Amazing God, You Can Bear the Weight of Every Heavy Heart

By Brenton Brown Sometimes it feels as if the burdens of this life are just too heavy to bear.  Sometimes they weigh down on us so hard that the thought of anyone being able to carry them seems ludicrous. And then realizing that this kind of suffering is occurring across the world in thousands of cultures and millions of homes staggers and overwhelms us. Surely there are no hands strong enough to carry the weight of the world.

As a worship leader I have the privilege of traveling across the nations and listening to the growing anthem of worship rising to God from so many countries and cultures. I’ve looked out on people across the world who have endured enormous storms – from failing health to civil war to economic deprivation to acts of violence and terror to real hunger and real brokenness. And time and again I am surprised at the power of God to triumph over and transcend the most difficult circumstances life can bring. Worship rises from hearts placed in the most unbelievable circumstances on this planet. Are all these worshipers people of extraordinary faith? Perhaps they are. But what they definitely have in common is not the type of worshiper they are, but the type of God they worship. A God who can inspire inexplicable peace and joy in the middle of heartache and destruction.

One of the most extraordinary times of worship I remember is a small city hall packed full of Christians in a region of Eastern Europe called Kosova. A group of us from England and South Africa had traveled over to share what God had done in our country. I was expecting a room full of broken and destitute people. Women and children outnumbered the men due to the recent war, and there were many widows and orphans. The church in this predominantly Muslim region was not much more than 15 years old. But as the first notes of music sounded through that cold, neon lit hall, the place erupted in joyful, abandoned worship to the Lord. I can clearly remember hearing the sound of weeping and turning around to see my friend Marc James on the electric guitar in floods of tears, amazed at the power of God! While we were expecting brokenness God was revealing beauty and grace.

So cut to a hospital room in Southern California 6 years later. Again I can see a face so clearly.  But this time it’s the nurse holding the sonogram, searching for our daughter’s heartbeat and realizing with horror that that was a sound none of us would ever hear again. A week away from her due date, in what had been a very normal pregnancy, our little girl Grace died in the womb. My wife had spent the last 9 months preparing the most beautiful little nursery for her first-born child. Her parents were flying in from South Africa. Friends were emailing her tips and best wishes. Life held so much promise. But instead of looking forward to the first blush of parenthood, Jude was facing the nightmare of having to deliverer her first daughter, still born. It was a weight so crushing, so heavy, that it felt too hard for us to bear. I wondered if we were ever going to make it through the despair and sadness that filled our hearts that day. I will never forget the long list of friends I phoned to tell the awful news. At the start of life, death had arrived and taken our little girl.

I remember feeling so much despair and sadness in the following months that when I considered all the tragedy taking place on the earth I was overwhelmed.  I thought about how people across the globe were experiencing hardship and loss as great and greater than ours, and it left a gaping hole in my heart. We staggered beneath the weight of grief. We trudged through each day, numb with loss and bewildered.  But we also remembered the saints. We remembered the faces and the stories and accounts of God’s deliverance and comfort from saints across the earth. We remembered the songs of God’s faithfulness through testing. And slowly, like the passing of the seasons, we began to see that our God is not just a good friend in a difficult situation. He is also the Almighty, the creator of the heavens and the earth. Right now the entire universe rests upon the word of his power.  Can he bring beauty out of ashes? Can he turn tears into songs of joy. Are his hands strong enough to bear not just my burdens, but also the burdens of the whole earth, the heaviest burdens of our heart? Is He up to the task? Absolutely.  His Hands are strong enough. He can handle it. The creator of all things can heal what He has made. He can clean what has been stained. Through him all things are possible. He can bear the weight not just of my burdens but of yours too.

It really boggles the mind. But He can bear the weight of the world. He is an amazing, mind boggling God! His peace carried us through Grace’s death and continues to do so. His love, faithful as the dawn, has given rise to “Amazing God” and “Adoration,” songs that join a multitude of anthems of praise lifted by the cloud of witnesses across time and all across the earth. His hands are strong enough. He can heal the pain. He can clean the stain. He can turn our tears into songs of praise. He’s an amazing GOD.

You’re amazing God, You’re amazing God

You can bear the weight of every heavy heart

You can heal the pain, You can clean the stain

You can turn our tears into songs of praise

You’re amazing God

More information on Brenton can be found at www.BrentonBrown.com.  Full “Amazing God” and “Adoraton” lyrics and chords can be found at http://www.brentonbrown.com/songs.html.

