“We did not dare to breathe a prayer or giveour anguish scope! Something was dead in each of us, and what was dead was hope.”
– Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was widely known for his flamboyant style. A drama he wrote, based on the life of Salome (the dancing girl who was responsible for the beheading of John the Baptist) was considered scandalous. He also wrote fairy tales, comedies, and anarchic political essays. But with all of his gifts and talents, he lacked hope.
Wilde was well-educated and sought-after in social circles, including the royal family of England, because of his creative genius, flair, and brilliant mind. However, he was also a homosexual. The father of Wilde’s homosexual lover sent him into social and financial ruin with a lawsuit that ended in imprisonment. Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years in prison for his homosexual offenses, then later died in exile. What a tragedy! Even the most gifted life can have no hope.
Today the world says there is no hope. Society is darker than ever. More and more countries are testing their nuclear power. We now have terrorists right here in America. Highway and hallway shootings are reported daily. Even with the greatest medical advances, disease is rampant. Natural disasters are increasing, and the diminishing rain forests are threatening the very air we breathe. It is no wonder the world feels hopeless.
“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech” (2 Cor. 3:12).
However, as a child of the King you should be full of the blessed hope. Share Jesus with someone today, and give them hope! The Word commands us to get out there and tell the world plainly and simply that no matter what they are going through, Jesus has the answer. He is their answer! And when people have the answer, they have hope.
Excerpt permission granted by Albury Publishing
Carman Domenic Licciardello is an enigma in Christian music, often described as part evangelist, part Vegas Showman. His concerts were more like a rock and roll Billy Graham Crusade than a Christian music event. After all the singing, dancing, clapping, and preaching, crowds of people would stream down to the counseling area to accept Christ-many times as many as 5,000 in an evening.
Admission was usually free; a simple offering was taken, similar to 30,000 churches on Sunday mornings. And he filled the largest stadiums the world over. Carman held the record for the largest Christian concert ever in Dallas, Texas. But it even goes beyond that. Take the Mega Stadium acts that played the famed landmark such as Pink Floyd, U 2, Madonna, The Jackson Five, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, and even Metallic. As the newspapers noted, you'll see that the one-act that drew the highest attendance in Texas Stadium was Carman, with 71,132.
Carman (1956-2021) was a popular contemporary Christian singer and songwriter.
Born Carman Licciardello, he began recording under his first name and released his debut album in 1980. Carman began charting contemporary Christian hits in 1984 with "Sunday's on the Way," reaching No. 1 with "The Champion" (1986) and "Radically Saved" (1988). His other hit songs include "Lord of All," "Jesus Is the Light," and "Satan, Bite the Dust!" Carman reportedly holds the world record for the largest audience at a Christian concert. His popularity was at its height in the 1980s and early '90s, but he continued releasing albums for years, including his most recent release, 2014's "No Plan B." In 2018, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
