My DNA test came back with no real surprises. I am NOT a Vanderbilt. I am 96% Western and Central European Jewish, 2% East European and less than 1% Middle Eastern and less than 1% North African. I also found out that the closest relatives who have been curious about their family history are second, third, fourth and fifth cousins and of them I recognized only one name. I guess my first cousins weren't too interested in finding out anything about their background. I'm no closer to knowing what Tribe I belong to, but pretty sure it's not the Iroquois.
One day we will all know all we are intended to know. God will answer every question, tell us everything we are in doubt about and give us all we need to live with Him in eternity. For now, we wait for Karen's DNA results to arrive. I'm sure her "Pie Chart" will be more exciting than mine. Based on what we know of her mom's family and the little we know of her father's family, she has a lot more chance of being a Vanderbilt than my 0% result. We wait with bated breath.
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Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Saturday, July 7, 2018
July 7, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. A Different Audience
The Passion Play is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Nearly 8 million people have seen the play which depicts the last week in the life of Jesus Christ. Some people come here year after year, some come with children or grandchildren, having themselves been brought here by their parents of grandparents. Churches come with senior groups, youth groups or even come as a week-long mission trip or camp-like adventure. Some people are here for the first time.
But this year year, we have a different demographic coming to the Passion Play property and most are not coming to see the Play, Holy Land, the three museums or even The Christ of The Ozarks Statue. The new guests are mountain bike riders who are coming to ride the newly constructed trail system on our nearly 700 acre grounds. There are currently about five miles of world-class rolling contour mountain bike trails completed with some 15 miles still to be completed over the next few years. The trails are open to riders of all skill levels, are free to use and do not require any sign in or contact with any of the Passion Play employees or other guests. There is plenty of parking, easy access to the trail system and riders can use the trails even when other PP activities are in progress. I've ridden part of the trail, hiked the remainder and am impressed with the quality of the project. Some of the people who built the trails live on the property and a few are employed by the PP to assist with some of our youth mission activities. The whole project which is funded by an outside group has been a good addition to the PP ministry and "up the trail" it may even generate interest in The Play and be a missionary outreach to expose more people to Jesus and the Gospel message.
You never know where the seeds we scatter may land and on what type of soil they may fall. God can use anything for Good. We just need to be willing to scatter the seed.......The Holy Spirit will do the rest.
Sent from my iPad
But this year year, we have a different demographic coming to the Passion Play property and most are not coming to see the Play, Holy Land, the three museums or even The Christ of The Ozarks Statue. The new guests are mountain bike riders who are coming to ride the newly constructed trail system on our nearly 700 acre grounds. There are currently about five miles of world-class rolling contour mountain bike trails completed with some 15 miles still to be completed over the next few years. The trails are open to riders of all skill levels, are free to use and do not require any sign in or contact with any of the Passion Play employees or other guests. There is plenty of parking, easy access to the trail system and riders can use the trails even when other PP activities are in progress. I've ridden part of the trail, hiked the remainder and am impressed with the quality of the project. Some of the people who built the trails live on the property and a few are employed by the PP to assist with some of our youth mission activities. The whole project which is funded by an outside group has been a good addition to the PP ministry and "up the trail" it may even generate interest in The Play and be a missionary outreach to expose more people to Jesus and the Gospel message.
You never know where the seeds we scatter may land and on what type of soil they may fall. God can use anything for Good. We just need to be willing to scatter the seed.......The Holy Spirit will do the rest.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
July 4, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Happy Birthday, America
It feels like any other day, but it is the official Birthday of the United States of America; 242 years old. There are many issues which tend to divide us, as well as those which bring us together. We still have political, economic, financial, racial, religious and a host of other topics which generate different opinions among our citizenry and wanna-be citizenry and there are many issues on which we agree more than disagree. But that is the beauty of our country, the right we have to express our opinion, discuss issues on which we disagree and hopefully resolve our issues in a way that people benefit from the decision.
