In 1967, Simon and Garfunkel released "The 59th Street Bridge Song" and a lot of people took to heart the opening line of the song to "slow down, you move too fast, you've got to make the moment last". But some people, including me, didn't. As a soon-to-be college graduate, I had big plans and no time to lose in setting those plans into motion. The New York City locale for the song and my four years at NYU in NYC seem to speak to the urgency I felt to get going on my future, and my life has really never slowed down in the 48 years since. My entire life has always been a race....to go.....to do.....to be.
Our current time in Colorado has been no different for me. As we made our plans, as we set the schedule and as we began to scratch things off the "to-do list", I could feel the urgency to get in and get out of Colorado and back to Arkansas. I wasn't really making the moment last, I wasn't looking for fun and I certainly wasn't feelin' groovy. The past two days, since we returned from Cheyenne, Karen has been sick, alternately cold and hot, drained of energy and not able to get out of the motor home. My activity has been slowed down as a result, and while I feel for her discomfort, I have accepted the fact that we have been trying to do "too much, too fast". We have said all along on this journey that we are not on a schedule, and it is really time to receive that fact, accept it and live it. There are too many moments we are not living, just trying to live through and not love them like they should be loved.
We have been blessed with so much. We have so much to be grateful for, so many wonderful and unique people in our life as family and friends and a God who loves us and has been so good to us. Slow down, Hal, you move too fast, you've got to make the moment last...........God has a better plan and He has proven that following Him...........in His timing........is the ultimate "groovy". Thank, You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
May 27, 2015. Cheyenne, WY. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
After a bunch of pokes, preps and a prep (if you know what I mean), my VA experience is complete for this year. One blood test result still to be evaluated, but no more appointments scheduled until next year. Karen still has two matters to complete and she too will be set until next May. We are staying in Cheyenne for the night and will head back to Colorado in the morning. We have enjoyed watching the antelope which roam undisturbed among the historic buildings and beautiful rolling landscape of Warren Air Force Base.
How marvelous it is to see God's creation, the variety of foliage, the vastness of open space, the animals and their individual characteristics, the changing weather conditions, the intricacies of our bodies and how they function as they do, all so fearfully and wonderfully made for our enjoyment and for the glory of God. Wherever we travel we are constantly amazed by what we encounter and realize that God is the center of it all, the creator of it all and the sustainer of it all. The more we experience, the more we thank God for His grace and love and for allowing us to be His ambassador and messenger, heirs with Christ to all the riches of this life and the life to come.
I think I'll take a nap. Last evening and night were highlighted by a lot of drinking, a lot of running to give back what had just been drunk, no solid food for 24 hours, very little sleep, and and then this morning having people speaking and working behind my back, while I got to watch it all on a tv screen. Quite fearful and wonderful (if you know what I mean). All is well.
Sent from my iPad
How marvelous it is to see God's creation, the variety of foliage, the vastness of open space, the animals and their individual characteristics, the changing weather conditions, the intricacies of our bodies and how they function as they do, all so fearfully and wonderfully made for our enjoyment and for the glory of God. Wherever we travel we are constantly amazed by what we encounter and realize that God is the center of it all, the creator of it all and the sustainer of it all. The more we experience, the more we thank God for His grace and love and for allowing us to be His ambassador and messenger, heirs with Christ to all the riches of this life and the life to come.
I think I'll take a nap. Last evening and night were highlighted by a lot of drinking, a lot of running to give back what had just been drunk, no solid food for 24 hours, very little sleep, and and then this morning having people speaking and working behind my back, while I got to watch it all on a tv screen. Quite fearful and wonderful (if you know what I mean). All is well.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, May 24, 2015
May 24, 2015. Loveland, CO. MM (Miller Moth/MinistryofMiles)
Sometimes there are things which happen, which we label as coincidences, but are really God's way of tying seemingly unconnected events together in a way only He could. When I blogged last time, I threw in the Miller Moth theme at the last minute without any idea of why or what I was going to write. Today, I began to realize that the migration of the Miller's from the east into Colorado may parallel what Karen and I are doing, and plan to do, each spring as we take care of our health and property needs and necessities yet still remain obedient to our Ministry of Miles ministry and the volunteer opportunities which have cropped up as we have travelled the past year-and-a-half.
