December 29, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. The Years fly By

In a few more days it will be 2018. The years zip by and we pile up a lot of memories, if we're fortunate enough to remember them. Karen and I have been a lot of places around the United States and we do generally recall a lot of the experiences, but have trouble putting them in the right order or recall the dates we went where we went. Karen has been reading the archive of obituaries from the Morgan County, Utah newspaper website and a lot of the names are very familiar and bring back memories of friends, classmates and family acquaintances from her dozen, or so years in small town Utah.
I occasionally Google names from my past and try to find out where people are and what they are up to, or if they have passed away. It's inevitable that someday, others will be doing the same "research" on us. Hopefully, the memories for them will be as interesting as the ones we recall when we read about our friends from the past. But the key to it all, is to leave a legacy which makes people smile, think of us in a kindly way and hopefully have lived a life which blessed others and did a minimum of harm or damage. All of us have done things we may not be proud of, or which leave a bitter taste for our friends and family, and for us.
We can't undo the past, but we can commit to making our today and each tomorrow one which rights the wrongs, uplifts others and encourages those around us to strive for the best they are capable of. We're never too old to not be able to break a bad habit, do good and avoid doing or saying something which causes our legacy to be less than we would want it to be. Life goes on, the years fly by so quickly, but we do have the capacity to make them memorable for us and those around us. Thank You, Lord, for the journey You have arranged for us, and for journeying with us every step of the way.

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December 26, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. Prayer

Prayer is very personal, yet it has many ways it is manifested in our lives. There are prayer lists in some church bulletins, prayer chains where people pray for those in their immediate group, blogs with the blogger's personal requests for us to pray for his or her friends and ministry needs, prayer before meals, prayers for travel mercies or protection from severe weather. We pray for those facing surgery or those diagnosed with cancer, for the medical personnel treating our friends and family, and we pray for needs, necessities and dreams of a host of people who touch our life. We pray for our leaders, the world situation, our pets or for those we want to come into a closer relationship with Jesus and for peace and joy in lives which lack it, We pray for those who have lost loved ones or are sad about some event in their life.
Prayer is very personal, but it takes many forms, serious and sometimes not so serious. In every prayer is a request or an expressed hope or plea for a positive outcome. Sometimes we pray out loud, other times in a whisper or even just as a thought. We pray in groups, or alone. We pray to get a point across to a prayer partner, or we lecture God with our opinion or suggested way for Him to answer our request. Prayer takes an infinite number of forms.
But there are some essentials about prayer which should be part of every prayer. Our prayer should be made in faith that God will hear it and respond. Our prayer should thank God for whatever response He gives, and should be in line with God's will and not just be a demand for Him to give us the answer WE want. And most of all, prayer should be sincere, not for selfish motives or for personal glory or fame, always thanking and praising God for Who He Is.
I pray this blog is more than just a bunch of words, more than random thoughts or my ramblings on a rainy day. Thank you for reading this far, and Thank You, Lord, for everything.

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December 23, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. Looking Back

The Internet has expanded our ability to look back in time and learn more about the events and places and people of our life. It's eye-opening to be able, in a matter of seconds, to see pictures, read articles or even hear the actual event taking place and bringing to mind our personal connection with that place, time or person. "I can remember it, like it was yesterday" is a not uncommon remark, as we recall the experience.
It's fun to look back, but often it leads to thoughts of "what if", " if I had done this instead of that", "wrong place at the wrong time", or a host of other qualifiers. What happened happened and it is only speculation as to what might have happened if we did something different, and the resulting path which might have been, stretches infinitely into infinity with no resolution other than mere speculation. What's done is done, and we bear the scars, legacy or consequences to this day, never to be redone or changed or erased from our "permanent record".
There was a reason for everything which happened to us, everything which happens to us now and what will happen to us for the rest of our life. It's out of our hands, as much as we think we are in control, and our hope is that we are rightly related to The One Who is in control and by that relationship we can be comforted with our past, our present and our future. Thank You, Lord, for letting me walk with You the past 18 years, knowing now that you knew me and were walking with me well before I acknowledged You as The Author and Perfecter of my faith and the true Guardian of my first 72 years. I look forward to what lies ahead, here and now, and beyond. I hope You're enjoying the ride as much as I am. On we go.

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December 20, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. In The World, Not Of The World

As Christians, we are to be in, but not of, the world. Easier said than done, so how are we to accomplish it? With all the temptations thrown at us each day, how are we expected to resist the bigger house, fancy car, lavish vacations, cruises, better job with more benefits, luxury restaurants, trendy clothes, opulent casinos and resorts, or a host of other lures, advertised specials and once in a lifetime opportunities?
The answer is to "just say no" to every one of them and say "yes to Jesus". I repeat.....easier said than done......but it can be done, and still be the recipient of "life, and life more abundant". We have multiple choice to make every day and what we decide will determine out worldly status as "in" or "of". I don't advocate becoming a monk or joining a convent, although for some, that may be a possible choice. I do advocate being selective in our choices so that even if we do make an of the world choice, we see the ministry opportunities afforded us by such a choice. We can always be a source of salt and light in the new job, upscale neighborhood, European vacation or our seating section at the football stadium. Remember Who is the source of our blessings and in a humble and gracious fashion, give Him the credit and glory for the abundance we have.
The other option is to be content with what we have, love God, love others and accept the good, bad, sunshine, showers, health and misfortunes as gifts from God to be humbly and graciously accepted and shared, giving Him credit and glory for everything we have. The choice is ours, His promises and hope for the future are real, and in all things, God is Good, and worthy of our trust and faith and praise. We weren't promised a rose garden when we "signed on", just the flowers, the thorns and the need for some effort to help the garden grow. For some, a gardener was part of the "package".......for others the gardener is us. Put God first, honor Jesus as our Lord and Savior, be Spirit-led in all we do in the world.......and always give thanks.



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December 17, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. What's Happening?

Out here in the country, there is little contact with the outside world. The cell phone and Internet are our only real way to know what is happening "on the outside". There is no television reception, the mailbox is out on CR3255, there is no telegraph station in town and the Pony Express never came this far south even when it did exist. The town does have a Family Dollar, an old-fashioned hardware store and a few other businesses, but we are really quite isolated. The church we attend is 12 miles to the west and the Walmart is 12 miles to the south,
We check the national news on our smartphone every once in a while to find out what's going on in the world, but for the most part it feels like living off the grid but still having electricity, water and a sewer system. I think I heard a plane fly over, a long way off, a while back, but there hasn't been even one police siren, car horn or other alarm or alert of any kind since we arrived here a month ago. I think we will be getting our mail forwarded from Colorado tomorrow. We'll see if it gets into the mailbox down on CR3255 or else we will have to drive into town to the post office, which has limited hours of operation.
We like it here. We like the living arrangement of our motor home and the protection from the elements provided by the covering over us. We like the slower pace and the rest we are getting. Loren and Diane have a large dvd collection, so we watch movies almost every night and then get more sleep than we have in years. It is a definite change of pace for us, but a welcome one, and a needed one. So while we do know what's happening with friends and family by means of texts and very good cell phone reception, we are letting most of the "things" of the world pass us by for the moment. We're pretty sure if something significant happens out there, we here won't be among the first to know about it. But, if you think we need to know.......just call.

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December 14, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. More Than A Marathon

How many times have you heard the expression about life not being a sprint, but a marathon? When I ran sprints in grade school and high school, I was content to go full speed for 100 or 220 yards and ignore the pacing advice. When I was relegated to the 440 because of an injury, I had to think more about not going "out too fast" so I had "something left" for the final few yards. And then I got into long distance running where a Marathon was a marathon and pacing was not only necessary, but essential.
And now, the expression can be modified to life being not a marathon, but an ultra-marathon or more accurately, an eternal marathon. Four years ago tomorrow, Karen and I left Colorado for what we thought would be a three-month sprint, which has now become an almost-four year marathon, with the finish line.........somewhere still before us. We never know when the "race" will end, when we will hear a "last call" or that anticipated "well done", but we press on, endure, persevere and keep the faith until it's over. Yogi Berra or Casey Stengel or some other sage philosopher said "it ain't over 'til it's over" and there is a heap of truth to that.
It's hard to know the correct pace when we can't see the finish line, but by God's grace He gives us the strength and stamina and rest we need to keep going, maintain our enthusiasm and know that He has it all figured out, and under control. Thank You. Thank You, Lord.

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December 11, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. Who Do You Believe?

