Outlaws UNITE!

Outlaw. O-U-T-L-A-W. Yep, that's really our name.  Yes, I know, I have "outlaws for in-laws." Never heard that one before! The next question is always the fun one...."Where did your family get that name?" Uh, well as my husband would say, "When Outlaw is your name, you don't look too far back in your family tree 'cuz you might find someone hangin' from it!"  Imagine living in a foreign country and trying to find the proper translation for your name, especially in cultures where your name actually means something.  

We can go with the  literal definition.....

out·law 

1.

a. A fugitive from the law.

b. A habitual criminal.

                     c. A rebel; a nonconformist:  

Or we can hit the thesaurus.....

blackmailer, con, convict, crook, culprit, delinquent, evildoer, ex-con, felon, fugitive,   gangster, geurilla, hood, hoodlum, hooligan, hustler, jailbird, lawbreaker, malefactor, mobster, mug, offender, outlaw, racketeer, sinner, sinner, transgressor, trespasser, wrongdoer. Wow. And we wondered why our Asian friends frowned when we tried to describe our name, or translate it into their language. At least  people's expectations of us should be pretty low! Shouldn't be too hard to "live above your raising" with a name like that.  In some ways, ya want to run from a name like that.      I've decided that I 'm going to embrace definition "C" - rebel; nonconformist. If you know me, you know II've never been not much of a rebel. Mom momma just told me what  to do ...and I did it! It was pretty simple. I've even been called  boring. In fact, on my 18th birthday, my friends told me that I needed to "live a little" so they convinced me to sneak out of the house and go for a joyride. We turned off the lights, the engine, and actually pushed our car out of the driveway. We headed downtown Nashville with windows down, radio blaring having the time of our lives. My BFF leaned over to me in the backseat and said...."Ang, you are too relaxed, and having too much fun....did you tell you mom we were going out?" BUSTED! I begged her not to tell the others so I wouldn't look like a total dork! (I guess the secret's out now!)      And to think I'm the one who ended up known around the world as an Outlaw!  But if you go to Romans 12:2 being an OUTLAW is good thing; being a non-conformist is good!  Romans 12:2 ESV "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."          So, I'm embracing it! I'm going to get all my friends to embrace it! Rebels Unite!! I'm too old for the "sex, drugs, and rock & roll" cries, but there are still tons of ways  world wants me to conform!  Even in my middle age....you know i'm 40 now, the world tells me that this is MY DECADE! That it's about me, and my life, my time, and my stuff, and my comforts, and my little American dream! Usually rebellion is associated with ME-ism, and attitude of "what I want to do, when I want to do it, and you can't tell me otherwise!"  But biblical REBELLION, non-conformism is actually just the opposite. When the World tells us to be ALL ABOUT ME, we say..."no, no, we won't go."  Do not be conformed to this world. REBEL! Be an OUTLAW! It's a great name!