The Miller Moth phenomenon is interesting and spawns a host of phenomena such as caterpillars in the fields destroying crops, swallows flying around street intersections, moths in refrigerators and other sealed areas, bowls of soapy water under light bulbs and gooey orange/yellow stuff all over windows and house siding. Coloradoan's are not particularly fond of the Miller Moth invasion each year. Hopefully, our migration back to Colorado has not been as much of a nuisance as that of the moths. We have been welcomed warmly by friends and family and so far no one has hit us with a fly swatter or thrown a bowl of soapy water at us, even though our motor home and car could use a good bath from all the mud and dirt on the roads caused by the abundant rain this month.
Our Colorado/Wyoming adventure continues. The medical will resume on Tuesday, the memories will resume in a few hours and maybe the expected warmer and dryer weather called for this week will send the moths to their next destination in the Colorado mountains. We can only marvel at God's creation and the various roles we play in it as messengers and ministers. Sure a lot of words starting with "m" in this post. Merry month of May, maybe?
And on a serious note, thank you to all our military, veterans and military families this Memorial Day. Thank you all for your sacrifice and service.
Sent from my iPad
The Miller Moth phenomenon is interesting and spawns a host of phenomena such as caterpillars in the fields destroying crops, swallows flying around street intersections, moths in refrigerators and other sealed areas, bowls of soapy water under light bulbs and gooey orange/yellow stuff all over windows and house siding. Coloradoan's are not particularly fond of the Miller Moth invasion each year. Hopefully, our migration back to Colorado has not been as much of a nuisance as that of the moths. We have been welcomed warmly by friends and family and so far no one has hit us with a fly swatter or thrown a bowl of soapy water at us, even though our motor home and car could use a good bath from all the mud and dirt on the roads caused by the abundant rain this month.
Our Colorado/Wyoming adventure continues. The medical will resume on Tuesday, the memories will resume in a few hours and maybe the expected warmer and dryer weather called for this week will send the moths to their next destination in the Colorado mountains. We can only marvel at God's creation and the various roles we play in it as messengers and ministers. Sure a lot of words starting with "m" in this post. Merry month of May, maybe?
And on a serious note, thank you to all our military, veterans and military families this Memorial Day. Thank you all for your sacrifice and service.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, May 21, 2015
May 21, 2015. Loveland, CO. Medical, Memories and Miller Moths
Our return to Colorado has been loaded with medical appointments, visits with friends and family and a lot of sorting through drawers, closets, storage bins and trying to down-size our belongings from a 2500 square foot house into a basement storage room of about 300 square feet. The medical appointments are going well, but we have a few more for Karen here and then at least 2 for me at the Cheyenne, Wyoming Medical Center next week. One of those will involve a lot of drinking of not so pleasant stuff for a whole day, no food and a chance to see my innards on a computer screen. Boy, am I ever looking forward to that.
The work at the house has been trying in a number of ways. As anyone who has moved, downsized from a large home to a smaller one, or packed up the belongings of a family member or friend who has passed on, it is tough to decided what to keep, what to take to the shredder, what to put in the garbage and what to try to sell or give away to individuals or charities. We have accumulated so much stuff over our life together and from before that, and it is daunting to face the challenge and answer the recurring question, "what were we thinking?" But, the work is progressing and we should have the rooms needed for Cherie and Courtney to move in this weekend all ready before we leave for Cheyenne on Monday. The rest will have to wait.
It's amazing how many travel brochures we collected in our wanderings, the tremendous number of books, CD's, audio tapes, video tapes, clothes, church bulletins, Bible study notes, receipts and tax records, medical records, insurance claims, vinyl records, knick-knacks, athletic equipment, tools, less-then-full paint cans and so, so, so much more we have sifted through. And the memories flood us as much as the rainy May weather we are enduring. And we've only been here for eight days.
