The Gospel Pipeline--The Waltz--Texas-Two Steppers

As we consider paradigms of Christian growth and life-change in the Church, Texas Two-Steppers are folk who seem to reduce the Christian life down to a couple emphases. The most typical Texas Two Step is Confess and Recommit, or Repent and Try Harder. When we are going through our day and we fail, fall into sin, blow it, then confess it and double your efforts to avoid such a failure in the future. Obviously there is some truth to this perspective, but think of this: what is distinctively Christian about such a Two-Step? Where is Christ and the power of the Spirit in such a paradigm? How is that Two-Step any different from other religion's approaches? Other Texas Two-Steppers reduce the Christian life to Repent and Believe or Confess your sin and trust God for change. Now, in some ways, of all the "dances" we've considered, this is closest to the Biblical paradigm...yet it is still incomplete. There is no question we are called to confess our sin and to repent of our sin. There is also no question that we are to look to Christ in full faith to transform us. But there are many commands in Scripture and many encouragements to work out our salvation and to strive for holiness and put off vices and put on virtue. So, the Texas Two-Step is also an inadequate view of Christian life change. We need to learn how to WALTZ!

Gospel Pipeline and the Waltz--Bunny Hoppers

All Christians Dance! When it comes to a paradigm of Christian growth, all Christians are engaged in a spiritual dance.  Some Christians do the Bunny Hop...a one-step dance.  They seem to reduce the Christian life to a singular element.  Some Bunny Hoppers emphasize striving with all their might..."Try harder!" might be their cry. Other Bunny Hoppers might focus on recommitment.  Others may think the key to spiritual growth in confession or repentance.  Still other Bunny Hoppers might focus on surrender...their cry might be "Let go, let God." Perhaps you are a Bunny Hopper.  There are some elements of Biblical truth to these variations of the Bunny Hop...but none of them present the complete Biblical paradigm of spiritual change. Next time we'll look at those of us who do the Texas Two-Step...

The Fire of God

In 1 Kings 18 we see a very hopeful picture of the Christian life.  Elijah is in a power encounter with the forces of darkness.  He is in a face-off with the prophets of Baal.  They decide to build altars out of wood and placed a bull on the altar.  Then they decided that the God who answered by fire and burnt up the altar and offering is the true God. The prophets of Baal cried out all day and "there was no voice; no one answered; no one paid attention." That is the hopelessness of those who look to other "gods" besides the Lord.  Then Elijah cried out to the Lord and said, "Let it be known that You are God!"  And even though Elijah's altar was doused with water, the fire of the Lord fell and  consumed the offering. When the people saw it, "they fell on their faces and said, 'The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!"  We need the fire of God to fall on our lives. We can build the "altars" of commitment; we can provide the "bulls" of effort and offer our gifts and abilities to the Lord. But, unless God provides the Fire of His Spirit, nothing of any true spiritual worth will occur in our lives, our families, our churches, etc. Cry out for the fire of God to be poured out from on high!

Interesting Article on Social Networking Sites

I came across this article. Check it out. Be thoughtful. Be wise. Redeem the opportunities that present themselves...its like eating fish...enjoy the meat but simply pick the bones from your mouth and put them on the side of the plate to throw away! Here's the site:
http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/virtual-friendship-and-the-new-narcissism

Marley and...My God

Marley and Me is the most popular film in America right now. A great movie about a couple (and then a family) and their dog. What do you think God thinks about the movie? On one level, I believe He approves. Hollywood actually wrote a script where a married couple works through relational struggles and stays committed to the marriage! But there is another level besides that where God is pleased with the movie...God loves dogs! Well, He loves more than dogs...He loves cats, guinea pigs, lizards, parakeets, hamsters, cows, zebras, horses and whatever other animal you can think of! In Genesis 8:1, in the midst of the Great Flood that covered the earth, we read that "God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark." What an interesting verse. We can understand God remembering Noah...why not just leave it at that? But no, the inspired text specifically adds, "and all the beasts and all the livestock." God's heart is so big and so tender that he remembers even the animals. This is revealed elsewhere as well. In Proverbs 12:10 we read that "whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast." In Jonah 4:11, God makes his case for showing compassion for wicked Ninevah by telling Jonah that there are many children there, as well as many "cattle." God spared the city, not only because of people, but because of animals! Then, of course, there are the words of Jesus, which leads me to the whole point of this devotional...in Luke 12:5-6, Christ tells the disciples to consider sparrows. Birds of such little worth in the world's eyes that five are sold for two pennies. Yet the fact is not one of them is forgotten by the Father. "Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. God cares about animals and has regard for their welfare. How much more will He care for you today! Amazing, all this from Marley and Me...the Gospel is being preached everywhere! Listen to the music.

Coming Soon: What is the Waltz?

The Waltz and New Year's Resolutions

As I think about New Year's resolutions, I'm reminded that I've never met anyone in all my years of ministry, who had an intimate walk with God, who did not pursue God through a personal devotional life. Most followers of Christ know this, intuitively as well as Biblically. What is missing in many peoples' lives is not the awareness of the need, but a plan. As I've said before, when it comes to a devotional life, if you fail to plan then plan to fail. I could say with as much conviction as above, I've never met anyone who did not have a plan that was able to maintain a consistent devotional life. There are many plans out there. The ESV Study Bible site offers several. Here is the link--http://www.esv.org/biblereadingplans. Check it out, and by God's grace, resolve to maintain a consistent devotional life in 2009...waltz your way there. Dance your way there...REPENT over your coldness toward the Lord and your propensity to be distracted away from devotions. BELIEVE God loves you the same whether you have a devotion or not, BELIEVE that God's love for you is consistent and constant based on your union with Christ...Yet also BELIEVE God for the grace to transform your desires so that you delight in spending time with Him and truly miss Him when you don't spend a devotional period with Him each day. Then FIGHT the good fight by making every effort to maintain your devotions...make your plan, work your plan, stick to your plan...and when you fail, WALTZ ALL OVER AGAIN!!