My oil business co-worker in the late 70's, Dick, had a very lighthearted, carefree approach to life. His favorite expression was the title of this post, and we tried to laugh as much as possible to keep up with him, but mostly we laughed at him and the situations he encountered. That applies to our day of travel, but mostly to our experience at the VA for my heart cath pre-op appointment and our evening so far.
Most of the situations we encountered will have to wait for explanations in person, rather than in writing which could subject me to legal action for libel, slander, defamation and a host of other retaliatory actions. After all we are to love others......... But we did have a good visit with the assisting surgeon and feel comfortable with what to expect tomorrow and what the possible dangers are. When we returned to the hotel, provided for by the VA, we came up to our room and promptly had to evacuate down 10 flights of steps due to a fire alarm which turned out to be a false alarm. Fortunately the thunder and lightening downpour took place after we were allowed back in the building, but before the elevators were put back in service. Needless to say, we didn't walk up the 10 flights, but waited for the elevators to run. It gave us a chance to thank the three trucks worth of firemen and visit with some of the other vets being put up at the hotel awaiting their procedures tomorrow.
We also were given a reprieve in reporting to the hospital from 6:30 to 7:30, so we can "sleep in" an extra hour tomorrow. It looks like they will be able to do the surgery through my wrist rather than the other option where the chiggers have claimed ownership. They will prep the chigger-zone just in case, which will give the doctors and nurses a good "laff" when they see the damage the little varmints have done.
Time for the Olympics and hopefully a restful night. Thank you for the prayers and good wishes. God is still on His throne, and has all the details, including the "laffing" under control. Talk to you in a few days.
Sent from my iPad
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Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Saturday, August 6, 2016
August 6, 2016. Eureka Springs, AR. How the World has Changed
The Summer Olympics in Rio opened last night and it will be exciting to watch athletes from around the world compete in various sports over the next few weeks. The Olympics used to be reserved for amateur athletes, but now allows professionals to compete and many of the athletes are not only well paid, but the top earners in their sport.
In 1936 the Olympics were held in Berlin and the Games were a showcase for the Third Reich and the impending Nazi campaign to conquer Europe and the world. This year the Games are being protected by nearly 90,000 military personnel who are seeking to prevent groups of radical terrorists and ordinary protestors from interfering with the events and keeping them from harming those wishing to enjoy Rio and the athletic competition.
We once again have the spector of illegal drug use looming over an entire national team much like we did when the East German's in the '70's were messing with drugs, sex changes and other ways of enhancing their medal count. Some things don't seem to change.
But most of all I am trying to understand how we have the Summer Olympics in a country where it is actually winter. I'll be waiting for the ABC Wide World of Sports intro with the ski jumper going off the side of the ski jump, crashing and burning down the hill......but hold on......this is NBC and their armada of famous announcers, show hosts and expert commentators. We wouldn't want this to turn into a network competition......we have enough of that with the Donald-Hillary "road show".
2016.........oh how the world has changed.
Sent from my iPad
In 1936 the Olympics were held in Berlin and the Games were a showcase for the Third Reich and the impending Nazi campaign to conquer Europe and the world. This year the Games are being protected by nearly 90,000 military personnel who are seeking to prevent groups of radical terrorists and ordinary protestors from interfering with the events and keeping them from harming those wishing to enjoy Rio and the athletic competition.
We once again have the spector of illegal drug use looming over an entire national team much like we did when the East German's in the '70's were messing with drugs, sex changes and other ways of enhancing their medal count. Some things don't seem to change.
But most of all I am trying to understand how we have the Summer Olympics in a country where it is actually winter. I'll be waiting for the ABC Wide World of Sports intro with the ski jumper going off the side of the ski jump, crashing and burning down the hill......but hold on......this is NBC and their armada of famous announcers, show hosts and expert commentators. We wouldn't want this to turn into a network competition......we have enough of that with the Donald-Hillary "road show".
2016.........oh how the world has changed.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
August 3, 2016. Eureka Springs, AR. Hog Days of Summer
We've all heard the expression "dog days of summer" referring to the hottest time of the year and the laziness and lethargy which accompany them. While the origin of the expression has more to do with astronomy and various constellation positions, I have coined a new term to describe the extreme heat and humidity we are experiencing in Arkansas this year- the "hog" days of summer. I can vouch for the lethargy and laziness which has accompanied this past month and continues on into August. It's hard to get outside and do what needs to be done and not end up in sweat-soaked clothing and the constant need to force fluids into us so we can sweat it out again.
It has been brutal standing and working in the sun and even after the sun goes down there is no real relief until the AC of our motor home after the Play is over. Walking up over 100 steps from the floor of the Play set to the top of the amphitheater puts a real cap on the activities of the day and reminds me that hog days are hog nights as well. Next week we will be in Little Rock for my medical procedure and that will give us some relief from the outside heat, but add some medical heat to our agenda. We are being optimistic about the exam on Tuesday and hope that the situation can be remedied by medication rather than surgery. One day at a time, for now; so we will do what needs to be done to endure the heat and get on to the cooler days and pleasant evenings of post-Labor Day in the Ozarks.........without wishing our time away........