Trip Advisor is a good way to find out the positives and negatives about every place in the known world. Everyone has an opinion about everything, and some people are willing to put their opinion in writing for all to see. The problem is: who do you believe, the five-star guy or the zero-star-I-hate-everything curmudgeon?
Karen likes to check out Trip Advisor for restaurants and we usually believe the good reviews and give the better-reviewed places a try. We also like to read reviews of places we have been, to see where we stand on the zero-to-five scale. Today Karen read the past two years' reviews on The Great Passion Play where we have spent the past four seasons and plan to return in March for a fifth. It's interesting to read what people have said about TGPP and it's various venues. Some we take to heart since they touch our heart while others we just discount as the ravings of someone who has nothing good to say about anything which costs more than they thought it should. Some of the criticisms we do think are valid and need to be addressed by TGPP leadership for the improve,EMT of our "product".
But mostly the reviews reminded us of how much we enjoy being part of the Passion Play, are thrilled when we have touched people in a positive way and feel our efforts are worthwhile and making a difference in lives and advancing God's Kingdom. We look forward to being back in Arkansas in a few months. Our days are now much less hectic, less focused on the public relations aspects of entertaining, teaching, ministering and witnessing for Christ, but we are still serving God and serving others as we regain strength, stamina and enthusiasm for the road ahead.
Believe me..........even as we "hide" in the woods of East Texas, God is working on us, preparing us for whatever He has for us in the future. If God had a Trip Advisor page, we would rate Him 5-Stars with the same rating for Jesus and The Holy Spirit. Seeing how much They have done in our life and the lives of those around us.........how can anyone not believe?





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December 8, 2017. Texas Snow

December 8, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. Oh No.........Snow

As we left Loren and Diane's last night to make the short trip back to our RV, the question was: is it raining yet? My answer: no.......it's snowing!, At 38 degrees it was spitting enough to cover our windshield and the hood and roof of the car. This morning there was a misting of the trees which gave a peaceful, serene look to the woods. As we drove from Colmesneil to Beaumont this morning, the roads were dry, the grass had a thin layer of snow and the trees were beautifully frosted.
The general topic of the day was the unusual appearance of snow in East Texas, a rarity and a treat. One gentleman told of collecting a plastic bag full, putting in the freezer to be able to show his grandchildren the "blizzard of Beaumont". A fire station even had a snowman on their front lawn, needing most of the fallen snow on the lawn to complete the task.
We are expecting cold weather for the next few nights, but there is little chance for more snow and what fell is totally gone except for that fire station snowman. It's quite a treat when it snows in Texas before most of the real snow-belt areas of the north and east have even had their first exposure to the white stuff. Happy Winter Texas......even if it is still two weeks to the official start of the season.

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December 5, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. I Feel Like Samson

I'm not claiming to be one of the Old Testament Judges, or a super strongman or the star of next season's Sight and Sound Theater production in Branson. I am thinking of the strength and stamina I lost when Karen cut my hair after the final Passion Play performance on October 29th.
With shorter hair and a goatee instead of a full beard, I have become a mere shell of my former Type-A personality. We finished our Colorado tasks, came to East Texas and have lapsed into a two-speed life-style,,,,,,slow and stop. Karen has broken the cycle today by doing some high-powered RV cleaning and reorganizing, while I have spent the past two days watching the rain, doing some very minor wogging, sewing my "crosses", reading a few chapters of a book on apologetics, and dozing more than staying awake. I know I have added a few pounds to my now-72 year old body, but eventually they will fade away in the hills of Arkansas.
We felt we needed to rest a while, and I am determined to do it as conscientiously and completely as possible, until the "cloud moves" and we head to our next "assignment". Right now, blogging is the assignment, but I think I've said enough........I'm sure you get my drift?


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December 2, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. City Boy

I grew up in Poughkeepsie and Schenectady, NY, attended college in New York City and Law School in Washington, D.C. Karen and I have lived in the Denver suburbs, Tulsa, OK and Fort Collins, CO. By anyone's definition, I am a "City Boy". I have never had a pet, done no more than grow tomatoes and zucchini, never hunted, have fished less than a dozen times with limited or no success and have ridden a horse maybe four times. What I have experienced the past four years in Arkansas, Georgia and now East Texas has been a rude awakening to country life and our living full-time in a motor home has been eye-opening, as well, to "roughing it".
With Loren and Diane we have seen a whole different style of life, we have learned a lot over our time on the road, and I have to admit, it is tough to even visit a small sized city without wanting to be back in the country. Today we went to Beaumont, a city of about 130,000 and it was good to stop on the way back to Colmesneil to pick up five dozen eggs off the farm and visit with a momma pig, and four baby pigs who were just as eager to visit with us as we were to visit with them. With our exposure to the animals at the Passion Play, there's a lot to be said for being in the country and away from the noise, congestion and busyness of any city of any size.
God has truly opened my eyes to a whole different life, a different appreciation for the hard working farmers, ranchers, small town ethics, knowing your neighbor and helping each other through the difficulties of life, the floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, work injuries and other hardships of country life. Karen grew up in rural Colorado and Utah, but adapted to city life for almost forty years of our marriage and is now returning to her "roots" as I come to appreciate them more than by occasional visits to the hometowns of her early years.
One day we will probably "retire" from our current retirement life. More than likely it will be to a rural environment or small town with my dream of some acreage and a donkey. If it be God's will, so it will be. If not, Lord, please don't send us to a big city, and Lord.......especially not to Atlanta.





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November 29, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. Sleep

The VA in Fayetteville has helped me over the past eighteen months, or so, with all my health-care issues, procedures, medications immunizations, eye care, dental care and other health concerns. Before we left Arkansas, I had some concern about tremors in my hands and was examined by a neurologist who felt I was sleep deprived and needed to "catch up" on sleep I was losing. I've never been able to sleep long hours, and there was a period of time when I was getting only about 4 hours per night and often less than that.
While he did recommend I take Melatonin, I have been reluctant to use pills to help me sleep, so have not used it over the past month we have been away from Arkansas. I do use a CPAP machine to help with sleep apnea, and the machine does tell me about the amount and quality of sleep I get over a seven day and thirty day period. Over the past thirty days I have averaged seven hours per night (up from around six hours per night the previous month). Over the past week, I have averaged over seven-and-a-half hours sleep per night, so I am getting caught up as we slow down our work/travel schedule. I feel better, have less of a baggy look under my eyes and feel like the change of pace and change of scenery has been good for me.
Since we are without television, and there are no late night work responsibilities, Karen has been getting to sleep earlier and been sleeping more, too; and we can sleep in without early morning duties to attend to. This has been a good change for us and along with some modifications in our diet, reading about and implementing some nutrition alterations, and relaxing more, we are feeling better and gaining strength for the next assignment, whatever that may be. The weather has been very pleasant since we left Colorado, and with 70's during the day and 50's at night we have been very comfortable.
Sleep is good, rest is good........God is Good.

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November 26, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. The World Keeps a'Goin'

Out here in the woods, with the quiet and dark, I mentioned that we have no t.v. or radio, so it's tougher to find out what's going on in the world. We do have good cell phone service, and our smartphones are just as smart as when we were in Eureka Springs, Madison or Colorado, so the source of our news of the day is what we get from the phone. It's good to check the headlines every so often to make sure what the state of the world is, because I don't think there is a telegraph office, pony express stop or a barber shop in Colmesneil.
At last report, the world was still intact; there are still wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, famines and much turmoil and political and economic strife, but for the most part, it is business as usual on Planet Earth. Ladybugs had descended on Eureka Springs the day before we left and it was a battle for those last two days, but the freezing weather of Kansas and Colorado seems to have done in all but a few, and we can handle them. Here in Texas it has been anywhere from the 30's at night to the 70's during the day, so most of the critters are confused and not sure whether to come in or stay out, so we have not had any problems......yet.
Without television, we don't have to endure the Bronco losing streak, the Ninjas, Perry Mason on MEtv, or a host of other "favorites" we enjoyed in the big cities of Eureka Springs (population 2,074) or Madison (population 4,060). We have been watching movies with Loren and Diane most evenings and I have been getting over seven hours sleep per night, an increase from our other venues. We are told we are missed, but the world and TGPP and SLMI are managing without us........imagine that. Yes, the world keeps a'goin, we are getting rested and when the time is ripe for us to jump back into the fray.........jump we will with the same desire to serve God and serve people we have had for our time as ministers and witnesses for Jesus Christ. We are content, blessed and grateful for all we have been given and the life we live. Each day is truly thanksgiving day for us. Press on.

