A Tribe Called Whitlock

For the past four weeks I have felt the hand of God nudging me to have a better understanding of excellence. What does it mean to live in excellence for God. It seems every book I picked up screamed to me to climb over the mediocre. My journey started when I was browsing at Wal-Mart and found a magazine by Joyce Meyer called, Be Your Best.

“Mediocrity may be acceptable in society, but average people are not remembered.”
“People of excellence do what is right even when no one else is around because they care more about what God sees.”
“If you want your life to change, your choices must change.”

I had been talking with the kids about living a mediocre life, being a lukewarm christian. Reading this magazine hit a new chord within me that had me talking up a storm. We sat on my bed discussing what I just read. They seemed to absorb what I was saying. Most of you know about my ongoing search for a church. Well I had decided to visit a new church and was surprised to see Tony Dungy in the pulpit as the speaker for the day. His message…be uncommon. After hearing him speak I was so upset my boys had not been there to listen to this humble man of God. I did purchase his book for them and marvel at how he uses sports to help young men understand concepts of character, integrity and stewardship.

” What you do is not as important as how you do it.”
“Character is tested, revealed, and further developed by the decisions we make in the most challenging times.”
“Don’t rationalize your way around honesty.”

What great conversations we have had since starting this book! More recently I was in Orlando looking through a bookstore while I waited for Tori to perform at a competition. A book by Leslie Ludy caught my eye. Titled “Set Apart Femininity.” I bought the book for Tori but as I began to thumb through it I got completely caught up in the mind shifting call to arms that was presented by this author.

” God’s sacred intent for us goes far beyond just saving sex until marriage, wearing one-piece swimsuits instead of skimpy string bikinis, or idolizing Christian bands instead of secular ones. It is not just making sure we tack on some Christian morality to our self-indulgent lives. His sacred intent for you and for me is nothing short of absolute abandonment to Jesus Christ, entire separation from the pollution of the world, and ardent worship of our King with every breath we take.”

I get it God. Uncommon, set apart and on fire. My new mantra is to be uncommon, set apart and on fire. My hope is to raise children who are uncommon, set apart and on fire.