We do have factions which want to stifle other factions and when that happens we can get into trouble. Some issues are "deal breakers" while others may be classified as "pet peeves" and we do have to pick our battles or we can get into a "my way or the highway" mentality which leads to angry voices and radical activities where people can get hurt or killed. But when we look at other countries, we see situations far worse than ours. We see extreme national poverty, dictatorships and police-states far worse than what people think we have in America. As bad as it may seem here, I don't see Americans lining up at the borders of other countries to seek asylum, political amnesty, or escape the "American way". We may move out of the big cities to a more rural or country or small town environment, but we are not evacuees, boat people or running away from what is by far the best country in the world.
How we handle all those who want to come here to study, to work or to live, is not an easy matter to resolve, but resolve it we must or we invite all manner of problems, burdens on our resources and financial strains on a system which is already stretched to the limit. With it all.......Happy Birthday, America and may God who is the ultimate provider, sustainer and protector continue to Bless America. Thank You, Lord for the Freedom we have in America and In You.
Sent from my iPad
We do have factions which want to stifle other factions and when that happens we can get into trouble. Some issues are "deal breakers" while others may be classified as "pet peeves" and we do have to pick our battles or we can get into a "my way or the highway" mentality which leads to angry voices and radical activities where people can get hurt or killed. But when we look at other countries, we see situations far worse than ours. We see extreme national poverty, dictatorships and police-states far worse than what people think we have in America. As bad as it may seem here, I don't see Americans lining up at the borders of other countries to seek asylum, political amnesty, or escape the "American way". We may move out of the big cities to a more rural or country or small town environment, but we are not evacuees, boat people or running away from what is by far the best country in the world.
How we handle all those who want to come here to study, to work or to live, is not an easy matter to resolve, but resolve it we must or we invite all manner of problems, burdens on our resources and financial strains on a system which is already stretched to the limit. With it all.......Happy Birthday, America and may God who is the ultimate provider, sustainer and protector continue to Bless America. Thank You, Lord for the Freedom we have in America and In You.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, July 1, 2018
July 1, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. The Week In Review
I remember a news program, but none of the details of it, entitled "The Week In Review", so here is a brief recap of our past week. As I blogged, this week marked the 19th anniversary of
my becoming a Jesus follower. On Wednesday we went to The VA and I was treated for a nasty sinus infection, which has improved significantly. As always happens at the VA, we get to meet and talk with a number of vets about their post-military health issues and the treatment they have received from the VA. In almost every case, the VA has more than taken good care of them, considering some of the things they have endured because of service-related injuries and illnesses which resulted from their service. The Agent Orange issue has been a tragic situation for many of the vets and their families. I applaud the wives who have stood by their husbands as their man's body has been altered by the Agent Orange exposure.
I was able to nap a few times and feel less worn out after another hot and humid four-day performance week. I had to fill in for Dick as the morning Tabernacle presenter, because of a tumble he took at home on Tuesday which kept him away for the end of the week. A hose on our refrigerator ice-maker burst causing a little water leakage inside. We will need a repair, but are not without water for our other needs. We set a Holy Land attendance high of 336 for the year, including a 103 year old woman who was a delight and made our busy day a lot more enjoyable and enlightening. Church today was very emotional with its tribute to America, honoring of veterans, Mark's heart-rending message about our being active and committed doers of the Great Commission.
It's been a good week. I reflected on a number of times in my life, on events which impacted me deeply at the time and are once again impacting me and how I view the path before us. How are we are going to continue serving The Lord? Where are we going to spend our winter months this year? Is there something new on the horizon? Are we listening enough to know God's plan for us? We had a drizzle of rain today, but it hardly made any difference to the drought-like situation we have had the past two months. July has been the most trying summer month here and we have already had a July-like May and June. What can we anticipate?
More questions than answers, but we press on. God has it all figured out.
