Hey y'all. Now I'm an unofficial Texan. I saw Beth Moore, my heroine, two weeks ago. Tom gave me a get-out-of-jail-free card and I bought a ticket to Living Proof Live in Columbus, Ohio. So I was all ready and pumped for the time of my life. Set off Friday afternoon 8/12 on the I-71 freeway headed for Ohio State University. Made it in time to spare, got my hotel room at the Sheraton, had snacks, and headed back to OSU Schottenstein (sp?) arena to meet my hero....uh....along with what looked like five GAZILLION other women. The line outside was a mile long. Add that to the heat and to my vertigo, and you've got a problem. The solution was to get to the top of the line without keeling over in the heat. This was aided by the fact that I was alone, hence no one to impede my progress. I went there to see...Beth....Moore...and I was bound and determined to get to the front row. So, being the good and obedient groupie that I am, I wended my way through the morass of capri-wearing ladies and I made it to row FIVE. Yes! waited, waited, waited.....then suddenly there we were at 7pm and Travis Cottrell was leadin' worship and I looked and..THERE SHE WAS! My hero(ine)!
Beth is so beautiful in person, even more so? than online or on video. She is engaging, funny, smart, hilarious, all of the above. She somehow couldn't get close enough to me for an intimate conversation :) but we'll work that out and get it accomplished some day soon. Anyway, it was fun.
My quibbles (I'm allowed quibbles because I left my husband and kids for a weekend for this; I paid big bucks to get in; I paid for a hotel room; and I braved crowds and driving ....and I went alone) are .....the music was too loud; the hour was late-ish; the crowds were too big; they would not let us in the building until 6 pm ..why?) and I just .....wanted.....more....of Beth Moore.
IMHO, this speaks of a big gap in the evangelical world. Why are we forced to shell out two hundred dollars just to get a nifty lookin' lady to teach us the Bible? Why did I have to go to Columbus to get a good Bible study? Surely there are other good Bible study teachers closer to Rootstown Ohio. arrggghhh I really missed kids and hubby and the hotel was fine but it wasn't home, if you know what I mean.
My point is that there is a hole in the evangelical world and Beth Moore can't fix it on her own.
Northeast Ohio: surely you can do better than this. I shouldn't have to drive two hours to get a good Bible study.
I was happy to go to see Beth Moore; in fact, I looked forward to it all summer. I just think that she shouldn't have to shoulder the burden all by herself. Anyone?
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Looking Up
Sometimes when you are in a pit, you need someone to pull you out. Right off the bat I am going to recommend Beth Moore's book, "Get out of that Pit." She talks extensively and experientially about how we get into a pit (of self destruction) and how we can get out of the pit.
I don't want to go on about Beth Moore today, that's for another day. This lady has taught me so much about the Bible I cannot even believe it. But I'll get into that some other time.
The other day I was on the treadmill and I was listening to a compilation of sermons sent gratis to me by Moody Radio, and I heard an excerpt of a sermon by Alistair Begg. It was called "Ropes to Rags." It was based on a text in the book of Jeremiah where the prophet has been thrown into some kind of pit. He really needs help getting out. And this big Ethiopian guy comes along and is going to pull him out, but it's going to hurt getting yanked up by this big dude. By the way this is in the book of Jeremiah, the 38th chapter, and our Ethiopian giant-with-a-tender-heart's name is Ebed-Melech. He is a Cushite.
So in verse 12 he tells Jeremiah, "Put these old rags and worn out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes." So Jeremiah takes the advice and Ebed and his helpers gently pull him out of the pit.
That's what I need when I am in the pit. I need someone who is strong but who is also gentle. Someone who can do the deed but who is compassionate about it. Getting out of a pit is not an easy thing and it's going to hurt. One needs help to get out of a pit, and one needs kindness to get out of a pit. Praise God for that Ethiopian, who could have just yanked him out and pulled his arm out of his socket, but he didn't. He provided a good lesson for me, both for when I am in the pit and also when someone I know is in a pit. Help 'em out, but be kind and gentle about it.
I don't want to go on about Beth Moore today, that's for another day. This lady has taught me so much about the Bible I cannot even believe it. But I'll get into that some other time.
The other day I was on the treadmill and I was listening to a compilation of sermons sent gratis to me by Moody Radio, and I heard an excerpt of a sermon by Alistair Begg. It was called "Ropes to Rags." It was based on a text in the book of Jeremiah where the prophet has been thrown into some kind of pit. He really needs help getting out. And this big Ethiopian guy comes along and is going to pull him out, but it's going to hurt getting yanked up by this big dude. By the way this is in the book of Jeremiah, the 38th chapter, and our Ethiopian giant-with-a-tender-heart's name is Ebed-Melech. He is a Cushite.
So in verse 12 he tells Jeremiah, "Put these old rags and worn out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes." So Jeremiah takes the advice and Ebed and his helpers gently pull him out of the pit.
That's what I need when I am in the pit. I need someone who is strong but who is also gentle. Someone who can do the deed but who is compassionate about it. Getting out of a pit is not an easy thing and it's going to hurt. One needs help to get out of a pit, and one needs kindness to get out of a pit. Praise God for that Ethiopian, who could have just yanked him out and pulled his arm out of his socket, but he didn't. He provided a good lesson for me, both for when I am in the pit and also when someone I know is in a pit. Help 'em out, but be kind and gentle about it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)