The Stubblefield family is very, extremely, ecstatically, excited to announce that the Lord has blessed us with new life. A baby is expected to enter the world on May 29, 2007. We are very grateful to the Lord for His wonderful blessing.

A couple of nights ago, Mark and I were enjoying a walk around our apartment complex. We meandered our way to the pool side and stood chatting in the cool, September breeze. We talked about how wonderful it was to be married, how excited we were about the quickly approaching fall, and how disappointing it was that Mark had not taken advantage of the apartment pool this past summer. We continued to chat and then Mark looked at me somewhat seriously and asked, “You’ve been swimming in the pool, right?” I answered in the affirmative, and then the most shockingly funny event occurred. My husband bolted full-speed toward the pool and did an end-over-end somersault into the water. It shocked me so much I screamed, fearful he had been hurt in the shallow pool. Once I saw him emerge from the water smiling, I started laughing hysterically. Mark was wearing street clothes, (not swimming attire) and the water in the pool was the opposite of warm. He didn’t stay in long. After emerging from the chilly water, he was happy to report that now we had both been swimming in the pool. Laughing the entire way, and Mark shivering, we made our way back to our apartment. It’s so wonderful to be married and have a husband to share all of life’s little blessing with — both the expected and spontaneous ones.

Today in the assembly of the local church we heard a message given by Mike Burton on the importance of humility and meekness as it relates to our daily lives. Mr. Burton drew out many broader truths related to the different tendencies in the lives of men and women as it relates to displaying the gifts of the spirit in the areas of meekness and humility. The passages that were drawn from were Ephesians 4 and Galatians 5. The message showed the importance of humility and meekness as it relates to our tongues as a means of communication with others in the body of Christ. An emphasis was also placed on our inability to display humility and meekness in-and-of ourselves and the importance of Christ working in us as we act in obedience to the scripture. The message was of great encouragement and a wonderful reminder of our true source of strength and ability.

I believe there is an important aspect of meekness and humility that is often overlooked by modern Christianity. That is, meekness is not weakness. It is often thought, and ultimately taught, that meekness is passivity displayed by soft-spoken men that do not stand on principle because they fear offending others. In like manner, a false view of meekness is often used as a means to subdue men that would desire to act boldly for the Lord Jesus Christ to appease the statuesque. This is ultimately a wicked view of meekness.

The results of Biblical meekness and humility bring about quite the opposite of passivity; they bring about boldness for the Lord Jesus Christ — just as all obedience to the Word of God will ultimately do. We must then be careful not to embrace a view of meekness and humility that lends us to think that we are to be passive and weak in our proclamation of Christ on this earth and in every area of life. It is through Christ and Christ alone that we are able to display meekness, and from the understanding of that comes boldness and true humility. The saving grace of Christ and His word is the only thing that the elect of God is able to boast in, and as we boast in that we become bold not in-and-of ourselves but in Christ alone.

To God be the glory for the encouragement and blessing of the body of Christ gathered together to learn and grow in the word. I am grateful for each Lord’s Day.