The Limbo Life - How Low Can You Go?

Growing up, my parents hosted cookouts on our patio. After-dinner entertainment included my father playing guitar (think: Kingston Trio) kids twirling Hula Hoops and everyone doing the new Limbo dance.

The Limbo worked like this. Two volunteers would hold either side of a bar about three feet long, at waist’s height. While Caribbean music played, each dancer would lean backwards, scooting bent legs and torso under the bar. Guests lined up to try their skill. After each turn, the bar lower. A player who touched the bar with their shoulders or chest was disqualified.

Now Limbo, as a game is great fun. It breaks the ice and has people cheering on their fellow party guests. Unfortunately, Limbo Life isn’t. When we can’t sell our house, find a job or fix an ongoing relationship that limbo frustration seeps in.

Bitterness follows frustration. We ask: why didn’t we sell our house sooner? Why did I marry this person? Why did my company downsize just when I started? And the universal question: “What happened to my 401K? Many Americans ask themselves these questions while we slogs through this recession.

The Limbo song invites the players, “How low can you go?” and we scream, “No lower!” But standing mid-thigh in life’s crises we realize we can bend more than we dreamed. In Limbo-Land we learn to flex our rigid spending habits without breaking, becoming satisfied with less money or a rental house. We discover marriage can weather the unemployment storm with the relationship still intact. Resilience, an underrated quality can take a person far in life.

I, as a practicing Christian, (I’m still practicing) have gone through four years of Limbo Life. Due to job changes, we’ve become nomads. But while maneuvering the gauntlet of anger, depression, self-introspection and apathy, I’ve learned my back can twist and curve with life’s music. God will give us his game plan for the next few steps when I stop fussing and realize He is raising and lowering the bar. I’d love to keep the bar high so I don’t strain. But He knows I can bend and become a more flexible disciple for His kingdom. I wasn’t promised a life of ease when signing my life over to Him. When we sign up to be disciples of Jesus, we sign on to make our life count for something dearer than comfort. So hang on and stretch.

by Carol Stratton

Do most in the church of Jesus Christ even know what it is to be a disciple?

Chuch Swindoll http://Insight.org

"Most of us (Christians) are not Disciples" - Chuck Swindoll of Insight for Living

I have been a huge fan of Insight for Living and Chuck Swindoll for as long as I can remember.  On May 8 and 9 the sermon turned to the issue of discipleship.  Since that is very near and dear to my heart, I made a special effort to tune in by computer and listen.  You can, too, at http://www.insight.org/ 

Here are some of the points which line up very nicely with the key themes of my recently released book, God Called - He Needs Your Decision! 

He first noted that a new Christian should not be thrust into leadership roles or even service too quickly.  He makes a comparison to a new baby and says that the baby Christian needs time to heal, learn, and spend time with Jesus prior to starting to serve. 

Swindol also points out that the word discipleship is overused and under appreciated. I think he means that most who use the word use it incorrectly to refer to a process of seeking converts and trying to bring them to a point of accepting Jesus.  This is not discipleship.  Rather discipleship has two sides. 

First there is the process of being discipled or trained up in the ways of Jesus. Swindoll recommends that you ask two or three spiritually mature individuals to help you work out your faith. The goal is to reach a point where you have picked up your cross and followed Jesus, which includes giving up your possessions and your very life. 

At some point in this process you will be in a position to disciple others. You don’t have to be perfect to do so, but you have to be clear-eyed about you interests being God centered rather than earth centered.  One way you might know is if those around you clearly see that you’ve been “with Jesus.”

Swindoll told a variation on the story of the pearl of great price. He said that when the man asked the owner of the pearl what the price was, the trader said the price was not set. The man said he would pay whatever the price was. The trader said the cost would be everything. The trader showed him that this included his money, house, car, wife, kids . . . everything. The trader then said he would loan these things back to the man, but that he would have title, and could ask for them at any time. 

If you’d like to hear the entire message, please check it out at http://www.insight.org/