WEDNESDAY'S WORD - OUTLIER - Sadell Bradley 01/18/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Who we are cannot be separated from where we're from."                          Malcolm Gladwell - Outliers   "I realize that Camilla is our very own statistical anomaly, an outlier that no one seems to know where to place." -   Melissa Keil, Author Life in Outer Space  An OUTLIER is a person or thing situated away or detached from the main body or system; a person or thing differing from all other members of a particular group or set.  In statistics, an outlier is a data point on a graph or in a set of results that is very much bigger or smaller than the next nearest data point. I'm an outlier. My orphaned status differentiates me. Living in Black and Caucasian environments (some hostile, others embracing,) made me aware of my 'otherness.' I was bused from one side of City to another for private education. I fit in neither circle. I'm an African-American female minister in a male-dominated field. My presence is often not acknowledged. I've been the youngest and the oldest leader on a team. The ways I land in situations are really out of the norm, as are my perspectives on life, socio-economics, the Kingdom and politics. I love sports and I'm a creative. Outliers are usually not captive to monolithic or 'group-think.' It makes it easier for me to empathize with a variety of folks and navigate difficult subjects. I have an outlier personality: INTJ on Meyers Briggs, representative of only 2% of the population - the vast majority of whom are male. My thinking is dual-brained, almost 50/50 left to right. My religious experiences range from silent Quaker to Pentecostal. It's interesting how Outliers can fit in everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Christ followers are to be outliers in the culture. (Rom. 12:2) We're to love our enemies and pray for users, false accusers and persecutors. (Matt. 5:43-45) Where the world is dividing, we've been given a reconciliation ministry. God's not counting people's sins against them, but wants them to return to Him. (2 Cor. 5:11-21)  We're to be so selfless and loving that we'll sell our homes and share our possessions with fellow Christ-followers so no one has need. (Acts 2:42-45, 4:32)  We're to reject racism, classism and sexism and demonstrate our unity and oneness in Christ (Gal. 3:28) Our lives are not about fulfilling ourselves, but denying ourselves, taking up our crosses daily and following Jesus! (Matt. 16:24) We believe in the foundation stones, including the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment in Heaven or Hell. (Heb. 6:1-2) We lay down our lives and offerings of time, treasure and talent for Christ. Perhaps we've forgotten, but we are unconventionally called Heavenly outliers. 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are,29 so that no one may boast before him. God calls outliers. Most every Biblical figure, including all of the disciples were outliers. Jesus was and is an outlier. He stands alone, Supreme and outside of all others. There is none that can be compared to Him. His ways and thoughts are not only outside of the norm, they're higher. (Isaiah 55:8) In this season, we must be prepared to demonstrate that we're really different...and we're not ashamed.

SUNDAY Worship 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room Sunday Class 9:30 AM Youth Room Basement at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215 For information 513-212-1131