Free Fridays

Almost every Friday, we have the awesome privilege of spending time with our mentor, discipler and friend, Pastor Chilly Chilton. We get to spend a few hours learning from, and prodding into, one of the most Christ-like men we have ever known. That type of discipleship is priceless, and when taken seriously has the potential to create an explosive move of God. We usually meet at a local StarBucks and do what he calls Free Friday. Basically, we have a few hours to talk. No topic list, no outline, and no adgenda other than one: Discipleship. We get to spend these moments learning from a man who is both wiser, and farther in his walk with God than ourselves.What usually desides the topic of the conversation is what God has been stirring in our hearts and lives. Other the last few months we have been able to make quite a compilation of amazing lessons, quotes, analogies and the like.

One of the major examples in leadership that Pastor Chilly has taught us over the past few months of Free Fridays is the value of discipleship. He values the purpose that God has for our lives and plays a major role in our growth and developement... and it shows. Through the time that he has poured into us, through the widsom, and passion we have gained an example, when it comes to mentorship, to follow in our own lives. We are so very thankful.

On a specific occasion, while talking about the fruits of the spirit, Pastor Chilly said: "We're not an apple tree, an orange tree, or a pear tree... we're a tuti-fruiti tree... we get all of them." Many times, we try to work on patience, or kindness, or faithfullness; when really it's the Holy Spirit that produces those fruits in our lives. Pastor Chilly explained to us how we don't need to pursue right behavior, or a good character; because, we can't do any of that suff on our own. "When we try to produce fruit, it's wax fruit – it looks the same, but when you bite in, there's frustration rather than nutrition" (Pastor Chilly). Instead of trying by our own means, we need to pursue Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will produce all that good stuff in us. We're also not limited to just one fruit of the spirit. I'm not a joyful person lacking self-control, and I'm not a loving person that can't wait for anything. I just need to be an obedient person, then I'll be all of those things.

There is also an analogy that Pastor Chilly gave us during another Free Friday. It was the story of an eagle, you see, eagles have the potential to live up to 75 years; but most die around 40. This is because when they reach that age something begins to happen, they get old. Their beaks become hooked, their talons become dull, and their feathers get musty. They lose the ability to hunt, to eat, and to fly. But, there is a process some choose to go through to extend their lives by another 30 years. First they break their beaks off, the bird will repeatedly smash it beak against a stone until it breaks off. Then they smash the claws against the stone breaking them off as well. Once this is done the bird cannot eat, it has to go a several weeks without food. Once the eagle's talons have regrown it is then able to pluck out its dead feathers and take flight again, good as new. Now, you may be asking what does any of this have to do with discipleship? Each of us here has the opportunity to totally skip this long process of pain later in life. Each one of us has access to a man that’s screaming to us, sharpen your claws, scrape your beak daily, and pluck your dead feathers it will prevent a world of suffering later. We have the ability to hear a wisdom that can only come from God and we need to make the most of it. If we do we have the potential to fly for a lifetime.

Without question, Free Friday has been one of the most significant times while being here in Xmin for all of us students. We have been able to personally connect with Pastor Chilly and individually grow in our walks with Christ. We are able to ask him any questions we want, or talk about whatever subject we have in mind. We have a great time just chillin' with our pastor, and when we go to leave our meeting spot, usually Starbucks, we are barely ourselves, because we've been so convicted by the Holy Spirit speaking through him.

Your favorite Xmin students,
April, Jay, Joe, and Zack



Also, for your enjoyment, here are some other good quotes:
"There's not resistance in grace, there's resistance in holiness. But, you've got to be holy to be like Jesus."
"I want to keep making testamonies, not telling them."
"Love figures out a way to love them better"
"Disciples never give up! They get knocked down, then they get up and punch the challenge in the face. NEVER stop serving courageously."