Chip Wheeler.com

Enjoy The Journey

Incredible day at River Hills yesterday! Every week we’re breaking a  new attendance record! We started our new teaching series “Deadliest Catch Part 2: Making The Most Out Of Marriage.” Here are a few thoughts from yesterday:

1) If our marriages are going to be all that God wants them to be – we must become servants.

2) Conflict begins with rejection, but health conflict ends with reconciliation. We must be willing to reach out and forgive.

3) Praying for a changed heart is a big step toward reconciling in marriage. God changes hearts – not us.

4) Three stages of marriage: The Honeymoon, Disillusionment, and Commitment. If we are to make it to the commitment stage – we must learn how to work through conflict.

Next week – we’ve got some special things happening:

- Julian Drive will be leading us in worship. They will be talking about their recent trip to Haiti and how to support orphans. Also – we will be taking up our “Change Haiti” water-bottles.

- Get there early – we are expecting a packed house.

- We will be giving away a gift-card to go out for Valentines Day to a lucky couple this Sunday. It could be you!!!

God is up to some great stuff at River Hills. Looking forward to this Sunday!

We had a first at River Hills yesterday: people (including myself) got emotional because of finances. Not the angry, grievous, irritated, fearful emotion that normally comes to mind when we think about finances – but more of a recognition of how God can use us and our resources when we have things in financial order. What is so amazing about Scripture is that when you approach it from a “God is smarter than I am perspective” – it really makes sense and much of the time it cuts us to the core of who we are. God is truly moving in our midst, and I pray that each of us take notice of something special that is happening (I for one am humbled). Here are some thoughts:

1) If we are to “Get Smart” financially for 2010 – we must make some changes instead of just stating goals. Ultimately we want our “treasure” to become a “tool” that works for us.

2) God’s desire is that we value wisdom more than wealth. What is interesting is that we pray for God to bless us financially, yet we aren’t always wise in how we manage it (ouch that hurts).

3) When we approach finances from a Biblical perspective and learn to manage it properly – we find that God calls us to: manage (budget), save, invest, get out of debt and spend wisely.

4) God’s ultimate plan for our finances is that we become generous. The video this week rocked my world in light of all that we are seeing happen in Haiti. When we have our finances in order we can do things like adopt or help someone else adopt children. We can help those who are elderly and plant churches around the world.

Finances are never easy to talk about, but what happened yesterday was amazing. Great things are happening.

God continues to amaze each Sunday at River Hills Church. There are so many new faces and the opportunities to bring truth and people together abound. If you couldn’t make it Sunday – here is what you missed….

1) We announced Sunday that our Christmas offereing totaled over $4000 – that is AWESOME!!! A portion of that is being sent to dig fresh water wells in Africa. Through your contributions during Christmas – over 200 children will have fresh water for life (it takes $10 to provide a child with fresh water for life). We celebrated this by giving everyone a water bottle and challenged our church to collect spare change for the next three weeks in the bottle to help provide relief in Haiti.

2) We also issued up a challenge to help send people to help in the effort in Haiti. Many people have responded – and we are going to start hammering out the details soon. If God is leading you to go – specifically if you have medical or search and rescue background – let us know.

3) Continued our series “Get Smart for 2010″ by discussing time management. God calls us to redeem the time by honoring him with it. Proverbs 6:6 challenges us to become like the ant – be wise and diligent.

4) God sets up three filters for redeeming the time in Ephesians 5:1-6:9 – a) Follow Your Faith, b) Live Our Your Core Value By Focusing Those You Love, and c) Work Right.

5) Big Idea From Yesterday: Get Smart By Being Devoted and Being Diligent.

Don’t miss this Sunday – we’re going to throw a whole new twist on “Get Smart” about finances – do not miss it. Have a great week!

Unfortunately most Americans have never heard much about Haiti. We live in our own world with our own problems. What is most unfortunate is that we don’t hear about places like Haiti or Sumatra (Tsunami 2004) until there is a huge natural disaster. These are wonderful people – just like you and I – who now need our help. The call of the gospel is not only to express truth verbally, but also to demonstrate Christ through acts of service, mercy and kindness. The vast majority of us will never touch the sands of Haiti, but we can serve those people – and what better time than now.

