The Paladin

Strength. Determination. Courage. Such are the words used to describe the paladin of good, protector of the weak. He stands resolute in the face of danger, shining sword held high in defiance of the darkness around him. He is kind, noble, and selfless.
In short, he is everything we aspire to be. He is the target to aim for, the standard to shoot for. Utterly desirable, and yet utterly unattainable.

But what makes him... Well... Him? We've identified these qualities, but what do they mean? What is it about him that is so fascinating, so captivating? What makes him the idol that he is?
Many have tried to answer these questions, with varying amounts of success. Some were philosophers, some writers. Some were kings, others peasants. Some were wise, others... Not so much.
In my experience, the most knowledgable of these are who would seem to be the least so. Songwriters tend to take an entirely different view on pretty much anything, offering a refreshing new outlook that's often more than a little philosophical. So, to discuss this question with us, I've enlisted the help of several good friends of mine. You may recognize them, as I dearly hope you do.
Now, onward!

"Though they may surround me like lions, and crush me on all sides. I may fall, but I will rise. Not by my might or my power or by the strength of swords. Only through your love my Lord." ~ Josh Garrels

The paladin is strong, resolute in the face of danger. His will is iron, refusing to bow before any other.
Now, Josh isn't talking about physical strength here. Any lunkhead can go to a gym and get bulked up. Rather, he's talking about strength of character. The true paladin knows where his strength lies, and it is not in his own arms. His sword is not his weapon, nor his shield his protection. Instead he trusts in the power of his Savior, his Lord, his Captain.

"I'm not going down that easy! It takes more than this just to break me. I'm not going down without bleeding. I'm not going down without a fight!" ~ Pillar

The paladin is a defender, a warrior. He fights the holy war, conquering the forces of darkness wherever they are found. He never gives up, never gives in. He gives his all all the time, refusing to settle for less.
The truly good things in this life are the things worth fighting for, worth waiting for. The paladin knows what is worth the effort, what's worth sacrificing for. The blessings of God far outweigh those gifts of the world, and that is what the paladin shoots for. And he won't give it up easily.

"Go ahead, you're never gonna take me! You can bend but you're never gonna break me. I was yours, I'm not yours anymore. You don't own me!" ~ Disciple

Courage. Pure, unadulterated courage. The paladin quakes at nothing, fears no one. Hopeless situations? I'm ready. Invincible enemies? I can take 'em. Impossible odds? Bring it on.
But this confidence doesn't come from within him. No, that would be arrogance. Instead, the paladin has complete faith in his Commander. He know that he's never alone, he'll never be forsaken. And in that comforting thought, he finds the ability to conquer an obstacle.

So the paladin's power lies not in his sword. Not in his armor, nor in his steed. It lies in his Lord, his King. The paladin seeks out His strength and courage and determination, and finds rest in it. And therein lies the true power of the Paladin.

The Competitor's Creed

I am a Christian first and last.
I am created in the likeness of God Almighty to bring Him glory.
I am a member of Team Jesus Christ.
I wear the colors of the cross.

I am a Competitor now and forever.
I am made to strive, to strain, to stretch and to succeed in the arena of competition.
I am a Christian competitor, and as such I face my challenger with the face of Christ.

I do not trust in myself.
I do not boast in my abilities or believe in my own strength.
I rely solely on the power of God.
I compete for the pleasure of my Heavenly Father, the honor of Christ, and the reputation of the Holy Spirit.

My attitude on and off the field is above reproach - my conduct beyond criticism.
Whether I am preparing, practicing, or playing, I submit to God's authority and those He has put over me. I respect my coaches, officials, teammates and competitors out of respect for the Lord.

My body is the temple of Jesus Christ.
I protect it from within and without.
Nothing enters my body that does not honor the Living God.
My sweat is an offering to my Master.
My soreness is a sacrifice to my Savior.

I give my all - all the time.
I do not give up. I do not give in.
I do not give out. I am the Lord's warrior - a competitor by convictions and a disciple of determination.
I am confident beyond reason because my confidence lies in Christ.
The results of my efforts must result in His glory.

LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN.
LET THE GLORY BE GOD'S.

Dark Horses

Expectations. It's a big word, isn't it? Scares some people, invigorates others.
In every situation, every circumstance, every experience, people expect things. They go into something with a prearranged opinion of how it's going to turn out, or how someone else is going to act, or what a certain group of people is like.

It's hard to try and sort out all the different standards set by the world. Some say you should act one way, and then contradict themselves five minutes down the road. The easiest thing to do us just follow the crowd. Find a model, make like a monkey and do what they do. Then at least you're protected by the power of mass opinion.

This is certainly the most logical, safe course of action. Nothing gets messy, no one gets confused. And no one gets uncomfortable.
But is this really what we want? Do we want a generation of happy, preppy drones that only know how to keep the status quote? Or do we want unpopular dreamers that can see past their own horizons? Adventurous nobodies that dare to try?! Are we content with mere proficiency, or will we dare to do strive for excellence? Because that's the true question that faces our generation today.

As much as I'd love to, I can't give you an answer to this question. You have to make a choice for yourself: that's the entire point of this discussion.

"And we're singing HEY! You can't count us out! We've been running up against the crowd. Yeah, we are the dark horses." ~ Jon Foreman

Most horses are led tamely by a tiny bit of metal fit between their teeth. They trot along because that's all they know to do. But dark horses? They're too wild to submit. They know their true master, and they won't accept being bridled by anyone except Him.
Who is your master? Is it a world that seeks to turn you into a mass-produced consumer content with an average? Or is it a God who made you an individual, who loves you exactly the way you are, and has an amazing destiny in mind that's tailor-fit just for YOU?
I know who I've chosen. The dark horses won't settle for just any rider. They want exactly one: the master who'd raised them since the beginning, who cares for them and treats them with kindness.

Which one are you?