I usually don't reread my blogs after they are sent, but the last one tugged on me a little the past few days, so here are additional thoughts:
My email has been full of requests for monetary support the past month, but when I thought about it, my email has been full of requests for monetary support every month. And these are requests from non-profit organizations, relief agencies, individual missionaries, Christian charities, para-church ministries.......... Some of them even come from organizations we already support and are asking us to "up the ante" and give more. In addition, there are a number of requests for us to consider giving our time to these organizations here or abroad. The possibilities are endless and it is incumbent on us to sift, investigate and pray. God wants us to be good shepherds of what He has given us, share with those who are in need and give our service in areas where He is at work and calls us to join Him. Ultimately what we do, where we spend our time and resources are choices we need to make prayerfully and with the guidance of The Holy Spirit. We all tend to be impacted by the needs we observe and we must realize that while our time and resources are limited, God's time and resources are limitless. He is the supreme and infinite provider and if the cause is in His Will.........HE WILL PROVIDE.
Karen and I took a large leap of faith in setting out with The Ministry of Miles last December, and in every area we have been blessed. We end 2014 with fond memories and look forward to 2015 with the expectation that if we "follow the cloud", listen to God's call, heed the prompting of The Holy Spirit and set Jesus as our model, we'll be okay. Our prayers are with all of our friends and family for a Happy and Joyous New Year.
Sent from my iPad
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Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Monday, December 29, 2014
December 29, 2014. Madison, GA. Winning the Hearts and Minds
During my school years, I remember reading a book entitled "The Hidden Persuaders" by Vance Packard. It was about the efforts of advertisers to get the consumer to buy the product they were "pushing" and to make us believe we just could not live a full productive life without that product. The situation has not changed very much since that book was written in 1957. Manufacturers still want us to buy their product, advertising has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry and the barrage of things wanting our money and our loyalty is staggering. Everywhere we look we are overwhelmed by "things" which want us to claim them as our own.
Advertising is so pervasive that we cannot go anywhere without it assaulting us and demanding that we pay attention to it. If it is not blatantly "in our face" it is a brief subliminal message which flashes an image, word or idea into our subconscious. We can't escape the assault whether we are on the street, at the movies, watching tv, surfing the Internet, shopping for food or just plain trying to do nothing. Everything and everyone is trying to win us over to their product, point of view or supporting them or their cause.
Within my sight at this moment, as I write this blog, are probably hundreds of "brand names" which are trying to win my heart and mind to them. If they are in our motor home, they have already achieved the goal of getting my money. If they are outside the window, they have gotten someone else's money and are trying to get mine next. If I think too much about it, it makes me wonder how we are able to overcome the professionals who are so intent on selling us their wares. Now that the elections are over and the "Holiday Season" is over, we can wait for the next great attack, the Super Bowl ads. I could go on and on, but I think I'll let the blog just wind down and let us all pause a little to think about what we allow to influence us ........... to occupy our attention............ and where we spend our resources and our time.......................
Sent from my iPad
Advertising is so pervasive that we cannot go anywhere without it assaulting us and demanding that we pay attention to it. If it is not blatantly "in our face" it is a brief subliminal message which flashes an image, word or idea into our subconscious. We can't escape the assault whether we are on the street, at the movies, watching tv, surfing the Internet, shopping for food or just plain trying to do nothing. Everything and everyone is trying to win us over to their product, point of view or supporting them or their cause.
Within my sight at this moment, as I write this blog, are probably hundreds of "brand names" which are trying to win my heart and mind to them. If they are in our motor home, they have already achieved the goal of getting my money. If they are outside the window, they have gotten someone else's money and are trying to get mine next. If I think too much about it, it makes me wonder how we are able to overcome the professionals who are so intent on selling us their wares. Now that the elections are over and the "Holiday Season" is over, we can wait for the next great attack, the Super Bowl ads. I could go on and on, but I think I'll let the blog just wind down and let us all pause a little to think about what we allow to influence us ........... to occupy our attention............ and where we spend our resources and our time.......................
Sent from my iPad
Friday, December 26, 2014
December 26, 2014. Madison, GA. God is in Control
This week has been a busy one, not so much with work, but with getting together for a number of Christmas activities. Karen has been making salads, tomato/cucumber trays, cheese and cracker platters, a calzone-type dinner and it has been non-stop gatherings and get-togethers with church services, Christmas Contatas, a Christmas-eve candlelight service, a birthday trip with a friend to Milledgeville, GA today, Christmas dinner at Don and Sonja's yesterday where I was asked to give my testimony, and a planned trip to Stone Mountain for tomorrow. We had a retirement ceremony Tuesday for a couple who had volunteered here for 12 years and a farewell luncheon for them that same day, staff chapel on Wednesday, the weekly bread/dessert delivery from Publix Market. It rained almost four inches early in the week and today it was time for laundry, helping finishing Hugh and LaVon's deck and for me to read most of the book "Zvi" which was given to me yesterday.
We were able to talk with family in Colorado and Florida and Karen texted a bunch of our friends and had many return messages. We wrote to our home church (Shiloh Christian Church) in Fort Collins and the note was sent out in their weekly letter to the fellowship. I even had a call from Larry checking on us because the every-three-day blog was absent and an e-mail from Noah explaining why our blog was accidently taken off the Shiloh website. Saxton even called and we received a couple of e-cards one from Mack and Arleene and another from our window defoggers in Arkansas.
It's strange that my last blog talked about our kind of "flying alone" in our journey, and since then it has been a beehive of activity, church and social activities and being as connected as we have ever been. As we have been finding out; make plans and God will have a different one for us; write what you are feeling and pretty soon you're feeling different. I get the distinct impression that God is letting us know that He is guiding the ship and we just need to enjoy the ride and leave the driving to Him. With all that is going on in our life and in the world, it's good to know and accept that GOD IS IN CONTROL and ALL IS WELL.
Sent from my iPad
We were able to talk with family in Colorado and Florida and Karen texted a bunch of our friends and had many return messages. We wrote to our home church (Shiloh Christian Church) in Fort Collins and the note was sent out in their weekly letter to the fellowship. I even had a call from Larry checking on us because the every-three-day blog was absent and an e-mail from Noah explaining why our blog was accidently taken off the Shiloh website. Saxton even called and we received a couple of e-cards one from Mack and Arleene and another from our window defoggers in Arkansas.
It's strange that my last blog talked about our kind of "flying alone" in our journey, and since then it has been a beehive of activity, church and social activities and being as connected as we have ever been. As we have been finding out; make plans and God will have a different one for us; write what you are feeling and pretty soon you're feeling different. I get the distinct impression that God is letting us know that He is guiding the ship and we just need to enjoy the ride and leave the driving to Him. With all that is going on in our life and in the world, it's good to know and accept that GOD IS IN CONTROL and ALL IS WELL.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Fwd: December 21, 2014. Madison, GA. Alone.........with........
Sent from my iPad
>
> The night I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, June 27, 1999 at a Praise in The Park celebration in Fort Collins, CO I was in a crowd of more than 4,000....... alone.......with.......
> At the time I didn't understand how I could be surrounded by so many people and yet feel so alone, except for .........who was with me. I now know that it was The Holy Spirit with me and that the feeling of being alone was my abandoning all the baggage and burdens which I had been carrying for the past 53 years, and beginning a journey which over the next 15+ years would be ordained by God, modeled by Jesus and guided by The Holy Spirit.
> Yesterday I read the December 20th, Streams In The Desert devotional with the subtitle "I am not alone, for my Father is with me (John16:32)". It spoke so personally to me about our current journey and the way we have left our Colorado connections to minister where and how God has directed us. I hope you read the SITD devotional if you have a hard copy, or check it out on the Internet, because it may speak to you as it spoke to me to explain why we are led to follow God's calling on our life or sometimes back off from obeying, because we don't want to "step out of our comfort zone" or take that "leap of faith" required to serve God on HIS terms. The devotional impacted me greatly, because it was so personal. We went to a different church this morning, will be going to a Christmas program this evening at a church we have never attended. In both cases we are going by ourselves, as we have done so many times in the past year. In the world, but not feeling part of it. Alone.........but we are not alone, for Our Father is with us. Thank You, Lord.
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> The night I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, June 27, 1999 at a Praise in The Park celebration in Fort Collins, CO I was in a crowd of more than 4,000....... alone.......with.......
> At the time I didn't understand how I could be surrounded by so many people and yet feel so alone, except for .........who was with me. I now know that it was The Holy Spirit with me and that the feeling of being alone was my abandoning all the baggage and burdens which I had been carrying for the past 53 years, and beginning a journey which over the next 15+ years would be ordained by God, modeled by Jesus and guided by The Holy Spirit.
> Yesterday I read the December 20th, Streams In The Desert devotional with the subtitle "I am not alone, for my Father is with me (John16:32)". It spoke so personally to me about our current journey and the way we have left our Colorado connections to minister where and how God has directed us. I hope you read the SITD devotional if you have a hard copy, or check it out on the Internet, because it may speak to you as it spoke to me to explain why we are led to follow God's calling on our life or sometimes back off from obeying, because we don't want to "step out of our comfort zone" or take that "leap of faith" required to serve God on HIS terms. The devotional impacted me greatly, because it was so personal. We went to a different church this morning, will be going to a Christmas program this evening at a church we have never attended. In both cases we are going by ourselves, as we have done so many times in the past year. In the world, but not feeling part of it. Alone.........but we are not alone, for Our Father is with us. Thank You, Lord.
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
Thursday, December 18, 2014
December 18, 2014. Madison, GA. Half Full or Half Empty
December in Colorado, shoveling snow and scraping ice off the windshield, or December in Georgia, raking leaves and scraping a thin layer of frost off the windshield. Right now, I'm grateful for the aching arms and the Georgia situation. We are collecting leaves on a 25 acre property, and it could have been collecting leaves on 660+ acres at The Great Passion Play In Arkansas. If it seems bad, things could always be worse. Ron and I are tired from two days of leaf gathering, and there is still some work left for tomorrow to complete the task and have the Source of Light property "lookin' good".
We all bring our life experiences to the mix of personalities here at SLMI and it is interesting to see how they blend into a work force which can face the "opportunities" or "problems" and bring them to resolution. It fascinates me to see God bring the right person for the right task and in the process teach a city boy how to operate farm equipment and do tasks which we were accustomed to hiring someone else to do. And, it really isn't rocket science. Funny that a few weeks ago at church we met a man who is an actual rocket scientist with NASA. God does have a sense of humor.
The work day is winding down. I took off a little early to rest my half empty arms and let my half full fingers get some exercise on this blog. It has been a good day, our efforts here are appreciated and we feel that we are helping to do the work God has ordained for us at this ministry. We're learning that we are where we are for a reason, we are called to minister in a variety of ways and that we need to see challenges as opportunities, each day as a chance to learn something new, meet a new friend or turn over a new leaf, even if there are 25 acres of them.
Sent from my iPad
We all bring our life experiences to the mix of personalities here at SLMI and it is interesting to see how they blend into a work force which can face the "opportunities" or "problems" and bring them to resolution. It fascinates me to see God bring the right person for the right task and in the process teach a city boy how to operate farm equipment and do tasks which we were accustomed to hiring someone else to do. And, it really isn't rocket science. Funny that a few weeks ago at church we met a man who is an actual rocket scientist with NASA. God does have a sense of humor.
The work day is winding down. I took off a little early to rest my half empty arms and let my half full fingers get some exercise on this blog. It has been a good day, our efforts here are appreciated and we feel that we are helping to do the work God has ordained for us at this ministry. We're learning that we are where we are for a reason, we are called to minister in a variety of ways and that we need to see challenges as opportunities, each day as a chance to learn something new, meet a new friend or turn over a new leaf, even if there are 25 acres of them.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, December 15, 2014
December 15, 2014. Madison, GA. Happy Anniversary
One year ago, the Ministry of Miles set out from Fort Collins on what would turn out to be 6,800 miles in a house on wheels, through 12 states and a host of unique and challenging experiences. We had no idea, then, what would lie before us, but we " took the bait" and never imagined that we would be "hooked" by the challenge and still be on the road and loving it. Karen was back in Colorado in mid-summer for 5 weeks and as we have blogged, she was able to accomplish amazing feats while attending to medical appointments and tests. She added a thirteenth State and another 1200+ miles to the year's tally.
We never imagined we would spend over 6 months in Arkansas, be ministering here in Georgia the past 5 weeks, be adopted by a dog named Gus, a cat named Earl and cross-back donkeys in both States, as well as a host of new friends who don't think we talk strange, even if we think they do. We have laughed, and cried, seen people we have just met go to be with The Lord and experienced a wide-range of churches, worship and preaching styles and been able to minister to Veterans, be ministered to by any number of seasoned Christians and young children. It has been a good year, one we would not trade for anything. We have grown in our faith, our love for others and our realization that after 41 years of marriage we still have a ways to go to "get it together", but have a new resolve to keep trying for as long as it takes.
We have made plans to spend time in Jacksonville, FL, at the Navy bases we stayed at earlier this year and after that we are waiting on what God has for us and where He moves the cloud. As of now we hope those plans include a return to the Passion Play. Our friends from there are scattered from central Florida to Georgia to Texas to panhandle Florida to Oklahoma to northeastern Florida to Nevada and possibly other places as well. Some will be back at TGPP while others are making other plans for spring and summer. We all are called to different places and different endeavors and we need to be obedient to that call. But, for the moment.........