About the Miller Moths, that may be the next blog. For now, it's time to get some rest for the medical and memories tomorrow holds for us. Thanks for reading and your prayers for our journey.
Sent from my iPad
The work at the house has been trying in a number of ways. As anyone who has moved, downsized from a large home to a smaller one, or packed up the belongings of a family member or friend who has passed on, it is tough to decided what to keep, what to take to the shredder, what to put in the garbage and what to try to sell or give away to individuals or charities. We have accumulated so much stuff over our life together and from before that, and it is daunting to face the challenge and answer the recurring question, "what were we thinking?" But, the work is progressing and we should have the rooms needed for Cherie and Courtney to move in this weekend all ready before we leave for Cheyenne on Monday. The rest will have to wait.
It's amazing how many travel brochures we collected in our wanderings, the tremendous number of books, CD's, audio tapes, video tapes, clothes, church bulletins, Bible study notes, receipts and tax records, medical records, insurance claims, vinyl records, knick-knacks, athletic equipment, tools, less-then-full paint cans and so, so, so much more we have sifted through. And the memories flood us as much as the rainy May weather we are enduring. And we've only been here for eight days.
About the Miller Moths, that may be the next blog. For now, it's time to get some rest for the medical and memories tomorrow holds for us. Thanks for reading and your prayers for our journey.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
May 19, 2015. Loveland, CO. Things Have Changed
When I returned from Vietnam in 1970, I came back to a place where things had changed. I went away a married man, but came back to divorce; I went away from a dress code of tie and jacket and came back to tie-dye and long hair; I went away from disagreement and returned to outright protest and hostility. In thirteen-and-half months the country, and my place in it, had changed dramatically and I did not do very well adapting to it.
When I became a Christian in 1999, things changed for me, as well and while the changes were not immediate, over the ensuing years I can see how different my life has become and how different I am from what I was before.
I can honestly say that in less than a week back in Colorado after an absence of seventeen months........things have changed. Fort Collins has pushed its City Plan for "controlling" growth by not annexing outlying land, but rather infilling vacant land by building more residential property, thus putting more people in a limited area. The population and the traffic have exploded; The Mall, once nearly deserted and unused except for senior citizen walking is now a construction zone for a new high-end shopping....and residential ....facility; where once there were four-way and traffic-light intersections there are roundabouts, tons and tons of roundabouts some even a block from the one before, there must be at least 50 roundabouts in Larimer County where there once were only a few. even the access roads to MCR Hospital has multiple roundabouts. Pity the ambulance driver and more so the patient in need of quick medical care.
Houses in the area, once almost impossible to sell, are now scarfed up in an average of three days....and over asking price; there is a boom in oil and natural gas drilling, feed lots (and the attendant aroma) seem to be everywhere and the potholes are deeper and the condition of the states roads are as bad as we have seen anywhere in our travels.
Medical marijuana has expanded into legalized marijuana use and there are laws to prevent discrimination against every conceivable life style or type of behavior. Yes things have changed in Colorado and I can only imagine what our next few weeks here will uncover as we continue with our medical appointments, downsize our personal belongings and visit with friends and family. I better cease and desist before I really get PC'ed.
But there is one thing which has not changed......Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Of that we can be sure, and on that we can rely to endure the changes in Colorado and wherever we may go. Forty-five years after Vietnam and as a Christian for sixteen, I'm doing a better job of adapting. Thank You, Jesus.
Sent from my iPad
When I became a Christian in 1999, things changed for me, as well and while the changes were not immediate, over the ensuing years I can see how different my life has become and how different I am from what I was before.
I can honestly say that in less than a week back in Colorado after an absence of seventeen months........things have changed. Fort Collins has pushed its City Plan for "controlling" growth by not annexing outlying land, but rather infilling vacant land by building more residential property, thus putting more people in a limited area. The population and the traffic have exploded; The Mall, once nearly deserted and unused except for senior citizen walking is now a construction zone for a new high-end shopping....and residential ....facility; where once there were four-way and traffic-light intersections there are roundabouts, tons and tons of roundabouts some even a block from the one before, there must be at least 50 roundabouts in Larimer County where there once were only a few. even the access roads to MCR Hospital has multiple roundabouts. Pity the ambulance driver and more so the patient in need of quick medical care.
