Quiet Strength

Last night we were talking about Colossians' description of what person looks like who is glorifying (amplifying, lifting up) God's name in the world. In midst of some straightforward practical ideas: compassion, forgiveness, love; we came across and flew by one aspect that I think is a totally misunderstood word today.

Meekness

When I think of meekness, which is hard considering we don't ever used that word anymore, I tend to think of a mild-mannered servant, a weak little child content to play in the sand, or some other picture of weakness and inability to fend for oneself. Perhaps it's because "meek" sounds a lot like weak but that couldn't be further away from what meekness means at all!
Meekness (in it's Greek origin) was a word earliest used by farmers. It referred to a colt or young horse who was obedient and controlled-itself. Not that it was a weak horse, actually it could very well be the strongest horse the owner had. It didn't refer to the horses strength but actually, it's ABILITY TO CONTROL IT'S STRENGTH.
Meekness is simply this:

Power Under Control.

Being angry just because you can be is one thing. Staying out all night, shirking off homework to go to a concert is easy. Just because you can do something doesn't mean it's the right or even strong thing to do. As we get older we get more and more freedom, power, and influence in our world, especially from the ages of 12-21. Abusing that power is easy. Not being meek with your freedom is like a toddler who, having just learned to walk, runs around as fast as it can smashing into stuff, breaking lamps, and hitting it's head on everything. Is that strong? No. Powerful? No. Just a little bit of freedom, being completely missused.
I like how the "Message" Bible (if you don't have one, get one) by Eugene Peterson, translates meekness. It instead refers to it as quiet strength. Quiet strength reminds me of Clark Kent. (I know, here's the nerdy part) Think about it. Superman is the power, and ability. But his alter ego Clark is the strength. Day after day he holds back showing off, getting back at co-workers and so much more not because he is weak, but to protect his parents and the people he cares about, at the same time he does use his strength when it's needed most, to help others.
Its almost impossible to imagine how this particular trait could be essential in glorifying Gods name, doesn't it? I mean, to live life with that kind of control seems like it wouldn't bring attention to anything, much less Gods work in your life. I don't think it has as much to do with whether it bring Gods name attention as much as THE KIND OF ATTENTION IT BRINGS. Think back to the farmers colt from the beginning of this post. A young horse acting crazy, bucking around making a mess isnt actually all that extraordinary is it? The horse may be thinking everyone is noticing him, that he is being "original" and "out of the box" but actually he is just doing what most other colts do. Nothing really different or special. If he brings any attention to himself or his owner at all, it's negative. But the young horse who displays quiet strength, who stands at attention awaiting orders, then moving with precision executes them; THAT gets noticed. That is different, original, and out of the box. And both the colt and it's owner gets noticed in the end.


PS- As we get closer to the Amplify launch. Make it your objective to be meek, be STRONG, and above all else...

Amplify.

Tonight at rodeo

Hey guys,
Tonight there is a freeze warning and in case you haven't noticed their are flurries outside! In Alabama!
The bonfire is cancelled.
Instead, we shall seek warmth at Rodeo restaurant.
Please bring money for food, if you would like to eat, and remember to bring your thinking caps and opinions as the message will have small group element.
Also, if you need a ride, meet up at the annex at 6:30.
Otherwise, we will at rodeo.
Later everyone!

Expecto Patronum: a post for Potter fans!

It's funny how no matter what an authors personal beliefs are, God has a way of sneaking into almost every fantasy story one could read. It is really amazing, actually. Everything from the obvious Chronicles of Narnia, and Lord of the Rings; to even stories like the Golden Compass (Yes, I'm aware that it was written by an overt atheist, stay with me please), and Harry Potter.
I came across one such glimpse of God, this past week. As nerdy as it sounds, some friends and I were looking up the etymology of various phrases and saw the Latin derivative for Harry potters famous patronus charm. "expecto patronum". For those of you not into Harry Potter, that is the name of a spell Harry learned, which uses a powerful memory from the caster to protect them from evil, mostly dark deadly creatures known as dementors.
The words themselves are so cool because they come from Latin literally meaning "I await a protector!" even cooler to note it's not just a phrase of wishful thinking, but also carries within the first word the derivative for "expectation" To imagine that when Harry was facing his darkest demons and has no where else to turn, he lifts his wand to heavens and shouts with all his might "I await a protector. Not only that, I EXPECT it!". If you ask me it sounds a lot like the story of a man in psalms who was experiencing a dark time, and when it had become the darkest He raised up a prayer. "Hosanna!" he shouted. In his language, it meant "save me" but to his people it become more, because with it there was a air of hope and expectation. "I await salvation. It Expect it!" this was the hope that carried the Jewish people through their darkest centuries, await the coming of the "Patronus" the Protector. The savior. Speaking of which here is an interested part that second word.

