Giving youth pastors the tools they need to make and shape disciples.

A Reminder To Stay Purple

4 · 08 · 15

 

Purple-Cow1

I was browsing some books in the thrift store not too long ago and one of them was called The Golden Sayings of Epictetus and this quote caught my eye:

Because you think yourself but one among the many threads which makes up the texture of the doublet. You should aim at being like men in general- just as your thread has no ambition either to be anything distinguished compared with other threads. But I desire to be the purple- that small and shining part which makes the rest seem fair and beautiful. Why then do you bid me become even as the multitude. Then were I no longer the purple.

This reminded me of the first Seth Godin book I bought called  Purple Cow. The book is all about standing out from among the rest of the crowd. It made an impact on me as I was already one who did not like to follow the crowd anyway. The book offered me a track to ride on versus the chaotic path I had been trying to clear with my dull machete . Ten plus years later I’m still trying to  stand out  as a believer, a husband and father, a youth pastor, and a friend.

I want our youth ministry to be the purple strand in a culture of beige. I want kids to walk into our youth ministry and say, “This is church?”; not because of video games or cool events but because of the way we care and love others. There’s enough “me too’ going on in youth ministry, and if I am going to be the purple strand that captures the minds and hearts of kids for Christ,  then I must being willing to say, ” not me” , “we don’t do that”, and “I don’t care what they do down the street.”. That’s not meant to be arrogant but a rally cry to be led by the Spirit rather than what youth ministry culture says we should do or need.

“The opposite of remarkable is very good” – Seth Godin

Jesus did not die and rise from the dead so His church could be very good.

Stay purple my friends

Your Turn

How could we do a better job of  reflecting  God’s remarkableness?

Where could your youth ministry stand out rather than blend in?

 

 

 

 

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