Houses in the area, once almost impossible to sell, are now scarfed up in an average of three days....and over asking price; there is a boom in oil and natural gas drilling, feed lots (and the attendant aroma) seem to be everywhere and the potholes are deeper and the condition of the states roads are as bad as we have seen anywhere in our travels.
Medical marijuana has expanded into legalized marijuana use and there are laws to prevent discrimination against every conceivable life style or type of behavior. Yes things have changed in Colorado and I can only imagine what our next few weeks here will uncover as we continue with our medical appointments, downsize our personal belongings and visit with friends and family. I better cease and desist before I really get PC'ed.
But there is one thing which has not changed......Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Of that we can be sure, and on that we can rely to endure the changes in Colorado and wherever we may go. Forty-five years after Vietnam and as a Christian for sixteen, I'm doing a better job of adapting. Thank You, Jesus.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, May 16, 2015
May 16, 2015. Loveland, CO. Home
A while back I blogged about our multiple homes, both our traveling home and our ministry homes in Georgia and Arkansas. This evening we went to Shiloh Christian Church, our home church, in Fort Collins, CO a few miles from our Colorado house which we slept in front of in our traveling home on Wednesday after completing the 900 mile trip from Arkansas. The rainbow picture we posted yesterday was taken facing east from our house the evening we arrived. What a welcome back God provided for us.
Karen's sister, Jinny has been living in our house since we left Colorado on our first missionary journey and now it appears that her daughter and granddaughter, our niece and great-niece will be joining her in the house. Jinny has made some changes in the house and the past few days we have all been working to get our stuff packed and stored so that Cherie and Courtney can move their stuff and themselves in. It's a good thing for everyone, since there isn't enough room for all of us to live there, and we have done very well on the road with less, and if we haven't needed any of the furniture, clothing and accumulated things from a 69 and 72 year lifetime, we can reasonably assume we won't need it up or down the road. So the closets are getting cleared out, the bookshelves are being emptied and the furniture we started accumulating 41 years ago is destined for family members, church family, or thrift store donations. In a few weeks the downsizing process will be complete and our house will have become someone else's home.
God has a plan for us, a place for us and a destiny for us, and we are content with what He has done with our lives and to our lives and we will continue to be guided and directed as He sees fit. It's good to be back in Fort Collins, and it's fine with us that He is telling us that our home is elsewhere and that what was our home for 17 years will be a home to others. Thank You, Lord as you set the course for our second missionary journey toward new homes and Home. We trust You.
Sent from my iPad
Karen's sister, Jinny has been living in our house since we left Colorado on our first missionary journey and now it appears that her daughter and granddaughter, our niece and great-niece will be joining her in the house. Jinny has made some changes in the house and the past few days we have all been working to get our stuff packed and stored so that Cherie and Courtney can move their stuff and themselves in. It's a good thing for everyone, since there isn't enough room for all of us to live there, and we have done very well on the road with less, and if we haven't needed any of the furniture, clothing and accumulated things from a 69 and 72 year lifetime, we can reasonably assume we won't need it up or down the road. So the closets are getting cleared out, the bookshelves are being emptied and the furniture we started accumulating 41 years ago is destined for family members, church family, or thrift store donations. In a few weeks the downsizing process will be complete and our house will have become someone else's home.
God has a plan for us, a place for us and a destiny for us, and we are content with what He has done with our lives and to our lives and we will continue to be guided and directed as He sees fit. It's good to be back in Fort Collins, and it's fine with us that He is telling us that our home is elsewhere and that what was our home for 17 years will be a home to others. Thank You, Lord as you set the course for our second missionary journey toward new homes and Home. We trust You.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, May 15, 2015
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
May 12, 2015. Oakley, KS. Almost There
Are we there yet? As kids that was one of our frequent questions from the back seat of the family car as we went somewhere. As we get older and are able to sit in one place for shorter periods of time, that question pops up fairly often in our travels, as well. The good thing about our current travel habits is that we are usually not on a rigid schedule. And if we want to stop somewhere after driving 50 or 100 or not driving that day at all, well, we just shut it down and stop for the day.
