cool stuff in marriages and the lives of singles. Have a great week.

Fridays are my day off – I love them. But I don’t believe in sitting around the house (even though I like doing that). Today is family day – so here is my to do list:

1) Sarah Beth and I will celebrate 10 years next Thursday. We’re planning a Caribbean vacation – thanks to airtran and their foul ups – we can fly any where they fly for free. Any suggestions on where to go?

2) I always take Caroline on a lunch date on Fridays – typically to McDonalds. She likes the toys – I like the fries.

3) And of course – I will be engaged in an epic Star Wars battle when my son gets home from school.

I believe God is pleased and honored when we make it a point to spend some “undivided attention” time those you love. Plus – I really love fries and Star Wars!

I’ve been reading through the book of Mark for the last week and I have been overwhelmed by the timeless truths that continue to pour out of the life of Jesus. In Mark 2 Jesus is teaching with authority. What is amazing about this is that Jesus’ teaching overshadows that of the religious teachers of the day. Many people are “powerful” and “charismatic” teachers – in fact many pulpits are filled with communicators who can not only draw a crowd, but inspire people to live a certain way. Unfortunately, many of these guys don’t teach an authentic gospel. There is no reference to repentance or belief, and at the end of the day the hero of their story is not Jesus. But for whatever reason – Christ is proven to be a man who teaches with authority, but he takes this a step further by demonstrating his authenticity. As he is teaching in Mark 2, a demon-possessed man comes to him – and to make a short story shorter – Jesus heals him. The crowds were overwhelmed because Christ not only spoke with authority, but he proved his authority.

Authority, or legitimacy, cannot be measured by the amount of people we get to our church, or the hits we receive on a particular blog. It must be measured in three ways:

1) The Life Lived – Morality

2) The Compassion Demonstrated – Loving Our Neighbor

3) The John The Baptist Factor – “He (Jesus) must become more and I most become less.”

Embracing the gospel for life-change is the ultimate step of authenticity. The gospel is active globally when it is potent in us personally. Communicate with authority, demonstrate with authenticity.

Many times as we prepare for Sunday – everything goes wrong. Part of this is due to the fact that we meet in a temporary facility – and our equipment is bearing the burden of being portable. The main reason – I believe – that we face such adversity is because there is intense spiritual warfare. Understand, I’m not a hocus-pocus Christian that believes that Satan is hiding around every corner and he is the reason bad things happen. In actuality, I trust in a Sovereign and powerful God, and firmly believe that bad things happen because sin has tainted everything. However, the Bible is clear that Christians will encounter intense spiritual warfare – especially when God is doing great things. This was the case prior to the service yesterday. Volunteers got sick (almost all of them), fuses were blown, projectors were thought to be stolen, keys were missing, things were not where they were suppose to be – and the list can go on and on. These seem like minor issues – but when taken as a whole – these small problems can become dangerously discouraging.

Each Sunday I take about an hour to prepare myself mentally and spiritually – and go over my message one last time. Yesterday as I prayed about the things that were occurring all around our staff team, volunteers and the building as a whole – I read Romans 11:6. Paul tells us in this passage that basically – God’s grace would not be grace if works are involved. Meaning this: no matter how hard we strive and work – ultimately we stand on God’s grace. I am so thankful for that reality! Yesterday – even before most of you showed up for worship – we experienced a taste of the precious grace of God. Ultimately, I believe, that spiritual attack is necessary for those people (and churches) who wish to grow upward and outward. With that in mind we can confidently pursue the glory of God by standing on and having confidence in His grace.

So as for yesterday – it rocked!!! Awesome day, and God is definitely moving in the lives of many people. I’m overwhelmed to be a part of the River Hills Family!

Fridays are my day off. Most of the time I find myself catching up with some unfinished church stuff, chores around the house, or running errands. Fridays are great days – time to refresh and relax. What I look forward to most on my day off is the time I spend with my Princess (AKA: Caroline) and Big Boy (AKA: Cade). Caroline gets our of school a little earlier than Cade and we always go to McDonald’s (Caroline says ik-donalds) and then off to Target or Publix where I get both my kids a treat. Then we pick up Big Brother and spend the afternoon goofing off and finding time to hang out. Cade and I generally end up watching Man vs. Wild – and try have that guy time while Caroline takes a nap. Fridays are really nothing to talk about, but it is a time when they have Daddy’s undivided attention.

God has been impressing on my heart that River Hills Church needs to call men to radical masculinity. To embrace what it means to be follower of Christ and take the lead in serving our families, church and world. Not only that – men need to embrace their masculinity. During the month of March we’ll be walking through the life of King David and discuss what it means to be a “warrior” and yet a “poet.” Can’t wait – but as for now I’m going to attemp to practice what I preach – back to Princess and Big Boy! See you Sunday.