Book Review:: Angels by Dr. David Jeremiah

As a teenager, I remember reading Billy Graham’s book, Angels, as I rode the bus to Christian school.  Even though I have attended church for most of my life, information on God’s messengers has been reduced to Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness series and Graham’s book.  Obviously, there are a whole slew of books that lack biblical depth as they describe encounters and even encourage worship of angels.  Dr. David Jeremiah’s book seeks to establish truth on the matter using the Bible and the thoughts of theologians as his defense in his new book, Angels.

The book begins with a whirlwind tour of angels in the Bible—showing us that human beings are not to worship angels, but merely to acknowledge them as servants of the Living God.  Jeremiah says more angels do not appear to humans because it is unnecessary and human beings have a tendency to worship the angels as the Apostle John did twice while an angel was sharing visions with him—visions that would become the book of Revelation.  Stamping out myth after modern myth, Jeremiah repeats his main points often.

Jeremiah’s arguments are scholarly and his assertions about angels are well-defended with Scripture.  In fact, his examples are excessive.  I found myself skipping over some of the Scripture to get to the meat of the book.  It would have been better to include one or two examples with verses that the reader could look up at his or her leisure (or further study).  Plus, there were very few things I learned from Jeremiah’s book, though I imagine I would be more intrigued if I hadn’t first read Billy Graham’s book, which though far less scholarly, is much more interesting. However, for a Christian who knows little to nothing about the work of God’s heavenly messengers, Angels by David Jeremiah is a good and safe book.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Because of the fine folks at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, one lucky reader can win a copy of ANGELS for free. Simply tell me your favorite kind of tea (if you don’t like tea, pick a favorite drink) when you reply below. Easy as pie and just as tasty. The contest will end on Feb. 12 at 12 PM EST. You can also e-mail your entry to amy@backseatwriter.com or reply via Twitter or Facebook.  Don’t forget to leave a valid e-mail address so I can contact you if you win…and don’t worry, I won’t share it with anyone!

**Don’t forget to enter BSW’s OWOH giveaway here!**

Photo Essay:: Here Comes the Sun

I’m one of those photographers who think sun glare in my photos is [generally] a good thing–at least in nature shots.  Since the sun seems to go into hiding during the gloomy winter months, I decided to capture it when it sneaked through the clouds.  All of these shots were taken in and around Central Pennslyvania (State College region), except for the first one which was taken just outside Tamaqua.  To me, the sun showers on me a bit of God’s glory and reminds me of His beauty.

[A couple of people have asked why I now put my name on my photos--it's to prevent theft.  While I don't mind sharing for certain things, I do not tolerate people stealing my photographs to sell and present as their own.]

**Don’t forget to enter BSW’s OWOH giveaway here and enter to win the book TEA WITH HEZBOLLAH by Ted Dekker & Carl Medearis here!**

Beth Moore Says So Long to Insecurity + Book Tour

Tyndale House, Carol Stream IL–“Our gender has arguably battled insecurity since Eve ripped the first leaf from a tree in the Garden, but our culture has turned a wound into a gorge,” Beth Moore acknowledges. “We desperately need a new way to look at ourselves, and my hope is that we will find authentic help and discover that our strength is in our God-given, unshakable security.”

Tyndale House Publishers is proud to present So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore, a powerful message that tackles the topic of women’s struggles with insecurity. The marketing campaign will kick off in conjunction with the book’s February 2, 2010 street date with a CCN prayer simulcast followed by a four-city book tour.

Beth Moore personally identifies with the issue of insecurity, admitting she has struggled with it for years. When she set out to research the topic for this new book, she found that surprisingly, there is very little available in the marketplace to address chronic insecurity, further reinforcing her desire to write on the subject.

Moore combines her own experiences with extensive research to address serious topics plaguing American women, including:

How can women find validation without a man’s affirmation?

What exactly is insecurity and where do the roots come from?

How have women been “culturally abused” through media and pop culture in America?

How do men differ from women in expressing their insecurities?

How can women use scriptural tools to confront fears?

And much more!

In So Long, Insecurity, Moore seamlessly combines personal stories with stories of friends and readers, along with biblical verses and content, to provide a true tool for any woman wishing to overcome her insecurities.

Beth Moore will be kicking off her book tour for So Long, Insecurity on February 5, 2010 in Atlanta, with additional stops in Houston, Birmingham, and Nashville.

