April 30, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. The Home Stretch

As April comes to a close, and May begins, we enter the final few days before the start of the 2018 Passion Play season. Tomorrow we have group meetings of the various operational areas of the PP ministry, followed by our final dress rehearsal for the play. Many of the projects are in their final stages, like the Tabernacle repair, replacement of the Holy Land donkey pen, prop set-up on the set, gift shop stocking and staging, snack shop cleaning and stocking, dressing room organization, buffet cleaning and food prep.
Fortunately we have the Illinois Campers on Mission group, Bubba's group from Louisiana with lots of people and building materials, staff starting to return and volunteers on hand to help get the last minute details taken care of. The trees we planted back in March are all leafing out and the moss is propagating nicely. The enthusiasm level is high and the expectations are also high for what lies ahead. While we are tired, it is a good tired. The weather is cooperating and we are getting rain at good intervals to feed the foliage and make the greenery of this pretty area even prettier. Even the rain during our dress rehearsal last week, was welcome and may have toughened us up a little for some of the weather we will face over the next six months.
God has provided what we have needed to get this far, and He will be in front to lead the way, beside us to help carry the load and behind us to encourage the weary. Friday the curtain goes up and we welcome the 2018 season. It is a blessing to be serving Him here, no matter what the task, no matter the effort we must expend and to know for certain that.........in all things ...................GOD IS GOOD.

Sent from my iPad

April 27, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. I'm Sorry

Turn on the news and it's likely there will be at least one story about a person accusing someone of hurting them, abusing them, committing an offense against them, harassing them or doing something improper. Many of these allegations involve people in positions of leadership, power or prominence. Look at Bill Cosby, Tom Brokaw, President Trump, Harvey Weinstein, Dustin Hoffman, the 22 female senators, Pam Dawber, the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, the U.S. Forest Service, Harvard University, Bill Hybels, the Catholic Church and so, so many more
Think back to your own life, as I have thought back about mine, and I"m sure there are more than a few instances where we were the instigator of an inappropriate comment or action and maybe even been the object of someone else's inappropriate comment or action. Some of these incidents may have happened recently, but many happened 20, 30, 40, 50 or more years ago and if they did happen, we may not even remember the incident or who was the other party to it. In some cases the incident caused permanent damage or lasting consequences, but many have long since been forgotten.
And yet, we are seeing many, many people being accused of wrongdoing when the only real response to it should be "get over it". What good is dredging up this past incident really going to accomplish but unduly hurt someone now and destroy what has been a good, positive and productive life. I know, I have been far from perfect in my 72 years of life, and I am far from perfect in my daily life now. My response is.......I'm sorry for what I did that was wrong, what may have offended or hurt someone, caused you to cry or have emotional distress. I can't undo the wrong, but I can apologize and hope to not hurt someone again with similar words or actions.
I think of the only person in all of history who led a perfect, sinless, spotless life and what happened to Him after living for only 33 years. The allegations against Him caused Him to be cruelly put to death, and for the past 2000 plus years there have been, and still are, those who defame Him, accuse Him of being a fraud or lunatic or any number of other offenses. And yet, He has helped many to turn their lives around and be upstanding, productive and loving members of society. Yes Jesus, I'm sorry for the hurts of this world, but Thank You, Lord for forgiving me for the things I'm sorry for in my life.
Sent from my iPad

April 24, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Propagating Moss

Sounds like a ominous task, but it really isn't. I have been spreading grass seed in various places on the Passion Play set over the past month and with the moisture we have had and some extra watering, the grass has filled in those areas, and looks pretty good. But one area, the Garden of Gethsemane is pretty sparse and I didn't rough up the ground and spread seed until last Friday. Although it will probably grow, I wanted to see if I could get some moss to grow in that area in addition to the potential grass. Thus the propagation technique.
Needed: Already growing moss, water, buttermilk, a food blender, soggy ground. This afternoon I set about the task, and here are the results. I was able to get three gallons of buttermilk (on sale) at our local market, the moss I harvested from an area near our amphitheater where moss grows pretty plentifully, the Christian thrift store donated the blender and I was able to run a hose and saturate the Garden ground from early morning. I mixed the ingredients in the blender, made about 5 gallons of slurry and poured it over the grass seed, manure and straw on the saturated ground and now with rain expected tomorrow.......God.........if it be His will................will propagate the moss and sprout the grass seed. When it works out, I'll post a picture of the Garden in a few weeks. Thank You, Lord, for the recipe, the needed materials and giving us a heart to willingly serve You and see You at work through our efforts.


