Religion & Values » religion

Spirituality in the “Twilight” saga

religion — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:48:46 +0000

There are spiritual lessons to be gleaned from the fictional “Twilight” saga that has lots of folks abuzz these days.

The premiere of the feature film “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” again brings to reel-life the love story of Bella Swan and her vampire boyfriend Edward.

Beliefnet.com has a new posting offering Claudia Mair Burney’s perspective on the spirituality one can find in the popular tale of teen love and angst.

“I’m also a junkie for the Twilight Saga’s completely unrealistic love story. “Who acts like that?”, I ask myself, but I keep coming back. Deep down inside I knew who acted that way. Edward’s inhumanly perfect love and Bella’s passionate attachment to him echoed —don’t laugh—the sacred romance between God and me,” Burney wrote.

Check it out at “Spiritual Lessons of Twilight.”

Saturday, Beliefnet.com will feature a movie review of the new film by Movie Mom Nell Minow.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

New movie coming from “Fireproof” producers

religion — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:36:22 +0000

The leaders of Sherwood Pictures, the makers of the popular Christian-themed film “Fireproof,” announced the name and premise of their next film, their fourth, on Sunday.

The movie is to be called “Courageous” and will focus on fatherhood, the leaders said.

Sherwood Pictures is an outreach ministry of Sherwood Church in Albany, Ga. The church’s senior pastor, the Rev. Michael Catt (at right) , along with the church’s executive pastor the Rev. Jim McBride and ministers Stephen and Alex Kendrick, made the announcement.

I’ve talked to Catt before for a column about the church’s movie-making role, and spoke to Stephen Kendrick about “The Love Dare” book from “Fireproof” for a story. All seemed to be very passionate about the church’s venture into the arena of making movies with strong Christian content.

A news release was sent out about the recent annoucement. Alex Kendrick, the release said, briefly outlining the plot Sunday: ”Four fathers who are all in law enforcement — who protect and serve together — go through a terrible tragedy,” he said. “They begin looking at their role as fathers . . . and they begin challenging one another to fulfill God’s intention for fathers.”

Catt said the single-word title echoes God’s call for men to “rise with courage” in their homes and as leaders” at a time when numerous marriages end in divorce and more than one-third of all children live away from their biological fathers.

“The statistics on fatherless children are devastating,” McBride said. “And because the family is the building block of society, one important place to rebuild families is through fathers who stay and lead and love.”

“God led us,” co-writer and producer Stephen Kendrick said. ”We believe God is calling men to rise up with strength and with leadership in their homes, with their families and with their children.”

All four leaders of Sherwood Pictures are husbands and fathers. Pastor Catt has two children; Pastor McBride has four; Stephen Kendrick has four; and Alex Kendrick has six.

Principle filming of “Courageous” is to begin in March 2010 in Albany. Like the previous three Sherwood films, the movie will be marketed by Provident Films.

For more information about the new movie, visit www.CourageoustheMovie.com.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Basketballs and bells

religion — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:45:29 +0000

The men’s basketball team from Central Bible College in Springfield, Mo., will offer Oklahomans something besides a good game of hoops on Sunday.The team will perform a handbell concert at 6 p.m. Sunday at University Baptist Church, 2515 N Kickapoo in Shawnee.

The Rev. Thomas Harrison, the “Secret Church Shopper” I once wrote about, said Central Bible College is affiliated with the Assemblies of God.

The concert sounds like an unusual treat for music lovers and handbell enthusiasts.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Unique Bible now on eBay

religion — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:50:45 +0000

The original version of the handwritten Bible Across America is on the auction block today and proceeds of the eBay auction will benefit Biblica, the translation sponsor of the New International Version translation.

Last year, more than 200 Oklahomans had the opportunity to contribute a handwritten verse to the Bible when the Bible Across America tour stopped at Casady School. The tour was hosted by Zondervan to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the NIV Bible. After a nine-month cross country tour cover 22,579 miles, 90 cities and 40 states, more than 31,000 people had a hand in writing Bible Across America, Zondervan said in a news release.

Two original copies were created during the tour and each page was checked and scanned to create a published version which will be released in stores on Dec. 1 and also will be available for purchase online at www.bibleacrossamerica.com.