Book Tour Schedule*:

ATLANTA AREA:

Friday, February 5, 2010

BORDERS–11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  (4475 Roswell Rd. Ave. E Cobb Marietta, GA  770-565-0947)

BOOKS-A-MILLION –4:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m. (258 City Circle, Peachtree City, GA 770-632-1296)

HOUSTON AREA:

Saturday, February 6, 2010

MARDEL STORE–9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (19650 Restaurant Row Houston, TX 281-579-0505)

SAM’S CLUB–1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (19091 Interstate 45 South,  Shenandoah, TX  936-271-1732)

BIRMINGHAM AREA:

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

BOOKS-A-MILLION–11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (757 Brookwood Village Birmingham, AL 205-870-0213)

COSTCO–2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (3650 Galleria Circle Birmingham, AL  205-909-1036)

FAMILY CHRISTIAN 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Colonial Promenade Fultondale 3471 Lowery Pkwy, Suite 115 Fultondale, AL 205-849-2250)

NASHVILLE AREA:

Thursday, February 11, 2010

LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN–11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Coolsprings Crossing 1725 Galleria Blvd. Franklin, TN  615-771-9050)

BORDERS –2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (2501 West End Ave. Nashville, TN  615-327-9656)

*Beth Moore will only be signing copies of So Long, Insecurity.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Last Friday (Jan. 29) I had the pleasure of stopping in on the little town of Punxsutawney–a few days shy of Groundhog Day.  Naturally, I did what anyone in my situation would do.  I took a bunch of pictures and blogged about it.  So in the spirit of Groundhog Day, I’d like to invite you to check out my special groundhog coverage over on my personal blog, Atypical Musings– Groundhog Day:: What Phil Really Said

Happy Groundhog Day!

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**Don’t forget to enter BSW’s OWOH giveaway here and enter to win the book TEA WITH HEZBOLLAH by Ted Dekker & Carl Medearis here!**

Guest Post:: The Case for Christian Fiction by Christa Banister

By Christa A. Banister, special to Backseat Writer Growing up in a no-stoplight town in western Wisconsin, sometimes the best adventures happened in whatever book I was reading at the time.

After all, my hometown of Ladysmith didn’t have the whole quaint small town thing going like Stars Hollow, the quirky fictional home of “Gilmore Girls,” one of my all-time favorite T.V. series. Not only were there no mother-daughter combos who spoke fluent pop culture, but there wasn’t even a dreamy, endearingly grumpy diner guy who put up a good fight whenever you wanted yet another shot of espresso.

For the record, the best coffee in Ladysmith was the java you brewed at home with your own beans. Your other option? A vanilla cappuccino from the local Qwik Trip, a sickly sweet substance that in no way resembled an actual cup of joe. And as you probably guessed, the gas station also had a criminal shortage of cute baristas. Sigh.

With no good coffee and little to do, I lived vicariously through the characters in novel after novel—Elizabeth Bennett walking through miles and miles of rolling hills in Pride & Prejudice, the pre-Lost adventures of British boys struggling for survival on a mysterious island in Lord of the Flies and Fudge Hatcher making his older brother Peter’s life rather precarious (and that’s putting it mildly) in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Superfudge.

But as I continued to grow in the newfound faith, my 12-year-old self began wondering if there were actually any books that reflected my Christian worldview. You know, something beyond My Utmost for His Highest–a fine devotional, but not exactly what I was hoping for in terms of pure storytelling bliss.

Truth be told, I was pretty happy with the stories I was reading already, but I still couldn’t help but wonder from time to time—what if darling Elizabeth Bennett had a relationship with God, too? And how would that influence how she lived?

Then after a visit to a friend’s house came a revelation! Apparently, there was an entire genre of literature written by Christians, and my friend was willing to let me borrow as many books as I wanted. So happy to hear that the very thing I dreamed of actually existed, I grabbed a stack of paperbacks without giving it much thought.

Later that evening, after carefully arranging and re-arranging my covers and adjusting the lighting (a pre-reading ritual to make sure the mood was just right), I excitedly dug in. Curious about what this reading adventure would entail, I could hardly turn the pages fast enough to get to the beginning, and then it happened before I even made it to chapter 3.

Disappointment.

For whatever reason, these prairie women protagonists were about as thrilling as a piece of tilapia with no seasoning for dinner. I couldn’t relate to them on any level, and I wasn’t interested in figuring out how. Ok, so one bad book, let’s see what’s next in the pile…

Yep, you guessed it, more prairie women in hoop skirts. More sand. More deserts. More covered wagons. More boredom.

The rest of the books were more of the same–something my friend warned me about after I complained about the lack of variety. Given my lackluster introduction to the genre, I was determined I’d right that wrong in the future and create a story of faith that readers like me would enjoy.

In the meantime, I returned to my old novel standbys and forgot all about Christian fiction.  Until my senior year of high school, that is. My mom was meeting a friend of hers who owned a small Christian bookstore, so I decided to go along for kicks. And lo and behold, there was a novel there I thought I’d really like—the first book in the “Christy Miller” series, Summer Promise by Robin Jones Gunn.