Sent from my iPad

April 21, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Ready........Set.........

Tomorrow evening we have our first, of two, dress rehearsals for the Play. There are still quite a few "final touches" which need to be in place before we open the gates for paying customers, but for our dress rehearsal, I think we're ready. We won't know what the cast will look like since we have a mix of returning people and a host of first-timers, so the roles will be assigned as the room managers get a look at who shows up and how we can put our new people into roles that can be taught (and learned) on the fly. The play has never held rehearsals beforehand, relying on the veterans to hold down the main roles while shepherding the newbys to their proper place at the proper time.
The animals have been brought onto the set this week. The sheep have the same "leader" and she knows where to go and when to go there. Their trial runs went well. The youngsters just follow their mommas anyway. The chariot horses are returning vets and the "Roman" horses are a mix of vets and rookies, and it will be up to the riders to control their steeds. The camels are brand new and may sit out the rehearsals and just get daily walking to and from the set before the play starts for real. The birds have been flown a few times and they seem to have returned to their enclosure behind the Temple. Food is a powerful incentive to fly a little and then return "home" for a snack.
The forecast is for rain later this evening, through the night, and most of tomorrow until late afternoon, so we may have a soggy set when we start at 7:30. Rain, without the thunder and lightening, is fine. You can only get so wet, and after that you're just wet, so you might as well stay at it. Besides, when you have an outdoor venue, you need to know that weather is something to be accepted as it comes........the show must go on. And, barring anything extreme.......the rehearsal for tomorrow, is a................GO.


Sent from my iPad

Passion Play Camels

Our new PP camels arrived on site this week, were taken for a walk earlier today and appear to be very mild-mannered and pet-able.  Both are one year old. Don't know if they have been given names yet.  They'll probably make their stage debut at dress rehearsal Sunday night.  

April 15, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Wind

In a motor home, wind is usually not a welcome weather feature. This year in Eureka Springs, it seems like the wind has been blowing harder and more often than any of the other years we have been here. We do have 6 tires on the ground and four leveling jacks also on the ground, but even with all that "stability" and a weight of more than 30,000 pounds, we still rock and roll when the wind blows. In addition our four slide-out awnings flop around and make a good amount of noise as the wind blows under and over them.
We have had steady winds nearing 20mph with gusts as high as 50 and the wind has brought in fronts which have changed weather from near freezing to nearly 80 and then turned around and dropped the temperatures back below freezing in a matter of a few hours. It has been a roller coaster and hard to find the right clothing for the conditions and the outside work being done. And there is also the matter of Moses-length hair and trying to keep from being mistaken for Albert Einstein or Don King.
We have had considerable wind damage to TGPP's Tabernacle in the Wilderness. It is a full-biblical-sized replica of the Old Testament Tabernacle and is the centerpiece of our Holy Land Tour. Because of severe winter weather and the high winds this spring, we have been forced to order two large vinyl coverings as well as the 300 foot outer-court curtain and replace all the ropes which hold everything in place. A lot of extra work to be completed in the next few weeks and at considerable expense. But, we know that it will all be accomplished and the needed funds in place in time for our May 4 season-opening. God has it all figured out.
We just need to trust Him and know that favorable winds are on the way. In the meantime, we just batten down the hatches and keep the faith.


Sent from my iPad

April 12, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. What in the World is Going On?

The evening news has become an unending narrative of a world in terrible shape, people out of control, government in turmoil, conflicting "truths", endless accounts of "he said, she said", hacking of personal data from scores of businesses, financial institutions and government agencies, international intrigue, human suffering, addictions to countless substances and behaviors and important people being humbled and brought down from power.
I've always wondered how our news reporters can keep from screaming "enough is enough" as they relate these stories each day, and are even asked to give an upbeat ending story which usually involves someone who has overcome some horrible illness, injury, injustice
or other calamity and made it into a "feel good" story to send us into the evening TV schedule on a "positive" note, so we can watch a fictionalized version of all the terrible truths we just heard about in the past half hour of national news. Not to mention the local news and all its stories bringing all the bad international and national stuff down to our state, county, city and neighborhood level.
We are somewhat insulated from the "world" here at the Passion Play, although we do cater to those from the "world" who come to share in the ministry we promote and the Gospel story we present. But we are still influenced by what we hear from the outside, and we are, after all, a business, and must be attuned to the financial considerations which keep us in operation. Keep praying for us, for our leadership and the decisions which must be made to keep us functioning. Let God be the visionary and owner, and all of us the managers and laborers who implement His plan and purpose for TGPP. And in all things............... Let go.........and let God.