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November 23, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. Quiet and Dark

Nighttime at the Passion Play is quiet. Here in Deep East Texas, nighttime is Quiet. In point of fact, it is QUIET. In Eureka Springs, at night, there are police and fire sirens, coyotes and barking dogs. In Colmesneil it is so quiet there are no sirens, coyotes and dogs have nothing to bark at, except me when I wog in the daytime. I think snoring is against the law. So, it is QUIET. We did hear a siren about 11am today, the first siren since we arrived here a week ago, but it didn't last very long. I think the Tyler County Sheriff arrested the Colmesneil Policeman who hit the switch. It is VERY QUIET here. And dark.
Almost everywhere we have stayed or stopped for the night has some kind of outside light, but here there are no outside lights, the stars are too far away, since we are only 250 feet above sea level, and we can't see the moon through the trees It is Dark. In point of fact it is DARK. When we walk over to Loren and Diane's house at night, we must carry a flashlight. When we go to bed it is so dark in our motor home, we need to have a night light in the front room to see our way out of the bedroom. In the bathroom we have a light on the shelf in front of the toilet so we can find the toilet paper. It is VERY DARK.
But, it is peaceful here, and without television or radio reception, we only have movies to watch. It's nice to just be still, hear an occasional acorn drop on the roof, not have railroad whistles in the middle of the night, and only hear one gun shot when a deer or elk happens to wander into someone's backyard and become freezer-fill for the year. There's a lot to be said for country living, especially in Deep East Texas.
This has definitely been a change for us, and one we are getting kind of used to. We know we will be back to serving where we are called, in time; but for now we are helping Loren and Diane and Joseph with some of the work they are doing to expand their house, constructing hydroponic grow boxes, encouraging them with their healthcare issues, and just being friends. Their hospitality and friendship has been a blessing and on this Thanksgiving Day, we are certainly thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to you all and Thank You, Lord for the freedom we have in You and the life You have called us to.

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November 20, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. On the Wog Again?

As I have begun the physical and hair growing preparation for the Passion Play the past four years, I start my wogging (walking/jogging) program sometime in January or February. This past year, I think I started in February, while we were still in Georgia, and soon developed a pain in my right heal which was uncomfortable enough to curtail the program. I delayed having it looked at by the VA until we returned to Arkansas, and even then it was well after the Play started in May.
The pain, plantar fasciitis, never really disappeared, the inserts made for the condition were never used because of the "pea gravel incident" and I still have a puffy ankle. I have not used the splint which is intended to restrict motion in my ankle since I feel I need to flex my ankle to prevent it from freezing up and being more limited than it is if I were to use the splint. But, as we are on hiatus from our physical activities in GA and AR, I felt the need to get back into "PP shape", lose a few pounds and be able to get into my winter jeans, which seem to have shrunk in the wash since last year at this time, if you know what I mean.
So, today, I went out for my long-delayed first wog since nine months ago, and well in advance of "spring training" time. I went out for about half an hour on the back roads of Colmesneil, TX. I met some local cows, who did not wog with me as they did in GA. I also met the neighbor-across-the-way's pit bull, who seemed more afraid of me than I was of him. I returned to the RV feeling okay, spent the day with Karen, Loren and Diane in Lufkin, TX walking around some hard-floored stores and am now blogging about my wogging with an ice pack on my heel, not sure if I need further medical advice before resuming the wog program, or just need some different strategy to get into my shrunken pants.
Oh, the complexities of trying to stay active, and pain-free, as we grow older. As Loren and I discussed our health and wellness condition today, we accept that each of us have our individual issues, but he and I are blessed to be able to still contribute, and will continue to do so however and wherever we are called. It may not be the best, but it far better than it could be, and for that.......we are thankful. Yes...........Thank You, Lord.

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Out the Front Window

November 17, 2017. Colmesneil, TX. A Mountaintop Experience at 320 Feet

You're where? We're staying with our PP friends Loren and Diane, out in the country, with Rockland to the north, Doucette to the south, Chester to the west, and Town Bluff to the east. Now you know where we are. Right? Anyway, we travelled almost 1100 miles from Fort Collins and are going to spend some time here, just relaxing, enjoying the quiet, getting caught up on our sleep, helping L and D "a little" , reacquainting with Gus, one of my favorite dog friends from the PP and just vegging out.
Years ago, our friends Bill and Zeta were planning to build a Retreat facility at Crystal Lake, CO. They had wooded property at about 9,000 feet which was a place to escape, clear some trees to make room for the proposed Retreat facility and get away from the hustle and bustle of the Colorado front range. The four of us spent many weekends over a number of years on that property, enjoying the quiet, the work and the dream B and Z envisioned. But, the pine beetles had a different idea for the property and it was soon obvious, the dream was not to be. The trees are mostly gone, the property has been sold and God set them in a different direction, a home on the front range with a lake in their backyard and a gorgeous west-facing view of the front range mountains.
And now, we find ourself on a mountaintop of sorts, only at 320 feet above sea level, in East Texas, on wooded property with a modest house out our front window, enjoying a peaceful, quiet, pleasant day, 76 degrees at noon, Karen dozing off in the recliner of our motor home, me back from a walk in the woods having had my devotional and journaling time. No plans, no expectations, no timetable, no place to go........and, as strange as it seems to us.......needing it and loving it. We really don't know "how to act" since this is really new to us. God rested from His work and called us to do the same, and we will do so until the cloud moves again, and we answer God's call, whenever and wherever it may be. Blessed and thankful.


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November 14, 2017. Dumas, TX. Abundance

Whenever Karen and I travel, we are amazed at the abundance in our country. So many fields growing so many different crops, so many oil wells, wind farms, shopping centers, streets in small towns lined with business after business, restaurants by the thousands, car lots filled with new cars and highways full of semis transporting goods between cities. So many banks, gas stations, hotels and motels, new home and business construction and tons of people doing things and going places.
It's hard to fathom so much empty land, yet someone owns it. Thousands of miles of roads, railroad tracks and airports and millions of houses almost all of which have electricity, water and sewer access. Thousands of cattle on a thousand hills, feedlots, power plants, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, parks, ball fields, a post office in every town, court houses and city halls, police stations and fire houses, hospitals and countless road signs, mile markers, traffic lights, and churches of all shapes and sizes.
And with all this abundance, we marvel at the things from our past which are abandoned, falling down, in shambles, dilapidated but still occupied, trash on the roadside, junk yards, garbage dumps and even in this element there is abundance of a negative kind. We look at falling down barns and clapboard farmhouses and imagine what they might have been like in their prime. So much to observe and ponder as we travel the miles of our life and get a glimpse of what is, what was and what the future holds for us all.
I say it again; what a blessing to live the life we do, share our life with friends and family and total strangers and to have them share their life with us. And yet we are just passing thru. We are here only a short time, living with the promise of an eternal future even more abundant than the abundance we now enjoy. Thank You, Lord, for this life, for the ones we get to share it with: but thank You even more for what is yet to come. As the song says; I can only imagine.

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November 11, 2017. Loveland, CO. Mission accomplished

We came to Colorado to take care of some "legal matters" regarding our vehicles, licenses as well as financial matters and to get together with friends and family. Tomorrow we will visit our home church in their new location, meet a few more of our friends and then start the process of getting ready to head back eastward and southward to warmer weather and a hoped-for time of rest and relaxation.
> We will be retracing, in part, the route we took in 2013 when we started this grand adventure as on-the-road missionaries. Who would have ever imagined then what these past four years held in store for us? We have had very few moments when we doubted what we were doing or what God was placing in our path. Even now, we will be setting out with only a short short-term plan, but know that if we keep our eyes and ears open, our minds open to a possible new direction, God may have something unexpected waiting for us to tackle. Fear not, be anxious for nothing, be still, wait on The Lord and trust in His plan, be obedient and abandoned to Him. It sounds trite, but it is true, and has been our testimony for not just this adventure, but for our entire journey with Him.
We had some trepidation as we left Eureka Springs and our initial impression of Colorado as we returned to it was of a place far different from the Colorado we left in 2013. But, it has gone well, our mission will have been accomplished and we look forward to the "road" ahead. Above all, we rest on the knowledge that God is Good, He has a plan already in place, and wants us to be aware of when and how He reveals it to us......and.....just be obedient. Thank You, Lord.
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November 8, 2017. Loveland, CO. Brrrrr....er

A month ago I wrote about some cold weather in Arkansas when it was hovering around 40 and we were bundled up like Eskimos to avoid frostbite, hypothermia and other cold-related ailments. Well, it is a different place and a different type of cold here in Colorado. When we left Colorado four years ago to start our "road trip" it had been below zero, snow was on the ground which had no possibility of melting and a vehicle which was unstartable and unable to be lived in by novice RV'ers. We did manage to get a break when the temperature crept above freezing, we were able to crank up the diesel and headed south into an ice storm in North Texas, settling in for five days of real Eskimo-like survival.
This trip back to Colorado has greeted us with our first snow since 2013, temperatures in the 30's during the day, prospect of high teens at night and predictions of more of the same to come. But with some experience under our belt, space heaters and back-up space heaters, a full tank of propane and multiple layers of hoodies and extra blankets, we are bearing up pretty well and getting done what we came here to do. With no real timetable, we are actually enjoying the change of pace and the change of scenery, but our old stomping ground is changed: now more hectic, with more people, more traffic, a different political and social climate and a place we don't feel as "at home" in. We'll be here until at least next Monday, finishing up our "business" visiting friends and family, going to our "home church" and then we'll see what happens.
I think we've grown in the past four years, more aware of what is important, Who is more important and how blessed we are, even when we are hunkered down, bundled up and dripping water to keep the lines and pipes from freezing. Yes.......blessed.......and grateful. Thank You, Lord.


