23 Feb, 2007
Tales of a party girl
Spears rose to fame eight years ago in the guise of a virginal schoolgirl and had hits with tunes such as “Oops!... I Did it Again” and the Grammy-winning “Toxic.” As little girls around the world clamored to mimic their idol, Spears ditched the clean-cut image by kissing Madonna at an awards show, using public restrooms in bare feet and marrying a childhood friend for two days.
She has become a fixture on the nightclub circuit since her split in November from her second husband, Kevin Federline, a former backup dancer.
Spears was repeatedly photographed in December climbing out of automobiles without wearing underpants while in the company of celebrity Paris Hilton.
An appearance in family court sought by Kevin Federline amid a child custody dispute (for Jayden James, 5 months, and Sean Preston, 17 months) with Britney Spears was canceled Thursday as reports surfaced that she was back in rehab.
Last Friday, Spears arrived at a San Fernando Valley hair salon, grabbed an electric razor and shaved her head bald.
Afterward, she visited a tattoo parlor, where she had a pair of red-and-pink lips inked onto her wrist. Then she went out clubbing with friends before apparently checking into rehab.
Whether her recent behavior will damage her recording career is hard to say, said Vibe magazine music editor Jon Caramanica.
photo & story courtesy music.msn.com, 02/22/07
What would Jesus say to Britney?
2 Timothy 3:1-4
Godlessness in the Last Days
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (ESV)
After reading today's scripture, what do you think Jesus would say to Britney Spears?
For starters, I think Jesus would tell Britney that He loves her and is the answer to what seems like a desperate cry for help. Plus, He might tell her that His Word is truth and she might want to read Paul's scripture.
The "last days" that Paul wrote about refer to the days after the resurrection of Jesus and will continue until Christ's second coming. This means that not only are we living in the "last days" now, but every day that we live brings us closer to the return of Christ.
Paul says that "people will be lovers of self...of pleasure rather than lovers of God".
It's pretty obvious that poor Britney Spears is pretty messed up. When you consider her perspective on material possessions, the flaunting of her body and the abuse of it, her take on marriage, and her lack of being a responsible parent, there's no doubt that she loves herself and godless pleasure rather than God.
But before we get real righteous by bashing Britney, we need to take a look at ourselves.
We claim to be followers of Jesus. But what do we seek more often, pleasure or God?
Worldly pleasures are easily obtainable, while God is uncontainable. The pleasures available in this life seem to benefit us now, while the benefits of loving God are often in the future.
Loving God rather than loving pleasure means we must let go of our pride, selfish desires, and accomplishments. Loving God with all of our heart, strength and mind requires complete surrender to God in every part of our lives.
What is Jesus saying to you right now?
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Honestly answer these questions to yourself and to God: On a daily basis, are you choosing to love pleasure, or to love God? Is there anything you love more than God?
- Are you guilty of anything on Paul's list in today's scripture? Let God forgive you. He loves you. He really has a plan for you.
- Rather than giving in to culture's pressures, stand up against secular perspectives by abiding in Jesus every day. Keep a written journal to track your spiritual growth.
- Pray right now for Jesus to point out to you the changes that are needed in your life for you to love God with "all of your heart, strength and mind". Ask Jesus to give you the courage to stand up for God's Truth in our culture every day in every way, not just spiritually. Thank Jesus for His love for you which is beyond human understanding.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Pray for Britney Spears to encounter Jesus. Pray that someone who knows Jesus will have the opportunity to learn her story and share their story of faith and God's Story with Britney.
- The topic of loving pleasure rather than God is illustrated every day in our culture and especially in the media. Ask your friends what they think about Britney's struggles? Listen carefully for their story. Look for those moments when you can be real about your own struggles in this area. This would be a great way to share part of your story.
- February 2012 [5]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [21]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