Today we started out aiming to reach Garden City, KS, changed after an early start to get to Colby, KS and after battling the winds for most of the afternoon, we stopped in Oakley, KS; beyond our original goal, but short of our second goal. We are happy with the choice and will more than likely be at our house in Fort Collins, CO tomorrow afternoon, or not, depending on wind, weather and the condition of our sitting muscles.
Karen has been a real trooper in our journey, since she does all the driving, I do the navigating, itinerary planning, and arrangements for where we stop and making sure we have "room at the inn" or a convenient Walmart parking lot to call home for the night. We have managed to not travel at night, been housed at military bases, state parks, Corps of Engineer campgrounds, RV parks, parking lots, free stays at The Great Passion Play and Source of Light Ministries during our volunteer time there, and in all cases we have felt secure, protected and fortunate to have the resources to be on the road for as long as we have. Now we are almost back to our starting place of 17 months ago. The Colorado/Wyoming to-do list is pretty long and we will be busy with places to go, people to see and things to accomplish, but we are confident that God will orchestrate the plan, guide us through the details and tell us where we are to go from there, and in the end it will be as He wills and as He ordains. We are here now, almost there and if all else fails, we will see you and Him in the air. When all this happens............still to be determined. We just continue the journey.........
Sent from my iPad
Today we started out aiming to reach Garden City, KS, changed after an early start to get to Colby, KS and after battling the winds for most of the afternoon, we stopped in Oakley, KS; beyond our original goal, but short of our second goal. We are happy with the choice and will more than likely be at our house in Fort Collins, CO tomorrow afternoon, or not, depending on wind, weather and the condition of our sitting muscles.
Karen has been a real trooper in our journey, since she does all the driving, I do the navigating, itinerary planning, and arrangements for where we stop and making sure we have "room at the inn" or a convenient Walmart parking lot to call home for the night. We have managed to not travel at night, been housed at military bases, state parks, Corps of Engineer campgrounds, RV parks, parking lots, free stays at The Great Passion Play and Source of Light Ministries during our volunteer time there, and in all cases we have felt secure, protected and fortunate to have the resources to be on the road for as long as we have. Now we are almost back to our starting place of 17 months ago. The Colorado/Wyoming to-do list is pretty long and we will be busy with places to go, people to see and things to accomplish, but we are confident that God will orchestrate the plan, guide us through the details and tell us where we are to go from there, and in the end it will be as He wills and as He ordains. We are here now, almost there and if all else fails, we will see you and Him in the air. When all this happens............still to be determined. We just continue the journey.........
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, May 9, 2015
May 9, 2015. Eureka Springs, AR. God Had Another Plan
It rained heavily overnight, and it rained on and off most of today. The crowd which came to tour The Holy Land and watch The Passion Play was small, but enthusiastic and not deterred by the inclement weather. Yet, for the first time in our time at TGPP, the prospect of severe weather this evening caused the management to cancel this evening's performance. Right now it is beginning to rain and the decision may prove to be a wise one for audience and cast alike.
The pre-play presentations of David the Shepherd and The Parables of The Potter were held in non-rain, but within a few minutes of their completion, the rain began. God had a different plan for the evening, and while I am disappointed at the cancellation of our final performance before leaving for Colorado, and the customers will have to make other plans to see The Play at a future time, God is in control and while my last two blogs about the show going on, the show will not go on tonight, and whatever our thoughts, God's thoughts were beyond cliche. The Show is His, and He can do with it as He pleases and we must be the ones to go on with the consequences of His decision.
Jerry and Renee, our friends from the Passion Play last summer came back today to spend a few weeks volunteering here and as we spent a few days with them in Jacksonville earlier this year, we will have some time with them before we head out on Monday. But, then again, our plans may not be His plans and we will pray for His will being done with our travel back to snowy Colorado, through the unsettled weather predicted for Kansas. It's good to have built in some flexibility in our schedule and trust that what we need to accomplish in Colorado will be accomplished in a time frame He ultimately ordains.
