A Gentleman Dancer

Here's my suggestions as to how men can be gentlemen on the dancefloor, where chivalry stills reigns – or should. Maybe someone can write and tell me how women can be ladies (I am one*). The only thing I know about this is that we should always keep dancing. No matter what happens, whether you screw up or they do or whatever, we should keep dancing. But I'm sure there's more. Anyway, to the point at hand:-

• Start dancing with the easy stuff. If the woman's nervous, keep doing this until she's relaxed and comfortable.

• Always be gentle with her (but not so gentle she can't tell what you want her to do). This will make her feel respected and appreciated. If you're getting a bit behind and need to fling her to make it round in time, don't. You'll both enjoy the dance much more if you just miss that move.

• Keep it interesting, but not too interesting. That way she won't be bored but she won't be stressed out and dismayed either. Dancing at her level shows you're accepting of where she's at.

• And intersperse the interesting bits with some easy bits so she can have a bit of a rest and regain energy and focus. This is especially good for appreciating the music and for slower, more cruisy points in the song.

• Smile (or at least don't look pissed off) when she screws up. This will help her to stay relaxed and enjoying the dance.

• If you critique her dancing do it gently/tentatively, so she'll feel encouraged to improve.

• When the floor's crowded, dance simply so she feels safe.

*a Little Britain reference

Being

Church work is more about being than doing. I am continuing to learn this. So it goes with all profound truths

Until recently I have regarded spending time with God – reading his Word, speaking to him in prayer – as an essential underpinning of my faith and my service and teaching. This is not quite right. Time spent with God should be much more than this for a Christian leader, and maybe for every Christian. It should instead be the focus and climax of my day. All else I do should be because I am inspired and directed by this time with God. My teaching should not be teaching so much as sharing wonders! I should follow the Psalmist's example:

“Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

“My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.” (Psalm 119:23-24, 103, 148)

The First Sin

What sin was it that brought about such disaster and punishment?

The first sin happened just after the creation of the heavens and the earth “in all their vast array” (Gen 2:1) by an all-powerful God who “saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (1:31). This God chose to make people in his image, in his own likeness. He let people “rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground" (1:26). He gave them “every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it” (1:29). He planted a garden in the east and there he put the man. He made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground – trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food (2:8-9). He brought all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air to the man, for him to name. And when no suitable helper was found for Adam, the LORD God made a woman and brought her to the man, so they might become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame (2:25). The LORD God put them in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. He granted them freedom to eat from any tree in the garden, with the exception of one – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

This is the kind of world in which the first sin happened. This is the kind of God against whom the first sin was done. He is a God who gives generously, abundantly. He is a God who gives his created people good commands, for their good. Some were positive - “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground" (1:28) – and one was negative – “you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (2:17).

The woman and man were not satisfied with God's good provision and with fulfilling his commands. Their sin was to prefer the fruit of a tree to relationship with God. They chose appetite and aesthetic over God, the Maker of the Garden of Eden, that place where there were many trees “pleasing to the eye and good for food” (2:9). They were not happy to follow God's wisdom, but wanted their own. They listened to the serpent, Satan, instead of to God.

Why were they so stupid?

They were looking out for themselves and they were prepared to deny God in the process. When the serpent asked “Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?”, he was insinuating that God's good commands were actually restrictive rules. Then the serpent bluntly indicated that God was lying and didn't have the people's interests at heart – “ 'You will not surely die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' “ (3:4-5).

The woman listened well. She could see in front of her that “the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom” (3:6). God was denying her these good things.

Are we like Eve and Adam? Do we, like our brother Asaph, say “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence” (Psalm 73:13)? Do we yearn for things that might be? Do we become grieved and bitter at the lot God has dealt us?

We should flee such senselessness and ignorance! Flee such sin! Join Asaph in concluding:

“[Y]ou hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (73:23-26)