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Artists on God and Christianity – Tori Amos

February 16, 2010 in Music with 1 Comment

Tori Amos is an extremely talented singer, songwriter and pianist.  In 2001 I attended one of her concerts in Nashville, TN.  What I saw and heard was amazing artistry.  This artist has written and sung about deep issues and subjects.  She has tackled such heavy subjects as rape and spousal violence in her music.

Amos is the product of a preacher’s home.  She has not shied from addressing spiritual issues.  On her website, she converses about a recent album/CD.  Her conversation reveals a woman with a healthy set of questions.

People are being forced to question what they believe in.  We’re being brought back to questions which make up our foundation: “Who am I?  What do I really believe in?”

She arrives at answers which may seem amiss to most Christians.  She also asks “what is sinful?”  She answers with a view centered on self rather than on God.

It’s not what the church says to me is sinful.  It’s me degrading myself, or somebody else wanting to degrade me and me allowing it to happen.

Her 2009 album is titled, Abnormally Attracted to Sin.  The title is taken from a line from Guys and Dolls.  She is on to something that Christians should hear.  She seems to miss the mark on her understanding of sin as being about self rather than about God.

She is critical of the church.  She cites the church for not demonstrating the compassion of Christ.  Instead the church ignores and pegs those with the most despair and questions.  To this criticism the church should listen.

Amos, however, proceeds further down a dangerous path.  The lyrics to her song, God, demonstrate this.

God sometimes you just don’t come through.
Do you need a woman to look after you?
God sometimes you just don’t come through.

Here Amos reveals a higher alignment to feminism than to God.  Perhaps she might find more of her answers with a higher view of God.  After all the compassion of Christ is the compassion of God.

I hope she continues to ask important questions.  I just hope she finds answers that are based on God revealing himself rather than influenced by a woman-centered worldview.  I also hope we all continue to ask important questions.

Christian Super Bowl Ad???

February 9, 2010 in Culture, Sports with 0 Comments

With all of the pre-game hype over the Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother, most people did not realize that another commercial was developed and made by a church.  One advertiser created a contest for people to submit an ad on behalf of the company.  The winning submission was revealed when the ad ran during the Super Bowl.  It may surprise you to discover that a Los Angeles church created the winning submission.  The ad was for Doritos.  The church is Mosaic in Los Angeles pastored by Erwin McManus.

The ad was the 14th most popular ad for the Super Bowl according to USA Today‘s Ad Meter.  2 other Doritos ads scored higher.  I certainly have no problem with a church using talented people to create an TV ad.  In fact, I like McManus’ comments in a USA Today article.

We’re not trying to use Doritos to propagate a message, but I think we want people to know that we have a sense of humor, that it’s OK to laugh.  So much of what comes out of the faith community seems so dour and somber and we want to say, ‘Hey, we’re real people. You can be a person of faith and really enjoy life and laugh.’

The quote that I do differ on is from Mark Labberton, professor of preaching at Fullerton Theological Seminary.  Labberton said,

Nobody’s going to fall on their knees and accept Jesus as a result of this spot. But advertisers on Madison Avenue spend millions on a Super Bowl spot because they know it influences people.  It might not get someone converted, but I think it will get someone to say, ‘Maybe there is something I ought to investigate.’

Professor Labberton, it was a commercial for Doritos.  The only thing somebody might investigate is if they have a bag of chips in the pantry.

Wayman Tisdale Tribute by Toby Keith

February 8, 2010 in Music, Sports with 0 Comments

On a cool Saturday in a winter in the early 1980′s, my young son, Cameron, and I ventured from Red Rock, Oklahoma to Stillwater and the campus of Oklahoma State University.  We went to attend the Bedlam Series basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys.  It was Cameron’s first major sports event and he was donned in a red OU sweatshirt and red OU sweatpants.  We made our way to our seats in the rafters of Gallagher Hall primarily to watch All-American Wayman Tisdale of Oklahoma.

In all my years of being a sports fan, only a handful of athletes have reached hero status in my books.  Tisdale is one of those athletes.  He played the game at a high level and conducted himself as a role model.  I was pleased to have my son look up to him during his early, formative years.

Tisdale was a basketball player, a jazz musician, a Christian and a family man.  A few months ago, he left this world to be with Jesus in heaven.  He left behind a legacy of living life with joy.  During his life, he became friends with country musician Toby Keith.  Keith is an ardent Oklahoma Sooner fan.  After Tisdale died, Keith recorded one of the most moving tribute songs ever recorded about Tisdale.  On Saturday night, Keith performed the song at the OU-Texas basketball game with Tisdale’s brother, William and other members of Tisdales jazz band.  Here is the video for your enjoyment and encouragement.  I hope you enjoy.

What Makes a Man a Sissy?