The stage down the hill is dark; the Play would be beginning as I now write this blog entry, but the decision to cancel made hours ago appears to have been a wise one. The rain continues to fall and the radar picture looks ominous, at best. We rest for the moment from what was the original plan, accepting and believing.......God had a different (and better) plan.
Sent from my iPad
The pre-play presentations of David the Shepherd and The Parables of The Potter were held in non-rain, but within a few minutes of their completion, the rain began. God had a different plan for the evening, and while I am disappointed at the cancellation of our final performance before leaving for Colorado, and the customers will have to make other plans to see The Play at a future time, God is in control and while my last two blogs about the show going on, the show will not go on tonight, and whatever our thoughts, God's thoughts were beyond cliche. The Show is His, and He can do with it as He pleases and we must be the ones to go on with the consequences of His decision.
Jerry and Renee, our friends from the Passion Play last summer came back today to spend a few weeks volunteering here and as we spent a few days with them in Jacksonville earlier this year, we will have some time with them before we head out on Monday. But, then again, our plans may not be His plans and we will pray for His will being done with our travel back to snowy Colorado, through the unsettled weather predicted for Kansas. It's good to have built in some flexibility in our schedule and trust that what we need to accomplish in Colorado will be accomplished in a time frame He ultimately ordains.
The stage down the hill is dark; the Play would be beginning as I now write this blog entry, but the decision to cancel made hours ago appears to have been a wise one. The rain continues to fall and the radar picture looks ominous, at best. We rest for the moment from what was the original plan, accepting and believing.......God had a different (and better) plan.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, May 7, 2015
May 7, 2105. Eureka Springs, AR. Weather Watch and Other Thoughts
Since we arrived in Arkansas it has been dry, with minimal rain and no violent weather, but this weekend it may change. A view of the weather radar and national news the past two days, showed hail in Colorado Springs, tornados in Oklahoma and Kansas and the prospect of both of those fronts making their way through our neck of the woods over the next four days. Yesterday and today were both beautiful with a slight shower this morning, but bright sunshine and warm temperatures all afternoon. Right now it is a calm and relaxing evening.
Tomorrow and Saturday are Play Days and the final performances before Karen and I make the trek back to Colorado for our medical appointments. It would be a shame to have rain for the performances, but as I wrote in the last blog, the show must go on, and it will.
It's hard to believe we have been back in Arkansas more than three weeks. The time goes by so quickly. The projects to prepare for the season are pretty well completed, flowers have been planted, the rose bushes planted last year are blooming nicely, weeds and leaves have been removed from areas they had overrun. Gift shops have been restocked and reorganized. Some roofs have been repaired, gutters cleaned and scenery has been washed and painted. The place looks good. It has been a lot of work, but we are hoping the work done is a good foundation on which to build our season.
Our trip back to Colorado will give us a break, but there are a ton of things waiting for us there. We will head out Monday, be watching the weather, trusting God and knowing that our plans are in His hands. We covet your prayers for the Passion Play, our travel and the plans He has for the days and weeks to come. Thank You, Lord, for the journey and the call.
Sent from my iPad
Tomorrow and Saturday are Play Days and the final performances before Karen and I make the trek back to Colorado for our medical appointments. It would be a shame to have rain for the performances, but as I wrote in the last blog, the show must go on, and it will.
It's hard to believe we have been back in Arkansas more than three weeks. The time goes by so quickly. The projects to prepare for the season are pretty well completed, flowers have been planted, the rose bushes planted last year are blooming nicely, weeds and leaves have been removed from areas they had overrun. Gift shops have been restocked and reorganized. Some roofs have been repaired, gutters cleaned and scenery has been washed and painted. The place looks good. It has been a lot of work, but we are hoping the work done is a good foundation on which to build our season.
