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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.
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