WARNING: This is not Adventist!

[Dr. Shane]

FOOTPRINTS...A New Version

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently.

You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.

Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.

You are amazed and shocked.

Your dream ends. Now you pray:

"Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You."

"That is correct."

"And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely."

"Very good.. You have understood everything so far."

When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way."

"Precisely."

"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.

"You didn't know? It was then that we danced!"

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,4.

[Nicodema]

I thought it was a nice little anecdote. Why the strange subject line WARNING that it's "not Adventist"? That seems a bit bizarre to me.

[Planey]

Nico! Think!

They were dancing!

Graeme

[olger]

I have a few questions directed at no one in particular.

Are we in danger of losing the sense of what it means to come into the presence of the Almighty Ruler of all? Is salvation merely a cozy intimacy between equal parties?

olger

[Nicodema]

[:"blue"] Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

[/]

John 15:13-16.

friend n.

1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.

2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.

3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement: friends of the clean air movement.

Word History: [:"red"]A friend is a lover, literally.[/] The relationship between Latin amicus “friend” and amo “I love” is clear, as is the relationship between Greek philos “friend” and phile “I love.” In English, though, we have to go back a millennium before we see the verb related to friend. At that time, freond, the Old English word for “friend,” was simply the present participle of the verb freon, “to love.” The Germanic root behind this verb is *fr-, which meant “to like, love, be friendly to.” Closely linked to these concepts is that of “peace,” and in fact Germanic made a noun from this root, *frithu-, meaning exactly that.

(Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=friend )

Are we in "danger" of believing the words of Jesus Christ when He calls us not His servants, but His friends?

Let's hope!

[Nicodema]

Quote:

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Planey said:

Nico! Think!

They were

dancing!

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(Note: I get the point you're trying to make ... ... the rant below is NOT aimed at you. )

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So how does that make this not Adventist?

I'm an "Adventist" ... and I dance. I don't go to dance HALLS or night clubs, but I dance, and I sure as heck would dance with a close friend in my living room if we were both feeling joyful.

Those who limit the definition of "dancing" to something ONLY dirty, lewd, sexually alluring, etc. or in any other way only that which is to be condemned demonstrate only TWO THINGS about THEMSELVES:

(1) an utter paucity of imagination;

(2) an utter lack of real joy in their lives

So hear this, everybody: [:"red"]YES REAL ADVENTISTS DANCE. GET OVER IT!!![/]

Shane pry that tongue outta yo cheek!

[Neil D]

Quote:

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Nicodema said:

[:"red"]

YES REAL ADVENTISTS DANCE. GET OVER IT!!!

[/]

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Amen...AMEN and AAAAAAAAAMEN!!!!!!!

[Pockey]

[]http://www.tvdance.com/william-hung/wdance1a.gif[/]