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RELIGION
THURSDAY, APRIL S, 2006
Life IB
Was crucifixion political?
Scholars argue Jesus’ death was part of colonial oppression
When
tragedy
occurs
STUDYING JOB
In all this Job did not sin
nor chaise God with wrong,
What is human tragedy?
Does it only occur when one
finds himself imdeservedly
on the recaving end of it, or is
it possible to bring tragedy
upon oneself? Accordit^ to
the Bible, Job did nothing to
deserve the predicament we
find him in in today’s lesson
(see Job 1:8, and 2:3).
Nonethdess, we are remind
ed not of the fact that Job suf
fered great loss, but of how he
responded to the same.
In the midst of unexpected
calamity flay-offs, bankrupt
cy loss of property loss of the
activity of one’s bodily func
tions, divorce, eviction, rape,
the ravages of a drug-addict
ed spouse or other family
member, etc.) Christians
should respond differently
than those who don’t have a
relationship with Jesus
Christ would respond. Why?
Because just as God ‘hedged
in” Job-protecting him from
death at the hand of Satan,
(jod also hedges in His chil
dren and protects us fiom
certain disaste*. While it is
true that bad thir^ happen
to proverbial “good” people-
because none is righteous, we
must remember that CJod
gives and He takes away and
we must continually bless
Him in all circrunstances
because of His glory It’s not
about us!
JOB’S CALAMITY (Job
1:14-15,18-19, 22)
1- In what time period is it
believed that Job lived?
Job lived in the land of Uz,
which was a territory to the
east of Canaan. Scholars do
not know for certain what
time period Job lived in, but it
seems likely that he lived at
about the time of the patri
archs of Israel; that is, he
lived during the time of Abra
ham, Isaac, and Jacob.
2, What happened in the
first roimd of disaster to
strike Job? (Job 1:13-15)
These verses show where
Job’s children were gathered
together for one of their times
of feasting. However, the first
round of dbaster did not con
cern Job’s sons and dangh-
ters, but rather his posses
sions. In the ancient w'orld
wealth was generally mea
sured by land, domesticated
animals, and the number of
servants one possessed- “The
ox^ were plowing and the
donkeys feeding beside Ihem,
when the Sabeans raided
them and took them away-
indeed they have killed the
servants with the edge of the
sword” is what one of Job’s
surviving servant/messen
gers told him in verses 14 and
15.
3. Who were the perpetra
tors of the first attach on Job?
(Job 1:15)
Please see WHEN/8B
The deadline to have announcements added to the
calendar is noon on Fridays. Fax your announce
ments to (704) 342-2160 or e-mail your announce
ment to cherisJiodges@thecharloltepost.com.
Ongoii^
Inspiration Networks is holding a gospel tal
ent search for its nationally-televised series
Christian .Artist Talent Search. The winner
will receive a national recording contract with
Point Of Grace Entertainment.
All entrants must be at least 15 years old by
April 21. Entries are due by April 21. For rules
and entry forms, log on to www.insp.com or call
the CATS hotline at (704) 561-7955.
April 8
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church will
host its fourth annual Wedding Extravaganza
By Richard N, Ostling
AP RELIGION VmiTER
Why was Jesus crucified?
As the Apostle Paid explained,
“God was in Christ reconciling the
world to himself” and "made bim
to be sin who knew no sin” to
impart the gift of righteousness to
sinners (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21).
Salvation aside, this was history’s
most famous death and some writ
ers in these modem, politically
drenched times use it as emblom of
oppressive colonial occupation.
S.G.F. Brandon of Britain imag
ined Jesus to be a violent revolu
tionary, executed for threatening
Rome’s imperial power.
Few experts go that far, tbnngh a
“post-colonial” ideology persists in
“Jesus and Empire” by Richard
Horsley of the University of Massa-
chusetts-Boston. His Jesus is a fel
low travels with insurrectionists
and inspires Horsley to assaU. U.S.
foreign policy
Jews often favor political inter
pretations because they emphasize
Rome’s responsibility and down
play the New Tfestament’s report
that Jewish leaders and some in
the populace wanted Jesus dead.
PHOTOAVORLDAGECARCHIVE.COM
In a new treatment, ‘Render to
Caesar: Jesus, the Early Church
and the Roman Supeipower”
(Oxford University Press), Christo
pher Bryan of The University of the
South in Sewanee, Tfenn., sees poli
tics at "^vork but maintains that
Jesus was no activist or revolution
ary
Ta Bryan, the crucifixion doesn’t
symbolize either Jesus’ relation
ship to the Roman Empire or to fel
low Jews. “It is a symbol of his rela
tionship to the world. And that
means, to us.” If there’s guilt
Please see DEBATE/6B
Jakes pays homage to moms in book
By Victoria Elmore
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Without mothers there
would be no fife.
Mother’s are our most
influential role models. They
mold and shape us into the
people we become. Bishop
T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Pot
ters House in Dallas, Tfexas
publicizes this fact in his new
book, “Mama Made the Dif
ference.”
Jakes has a long history of
appealing to women’s most
intimate desires and needs.
“The Lady Her Lover, and
her Lord,” hit the bestseller
list- He even tapped into
manhood with “He-Motions,”
In ‘Mama Made the Differ
ence,” Jakes gives an account
of experiences he encoim-
tered with his moth^ and
the values she instilled in
him. ‘Mama Made the Dif
ference” is a must read for
folks who adore their moth
ers and for those whose
mothers haven’t been a posi
Jakes
tive influence. Jakes also
gives advice to modern-day
moms. He also informs read
ers about mothers’ purposes
and goals in
their children’s
hves-
Jakes’ book is
broken up into
ii three parts.
1 The first sec
tion is called
Home Room.
