The Domino Effect (Romans 8:32-34)

Our dominoes, when set up right, fall down;
They topple on each other, “clicking” sound;
And soon long lines can fall with Y’s and V’s,
And snaking S’s flow with toppling ease.

And so it’s been since Abe and Isaac’s day;
God set the game so all could see and play;
In Christ it branched out, rolled around the globe –
That clicking sound was heard – and ease of load –

Which all have felt as good news passes by
Our culture’s door – we watch and wonder why
It’s impact on our souls so winsome is,
The day its clicking sound affects our biz.

Two thousand years it clicked within one clan
(Twelve groups, one family you will understand);
When Jesus said, it’s time to branch on out;
Selected twelve He trained to take that route.

Three years He worked his pyramidal scheme –
Two pairs, then twelve, then seventy-two were keen;
As pairs trained pairs in mentor-shipping plan,
Five hundred, then three thousand trod the land.

“I’ll train you up then give you pairs to train;
I’ll show you how to mentor them the same;
Then as they each get pairs, I’ll show you how
To train the trainers – scope that will allow –

“For growth, without a threat if I should die
Like cousin John the Baptist – not so I –
Discipleship is fine – not one on one,
But two folks training two – that’s much more fun.”

For half his time Christ worked with just two pairs;
Much shorter time was needed training theirs;
And even less the group of seventy-two;
A hearty laugh – they showed what they could do.

Twelve lines of dominoes spread out from Him,
Though trained within their culture to begin –
Forbidden to branch out until He’d gone
When He was killed they thought all had gone wrong.

Then He came back and flicked the dominoes;
They clicked and fell, spread out – and is still it goes;
What was the part that clicked for them that day?
He gave his life for them, prepared a “Way”.

In simple terms once pyramid as scheme
Was rolling, He through countryside had been,
But turned attention to their central place
Of worship – hunching death would be his case.

It was. They let him teach about a week,
Then stopped him – killed him – so to scatter sheep,
Like cousin John when killed, but not so Christ –
The pyramid rolled on – He paid the price –

That was the “click” – which changed disciples’ lives –
Christ did not flinch, He did not run and hide;
He said “So – mete out to death, I’ll rise again;
I’ll take the hit for these, accept the pain.

“God will not intervene to save My life;
I lay it down, accept your cup of strife;
That’s not the end, I will return and then
The dominoes will click, and click again.

“For, Ridley-like a candle here is lit,
And light is shed throughout the world from it;
For each of them will click in others’ lives ,
As they, like me, refused to just survive.

“That’s how it spreads – My life is freely given;
Then those who’ve been so touched by move of heaven,
Join body-life, and click for others' lives;
Then like the dominoes that clicking thrives.”

So strange that is, the clicking of those chips;
We take the hit for others, much like this,
And they in turn join in – that clicking sound
Roles through the ages – all the world around.

And so, for you, my friend, I take the hit;
Perhaps not large – perhaps some tiny bit –
It matters not, such actions make a click –
It resonates – we live because of it.

And then one day a choice confronts our way;
For one can pass, not two, and so we say,
“Take heart, my friend, this is your lucky day –
You go ahead, I’ve found another Way”.

A “click” is made, as dominoes roll on;
Our friend, quite puzzled now, continues on;
A little light is shed where dark once was;
Someday, somehow, somewhere, he’ll see the cause.

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