Interesting Play Juxtaposes Freud and Lewis

Freud, C. S. Lewis Get into an Argument . . .

That's the premise of 'Freud's Last Session,' a play now in an extended run in New York

by Mark Moring

C. S. Lewis, Sigmund Freud, and God walk into a bar, and . . .

Well, that's not quite the setting, and it's not quite a joke, but there is humor aplenty to be found in Freud's Last Session, an off-Broadway play in New York that imagines a conversation between the two thinkers -- the Christian Lewis and the atheist Freud -- and their musings on God.

Here's one example of the smart banter between the two:

LEWIS: The wish that God doesn’t exist can be just as powerful as the belief He does. I’d even say choosing to disbelieve may be stronger evidence for His existence, since you have to be aware of what you’re denying.

FREUD: I deny the existence of Unicorns. Therefore, they exist?

Jerry Tallmer of New York's Downtown Express sheds more light on the production, which has also received rave reviews:

“Sharp, lively discourse…The humor is plentiful! Martin Rayner delivers a wise and cranky Freud. Mark H. Dold paints a wonderfully warm portrait of the young C.S. Lewis" (NY Times).

"A juicy intellectual debate…Terrific performances!” (NY Post).

“Riveting theater!” (Huffington Post)

Alice Cooper Joins Others for Arizona Benefit Concert

Browne, Cooper to play benefit in Tucson, Arizona

TUCSON, Arizona (AP) — Jackson Browne, Alice Cooper, David Crosby and Graham Nash will perform in Tucson, Arizona, to benefit a charitable fund established after the shooting there that killed six people and wounded 13 others.

Other acts at the March 10 concert that Browne and Cooper announced this week include Sam Moore, Nils Lofgren, Keb' Mo', Jerry Riopelle, Dar Williams, Ozomatli and Calexico.

Astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, plans to speak at the event.

It will benefit the Fund for Civility, Respect, and Understanding. Wounded Giffords aide Ron Barber started the fund to support people affected by the Jan. 8 shooting and to hold events promoting community unity.

You know our humble host is a longtime resident of Arizona. So he's honored to be performing at a concert to benefit the victims of January's shooting rampage in Tucson.  Jackson Browne and Alice Cooper just announced an all-star line-up of musicians at the Tucson Convention Center, (who have donated the building), on Thursday, March 10, 6PM.  The event is a fundraiser for the non-profit Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, benefiting the newly established Fund for Civility, Respect, and Understanding.  The Fund will support individuals and families affected by the January 8th shooting in Tucson, and will promote civility and respect in public discourse, schools, and the community.  The fund will also work to increase awareness of mental health symptoms, prevention and treatment services.   Performers include Jackson Browne, Alice Cooper, David Crosby & Graham Nash, Sam Moore, Nils Lofgren, Keb’ Mo’, Jerry Riopelle, Dar Williams, Ozomatli, and Calexico. The event will also feature speakers including Ron Barber, who was among those wounded on January 8, NASA Astronaut Mark Kelly (Giffords’ husband), Lea Marquez Peterson (president of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) and Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup (who introduced a nation-wide Civility Accord at the winter legislative meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. on January 18, which has since been signed by almost 200 mayors). Tickets go on sale February 19th at 10 a.m. through the Tucson Convention Center Ticket Office 260 S. Church Ave. (10 a.m. - noon), on the web at http://www.ticketmaster.com/, by phone (800)745-3000 and all Ticketmaster Outlets. Good music for a good cause! The Coop hopes to see you there!

This isn't the first time Alice has done music for charity.  He also raises money for his own charity, The Solid Rock Foundation, which provides an alternative for youth at risk.
  

Here is a great interview with Alice where he talks a lot about his life story, his Foundation, and his faith.
Interview with Alice Cooper by queen_spoo

Here is a video for his charity foundation:

Surprise of the Week: CC's a Christian!

I guess I'm a little behind the times, since this happened a couple of years ago.  However, I randomly came across information that the guitarist from one of my favorite hair bands from the 80's - Poison, who I saw perform recently in 2009 - has now converted to Christianity!  CC DeVille at some point became a believer, and apparently this pastor's report stated that CC invited him backstage to ask for spiritual advice as to how he can communicate his faith at Poison concerts.  He suggested that one way would be to play Amazing Grace during his solo stint, which he actually did!

Here is the Pastor's account of his meeting backstage with CC as well as a video to document some of the time they spent talking.

So Wednesday afternoon my friend, Derek Bruner from Cross Point, called me with the weirdest pastoral request I’ve ever gotten. He asked me if I would be willing to come down and go backstage at the Poison concert to meet with C.C. DeVille (their lead guitarist). Apparently C.C. has just become a Christian and was wondering if I would be willing to bring him some messages he could listen to on the road, as well as just encourage him, and answer a few questions.

I figured it wouldn’t be a good idea to be hanging out backstage at a Poison concert without taking one of our elders, Brian Alexander. We had an awesome night. While I’m certainly going to keep the bulk of our conversations private, there were a few things I feel comfortable sharing.

This guy has an amazing heart. We spent some time with him pre-concert and before he went to get ready to go on stage he said, “Pete would you watch the show tonight and tell me if you see me do anything that would not be honoring to God.” Are you kidding me????

After the concert we had a creative team meeting with him where we suggested a few different ways he could interweave the story of what God is doing in his life through his music. The entire experience was surreal, to say the least.

You can watch the video below to hear C.C. discuss such topics as cussing, elder meetings, accountability and guitar hero. It’s almost six minutes long, but you won’t be disappointed.

the unofficial pastor to poison,

Pete

Guitar Hero from Pete Wilson on Vimeo

I also came across some other videos on YouTube, and found a series that Living Legends Music conducted with CC. Interestingly enough, they were interviewing him about music, but he talked more about God and what he is learning in his life than he did about music! I must say that I am encouraged and pray that he will be sustained in his faith in the rock industry he's in. Apparently, CC's conversion is affecting the rest of Poison (save one member, I hear), where they are toning down their language and are open to CC's testimony of what God is doing in his life. May we all have the enthusiasm CC shows as a new believer!