Now here was a protagonist I could relate to—and she was even from Wisconsin! Needless to say, my opinion of Christian fiction changed in with the first ten words of this book. And thanks to many, many girls feeling the same way about Christy, Todd, Doug and even ol’ Aunt Marti, Gunn kept the series going for a while, much to my delight.

These days, the world of Christian fiction is night and day different from the prairie girl novels of old, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of the fun with my own novels, Around the World in 80 Dates and Blessed Are the Meddlers. However, from time to time at book signings, online and the like, I still encounter people who don’t think much of the genre. That not only makes it a challenge to get people reading, but doesn’t say much about Christians as artists, now does it?

Trust me, I get it. Some of these characters are still so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good. Yes, there are still a few too many pat answers to actual real-life struggles. Worse yet is when Christian fiction has simply been reduced to the “safe-for-the-whole-family” alternative (and really, when is taking up your cross and following God supposed to be safe?) to something’s that already popular (cue the Christian version of Twilight or “Sex and the City”…usually five years too late).

But if we continue (as readers and writers) to champion quality faith-filled art, I’m convinced that even more will be crafted. And that way, no small-town girl with an insatiable love of reading will ever have to escape to the prairie again—that is, unless she wants to.

Thank goodness.

About Christa Banister:: When it comes to writers, Christa Banister is top-notch.  Author of the popular Sydney Alexander chick lit series (Around the World in 80 Dates, Blessed are the Meddlers, and the yet-to-be released third novel), Christa is also a freelance journalist and an avid blogger.

**Don’t forget to enter BSW’s OWOH giveaway here and enter to win the book TEA WITH HEZBOLLAH by Ted Dekker & Carl Medearis here!**

Book Review:: Tea with Hezbollah by Ted Dekker & Carl Medearis

I always thought sitting down with chocolate chip cookies and a cold glass of milk was key to peace in the Middle East—if only we could all agree to sit down together. That’s what Carl Medearis suggested to novelist Ted Dekker one evening over dinner—only the pair would drink tea, a popular drink in the region, with the likes of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Samaritans.

Tea with Hezbollah by Dekker and Medearis is the travelogue of the duo’s adventure into Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, and Israel to meet with some of the most dangerous key players on opposite sides of the Middle East conflict. The result is a fascinating book, which culminates with a visit to the 700 remaining Samaritans who occupy an area just outside Tel Aviv. Written primarily by Dekker, the book is a fascinating look into the world of Arabs, Christians, and Jews who are confronted with Jesus’ second greatest commandment—to love one’s neighbor. Dekker also weaves together the story of a girl named Nicole, an American who seeks to find her roots in the ghetto of Beirut.

Through Medearis’ extensive contacts g in the Middle East region, Dekker and Medearis are able to meet with everyone from Osama Bin Laden’s brothers, who think Osama is a jerk, to Sheik Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, known to Westerners as the political voice for Hezbollah. To me,  the most interesting parts of the book were not the interviews with Hamas leaders or sheiks, but the thoughts of every day people such as the scholarly Dr. Micah and Sami Awad, a Christian living in Bethlehem (not Pennslyvania—the one where Jesus was born) who embraces non-violent beliefs.

When I say Tea with Hezbollah is a must-read, I’m not mincing my words. To truly understand what Arabs think about Americans and their neighbors, you must read this book. Plus, you will also gain a sense of the “humanity” of our “enemies.” Ted Dekker’s true story of his journey in the Middle East with buddy Carl Medearis rivals the suspense found in any of his novels.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Because of the fine folks at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, one lucky reader can win a copy of TEA WITH HEZBOLLAH for free. Simply tell me your favorite kind of tea (if you don’t like tea, pick a favorite drink) when you reply below. Easy as pie and just as tasty. The contest will end on Feb. 5 at 12 PM EST. You can also e-mail your entry to amy@backseatwriter.com or reply via Twitter or Facebook.  Don’t forget to leave a valid e-mail address so I can contact you if you win…and don’t worry, I won’t share it with anyone!

Congrats to Donna S. for winning TEA WITH HEZBOLLAH!

**Don’t forget to enter BSW’s OWOH giveaway here!**

PSYCH’s James Roday & Dule Hill face EXTINCTION

Electric Artists, Inc.–James Roday, star of the hit television series “Psych,” and Michael Weston of TV’s “House” will play two friends on a reckless weekend in Gabe McKinley’s new play EXTINCTION, previewing Off-Broadway on Feb 13, 2010 prior to its official press opening February 17 at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Manhattan. Wayne Kasserman directs.