December 21, 2009 in Culture with 1 Comment

Most of us have a pretty good idea of what is meant by the term a lady’s man.  The same could be said for a man’s man.  But what about a man that is more effeminate?  Since the mid-1800′s the term sissy has been used.  It is a variation of the word sister.  The word was used to imply that a man acted more like what his sister should act like.  It was not a compliment.

We still use the word today, but we don’t always agree as to what defines a sissy.  Part of the difficulty in defining the term is that masculinity has also become a fuzzy term.  Men speak of being in touch with their feminine side.  The problem with that is that a feminine side doesn’t exist in the masculine gender.  This doesn’t mean that men should be afraid to cry or talk about something.  It does mean that these things may be a part of their masculinity.

So what about a sissy?  Denny Burk, the Dean of Boyce College, created some conversation today by commenting on this subject.  I agree with the Burk’s calling men to be men, but was disappointed in how he went about it.  His opening line is

Have you ever seen a guy carrying a man-purse or wearing “guy-liner” make-up?

Here is my question.  What criteria determines a sissy?  To Burk, it at least involves a man-purse and guy-liner.  Guy-liner is eye liner for men.  Where does he get this?  From his cultural background.  His southern, baptistic culture would not connect masculinity with a man-purse or guy-liner.  But Burk is a Christian professor.  The standard of judgment should be biblical teaching rather than cultural norm.

A man-purse is also called a murse or a European man bag.  In some cultures it is a very manly thing or at least gender neutral.  In others it is not.  For a Christian it should not be equated with being a sissy.  (You can get a stylish one for $159 by clicking on the picture to the left.)  Let me provide some other examples.

I have owned and worn a pink dress shirt in the past.  I don’t have one now because my wife thinks it is unmanly.  I think she is wrong, but I don’t want to appear unmanly to my wife.

I own and have worn a French beret.  Some of my family think it is unmanly.  My wife and I disagree (as do most people in France), so I am comfortable wearing it.

I remember as a child when church members were shocked that a woman wore slacks to church.  That’s not an issue for most churches today.  What changed?  Cultural norms changed.  Biblical teaching did not.  The problem comes when people try to read culture back into the Bible.  The Bible does have passages that relate to men and women wearing clothing or appearing like their own gender.  No where does it indicate that this relates to slacks.  There are pieces of clothing that are particular to a gender and should not be exchanged.  Jock straps and bras are examples of this.

So, men need to be men.  Let’s just be careful how we define manliness and who we call a sissy.

May Your Power Rest On Me

December 17, 2009 in Christian Life, Music with 0 Comments

51CZEScSB+L._SL160_This morning during my prayer time, I listened to the song May Your Power Rest On Me from Sojourn’s Over the Grave CD.  It tied so perfectly to my own prayers that when I listened and sang along, my heart swelled within as I thought of the power of God and my own weakness.

Over the Grave is an album of songs based on the hymn writing of Isaac Watts.  This particular song was based on Watt’s Hymn #15.  Here are the lyrics.  Read them slowly and reflect on them.  I hope you will make these words your own prayer today.

Let me hear my Savior say

“Your strength shall return.”

Then I’ll rejoice in my weakness

As I lean on your grace.

As I lean on your grace.

Chorus:

May your power rest on me.

You are strong when I am weak.

I can bear all things when temptation springs

For you sustain me all my days.

Let me know my Savior’s face.

Let my hope be secure.

Then I’ll rejoice in my weakness

As I lean on your grace.

As I lean on your grace.

Chorus:

May your power rest on me.

You are strong when I am weak.

I can bear all things when temptation springs

For you sustain me all my days.

Once from the Lord withdrawn

I thought that I could live my life alone

Leaving the solid ground

I sank beneath his wisdom

The harder I tried to climb

The closer I was to find

How great is my weakness

Chorus:

May your power rest on me

You are strong when I am weak

I can bear all things when temptation springs

For you sustain me all my days

Though the trial still goes on

Your grace will be my song

For I can bear all things when temptation springs

For you sustain me all my days.

May your power rest on me.

May your power rest on me.

–Written by Joel Gerdis and Neil Robins

You may download the song by clicking on the album cover at the top of the post.

The Manhattan Declaration

November 22, 2009 in Christian Life, Culture with 0 Comments

The Manhattan Declaration.

I became the 15,658th person to sign The Manhattan Declaration.  This 4,700 word document issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not – under any circumstance – abandon their Christian consciences.

Below is the excerpted version of the declaration:

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.
We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

  1. the sanctity of human life
  2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
  3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

This document was drafted by Robert George of Princeton University, Timothy George of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, and Chuck Colson of The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview.  When it was released on November 20, 2009 it had 152 signatures from prominent Christian leaders.

If you are in agreement, you may also sign the declaration by clicking on the link at the beginning of this post.

