The Presbyterian pastor, best known for authoring The Message Bible, died October 22 at age 85, a week after entering hospice care for complications related to heart failure and dementia.
There is an updated version of this post so go here
His theology met rock music when U2 frontman Bono read the Psalms and wanted to meet Peterson, who had never heard of him. Eventually, the two men met and appeared in a film about the Psalms in 2016.
This post featuring Bible verses from the modern language version The Message was originally published over a year ago. I am reposting it today in honor of the author Eugene Peterson who passed away this week.
Proverbs 18 The Message (MSG)
Words Kill, Words Give Life
2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth.
4 Many words rush along like rivers in flood,
but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.
6 The words of a fool start fights;
do him a favor and gag him.
7 Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words.
8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?
13 Answering before listening
is both stupid and rude.
15 Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.
17 The first speech in a court case is always convincing—
until the cross-examination starts!
20 Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.
21 Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
a shareable image from YMI- Why Am I?, a platform for young people to ask questions about life and purpose; a part of Our Daily Bread Ministries
Eugene Peterson- offered Words of Life
Eugene Peterson has completed his “long obedience in the same direction.”
The Presbyterian pastor, best known for authoring The Message Bible, died October 22 at age 85, a week after entering hospice care for complications related to heart failure and dementia.
About his death, Peterson said this,
“I have no idea how it’s going to work out. But I’m not afraid, I’ll tell you that.
I’ve been with a lot of people who are dying. I think those conversations are some of the best I’ve ever had. These are people who have lived a good life and who have embraced their faith. They’re not afraid.”
He was the author of more than 30 books, including the bestselling A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, where he explored discipleship and perseverance in the Christian life.
exploring the HEART of life and death
I’m glad you chose to read this post.
Dr. Aletha
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Kristin Chenoweth’s memoir, “A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages,” offers a candid and humorous look into her successful career as a singer and actress, as well as her personal life. From her Oklahoma roots to her achievements on stage, screen, and television, the memoir showcases her unwavering faith, resilience in coping with Meniere’s Disease, and her commitment to love and acceptance.
I recently read and reviewed Kristin Chenoweth’s memoir which chronicles her successful career as a Broadway, television, and movie singer and actress. She is most known as the good witch Glinda in Wicked.
Like me, Kristin Chenoweth was born and raised in Oklahoma; unlike me, she is an award winning singer and stage, screen, and television actress. She is loved and admired here in our home state, being an inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, as well as the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
The Performing Arts Center in Broken Arrow
flies the flags of Oklahoma, the United States, and Broken Arrow.
I have been to the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center in Oklahoma where she conducts an annual Broadway Bootcamp. But I didn’t know much about her until I listened to the audiobook version of her memoir A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages, read by her. Now I almost feel like we are best friends.
Sign in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center -the theatre bears her name
From the opening paragraph, Kristin is candid, no-nonsense, transparent, and hilarious. She’s one of those “you never know what she’s going to say next” people and you don’t want to miss any of it. She is just as upfront sharing her failures as she is celebrating her successes.
This part of the country is referred to as the “Bible belt” and Kristin admits to reading and believing it. So don’t be surprised when she mentions and even occasionally quotes from the Bible in her memoir. As when she talks about the circumstances of her birth.
Kristn’s faith and family
Kristin was adopted at birth by a couple who had one child but were unable to have more. She describes herself as the product of “forbidden love.” Her biological mother was an unmarried flight attendant who became pregnant. Instead of abortion or raising a child alone, she opted for adoption. Kristin joined the Chenoweth family soon after birth.
Her adoptive parents have loved her and supported her career and she is immensely grateful to them.
Rather than being angry or bitter, Kristin is grateful to this woman who she says was kind enough to “let me go”. To illustrate, she tells a Bible story from the Old Testament about the wise King Solomon. It goes like this.
One day two women (prostitutes in some Bible versions) came to King Solomon, and one of them said:
“Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. Not long ago my baby was born at home, and three days later her baby was born. Nobody else was there with us.
One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on her baby, and he died.
Then while I was still asleep, she got up and took my son out of my bed. She put him in her bed, then she put her dead baby next to me.
In the morning when I got up to feed my son, I saw that he was dead. But when I looked at him in the light, I knew he wasn’t my son.”
The other woman shouted.
“No! He was your son. My baby is alive!”
The first woman yelled.
“The dead baby is yours. Mine is alive!”
They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, until finally he said,
“Both of you say this live baby is yours. Someone bring me a sword.”
“Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”
The baby’s mother screamed.
“Please don’t kill my son. Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just don’t kill him.”
The other woman shouted,
“Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.”
Solomon pointed to the first woman saying,
“Don’t kill the baby. She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”
Everyone in Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon had made his decision. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly.
She compares her birth mother to the woman who loved her child so much she would rather lose her than see her die. She believes, “The ultimate test of love is letting go.”
Kristin won’t try to find her birth mother, refusing to intrude on her privacy. She hopes she is happy, has a family, and knows how blessed Kristin’s life has been.
Kristin’s personal life
Unlike many entertainment celebrities, Kristin doesn’t seem to have any skeletons in her closet; she has avoided problems with alcohol, drugs, abusive relationships, financial problems, or other scandals.
Kristin makes living with Meniere’s Disease sound like a sitcom. Meniere’s causes dysfunction of the inner ear, resulting in sudden, unpredictable, debilitating attacks of vertigo(dizziness), nausea, and vomiting. Episodes resolves after a few hours or sometimes days.
There is no cure for Meniere’s except a radical ear surgery which might leave her with hearing loss. As a professional singer she doesn’t want to risk that, so she copes with the condition with humor and an unwillingness to let it stop her from fulfilling her work commitments.
Memorabilia from Kristin’s career is on display at the theater in Broken Arrow
Kristin has her serious side, evident as she describes singing at her beloved grandfather’s funeral, and supporting her mother through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
She sometimes feels caught between the Christian community which criticizes her liberal social views and her friends with unconventional lifestyles who are turned off by her uncompromising Christian witness. As she puts it, she wants to love and help everyone like Jesus did; she doesn’t want to take sides or exclude people just because they are different.
Kristin’s gown from her Broadway show is displayed in
the Performing Arts Center lobby
Kristin’s performing career
Kristin has and still does perform on the stage, movies, and television, and records albums. She won a Tony award as Sally Brown in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
Kristen receiving her Tony Award, photo and her evening gown displayed in the theatre lobby
I hope you will read, or better yet listen to Kristen’s memoir.
She may be “A Little Bit Wicked”, but I think you will love her as much as we do here in Oklahoma.
After hearing how wonderful it is, I finally saw the touring production ofWICKED and it is every bit as “wicked” as everyone says.
Although Kristin no longer performs in it, other actresses bring Glinda and Elphaba to life with singing, non-stop action, and gorgeous costumes.
It may be based on a children’s story, but WICKED is a touching saga of love, friendship, betrayal, courage, and forgiveness. Don’t miss it if you have a chance to see it.
Listen to the WICKED album on Amazon Music (affiliate link).
Exploring the HEART of Health
Do you wonder why Kristin’s hometown is named Broken Arrow? Find out here.
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