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November 4, 2017. Oakley, KS. Time

Our time in Eureka Springs is done for the year. We set out yesterday morning with time to say goodbye to many of our co-workers at the Passion Play, leaving us enough time to reach Wellington, KS before sunset time. We don't like traveling at nighttime.
Today we got up with time to spare, as we wanted to reach Oakley, KS in time to settle into the RV park we usually stay at any time we travel between Colorado and Arkansas. We also left time to recharge our car battery which always seems to run down any time we stay here. We had time to do a quick set-up, enjoy a Casey's pizza at dinnertime and have time to blog. We also needed to set the time back on our clocks since it's that time of the year to "fall back" an hour, so we will have the correct time when we get up in the morning, in time to get on the road again.
Tomorrow we will go from the Central Time Zone to the Mountain Time Zone which means we gain another hour of time in our day. A twenty-six hour Sunday. What a blessing. What a time we can have with that extra time, and still get to Colorado with time to spare before it's sunset time, even though the time for sunset is actually an hour before sunset time tonight. Did I get that right? Tomorrow, we will actually go from the CTImeZ to the MTImeZ in Kansas, then back to the CTImeZ and end up in the MTImeZ when we drive through Haigler, NE in the very southwest corner of Nebraska and into Colorado. Confused? I won't recount the time we had in Nebraska in1983 with me on a bicycle. There's time for that another time.
Well, it's time to put a wrap on this blog, have some time to relax before bedtime, knowing I will get up in time for Quiet Time before our time is up here, and it's travel time again. We are just trying to make the most of our time, not wish our time away, and use our time to work for The Lord, knowing that in the final analysis, our time is not really our own time at all. It's His time and everything is in His good timing.
Time's up. See you next time.

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November 1, 2017 Eureka Springs, AR It IS Finished

Hal as Hal:   10:00 PM   October 29.

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November 1, 2017 Eureka Springs, AR

Hal as Moses at The Tabernacle:  10:00AM, October 29.

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October 29, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. It Is Finished.......Almost

> In a little less than two hours, the Shofar will sound to begin the final Passion Play performance for the 2017 season. I will have blown the Shofar before each of the 82 performances this year as well as nearly 300 performances over the past four years. it has been a blessing to be able to blow the four calls I heard in the Temple as I grew up, to know that it has meaning for me as a Completed Jew and a follower of Jesus Christ. I have also been able to tell many people about my background, my 18 years in Christian ministry for The Lord and the hope we have for the future.
On Friday, Karen and I will pick up stakes, follow the "cloud" to Colorado and continue to serve The Lord wherever He leads us. Tonight my "Moses" locks will be shorn and I will not be a "photo-op" until next May when we will start the 2018 PP season. It has been fun, a lot of work, and a growth experience in many ways. Each year we have been asked to expand our areas of responsibility, learn new skills and stay focused on our faith and the One we trust with our lives and our future.
Yes, it is almost finished, but each day offers us new challenges, opportunities and chances to live out the faith we profess. There are no guarantees beyond the present moment, and it's not always easy to do what we do, but it has been exciting to travel the path we have and look ahead to whatever God has in store for us. As always........Thank You, Lord.

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October 26, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Times Have Changed

There was a time, when I participated in and watched a lot of sports. I remember rushing home from grade school to watch the World Series on television. It wasn't until 1971, when I was in my 20's, that WS games were played at night. Since I was a big New York Yankee fan, and the Yankees were in a lot of Series when I was young, I didn't want to miss the exploits of my favorite team.
I watched a lot of baseball games over the years and even tried out for two major league teams (Astros and Royals) in my younger days. But times have changed. I haven't played baseball or softball for more than fifteen years, and the last four years "on the road", I have rarely even watched a baseball game. Last night as I was scrolling through the channels, I noticed that the World Series was going to be on, and it was only by googling "MLB playoffs" a few days ago that I knew that the Dodgers and Astros were the teams playing. So, I turned on the game. It was the first baseball game I had watched the entire season and I was not at all surprised to find out that I knew very few of the players. I think there were about five players I knew anything about.
After nine innings, the game was tied 3-3 and it was nearly 10:30. I had no reason to go to sleep, other than 10:30 is my usual bedtime on non-performance days. I didn't need to be up early today, so there was no reason not to watch the end of the game. But, I had had enough, and off to bed I went. The game went eleven innings. There were seven more runs scored, and the Astros held on to win the game. I guess I missed some exciting moments.
Yes, times have changed. A lot of other things in "the world", besides baseball, which used to interest me and be a staple of my "personality", have lost their importance and pull on my time and energy. There are a lot of things which were on my "bucket list" but have now been dumped out of the bucket, not even on my "radar". I'm not saying that I have given up, just that my priorities are different and my goals less about this world", and more about the one, and The One, to come. One day at a time, Lord, and all for Your Glory. I'm glad I'm on His team.
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October 23, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. The Bell Lap

The final lap of a running race on a track is called the bell lap. As the lead runner crosses the finish line to begin that final lap, a race official rings a fairly large bell and continues to ring it as each runner comes to their final lap. It's a welcome sound to all participants, because it signifies that the race will soon be over, strategies for a sprint finish must now be put into effect and if the leader is to be overtaken, the time is....now.
For the Passion Play, we are entering the bell lap. We have four more performance days remaining; Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then it's time to prepare the grounds for winter activities, plan for next season and for Karen and me to get ready for "the road" and our return to Colorado and elsewhere(?).
It's been a good season for the Play. Improvements have been made to the facility, attendance has been up and there are exciting plans in the works for next season. If the weather cooperates this week, we will have done 83 Holy Land Tour days, 82 performances of the Passion Play and welcomed more than 60,000 visitors and many more who came to just see the Christ of the Ozarks Statue. It's good to hear the bell, know that we ran this race, tried our best in some trying situations, and above all, kept the faith. We have been blessed to be part of this ministry and look forward to whatever God calls us to, In His Service.
The bell may be sounding, but we know there are still other races to be run, other fights to be fought and opportunities to exercise our faith in an ever-changing world. We press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Words of Truth to live by. Thank You, Lord.

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Another Animal Pic

In May I posted a picture of our two-headed Passion Play camel.  Here we have Pontius Pilate's one-headed-two-butted chariot horse. And all this time I thought it was two horses pulling the chariot.  

October 17, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Friends

Over the years, Karen and I have been blessed with some very good friends. Karen has friends from her school days and keeps in contact with many of them. Since I came to The Lord in 1999 we have made many close acquaintances and a number of closer friends through the church and our ministry activities. I can honestly say, most of these relationships are because of Karen and in spite of me. She is the best friend anyone could possibly want.
This week we have John and Sally here from Source of Light in Madison, GA where we have spent the last three winters working with them. We also have Bill and Zeta here from Colorado. We have known them since 1999 and have ministered together, socialized together, chopped trees in the mountains of Colorado, and played some fierce games of "hand and foot" over the years. We have shared both the highs and lows of "doing life".
Last evening our good friends from the Passion Play, James and Isy, joined the six of us for dinner and it was fun to have CO, GA and AR friends assembled together. The common cord which brought us together and holds us together is Jesus, and our love for Him and His love for each of us. It's great having the friends we do, but even greater to know "what a friend we have in Jesus". Thank you, all, and Thank You, Lord..


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October 14, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Testing the Waters

As Christians, we are all ministers. We are called to: Love God, love our neighbors, and go and make disciples. But all too often we don't really know how to love God, love our neighbors or go and make disciples. All to often we really don't know what or why we believe what we do. Have we been influenced by a particular creed, a particular church or a particular pastor? Have we taken the time to read, study, meditate on or pray about what we believe or do we just stand on our "religion" because that is what we were taught and have never tried to explore anything different. The Bible tells us to test what we hear, not be seduced by something which sounds good, but is really far from God's Truth and to not dismiss something just because we have never heard it before. Testing the waters is Biblical.
Here at the Passion Play we minister to a wide variety of believers, non-believers, temporal and very devout Christians. Sometimes we are told we are wrong in our message. Sometimes we are told our message is not "biblical" and sometimes we are lectured to and admonished for our stance. The fact that there are so many religions, denominations within each religion and so many people who refuse to yield on their "right to be right" makes ministry a difficult "row to hoe", but one we must continue to hoe.
Keep at the task. Test what we hear, using scripture as our foundation, and in time God will direct us when to "step into the Jordan" and have the faith that the waters will not sweep us away, but provide a path to the Eternal Life we have been promised. We were never promised an easy journey.........just one on which we have a faithful guide and a hope we can depend on. Press on.