Happy 1st Anniversary. Thank You, Lord for letting us travel with You. It's been a JOY.
Sent from my iPad
We never imagined we would spend over 6 months in Arkansas, be ministering here in Georgia the past 5 weeks, be adopted by a dog named Gus, a cat named Earl and cross-back donkeys in both States, as well as a host of new friends who don't think we talk strange, even if we think they do. We have laughed, and cried, seen people we have just met go to be with The Lord and experienced a wide-range of churches, worship and preaching styles and been able to minister to Veterans, be ministered to by any number of seasoned Christians and young children. It has been a good year, one we would not trade for anything. We have grown in our faith, our love for others and our realization that after 41 years of marriage we still have a ways to go to "get it together", but have a new resolve to keep trying for as long as it takes.
We have made plans to spend time in Jacksonville, FL, at the Navy bases we stayed at earlier this year and after that we are waiting on what God has for us and where He moves the cloud. As of now we hope those plans include a return to the Passion Play. Our friends from there are scattered from central Florida to Georgia to Texas to panhandle Florida to Oklahoma to northeastern Florida to Nevada and possibly other places as well. Some will be back at TGPP while others are making other plans for spring and summer. We all are called to different places and different endeavors and we need to be obedient to that call. But, for the moment.........
Happy 1st Anniversary. Thank You, Lord for letting us travel with You. It's been a JOY.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, December 12, 2014
December 12, 2014. Madison, GA. WOW
A group of us here at Source of Light got together yesterday evening to watch two videos, Privileged Planet and Unlocking the Mystery of Life. They are videos which have been around for ten or more years and speak about the vastness of our universe, the complexity of life and the ongoing debate about creationism, intelligent design and evolution. Without getting into too much detail, and so as not to expose my lack of sophistication in such matters, all I can say is that I cannot understand why people have clung to the theories of Charles Darwin when there is so much more that would lead us to cling to God and the Biblical account of creation. Yes, it is a matter of faith and trust to believe the Bible, but it would take even more faith and trust to believe in a theory which defies even the basics of common sense.
The videos were riveting, and it was refreshing to hear a number of scientists present their views on the immensity of our universe and the tiny-ness of the building blocks of our human components and their belief that there had to be an intelligent designer of it all and not just a Big Bang or a cell which divided by itself in a swamp and eventually became a living, breathing being. I don't want to get into a debate with a Harvard professor or a nuclear scientist or any other "advocate" for their point of view, but I'm very comfortable with my belief that there was a grand plan, a grand planner and a purpose intended for it, and all of it begins, continues and ends.......with God. And as we travel, see various natural and man-made wonders, meet people who span the gamut of abilities, talents and potential, all I can say is Wow, what a glorious accumulation of things to boggle the mind and excite the senses. It behooves us all to not get too fixed in our ideas, our sense of having to be right all the time, too rigid in our demands; to have our eyes and ears open to the world around us and do what we can to ease the pain of others, meet the needs where we can and rest in the promises of God and the hope that our best days are still ahead, here.....there.....or in the air.
Sent from my iPad
The videos were riveting, and it was refreshing to hear a number of scientists present their views on the immensity of our universe and the tiny-ness of the building blocks of our human components and their belief that there had to be an intelligent designer of it all and not just a Big Bang or a cell which divided by itself in a swamp and eventually became a living, breathing being. I don't want to get into a debate with a Harvard professor or a nuclear scientist or any other "advocate" for their point of view, but I'm very comfortable with my belief that there was a grand plan, a grand planner and a purpose intended for it, and all of it begins, continues and ends.......with God. And as we travel, see various natural and man-made wonders, meet people who span the gamut of abilities, talents and potential, all I can say is Wow, what a glorious accumulation of things to boggle the mind and excite the senses. It behooves us all to not get too fixed in our ideas, our sense of having to be right all the time, too rigid in our demands; to have our eyes and ears open to the world around us and do what we can to ease the pain of others, meet the needs where we can and rest in the promises of God and the hope that our best days are still ahead, here.....there.....or in the air.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
December 9, 2014. Madison, GA. That'll be extra
A few blogs ago, I wrote something about there not being any free lunches anymore. Everything comes with a cost. Karen and I stopped for a late breakfast on our way back to Madison yesterday. I won't mention the name of the restaurant, so as not to embarrass them or invite the extra expense of an attorney for us.
Here's some of what inspires this blog. When we read the menu, we noticed that the prices seemed a little high for breakfast and there were a number of meals which had a basic price and then had a price for extra items added on. Examples: ham added to any meal-add $5.00; $1.95 extra for "loaded" hash browns; $.30 extra for raisin toast; milk shakes $2.99, but add Oreo cookies and it is $3.49; breakfast special $7.39, add two eggs for an additional $2.10. I know there were other extra's, but these examples will suffice to show the point I'm trying to make.
Life has a basic cost and then there are the extras. Lunch and dinner at the same restaurant may be the same meal, but it costs more at dinner. ??? the window seat costs more than the aisle seat. ??? If you happen to wear an XL or larger size, there is a higher price. ??? A hot dog at a sporting event will probably cost you $6.00 and at the market you can buy a whole package of the same dogs for half that. ??? And what about the difference in gasoline prices from state to state, brand to brand and even station to station in the same town. ??? Enough already. You get the point, and I'm getting aggravated.
Ron, here at Source of Light told us that he has an app on his phone which gives him a rebate on items he buys at a certain store if another store sells that same item for less than he pays. He just scans his receipt and the app does the rest. If I heard him correctly he just found out he saved $.69 on an item he bought yesterday and that will be credited to him on the next item he buys. Or............he could get 2 pieces of raisin toast at the "........." Restaurant for the price of white or wheat and still have $.09 left over. And, the great thing, he didn't have to pay extra for the app. Ain't technology great. I sure hope this blog posts. It would be a shame to lose such profound and life-changing thoughts to the ether. See you in a few days, God willing.
Sent from my iPad
Here's some of what inspires this blog. When we read the menu, we noticed that the prices seemed a little high for breakfast and there were a number of meals which had a basic price and then had a price for extra items added on. Examples: ham added to any meal-add $5.00; $1.95 extra for "loaded" hash browns; $.30 extra for raisin toast; milk shakes $2.99, but add Oreo cookies and it is $3.49; breakfast special $7.39, add two eggs for an additional $2.10. I know there were other extra's, but these examples will suffice to show the point I'm trying to make.
Life has a basic cost and then there are the extras. Lunch and dinner at the same restaurant may be the same meal, but it costs more at dinner. ??? the window seat costs more than the aisle seat. ??? If you happen to wear an XL or larger size, there is a higher price. ??? A hot dog at a sporting event will probably cost you $6.00 and at the market you can buy a whole package of the same dogs for half that. ??? And what about the difference in gasoline prices from state to state, brand to brand and even station to station in the same town. ??? Enough already. You get the point, and I'm getting aggravated.
Ron, here at Source of Light told us that he has an app on his phone which gives him a rebate on items he buys at a certain store if another store sells that same item for less than he pays. He just scans his receipt and the app does the rest. If I heard him correctly he just found out he saved $.69 on an item he bought yesterday and that will be credited to him on the next item he buys. Or............he could get 2 pieces of raisin toast at the "........." Restaurant for the price of white or wheat and still have $.09 left over. And, the great thing, he didn't have to pay extra for the app. Ain't technology great. I sure hope this blog posts. It would be a shame to lose such profound and life-changing thoughts to the ether. See you in a few days, God willing.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, December 6, 2014
December 6, 2014. Hoschton, GA. On vacation
Karen and I enjoy going places we haven't been before. Whenever we travel a new road, go to a new destination or have a unique experience, we say to each other, "we're on vacation". When we left Madison on Thursday, we were soon on vacation, and for about 40 miles we were in that mode. When we reached our friends in Hoschton, we were in familiar territory. Karen and Kathy are reviving an activity they enjoyed in Fort Collins, putting up the Christmas Village. Russ, who had a busy work week is putting up outdoor decorations and I am acting like I'm on vacation, by just reading, eating and blogging and not really volunteering to help, but jumping in when asked to. It's nice to just relax, and I hope everyone will complete their tasks, and be able to just rest and relax with me.
I've been re-reading a book by Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God, and although I read the book when we were in Jacksonville earlier this year, I don' remember absorbing anything it said. It is really speaking to me this time and making me think about Luke 15 and the parables Jesus presents there. I have one chapter to go and am looking forward to finishing it later today or tomorrow. Kind of like being on vacation. I would definitely recommend this short book to everyone.
The last time I did not spend a night in our motor home was when we were here in Hoschton in February. It seems strange to be traveling as we are, be in so many different places, and yet go to sleep in the same bed every night for the past 10 months. It's nice to be here, on vacation, but not on vacation. God has been so good to us. I say it often, and as I wrote a few blogs ago, so thankful for the journey God has set out for us. I never tire of saying, THANK YOU LORD. I never take a vacation from that.
Sent from my iPad
I've been re-reading a book by Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God, and although I read the book when we were in Jacksonville earlier this year, I don' remember absorbing anything it said. It is really speaking to me this time and making me think about Luke 15 and the parables Jesus presents there. I have one chapter to go and am looking forward to finishing it later today or tomorrow. Kind of like being on vacation. I would definitely recommend this short book to everyone.
The last time I did not spend a night in our motor home was when we were here in Hoschton in February. It seems strange to be traveling as we are, be in so many different places, and yet go to sleep in the same bed every night for the past 10 months. It's nice to be here, on vacation, but not on vacation. God has been so good to us. I say it often, and as I wrote a few blogs ago, so thankful for the journey God has set out for us. I never tire of saying, THANK YOU LORD. I never take a vacation from that.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
December 3, 2014. Madison, GA. Happy Birthday
Today is my birthday. I was born on 12-3-45 so there is no excuse for anyone forgetting it, except my law school friend Harv who got the numbers right but spaced them 1-23 so I could always expect a belated greeting from him.
I have had a great day so far with a lot of unusual activities to mark the day. I went to the scrap yard with Brian, in a 1967 (the year I graduated college) Chevy dump truck. Brought back memories of some of the 50's and 60's cars we grew up with. We rigged a Kuboda ZTR mower to tow a leaf rake so we will be able to start picking up the 20+ acres of leaves which are covering the ground. Marvin, a genius machinist in his 80's, who has fabricated a boatload of labor-saving and money-saving "things" here at SLMI oversaw the project, and promptly jumped on the mower to test out his creation. It works, and Ron will have a field day as he mulches and picks up all the leaves he can handle over the next days and weeks. Three of us were sung to at chapel, and Karen gave me some peanut butter-chocolate brownies as a gift. I spoke with my friend Saxton from Fort Collins and my brother sent an email and a "looking forward" to our Jacksonville visit in mid-January. The weather was perfect for the morning's inside duties and being outdoors in the afternoon. It was a good day and a Happy Birthday and Earl even came by to visit.
Tomorrow we will take the car and head off for a weekend in Hoschton, GA to visit Russ, Kathy and Emily, our friends from Fort Collins who moved to Georgia a few years ago. We visited them earlier this year and it will be good to see them again. We have a back-roads route planned so we can see some of the scenery and small towns between here and there.
Yes, it was a good day and a good birthday and we are glad we could spend it in service to The Lord and His ministry here and be part of its impact around the world. Thank You, Lord for correcting our hotspot issue from the last blog without having to do anything more than restart the I-Pad and hotspot Monday morning, for watching over us as we seek to do what You have called us to do with the people You have put in our life. We are blessed and grateful.
Sent from my iPad
I have had a great day so far with a lot of unusual activities to mark the day. I went to the scrap yard with Brian, in a 1967 (the year I graduated college) Chevy dump truck. Brought back memories of some of the 50's and 60's cars we grew up with. We rigged a Kuboda ZTR mower to tow a leaf rake so we will be able to start picking up the 20+ acres of leaves which are covering the ground. Marvin, a genius machinist in his 80's, who has fabricated a boatload of labor-saving and money-saving "things" here at SLMI oversaw the project, and promptly jumped on the mower to test out his creation. It works, and Ron will have a field day as he mulches and picks up all the leaves he can handle over the next days and weeks. Three of us were sung to at chapel, and Karen gave me some peanut butter-chocolate brownies as a gift. I spoke with my friend Saxton from Fort Collins and my brother sent an email and a "looking forward" to our Jacksonville visit in mid-January. The weather was perfect for the morning's inside duties and being outdoors in the afternoon. It was a good day and a Happy Birthday and Earl even came by to visit.
Tomorrow we will take the car and head off for a weekend in Hoschton, GA to visit Russ, Kathy and Emily, our friends from Fort Collins who moved to Georgia a few years ago. We visited them earlier this year and it will be good to see them again. We have a back-roads route planned so we can see some of the scenery and small towns between here and there.
