Faith in Tension – In Beyonce’s Own Words
A couple days ago, I started this Faith in Tension series with a look at a controversy started by Beyonce at her 2013 Super Bowl performance. Let’s go to the source. Here is a video of Beyonce in recent interviews. The first few minutes are full of the circumstantial, circular reasoning I’ve been trying to highlight. If you’re pressed for time, or insulted by wild accusations, jump to 5:30 in the video.
Faith in Tension – Symbols or Substance
One of the world’s most popular singers and performers, Beyonce took the stage during the Super Bowl with the fire and passion that few artists create. Her show pulled so much electricity, that the circuits in the New Orleans Superdome overheated, and shortly after play resumed lights in half the stadium went dark. As news reporters scrambled to fill the airtime, they discovered that her show also blew the stadium’s electrical service twice during rehearsals. This lady can truly perform.
While the TV broadcasters babbled with half-relevant content, the Twitter universe was also ablaze. During Beyonce’s show, she flashed an odd hand sign. Apparently, when someone holds their hands together into the shape of a triangle, this is a secret symbol of everyone with ties to the Illuminate, or to Satan worshippers themselves. Called by some “The Demon Eye,” and others the “All-Seeing Eye,” Seeing Eye,” the Blogosphere followed the Twitterverse over the next few days and speculated on dark meanings behind her salute.
Transformed or Imposed Upon | of Farms and Factories
At a recent Resurgence R12 Conference, Greg Laurie commented that Christians and church leaders have to be transformed so they can be culturally relevant and authentically connect with the world. Living much of my life in West Michigan, I had to look back at my own journey to faith, and grapple with why his casual transition between point four and five of his notes arrested my attention. Growing up in West Michigan, I have to confess that I grew up feeling religiously imposed upon, not challenged to transform into something or become like Someone.
Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationship breeds rebellion.” I wish I would have understood what he meant. Without a lot of solid relationship models as a child, it took decades to unravel some of my aversion to relationships, and put into practice McDowell’s advice. Today, I look back at my rebellion against organized religion that God used to lead me to a real relationship with Christ. I have the odd perspective of someone who felt imposed upon, found out that Jesus taught about a promised transformation, and now work to connect the dots.
From David to Tozer, God’s Word is the Foundation
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the bible, and every verse extols the power, stability, enduring nature and endless authority of God’s word. God’s word is a lamp, by it we avoid sin, it teaches us wisdom, and sets our feet on a straight path. All of these truths are found in Ps 119. If you haven’t read this song lately, I encourage you to build your faith by reading King David’s trust, reliance and dependence on God’s word.
This weekend, I was reading some words from A.W. Tozer. A preacher in the middle of 20th century America. Tozer’s faith and ministry was founded on the same anchor – God’s Word. In an article on the power and surety of God’s word, Tozer said:
Successful Small Groups – From Concept to Practice
Jesus’ last words gave Christians the Great Commission, a command to build disciples in all nations. Disciple building is a process, not an event, and too often Christ followers focus on events. Preaching is part of the process, as is baptism, church membership and reading the Bible. However, unless these lessons become part of a changed life, the discipling process remains incomplete. Teena’s book lays out steps to start and grow a successful small group ministry, which is often the essential key for changing decision makers and church attenders into disciples. (T. Stewart, 2007, Beacon Hill of Kansas City)
Tim is an experienced small group leader and spiritual mentor. His contributions to Successful Small Groups grow from personal experience, and 20 years of discipling ministry.
She Was Convinced of God’s Hand in Her Life
I met Wanda Maxey three years ago in a small writing group. Timid and quiet, Wanda wanted to tell her private story to the world. She believed that God had taught her about his beautiful love and grace, even though her personal history was filled potholes of alcoholism and abuse. Wanda’s story includes an alcoholic father, and a similar man that she settled for when she got married. Zig Ziglar once said that people often prefer a known hell to an unknown heaven, and his wisdom is woven around the reasons Wanda chose her partner.
Wanda was married to a man like her abusive, alcoholic father for thirty-two years. It took a violent confrontation one night at the point of a gun to bring her to her senses. Her story, in the book Love and Abuse on 40 Acres, tells how she justified the emotional twists and turns until she finally found the courage and freedom in Christ to surrender to him and stand up for herself. Her book is available on Amazon in a print edition, or on Kindle.
I am blessed to see how Wanda has grown personally as the result of taking the risk to tell her story. She is genuine, transparent and honestly confronts her decisions that shaped her life. Today, Wanda is writing and speaking about her personal journey. You can find out more and contact Wanda via http://wandasmaxey.com/.
But Lord, I Was Happy Shallow
How many times have you yearned for a deeper, more intimate walk with Christ? The stories in this book are compiled from writers seeking that deeper experience, and how God often used obstacles and the lessons learned from overcoming unfairness or injustice to grow into a deeper and more satisfying relationship with Him. (M. Littauer, 2004, Kregel Press)
Your Exceptional Life Begins Now
Working with writers around the country, author Timothy Burns is included in each of these books. His contributions range from heartfelt personal stories to wisdom grown from his own experiences. Readers of these books will find encouragement, inspiration and advice in these popular titles.
Compiled from writers across the country, Your Exceptional Life encourages readers to take hold of the life they have been given and live. Every person encounters unscheduled bumps in the road. These stories tell how to use bumps in your path as a launch ramp to an exceptional life. (M. Young & K. Fletcher, 2005, Aloha Press)
God Encounters
Author James Stuart Bell worked with Howard Books to collect stories of God’s real involvement in the lives of his children. The first in a 10 book series, God Encounters tells how a loving God answered desperate prayers and interacted with his people (J. Bell, 2009, Howard Books)
Tim’s contribution to this compilation book tells the story of how God answered a 4 year old prayer to begin reconciling his relationship to his son Josh.
The Art of Helping
Ever wondered just how to step into the gap created when a friend experiences a traumatic loss, or possibly the death of a close friend or family member? Lauren Littauer Briggs collected advice and practical do’s and don’ts from writers across the nation as she put together this compassionate guide. A reader will find creative ideas to help others and even favorite recipes to offer others as a way to say they care, and they are available to help. (L Littauer-Briggs, 2003, David C Cook)
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