The movie Footloose is loosely based on true story from 1980 Elmore City, OK which had prohibited dancing since town was founded in 1861. In the fictitious town of the movie, the ordinance banning dancing was part of the reaction to a horrible drunk-driving accident that killed several teens 5 years earlier.
“At first I was afraid they wouldn’t know what to do, but when the music started, all my worries went away – which means it wasn’t their first dance!”
Principal Dean Worsham, Elmore City High School
Be careful you don’t buy into an isolationist false sense of security.
MAILING IT IN
giving token effort, band-aids instead of solutions, “lip service” or going through the motions.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”zS9fR” via=”no” ]There is no autopilot in parenting. [/ctt]
Rules alone aren’t parenting, just telling God our problems isn’t social justice, witnessing isn’t just wearing a t-shirt, etc.
WHAT IS MISSING?
“How come when I’m home you’re never as interested in what I do or say as you are when I walk out that door? Wham! Suddenly you wanna know everything!” — “Ariel” in Footloose (1984)
Isaiah 6:8, Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8, Luke 10:9, Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 58:7, Luke 3:11, Romans 12:15
“Certainly, if the problem is to be solved then in the final sense, hearts must be changed.” Martin Luther King, Jr
[ctt template=”3″ link=”yacfS” via=”no” ]Change may begin with a law, but it will never be complete until it involves the heart![/ctt]
BETTER IS POSSIBLE
When we begin “mailing it in” as a parent, spouse, neighbor, Christian, it is the beginning of ceasing to be a parent, husband/wife, etc.
Isolation only works for as long as the isolation remains in effect. Insulation can be taken by your kids wherever they go for the rest of their life.
Teach your children to deal with their passions, not ignore them.
“Shaw, it’s 20 years now I’ve been a minister’s wife. And I’ve been quiet, supportive, unobtrusive; and after 20 years I still think you’re a wonderful, wonderful preacher. You can lift a congregation up so high they have to look down to see Heaven. But it’s the one-to-one where you need a little work.” — “Vi” in Footloose (1984)
There is a time to write a check, a time to roll up your sleeves and a time to do both.
As a Christian you can’t mail it in, you have to live it out on a daily basis, and on a weekly basis at God’s altar. Our faith needs to be practiced in worship, at prayer, and in service. When those things fall into place, you will discover the joy of being a Christian.
Christiane Janssen
Too often we go for a quick fix instead of a solution.
If we want to be great parents, spouses, neighbors or Christians it takes consistency, not mailing it in, not lip service, but keeping our actions consistent with our words. And not just in what we believe is wrong for us but also what is right for us to be doing!
Let’s declare this Summer, it’s “time to dance!”
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If you want to be saved and become a follower of Jesus it’s very simple. Jesus has already done the hard work by dying for our sins. All we have to do is believe Jesus is exactly who He says He is, the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again on the 3rd day. And tell someone. You can tell a spouse, parent, best friend, or you can text us at 205-476-2911. Romans 10:9-10
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