Miles -what it means

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Hand of GOD
"Hand of GOD"                                                                                                                                                  

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Light the Light




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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.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Chapel in the Grove




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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.

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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.

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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.




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Sunday, September 14, 2014

September 14, 2014. Stillness at TGPP




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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.


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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.

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Friday, September 5, 2014

Home




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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.

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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.

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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.
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