Miles -what it means

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Hand of GOD
"Hand of GOD"                                                                                                                                                  

Sunday, October 29, 2017

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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Thursday, October 26, 2017

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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Monday, October 23, 2017

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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Friday, October 20, 2017

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.  

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

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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Saturday, October 14, 2017

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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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

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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Sunday, October 8, 2017

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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Thursday, October 5, 2017

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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Monday, October 2, 2017

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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