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October 11, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Brrrrrrrr

Weather is a big factor here at TGPP because so much of our activity takes place outside. The Play takes place in an outdoor amphitheater and the Holy Land Tour takes place in outdoor venues with minimal protection from the weather. Mostly we are concerned about the hot and humid stuff, but in early May and mid-to-late October we have to watch for the cold stuff. Yesterday we experienced the coldest performance day of the season.
While we basked in 80 degree weather on Monday, we knew yesterday would be about 30 degrees colder with mid 40's expected for the Play last night. During the day we bundled up as if it were Colorado in January, last night the Roman guards wore outer capes, socks appeared on sandaled feet and every blanket in the PP arsenal was used by our audience as they watched the performance. The only hearty ones appeared to be the two thieves and Jesus who were bare chested during the crucifixion. The heat was on in our motor home last night and will be likewise tonight. Been months since we needed that.
But, fear not, Friday and Saturday we expect mid-80's during the day with overnight temps back in the 60's. The prospect looms of high 30's next Monday night, but it looks like a see-saw before and after that, so we go one day at a time, prepared for whatever comes our way. A month from now we expect to be in Colorado, with the same uncertainty anticipated. Not much we can do but grin and brrrrrr it. In all of it,..........hot or cold........we are blessed. Thank You, Lord.



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October 8, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Having an Impact

In everything we do, we have the capability to impact others: for good or bad. In our jobs, our neighborhood, our trips to the market or anywhere we interact with others, we can make a difference: for good or bad. As Karen and I near the final weeks of our fourth season at The Great Passion Play, we realize that no matter how many people have come to see the play or other attractions on the PP property, we still have to keep up our enthusiasm for those who are still to come.
It doesn't matter how many thousands have come already, there are thousands more yet to come and each one deserves our best effort to make their experience here a "five-star" one.
While we may be in need of a "vacation" after months of ministering, we must remember that those who are coming are "on vacation" and expecting a memorable one which they will brag to their friends about. I once had an Arts Pastor in our church who didn't expect us to be perfect, just excellent. For a musician, excellence really means perfection, since one wrong note can stand out so glaringly that the performance might be ruined. In a similar way, our efforts here need to be more than excellent. With a large cast of actors, the many factors which go into maintaining our property and meeting the needs of our guests, one "bad apple" can leave a bad taste and mess up the efforts of many.
When I read the Trip Advisor comments about TGPP, it warms my heart to see the positive comments, and saddens me when we come up short. It's not easy to be "up" all the time, but that should be our goal, not just as PP laborers, but laborers for the Kingdom of God. A good goal to aspire to in all we do, all the time, and whenever we interact with others. We were never promised an easy journey as Christ followers, only one on which we have an ever-present Companion Who travels with us, comforts us and grants us peace and joy as we serve Him and advance His Kingdom. Thank You......Thank You, Lord.

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October 5, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Good Soles, Bad Souls

I enjoy reading The Bible. While it doesn't tell us every aspect of every event or describe people in intimate detail, we do get a good idea of what happened and who was involved. Some readers think there are contradictions which invalidate the Bible, or facts which stretch the truth or leave too much to the imagination. Personally, I think the stories are believable and the characters not too much different than people we encounter in our own lives.
I have read the story of Moses and the Israelites' period of slavery in Egypt and subsequent wanderings in the wilderness many times and always find it interesting about their journey, the obstinacy of the Hebrews, the patience of God and some of the things Moses wrote about in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Isn't it interesting that an entire generation, 603,550 men over the age of 20, less Caleb and Joshua, perished in the wilderness, never making it to The Promised Land. Yet in Deuteronomy 29:5, we are told that in the 40 years, the Israelites spent in the wilderness, their clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on their feet. Their soles made it to The Promised Land on the feet of the next generation but their souls did not cross the Jordan to the land God had promised to Abraham and his seed. Good soles; bad souls.
Strange. I've worn out three pairs of sandals since May while working in the Holy Land, telling the story of Moses and the wanderings in the wilderness, teaching about the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and performing in the Passion Play. But, it is well with my soul. I am at peace with the work we have been called to and place He has asked us to serve. Bad soles; good soul.
Is there any profound message here? I'll leave that to you. I'm just having some fun as we each get one day closer to "crossing the Jordan". Thank You, Lord.

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October 2, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Half Staff

Today I was asked to put the two American Flags on the Passion Play grounds at half staff in memory of those killed in the tragic shooting in Las Vegas last night. With all the controversy swirling around the National Anthem and honoring our Flag at sporting events and the heated debate over the Confederate Flag and its display on public property, the request to lower the Flag was not one I questioned or thought twice about.
In my mind the National Anthem is to be respected and honored. The American Flag is to be respected and honored. The Confederate Flag is part of our national history and while the Civil War was a tragic chapter in that history, it cannot be erased or ignored and out of respect for those who fought and died for what they believed, we should respect and honor them and their Flag, as well.
I was called to serve during the Vietnam War. I may have been naive, or not very aware of all the "political" correctness of that period in history, but I respected what my country called me to do. My life was altered, my education interrupted, a marriage was fractured, and I returned to hostile attitudes and abusive treatment. I also came back to a country which had changed and my future was to be very different than I had planned it to be. But life goes on. We seek a place where we can contribute, enjoy the bounty of our country and blessings which come our way.
And then, we are asked to lower the Flag, to a position of respect and honor for those who have died, but also a position which shows that there is something which has made life less than "full" staff. I'm sad for the senseless acts which interfere with the fullness of life as it was meant to be. I pray that somehow the news will not have to be reported from the scene of such senseless acts and that we can bridle our anger, respect others even if we disagree with them, and live the life we have been given in the fullness of God's grace, mercy and love.


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September 29, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. The Fortune Cookie

Yesterday I had a medical appointment in Rogers, so Karen and I headed to the "metroplex" of NW Arkansas (Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville and the other infill towns of the area). Each city/town has a unique character and a different route from Eureka Springs and we try to accomplish as much as we can without getting involved in the intricacies of the Interstate or the other north-south streets. So Rogers was our destination and where we did our appointment, our shopping and our eating, all within a few blocks of each other.
We have a favorite oriental restaurant we visit when in Rogers, and that was our lunch destination. I was disappointed in the food quality and the apparent higher price, but ate my fill and had a few scoops of ice cream, which can cover a multitude of "sins" while itself being a personal sin of mine. When the fortune cookie came with the check, we had a good laugh because of the "truth" conveyed therein. It read "Impatience may be appropriate at this time".
Yes, it was appropriate, and another evidence of God's sense of humor in a less than ideal situation. Thank You, Lord.

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September 26, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Stand Firm To The End

The News has not been very encouraging the past week. We are hearing about wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, famines, floods, fires, political acrimony in Congress, political acrimony within the Republican Party, health care uncertainty, arrests of wheelchair bound people with pre-existing medical conditions, attacks on our churches and attacks within our churches and (horror of horrors) our professional football players at odds with the President.
Matthew 24 warns of many of these as the beginning of birth pains, but these conditions have always been part of our history since Jesus warned his disciples they would occur. No age has been immune from these conditions. There have always been naysayers, skeptics, cynics, squeaky wheels, activists, agitators, rabble rousers, foolish "virgins" without oil, and doom-and-gloomiest, and those who predict the end of the world as we know it. In 2017 we are still here and while the voices are different, the debate is still the same. We can worry ourselves to death or we can stand firm and face our inevitable death with faith, hope and trust in the promises of God; keep preaching the Gospel; stand firm in the faith; face the future with optimism and rest in The Lord. Don't fall prey to the false prophets.
Stand firm in The Lord, brothers and sisters, stand firm to the end.

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September 23, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Second Summer

With only 18 performance days left in the Passion Play season, it's time to start thinking of all the things we need to finish here in Arkansas and think about our winter plans in Colorado and "wherever". As we have experienced before, there is no way to really predict the weather more than a week or two in advance. While we did have a mild, fall-like month of August and early September, the past few weeks have been hot and muggy with feel-like temperatures of 100 and above. The chiggers seem to have a new hold on those susceptible to them and there have been mosquitos and spiders in greater size and numbers.
Our plans for November call for a return to Colorado to take care of licensing, inspection and other basic vehicle and personal necessities. It will also be good to see friends and family we have been away from for most of the past four years. Weather will be a major determinant of when we go and how long we stay. A couple from the Passion Play just returned from a motorcycle trip which involved a ride over Elk Mountain, Wyoming and something like seven inches of snow. That's not too far from Fort Collins and only a few thousand feet higher in elevation, so we need to be aware of what the weather prospects are for early November.
But, for now, we are basking in 84 degrees at 11:30am (feels like 99) with a high of 88 (feels like 101) later today and the prospect for much of the same until Wednesday when we are expecting 70's during the day and high 40's at night. July has returned to NW Arkansas. Not much we can do, but take it "one day at a time" make use of the air conditioning and heaters, as needed, do the tasks assigned, and plan for the contingencies of tomorrow and beyond. In all of it, we know God has it all figured out for our good and His glory. Thank You, Lord

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The Christ of the Ozarks

       A few weeks ago the New York Times named The Christ of the Ozark statue, on the grounds of The Great Passion Play, the fourth most popular statue in the United States.  Quite an honor considering only The Lincoln Memorial, Mount Rushmore and The Statue of Liberty rank above it.  Everyone who visits the statue rides or walks past our motor home, travelling about  a quarter mile from us to Jesus.  While the statue is the tallest Christ figure in North America, it pales in comparison to the size of our Lord and the impact He has on our lives and the lives of those who call Him their Lord and Savior.   Thank You, Jesus.