If you are interested in the auction go online to http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Bible-Across-America-Charity-Sale and make an offer. The auction closes on Nov. 22.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

P.S. The illustration above is just that, an illustration. It is not the Bible Across America being auctioned.

Kirk Franklin heading to OKC

religion — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:48:12 +0000

It’s official: Gospel recording artist Kirk Franklin is bringing his “Fight of Our Life Health Tour” to Oklahoma City on Nov. 22.

Franklin’s concert will be at 6 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church, 1700 NE 7. The concert is free and will feature guest appearances by local Gospel artist Sean Johnson and Wings of Harmony, a performing arts ensemble.

The tour is in partnership with the American Heart Assocation’s Power to End Stroke initiative. Franklin performed in concert in Tulsa over the summer. An Oklahoma City concert was planned, but officials were working with Franklin’s busy schedule and trying to find an Oklahoma City location to host the event. Many people had been asking me if a date had been set for the Oklahoma City concert so I’m glad that I can finally give them some facts.

I just saw Franklin perform at the 2009 Woman Thou Art Loosed Conference at Bishop T.D. Jake’s church The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. He was, as usual, outstanding. As part of the upcoming health tour, the Grammy Award-winning artist will encourage concert-goers to pledge to take control of their health, reduce their risk of stroke and learn the warning signs of stroke.

Save the date.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Women of Faith is just days away

religion — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:32:10 +0000

Someone always asks me a question that’s easy to answer about this time of year: Why are all these women — thousands — crowding into the Ford Center?

It’s because Women of Faith 2009 is here … just days away, in fact.

With the theme “A Grand New Day,” the conference will be Friday and Saturday at the Ford Center, 100 W Reno.

Judging from years past, there will indeed be thousands of women flocking to downtown Oklahoma City come Friday.

Women of Faith’s core presenters include Oklahoma native and contemporary Christian recording artist Sandi Patty (at right), Marilyn Meburg, Sheila Walsh, Patsy Clairmont and Luci Swindoll. Lisa Whelchel (pictured below), star of NBC TV’s’1970’s-80’s sitcom “The Facts of Life,” will be one of the guest presenters.

Women from all over Oklahoma and some other states in the region are expected to attend the two-day conference.

See you there …

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The Book of Destiny

religion — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:45:31 +0000

It doesn’t surprise me that interest is growing in the Mayan prophecy that says the end of the world is to happen during the year 2012.

I just wanted to let readers know of another book out that also deals with the prophecy. It appears to offer perspective different than the one espoused by local author the Rev. Mark Hitchcock, who wrote “2012: The Bible and the End of The World.”

It’s called “The Book of Destiny: Unlocking the Secrets of the Ancient Mayans and the Prophecy of 2012 (HarperOne, $23.99)” by Carlos Barrios.

Here’s what the publisher has to say about the book: “Anthropologist and Mayan expert Carlos Barrios helps clarify just what the 2012 date means to us, and how we can all best prepare ourselves to meet the coming change the Mayans believe has long been written in the destiny of our planet. Written at the request of the Mayan Elders, “The Book of Destiny” is a tool to help people understand their life purpose and to use this profound knowledge to make the best of their time on earth.

“According to the Sacred Mayan Calendar and its corresponding horoscope, our lives have been predestined, and our better understanding of this often-ignored horoscope helps one use this knowledge to beneficially interact with the world around us.”

Who knows? A follow to Saturday’s story on Hitchcock’s book may be forthcoming.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The end of the world?

religion — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:10:23 +0000

Hello all,

Here’s more from my interview with the Rev. Mark Hitchcock, author of the new book “2012: The Bible and the End of the World.”

Hitchcock is pastor of Faith Bible Church in Edmond. The majority of my interview with him is featured in today’s LIFE section of The Oklahoman. His book gives a biblical perspective about a Mayan prophecy that says the end of the world will occur on Dec. 21, 2012. The subject is so compelling and there was just too much to get in print, that we thought we would offer the rest of the interview in this venue:

Q: Should we be looking for signs? Should believers be looking for signs of the end of the world?