Sent from my iPad
my becoming a Jesus follower. On Wednesday we went to The VA and I was treated for a nasty sinus infection, which has improved significantly. As always happens at the VA, we get to meet and talk with a number of vets about their post-military health issues and the treatment they have received from the VA. In almost every case, the VA has more than taken good care of them, considering some of the things they have endured because of service-related injuries and illnesses which resulted from their service. The Agent Orange issue has been a tragic situation for many of the vets and their families. I applaud the wives who have stood by their husbands as their man's body has been altered by the Agent Orange exposure.
I was able to nap a few times and feel less worn out after another hot and humid four-day performance week. I had to fill in for Dick as the morning Tabernacle presenter, because of a tumble he took at home on Tuesday which kept him away for the end of the week. A hose on our refrigerator ice-maker burst causing a little water leakage inside. We will need a repair, but are not without water for our other needs. We set a Holy Land attendance high of 336 for the year, including a 103 year old woman who was a delight and made our busy day a lot more enjoyable and enlightening. Church today was very emotional with its tribute to America, honoring of veterans, Mark's heart-rending message about our being active and committed doers of the Great Commission.
It's been a good week. I reflected on a number of times in my life, on events which impacted me deeply at the time and are once again impacting me and how I view the path before us. How are we are going to continue serving The Lord? Where are we going to spend our winter months this year? Is there something new on the horizon? Are we listening enough to know God's plan for us? We had a drizzle of rain today, but it hardly made any difference to the drought-like situation we have had the past two months. July has been the most trying summer month here and we have already had a July-like May and June. What can we anticipate?
More questions than answers, but we press on. God has it all figured out.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, June 28, 2018
June 28, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. 19 Years
Yesterday was the anniversary of my coming to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It was 1999, and my search of 40 years for the Messiah had come to a close and the beginning of my walk with Him was about to begin. I could never have written a fiction story which would have rivaled the non-fiction journey of these past nineteen years. A Jewish man coming to a faith in a Jewish man who lived 2000 years ago, who came to bring the Jewish people of the First Century to a closer and more personal relationship with the God of the Universe.
It would be hard to put into a blog-length narrative, what these past nineteen years have been like. There have high highs and low lows, but then again the past 72 years have been a series of high highs and low lows. Life has not gotten harder or easier because life is always hard or easy depending on the attitude we have toward what we are presently experiencing. But life is simpler when we know that there is always Someone with us to guide us through (not around) the highs and lows. When our focus is on a better tomorrow and an eternal hope, life is easier to navigate and endure. An attitude of thankfulness and gratitude for what Jesus did, does and promises to do on our behalf, is what gets us to the next step on the journey, and one step closer to the final "well done" we so eagerly look forward to. Thank You, Lord, for the past 19. The Best is yet to come.
Sent from my iPad
It would be hard to put into a blog-length narrative, what these past nineteen years have been like. There have high highs and low lows, but then again the past 72 years have been a series of high highs and low lows. Life has not gotten harder or easier because life is always hard or easy depending on the attitude we have toward what we are presently experiencing. But life is simpler when we know that there is always Someone with us to guide us through (not around) the highs and lows. When our focus is on a better tomorrow and an eternal hope, life is easier to navigate and endure. An attitude of thankfulness and gratitude for what Jesus did, does and promises to do on our behalf, is what gets us to the next step on the journey, and one step closer to the final "well done" we so eagerly look forward to. Thank You, Lord, for the past 19. The Best is yet to come.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, June 25, 2018
June 25, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Sleep Deprived
I have always been able to function with less than the "normal" 8 hours of sleep. I'm not saying that I have been able to function well with less than 8 hours of sleep, but I have never been a late into the morning sleeper, and I have very rarely been a napper. For the past six plus years, I have been using a CPAP machine to help me get more air into my system during sleep and have not missed a single night using the machine.
