Dressing Down // Micah

The obstacles were numerous. I didn’t speak the language, come from the ghetto or look the part. In the US I was 1 out of a million, now in a slum in Africa I stood out in every way imaginable. A vision led me there, but to execute I would have to impart the dream and develop a team. The problem? Our future change agents, at first, could not see outside the slum. They also could not see past the barriers between me, them, and our shared future. I had to close the gap... but how?

I became convinced that the secret of replacing relational distance with a bond of brotherhood was bound up in the example of Christ. To make the gospel real he became relatable. For the good of non-deities the God of the Universe took on a robe of human flesh, ate our food, spoke our language, wore our clothes and walked our streets. He was so much a man that many refused Him as God. If the God of heaven could relate to humans then surely a middle class white kid could become African.

Incarnating became a cornerstone of my time developing our first Center in Africa and a guiding principal for our work today. I can honestly say now that our greatest breakthroughs have come when our leaders have sought to immolate Christ by holding high our standards and bending low their knees. 

It is pretty humbling when you realize in John 13:3-6 that it was actually after Jesus was crowned the Supreme Leader over the Universe that we see Him dressing down and cleaning feet.

“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.”  John 13:3-6

"You call me ‘Teacher' and ‘Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you." John 13:13–15

- Micah McElveen

Wisdom From a Blanket // Micah

Standing alone, individual pieces of fabric are relatively weak and unimpressive. However, a threads attractiveness and functional value are tremendously enhanced when interwoven with others. Weaving unearths a phenomenon producing an end result that is both strong and beautiful.

One would think that three interwoven cords are three times as strong as one, but it isn't, it's greater. Something mysterious yet scientific occurs when individual strengths are combined. Instead of resiliency output doubling, a multiplying force materializes bringing to bear a power the Greeks called "synergia." Articulated in English, synergy is "the working together of two things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects." In other words, 1 cord plus 1 cord, interwoven, equals 3 cord strength. When cooperative elements are effectively intertwined a powerful functional capacity is unveiled.

A similar reality is produced as two become one on the visual side of the equation. Blue and green merged produce hazel, a beautiful third hue. Previously fixed color palates are expanded through the enmeshing of distinct tones. The allure, like a kaleidoscope, can be quite breath-taking, as the combining of varying shades allows altogether new colors to emerge.

As a magnificent quilt, which provides beauty to the eye and protection from the elements, is a result of a thousand threads that alone do little, so is the body of Christ. Powerfully beautiful potential is unleashed when we come together in one accord under one Lord offering our time, talent, treasure and influence to be intertwined for one world-changing purpose. As we pursue the otherwise impossible, the good of man and glory of Christ in all Nations, may we heed the Wisdom From A Blanket.

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:4-5

- Micah McElveen