  

September 17, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Playing Hurt

In athletics, as in life, there are times when we are at less than full strength. We are unable to give 100% to our "job". We may be placed on injured reserve, put on the disabled list, asked to sit on the bench, sent down to the minors for rehab, listed as day-to-day, unable to perform, limited participation, questionable, probable or any number of other degrees of partial duty. But sometimes we have to make a choice - play hurt or take ourself out of the game.
Since my run-in with the pea gravel bucket two-and-half weeks ago, I have seen three doctors, had multiple "opinions", tired a wide range of medical, homeopathic and prayerful remedies and have stepped back from many of my duties here at TGPP. With limited workers, there are some things I still have to do, but in other areas there are others who can step in and give me more time to "put my leg up". In some cases, it is a chance for them to get a leg up on a new role or job and bring a fresh look to what may have become stale or predictable when I was doing it.
In ministry it's important to do what we are called to do, but we are also called to train up others to take our place, use a gift or talent they may not have known they had, and be prepared should we end up on the wrong side of a pea gravel bucket. We all have to play hurt at times, but God may have something else in mind for us up the road, and needs us to "live to fight another day".
If you have access to the Streams In The Desert devotional, read the entry for yesterday, September 16 about hiding in the Kerith Ravine (1 Kings 17:3). When I read it yesterday morning, it spoke to me in answer to my prayer for guidance and comfort through this injury and my attitude toward it. The right Word at the right time. Thank You, Lord.
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September 14, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. In Bewteen

> As Hurricane Harvey pounded Texas and impacted friends of ours there, we were also watching Hurricane Irma as it approached Florida. We have quite a few friends, family of friends and our own family in several locations around Florida and Georgia who would be affected by the high winds and torrential rain predicted. We watched the television coverage of both storms as we "sat" in between them and had not a drop of rain, no wind and only one day of cloudiness from the remnants of Irma, and that day was the most pleasant of the whole period
Karen kept in close contact with a bunch of friends and family and all fared pretty well through the storms. We understand how traumatic weather damage can be having been in a tornado in Branson, MO, helped friends recover from a tornado in Windsor, CO, had a house damaged by a flood, another damaged in a hail storm and I was impacted by several hurricanes while I was growing up and another when I was studying for the Bar Exam in 1972 in Richmond, VA. Our forecasters predicted possible impact for us from both storms, but we escaped.
It's a blessing to be in between although I understand Between was impacted by Irma. Confused? Between is a city in Georgia, halfway between Atlanta and Athens and has a population of less than 300. Irma did impact Between between it's landfall in Florida and petering out in Kentucky and Tennessee. Our winter home for the past three years, Madison,Georgia (30 miles southeast of Between), had rain and high winds and there has been loss of power for much of Morgan County persisting to the present time.
Our prayers go out to all those affected by the Hurricanes, for a return to normal, although for many that may take a long time or even a change of residence and a new start. In between, we know that God will see everyone through the storms to a brighter today and an even better tomorrow. Thank You, Lord.




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September 11, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Why?

Sixteen years ago today, we watched in horror as America faced an attack on our soil on the scale of December 7, 1941 and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. On both occasions a lot of people asked "why". In the past few weeks we have been attacked by severe weather in the south and monstrous wild fires in many of our western states. Again, people are asking "why" this has happened and what could have been done to prevent or mitigate it. There was a massive earthquake in Mexico; Korea is trying to flex it's nuclear muscles in a way which has the potential to wreak havoc on a major population center of the world. Why ?
There are no simple answers. Science can't give us a satisfying explanation, government can't adequately protect us or restore us and religion doesn't give comfort to many who question why those of us who "believe" believe. Relief agencies and first responders do an amazing job in providing temporary assistance and saving lives, but too often they are not appreciated or adequately supported. Why? I don't have a good answer for that one either.
And why do bad things happen to good people and bad people profit from the misfortune of others? If you know.....let me know. But for all the questions, there may be a simple answer, many possible answers, or no answer at all and because of that we also ask "why". We pray for our friends and family, for our national and world leaders, for peace in the Middle East and around the world. And in everything we ask for God's will to be done and rest on the promises of His Word and the hope for a better Tomorrow. And yet, much of the world thinks that our prayers are a waste of time and that our faith Is nothing more than wishful thinking. How often do we hear people ask, "where was God when all these disasters were taking place, and why didn't He stop them?" Why would they think that way when so many of us have personally experienced the grace of God, been witness to God's miracles in peoples' lives and know that we know that we know?
Why do I believe?
How could I not..........and how can you not?

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September 8, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Funnymen

The other day Karen was watching a sit-com as she got ready for work. I was in the front room of the RV and could hear laughter from the television, but not actually hear the dialogue. It dawned on me that almost every line was followed by laughter and it occurred to me that on most sit-coms that is a common occurrence. Whether it is the humor of the remark, the facial expression or the body language, laughter is a predictable response. Is life really that funny, or are there just some very talented comedy writers?
Some sit-comes take place in very unfunny atmospheres: M.A.S.H. and Hogan's Heroes come to mind as do Night Court and Gomer Pyle as a Marine. Yet, there is humor in almost every situation and it takes a talented writer, the right collection of actors and a receptive audience to make light of serious subjects. Most stand-up comedians make light of their own short-comings, unusual physical appearance, or family problems to elicit laughs from their listeners. Dick VanDyke even posed as a comedy writer to enhance his own comedic talents.
I've always enjoyed Art Carney, Tim Conway, Robin Williams, Jonathan Winters, Johnny Carson, and a host of other funny men and if I took the time, the list would go on and on. Many of the comedians we admire have or had serious personal problems, terrible family situations or rough childhoods, but they still endeavored to make us laugh and see life differently from what it actually is for many people. Many of us think of ourselves as amateur comedians, try to look at the lighter side of the problems of the day, want to make life a little easier for those having a rough go of things.
The main thing to realize is that we serve a God who created humor, wanted us to value the less serious aspects of life, and Who Himself has a great sense of humor............just look in a mirror to realize how funny God is by recognizing the creature staring back at us.

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September 5, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. It Will Take Some Time

Six days after my run-in with an out of control pea gravel bucket, I had to return to the hospital because of a painful, tender, swollen, multi-colored knee, leg, ankle, foot and toes. We were also concerned about possible blood clots and the need for something more powerful than basic ibuprofen and acetaminophen. After having blood drawn, an ultrasound and a hands-on examination, the verdict "hematoma of leg, right, sequela" which in English means "a right leg bruise which we've already seen you for".
The people at the hospital were very nice, treated us well and presented the VA with Hospital Charges of $2,479.00 with a medicalized list of services which in English meant blood drawn, an ultrasound and a hands-on examination. We're grateful that the VA or Medicare will negotiate with the Hospital and pay a lesser amount than the $2,479.
It will take some time for me to heal from my injury, considering that I am well down the list of patient patients or one who likes to sit and watch while others do the work. It will also take time for the bill to be resolved and our share of the amount due ( if any) as the guarantor and responsible party to be determined. Whenever I have had medical expenses outside the VA Health System, they have taken care of everything and we have not owed anything. One time, we did receive a bill from the Hospital in Fort Collins, and when I went in to pay it, the Hospital said we had a zero balance and owed them nothing. We have been well taken care of and always grateful for how we are provided for. Thank, You, Lord. You have it all figured out and under control.




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September 1, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Have You Fallen.......?

My medical history questionnaire answers changed this week. When I went to the podiatrist on Tuesday my answer to the "have you fallen in the past twelve months" question was "no". Within 24 hours, the answer had changed to a painful "yes". Fortunately, the 60+ pound bucket of pea gravel which landed on the inside of my right knee did nothing more than earn me a trip to the Emergency Room in Berryville, a few X-rays, no broken bones or damaged ligaments and two days of ice treatment, some painful moments yesterday as I felt like someone was trying to stab their way out of my very swollen leg and a few extra ibuprofen and acetaminophen every six hours.
Today I was able to do the In-depth Tabernacle Teaching, take a break from the Holy Land Tour and doctor my leg with a combination of ultra strength pain relieving cream and an Ortho Sport Massage Oil (compliments of Renee and Jerry) made up of Grape Seed Oil, Peppermint Oil, Oregano Oil, Elemi Gum Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Vetiver Root Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Thyme Oil and Olive Fruit Oil. A lot of people have been praying for me, as well, and while I can't tell you which of all the treatments had the best result, I do know that Prayer Works and that I am much improved from twenty-four hours ago and looking forward to limited participation in the Play this evening.
It could have been far worse, considering the weight of the object I was lifting into the bed of the pick-up and the fact that I was working by myself at the time. I wasn't "alone". Because, just as I know that Prayer Works, I know that I always have a Companion with me as I labor for (and with) Him.
Thank You, Lord for Your provision, grace, love and protection. My answer to the "have you fallen" question is different now, but I will answer it with the assurance that I definitely know Who helped me back to my feet.
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August 29, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Picking Our Battles