Yes, it was a good day and a good birthday and we are glad we could spend it in service to The Lord and His ministry here and be part of its impact around the world. Thank You, Lord for correcting our hotspot issue from the last blog without having to do anything more than restart the I-Pad and hotspot Monday morning, for watching over us as we seek to do what You have called us to do with the people You have put in our life. We are blessed and grateful.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, November 30, 2014
The blog for today failed to send from our I-Pad
My technical prowess, or lack thereof, finally caught up with me and the blog I prepared is stuck in the I-Pad Outbox, to be delivered at a later date. (The hotspot isn't so hot at the moment). For now we will send a picture of Earl (our house guest the past week) and me for your enjoyment. The blog was a serious one, so maybe it wasn't ready to be posted yet.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone
November 30, 2014. Madison, GA. Live each day........
In Vietnam I learned a lot about what was a topic for lighthearted kidding, and what was not. One of our men was about to leave the unit by helicopter and as he was preparing, a number of those remaining kidded about what each would like of his personal belongings, if he didn't come back. I don't remember if I was in on the "dibs" discussion, but I know for a fact, I have never been part of one since, because he didn't come back to our unit, but was med-evac'ed to Japan and then back to The States because of an injury he received while boarding the chopper. One never knows.......
Last week, here at Source of Light, Bob was off to Augusta for surgery and Wanda, his wife was accompanying him. The surgery went well, but Wanda began to have problems, was taken to the Emergency Room Friday night and died Saturday morning. When we heard the news yesterday we were shocked, to say the least, and thought back to seeing her and being with her before they went to Augusta. Who could have imagined such a scenario. One never knows......
Many of the people we work with here at SLMI are in their late 70' and 80's. Most have been in the mission field or ministry of some kind for most of their life and are here to help missionaries still in the field or assist in the other discipling activities which we support. In the three weeks we have been here, two people on staff have passed away, the prayer list is replete with upcoming procedures, surgeries, health issues of various kinds as well as those for family members and friends.
As we partook of Communion this morning at church, the meditation message was to take seriously the reason Jesus commanded us to "eat His body, and drink His blood" as His words are recorded in John 6: 35, 48-59, and to treat each communion as if we might die before we have the chance to partake of it again. My brothers and sisters, live each day as if it might be our last. Only God knows. Our eternity is in the balance.
Sent from my iPad
Last week, here at Source of Light, Bob was off to Augusta for surgery and Wanda, his wife was accompanying him. The surgery went well, but Wanda began to have problems, was taken to the Emergency Room Friday night and died Saturday morning. When we heard the news yesterday we were shocked, to say the least, and thought back to seeing her and being with her before they went to Augusta. Who could have imagined such a scenario. One never knows......
Many of the people we work with here at SLMI are in their late 70' and 80's. Most have been in the mission field or ministry of some kind for most of their life and are here to help missionaries still in the field or assist in the other discipling activities which we support. In the three weeks we have been here, two people on staff have passed away, the prayer list is replete with upcoming procedures, surgeries, health issues of various kinds as well as those for family members and friends.
As we partook of Communion this morning at church, the meditation message was to take seriously the reason Jesus commanded us to "eat His body, and drink His blood" as His words are recorded in John 6: 35, 48-59, and to treat each communion as if we might die before we have the chance to partake of it again. My brothers and sisters, live each day as if it might be our last. Only God knows. Our eternity is in the balance.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, November 27, 2014
November 27, 2014. Madison, GA. Thanks
Every morning I start my day with quiet time, devotional readings, Scripture and writing my thoughts and prayers in a journal. I've started every day in this routine since I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior on June 27, 1999, with the journaling beginning in 2003. I am in my ninth notebook journal and while I do not have all the journals with us in the motor home, the entry for each day for the two I have with us, going back to July 21, 2013, with the exception of two entries, begins with the words "Thank You, Lord......" The two exceptions begin, "Lord, Thank You" and "Thank You....." My first written words each day for at least the past 16 months and, I would hope well before that, have been words of thanks.
And, why should I not begin every day being thankful for the life I have In Christ? How could I not be grateful for all that Jesus did for us and all He has blessed us with? While today is the official Thanksgiving Day as mandated by our government, it is interesting to note that most of proclamations establishing or solemnizing this holiday make reference to God or to some other title for our Heavenly Father. And yet, like many practices and traditions in our current culture, God has been taken out of the picture and in more and more ways, there are some who would have God removed from every element of our daily life.
But, it is vital that we as Christians, in our words and our deeds, do everything we can to reverse this trend and make God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit not only a part of our life of thanks, but THE foundation of our life of thanks. And in that vein, I boldly and emphatically say today and every day, THANK YOU, LORD.
Sent from my iPad
And, why should I not begin every day being thankful for the life I have In Christ? How could I not be grateful for all that Jesus did for us and all He has blessed us with? While today is the official Thanksgiving Day as mandated by our government, it is interesting to note that most of proclamations establishing or solemnizing this holiday make reference to God or to some other title for our Heavenly Father. And yet, like many practices and traditions in our current culture, God has been taken out of the picture and in more and more ways, there are some who would have God removed from every element of our daily life.
But, it is vital that we as Christians, in our words and our deeds, do everything we can to reverse this trend and make God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit not only a part of our life of thanks, but THE foundation of our life of thanks. And in that vein, I boldly and emphatically say today and every day, THANK YOU, LORD.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, November 24, 2014
November 24, 2014. Madison, GA. What a difference a day makes
I think we experienced all four seasons in the past week. While western New York was being hammered with Lake Effect snows of record proportions, we were trying to adapt to a wide range of morning temperatures, from 22 to 54, wind, a full day of rain culminating last evening with a tornado warning, the sirens sounding, and a call to gather in the Source of Light "storm shelter". A tornado was sighted about 15 miles to the west (near the church we attended yesterday morning), and as suddenly as it appeared it disappeared and we were free to return to our houses. This morning we woke up to 54 degrees, fog, and a current temperature of 77.
I've written often about the wide variety of weather we have encountered in our travels and also the storms we have experienced over the years and how they have affected us emotionally, financially and spiritually. We know how little control we have over the daily weather, violent storms and extreme conditions. With the increasing availability of information at our disposal, we are doing what we can to plan around potential dangers, be prepared for the wide swings in temperature, possible rising waters in certain areas and praying for protection and direction where to go and not go. Right now, I'm enjoying the pleasant weather, last night we met a few more people from SLM, heard a little more about the weather history of the area, and trusted that we were being protected and watched over. Again, we are grateful for where we are, what we are doing, and for the freedom we have to live as we do and serve where called. As we start this Thanksgiving week we are sincerely thankful. We anticipate the seasons changing again this week, but we will face what comes in the assurance that God is with us and He is in control.
Sent from my iPad
I've written often about the wide variety of weather we have encountered in our travels and also the storms we have experienced over the years and how they have affected us emotionally, financially and spiritually. We know how little control we have over the daily weather, violent storms and extreme conditions. With the increasing availability of information at our disposal, we are doing what we can to plan around potential dangers, be prepared for the wide swings in temperature, possible rising waters in certain areas and praying for protection and direction where to go and not go. Right now, I'm enjoying the pleasant weather, last night we met a few more people from SLM, heard a little more about the weather history of the area, and trusted that we were being protected and watched over. Again, we are grateful for where we are, what we are doing, and for the freedom we have to live as we do and serve where called. As we start this Thanksgiving week we are sincerely thankful. We anticipate the seasons changing again this week, but we will face what comes in the assurance that God is with us and He is in control.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, November 21, 2014
November 21, 2014. Madison, GA. Popcorn's Revenge
Last Saturday while eating a piece of Mike and Ike candy, my First Upper Left molar (tooth number 14) decided it was time to crack and break. Fortunately there was no pain involved and after a few inquiries here at Source of Light we were referred to a dentist in Madison. As I sat in the "chair" Monday afternoon, I was asked two questions about my eating habits: do I chew ice and do I eat popcorn? Yes and yes. The Great Passion Play lives and breathes popcorn. The whole six months we were there was saturated with popcorn during the day and before every evening performance. I'm convinced that a few "old maids" impacted that tooth and led eventually to its demise and the present hefty repair bill. In Christianity we talk a lot about crowns, but we're not referring to the expensive ones which go into our mouth.
Things break. People with talent to fix broken things are a blessing to those of us with broken things, and where things can't be fixed there are people who will sell us new things. All of this comes at a price and in my case it will be more care in what I eat and how I eat it. Many of my favorite foods are hard and while I enjoy ice cream and milk shakes, I'm not going to forsake some of the hard foods I like and go on a full liquid diet. Right now I'm sucking on an ice cube, not chewing it, and in a while we will be eating steaks to celebrate Hugh and LaVon's 27th, or is it 28th, anniversary. No popcorn now, but when we go back to Eureka Springs and TGPP next year, there will be a decision I'll have to make about if, and how much of it I partake. As for Mike and Ike, I think I've eaten my last one. The rest of the box went into the trash.
There's an old expression about "no such thing as a free lunch", there is always a price to pay. Right now I understand that expression full well, but thankful that all is well and that God provided the person to fix the problem and provides the resources to pay for it. "Crown Him with many crowns.......and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity......,". Thank You. Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Things break. People with talent to fix broken things are a blessing to those of us with broken things, and where things can't be fixed there are people who will sell us new things. All of this comes at a price and in my case it will be more care in what I eat and how I eat it. Many of my favorite foods are hard and while I enjoy ice cream and milk shakes, I'm not going to forsake some of the hard foods I like and go on a full liquid diet. Right now I'm sucking on an ice cube, not chewing it, and in a while we will be eating steaks to celebrate Hugh and LaVon's 27th, or is it 28th, anniversary. No popcorn now, but when we go back to Eureka Springs and TGPP next year, there will be a decision I'll have to make about if, and how much of it I partake. As for Mike and Ike, I think I've eaten my last one. The rest of the box went into the trash.
There's an old expression about "no such thing as a free lunch", there is always a price to pay. Right now I understand that expression full well, but thankful that all is well and that God provided the person to fix the problem and provides the resources to pay for it. "Crown Him with many crowns.......and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity......,". Thank You. Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
November 18, 2014. Madison, GA. Martha and Mary
Scripture has a number of references to the sisters Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus. But the one which grabs me from time to time is the incident where Martha is busily working while Mary is sitting at His feet listening to Him and worshiping Him, leaving all the work to Martha. Martha goes to Jesus asking Him to tell Mary to pitch in and help with the preparations, but Jesus tells Martha that Mary is actually doing a better thing and that Martha should not be so critical of her sister.
Sometimes we fall into the routine of serving, volunteering for every task, worrying about not getting the job done or just plain overdoing it, burning out from too much "religious" activity and being critical of others who may be less involved or not pulling their own weight in ministry. Yes, we are called to serve God and help those whose burden may be too heavy for them, but we are also called to take time to be with The Lord, to worship Him, exalt Him and listen at His feet when He speaks to us. There is a balance to our spiritual life which should develop as we mature in our faith, get more involved in being fed rather than always preparing the meal for others to eat.
Karen and I have "Martha'ed" a great deal in our spiritual journey. Our time at The Great Passion Play was much the same. It was a good experience and one we anticipate returning to in the Spring. Here at Source of Light, we are trying to find our "work"niche, but we have access to a great deal of literature which is distributed to missionaries, prison ministries and other areas where disciples are called to disciple others. I pray that with these resources available, we will both take the time to "Mary" more and "Martha" less, to be fed more and grow in our relationship with Jesus, to not just know more about Him, but to know Him more intimately. Of course we will continue to serve, but when Jesus calls us to sit, wait and listen, which may be the reason He brought us here, I hope we will be obedient to that call, and sit reverently at The Master's feet.
Sent from my iPad
Sometimes we fall into the routine of serving, volunteering for every task, worrying about not getting the job done or just plain overdoing it, burning out from too much "religious" activity and being critical of others who may be less involved or not pulling their own weight in ministry. Yes, we are called to serve God and help those whose burden may be too heavy for them, but we are also called to take time to be with The Lord, to worship Him, exalt Him and listen at His feet when He speaks to us. There is a balance to our spiritual life which should develop as we mature in our faith, get more involved in being fed rather than always preparing the meal for others to eat.
Karen and I have "Martha'ed" a great deal in our spiritual journey. Our time at The Great Passion Play was much the same. It was a good experience and one we anticipate returning to in the Spring. Here at Source of Light, we are trying to find our "work"niche, but we have access to a great deal of literature which is distributed to missionaries, prison ministries and other areas where disciples are called to disciple others. I pray that with these resources available, we will both take the time to "Mary" more and "Martha" less, to be fed more and grow in our relationship with Jesus, to not just know more about Him, but to know Him more intimately. Of course we will continue to serve, but when Jesus calls us to sit, wait and listen, which may be the reason He brought us here, I hope we will be obedient to that call, and sit reverently at The Master's feet.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, November 15, 2014
November 15, 2014. Madison, GA. It's never too late
Years ago I was part of a drama team at our church in Fort Collins, CO. One of the skits we performed was about two older people in a rehab facility who had different attitudes about their usefulness in the world. Susie played a former teacher who was in a wheelchair and felt useless because she was "confined" in the chair and could only look ahead to her release from the chair when she could be useful again. I played a wisecracking, wheelchair-bound, ex-farmer who had physical ailments, but still was helping young people, who visited the facility, with their schoolwork. The two characters had a lively discussion about being useful even when physical or health limitations seemed to indicate that it might be time to "curse God and die".
