Flashback Friday - Defined by Convictions - Martin Wiles

Defined by Convictions

There were at least three I determined I would not compromise.

Convictions are beliefs I think are important enough to stand by regardless of the temptation to do otherwise. I fashioned three early in life: I wouldn’t cheat, I wouldn’t have premarital sex, and I wouldn’t fight. There were times in school when I didn’t know the material because I hadn’t studied. I could have glanced sideways, but I took the failing grade instead. And I had opportunities to have sexual relationships before marriage, but I held firm. Some of my convictions offended others who in turn wanted to fight me. I never threw a punch. Read more...

Tweetable: What convictions define you?

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Blind Guide - Martin Wiles

They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch. Matthew 15:4 NLT

He stared at her until she got up and exited the building.

Spring had arrived, and it was time for our church to have one of its two annual revivals. This year, we had decided to have only one and to get a full-time evangelist. 

A lady in our church had recently begun a van ministry. Each Sunday, she faithfully picked up kids from the neighborhood and brought them to church. We never saw any of their parents—until one night during our revival.

A young mother with a small child walked in and took her place near the front. Her young baby was restless, the preacher was preaching passionately, and the mother was trying to quiet her baby. I saw irritation wash over the revivalist’s face as the mother continued to sit and listen while her baby whimpered.

Then it happened. He stopped preaching and gave her the “Aren’t you going to leave with that crying child” stare. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, she did. We never saw her or her child again. A potential believer was lost, and I was livid. 

I suppose the evangelist believed in the old adage that “children should be seen and not heard.” I wondered where he found that in the Bible, and I also wondered if he ever felt any shame over running off someone who needed—and wanted--to hear the gospel.

Those whom Jesus referred to as blind guides were not dastardly criminals, but the religious leaders. Ironic that He would call them that, but they were leading people astray with their traditions and added interpretations to God’s law. Jesus corrected them with scathing words.

Traditions can be good or bad, but even the good ones become bad when I elevate them to the same level as God’s Word and then make others feel guilty if they don’t obey them as I do. Doing this makes me and anyone else a blind guide, and our destiny is falling into a ditch. My hypocritical actions will lead others further from God, not closer to Him.

God wants us to disseminate His truth, not the interpretations or traditions we’ve developed to go along with it. His truth—and His truth alone--sets people free.

Don’t let your traditions or personal convictions hinder you from delivering God’s simple truth to others.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for Your truth. May we be faithful deliverers of it, with nothing added. 

Tweet: Are your traditions keeping others from God?

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Flashback Friday - Giving That Runs Over - Martin Wiles

Giving That Runs Over 

No sooner had we moved than physical limitations caused one income to disappear. Soon, our power bill was delinquent by several hundred dollars. Though we agreed on a payment plan, the extra amount taxed our budget. Two hundred dollars seemed unreachable.

Sharing troubles with friends can decrease stress, so that’s what we did. One friend wanted to help and asked to see the bill. After a few moments, she handed it back to my wife who in turn left to pay. When she removed our friend’s assistance to add with our check, she discovered enough money to pay the entire balance we owed-delinquent included. “I’ve been blessed,” was our friend’s response when we thanked her and “I don’t want anything” when we attempted to repay her kindness with benevolent acts. Read more...

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Throwback Tuesday - Martin Wiles

Walking on the Right Side

“Walk on the left side after dark or you’ll wind up playing a harp.” So said Barney Fife in his report to the state entitled,“Safety Procedures on Country Roads.” 

Walking on the wrong side of the road is dangerous and the reason for laws stating one should walk facing the traffic and wear bright colored clothing. Those who don’t obey risk getting run over. Read more...

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Flashback Friday - Martin Wiles

Dressing for Success

Donned in clothes belonging to another, I could be anything I wanted…at least temporarily. 

Playing dress up was a popular kid’s game when I was growing up. After all, the techies hadn’t invented the distractions that currently occupy kids’ attention and often steal their imagination. With an adult’s clothes--along with accompanying implements found around the various houses, the list of our futures was as endless as our mind’s eyes. Teachers, preachers, housewives, nurses, doctors, princesses, kings, and queens. We were dressed for success and frequently believed we could be these people when we reached adulthood. Read more...

