New York–Max McLean, Artistic Director of Fellowship for the Performing Arts, announces that the new production C.S. Lewis’ THE GREAT DIVORCE will be presented at The Alabama Theatre, 1817 3rd Avenue N in Birmingham, on Saturday, January 11 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.  This journey to Heaven and Hell is a provocative exploration of human nature, featuring vivid characters drawn with Lewis’ trademark wit.  THE GREAT DIVORCE National Tour kicks off in Phoenix in December and will visit cities including Kansas City, Charlotte, Charleston, Cleveland, Nashville, Colorado Springs, and Columbus in 2014.
Fellowship for the Performing Arts also produces the nationally acclaimed hit THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, which will soon enter its fourth year after appearing in over 50 major cities throughout the United States.  Over 350,000 theatergoers have seen THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS on tour and in successful sit-down productions in New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Following the overwhelming success of THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, McLean conceived the idea to adapt THE GREAT DIVORCE for the stage.
“This is Lewis at his imaginative best,” says Max McLean. In THE GREAT DIVORCE, several of Lewis’ most provocative characters take a bus ride from Hell to Paradise. But the bizarre question the play asks is: Will they like it? Will they prefer Hell to Heaven?  Are the doors of Hell really locked from the inside?
Three actors transform into over a dozen different personality types to tell this fantastical morality tale about good and evil. On the bus is a man who is going to demand his ‘rights’, a woman who can’t stop grumbling, a gentleman who ‘likes’ Heaven but staying there means giving up his precious pet lizard, and a world traveler who believes Heaven and Hell are just a propaganda stunt run by the same people.  As each ghost is welcomed by a celestial spirit, the choice of staying or going back brings vivid clarity to the “great divorce” between Heaven and Hell.
“There are only two kinds of people in the end,” Lewis writes in THE GREAT DIVORCE, “those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.'”  THE GREAT DIVORCE remains one of Lewis’ most influential pieces and rightly earns its place among classics such as The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity.
THE GREAT DIVORCE stars Tom Beckett (Bobby Boland, Epic Proportions and The Father on Broadway and “Elbridge Gerry” in HBO’s John Adams), Joel Rainwater (The Lion King, National Tour) and Christa Scott-Reed (The Pitmen Painters on Broadway).
The Fellowship for the Performing Arts is based in New York City with Max McLean as Founder and Artistic Director.  Adapted by McLean and Brian Watkins, THE GREAT DIVORCE is Directed by Bill Castellino, with the creative team including Executive Producer and General Manager Ken Denison of Aruba Productions, Scenic Designer Kelly James Tighe, Costume Designer Nicole Wee and Lighting Designer Michael Gilliam.  Original Music and Sound Design are by John Gromada with Projections by Chris Kateff.
The Fellowship for the Performing Arts’ production of THE GREAT DIVORCE celebrates the legacy of C.S. Lewis’ profoundly influential life and honors the 50th anniversary of his death on November 22, 1963.  In 2013, on that date, Lewis received one of Britain’s highest honors, a memorial in Poets’ Corner joining such legends as Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dickens.
THE GREAT DIVORCE will play on Saturday, January 11 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.   Tickets are $29 to $49.  Student seats are $20 (student ID required). For groups of 10 or more (including student groups) call 866.476.8707.
To purchase tickets, visit www.greatdivorceonstage.com, call 800.745.3000 or visit the Alabama Theatre box office 90 minutes prior to performances