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It has been brutal standing and working in the sun and even after the sun goes down there is no real relief until the AC of our motor home after the Play is over. Walking up over 100 steps from the floor of the Play set to the top of the amphitheater puts a real cap on the activities of the day and reminds me that hog days are hog nights as well. Next week we will be in Little Rock for my medical procedure and that will give us some relief from the outside heat, but add some medical heat to our agenda. We are being optimistic about the exam on Tuesday and hope that the situation can be remedied by medication rather than surgery. One day at a time, for now; so we will do what needs to be done to endure the heat and get on to the cooler days and pleasant evenings of post-Labor Day in the Ozarks.........without wishing our time away........
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, July 31, 2016
July 31, 2016. Eureka Springs, AR. You're Not Going to Believe This !
Two years ago, August 2, 2014, I wrote a blog entitled "The Key and the Lock", and I have retold that story many times as a testimony to God's influence on every aspect of our life. Well, God has given me a new story, and the setting of the story is the same; the Passion Play amphitheater. The activity is also the same; cleaning up after the previous night's performance. Friday morning as I was walking the rows and picking up "trash", I was remembering 2014 when I had found a number of $20 bills on the property. Whatever money I pick up, whether it is a penny or a twenty, or money I receive as a "tip" goes into the Passion Play donation box. In jest, I said, "Lord, let me find a twenty". Within a few minutes, in the next seating section I found a wallet wedged between the seat and back of a chair, a place I would not normally look.
There was plenty of identification and plenty of money in the wallet (nearly $200). I finished my clean-up and then looked through the wallet for a contact number and did find a cell number. I called, left a message and turned the wallet in at the ticket booth. About an hour later I checked with Ray and he told me the man had just come and picked up the wallet. Kiddingly, I asked Ray if the man had left a $20 donation as a "reward". No, he hadn't. But just then I looked over my shoulder and there was the man coming up to the box office. I recognized him from the picture I had seen on his VA identification card in his wallet. I thanked him for his military service, asked him if the VA was treating him well and we talked for a few more minutes. He explained that he was back at the Passion Play with his wife. They had been married in the chapel on the PP grounds, twenty years ago yesterday and were celebrating their anniversary by coming back to the Play. He thanked us for finding his wallet, handed Ray an envelope and left.
I looked at Ray and the unsealed envelope and said, "I bet there's a twenty in there for the Passion Play". I was wrong. There was a check for $250. God had answered my "prayer" and then some. Praise God for His faithfulness, His humor, and His ever-presence in every aspect and detail of our life, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem at the time. Thank you AWM from Georgia. And, Thank You, Lord, for a new "you're not going to believe this" story. You never cease to amaze me.
By the way, this morning the amphitheater yielded $2.60.
Sent from my iPad
There was plenty of identification and plenty of money in the wallet (nearly $200). I finished my clean-up and then looked through the wallet for a contact number and did find a cell number. I called, left a message and turned the wallet in at the ticket booth. About an hour later I checked with Ray and he told me the man had just come and picked up the wallet. Kiddingly, I asked Ray if the man had left a $20 donation as a "reward". No, he hadn't. But just then I looked over my shoulder and there was the man coming up to the box office. I recognized him from the picture I had seen on his VA identification card in his wallet. I thanked him for his military service, asked him if the VA was treating him well and we talked for a few more minutes. He explained that he was back at the Passion Play with his wife. They had been married in the chapel on the PP grounds, twenty years ago yesterday and were celebrating their anniversary by coming back to the Play. He thanked us for finding his wallet, handed Ray an envelope and left.
I looked at Ray and the unsealed envelope and said, "I bet there's a twenty in there for the Passion Play". I was wrong. There was a check for $250. God had answered my "prayer" and then some. Praise God for His faithfulness, His humor, and His ever-presence in every aspect and detail of our life, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem at the time. Thank you AWM from Georgia. And, Thank You, Lord, for a new "you're not going to believe this" story. You never cease to amaze me.
By the way, this morning the amphitheater yielded $2.60.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, July 28, 2016
July 28, 2016. Eureka Springs, AR. Thursday-All Work and No Play
Today is the last Thursday Performance Day, except for October 13th. Our schedule will now have one less "play day" per week, but that means one more work day, a day to work on projects which set the stage for completing the season and making improvements for next year. We also will not have our Team Effort youth volunteers after this week to help us with painting, clean-up and other projects on the property. The season will look different and the heat of August is still to come. School will be getting back in session as we approach September and many of the younger members in our cast will "retire" from the play and the crowd scenes will be less crowded. Hard to believe we are into the second half of the season.
Our third year here has been different, with new responsibilities and a different work load and we feel we have experienced some positive changes which bode well for the future of the Passion Play. Yesterday we were able to make arrangements for my Heart Catheterization Procedure at the VA in Little Rock on August 9 & 10. That may have a profound impact on our roles here at TGPP and later at SLMI where we plan to return in November for our third winter. Not wanting to get too far ahead of ourselves, we just pray for good findings, good results and a good future. God has it all under control and we need to let Him guide us through it to the result He wants.