Mark Hitchcock: “I think it’s OK. Remember in Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus what is going to be the sign of your coming at the end of the age and Jesus didn’t say don’t worry about that. He gave them signs, so I think we should be looking for things. What I think we should be looking for are things like the regathering of the nation of Israel and the world focus on the Middle East. The whole world is focused on the Middle East. That’s going to be the staging grounds for the events of the End Times. Also globalism. The Bible predicts a one-world economy and a one-world government in the end. Well, we see a move in that direction.

So what I would say is that we can look around in our world and see the stage being set. None of us know when the stage setting is finished, so we don’t know when the Lord’s going to come. But we can see the things that are setting the stage for the events of the End Times that do lead us to believe, I think rightly, that the Lord’s coming could be near.

Jesus, when they asked him about signs, He gave them some. One of the main signs He gave in Matthew 24: 4, he said see to it that noone misleads you or deceives you and I think this 2012 stuff is deception. It’s part of the deception that He said would come.

Really, the whole 2012 phenomona is the New Age eschatology and I like to call it the Mayan Y2K. It’s like Y2K all over again but I think it’s going to come and go again.

I like to mention that there could be some things that happen in 2012 that are strange and bizarre. I don’t know what’s going to happen that year but it won’t be the second coming of Jesus and it won’t be the end of the world. That I can say with confidence. In my understanding of the End Times, the second coming happens after a seven-year period called the Tribulation. If the second coming is to happen in 2012, the Tribulation would have had to have started in 2005 and we are not in the Tribulation.”

Q: How do you think people are going to respond to the movie “2012″ that is set to premiere in theaters on Nov. 13? You’ve seen the trailer haven’t you?

Mark Hitchcock: “I have seen the trailer. I think there are going to be several diffferent responses. I think some people are going to see it as more just science fiction stuff. It won’t really concern them. I think there will be another group of people at the other end of the spectrum who are really going to start wondering about them. It’s going to cause them a lot of anxiety and they are going to really wonder because we see a lot of things in our world today that are scaring a lot of people. That’s why I think this whole 2012 thing is really going to catch on. People look at our world and they see terrorism. They see hurricanes, volcanos and threats of global pandemics, nuclear weapons and all this kind of stuff. People look out there and see all of this, so it’s not real hard to get people to thinking about the end of the world. It appeals to this fear that people have. There probably will be a majority that will be in the middle. They’ll say, ‘there could be something to this but I’m not really that afraid.’ It will get them thinking about it.

There are a lot of 2012 books out there. The reason that I wrote my book is that I wanted to write a biblical response to 2012.

——————–

Readers, Hitchcock has DVD’s of a two-part presentation regarding the 2012 prophecy that he gave at his Edmond church. Call the church at 340-1000 if you are interested in purchasing a copy.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Contest for fundraising religious groups

religion — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:29:50 +0000

Lifetime Products, one of the world’s largest makers of folding tables and chairs, plans to give out “Spirited Fundraiser Grants” to seven religious organizatons through an essay contest that continues through Oct. 30.

A news release explaining the contest said the grants are vailed at about $2,100 each including cash and folding tables and chairs for use in future fundraisers.

Employees of religious organizations can apply by submitting an essay describing their organization’s most creative, successful fundraiser. All entries must be submitted no later than Oct. 30, 3009.

Has your religious group been especially creative in the area of fundraising? Check out the entry information and official rules for Lifetime Product’s contest here: http://www.lifetime.com/page/tipssolutions/spirited-fundraiser.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Hillsong United coming to big screen

religion — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:48:58 +0000

Hillsong United is to make its big screen debut on Nov. 4 with “Hillsong United: We’re All in This Together,” a special hosted live from Australia.

The special will include the contemporary worship group’s live performance from their home church in Sydney and conclude with the debut of their documentary “The I Heart Revolution: We’re All in This Together.”

Filmed over two years, the documentary follows the band as they learn about the stories of people facing injustice and hardships around the world.

“It’s a story made up of many stories, told by many voices, no individual voice any more or any less important than any other, yet every voice working together to ultimately tell the ONE story — a story that involves everyone,” Joel Houston, Hillsong United member, said in a news release.

He called the special “part documentary, part apologetic, part call to action.”

The one-night-only special will be shown in 440 movie theaters nationwide, including Cinemark Tinseltown, 6601 Martin Luther King, and AMC Quail Springs Mall 24, 2501 W Memorial Road, in Oklahoma City. The show at both theaters starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor