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http://www.thecharlottepost.com
CFje Cljarlotte
THURSDAY MAY 6, 2004
8B
RELIGION
Bible
.eKson
Into the
brilliant
presence
of God
Have you ever had
trouble worshiping and
serving in church?
On Sunday morning,
do you find it difficult
feeling or believing that
you’re really in the
presence of God? The
book of Revelation will
give you the opportuni
ty to come into his pres
ence in a unique way.
When we are aware of
God’s presence, we can
worship and serve pro
foundly in spirit and
truth. And Revelation is
the book of truth. Here
we can learn more
about the relationship
of the Father, the Son
and Spirit to one anoth
er.
The book of Revela
tion teaches us truth
about Jesus, who is
given many identifying
titles: the faithful wit
ness, the first begotten
dead, the prince of
kings of the earth.
Alpha and Omega-the
beginning and the end,
the first and the last.
In addition to the
titles there are many
actions picturing what
Jesus has done for all
Christians, his ser
vants, so that they can
know the blessing of
being in a relationship
with him.
Whatever helps we
may use in our worship
services-worship
leader, praise team,
words on a screen,
songbooks, musical
instrument of aU sorts-
cannot be substituted
for a real sense of the
presence is where the
book of Revelation truly
shines. No other book
in the Bible can kindle
the mind and heart of
the Christian for wor
ship better than the
book of Revelation.
Who is Worthy?
(Revelation 5:1-5)
As chapter five opens,
our attention falls upon
the scroll that God’s
right hand. This book is
entirely filled with a
message. The fullness
is indicated by the
description of being
written on both sides. It
is also heavily sealed
under someone’s
authority.
John uses the word
seven more than 50
times in the book of
Revelation. Very fre
quently, seven shows us
the full value of what is
under discussion.
Hence the reader
desires to know this full
message, but only the
one of proper, full
authority can open it.
Tb break the seals and
open the scroll are two
ways of saying the
same thing, To do one is
to do the other. The
mighty angel in charge
for the moment kindles
our anticipation, for not
just anyone dare open
it.
The call of this angel
is able to reach to the
farthest limits in seek
ing someone of proper
office before (jod.
Mission:
Possible to turn
away from life’s
temptations
Book details man’s
transformation from
crime to God
By Cheris F. Hodges
cheri!i.hodges@ihechor(ofieposi.com
From starting life in the back of a taxi in Charlotte,
to spending time behind bars in South Carolina to
preaching the word of God, Eddie J. Woods has lived a
roller coaster life.
The 45-year-old pastor, who lives in Ridgeway, S.C.,
chronicles his life in the book “Turning Points,” pub
lished by 1st Books.
The autobiography was released in February.
Woods will speak Sunday at Bethany Missionary
Baptist Church, located on Willard Street, during the
11 a.m. service.
His book doesn’t tell-the average story of a minister
who was called to serve since the day he was bom.
Woods offers readers a detailed look into his life -
the good, bad and divine.
He was one of nine children raised in rural
South Carolina. He stayed in trouble at home
and in school because he yearned for atten
tion, according to the book.
At age 18, Woods was convicted for
armed robbery and sentenced to prison
for 10 years.
Prison, Woods says, is
where his life changed.
Please see MINISTER/6B
Charlotte native Eddie
Woods wrote “Turning
Points” as a road map to
heip others turn away
from criminai behavior
and toward God.
Keith Wonderboy John
son
New Season
Keith Wonderboy John
son and
Spanky Williams, produc
ers
Verity Records
Keith Wonderboy Johnson
had lots of success as the lead
singer of the Spiritual Voices, a
modern-day quartet with a
traditional sound. Johnson has
put the Voices in his past and
opted for a solo career.
Johnson’s now with Verity
Records and released “New
Season,” a recording that is to
redefine his sound and direc
tion.
Or so it seemed.
This is essentially a quartet
CD without the Spiritual Voic
es. They have been replaced by
garden variety backup singers
and sometimes simply by hav
ing Johnson singing all the
background vocals. This may
please Johnson’s established
fans, but what’s the point of
getting rid of the group if you
keep the same sound?
There are moments when
Johnson strays fix)m his tried
and true formula. The Spanky
Williams-produced songs have
an urban radio flavor. “Simple
Ibuch” sounds more like
Usher and R. Kelly. “Come On
& See About Me” sounds Kke
Case. “Shower Down A Bless
ing” could be an outright hit on
urban radio stations.
But that just teases folks
looking for something other
than the bump and buck style
of quartets. Johnson opens
with “I Need Your Help,”
which is “Be Right,” Part II.
And that’s pretty much the
tone of this record. “After
while” is has great harmony
and is as traditional as you can
get. “Praise Him” is jump-till-
you-sweat hyper.
Traditional fans may be
turned off by some of the R&B
overtones while contemporary
mavens will ignore the quartet
sound. So why bother with
this? My point exactly.
Ratings
Classic;
Excellent;
pppp.
(Jood
PPP
Fair
PP
Why?
P
No stars -
A
mess
Norful’s sounds blends secular and religious music
By Cheris F. Hodges
cheris.hodges@ihecharlonepost. com
Gospel sensation Smokie Norful is
coming to Charlotte for a perfor
mance at University Park Baptist
Church on May 16.
Norful has a following of secular
and Christian fans. His music gets
airplay on both gospel and adult
R&B stations.
“Music is a power - it’s a force,” he
wrote on his web site. “The Lord is
the ultimate source of that power
and He has no limitations or bound
aries. If you tap into that source,
people can’t help but take notice,
whether they realize it or not. I try
to write and perform songs that
come out of my personal experi
ences, when I do that it seems to
reach, the heart of people. Music is
the calling card that opens the
door.”
llis debut CD, “I Need You Now,”
landed him atop the gospel Bill
board charts and his Limited Edi
tion release, which debuted at No. 1
on the charts, put him in the com
pany of popular gospel artists like
Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin.
Norful is the son of an African
Methodist Episcopal pastor, but
was given the freedom as a boy to
experience some of the mainstream
as well as gospel music of his youth.
He counts the likes of El DeBarge
and Stevie Wonder as musical
influences, aloitg with Daryl Coley,
Vanessa Bell Armstrong and other
singers from that era in gospel histo
ry-
In 1998, Norful said he felt God call
him into the ministiy, according to
his web site. He relocated to subur
ban Chicago to attend Garrett Theo
logical Seminary where he is near
completion of a masters of divinity
degree.
Through song he ministers. “My
greatest goal is to please God in all I
do-my life, my music, my ministiy,”
Norful said. “And the only way to do
that is to be a servant. My service at
this point is the uplifting and encour
aging others with the gifts that God
has given me.”
Norful will release a new album
this summer, according to his label,
EMI Gospel.
Tickets for the concert can be
purchased 'at all Ticketmaster
locations, charged by phone at (704)
522-6500 or purchased from University
Park Baptist Church.
Church News
May 8
District III Annual Oratori
cal Contest and third annual
Youth Day Program from 10
a.m. to noon at Pleasant Hill
Baptist Church, 517 Baldwin
Ave.
May 9
Mother’s Day Gospel Fest
will be held at the Stanley
County Agri-Civic Center at
3 p.m.
May 15
Friendship Missionary
Baptist Church will host a
public forum on federal labor
laws at 10 a.m. The forum
will be held at Friendship’s
Enrichment Center, 3239
Beatties Ford Road, directly
across from the church. The
forum is free and open to the
public. For more information,
contact Friendship Mission
ary Baptist Church at (704)
392-0392.
• Grier Heights Presbyter
ian Church, located at 325
Skyland Ave, will host a
Health and WeUness Screen
ing Day from 9;30 a.m.-12:30
p.m. The screening will offer
tests for diabetes, cholesterol,
blood pressure checks, cancer
education and nutrition and
fitness tips.
May 21
Faith Community Church
will celebrate it 32nd
Please see FAITH/7B