This Sunday we will be offering a challenge to our congregation to be the light of the world to the people of Haiti. Here are four ways you can serve these peole in the name of Christ:

1) Go to Haiti. Many of you have medical expertise and skills that can be of great benefit to these people. If you feel God is leading you – let us know and we’ll find a way to make it happen.

2) Give. This is the easiest and most practical way to serve them. We are networked with thousands of churches who do and will be sponsoring teams in Haiti to serve the needs of those people. In fact, we have missionaries and relief workers on the ground now! They need funding for supplies and travel expenses. We will be raising money for Haiti beginning this Sunday.

3) Sponsor. If you know of someone who feels called to go – sponsor them and help them get there.

4) Pray. The Bible tells us that the prayers of a righteous man are effective. Pray that God would:

a) Heal and Restore.

b) Protect and Guide.

c) Use this tragedy to bring people to Himself.

Our mission is to bring truth and people together – now is the most practical time to put feet to this vision. Blessing to you and yours!

Awesome  day yesterday! I know I say this all the time, but I personally enjoyed it. We launched our January teaching schedule “Get Smart For 2010.” We had a packed house – the largest crowd we’ve ever had on a Sunday (I know I said that last week – but guess what – we tied last weeks record). We are experiencing significant growth – in every area. Here is something to think about: last year on January 11 we had 13 more people total than we had in our children’s ministry yesterday. That is exciting.

Here are some thoughts from yesterday:

1) We walked through Proverbs 3:5-8 – all about trusting God. If we are trust God fully, it begins when we recognize that we can’t lean on our own understanding, experiences or education – we must rely helplessly on Christ.

2) When we acknowledge Christ – he removes the obstacles in our path.

3) Big Idea: God turns the helpless into the hopeful when we acknowledge/trust Him.

I am so amazed at all that God is doing. Thankful to be your pastor – and thankful for River Hill Church. Please make it a point this week to “Get Smart” by taking a step of trust “in” or “with” your life. Have a great week!

Typically I think through different resolutions or goals that I would like to accomplish for the new year, but since I’m still working on two of my 2009 resolutions – I’m going to offer four prayers for 2010 from Proverbs 4:23-27. During the month of January, I’m walking through the book of Proverbs. These prayers come from my time with Solomon, and others, as they speak God’s word to us.

Verse 23 challenges us to “keep your heart with all vigilance” because “for from it flows the springs of life.” The idea of keeping your heart focuses on protecting oneself from those things that would corrupt the well spring of life that flows through every individual believer and/or church. So here are four very short prayers that I’m praying for myself and for River Hills today:

1) God protect my thoughts from things that would corrupt me. Protect the mindset and worldview of the body of River Hills Church, and may we feast up Paul’s admonishment found in Philippians 4:8.

2) Protect my eyes from the things that would nullify a testimony of a changed life through Christ. May the grace in which I stand be radiance of the glory of Jesus. May the scales of injustice fall from the eyes of our body at River Hills, and may we recognize the hurting and hurtful and seek to bring truth and people together. May we live out Proverbs 4:25.

3) Season my speech with the talk of godliness, and may the tongue of our church be marinated in the voice of truth. Keep us in Proverbs 4:23. May we put unwholesome talk behind us.

4) Keep our paths straight. May your vision, your direction and your guidance be the fuel of our soul, and may the truth of Scripture be the compass for our hearts. Remind us of Proverbs 4:27 – and may we take the next step – although it be a shadowed step – in faithfulness and confidence in Your providence.

May this come to pass due to your great will and your renown – sola christo. Amen.

Great day at River Hills yesterday! We welcomed our new Executive Pastor, Spencer Breedlove, and his family to their new extended family at River Hills. There was such a great energy and excitement – plus it was the largest crowd we’ve ever had on a Sunday morning. It was great to hear Spencer speak during our Sunday morning worship service – I always love sitting next to my wife during church (don’t get to do that much). Here are a few thoughts/reflections from yesterday:

1)  My favorite line of the morning “Faith dictates behavior.” If we are to walk by faith and not by sight (II Cor. 2:7) – then big steps of faith are required. This left me asking myself – what step of faith (obedience) is God calling me to take?

2) The story of how Spencer and Lisa adopted their daughter – was amazing. I had to lean and tell my wife to not get any ideas . Seriously – one of the greatest witnessing tools that we have to our culture and beyond is adoption.

3) I loved the interview between Lisa (Spencer’s wife) and Sarah Beth. It was great to hear from the ladies who support and pray for us more than anyone else. Amazing perspective.