Christians Are Still Being Thrown to the Lions

A third of America’s population says they’re evangelical Christians and 93 percent of all Americans claim they believe in God. That’s a staggering number. Yet 2 percent of the population claims to be homosexual and some are militant about it.
 Those who push for punishment of others holding opinions contrary to them often boast of their platform of tolerance when in reality it’s just the opposite, an intolerance of opposing views. It’s reflective in the Duck Dynasty saga, the Chick-Fil-A uproar, the censorship of Christian views in public schools and a host of other examples.
 Teddy Kennedy, the deceased senator from Massachusetts, was heralded as “A Liberal Lion.”  Depending on your point of view, that may or may not be a noteworthy distinction.
 Daniel was thrown into the Lions’ Den, Christians were hurled into the Coliseum to be torn apart by wild beasts for Roman entertainment, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego were tossed into the fiery furnace and Jews into the gas chambers because of their opposing views.
 Persecution isn’t anything new. Christians are being executed in many parts of the world for the beliefs they hold and the opinions they cling steadfast to, but in the United States things are a little bit more civilized. Those who hold opposing views who want to somehow punish others do so in the arena of public opinion. We no longer buy tickets and sit in the bleachers to witness murder, but we do take in the spectacle and give it a thumb’s up or down from the cheap seats in front of our television screens, cell phones, or computers.
 I can relate to what happened to the Duck Dynasty Patriarch. I once worked for a large corporation and was approached one day by a woman in the break room. She asked me what my personal opinion of homosexuality was. I claimed: “If the population of planet Earth were to be all gay the human race would simply cease to exist.” I didn’t know who the woman was, but it would seem she knew me. It turned out the woman was a militant lesbian and she saw to it that management fired me the following day.
 The company even took it a step farther after that by trying to have me punished by the judicial system for hate speech. The judge quickly dismissed their case, but before he did an executive of the company professed their policy was: “Anyone can be terminated at anytime for anything deemed offensive to anyone.” 
 Political correctness is, oftentimes, a tool used to silence opposition and many feel, these days, it’s being used to squash freedom of speech.
 Some of those political commentators on television have said the Duck Dynasty saga doesn’t have anything to do with freedom of speech because the government didn’t get involved. On the contrary, in the matter of Chick-Fil-A government entities around the country did indeed get involved and made the threat they would see to it Chick-Fil-A never build in their town. The most vocal of all was an Alderman in Chicago.
 Christians believe they’re sinners who have been forgiven. Most Christians, myself included, believe we’re all sinners and although we don’t condone homosexual behavior we don’t hate the person because we ourselves were once no better and are forgiven of our indiscretions by God. It’s not a Christian’s place to judge, only God can do that.  However, for many Christians, if they believe they’re being forced to condone something contrary to their beliefs that’s therefore a line drawn that they cannot cross. That’s what I see happening in the evangelical community. The Christian community sees their fellow brothers and sisters being persecuted for their beliefs and they are standing in solidarity with them in record numbers. 
 I believe there’s a lesson to be learned here. We’re to love one another, not be vindictive and cram our personal beliefs down someone else’s throats. The conversation has been indeed heated, but the perceived discrimination flows both ways.  I’m convinced the thought police are relentless, but on the other hand the Christian community has grown quite tired of turning the other cheek. 
 A pastor once told me, a comment I shall not forget, “Scripture says turn the other cheek, but I don’t think God ever intended for us to be doormats.”

Greg Allen’s column, Thinkin’ Out Loud, is published bi-monthly.  He’s an author, nationally syndicated columnist and the founder of Builder of the Spirit in Jamestown, Indiana, a nonprofit organization aiding the poor.  He can be reached at www.builderofthespirit.org or follow him on Twitter @GregAllencolumn.

So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. Acts 27:2
 
In the 27th Chapter of Acts Paul was being taken to Caesar to plead his case. Interestingly enough they ran into a storm and had to change their intended course.

When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty
off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. Acts 27:7 

Although there was a change in course the journey had to continue so as the wind subsided they continued.

When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. Acts 27:13

Unfortunately things did not continue to go smoothly and again the storm arose. A decision had to be made about what to do next.

And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. Acts 27:18

The decision they made did not solve their problem and it became necessary to make another decision.

Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. Acts 27:29

Many things happened during that trip and many times there was a need to change courses and make decisions in order to get to the shore safely. Getting rid of things that were once thought to be necessary, anchoring to the bottom of the ocean believing that would help and even grabbing a piece of the ship to float to shore were some of what was necessary but a decision had to be made to do each. What is it in your life that you need to make a decision about? What have you been holding on to that is holding you back? Where do you want to be that you aren’t sure how to get there? Have you been wondering “what’s my next move?” God is waiting for you to grab a hold of Him and allow Him to take you to where you need or want to be. Trust Him during these times.