Sent from my iPad

April 9, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Time

There's nothing we can do to make time move any faster or slower than it does. There is no way to make a day last longer or get it to go by any quicker. A second is, and will always be, a second. An hour will never be anything but 60 minutes long, and a minute will never change from what it has always been. We have absolutely no control over time, or have any power to alter it to our wishes or desires.
Sometimes the days fly by, and other times a day seems to last forever. Perception is not always reality. And reality, as far as time is concerned, is: every day lasts 24 hours, no more, no less. It has always been so, and will always be so. The Bible has a lot to say about time, and I know we are to use our time wisely, but rest on the hope that what we do in our lives with the time we are given, will have eternal consequences. And when we do pass from this life into the next, time will be of no consequence. Our concept of time will be different, and what we now see as going by too fast or too slow, will be of "no never mind". Eternity with HIM will be limitless, endless, forever and infinite.........and wonderful. No time limits, no deadlines, no late fees, no countdown timers and just time without end. I have no idea when all this will take place, and I'm not wishing my time away..........but I can hardly wait.......it's sure to be......WONDERFUL.

Sent from my iPad

April 6, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Amphitheater

I was on the last sentence of my blog post about picking weeds in our PP amphitheater, when a picture of the cows I ran with in Madison, Georgia mysteriously appeared. In trying to get rid of the picture, I got rid of the post as well, and all those words to describe my tedious, menial and repetitive task of the past three days were lost. With the lingering reality of having sore fingers, fingernails shorter than they were when I started the task, and one 1000-seat section still to complete plus the whole amphitheater to be sprayed with weed controller, I will shorten what I wrote and give you the tally of what I found along with the eight bags of weeds and leaves.
Forty-four cents to be added to the PP donation box, a President William McKinley commemorative coin from the Shell Mr. President Coin Game, a five-flowered silver pinky ring with the center stone missing, a blue-stoned silver butterfly charm and what appears to be a copper penny flattened on a railroad track.
No matter what the task, there are always unexpected rewards for those who stay the course and persevere . No telling what the completion of the task will reveal. Today's anticipated rain seems to have passed up by, so maybe the weather will be favorable tomorrow to finish the job. Whatever hand we are dealt, we make the best of it and keep at the task. Just part of what it means to be in service to The Lord.


Sent from my iPad

Fwd: April 3, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. 1968

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: ministry of miles <ministryofmiles@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 3, 2018, 8:49 PM
Subject: April 3, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. 1968
To:

       I've mentioned that 1968 is the 50 year anniversary of the start of the Great Passion Play.  I mentioned it, but it really didn't register that 50 years have gone by so quickly.  In 1968, I was in my first year of law school in Washington, D.C., planning to be married in August and not really aware of all that was to happen in my life during 1968.  And now, it is 50 years later.  Where has the time gone?  1968 was a pivotal year for this country and for me personally.
       Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.  I remember that day well as we were preparing for Spring Break from school and the city, and many other Amerifan cities,  were about to erupt in terrible rioting, violence, burning of businesses, looting and much fear, as I drove out of D.C. northward to New Jersey.  In June of 1968 Robert Kennedy was assassinated after winning the California Democratic primary.  Again there was tremendous emotional distress and fear in our country for where all this violence was leading us.  In August, 1968 I was married after hearing from my Draft Board that I was safe from the military draft, only to receive my draft notice two months later and face induction into the Army in November, 1968.
         The war in Vietnam had escalated early in 1968 because of the TET Offensive and it appeared that I was destined to find myself in Vietnam after I completed my Basic and AIT training at Fort Dix and then Fort Sill.  In 1969 I did receive orders for Vietnam.  There were a number of other events in 1968 of note:  North Korea captured the USS Pueblo, there were Black Power protests at the Summer Olympics, the Apollo 8 mission orbited the moon with Astronauts on board, the first 747 jumbo jet was introduced, the political conventions of 1968 were full of protests and conflict and in November the country elected Richard Nixon as President. Without going into any detail,  I was not a fan of RMN then, or ever.
         1968.  Quite a year for our country and for me.  News broadcasts will recall a lot of these events in more detail as each 50th anniversary comes up.   50 years.  Hard to believe.  Where has the time gone and how can we ever gauge the impact these events had on us and the direction we have taken through life?
         50 years.




Sent from my iPad