Who is the Protector?
When Harry shouts expect patronum (I await a protector), his protector or "patronus" takes the form of his Dads animagus form. A stag.
Interestingly, the very word "patronus" in Latin has a DOUBLE meaning. Not just protector, but also (from the root "patros") it means "FATHER". Think "patriarch" or even "lord".
Sound familiar?
In Hebrew we would say "jehovah nissi" which mean "the Lord, our Protector" or even the Father, our protector. Amazing! Not to hard to come to the conclusion that God is our Patronus. Our Father, Lord, Protector.
Did JK Rowling know writing the book, the etymology of the words? Probably. Did she know the connection between those words our Lord? Probably not. Does that make the truth in these words less true. Absolutely not. Grab truth where you find it. And expel lies in the same manner.
I hope you fellow Harry potter nerds enjoyed this, have a great day"

Fruit = More Fruit

This past month we have spent a lot of time talking about fruit. Both on Wednesday night, in small group, and on Sunday morning one could hear talk of Galatians 5:22 and it's implications for our life.
One thought that has been brewing with me relates to a question I asked you guys on wednesday night. It was "What is the point of fruit at all?" the answers were such as "to be eaten", and "to make trees pretty" honestly pretty good answers considering none of us think like farmers. But if you ever by chance wanted to have a longterm, thriving apple tree grove, then you would know and even count on the purpose of fruit: to make MORE fruit.
When it comes to God's relentless passion to produce the fruit of the spirit in our lives, it can get tedious, arduous, and just annoying as God puts us in situations requiring us to give our patience, self-control, or kindness a work out. It is easy to sometimes throw up our hands and yell out "What's the freaking point!?". "Why can't I just live this life as a perfectly nice treat, die, and go to heaven; without all this painful work making my life full of fruit." it can be be so tough that we even go in some ironic directions. God could produce self-control in our lives but we become less kind. We get more faithful but lose our patience.
The key is in the purpose. Fruit exists to reproduce. That's the whole point. God doesn't put so much work into producing fruit in our live, just make us "nicer to look at" or "sweet and delicious". It is because He is so passionately in love with those neighbors of our who get on our nerves, that he grows fruit in us hoping to drop seeds onto those nearby. Does it ever cross our minds that our patience could be another's salvation. That the goodness in our lives could be the closest thing our neighbors getting to meeting God. Our joy could intersect with the fertile ground in others to cause them to start asking questions.
The scary thing is it goes both ways proverbs says in chapter 11, verse 30, in The Message.

"A good life is a fruit-bearing tree;
a violent life destroys souls."

That implies to me that not only does a life void of fruit NOT reach others, it is actually DANGEROUSLY HARMFUL to Gods purpose of salvation in the lives of our neighbors. A life of claiming to follow Christ and not having any fruit to prove it. Just shows others that Christians are full of crap. Not doing what they say they do. Why would anyone want to be apart of something that pointless looking. Think about would you rather take a big bite out of a fresh apple, or a dry, rotting tree branch?
Remember Everything is Spiritual, everything is effectual, everything is more connected with the world around us than we realize.
Like so many things about Christianity, it is rarely just about us. There is a much bigger plan. God isn't just growing a apple tree, but an entire orchard.

So let's grow. Shall we?

Moving out!

This was the last week of the underground. For me personally, it was a very bittersweet experience. Looking around, there have been conversations I can still recall had in almost every corner of the room. Questions that were asked and answered, fears talked about, then squashed under the light of christs love, and just a lot of goodhearted joking around too that happened were all recalled in every couch, and inch of wall real estate. But looking forward I am really both excited and optimistic that we will have even more people, more conversations, and more life-change in the new youth ministry as we submerse ourselves in doing all things with excellence! That if we make quality our primary concern, the quantity we take care of itself, (that has been proven for me the past 2 months, as we had over and over the best service yet, immediately followed by the best attended service yet, again and again)
Instead of ending this how I normally would with a list of my favorite things from last night, I'd like to share my favorite things about the underground as a whole.

1. Delerious and hilarious games of quelf at 3 in the morning in the lock-in!

2. Learning that the limbo is more fun when your barefoot standing on slippery soap suds!

3. Hearing that someone has decided to no be fearful of what God has planned for their future

4. Hearing someone decide to save themselves for their future spouse; that they are worth the wait

5. When the person I meet one week, becomes a best friend the next week.

6. Hearing a new song, executed well!

7. Seeing musicians grow from shy beginners to confident players!

8. Seeing Teens go from confused doubt-filled unbelievers to confident faith-filled followers of Christ!

9. Seeing people go from first-time attender to committed member. Putting themselves into making this a better experience.

10. Getting to share what I learn every week, and seeing it change your lives as much as it's changing mine.

Love you guys, have a great week.

Great entries in the game last night!!