But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land. Acts 27:43-44

Don’t be afraid to decide,
Minister Deidra Bibb

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3

Today is the last day of the year 2013 and some of you may be reflecting on how you weren’t able to achieve the things you set out to achieve at the beginning of the year. Some of you may be disappointed in how the year turned out, amazed by the things you accomplished and even perplexed about the things that occurred; however, it’s not over. Yes the calendar will change but the dream is not over. The vision you have is not over and the promise God made you is not over. Every day is a another day that you learn something else you need to know for your journey. Each day you grow stronger for the battles ahead and today is not the last day but the next day you must persevere on to that place God has been telling you to go, to do what God has purposed you to do and to be what you were created to be. IT’S NOT OVER!

 Pastor Micheal McClure Sr. of Revelation Church is setting a standard in Birmingham, that Men must develop a Prayer Life! He believes that through prayer Families can stay together!

 New year, new beginnings and new mercies! Humans are creatures of habit. Experts declare that a 21 day- routine becomes a habit. Often we are baffled by habits formed years ago and by traits we cannot understand when, where, or why they came, yet undesired. These are threads in our character and personality wherein we find ourselves asking the question, Gee, why am I like this? You try stopping it, but getting off this roller coaster or merry-go-round is not as easy as it looks. It seems to be an ongoing battle. Can this circle be broken?
Today, in this new year, I declare the Word of God that says Jesus came to set the captive free! In the book of Ezekiel 16:1-3, (abridged) Your birth and nativity is of the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite. And as for as your nativity, in the day you were born your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water or salted; nor were you swaddled at all; you were an outcast because no one pitied you. Therefore, when I saw that you were polluted in your own blood as I passed by, I declared LIFE! I said “Live”!
Your navel cord is the attachment in your mother’s womb wherein you draw substance until birth; nevertheless, it can represent anything that has you bound for years, controlled or shackled in a debilitating manner. Too long we are led about by things or people of whom we cannot get away from or by some cord (soul tie) that we, in our human strength, cannot cut. There are threads which flow through the blood- line; our mothers were Hittites and our fathers were Amorites. This thread has roamed generation after generation, now it is at your house. This iniquity has come to torment and drive you.
As we enter the new year, be reminded that though our sin are as red scarlet, the Blood of Jesus washes as white as snow. It is important that we first surrender to Him that His Blood hits the root of our problem, thus destroying the cord or chain that has us held in bondage.
Matthew 24:12… And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  What, then, is iniquity? If you answer this with sin, it is only partially correct. What kind of sin? Is it not the sins of the fathers which were never addressed or traveled through spiritual? As the body of Christ, the Church, we must begin to disclose the root of iniquities; the cords (nativity) that were never broken. Jesus taught holistic salvation. We must deal with the cause, the origin. As His body, we must embrace the need to teach or give insight on generational curses and kingdom of darkness truths. We have been taught that this gives Satan glory. Question! How can life changing truths, information, give Satan glory? Impossible! We are destroyed for a lack of knowledge! Information exposes his devices; this alone sets people free. “Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper, and be in health, even as your soul does prosper. Is your soul prospering? You must be positioned to prosper in any capacity.
This year make a quality decision to study to show yourself approved unto God a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly (defining) the Word of truth. Determine to have a great new year.
I pray that you have good health and obtain great wealth and be endowed with wisdom to maintain both!
Write to me and order my books: Synagogues of Satan;  Broken Pieces;  But, I’m a Mother and That’s My Child!  Address: PO Box 39004, B’ham, AL 35208.
Electra.gethsemaneministries@yahoo.com.

Abolishing Fear with Love
Rev. J.R. Reid

One of the most important things in life is overcoming our fears. And if you are like me, you have many. But did you know that fear can only be overcome with love?
Let me share what I mean. There are three ways to Abolish fear with Love: One, by getting rid of the three robbers of life – doubt, suspicion, fear; two by praying deeply with strong feelings of gratitude and three, by replacing our fear with unconditional love.