Karen and I have been involved in Christian volunteer ministry for the past fifteen years and before that were active in community service with a number of organizations. We have always known people who have reached out to help others in their time of need by giving their time, resources or experience to assist others. For some it has been their profession, for others a volunteer activity after their work day is done. But during the past year on the road it is becoming even more evident to us that there are people who in their "retirement" are still finding ways to be of use to others and in the process are adding richness and blessing to their "golden years". For some, it is done to earn money to sustain them, for others a way to fill their life and sustain others.
Everyone has talents which can benefit others and for some of us less skilled, it's refreshing to know that "old dogs (dawgs in Georgia) can learn new tricks". Source of Light Ministries has a host of "retired" missionaries who are continuing to minister in their 70's and '80's and while they, and we, may be a step slower, are still moving and being useful in the world and in God's Kingdom. Keep pressing in to God, and pressing on with the work He has for us. We can all use the skills we have or learn new ones. There is still much to be done in a world which is in great need of what God promises and offers to those who are obedient to His call.
Sent from my iPad
Karen and I have been involved in Christian volunteer ministry for the past fifteen years and before that were active in community service with a number of organizations. We have always known people who have reached out to help others in their time of need by giving their time, resources or experience to assist others. For some it has been their profession, for others a volunteer activity after their work day is done. But during the past year on the road it is becoming even more evident to us that there are people who in their "retirement" are still finding ways to be of use to others and in the process are adding richness and blessing to their "golden years". For some, it is done to earn money to sustain them, for others a way to fill their life and sustain others.
Everyone has talents which can benefit others and for some of us less skilled, it's refreshing to know that "old dogs (dawgs in Georgia) can learn new tricks". Source of Light Ministries has a host of "retired" missionaries who are continuing to minister in their 70's and '80's and while they, and we, may be a step slower, are still moving and being useful in the world and in God's Kingdom. Keep pressing in to God, and pressing on with the work He has for us. We can all use the skills we have or learn new ones. There is still much to be done in a world which is in great need of what God promises and offers to those who are obedient to His call.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
November 12, 2014. Madison, Georgia. Home is where the coach is
We're in Georgia, y'all, and settled in at Source of Light Ministries International (www.sourcelight.org), just south of Madison, GA. If you've followed us on the road the past eleven months you know that we have really taken to the road-life and feel extremely blessed with the places God has sent us and the opportunities He has put in our path. We arrived here mid-day Monday and have been welcomed and found many things to keep us busy and involved already.
We settled in next to our Passion Play friends, Hugh and LaVon who arrived a week ago Monday and reunited with our good buddy, Earl the cat, who also was glad to see us. Watching the weather back in Colorado, we are sorry winter came so suddenly there, but we are glad to be here and have some fall-like weather at least for a few more days. We have met a few different critters already, including a raccoon fire ants and termites and were warned about the venomous snakes and poison ivy. But we feel at home already and there is a peace here which makes us feel we are in the right place, for now. We attended our first chapel this morning and I have met for prayer the past two mornings with the men in Operations. Karen has started working with the women in Accounting and likes what she has been doing. It feels like we have been here longer than two days. It just feels comfortable, and while we don't know much about the work of SLMI, we know that where we are is where we are supposed to be. We see God at work here and in the 30+ nations they are located in around the world. For now our coach has brought us here and this is home. For how long? ............... God knows............the cloud has settled over us in Madison, GA. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
We settled in next to our Passion Play friends, Hugh and LaVon who arrived a week ago Monday and reunited with our good buddy, Earl the cat, who also was glad to see us. Watching the weather back in Colorado, we are sorry winter came so suddenly there, but we are glad to be here and have some fall-like weather at least for a few more days. We have met a few different critters already, including a raccoon fire ants and termites and were warned about the venomous snakes and poison ivy. But we feel at home already and there is a peace here which makes us feel we are in the right place, for now. We attended our first chapel this morning and I have met for prayer the past two mornings with the men in Operations. Karen has started working with the women in Accounting and likes what she has been doing. It feels like we have been here longer than two days. It just feels comfortable, and while we don't know much about the work of SLMI, we know that where we are is where we are supposed to be. We see God at work here and in the 30+ nations they are located in around the world. For now our coach has brought us here and this is home. For how long? ............... God knows............the cloud has settled over us in Madison, GA. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, November 9, 2014
November 9, 2014. Fulton, Mississippi. On The Road Again
From April 11 until yesterday, two days shy of seven months, our motor home was a resident of Arkansas. It did have a few days in Branson, MO with our friends Larry and Kari, but other than that it was a Razorback and was a big contributor to the Arkansas economy. In two visits to Searcy it had nearly all it's windows defogged and a window leak "almost" fixed, in Mountain View it had six new tires and other repairs "almost" done, in Rogers it had a tow package installed, an inverter repaired and other repairs "almost" accomplished. The nature of RV repairs, we are learning, is that there is always something to be fixed and it usually takes a few times to get it fixed "right" and it always costs a lot.
But Arkansas was great. We had a super time, met wonderful people wherever we stopped and have made some friends we will have for a long time. The Passion Play experience was an experience and one we hope to do again next year. For now we are "in transit" and have to relearn all the duties of Karen keeping us between the lines and me juggling the travel plans, the nightly places to stay, Gas Buddy, weight and height issues and guiding Karen in and out of places where motor homes (now with car-in-tow) can and cannot go. Our first night away from Eureka Springs we were in a Hobby Lobby parking lot in Jonesboro, AR and now we are in a Corps of Engineers Campground a few feet from the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Fulton, MS. God provides and we are grateful. It's good to see diesel prices under $3.20 where they were getting close to $4.00 earlier in the year. God is Good and we are so blessed to be living as we are with a freedom we have always had, but appreciate so much more now. Our time is God's time and we feel no pressure to be "on time" as we were for so many years of our life. Yes, we still have worldly responsibilities, but we relish the slower pace, the back roads and the chance to serve God and serve others as He calls us. Yesterday we were pretty much on fast roads because there were few options, but today we plan to go rural, avoid Birmingham and Atlanta and see some small towns and slower roads as we make our way to Madison, GA. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
But Arkansas was great. We had a super time, met wonderful people wherever we stopped and have made some friends we will have for a long time. The Passion Play experience was an experience and one we hope to do again next year. For now we are "in transit" and have to relearn all the duties of Karen keeping us between the lines and me juggling the travel plans, the nightly places to stay, Gas Buddy, weight and height issues and guiding Karen in and out of places where motor homes (now with car-in-tow) can and cannot go. Our first night away from Eureka Springs we were in a Hobby Lobby parking lot in Jonesboro, AR and now we are in a Corps of Engineers Campground a few feet from the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Fulton, MS. God provides and we are grateful. It's good to see diesel prices under $3.20 where they were getting close to $4.00 earlier in the year. God is Good and we are so blessed to be living as we are with a freedom we have always had, but appreciate so much more now. Our time is God's time and we feel no pressure to be "on time" as we were for so many years of our life. Yes, we still have worldly responsibilities, but we relish the slower pace, the back roads and the chance to serve God and serve others as He calls us. Yesterday we were pretty much on fast roads because there were few options, but today we plan to go rural, avoid Birmingham and Atlanta and see some small towns and slower roads as we make our way to Madison, GA. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, November 6, 2014
November 6, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR.
Our "forty days" on Magnetic Mountain lasted nearly six and a half months. Today we get ready for our 800 mile journey to Madison, Georgia and Source of Light Ministries. Hugh and LaVon have been there since Monday and are enthused about the opportunity and the.work to be done there. We're sad to leave The Great Passion Play, but we feel that we can return in April, God willing, and take up the cup again and do our part in revitalizing and advancing this ministry. We're glad we had this experience and thank God for opening the door and allowing us to walk through it. I hope our blog conveyed some of the joy, peace and contentment we felt here and, more importantly, the presence of God in this place and His heart for those who are joining Him here. Pray for TGPP and God's continuing favor on it.
Tomorrow we will fire up the diesel and head east. Thank you for following our adventure. Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement. And......Thank You, Lord. Your Will be done, Your Kingdom come.
Sent from my iPad
Tomorrow we will fire up the diesel and head east. Thank you for following our adventure. Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement. And......Thank You, Lord. Your Will be done, Your Kingdom come.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, November 3, 2014
November 3, 2014. Still in Eureka Springs, AR. God Is Still On His Throne
I just took a few seconds to calculate that I have lived more than 2.1 billion seconds. I never thought I would be a Billionaire, but I am, and it is amazing to think that as our world population increases to over 7.2 billion how many seconds that population has to use each second that passes. It's hard to imagine how vast the world we live in is and how it all holds together in some degree of order and regularity. Do you doubt that there is someone who has a handle on what has taken place from The Beginning, is in control of what is happening Now, and who has the future set out for each of us? Is there any question that that someone is God?
As time passes, as we move into November of 2014, as our personal plans seem to be less certain and our days become more flexible and spontaneous, it is becoming more clear to me that we are trying to rush into tomorrow without really living today. I just read an article about "hurry sickness" and how we are trying to do too much, keep up with technological change and failing to find time to relax and rest, and are making ourself physically and emotionally sick in the process. While the article was not written by a Christian, it is obvious that many are rushing through their spiritual life without finding the internal peace which faith in Jesus offers us if we just realize and accept that God is in control, He is still on His Throne and we can avoid a lot of grief and anxiety by resting in Him and allowing Him to set the pace and direction of our day and our life.
I have been fighting a cold, cough and a general feeling of the blahs the past few weeks. I have not been the most pleasant person to be around, and while I can't retrieve the seconds I lost, I can resolve to start afresh, to enjoy the sun which just rose above the trees in front of us, and rest in the reality that time is moving on, the world situation is out of my control and above all........be still......and know........God is Still On His Throne.........all is well.
Sent from my iPad
As time passes, as we move into November of 2014, as our personal plans seem to be less certain and our days become more flexible and spontaneous, it is becoming more clear to me that we are trying to rush into tomorrow without really living today. I just read an article about "hurry sickness" and how we are trying to do too much, keep up with technological change and failing to find time to relax and rest, and are making ourself physically and emotionally sick in the process. While the article was not written by a Christian, it is obvious that many are rushing through their spiritual life without finding the internal peace which faith in Jesus offers us if we just realize and accept that God is in control, He is still on His Throne and we can avoid a lot of grief and anxiety by resting in Him and allowing Him to set the pace and direction of our day and our life.
I have been fighting a cold, cough and a general feeling of the blahs the past few weeks. I have not been the most pleasant person to be around, and while I can't retrieve the seconds I lost, I can resolve to start afresh, to enjoy the sun which just rose above the trees in front of us, and rest in the reality that time is moving on, the world situation is out of my control and above all........be still......and know........God is Still On His Throne.........all is well.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, October 31, 2014
October 31, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR.
Tonight it is going to get into the 20's on the top of Magnetic Mountain and tomorrow we will turn the clocks back an hour and have one less hour of sunlight at the end of each day. Hard to believe how fast this year has gone by, how much we have experienced since we left Colorado last December to follow a path which has had many surprises and adventures. The Passion Play is almost closed for the 2014 season, with only a few more tasks needed to winterize the buildings and prepare the grounds for six months relative inactivity except for all the 2015 season planning to be done by a relatively small group of people.
I hate to look too far into the future and miss what is going on in the moment, but if, God willing, we are to be back here for 2015, it can't come soon enough. We haven't left yet, but we miss it already. Tomorrow evening will be the Donor Dinner and many of the people we worked with for the past six months will be there to celebrate what went on here and look forward to what God has in store for the upcoming season. Right now I'm doing our laundry in Cast Room 1 where I spent 77 evenings this year as a member of the cast. It's quiet, but there are many memories in this room and on this set, which I will take with me as we head out of Eureka Springs next week. Only God knows what the future holds for us, and we eagerly look forward and upward for His direction.
I pray for The Great Passion Play, for the staff, volunteers, visitors and all those who touched this place and those who were touched by it. I ask you who are following our wanderings and our ministry to pray for the future of this place. I've said it many times and written about it, that this area needs TGPP and it's message and it needs to reach an even wider audience with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Now, more than ever, there is an urgency to His message for a world desperately in need of it. We all bear the responsibility of being disciples and making disciples that all may hear the message and have the opportunity to receive and accept it. Press in, and press on.
Sent from my iPad
I hate to look too far into the future and miss what is going on in the moment, but if, God willing, we are to be back here for 2015, it can't come soon enough. We haven't left yet, but we miss it already. Tomorrow evening will be the Donor Dinner and many of the people we worked with for the past six months will be there to celebrate what went on here and look forward to what God has in store for the upcoming season. Right now I'm doing our laundry in Cast Room 1 where I spent 77 evenings this year as a member of the cast. It's quiet, but there are many memories in this room and on this set, which I will take with me as we head out of Eureka Springs next week. Only God knows what the future holds for us, and we eagerly look forward and upward for His direction.
I pray for The Great Passion Play, for the staff, volunteers, visitors and all those who touched this place and those who were touched by it. I ask you who are following our wanderings and our ministry to pray for the future of this place. I've said it many times and written about it, that this area needs TGPP and it's message and it needs to reach an even wider audience with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Now, more than ever, there is an urgency to His message for a world desperately in need of it. We all bear the responsibility of being disciples and making disciples that all may hear the message and have the opportunity to receive and accept it. Press in, and press on.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
October 28, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. It is Finished.......not really
The Play ended its 2014 season Saturday night, but the work goes on. The Great Passion Play is so much more than a Play, and with so many "departments" there are literally hundreds of tasks to be accomplished before we can truly say our job here is finished. One body, but many parts.....something scriptural about that. Some people have already moved on to other locations, jobs, ministries or just a much-needed rest, but for those of us "left behind" the work will go on for days.