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Throwback Tuesday - Martin Wiles

Zoned Out for God

Comfort zone. A behavioral state that doesn’t fabricate anxiety because I’m using patterns I’ve learned will deliver my expected level of performance without risk. But at present, I wasn’t in mine.

Having recently graduated from Bible college and been summoned to pastor my first church, my excitement level was intense. But one responsibility the committee failed to share was delivering grief…leading the congregational singing. To say I have a Barney Fife voice is putting it mildly. He couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket; I can’t even carry the tune. And to stand before 50 people and attempt it was nerve shattering. After five years my singing was still deplorable, but my nervousness eventually subsided. Read more...

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Flashback Friday - Martin Wiles

Convictions Count

Philosopher Edmund Burke said; “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Of all the parental and church instructions I hurled out my youth window, it might seem strange that a rebellious teenager would cling to the “abstaining from sex before marriage” one. But I did.

I suppose it was an anomaly to my girlfriends--who were normally sexually active or wanted to be, and to my male friends who enjoyed bragging about their conquests. And after all, if I was committing all the other sin habits, why not this one too? I can’t explain the inconsistency; I can only admit it was a firm conviction. Read more...

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Flashback Friday - Martin Wiles

Devoted to God

He was passionate about his passions, and his dedication resulted in excellence.

Dad was devoted to his favorite hobby…woodworking. He could take a raw piece of wood and turn it into anything he wanted…eventually. Since he was a perfectionist in everything he did, he would have never made a profit selling his wares. Every inch was sanded to perfection, each nail or screw head disguised, every edge flush to point, and each piece varnished to a perfect shine. If there was a flaw, you’d never discover it. Read more...

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Straddling the Fence - Martin Wiles

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21 KJV

At 12 years of age, my grandfather learned about straddling the fence.  

When my grandfather was only of middle school age, his father died. In a time period when women worked mostly at home and the man was the sole bread winner, this put the family in a precarious situation. Among three brothers, my grandfather was the only one who could take the reins. 

With the help of his Uncle Ransom, my grandfather got down from the fence and went to work. Taking care of a mother and several female siblings at 12 years of age wasn’t easy, but he knew what he had to do and did it. Quitting school in the sixth grade meant he’d never secure a job that would pay very much. And he didn’t. 

When he later quit farming, he took a job at the Paradise Ice Company in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where he worked the remainder of his lifetime. Though his pay lacked a lot to be desired, again he knew what he had to do and did it. 

Elijah wasn’t a fence straddle either. He summoned 450 prophets of the pagan god Baal to the summit of Mount Carmel and challenged them to a contest to see which god was God. Before the contest began, he asked the people how long they would hesitate between two opinions…how long they were going to live with a divided mind. 

Jesus once told people they couldn’t serve God and mammon. Mammon could be money or material possessions. But I can take anything and insert it in the place of mammon. I can’t choose God and Baal. 

Baal was a fertility god. Worshipping him allegedly brought prosperity and happiness. My Baal can be anything that proposes to do the same thing. 

God presents us with the same question Elijah did to Baal’s representatives: “How long will you live with a divided mind?” We must choose God as well as the things that represent His nature. We can’t serve Him and other gods. Nor does He want half-hearted service from us after we choose to follow Him. He wants our undivided loyalty—not a divided mind. 

Give God your all. He wants it—and deserves it. And when you choose to get off the fence, you’ll experience life as you never have before.

Prayer: Father, give us strength to follow you with all our hearts, souls, and minds. 

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Flasback Friday - Martin Wiles

Serving with Sincerity

I was serving, but deep inside my motives were tainted.

Fresh out of college and pastoring my very first church, I was eager to impress…someone…anyone. So began my journey for recognition. In addition to pastoring and teaching full time, I directed a department in our local church association, worked on my Master’s, and volunteered with local literary associations. To say my plate was full is an understatement.  Read more...

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