A Unique Defense for Adultery

November 19, 2009 in Politics with 1 Comment

Eugene RobinsonEugene Robinson is a Councilman in Atlantic City, NJ and reportedly a Baptist minister.  Some time ago, Robinson was videotaped taking a 24 year old prostitute to a motel, exchanging money and engaging in a sex act.  The investigation found that this was a setup by political enemies.  However, that does not excuse Robinson’s actions.   In his testimony and comments, several unique aspects of that night unfold:

  1. Financial Defense – Robinson said that only gave the woman $1 so that she could get a soda.
  2. Civic Defense – Robinson testified that he thought the woman was a tourist who had become separated from her group.  He was surprised when she began unbuckling his pants (in a motel).
  3. Spiritual Defense – Robinson said that he was waiting for God to send him the woman that was destined to be his wife.  He elaborated that he had not had sex since 1989 and thought this woman was sent by God.

So there you have it.  Robinson was simply being a Good Samaritan looking for God’s will.

Diane Birch: Bible Belt Video

November 17, 2009 in Music with 1 Comment

This is the youtube video of the song that I referenced in my previous post.  Be sure to read that.

Diane Birch: Bible Belt

November 17, 2009 in Music with 1 Comment

Diane BirchRecently I received a free iTunes download card while at Starbucks.  This particular download was for a new artist of whom I had not heard.  This particular song, Rise Up, came from her debut album titled Bible Belt.  The name of the album and the song piqued my attention.  Once I started listening, I was really interested.

Birch has that bluesy voice that just makes you stop and listen.  The musical composition causes you to feel the music.  But what about the lyrics?  Birch seems to be wrestling with some aspects of spiritual life as expressed in her lyrics.  For example, this song includes the following:

My mama tells me I won’t get

Thru the pearly gates

Cuz I ain’t sorry for my sins

And all my mistakes

Well mama I don’t know

If I’m going up or down

But I know heaven’s gonna be

One lonely town

After reading some articles about her including those from her website, she appears to have difficulty with her conservative Christian upbringing.  She still admits that she is influenced by it.

Birch was raised by a missionary-pastor father.  As she moved into young adulthood, she showed up to a service he was leading wearing a black Goth cape.  She did not enter until everybody was situated so as to make her grand appearance.

I want to listen to the remainder of Bible Belt.  She is certainly a gifted artist who wrestles with eternal issues.  She relies on musical composition of the hymns for her own musical inspiration.  I hope that in the future the words of some of those hymns will give her clarity on whether she will go up or down and that heaven is really not a lonely town.

The Shadow Side of Tim Tebow

October 13, 2009 in Culture, Sports with 2 Comments

In January of this year, Google search engines worked overtime as people searched for Philippians 4:13.  The cause for this surge?  Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Florida Gators, had written the Bible verse on the eye black underneath his eyes.  He was playing in the BCS National Championship Game against Oklahoma.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

–Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

This past weekend the Google search engines again went into overdrive.  Tim Tebow was returning to action after a concussion against LSU on national television.  Again Tebow wrote a Bible verse on his eye black.  This time it was 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

–1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

Tebow has won the biggest trophies for his athletic abilities (2 National Championships and 1 Heisman Trophy).  He has received admiration for his off the field activities and character.  Read my earlier article on this here.  He visits prisons.  He serves in mission settings in Asia.  He proves his leadership and character both on and off the field.

So what’s the problem?

According to Tom Krattenmaker, a contributor for USA Today, there is a “shadow side” of athletes like Tim Tebow.  Shadow side conjures images of something dark and sinister.  What is this shadow side?  It is that Tebow believes that Jesus is the only way to salvation and to God.

If one believes this about Jesus, then it is offensive to those who do not believe the same about Jesus.  So Krattenmaker writes that athletes like Tebow are not good “Not if you’re Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, non-evangelical Protestant, agnostic or anything else outside the conservative evangelical camp.”

Tebow’s father, Bob Tebow leads a ministry that focuses on ministering to people of the Philippines.  I heard Bob Tebow speak the day before the BCS National Championship game at First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Florida.  But according to Krattenmaker, the Tebows espouse a “far-right theology.”  It is far-right because it teaches that “Only those who assent to its version of Christianity will avoid eternal punishment.”

The author invokes a survey of Americans in which 65% believe that there are many roads that lead to salvation and to God.  Since Tebow is not in the 65%, he is far-right.  I think Tebow is okay with that designation.  What is wrong is to ascribe a shadow side to somebody who believes what the Bible clearly teaches.  Whether something is right is not determined by opinion polls, but by what God has revealed in Scripture.

This article in USA Today is another example of the intolerance of the tolerance crowd.

Christians should pray for men like Tebow.  Men who proclaim the message of Jesus as the Light of the World.  To Tim Tebow – this Oklahoma fan prays that God will continue to give you opportunity to declare the truth about Jesus.

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