Some of the tasks: inventory, winterizing buildings and vehicles, relocating animals for breeding, sale, return to owners, costume cleaning and repair, securing the set and storing props, accommodating visitors who want to see what they didn't get to see because they got here a few days too late, storing plants for the winter, setting up Christmas displays, making plans for next season, shutting down remote restrooms and water systems, getting ready for the Donor Dinner this Saturday, moving vehicles to protected locations at the shop, making plans to repair and paint The Christ of The Ozarks statue.........and.........and.........
Our friends Hugh and LaVon left today and will be heading to our next ministry opportunity in Madison, Georgia. We'll be leaving here in a week to join them there and if that is where God wants us we'll be there for.........and then off to Jacksonville, FL and a return visit with Phil and Sharon from mid-January to mid-February. We've reserved space at NAS Jax but hope to be able to revisit Mayport and King's Bay where we "wintered" earlier this year and met some wonderful people. With a car in tow this year, we'll be more flexible and able to explore those areas a little more. We find it hard to believe how fast the time is passing and we sometimes bemoan what we have missed, rather than be joyful that there is something far better in our future and we will soon be able to say "it is finished", but .........not really, it will only be the start. We really do serve an awesome God.
Sent from my iPad
Some of the tasks: inventory, winterizing buildings and vehicles, relocating animals for breeding, sale, return to owners, costume cleaning and repair, securing the set and storing props, accommodating visitors who want to see what they didn't get to see because they got here a few days too late, storing plants for the winter, setting up Christmas displays, making plans for next season, shutting down remote restrooms and water systems, getting ready for the Donor Dinner this Saturday, moving vehicles to protected locations at the shop, making plans to repair and paint The Christ of The Ozarks statue.........and.........and.........
Our friends Hugh and LaVon left today and will be heading to our next ministry opportunity in Madison, Georgia. We'll be leaving here in a week to join them there and if that is where God wants us we'll be there for.........and then off to Jacksonville, FL and a return visit with Phil and Sharon from mid-January to mid-February. We've reserved space at NAS Jax but hope to be able to revisit Mayport and King's Bay where we "wintered" earlier this year and met some wonderful people. With a car in tow this year, we'll be more flexible and able to explore those areas a little more. We find it hard to believe how fast the time is passing and we sometimes bemoan what we have missed, rather than be joyful that there is something far better in our future and we will soon be able to say "it is finished", but .........not really, it will only be the start. We really do serve an awesome God.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, October 25, 2014
October 25, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. One More Time
We will finish The 2014 Great Passion Play season in a little over five hours with our 84th performance. Right now, at 4pm, it is 82 degrees and no chance of rain or inclement weather for the evening. There have been no weather cancellations this season and only once did we have to "evacuate" the Holy Land for an hour due to lightening in the area. It has been a good six months at TGPP and we are making plans to return next Spring for the 47th season of the Play.
It will be bitter-sweet to walk over the hill with Jesus and the other disciples for the final performance, but it has been a wonderful experience and we have not regretted the six months we have been in Arkansas. We're glad someone at the sub base at King's Bay, GA mentioned that the Passion Play needed volunteers and was offering free RV space in return for 30 hours a week of volunteer service. We have made some wonderful friends, learned new skills and been blessed by the whole experience, the public relations aspects of this ministry and met many vets that we could minister to and encourage. God gave us a home away from home in a movable home, and a ministry within a ministry. As we have been blessed, so we have sought to bless others. God is Good.
Tomorrow we begin the winterizing of the facility and sometime around November 3, or so, we will begin the trek to Madison, GA and our next volunteer adventure. When the cloud says move, we will move and know that we are serving an awesome, gracious God who continues to provide, protect, love us and assure us that the best is yet to come. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
It will be bitter-sweet to walk over the hill with Jesus and the other disciples for the final performance, but it has been a wonderful experience and we have not regretted the six months we have been in Arkansas. We're glad someone at the sub base at King's Bay, GA mentioned that the Passion Play needed volunteers and was offering free RV space in return for 30 hours a week of volunteer service. We have made some wonderful friends, learned new skills and been blessed by the whole experience, the public relations aspects of this ministry and met many vets that we could minister to and encourage. God gave us a home away from home in a movable home, and a ministry within a ministry. As we have been blessed, so we have sought to bless others. God is Good.
Tomorrow we begin the winterizing of the facility and sometime around November 3, or so, we will begin the trek to Madison, GA and our next volunteer adventure. When the cloud says move, we will move and know that we are serving an awesome, gracious God who continues to provide, protect, love us and assure us that the best is yet to come. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
October 22, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. More Like Jesus
The Church in America is fractured and in need of more than duct tape to put it back together. As we travel the country and visit various churches and get involved with different ministries and Christian organizations, we are "impressed" by the fact that Christians are anything but unified in their views, goals and understanding of what Jesus paid such a high price for. A while back, I found a piece of paper during my constant attempt to rid the Passion Play grounds of things people throw on the ground instead of into a trash receptacle. The paper read, "DO EVERYTHING IN THE AWARENESS THAT YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, AND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEONE IS MAKING LIFELONG DECISIONS SIMPLY BY WATCHING YOU".
It's humbling to think that when we call ourselves Christians we are putting a target on our back and that what we do, how we speak, what we look like, where we spend our money and our time, and EVERYTHING about our life is done in plain view of EVERYONE, including God, and we can have a tremendous impact and influence on our salvation and theirs. As we go about our day, interact with others and try to be Christlike, it behooves each of us to continually evaluate our life and what others see when they look at us and watch us do life. Our time at the Passion Play has been enlightening. We have been in the entertainment business, served thousands in various ways, ministered and been ministered to. We have seen people who were happy, grateful, polite, considerate, compassionate, contrite and humble but we have also seen people who were angry, critical, impolite, rude, insulting and downright nasty. And all of them professed to be Christians. Some of our own staff and volunteers, including me, had moments when we fell into the second category of people and have needed to step back and reconsider what we are doing here and what our role is in God's grand plan.
It's been a long season, one fraught with a wide range of experiences and emotions. Our eyes have been opened, again, to the difficulties inherent in such a ministry, various leadership styles, "old-timers" and "newbies", ownership issues and personality conflicts. But through it all we have learned that we came here because God called us to be here, our loyalty is first and foremost to follow Jesus, be Spirit-led and to ultimately to be more like Jesus in words, thoughts and deeds. Help all of us Lord to be part of the super gluing, not just the duct taping, of Your Church and Your Kingdom on earth. Help us to finish strong, and look forward with JOY to where You call us next.
Sent from my iPad
It's humbling to think that when we call ourselves Christians we are putting a target on our back and that what we do, how we speak, what we look like, where we spend our money and our time, and EVERYTHING about our life is done in plain view of EVERYONE, including God, and we can have a tremendous impact and influence on our salvation and theirs. As we go about our day, interact with others and try to be Christlike, it behooves each of us to continually evaluate our life and what others see when they look at us and watch us do life. Our time at the Passion Play has been enlightening. We have been in the entertainment business, served thousands in various ways, ministered and been ministered to. We have seen people who were happy, grateful, polite, considerate, compassionate, contrite and humble but we have also seen people who were angry, critical, impolite, rude, insulting and downright nasty. And all of them professed to be Christians. Some of our own staff and volunteers, including me, had moments when we fell into the second category of people and have needed to step back and reconsider what we are doing here and what our role is in God's grand plan.
It's been a long season, one fraught with a wide range of experiences and emotions. Our eyes have been opened, again, to the difficulties inherent in such a ministry, various leadership styles, "old-timers" and "newbies", ownership issues and personality conflicts. But through it all we have learned that we came here because God called us to be here, our loyalty is first and foremost to follow Jesus, be Spirit-led and to ultimately to be more like Jesus in words, thoughts and deeds. Help all of us Lord to be part of the super gluing, not just the duct taping, of Your Church and Your Kingdom on earth. Help us to finish strong, and look forward with JOY to where You call us next.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, October 19, 2014
October 19, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Elvis, and.......
I grew up in the Rock and Roll era of the '50's and '60's, but was never an Elvis fan. In 1995, on one of our long road trips we visited Graceland in Memphis and I gained a different appreciation of Elvis' life, his music (particularly his Gospel music), and his philanthropic activities for friends and strangers alike.
This past week, there have been several "Elvis sightings" is my life and I'm not sure exactly why. Last Sunday we heard the testimony of one of our fellow volunteers at TGPP while attending church at Holiday Island Baptist Church. He has a compelling witness to the power of Jesus Christ, and is blessed with a professional singing voice. He sang the gospel song "Who Am I" which is a song Elvis sang powerfully during his life and was a song which impacted me tremendously on our visit to Graceland, and brought me to uncontrollable tears last Sunday. I have been singing that song in my mind all week. And......
Prior to the Play each evening there is a pre-show period of talk and occasional entertainment. Our CEO, Randall has been doing the pre-show the past three evenings, and he too has a professional quality singing voice. One of his songs has been "I Believe", another Elvis gospel favorite, and one which moves me deeply for its words and melody. As I prepare to sound the shofar, after he sings that song, I need to concentrate on the notes I must blow and not the emotional lump in my throat. And....
On Thursday I saw a white Cadillac in our parking lot with a"1 Elvis" license plate and took the picture you see on this blog.
I'm not completely sure what all these "coincidences" with Elvis mean, but I know there are no coincidences and everything which happens, happens for a reason. There is no coincidence that our friend from NAS-Jax in January came to visit us yesterday, or that the second shofar blower we were expecting to come, arrived half an hour before the play yesterday and we were able to to effect an emotional "call-response" sounding with nothing more than a one minute "rehearsal" and a plan which just "fell into place".
Something is at work here and in our life. We have felt that for our whole six month stay at TGPP. But, perhaps we've been moving too fast with our "work" to understand and appreciate what is really at work in us. We need to slow down........ be still........and listen to what God is saying in all these "coincidences". Help us Lord to hear You and be obedient to what You are telling us. Let's start today.....on Your Sabbath......
Sent from my iPad
This past week, there have been several "Elvis sightings" is my life and I'm not sure exactly why. Last Sunday we heard the testimony of one of our fellow volunteers at TGPP while attending church at Holiday Island Baptist Church. He has a compelling witness to the power of Jesus Christ, and is blessed with a professional singing voice. He sang the gospel song "Who Am I" which is a song Elvis sang powerfully during his life and was a song which impacted me tremendously on our visit to Graceland, and brought me to uncontrollable tears last Sunday. I have been singing that song in my mind all week. And......
Prior to the Play each evening there is a pre-show period of talk and occasional entertainment. Our CEO, Randall has been doing the pre-show the past three evenings, and he too has a professional quality singing voice. One of his songs has been "I Believe", another Elvis gospel favorite, and one which moves me deeply for its words and melody. As I prepare to sound the shofar, after he sings that song, I need to concentrate on the notes I must blow and not the emotional lump in my throat. And....
On Thursday I saw a white Cadillac in our parking lot with a"1 Elvis" license plate and took the picture you see on this blog.
I'm not completely sure what all these "coincidences" with Elvis mean, but I know there are no coincidences and everything which happens, happens for a reason. There is no coincidence that our friend from NAS-Jax in January came to visit us yesterday, or that the second shofar blower we were expecting to come, arrived half an hour before the play yesterday and we were able to to effect an emotional "call-response" sounding with nothing more than a one minute "rehearsal" and a plan which just "fell into place".
Something is at work here and in our life. We have felt that for our whole six month stay at TGPP. But, perhaps we've been moving too fast with our "work" to understand and appreciate what is really at work in us. We need to slow down........ be still........and listen to what God is saying in all these "coincidences". Help us Lord to hear You and be obedient to what You are telling us. Let's start today.....on Your Sabbath......
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
October 15, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Farewell Matilda and Buttercup
Our travels the past ten months have taken us to interesting places. We have met a wide variety of people from all over the country and the world, and have become attached to a number of pets traveling the country with their owners as well as local animals where we have stopped for the night or longer stays. But the animals here at the Passion Play are among our favorites for their gentleness, unique personalities and professionalism in their entertainment roles. While I have grown close to the donkeys, miniature horses and miniature cross-back donkey, Gus the shepherd-mix and Earl the cat, the four camels rank right up there as the most entertaining and fun to be around.
Matilda and Buttercup are our 3 year old females and will be returning tomorrow to their owner who will then breed the next camels which will be part of the Passion Play and Holy Land menagerie in 2016. We will have two current one-year olds who will step into the top camel positions for the next two weeks and all of next season. They were broken by our animal people this spring and are part of the team, but still have a ways to go match the exploits of M & B. We said our good-byes earlier this evening and laughed as they scarfed up the leaves we brought, as well as whatever else we had on the golf cart. We had to keep them from the styrofoam cup, popcorn and the cart itself. No need to send them home with stomachs aches (they do have multiple stomachs and if they don't digest what they eat well the first time they bring it up and chew their cud numerous times). They are quite the animals. As with our volunteers who we say farewell to and will miss, so too we will miss M & B and look forward to seeing their kids here in the future. As we pray for the future of The Great Passion Play and our possible involvement with it in the coming years, we pray for our two-legged and four-legged friends and will remember them with many fun pictures and fond memories. God has abundantly blessed us with His creation and His creatures. Thank You, Father.