As much as we each want to help others overcome difficulties in their life, we can't help everyone or solve every problem. We are prevented from doing so by time, resources, physical restrictions, usable skills and a host of other limitations. We choose where to spend our efforts, time and resources, but often we are a grain of sand on the beach, and feel helpless when we see the overwhelming needs of those who face unimaginable physical challenges or are impacted by accidents, natural disasters or crimes perpetrated against them.
The Evening News tugs at our hearts, the commercials plead for funds for a variety of causes and our church prayer lists are full of friends and family with health issues, loss of loved ones or financial needs which are beyond our ability to resolve. Our own needs and necessities seem insignificant in the larger picture, but they, too, weigh on us and cause us to wonder how they will be resolved.
We can't fix it all. But, God can, and we pray for His hand on each situation, for His will to be done in each and every circumstance. And, we trust that He will, in His timing, bring comfort and peace in each circumstance and show, once again, His control over everything we and others are facing. We pick and choose where we spend our time and resources, but we should never abandon Prayer and the hope and trust in God as our protector and provider and His desire to see His creation return to Him and His Kingdom.
As hard as it is to be "up", to see the glass half full, to look beyond the pain and sorrow of the moment to a brighter tomorrow, we need to pick the battle of faith, trust, belief and hope in the Three in One who have seen us through so much and will see us through so much more. Thank You......Thank You.....Thank You.

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A Cute Picture from the PassionPlay

     As we prepare to open our Noah's Ark Park Petting Zoo next weekend, here are a family of feral cats which will probably find their way into the menagerie of animals we  have gathered for the "voyage".

August 23, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Leaves

For the past three years we have volunteered at Source of Light Ministries in Madison, GA. One of my duties there has been to collect the fallen leaves and build a mountain. When we return there after the Passion Play season, the mountain has disappeared and I begin to build a new one. I have often wondered how many leaves it takes to make such a mountain.
Today, Karen and I drove to the VA in Fayetteville. As we drove through the rural countryside, we remarked how green it was, how many trees there were and how many leaves there must be on each tree. That piqued my curiosity, and I took to Google to see if there was some estimate somewhere of how many trees and how many leaves there are in the world. According to one site; NPR estimates there are 400 Trillion (400,000,000,000) trees on earth with an average of 3.2 million (3,200,000) leaves per tree for an estimated total of 1.28 x 10 to the 18th power (1,280,000,000,000,000,000) or 1 quintrillion, two hundred and eighty quadrillion leaves.
That's a LOT of leaves........makes today's Lottery drawing look like chump change.

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August 20, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. A Day Off

We haven't taken much time off from our Passion Play duties this season. There is always something which needs to be done, a task which needs to be completed, people to talk to, stuff which won't get done because there isn't someone else who realizes it needs to done, and a host of other things which keep us close to "home".
But today, Jerry and Renee and Karen and I decided we needed to get away, help them celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary and just have a day off. So, we went to church, drove to Branson, had a leisurely lunch, went to a variety show with magic, singing, dancing, acrobatics, comedy and a patriotic finale, ate ice cream, and came home to our Passion Play home. We spent a few minutes feeding our petting zoo animals and are settled into our separate motor homes for the night.
It was good to get away. We met some nice people, weren't in any rush to do what we did do, laughed a lot, talked about the four years we've known each other, and some of our plans for the next few months. It was a good day. Tomorrow I will do the things I would normally have done today, knowing that no one else would have thought to do them, and that's okay, because they could wait to be done a day late. We all need a break from what has been a labor intensive season. A lot has been accomplished, with a lot still to do, but it remains a blessing to be where we are, doing what we do, knowing that God has it all under control and has a plan B, plan C, and a lot of other plans, when we decide to take a day off. Thank You, Lord, for the break.





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August 17, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. The Rest of the Story

As I finished my last blog, I felt good, was looking forward to taking a shower and relaxing in front of the TV with my usual Monday night show, American Ninja Warrior. As I got set to hop Into the shower, I turned on the bathroom light and noticed that there was no light illuminated. That is not a good thing, since it means something has gone wrong with our house batteries, our inverter or some other system of the RV which I don't really understand. A quick check of the four house batteries, revealed a cable so badly corroded, it had separated from the battery connection. That's not a good thing. We faced the prospect of no lights, no air conditioning, no generator to provide alternate power, no Ninja Warrior and who knows what else.
A quick call to Bryan, our RV mobile repairman, had him here within the hour and he was able to diagnose the problem, solve the problem and get the lights back on, restart the inverter, and give us some pointers on how to keep a similar problem from reoccurring. I was able to enjoy the last 15 minutes of my Ninja addiction, had a nice shower and was grateful for Bryan being nearby and willing to help us thru our ordeal. God is certainly watching out for us and we thank Him every day for His protection, provision and faithfulness. Thank You, Lord.
To the shower.


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August 14, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. August

August is supposed to be the hottest month of the year in Eureka Springs. Temperatures are supposed to be in the mid to upper 90's with humidity to match. At this moment (4:40pm) the sun has finally found it's way thru the clouds, the temperature is the highest (75 degrees) of the day and it is far from uncomfortable. August, so far has been absolutely beautiful, weather-wise, and our play schedule of only two performance days per week for the next two weeks gives us a chance to kick back a little, enjoy the mild weather and rest up for September and October and three performance days each week after Labor Day.
Last year, August was mild, too. Our first two years here, August was pretty hot, with one of those years bringing the ladybug onslaught which caused us grief here and for our entire time in Georgia that winter. It's still hard to believe we have been "on the road" since December, 2013. We have felt comfortable with the places God has taken us, the ministries He has placed us in and the places we have called "home" since leaving our Colorado home. We said yes to a different life style; yes to an uncertain travel schedule; yes to His plan when we didn't really have a plan of our own; and we have never second-guessed what the results have been. We continue to trust, obey and follow HIM, thank Him for each day, each opportunity and.......the August He is blessing us with.


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August 11, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. The Zoo

The Great Passion Play has always had animals as part of the "cast" for the play; horses to ride and pull Pilate's chariot, camels, donkeys, sheep and doves (white homing pigeons) and this year a Pharoah Hound for Pilate's Porch. The animals add to the production and also the unpredictableness of working with animals and young children.
Last year the idea for a petting zoo was floated out, and work began to create an area which would house animals which were not part of the play, but would become a petting zoo outside the entrance to our Holy Land Tour area. And so, the idea began to take shape with enclosures, watering troughs, decorative rocks, plants and shelters for the animals. It took a lot of people, a lot of work and stick-to-it-ivness, and donations of animals, but the Noah's Ark Park Petting Zoo is now a reality. It has become home to Buddy the Llama, Simon the Wool Sheep, Cinnamon the Pigmy Goat, a number of sheep and lambs, butterball turkeys, Rhode Island Red Hens, Muskogee Ducks, two miniature horses with more animals expected Sunday afternoon.
It has been fun having this new addition to TGPP and even the groundhogs and feral cats have made our new animals feel welcome. Our visitors have enjoyed the attraction, the PP workers will need to sign on for feeding and clean up duties, but it's nice to know we won't have to worry about mowing the enclosures any more since the animals keep the entire area closely trimmed. I'll post some pictures soon.
I can't imagine what it must have been like for Noah and his family.

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August 8, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. A Day Late

Time slipped past me and I forgot to blog yesterday, so here we are.....a day late. It's not like I have to write every third day, it's just a routine I have gotten into. I don't have a deadline like a columnist or a commitment to a magazine or a publisher. I just got into a routine, or to shorten the word.....a rut. That happens to a lot of us. We call it a habit, or a schedule, or a regimen......a rut.
I wonder how many regular readers of this blog, looked for the posting yesterday evening or this morning and found it not there. I hope I didn't upset your routine, habit, schedule, regimen.....or rut. Anyway, here it is.......a day late.
Last Friday, we had a record attendance for the year. Our final numbers were 411 for the Holy Land, 560 for the Buffet and 1072 for the Play. It was a good day, and one which encourages us to continue to make property improvements, seek to attract a younger audience, welcome return visitors, maintain the integrity of our message and preach Jesus to our community and our world.
Thanks for checking up on us today. I'm not sure if I'll blog in two days to get back on "schedule" or just stay on an every-three-day "schedule" from today. When I decide to write again, you'll be the first to know. See you .......whenever.


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August 4, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Never Say Never

On Tuesday we were told that the Holy Land Tour would be having 400 visitors today(Friday), we would be one bus driver and one presenter short and that 190 of those 400 would be arriving at the same time. Figuring our bus capacity and the usual logistics of "people moving" it was the unanimous opinion that "it can't be done".
Later, the estimate was reduced to 220 for the day, and it elicited a collective sigh of relief. As the day dawned today, it seemed that the lower number would prevail, and things were going very smoothly, until we heard that a group of 156 was still expected and it was nearing the 4pm cut-off time. Just at 4pm three busses arrived and it was time to see it we could really "git er done" and accommodate our visitors. As of the moment, it is getting done, the final number for the Holy Land appears to be 399 and once again, we have been impressed by God's ability to not give us more than we can handle. Nothing is impossible if we include God in OUR plan, so it appears that with God's presence at TGPP today our Holy Land Tour number is not 399 but 400, the number HE originally gave us. Never Say Never...........and Thank You, Lord.