This part imparts into the
reader the things that moth
ers teach. Jakes opens read
ers’ eyes to see that through
tough and good times, it is
the mother who teaches
them the little. things that
they carry along with them
today
Mothers are the models in
children’s lives that taught
them to believe in (Jod,
according to Jakes. They
instill identities into lives of
thdr children by telling them
who they are. Serita Ann
Jakes, T.D. Jakes’ wife,
makes known the life lessons
that her mother, \Trginia
Jamison taught her in Les
son Two, titled “Substitute
Ifeacher.” Jakes shows that
even though the woman who
gives birth takes on the
name mother, she is also a
teacher, provider, and com
forter. Seven lessons high-
h^t part one of Jakes’ books.
In part two, titled “Biology
Lab,” the author takes a step
back and allows political fig
ures to reveal hfe lessons
they learned from their
mother. This section is the
heart because it exemplifies
how mothers instruct their
children on ways to love. For
people who enjoy hearing
what the people in political
positions have to say this is
for you. In Lesson Nine, for
mer secretary of state Colin
Powell tells of his mother’s
success and her influence on
his fife.
Jakes uses strong biblical
themes in part two, showii^
readers that mothers in the
Bible were just as important
role models back then as
they are today The author
touches on the book of Ruth
to display how Naomi’s
motherly instincts guide her
dai^hter-in-laws Orpah and
Ruth. Even thou^ Orpah
went her own way and Ruth
tagged along behind her
mother, Jakes pivotal story
telling skills define lessons
tliat readers can learn about
their own mothers through
readir^ biblical stcaies.
Graduation Day is the last
part of the Jakes’ book.
Readers learn in this section
how mothers instill into their
children endurance. CeCe
Winans recalls her mother
Delores TOnans’ soulful voice
and how even today it still
seeps into her soul. Winans
speaks of her mother’s strug
gles and how her faithfulness
to God enabled her to over
come.
This book of lessons vriH hit
stores April 25,
Church News
Dotson
gets her
dream
recording
Stephanie Dotson
Miracles Still Happen
Leon C. Le^vis, producer
Full Gospel Entertainment
“American Idol” has spawned
a number of new contests to
find the latest star in almost
every genre of music.
The “Gospel Dream” contest
isn’t related to “Idol” in any
form and Td suspect Bishop
Paul Morton would deny that
tepid contest even remotely
inspired “Dream.” But “Idol’s”
evil influence is far reaching,
evon among the saints.
Gosh, I hate that program.
Any way Stephanie Dotson
won “Dream” in 2004. Part of
the deal was ihis CD. T-ik=> her
“Idol” counterparts, Dotson’s
debut sounds as if she just won
a singing contest, which is not a
bad thing, just not always
inspiring. There are the ubiqui
tous big songs (“I Do Believe”
“We Worship You O God”), the
obligatory praise and worship
(“Give Him Glory” “Jehovah
CJod”) and the trendy contem
porary (“Dream Take II).” This
is music almost strictly by the
ntunbers. Even when Dotson
goes ol’ school with some James
Cleveland (“The Sun WfiQ
Shine After While” with Paul
Morton), it’s more sizzle than
steak.
The main problem is that
thaie’s a bit too much polish
Every song is buffed to such a
glossy shine that very little
gospel shines throu^ The title
song is close, very close to
something special, but still falls
short.
The CD’s greatest asset is
Dotson. She’s got some pipes.
It’s a full voice with lots of color
and power when pushed.
There’s a great deal of potential
and I think she’ll only get bet
ter.
Still, this is a pretty goed
recording - warts and all. The
production is a bit too slick, but
professional nonetheless. Tlie
songs for the most part are
good, but at times lack a bit of
pimch.
Ratini^
fiom 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The event is fi^ and
designed to help brides, grooms and wedding
planners focus on the preparation and the
implementation of a Christian weddii^ and
marriage. For more information, call (704)
392-0392, extension 111.
• C.N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian
Church, located at 1421 Statesville Ave., will
host a health screening fiom 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be testing for diabetes, cholesterol,
HIV and prostate cancer. For more informa
tion, call (704) 393-8387.
April 9
The Spiritual Lears Gospel Singers will cele
brate (heir 47th anniversary at 2:30 p.m. at
the New Bethlehem FBH Church, located at
421 E- 18lh St. For more information, call
(704) 333-7483.
• Greater Gethsemane AME Zion Church,
located at 531 Campus St,, will host a Palm
Sunday Vesper at 5 p.m.
April 15
Signs and Wonders Life Center, its congr^a-
tion and pastor Lola Saxton host an early-
morning prayer breakfast feast with the thpmc>
of‘WomenAgainst AU Odds” at 7 a-m. at 4110
Triangle Drive.
April 16
RABO Records will host an Easter Simday
Celebration at Robert L. Bowers- Fellowship
Auditorium, 407 Rocky River Road,
Mooresrille. The event begins at 4 p.m. The
doors op^ at 2 p.m. Some of the performed
include Lil’ Willie and The Gospel Keynotes,
Good
Pair
WM
Jfortar*-
O
Ronica and The Mighty Blazing Stars and The
Sirring Angels- For information or to purchase
tickets, call (704) 333-7729.
April 22
Preserve Pro Inc. is offering a workshop on
“Optimizing Your Church’s Records: A Preser
vation Workshop,” This workshop will be held
on April 22 fiom 9-11:20 a.m. on the campus of
Central Piedmont Community College, Room
215, Professional Development Building.
The purpose of the workshop is to bring
togeth^ individuals who have an interest in
preserving the history of churches. This work
shop is also open to the public and highly rec
ommended for all individuals interested in
learning about preservation, and archival
Please see WOMEN’S/SB
x:).:':’ iTTifi’ nrnfii •