Sent from my iPad
Matilda and Buttercup are our 3 year old females and will be returning tomorrow to their owner who will then breed the next camels which will be part of the Passion Play and Holy Land menagerie in 2016. We will have two current one-year olds who will step into the top camel positions for the next two weeks and all of next season. They were broken by our animal people this spring and are part of the team, but still have a ways to go match the exploits of M & B. We said our good-byes earlier this evening and laughed as they scarfed up the leaves we brought, as well as whatever else we had on the golf cart. We had to keep them from the styrofoam cup, popcorn and the cart itself. No need to send them home with stomachs aches (they do have multiple stomachs and if they don't digest what they eat well the first time they bring it up and chew their cud numerous times). They are quite the animals. As with our volunteers who we say farewell to and will miss, so too we will miss M & B and look forward to seeing their kids here in the future. As we pray for the future of The Great Passion Play and our possible involvement with it in the coming years, we pray for our two-legged and four-legged friends and will remember them with many fun pictures and fond memories. God has abundantly blessed us with His creation and His creatures. Thank You, Father.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, October 12, 2014
October 12, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. The Show Must Go On
Other than a few hot and muggy days, the weather for the 2014 Passion Play has been very accommodating and pleasant for the presenters and visitors. Since the Holy Land and Play are outdoor venues, we have to adapt and keep going. Friday and Saturday we had rain and much cooler weather and with the wind factored in, it was rather uncomfortable for everyone. Umbrellas, ponchos, rainwear, gloves, blankets and hot drinks were the order of the day and some of the biblical costumes were pretty unique. But, the show must go on, and go on it did with a spirit of perseverance and spunk which was encouraging to those who would rather have been in out of the cold. October in Arkansas can be challenging and we met the challenge and will go into the coming week, and the four performances, with a resolve that with only seven total performance days left in the season, we want to finish strong.
God has been so faithful to the Passion Play ministry over the years. There have been years of exceptional success and periods when it looked like the Play would disappear as so many others have. There have been natural disasters, financial difficulties, management issues and personnel problems, but through it all the Play has survived and God has kept His presence and protection on this ministry. We face many issues going forward, but if God continues to bless this ministry and it's ministers and the thousands who come here to witness His presence, the show will continue and grow. We need God's strength and favor and the willingness and obedience of many to keep the message alive here. Pray for The Great Passion Play, that God's will continue to be done here as it has been for nearly 50 years, and that people will continue to be impacted and blessed. Thank You, Lord, for bringing us here and allowing us to serve You in a way we never imagined when we left Colorado ten months ago. It has been quite a ride and we are grateful for it.
Sent from my iPad
God has been so faithful to the Passion Play ministry over the years. There have been years of exceptional success and periods when it looked like the Play would disappear as so many others have. There have been natural disasters, financial difficulties, management issues and personnel problems, but through it all the Play has survived and God has kept His presence and protection on this ministry. We face many issues going forward, but if God continues to bless this ministry and it's ministers and the thousands who come here to witness His presence, the show will continue and grow. We need God's strength and favor and the willingness and obedience of many to keep the message alive here. Pray for The Great Passion Play, that God's will continue to be done here as it has been for nearly 50 years, and that people will continue to be impacted and blessed. Thank You, Lord, for bringing us here and allowing us to serve You in a way we never imagined when we left Colorado ten months ago. It has been quite a ride and we are grateful for it.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
October 8, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. History
I have always been a history enthusiast. In college, History was one of my many majors as I struggled through my four years seeking to find out what I was going to be when I grew up. Unfortunately, a lot of effort went into those college courses, as well as my law school courses and I'm still, at age 68, trying to find out what I want to be when I grow up, if I ever do.
Karen and I have a joint interest in the history of places, people and things. In our travels we visit a lot of museums, try to glean the character of an area from it's long-time residents, watch many history programs on television, have visited historic downtowns, use the internet to learn the history of places we pass through and study maps for places of historic interest to visit. We have been known to stop at every Historical Marker on a stretch of highway, and even take pictures of them to refer back to later. But, there is so much History and as each day passes there is more and more history to uncover and try to remember. It would be wonderful to be able to sort out the different viewpoints of the same event and really find out the truth of what really happened.
I'm confident that one day, when we are in Heaven and have eternity to learn all that has transpired from the Creation, we will see History as it really took place and know everything and everyone we are now curious about. We will be able to visit with any character of history we want to and have every question answered and have everything fully revealed. And most of all His Story will be more than words on a page, but ours to fully absorb and appreciate beyond what we can now comprehend. We rest on the promises of His Word and the hope of better things yet to come for those who trust and believe and live for Him.
History is not just all that has already taken place, but what we are living right now and what each tomorrow we have allotted to us will bring. Now we say: so much to know and so little time to learn it, but then we will say so much to know and all the time needed to learn it. Keep learning, and keep hoping. The best is yet to come. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Karen and I have a joint interest in the history of places, people and things. In our travels we visit a lot of museums, try to glean the character of an area from it's long-time residents, watch many history programs on television, have visited historic downtowns, use the internet to learn the history of places we pass through and study maps for places of historic interest to visit. We have been known to stop at every Historical Marker on a stretch of highway, and even take pictures of them to refer back to later. But, there is so much History and as each day passes there is more and more history to uncover and try to remember. It would be wonderful to be able to sort out the different viewpoints of the same event and really find out the truth of what really happened.
I'm confident that one day, when we are in Heaven and have eternity to learn all that has transpired from the Creation, we will see History as it really took place and know everything and everyone we are now curious about. We will be able to visit with any character of history we want to and have every question answered and have everything fully revealed. And most of all His Story will be more than words on a page, but ours to fully absorb and appreciate beyond what we can now comprehend. We rest on the promises of His Word and the hope of better things yet to come for those who trust and believe and live for Him.
History is not just all that has already taken place, but what we are living right now and what each tomorrow we have allotted to us will bring. Now we say: so much to know and so little time to learn it, but then we will say so much to know and all the time needed to learn it. Keep learning, and keep hoping. The best is yet to come. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, October 5, 2014
October 5, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Layering
As a former runner, cyclist and sometime-resident of Colorado, I understand the concept of dressing in layers for the changing weather conditions we might encounter in our outdoor activity. But I have rarely encountered what we experienced in Arkansas this past week. We have gone from the 80's to the low 40's and back to nearly 80 in a four day period. We have had winds to nearly 70mph, horizontal rain, hail, lightening and thunder less than a second apart and rocks and gravel moving down hills undercutting sidewalks and roadways. We have had awnings on motorhomes and trailers collapse. The past two nights we have seen disciples wearing socks, crowd members with longjohns or blue jeans visible below their costumes and Roman soldiers wearing capes over their armor and even a glove or two on cold hands. Ice water sales were replaced by hot chocolate as the drink of choice only to be replaced with ice water today.
During the past two days many of our bus drivers and golf carts drivers have looked like ski lift operators and today we are back in shorts as we enjoy a non-performance day with summer-like temps and the prospect of similar weather for the next few days. It is, after all, October and we should be anticipating cooler weather. This morning we put on the heat and right now the air conditioner is running. I'm grateful for the conveniences we have in our motor home and know there are many in our country and world who suffer when the conditions go to the extremes or change so dramatically so quickly. Soon we will be chasing the warm weather of the South and Southeast, but for now we accept what comes and have the various layers ready to don or doff as the situation dictates. In all conditions, we are blessed and grateful for the life we have. We press on, looking for God at work and seeking to join Him there. He is with us and we with Him regardless of the weather and the situations we face. Thank You, Lord, for life.
Sent from my iPad
During the past two days many of our bus drivers and golf carts drivers have looked like ski lift operators and today we are back in shorts as we enjoy a non-performance day with summer-like temps and the prospect of similar weather for the next few days. It is, after all, October and we should be anticipating cooler weather. This morning we put on the heat and right now the air conditioner is running. I'm grateful for the conveniences we have in our motor home and know there are many in our country and world who suffer when the conditions go to the extremes or change so dramatically so quickly. Soon we will be chasing the warm weather of the South and Southeast, but for now we accept what comes and have the various layers ready to don or doff as the situation dictates. In all conditions, we are blessed and grateful for the life we have. We press on, looking for God at work and seeking to join Him there. He is with us and we with Him regardless of the weather and the situations we face. Thank You, Lord, for life.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
October 1, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. The Shofar
I grew up in a Kosher Jewish home in up-state New York. We belonged to a Conservative Synagogue and observed all of the traditional holidays, spent a great deal of time either at the Synagogue or the Jewish Community Center or with Jewish friends. The shofar, the rams horn or horn of a larger animal, was a staple of the worship service and while I knew the "calls" and could sound them that duty was left to the cantor or a mature member of the congregation.
After I became a Christian in 1999, and my Jewish background became known, I was often asked about the shofar and whether I owned one or could blow one which might belong to someone else. Eventually, when our Fort Collins Passion Play wanted to institute a call-and-response opening for the Play, I purchased a triple-twist Great Kudu horn and began sounding the horn for the Play and various other occasions. Last night I had the opportunity to open The Great Passion Play by sounding the horn from the roof of the Sanhedrin, dressed as a priest. I then went on to my normal role as a disciple and other extra Play duties. It was an honor to sound the shofar and I will be performing that duty for the duration of the season (12 more performances).
God has blessed us with this "assignment" in Arkansas and we are now in the home stretch for the 2014 PP season. We are praying about an opportunity to serve Source of Light Ministries in Madison, Georgia. There are four couples considering spending part of the late fall and winter there. God will direct us there, or elsewhere, as He determines. For now, we go about our Play day and non-play day activities, grateful for the opportunity to serve, being blessed and blessing others as we follow the road He sets before us and awaiting the final Shofar sound which we will one day hear. Thank You, Lord. Maranatha.
Sent from my iPad
After I became a Christian in 1999, and my Jewish background became known, I was often asked about the shofar and whether I owned one or could blow one which might belong to someone else. Eventually, when our Fort Collins Passion Play wanted to institute a call-and-response opening for the Play, I purchased a triple-twist Great Kudu horn and began sounding the horn for the Play and various other occasions. Last night I had the opportunity to open The Great Passion Play by sounding the horn from the roof of the Sanhedrin, dressed as a priest. I then went on to my normal role as a disciple and other extra Play duties. It was an honor to sound the shofar and I will be performing that duty for the duration of the season (12 more performances).
God has blessed us with this "assignment" in Arkansas and we are now in the home stretch for the 2014 PP season. We are praying about an opportunity to serve Source of Light Ministries in Madison, Georgia. There are four couples considering spending part of the late fall and winter there. God will direct us there, or elsewhere, as He determines. For now, we go about our Play day and non-play day activities, grateful for the opportunity to serve, being blessed and blessing others as we follow the road He sets before us and awaiting the final Shofar sound which we will one day hear. Thank You, Lord. Maranatha.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, September 28, 2014
September 28, 2014. Eureka Springs,AR. Light the Light
Jesus Christ told His disciples that He was the Light of the World. His disciples spread the word and for 2000 years the word has been passed down generation to generation and many have heard and believed and done what they can to preach Jesus and the Good News to those who will listen and follow. At The Great Passion Play we seek to be disciples and make disciples. I've blogged often about out stay here the past 5 months and the mission of staff and volunteers of TGPP. The Christ of the Ozarks Statue is a visible symbol of Jesus Christ and overlooks the city of Eureka Springs to our west. While many people can see the Statue and take pride in it as a "landmark" for area, there is still an element of the population which does not follow Jesus and His teachings or even know what He taught and modeled.
But this week, something different happened here. First, one of the non-functioning lights which illuminate the Statue at night was replaced and the Statue was more visible to those in Eureka Springs. This weekend, every motel and hotel room in Eureka was occupied as a major motorcycle event (Bikes, Blues & BBQ) took place in northwest Arkansas. While TGPP's Bikes, Bibles & BBQ did not attract a large number of participants, there were many bikers who rode onto the grounds from Thursday to today to see the Statue. We pray that seeds may have been planted, the Light of the World shined a little bit brighter to all who saw Him, that a friendly wave or a smiling face may have tweaked curiosity, and that sometime in the future, in God's timing and with His nurturing, the seeds will sprout and the harvest of saved souls will be reaped for God's Kingdom. Let us stay faithful, continue to pray for lost souls and preach The Good News of Jesus Christ in words and deeds. Our mission is not yet accomplished.
Sent from my iPad
But this week, something different happened here. First, one of the non-functioning lights which illuminate the Statue at night was replaced and the Statue was more visible to those in Eureka Springs. This weekend, every motel and hotel room in Eureka was occupied as a major motorcycle event (Bikes, Blues & BBQ) took place in northwest Arkansas. While TGPP's Bikes, Bibles & BBQ did not attract a large number of participants, there were many bikers who rode onto the grounds from Thursday to today to see the Statue. We pray that seeds may have been planted, the Light of the World shined a little bit brighter to all who saw Him, that a friendly wave or a smiling face may have tweaked curiosity, and that sometime in the future, in God's timing and with His nurturing, the seeds will sprout and the harvest of saved souls will be reaped for God's Kingdom. Let us stay faithful, continue to pray for lost souls and preach The Good News of Jesus Christ in words and deeds. Our mission is not yet accomplished.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
September 24, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Where did you serve?