For now, we get ready for tonight's Play, telling the story of Jesus, and knowing that in all things, the best is yet to come, even if we know that next week we have to work where we once could play. It's all good...........because we work for, play for and serve a Good God.
Sent from my iPad
Our third year here has been different, with new responsibilities and a different work load and we feel we have experienced some positive changes which bode well for the future of the Passion Play. Yesterday we were able to make arrangements for my Heart Catheterization Procedure at the VA in Little Rock on August 9 & 10. That may have a profound impact on our roles here at TGPP and later at SLMI where we plan to return in November for our third winter. Not wanting to get too far ahead of ourselves, we just pray for good findings, good results and a good future. God has it all under control and we need to let Him guide us through it to the result He wants.
For now, we get ready for tonight's Play, telling the story of Jesus, and knowing that in all things, the best is yet to come, even if we know that next week we have to work where we once could play. It's all good...........because we work for, play for and serve a Good God.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, July 25, 2016
July 25, 2016. Eureka Springs, AR. Half Full, Half Empty
Last week was a hot, humid, no rain, tough week, but it did bring us to the half-way point of the 2016 Passion Play season. Forty-one performances down, forty-one performances to go. Yesterday it poured down rain while the sun was brightly shining; today it is not even 80 degrees and there are storms all around us threatening us with on-and-off rain and cooler temperatures all week. The change will be welcome......I think.
July has been rough weather-wise, and our performances schedule was the busiest month of the season. The crowds this year are up from last year and we have not lost any performance days to rain. Even though we're on the "downward" side of the season we still are optimistic that this year will be a good one, setting the stage for good years to come. Because August is usually the hottest month here, the schedule only calls for 10 performance days, and while that doesn't diminish the other work on the grounds, we do have a lighter performance schedule. That gives us some relief from the late nights and longer work days. There are half full and half empty aspects to everything in life and the Passion Play schedule is no different. Pluses and minuses.....all good and all in God's plan.
Sent from my iPad
July has been rough weather-wise, and our performances schedule was the busiest month of the season. The crowds this year are up from last year and we have not lost any performance days to rain. Even though we're on the "downward" side of the season we still are optimistic that this year will be a good one, setting the stage for good years to come. Because August is usually the hottest month here, the schedule only calls for 10 performance days, and while that doesn't diminish the other work on the grounds, we do have a lighter performance schedule. That gives us some relief from the late nights and longer work days. There are half full and half empty aspects to everything in life and the Passion Play schedule is no different. Pluses and minuses.....all good and all in God's plan.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, July 22, 2016
July 22, 2016. Eureka Springs, AR. Wandering in the Desert
Moses lived 120 years according to Scripture and 80 of those years he spent in the Deserts of the Sinai Peninsula or in the desert of Midian on the Arabian Peninsula. In either case Moses, after living 40 years in luxury in the palace of Pharoah in Egypt, was a wanderer and a desert-dweller until he died on Mount Nebo east of the Jordan River and short of reaching the Promised Land he had hoped to deliver the children of Israel to.
As I learn more about Moses' life and as we experience very hot and humid weather here in Arkansas, it strikes me that a lot of people are forced to endure very trying living conditions as they make their way through life. We are so fortunate to have the conveniences of modern life, yet are aware that many others live in very austere, uncomfortable and even dangerous conditions. How fortunate we are to live in "the palace" while so many today are wandering in a "desert" far from any form of luxury or comfort. It's sad to realize that we really have little to complain about compared to what most of the world now faces and what people have had to endure throughout history, and yet we find a host of things to gripe, moan and complain about. None of us is immune from self-pity and a woe-is-me mentality and yesterday I found myself joining in with that crowd as I wandered in my own personal desert of discomfort and nay-saying.
Get over it, Hal. Look in the mirror and see a blessed man in every aspect of his life; past, present and a future filled with Hope and the promises of a faithful and trustworthy God. The past has been pretty good......and the best is yet to come........even with a heat index of 110........
out the door and into the desert.
Sent from my iPad
As I learn more about Moses' life and as we experience very hot and humid weather here in Arkansas, it strikes me that a lot of people are forced to endure very trying living conditions as they make their way through life. We are so fortunate to have the conveniences of modern life, yet are aware that many others live in very austere, uncomfortable and even dangerous conditions. How fortunate we are to live in "the palace" while so many today are wandering in a "desert" far from any form of luxury or comfort. It's sad to realize that we really have little to complain about compared to what most of the world now faces and what people have had to endure throughout history, and yet we find a host of things to gripe, moan and complain about. None of us is immune from self-pity and a woe-is-me mentality and yesterday I found myself joining in with that crowd as I wandered in my own personal desert of discomfort and nay-saying.
Get over it, Hal. Look in the mirror and see a blessed man in every aspect of his life; past, present and a future filled with Hope and the promises of a faithful and trustworthy God. The past has been pretty good......and the best is yet to come........even with a heat index of 110........
out the door and into the desert.
Sent from my iPad
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