Our trip back to Colorado will give us a break, but there are a ton of things waiting for us there. We will head out Monday, be watching the weather, trusting God and knowing that our plans are in His hands. We covet your prayers for the Passion Play, our travel and the plans He has for the days and weeks to come. Thank You, Lord, for the journey and the call.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, May 4, 2015
May 4, 2015. Eureka Springs, AR. The Show Must Go On
We have made it through two dress rehearsals and two performances of the 2015 Great Passion Play. Even with a recorded script and no live dialogue, there are plenty of opportunities for things to happen which end up on the "blooper" reel. Last year we had many fun situations and already this year we have had some lighter moments which ease the tension of a serious story and yet don't detract from what the audience sees.
Once the words "welcome to The Great Passion Play" are said in the pre-show, the next hour-and-forty-five-minutes are on the air and the show must go on, regardless of actors in the wrong place or not in anyplace, balky animals, missing props or a host of other possible goofs. Sometimes the lighting goes haywire or the voice track stops, or Jesus gets thrown off a rookie donkey during the triumphal entry, or Judas is hung on the wrong side of the tree, but on we go telling a glorious story with a glorious final scene with Jesus ascending to be with His Father.
The show must go on and so must our lives as witnesses to the Good News and the hope with which we live every moment . Karen and I say often how blessed we are to be serving The Lord here and in the other ministries He has called us to over the past sixteen years. Sometimes it's not easy, but it is always exciting and the rewards are amazing. And no matter the detours or the unexpected, God asks us to just hang in there and keep going in faith and trust. The show must go on, and it's great to be part of it. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Once the words "welcome to The Great Passion Play" are said in the pre-show, the next hour-and-forty-five-minutes are on the air and the show must go on, regardless of actors in the wrong place or not in anyplace, balky animals, missing props or a host of other possible goofs. Sometimes the lighting goes haywire or the voice track stops, or Jesus gets thrown off a rookie donkey during the triumphal entry, or Judas is hung on the wrong side of the tree, but on we go telling a glorious story with a glorious final scene with Jesus ascending to be with His Father.
The show must go on and so must our lives as witnesses to the Good News and the hope with which we live every moment . Karen and I say often how blessed we are to be serving The Lord here and in the other ministries He has called us to over the past sixteen years. Sometimes it's not easy, but it is always exciting and the rewards are amazing. And no matter the detours or the unexpected, God asks us to just hang in there and keep going in faith and trust. The show must go on, and it's great to be part of it. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, May 1, 2015
May 1, 2015. Eureka Springs, AR. Opening Day
The Great Passion Play begins its 48th season today. Over 7.7 million people have seen this portrayal of the final week of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry. For many this is a life-changing experience, and when Karen and I saw TGPP here in 1975 it planted a seed in me which finally sprouted 24 years later when I committed my life to Jesus Christ. We never imagined when we started our Ministry of Miles to reach out to Vietnam Veterans, that we would not only spend a full six months volunteering here last summer, but would return again for the 2015 season.
There's a different dynamic here this year, with most of our volunteer buddies not returning, but we feel this is where we are supposed to be for now. We will leave for Colorado in about 10 days for a month of medical appointments, family gatherings and household chores and then, God willing, we will be back in Arkansas for the balance of TGPP season. God is our guide and where He calls, we go and serve Him. This journey has stretched us in a number of ways, but it has been a good stretch and we rest in the reality that this is not something we could have undertaken without God's strength and love.
We pray for everyone touched by this ministry, that lives will be impacted and changed and that the Good News of Jesus Christ will reach this community, this region, this country and the world. All praise, honor and glory to The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Sent from my iPad
There's a different dynamic here this year, with most of our volunteer buddies not returning, but we feel this is where we are supposed to be for now. We will leave for Colorado in about 10 days for a month of medical appointments, family gatherings and household chores and then, God willing, we will be back in Arkansas for the balance of TGPP season. God is our guide and where He calls, we go and serve Him. This journey has stretched us in a number of ways, but it has been a good stretch and we rest in the reality that this is not something we could have undertaken without God's strength and love.
We pray for everyone touched by this ministry, that lives will be impacted and changed and that the Good News of Jesus Christ will reach this community, this region, this country and the world. All praise, honor and glory to The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Sent from my iPad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)