Categories: uncategorized
Date: 28 March 2010 16:20:07
Yesterday I was introduced to the teaching of Beth Moore of Living Proof Ministries through a DVD I watched with a group. I want to take off my "researcher head" and look at it from a "usefulness" point of view before contrasting her with some of the initial Greenbelt speakers. The DVD's I spent the day watching were actually quite inspirational and struck me as quite different from alot of these types of things. Firstly, this was "intelligent" bible teaching which involved comparing translations and giving those watching a basic grounding in a couple of Greek words. Now, she was v. American based in her language and her constant reference to "Testy's" in terms of people who test you was somewhat unnearving. Yes, my mind did get a tad juvinille at being told to "imagine a pile of your testy's on that chair" and I had to stifle a giggle. And yes she was manipulating the listener in a certain way, by using some excellent communication skills which indicated she was trying to connect personally with a listener, although it was filmed in front of 19,000 people and was going onto DVD but and here's the thing it lacked alot of the obviously "fake" stuff that alot of these types of things do. Her teaching actually seemed to be honest and have some real sense involved, it wasn't merely pop psychology being trotted out as religion, this woman seems to be the "real deal". As such, I would recommend this as something worth exploring if you want material for women, and can handle the "Americaness" of it all.
Beth Moore is not somebody you would expect to find at Greenbelt. For a start really not sure that she'd cope with a camping trip, she was one of these big haired, beautifully turned out types who might struggle with a windy stage. However, from looking at the newly released initial lineups for talks and arts it looks to be a stella year for Greenbelt. I'm really excited that Stanley Hauerwas is speaking together with Kate Coleman, Tom Sine, Bruce Kent, Clare Short and Peter Tatchell aswell as "the usual suspects" (Maggi Dawn, John Bell, etc).
Literature wise Roger McGough is going to be there together with the resident scally poet (Stewart Henderson). Worship wise glad that Transcendance are going to be back. Blackthorn Crescent look like they could be interesting.
Roll on August.