The Ministry of Miles hasn't logged many miles since we came to The Great Passion Play at the end of April, but we still talk with a lot of veterans when we are on the PP grounds or in Berryville or Eureka Springs. My Vietnam Veteran hat attracts attention and initiates dialogue about my service and our ministry. Whenever I see anything which makes me think an individual is a veteran, or the discussion trends toward why we are here, I tell about the Ministry of Miles and let the discussion go where it will.
Yesterday, while putting some literature in the Chapel in the Grove, I met Wayne and Connie and we got to the topic of military service, Vietnam and "where did you serve". I have gotten so used to hearing Vietnam locations (some of which I know and have been to, and others which I'm not familiar with) that when Wayne said he served at Phu Loi, it sounded so familiar that for a few seconds it didn't register ,,,,,,,,until it dawned on me: that was where I spent most of my 13 1/2 months "in country" from May, 1969 to June, 1970. Wayne had served there and returned home in early 1969. He knew the base, some of the history which complimented what I knew, and also gave me some information about the extensive use of Agent Orange on the base while he was there and extended into my time of service there as well. Wayne has a number of health issues on the agent Orange "presumptive" list including a son born with spina bifida and he does receive VA assistance although he has not taken full advantage of all the avenues open to him, We talked a little more about Phu Loi, the 79,000 Gallons of AO sprayed in that area by the Air Force and the AO sprayed there by his own helicopter unit to clear the perimeter of foliage prior to the Tet Offensive and the subsequent program to make sight lines wider to allow any attacking ground forces more visible and easier to detect for his unit and thereafter, mine. But the effects of AO persist and have impacted a lot of Vietnam Veterans over a long period of time.
It was not my career objective to serve in Vietnam. It was not my plan to have a heart attack 6 years ago this week. And it certainly was not in my thoughts that Vietnam, ischemic heart disease and a AO disability would all tie together to allow us to have the Ministry of Miles and be where we are, doing what we are doing and using the comfort and compassion shown to me to give comfort and compassion to others as 2 Corinthians 1 calls us to do.
Brothers in Arms......where did you serve?......thank you for your service......and may God bless you as He blesses us. Bad things may happen, but we serve a God who works them out for the good of those who love and serve Him. Thank You Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Yesterday, while putting some literature in the Chapel in the Grove, I met Wayne and Connie and we got to the topic of military service, Vietnam and "where did you serve". I have gotten so used to hearing Vietnam locations (some of which I know and have been to, and others which I'm not familiar with) that when Wayne said he served at Phu Loi, it sounded so familiar that for a few seconds it didn't register ,,,,,,,,until it dawned on me: that was where I spent most of my 13 1/2 months "in country" from May, 1969 to June, 1970. Wayne had served there and returned home in early 1969. He knew the base, some of the history which complimented what I knew, and also gave me some information about the extensive use of Agent Orange on the base while he was there and extended into my time of service there as well. Wayne has a number of health issues on the agent Orange "presumptive" list including a son born with spina bifida and he does receive VA assistance although he has not taken full advantage of all the avenues open to him, We talked a little more about Phu Loi, the 79,000 Gallons of AO sprayed in that area by the Air Force and the AO sprayed there by his own helicopter unit to clear the perimeter of foliage prior to the Tet Offensive and the subsequent program to make sight lines wider to allow any attacking ground forces more visible and easier to detect for his unit and thereafter, mine. But the effects of AO persist and have impacted a lot of Vietnam Veterans over a long period of time.
It was not my career objective to serve in Vietnam. It was not my plan to have a heart attack 6 years ago this week. And it certainly was not in my thoughts that Vietnam, ischemic heart disease and a AO disability would all tie together to allow us to have the Ministry of Miles and be where we are, doing what we are doing and using the comfort and compassion shown to me to give comfort and compassion to others as 2 Corinthians 1 calls us to do.
Brothers in Arms......where did you serve?......thank you for your service......and may God bless you as He blesses us. Bad things may happen, but we serve a God who works them out for the good of those who love and serve Him. Thank You Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, September 21, 2014
September 21, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. .....The road beckons.....
When we began our journey last December, we envisioned that we would be driving many miles and be moving from place to place on a fairly regular basis. Never did we imagine such a long stay in one place, like our stay at The Great Passion Play from April to the present and still a month to go. Karen did get back to Colorado, we had a brief trip to Searcy and then Rogers, Arkansas, but in effect we will have been in Arkansas for six months. A number of our new acquaintances here have moved on to other projects, and some like my friends in the Play, Gideon and Mary will be leaving before the season ends to take up residence in the Florida panhandle. Two of our volunteer couple are leaving for a week-long Campers On Mission rally up the road in Missouri to determine where they they will be volunteering over the winter months, and some of the volunteers will be staying the winter to keep the grounds of the Play in shape for the 2015 opening in the Spring. Karen and I are still not sure of our plans for after-October 25th. I do know that I will get a haircut and look less like Moses and more like I did when we left Colorado and we will be moving on.......somewhere.
We have enjoyed our stay here, and are sad that the season is winding down because we have truly felt at home here. We have learned new skills, met some wonderful people and feel we have done what God called us to do for Him and His Kingdom. Yes, there have been some rough moments, people who may not have liked our being here, toes stepped on or other personality conflicts, but that happens to a lot of people in a lot of life's situations. We are not yet in Heaven, after all, and the world is still the world. But soon the "road" beckons for us as it does for all when we face the decisions of life. God has a plan. He still is in control and when He speaks, and He always does, it's up to us to hear Him, obey Him and serve Him wherever the road beckons. Thank You, Lord for leading us and walking with us. What a joy it is to serve You.
Sent from my iPad
We have enjoyed our stay here, and are sad that the season is winding down because we have truly felt at home here. We have learned new skills, met some wonderful people and feel we have done what God called us to do for Him and His Kingdom. Yes, there have been some rough moments, people who may not have liked our being here, toes stepped on or other personality conflicts, but that happens to a lot of people in a lot of life's situations. We are not yet in Heaven, after all, and the world is still the world. But soon the "road" beckons for us as it does for all when we face the decisions of life. God has a plan. He still is in control and when He speaks, and He always does, it's up to us to hear Him, obey Him and serve Him wherever the road beckons. Thank You, Lord for leading us and walking with us. What a joy it is to serve You.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
September 17, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Sharps and Flats
I'm not writing about music. I'm writing about sharp objects that cause flat tires. An unusual topic, but one with specific application to our stay here at The Great Passion Play.
In 1982, I was in serious training for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and in 1983 for the Race Across AMerica (RAAM), a 3200 mile coast-to-coast competitive bicycle race. In literally thousands of miles of bicycling during those two years I had a minimum of flat tires and during both races did not have a single flat tire. However, while training for the 1984 RAAM, I had so many flat tires, I was forced to stop my training and not enter the Race that year. I recall one evening after a flat-ridden training ride having a flat in my front tire as I rode up the driveway of our Lakewood, Colorado home. The next morning as I rode down the driveway, I had a flat in the rear tire. As a non-believer at that time, I'm sure the language was quite colorful and not fit for repeating here. Frustration caused me to stop my training and opened the opportunity for Karen and I to be crew members for one of the1984 competitors who was less flat-prone.
This year, here at the Passion Play we are having a tremendous flat tire problem. It's not thorns, thistles or nails causing the problem, it's the plentiful and sharp Arkansas rocks which are the problem. We are dealing with tires on cars, pickups, trailers, golf carts, busses, ATV's, backhoes, tractors and mowers and the number of flats is extremely high. We are dealing with older vehicles, tires which have seen better days and have been plugged numerous times already and with budgets being what they are for individuals and the Play, we are getting very skilled at plugging tires while they are on the vehicle or replacing a flat with a recently plugged tire of similar size. There is not a single vehicle which can boast of a matching set of tires or even tires of similar width or diameter. Our motor home does have 6 new tires, but I'd rather not spend more time telling of our repair expenditures in the first year of owning our RV. That brings up sharp emotions and a flatter wallet. Enough said.
We don't have much choice but to plug the tire and plug ahead with the chores at hand. There are times we feel like a pit crew at a NASCAR race since we do have to get the vehicles "back in the race" and into service. We're on the home stretch of our time here at TGPP, and we can see the end of the tire problems. Thank God we have an extended service contract on the motor home with roadside assistance and a tire repair/replace clause and insurance which covers the same for our car. How blessed and grateful we are.
Sent from my iPad
In 1982, I was in serious training for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and in 1983 for the Race Across AMerica (RAAM), a 3200 mile coast-to-coast competitive bicycle race. In literally thousands of miles of bicycling during those two years I had a minimum of flat tires and during both races did not have a single flat tire. However, while training for the 1984 RAAM, I had so many flat tires, I was forced to stop my training and not enter the Race that year. I recall one evening after a flat-ridden training ride having a flat in my front tire as I rode up the driveway of our Lakewood, Colorado home. The next morning as I rode down the driveway, I had a flat in the rear tire. As a non-believer at that time, I'm sure the language was quite colorful and not fit for repeating here. Frustration caused me to stop my training and opened the opportunity for Karen and I to be crew members for one of the1984 competitors who was less flat-prone.
This year, here at the Passion Play we are having a tremendous flat tire problem. It's not thorns, thistles or nails causing the problem, it's the plentiful and sharp Arkansas rocks which are the problem. We are dealing with tires on cars, pickups, trailers, golf carts, busses, ATV's, backhoes, tractors and mowers and the number of flats is extremely high. We are dealing with older vehicles, tires which have seen better days and have been plugged numerous times already and with budgets being what they are for individuals and the Play, we are getting very skilled at plugging tires while they are on the vehicle or replacing a flat with a recently plugged tire of similar size. There is not a single vehicle which can boast of a matching set of tires or even tires of similar width or diameter. Our motor home does have 6 new tires, but I'd rather not spend more time telling of our repair expenditures in the first year of owning our RV. That brings up sharp emotions and a flatter wallet. Enough said.
We don't have much choice but to plug the tire and plug ahead with the chores at hand. There are times we feel like a pit crew at a NASCAR race since we do have to get the vehicles "back in the race" and into service. We're on the home stretch of our time here at TGPP, and we can see the end of the tire problems. Thank God we have an extended service contract on the motor home with roadside assistance and a tire repair/replace clause and insurance which covers the same for our car. How blessed and grateful we are.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, September 14, 2014
September 14, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Ears to Hear
I've had some interesting experiences (and blogs) about "picking up" the amphitheater the morning after a performance. Usually on Sunday morning, that task falls to Mike, who has other duties to perform and has the time to do the amphitheater while we are getting ready for church. Today was unusual, in that I had a call about 8:30 that a pair of diamond studs had been lost at the performance last night. As I was coming up the steps last night after the play, I did notice three people looking for something, but didn't stop to inquire or assist. Little did I know, until this morning that it was the diamond stud people. So out I went in search of the lost studs. Since I didn't know exactly where they had been seated, I guessed at the area and began picking up the usual trash but looked more closely for the studs. Two sweeps of the area yielded nothing more than candy wrappers, cups, napkins, a penny, tie wraps from popcorn bags, a plastic ring and assorted stuff, but no studs.
Suddenly, I heard some people at the top of the amphitheater heading down the stairs toward me. I figured it was the stud people, but it was not. They were there to look for a hearing aid they had lost last night. They knew exactly where they had been sitting and it turned out the "loser" was a Korean War veteran with a new hearing aid from the VA. When he was wrapping up in a blanket, the hearing aid had been pulled from his ear, and in the dark they were unable to find it. I had walked past that area in my search, but had not seen anything. The woman with the vet went right to the seat he had been sitting in and in a matter of seconds found the hearing aid. I had "missed it" in my search and felt bad that being so focused on every row and every object out of the ordinary, I had missed it. I had a brief discussion with the vet, telling him about our ministry to the Vietnam vets and thanked him for his service and his being at the Passion Play. I was thrilled they had found his hearing aid so easily, where I had failed. It was getting close to time to leave for church so I made one more quick search of the area, but didn't find the studs.
The message at church had nothing to do with diamond studs or hearing aids, but it did have a lot to say to me about needing a shepherd, being still in the busyness of life and being obedient to the calling of God on our life. I thought about the activities of the morning, about opening the chapel near the Christ of The Ozarks, visiting the Statue and taking a few pictures of Jesus in the early morning stillness. I thought about what had been lost yesterday, and what had been found today and what was more important. Without being judgmental about the loss of material things and their value, I was thrilled that I had witnessed ears which could hear again, and ear lobes that might not again be adorned with diamonds. I thought about the one of 100 sheep lost and then found and how that thrilled The Father. Maybe the diamonds were found last night, maybe Mike found them later this morning or I will find them Wednesday morning after the Tuesday play. Or maybe they are lost, never to be found. But for now, I am thrilled that one man again has ears to hear and was able to hear and appreciate (and enjoy) the message of the Passion Play. And let us all be thrilled that we have a Shepherd who leads us, a Holy Spirit who fills us, and a Father who loves us. How blessed we are. Thank You, Lord, for ears to hear even when we may have eyes that don't see everything we are looking for.