4) We had a packed children’s ministry yesterday – and to top it all off – the heat was not working in one of the rooms. Needless to say – it was a little crazy. We will have the heat repaired (or another solution) next week.

5) As Spencer talked about the story of how God led him and Lisa to River Hills – I was reminded of how detailed God has been in this entire process. I’m grateful for Spencer’s willingness to take a huge step of faith – Faith dictates behavior (obedience).

6) I left Sunday extremely fired up about 2010. Please be praying about all that God is going to do in the life of our church and in our community.

Sola Gloria Deo – have a great week.

We finished up the fourth Sunday of “Re-Advent” – and if you’ve been keeping up with the readings (www.riverhillssmallgroups.blogspot.com), this has been a great time of expectation and renewal. Personally, it has been great to sit and think through different themes and topics that we encounter as we march toward Christmas. Yesterday we focused on the theme of Joy by discussing Matthew 2:1-12 – the story of the wise-men. This is the first time that I’ve tackled this passage – and it totally whipped me. Here are some thoughts from yesterday:

1) Joy is found in submission, not just service. The wise-men came looking for a King – yearning to worship, desiring to submit. Yes they were servants and gift givers, but the real thought here is submission.

2) Follow the wise-men’s example by being consumed by what is known rather than what is seen. What was seen was a star, but what was known was the promise of Scripture – that a King would be born in Bethlehem.

3) Commitment to calling is more important than what is circumstantial or current. Our calling – whether it be situational, for a season, for life or more importantly obedience to Scripture – is worth fighting for.

4) Giving is more about worship than sacrifice. Although the gifts that they brought the Christ-child were somewhat odd, they represented items used in worship. They came to worship – not to give.

5) Re-Advent yourself this Christmas by finding joy in submitting to Christ – first and foremost.

Awesome day yesterday – and I’m fired up about seeing all of you at the Christmas Eve Service at 5 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Have a great day. Merry Christmas.

I love reading Mark Driscoll – God has used him and the elders of Mars Hill Church in Seattle to do great things for His name. What I most appreciate about Driscoll is his commitment to Biblical manhood and expository preaching. Take a moment to read this blog entry – http://theresurgence.com/16-daddy-christmas-tips – and try to make application this Christmas.

By the way, be on the lookout for a new teaching series coming in the near future about Biblical Manhood called “Warrior Poets: Loving God While Embracing Masculinity.”

During my “Re-Advent” reading this week, I came across Luke 7:18-23. This passage deals with John the Baptist sending messengers to ask Jesus if he really is the Messiah. What is hanging over this entire text is that John faces persecution and arrest, which will ultimately lead to his death. John has given his entire life to be the forerunner for Jesus; to prepare people for the Messiah. Needless to say, John wants to be sure that Jesus is really the Messiah. Christ responds to John’s concerns by quoting from Old Testament prophecy that said that the Messiah would do many miraculous signs – and Jesus had fulfilled these Scriptures.

What most spoke to me was the end of Jesus’ response in vs. 23: “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” The word offended can be translated as snare or stumbling block, but the question that I had was simply this: why would Jesus say this? The answer is simple, but the application is complex. Jesus is stating that those who understand that God’s plan and His way of doing things may be different that what one may expect, will be blessed. The problem with me is that although I recognize that His ways are not my own – I allow His plan to be a stumbling block because I want it “my way – right a way.”

After reflecting on this verse and seeing how this applies to my life – I wrote a few thoughts in my journal – and I wanted to share them today:

- I have expect to see Him (God) work more in specific ways, but when He doesn’t or hasn’t – I tend to stumble over the sovereignty of God.

- My humanity, though intending to do good because of the righteousness of Christ, sometimes is disenchanted with life and how God operates.

These are deep reflects from a heart that wants to see God works and experience His majesty. How do we (I) reconcile this? I think the answer is this: we embrace the “offensive.” The cross is offensive, the gospel is a stumbling block and God’s plan can be very different from our own – but to reap the joy of living upward instead of horizontal can be boiled down to our willingness to embrace the offensive and cast away the egocentric normalacy of life.

May we not only embrace the offensive, but become offensive by clinging to what causes the flesh to stumble. Glory to God – and may we bow down at the manger and picture the empty cross (and tomb) this Christmas.