Sunday, February 20, 2011

3 Things

1. An appreciation of the great Nat King Cole.

2. The popularity of Joyce Meyer has long been disturbing to me. As in, it's disturbing that she's running a profitable publishing and public-speaking empire, because she's teaching a concoction made up of one part extremely mashed and disfigured gospel, and nine parts self-help pop-therapy and prosperity pandering. Chaplain Mike chimes in brilliantly regarding her latest piece of egregious opportunism disguised as "wisdom."

3. And a poem by Louise Bogan: "The Dragonfly"
You are made of almost nothing
But of enough
To be great eyes
And diaphanous double vans;
To be ceaseless movement,
Unending hunger
Grappling love.

Link between water and air,
Earth repels you.
Light touches you only to shift into iridescence
Upon your body and wings.

Twice-born, predator,
You split into the heat.
Swift beyond calculation or capture
You dart into the shadow
Which consumes you.

You rocket into the day.
But at last, when the wind flattens the grasses,
For you, the design and purpose stop.

And you fall
With the other husks of summer.
[HT: Anecdotal Evidence]

2 comments:

Lore said...

I read that article the other day and then did a little bit more research on Meyer (my only experience with her is her Battlefield of the Mind and a slew of girls who have gone through her Mercy Ministries programs). I stumbled across her newest book's (Eat the Cookie, Buy the Shoes) web page which was filled with one liners like:

* Do something you enjoy and not feel guilty about it

* Celebrate Jesus and what He’s doing in you

* Reward yourself for progress instead of punishing yourself every time you fail

* Give yourself permission to lighten up when facing challenges while staying spiritually balanced... don't be so hard on yourself

While there is a part of me that wants to grudgingly appreciate that she recognizes the dangers of legalism and bondage to a list of rules, I am so furious that this is the brand of faith that so many are touting!

God IS a good God and He does have pleasures forevermore for us, but His glory is not displayed by a gaggle of well dressed, overfed consumers who say with their mouths that they are free while their hearts are far from the deep implications of the Gospel in the whole of our lives. Frankly, the idea of "balance" in our spirituality always sets me off anyway though.

Sorry for the rant. I'm aghast.

Anonymous said...

interesting links and lovely poem.
thanks, bob.