Mr. Roday and Mr. Weston reprise their roles Off-Broadway in EXTINCTION following its acclaimed, sold-out run this past fall in Los Angeles at the Elephant Space theatre in Hollywood in a production praised by Variety as “the creative meat of a truly talented writer…a very dark view of the sexes.” The L.A. Times wrote that the play “enters unexplored, murky corners and is uniquely unsettling.”

With a cast featuring James Roday, Michael Weston, Amanda Detmer and Stefanie E. Frame, EXTINCTION is Mr. McKinley’s play about what transpires between two college buddies whose annual outing of male-bonding and debauchery veers precipitously off course when unmet expectations spiral into a volatile showdown.

EXTINCTION will be presented Off-Broadway by RED DOG SQUADRON in association with the Cherry Lane Theatre. The actor Dule Hill, Mr. Roday’s co-star on “Psych,” is also a producer of the play.

Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce Street (Off 7th Avenue, 1 block south of Bleecker)
New York NY 10014
http://www.cherrylanetheatre.org/

Previews:
Sat Feb 13 @8pm
Sun Feb 14 @3pm
Mon Feb 15 @7pm
Tues Feb 16 @7pm

Full Run:
Wed Feb 17 through Sun Mar 14th
Tuesdays @ 7pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays @8pm, and Sundays @3pm

Tickets:
http://bit.ly/bkhtWe

**Don’t forget to enter BSW’s OWOH giveaway here and enter to win the book TEA WITH HEZBOLLAH by Ted Dekker & Carl Medearis here!**

Handcrafted Items Rule One World One Heart 2010

In my ever-growing quest to win stuff on other people’s blogs, I discovered One World One Heart (OWOH).  OWOH started in 2007 as a way to bring artsy bloggers together—and to give away amazing handcrafted creations.  After seeing some of the items, the over 500 bloggers (and the list is growing) were giving away, I thought to myself, “Self, you like to give things away.  Why don’t you participate in this international fun fest?”

So I talked to the Queen of Quirksical, the fair rules of Etsy shop, Quirksical Creations.  “Fair Queen of Quirksical,” said I, “would you consider being a good will ambassador to the people of the world by providing a gift certificate to your Etsy shop as a special gift to one special reader?”

She gave me a smile and nodded nobly.  And do you know what her Majesty did?  She bestowed upon me, not one, but two $15 gift certificates to her shop (One for Backseat Writer and one for Atypical Musings).  And apparently, the Quirksical artisans are working overtime to provide more items for the shop, so when the contest winners are announced here on Feb. 15, there will be a plethora of beautiful items from which to choose.

Not only that, the Queen also offered to have her Royal Postmasters, the USPS, deliver the items on her dime.  The entire order!  So don’t worry about wasting your gift certificate on silly postage. [Free shipping is only available to residents of the U.S. and Canada.]

All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me (and the Queen—she’ll be checking in) your favorite song.  That’s it!  Be sure to enter on both sites [here and Atypical Musings]!  I’ll be using random.org to pick the winner.  Please only enter one time on each site.

Amy’s note:  I want to respond to each and every one of your comments, but I don’t want to throw off the comment counts.  A few of you have pointed out (mostly via e-mail) that I didn’t share my favorite songs!  Forgive me, but there are several:: “If I Stand” by Rich Mullins (all-time fave), ” “The Hammer Holds” by Bebo Norman, “Every New Day” by Five Iron Frenzy, “Beloved” by Derek Webb, “All Along the Watchtower” by Bob Dylan, “The Cure for Pain,” Jon Foreman, “When You Come Back Down” by Nickel Creek, “I’ll Stand By You,” by The Pretenders, and “Fireflies” by Owl City (fave current song!)  Seriously, that was hard because I left out SO MANY faves like “Defying Gravity” from WICKED.  By the way, you are always FREE to shoot me an e-mail at amy@backseatwriter.com.

**Don’t forget to enter to win the book TEA WITH HEZBOLLAH by Ted Dekker & Carl Medearis here!**

Photo Essay:: Guarding Her Grave

I’ve photographed this Virgin Mary statue previously, but still find her to be an astounding piece of artwork.  When I drive past the graveyard in Emmaus, I can always see her head well above all the other modest grave stones.  I think she is beautiful, even in her slight decay, and I’m finding that different times of day and different weather conditions really capture “Mary” in a whole new light.  (Look at this picture of the same statue from a year ago when snow was on the ground:: Snowy Mary Statue.)

Here’s how I found her in the early afternoon on Jan 21.