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August 1, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. A Matter of Perspective

The Bible relates many events which happened on "the mountain". Mount Ararat, Mount Sinai, Mount Carmel, Mount Moriah, Mount Nebo, Mount of Olives, Mount Zion, Sermon on the Mount, Mount of Transfiguration, Mount Calvary and a host of other well known and lesser known mountains. We often seek that "mountaintop experience" when life gets a little hectic and we need to get away on a Retreat, a quiet place nearer to God or just a place to escape and be renewed or refreshed.
The Great Passion Play is a mountaintop experience for many since we are located on Magnetic Mountain outside Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Most of our guests come here to get closer to God, to hear, once more, the familiar story of Jesus' last week of earthly ministry, to use this venue as a mission trip destination to serve God through their labor, or even come to a faith they have never known before. But for the regular.workers and volunteers at TGPP, it is our valley where we do the nuts and bolts tasks of ministry, the mundane tasks of being a servant, the cleaning up of others' messes, doing whatever it takes (my last blog) and coming back tomorrow to do it all again.
Not every mountaintop generates a mountaintop experience and not every valley is in the valley. But we can all be blessed by what we have been called to do, minister to others and be ministered to at the same time. Where we are "elevationally" is not the determining factor for the mountaintop or valley, because no matter where we are, God is always there, too, if we just put Him and His plan ahead of our own.
Blessings come in many forms; the newly arrived animals in our petting zoo, a thank you from a guest we escorted on a Holy Land Tour, a different interpretation of a verse of scripture which causes us to reread, study and meditate on that verse, four newly born birds nesting in a fern we water every evening, a beautiful sunset or a welcome change in the temperature after weeks of heat and high humidity. A matter of perspective - seeing God in everything and knowing it is meant to encourage us to greater trust, belief and faith in Him. As I ended my last blog..........God Is Good.
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July 29, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Whatever It Takes

Christian ministry is not a 9 to 5 job; it is not supposed to be a "job description" we aren't allowed to deviate from; it should not be based on what we want from God, but what God wants from us; our comfort zone should never come into play; and overtime should be the norm rather than the exception.
We all fall short, at times, when we have "worldly" desires, have not had enough rest, get up on the wrong side of the bed or are just plain not in the mood. But when something needs to be done, we should step forward and try to do it; when someone calls in sick, we should see if we can take their place, when we commit to a task, we should do our best to see it through; and when we give our word, we should honor it with our action.
When we do it as it should be done, God is pleased, and we are blessed. When we do it as it should be done, others are impacted, and we are blessed, and when we do whatever it takes, even when we don't particularly feel like it, we will reap rewards beyond anything we can imagine. God is Good.

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July 26, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Ah, The Simple Life

A home in the country. Forty acres and a mule. A house on a bus route. Guaranteed for life. Tax free. Sure sounds good. Ah, the simple life. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. In reality, it gets more complicated every day.
Karen and I are reasonably smart people. We manage to get along without a lot of the bells and whistles of the modern world. We don't Facebook, Skype, Instagram, Twitter, buy anything off EBay or use Craig's List. We don't use a Debit Card, get money from an ATM, use PIN numbers for anything, get any of the "but wait" offers from the TV hucksters, answer any of the survey questions on the phone, or have any frequent flier miles. When we had to replace Karen's phone this past Monday, because of a cracked screen, we saw a few new appliances at Best Buy which were beyond our imagination and far more complicated than we could comprehend. Her new phone, of course, required a new case, new screen protector, new charging cords, and is a little beyond our ability to operate and has a more complicated "rental agreement" with a host of documents we had to consent to even if we didn't fully know what we were consenting to. Our salesman, Luis, was a-third our age, more than 3 times smarter than us in the technical arena and made a complicated situation seem very simple. But simple it is not.
The world is moving at a dizzying pace and we can get caught up in the complexity of it and be overwhelmed by what we don't understand. Fidget spinners are the latest pet rock, hula hoop, mood ring, Rubik's cube, frisbee, hubba bubba, happy face, slinky, pacman, lava lamp, crocs, Elmo or a host of other fads which took our money and went away.
Just let me enjoy a simple life...........and let me be able to enjoy the screaming announcers and self-absorbed participants on American Ninja Warrior. Did any of this make sense?


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July 23, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Sabbath

When God created creation, He also created the Sabbath, a day He rested from His work of creation and asked us to do the same, Not all of us actually create anything, but we do do something and need to occasionally step back from doing it to renew our strength, rest our physical bodies and enjoy the "fruits" of our labor. Too many of us don't take enough time "off" and wear ourselves down, get tired of what we do and lose interest and sometimes even burn out and quit an activity we once enjoyed.
Today is the Sabbath. I didn't really rest very much today, but I did sleep an hour longer than usual. When I got up, I "picked up" the amphitheater, did some other Passion Play duties, came back to the RV and had my usual morning time with The Lord, journaling and reading devotionals and The Bible. By then it was too late to get to church. A Sabbath rest from church. That sounds like a bad thing, but sometimes we need a break from what is normally a good thing. I then did our family laundry and in the process finished up the PP cast laundry which was started by others after the performance last night. While that does qualify as work, it's not really strenuous, and does give a break to the others who work so hard during the week to keep our cast "in clean clothes".
Now it's time to blog, and I really don't know what to write about, so I'm propped up in bed, hoping to think of something to write. In the alternative, I may just close my eyes for a while and perhaps take a late afternoon Sabbath nap. The blog can always wait for later, but if I do fall asleep, I'll just post what I've written now and it can qualify as my scheduled blog. Writing can sometimes be hard work, especially on the Sabbath, when we are supposed to rest and not create, which is what a blogger does when he does blog. Yawn!!!

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July 20, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. How Hot Is It?

        At 4:45pm in Eureka Springs it is 94 degrees (feels-like 100, with a feels-like high of 107 earlier today).  We have been hot and muggy for the past few weeks and anticipate similar weather thru the weekend.  Much of the country is hot and some areas are under heat advisories and also experiencing out-of-control wild fires.  Unfortunately the hottest weather is yet to come for some areas.

        The secret to surviving the heat is to convince yourself it isn't really as hot as we are being told.  Some of us wear "biblical" garb during the day and everyone in the Play wears costumes which can be very uncomfortable or confining.  The Roman soldiers, Temple and Sanhedrin guards and many of the priests wear bulky costumes and heavy headgear.  For them, it is even hotter than for us in the "normal" roles.  The lesson here is that as hot as it is, it is hotter for someone else, and as hot as is is now, it could be a lot hotter.  After all it is 115 in Death Valley and we could be doing the Holy Land Tour in Furnace Creek instead of Eureka  Springs.  The best answer to the question "Aren't you hot in that costume?" is a simple "no" and then the caveat, "nothing compared to what we expect in August".  Mind over matter and accepting what we don't have any ability to control.  

         And, by the way, we had our mobile RV repairman, Bryan,  here today to service our RV AC and as I write it is a comfortable 78 degrees as I relax for this evening's over-90 start for the Play.  How hot is it?  It's "just right,  thank you".

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July 17, 2017. Eureka Springs, AR. Who Is The Greatest?

The Twelve Disciples were an unusual and motley bunch. They were in the presence of THE greatest rabbi, teacher, leader, prophet, healer and man who ever lived and they often argued and fought over which of THEM was the greatest. Jesus must have rolled His eyes, took a deep breath and continued with His rabbi'ing, teaching, leading, prophesying and healing, hoping that one day His followers would finally "get it".
Here at TGPP, we have five current and former "Christ Figures", men with different personalities, different gifts and talents, different roles in the PP ministry, and each has a right to stake his claim as the greatest to portray The Greatest, yet there is an air of working to advance the whole rather than the individual and an uncommon humility in their manner. I work most closely with Joe, a veteran of over 30 years here at TGPP, and Kent who is not even 30 years old. They are a riot to work with because of their different "approaches" to solving problems, and their tireless devotion to getting those projects done. They are two of the hardest working people I have ever known and it is a hoot to be a "fly on the wall" as they discuss the means to use in solving the problem at hand. Their love for TGPP is beyond measure, and if we could bottle that "love" WE would be the greatest ministry ever created. I know God smiles when He watches those two at work and will someday greet them with the hardiest of "Well Dones" as they keep on serving Him into eternity.
What a blessing to do what we do, to serve where God has called us, to look beyond the politics of life, the politics of religion and the politics of politics and trust and believe in THE GREATEST, our Lord and Savior...........JESUS CHRIST. Thank You, Lord.

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