Sent from my iPad
Suddenly, I heard some people at the top of the amphitheater heading down the stairs toward me. I figured it was the stud people, but it was not. They were there to look for a hearing aid they had lost last night. They knew exactly where they had been sitting and it turned out the "loser" was a Korean War veteran with a new hearing aid from the VA. When he was wrapping up in a blanket, the hearing aid had been pulled from his ear, and in the dark they were unable to find it. I had walked past that area in my search, but had not seen anything. The woman with the vet went right to the seat he had been sitting in and in a matter of seconds found the hearing aid. I had "missed it" in my search and felt bad that being so focused on every row and every object out of the ordinary, I had missed it. I had a brief discussion with the vet, telling him about our ministry to the Vietnam vets and thanked him for his service and his being at the Passion Play. I was thrilled they had found his hearing aid so easily, where I had failed. It was getting close to time to leave for church so I made one more quick search of the area, but didn't find the studs.
The message at church had nothing to do with diamond studs or hearing aids, but it did have a lot to say to me about needing a shepherd, being still in the busyness of life and being obedient to the calling of God on our life. I thought about the activities of the morning, about opening the chapel near the Christ of The Ozarks, visiting the Statue and taking a few pictures of Jesus in the early morning stillness. I thought about what had been lost yesterday, and what had been found today and what was more important. Without being judgmental about the loss of material things and their value, I was thrilled that I had witnessed ears which could hear again, and ear lobes that might not again be adorned with diamonds. I thought about the one of 100 sheep lost and then found and how that thrilled The Father. Maybe the diamonds were found last night, maybe Mike found them later this morning or I will find them Wednesday morning after the Tuesday play. Or maybe they are lost, never to be found. But for now, I am thrilled that one man again has ears to hear and was able to hear and appreciate (and enjoy) the message of the Passion Play. And let us all be thrilled that we have a Shepherd who leads us, a Holy Spirit who fills us, and a Father who loves us. How blessed we are. Thank You, Lord, for ears to hear even when we may have eyes that don't see everything we are looking for.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Monday, September 8, 2014
September 8, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Temperature
As the calendar turns to its final quarter, we start to think more of cooler days and colder nights. Our travels in 2014 have taken us to a wide range of weather conditions and while we have not experienced the extremes of over-100 temperature, floods, tornadoes or super-extreme cold while on the road, we have had a chance to use our space heater, propane-powered furnaces and our roof-mounted air conditioners and open windows to find comfort from the discomfort outside.
Last Friday we had 90 degrees with over 60% humidity and were sweltering with our outdoor activities and the next day we woke up to 59 degrees, rain and nearly 100% humidity. We went from shorts and t-shirts to long sleeves, rain gear, blankets and sweaters, and from air conditioning to almost needing to fire up the furnace. And yet I have difficulty understanding how a body with a core temperature of 98.6 can be comfortable in the summer at an indoor of 75, but in the winter can't tolerate an indoor temperature too much above 69. Warmer in the summer and colder in the winter. And our animals here at The Great Passion Play wear the same "clothes" regardless of the temperature, weather conditions or level of activity, day or night. Can someone explain?
Today was wonderful and we were able to go about our activities in comfort but did run our air conditioner at 78, when we came inside for lunch, while it was the same temperature outside. Don't ask, I can't explain it. We are looking forward to the fall colors here in northwest Arkansas. We're told they are beautiful. One of our cast members just returned from a trip to Ontario, Quebec and Vermont and they said the leaves are turning already. The seasons move ahead and God orchestrates it in such a way that we are able to move ahead with it. We pray for those who are going through the extremes, something we have experienced several times in years past, but we know that even in those tough times, God has a plan which will ultimately be for our good. He knows what's best for us. Thank You Lord for Your provision, protection and grace which sustains and comforts us in every situation and circumstance. Praise You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Last Friday we had 90 degrees with over 60% humidity and were sweltering with our outdoor activities and the next day we woke up to 59 degrees, rain and nearly 100% humidity. We went from shorts and t-shirts to long sleeves, rain gear, blankets and sweaters, and from air conditioning to almost needing to fire up the furnace. And yet I have difficulty understanding how a body with a core temperature of 98.6 can be comfortable in the summer at an indoor of 75, but in the winter can't tolerate an indoor temperature too much above 69. Warmer in the summer and colder in the winter. And our animals here at The Great Passion Play wear the same "clothes" regardless of the temperature, weather conditions or level of activity, day or night. Can someone explain?
Today was wonderful and we were able to go about our activities in comfort but did run our air conditioner at 78, when we came inside for lunch, while it was the same temperature outside. Don't ask, I can't explain it. We are looking forward to the fall colors here in northwest Arkansas. We're told they are beautiful. One of our cast members just returned from a trip to Ontario, Quebec and Vermont and they said the leaves are turning already. The seasons move ahead and God orchestrates it in such a way that we are able to move ahead with it. We pray for those who are going through the extremes, something we have experienced several times in years past, but we know that even in those tough times, God has a plan which will ultimately be for our good. He knows what's best for us. Thank You Lord for Your provision, protection and grace which sustains and comforts us in every situation and circumstance. Praise You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, September 5, 2014
September 5, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Welcome Home
After spending three nights and a lot of money in Rogers, AR at the RV repair place, we made the return trip to ES with our car in tow and actually were able to see something in our rear-view camera for one of the few times since we started on this road adventure. Scotty and his crew fixed most of our issues and we will probably be back there after we wrap up the PP season to have some other work done. Here in ES, we set up in our "regular" spot and today we were back into the normal performance day routine. After Labor Day, we start the play an hour earlier than we have until now, so it will be earlier to sleep and that sounds good. It's good to be "home" and also good to have our momma sheep and her children back on the payroll again. They seemed to be healthy and eager to face the customers for the petting and attention. We, too, felt the warm welcome from our Passion Play friends and family. We like it here, enjoy the work we are doing and the call The Lord has given us.
I was able to speak with a few Vietnam Vets as well as Korea and WWII Vets today while transporting people around the PP grounds. I hear a lot of different stories about their military experience and whether they were career military, enlisted for a short service period or were drafted and did their stint and got out, like me, it makes me proud to know that there were many who did what they were called to do, felt an obligation to their country and did the right thing. I pray often for our current military personnel and pray for the day there will be no need for such a profession. I look forward to the day we will be welcomed to our eternal Home and live there face to face with The Lord and the others who believe as we do and hear for the last time, Welcome Home, ya done good. Thank You Lord.
Sent from my iPad
I was able to speak with a few Vietnam Vets as well as Korea and WWII Vets today while transporting people around the PP grounds. I hear a lot of different stories about their military experience and whether they were career military, enlisted for a short service period or were drafted and did their stint and got out, like me, it makes me proud to know that there were many who did what they were called to do, felt an obligation to their country and did the right thing. I pray often for our current military personnel and pray for the day there will be no need for such a profession. I look forward to the day we will be welcomed to our eternal Home and live there face to face with The Lord and the others who believe as we do and hear for the last time, Welcome Home, ya done good. Thank You Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
September 2, 2014. Rogers, AR. Reposted post
Today's blog was written at 8:30am, and sent, but not able to be posted until 8:30pm. The storm passed, the weather turned sunny and warm and the repairs are on their way to completion. Tomorrow the repairs should be done and we hope to be able to tow our car back on the scenic 37 mile route to Eureka Springs and our Passion Play home. We are blessed.
Sent from my iPad
Sent from my iPad
September 2, 2014. Rogers, AR. When it rains.........
Arkansas has strange rain patterns. It comes in waves, comes down in buckets-full, thunders and lightenings, clears up for a while, even with bright sunshine, and then does the same things again and again, and sometimes again. Right now we are in the second again.
You'll notice that we are in Rogers, AR which is a pleasant 37 mile ride from Eureka Springs. Once again we are behind a repair shop with a list of needs for the motor home and our tow vehicle. Karen came back from Colorado with a new 2008 Saturn Vue which is being outfitted for towing when we set out from Eureka Springs to our next "wherever". We also have a list of repairs to the motor home including a leak (here we go again) in our ice-maker line which cropped up last night at about 11:30pm and caused our refrigerator to stop working. Wrong time, but right place for the needed fix. God has a way of putting us where we need to be when "things" happen. This morning I wrote in my journal, " the leaks and other issues are for our good and in the end are the weakness of man's things made into strength for Your things which will last." It made sense to me when I wrote it three hours ago and I hope it make sense to you as you read it and apply it to the "leaks and other issues" you face in life.
The rain keeps coming down, the thunder rolls and the weather radar shows us right in the middle of a yellow, green and blue blob with a few smatterings of red north and south of us. Looks like a Picasso painting but outside our windows it just looks gray. We'll be in Rogers a few days, but today we will not be getting out very much as they work on the car, and we will make periodic checks of the Searcy leak repair which seems to be bearing up well in this storm. God is Good and while He doesn't always tell us the reason, He does have a plan and purpose when it rains........Thank You Lord. We press on In Your Grace.
Sent from my iPad
You'll notice that we are in Rogers, AR which is a pleasant 37 mile ride from Eureka Springs. Once again we are behind a repair shop with a list of needs for the motor home and our tow vehicle. Karen came back from Colorado with a new 2008 Saturn Vue which is being outfitted for towing when we set out from Eureka Springs to our next "wherever". We also have a list of repairs to the motor home including a leak (here we go again) in our ice-maker line which cropped up last night at about 11:30pm and caused our refrigerator to stop working. Wrong time, but right place for the needed fix. God has a way of putting us where we need to be when "things" happen. This morning I wrote in my journal, " the leaks and other issues are for our good and in the end are the weakness of man's things made into strength for Your things which will last." It made sense to me when I wrote it three hours ago and I hope it make sense to you as you read it and apply it to the "leaks and other issues" you face in life.
The rain keeps coming down, the thunder rolls and the weather radar shows us right in the middle of a yellow, green and blue blob with a few smatterings of red north and south of us. Looks like a Picasso painting but outside our windows it just looks gray. We'll be in Rogers a few days, but today we will not be getting out very much as they work on the car, and we will make periodic checks of the Searcy leak repair which seems to be bearing up well in this storm. God is Good and while He doesn't always tell us the reason, He does have a plan and purpose when it rains........Thank You Lord. We press on In Your Grace.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, August 30, 2014
August 30, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR.
Today was different. Our Holy Land momma sheep needed to clock out early and return to the barn for some medical attention. Since May when she gave birth to two little ones, she and her kids have been on duty every performance day, expected to be ready for petting and the confinement for the day in a smaller than usual living area. But today momma couldn't stay the full day and she and her children left early. We were short a few Holy Land presenters, so the customers didn't get the normal experience. The show goes on and we adapt as best we can. Even our Holy Land Jesus took the day off and was replaced by another Christ figure from the evening Play cast. Our animals are troopers with the perfect servant mentality, enduring the heat, rain and sometimes crowded or confined quarters with very little balking or complaints. I enjoy visiting the barn to feed or pet them or just talk with the horses, donkeys, camels and sheep, letting them know how much they mean to all of us who interact with them. We talk to the animals like they are members of the family. I'm sorry our momma hair sheep wasn't well, and know she will be looked after, treated and back on duty next week. Maybe she just got into some bad hay, or didn't fully recover from last week's sizzling temperatures which took their toll on a lot of us.
Tomorrow is our second and final Sunday performance day and we will then go into our final two months of the season with fewer performances per week, an earlier start time in the evening and the prospect of cooler temperatures and the fall colors which are beginning to appear with yellow and red leaves on the trees. Hard to believe it will soon be September, school is back in session and football is replacing baseball and soccer as the main sports topic. Our time in Arkansas is winding down and it will soon be break time from the Passion Play and giving a larger portion of our time back to the Ministry of Miles which put us on the road over eight months ago. We still talk to Vets when we see a service cap, when they approach me in the market or restaurant or come here to enjoy the Passion Play experience. It's good to know that in spite of the recent reports about the VA in the news, the Vets are being looked after and are grateful for all the VA is doing for us. Thank You, Lord for the variety of people and situations we are encountering, the chance to witness, encourage and uplift, and be blessed by them in return: and above all to exalt and glorify You. How grateful we are to be Your children and be In Your Service.
Sent from my iPad
Tomorrow is our second and final Sunday performance day and we will then go into our final two months of the season with fewer performances per week, an earlier start time in the evening and the prospect of cooler temperatures and the fall colors which are beginning to appear with yellow and red leaves on the trees. Hard to believe it will soon be September, school is back in session and football is replacing baseball and soccer as the main sports topic. Our time in Arkansas is winding down and it will soon be break time from the Passion Play and giving a larger portion of our time back to the Ministry of Miles which put us on the road over eight months ago. We still talk to Vets when we see a service cap, when they approach me in the market or restaurant or come here to enjoy the Passion Play experience. It's good to know that in spite of the recent reports about the VA in the news, the Vets are being looked after and are grateful for all the VA is doing for us. Thank You, Lord for the variety of people and situations we are encountering, the chance to witness, encourage and uplift, and be blessed by them in return: and above all to exalt and glorify You. How grateful we are to be Your children and be In Your Service.
Sent from my iPad
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