The Bible says in Matthew 22 verses 34-40 that, “The Pharisees got together and one of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” In this reading, Jesus answers a Jewish lawyer and teacher of the Law of Moses, who raises a question to trap Him. The question he asked was what is the first and great commandment? This question divided Jewish leaders into rival schools. The Jews argued about which commandments were greater or lesser. Some pronounced the law of circumcision greater; others, that of sacrifices, ritual washing or aid to Jewish prayers. There were 248 positive laws and 365 negative, 613 in all. To keep the law was hard. So they tried to find one they might keep it in lieu of keeping 613. In verses 37, 38 it said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind,” from Deut. 6:5 which was a demand for supreme love for God? “This is the greatest and first commandment.” Great, because it embraces all others; first, in that it precedes the second that He is about to name. He who loves God supremely cannot live in disobedience to Him. Then came verse 39, “And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” And then in verse 40, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophet.”
The first command sums up what we owe to God; the second, what we owe to ourselves and each other. Lev.19:18. One, who loves God supremely, will not live in disobedience to the Law; one, who loves his neighbor as himself, will seek the welfare of those around him in love. These two words, law and love, are tremendously significant. They represent two types of minds which are polar opposites. The mind which is legal finds it hard to love. The legal mind thinks of justice, but finds it hard to be compassionate. Justice without compassion can never be just. The very nature of compassion is to be just. Compassion is the real thing, because love is the real thing. A legal system without love is driven by Fear. The problem is we underestimate how much time, energy and life is lost in fear. We go through life with a 1001 fears that paralyze our actions and hold us back from being the persons God created, intended us to be. When we learn how to overcome our fears with love we will become who God  intended us to be here, now and in the world.

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Now that Christmas is over and all the hustle and bustle that goes with it. We need to think about the lessons that Christmas teaches.
The first lesson teaches us about God and his love. A father took his young son to the top of a mountain one day, and they talked about God and his love. The father looked North and said, “God’s love extends as far as we can go that way.” Then he turned East, South, and West, each time saying, “God’s love extends as far as we can go that way.” There was quietness for a moment or so as the boy thought about what his father had said. Then his face lit up, and he blurted out, “Oh, Dad, we are right in the middle of it!” No matter who we are, or what we have done, we are all right in the middle of God’s love.
Christmas offers several lessons for the Church. If God couldn’t win people by staying home, neither can we. We are like lifeguards; we must get into the water to save people. Once among the people, the best way to win them is not to judge, condemn, or criticize them, but simply love them.
Christmas offers a lesson for those who don’t know God at all. Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost. That includes the vilest among us, and the most moral and ethical, who have simply never come to know him. Salvation is personal and relational. If we seek Christ, we will find him, because he is seeking us.

Dr. Robert Wilkerson is a minister, writer, and founder of People for the Christian Way. drbobwilkerson@bellsouth.net, www.peopleforthechristianway.com

OMNIPOTENT POWER OF GOD
Man’s power is limited more than he realizes, for he has no power unless God gives it to him.  Although man thinks he can climb the highest mountain, build the largest and highest building and skyscrapers,  he really cannot do anything unless God gives him the knowledge and power within himself to believe he can first, and only then can he start to climb the ladder of life. God holds all the power within Himself.
You may read in Genesis the Eleventh Chapter where the people of the land decided they would build themselves a tower to heaven, just as man thinks he is going to do now with his spaceship or whatever he has chosen to name and design his work. God showed the men of the land in Genesis that all power and knowledge comes from Him, and only He decides what He wants to allow man to accomplish in the Earth, which the knowledge of God created in the beginning of time on this Earth for man.
Man has been making his own choices since Adam and Eve in the Garden. They decided to make their own choices, and they were driven out of the beautiful Garden of Eden. Man is about to overstep his bounds now, if he has not already.
The Power of God is incomprehensible. God has built a progressive mind within man and, it was God that said in Genesis 1:26, “Let Us make man in Our Image and Likeness.” Therefore, God made man to have a will and desire to build, design, and make great things, but God will limit man, when he goes beyond God’s plan for him. As you can see man has overstepped his limits now, but we believers in Jesus know that God is ready and about to close His chapter in the Earth. Are you getting ready to go with Jesus, when He comes?
www.thealmightyeyes.com