Author Archives: Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: As You Are

I was first invited to a church when I was 17 years old.

I had been to churches a few times growing up, but nothing even resembling a consistent church attendance.

I walked into that church at 17 years old with long hair, ripped jeans, and a heavy metal t-shirt on. I honestly wasn’t trying to push any buttons. That was just who I was, and I didn’t know enough about religion to even pretend I was somebody else.

Sure I got some odd looks, yes a couple father’s in the church subtly kept me from even sitting near their daughters. On Sundays, I would usually sit in the back, to avoid any uncomfortable situations. Things like that happen. I even understand why some assumed things about me.

But there were these older ladies who sat in the front row of the church who overwhelmed me with love. They would always hug me, ask me how I was doing, and accepted me exactly the way I was.

A couple times they even invited me and my group (made up of my brother, a cousin, and a friend) to sit with them in the front.

It looked like Metallica was sitting with the Golden Girls.

That’s what God does.

He brings people together, His grace is the same for us all, He isn’t impressed with our clothes, our financial situation, or our status.

It makes me smile when I think of those older ladies who were so welcoming. They are part of the reason I’m a pastor today.

Love people where they are, if they are rough around the edges, let God make any changes needed. Make sure you are growing in your faith, you just may be the reason another person opens their heart to God.

We are all a work in progress.
We are no better than another.
We are all candidates for God’s goodness.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Running Is Winning

My dad worked at a college when I was in my teens.

One summer, I would meet a girl to play tennis at the college almost every morning, her father was employed by the college as well. It worked out great, our dads would be in their offices while we played tennis and hung around the campus.

Once, my family went to this girl’s house. The girl and I played tennis, went swimming in the pool, and our families shared a meal.

That evening, the girl told me she was going to go running and invited me along. I ran track, so I thought I would be fine. And as a normal teenage boy, I wanted to impress the girl.

That’s when the difference between sprinting and distance running was made crystal clear to me. In track, I usually competed in the 100 meters, 400 meters, and the high jump.

This girl was a cross country runner. For the first half mile of our run, I was good. But soon after, she was still able to carry on a conversation, and I felt like I was going to die. I could barely breathe, much less talk. If I remember correctly, we ran 2.5 miles, though in my mind, it felt like a marathon.

My pride wouldn’t let me stop, but I was out of my element to say the least.

Life is more like a marathon than a sprint.

We assume if we’ve fallen behind we don’t have a chance to win. But the truth is, there is always time to get back in the race.

Because it’s a long race and it’s worth running.

The story behind the first marathon is a great lesson itself. A messenger named Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens (about 22 miles) proclaiming that a battle had been won, and his people were victorious.

If you feel like you’re behind in life, like the race isn’t worth running. Don’t give up, there is more distance to cover, more meaning to uncover, and more joy to discover.

And when you get back in the race, you will be carrying a message about how your battle has been won, and you are victorious.

Learn from my teenage experience, ask for help if you need it. Maybe even stop and catch your breath. But whatever you do, make sure you get back in the race.

Life is a long distance race, running is winning.

-Tom Wise

Message in A Minute: Within Reach

I love the Andy Griffith show, so forgive me for this example.

Otis, the town drunk would come in the courthouse on the weekend and lock himself up for public intoxication. He would sleep off his hangover, and he would let himself out of the prison cell the next day. It all worked very smooth,

Otis was safe from hurting himself or someone else. The sheriff didn’t have to go out of his way to pursue the guilty man. And Barney got to have someone in a cell, which he seemed to like. All three were grateful in their own way.

Here comes the difficult idea.

We are a lot like Otis.

A good number of our problems are self-inflicted. Not all of our troubles, but many are brought on by behaviors or circumstances that we have some control over. I understand that some issues are beyond our control, some problems are caused by others, and difficult things just happen in life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to bring guilt on all of us. I simply want to encourage you to look for a key.

The answers and solutions to most of our problems are within reach. Many of the situations we find ourselves in are like the Mayberry Courthouse. There is a key hanging on the wall, so close we can reach it.

We can let ourselves out.

God can and will do miracles in certain situations, but in other circumstances, he provides a key on the wall. He makes sure that the answer is within reach.

Maybe the key on the wall is a decision you need to make, a substance you need to avoid, or a conversation you need to have.

God can guide you, family can support you, friends can cheer you on. But only you can reach for the key, unlock the door, and walk out of the problem.

Be honest, be humble, and be grateful that sometimes the answer is hanging on the wall right beside you.

-Tom Wise