I do average between six and seven hours of sleep per day, but do fall asleep in my chair while I am sewing, watching TV, or blogging, and there are days when I am definitely tired and drag through the day. One of my doctors at the VA said many of my health issues are related to being sleep deprived, but he has advised that I get my sleep in one "dose" at night and avoid napping during the day. Many of the people my age are firm believers in an afternoon nap to make up for sleep lost overnight. Since I have been fighting a "summer cold" the past few weeks, and am still getting up about 5:30 each morning, I have been really dragged out and with the four day performance schedule, I have really been pooped out from the long hours awake.
Yesterday I got up early, did my early morning reading and went back to sleep. I got up at 11:15 and felt pretty rested. Today I was up early again, did my normal tasks until noon, and took a nap from noon to 3pm. I feel pretty good and even though my schedule only gives me "nap" opportunities on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday until the end of July, I think I will see if I can use the nap times to get my strength back. Wednesday I will have my Iron checked at the VA to see if my tired blood isn't as tired as it was in mid-April.
Maybe, the naps helped. I stayed awake the whole blog time today.
Sent from my iPad
I do average between six and seven hours of sleep per day, but do fall asleep in my chair while I am sewing, watching TV, or blogging, and there are days when I am definitely tired and drag through the day. One of my doctors at the VA said many of my health issues are related to being sleep deprived, but he has advised that I get my sleep in one "dose" at night and avoid napping during the day. Many of the people my age are firm believers in an afternoon nap to make up for sleep lost overnight. Since I have been fighting a "summer cold" the past few weeks, and am still getting up about 5:30 each morning, I have been really dragged out and with the four day performance schedule, I have really been pooped out from the long hours awake.
Yesterday I got up early, did my early morning reading and went back to sleep. I got up at 11:15 and felt pretty rested. Today I was up early again, did my normal tasks until noon, and took a nap from noon to 3pm. I feel pretty good and even though my schedule only gives me "nap" opportunities on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday until the end of July, I think I will see if I can use the nap times to get my strength back. Wednesday I will have my Iron checked at the VA to see if my tired blood isn't as tired as it was in mid-April.
Maybe, the naps helped. I stayed awake the whole blog time today.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, June 22, 2018
June 22, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Time
I've said it many times. Karen and I are fortunate to be able to live as we do, to serve God as we do and have a freedom which many people we know, do not have. We're not specially gifted with a trust fund, unlimited wealth or the power to tell others what to do or how to live their lives. We're not limited by pets, children, grandchildren, jobs which require a set work schedule or by responsibilities which require us to live by a fixed routine or tells us when we can take time off for vacations or travel. We have been blessed with enough financial means and the places we have chosen to serve God, which allow us to pretty much live as we want to.
We still must adhere to schedules, adjust our travel and volunteer service times, medical appointments, shopping trips and many other activities to times that others set for us, but it's amazing how easy that can be when we just do a little planning, communicate effectively and adjust our lives to get done what needs to be done when we can find ways to fit into others' available time for us.
In the big picture, God controls time, provides sufficient time for each of us to get things done, helps us appropriate time in such a way that we get multiple things accomplished at the same time, gives us time to rest, sleep and get where we need on time and with sufficient time to complete the needed task. One day, time will be a thing of the past. In Eternity, time will not matter, everything will be accomplished when it needs to be, there will be no such thing as being late or tardy, calendars will be unnecessary and we will not be rushed or be restricted by speed limits or the victim of a radar gun on the highway. We will always be on time, no matter how late or early we arrive, and we will not need watches, clocks, cell phones, GPS or Metamucil to keep us "regular". What a wonderful day that will be.
As for this blog.........time's up.
Sent from my iPad
We still must adhere to schedules, adjust our travel and volunteer service times, medical appointments, shopping trips and many other activities to times that others set for us, but it's amazing how easy that can be when we just do a little planning, communicate effectively and adjust our lives to get done what needs to be done when we can find ways to fit into others' available time for us.
In the big picture, God controls time, provides sufficient time for each of us to get things done, helps us appropriate time in such a way that we get multiple things accomplished at the same time, gives us time to rest, sleep and get where we need on time and with sufficient time to complete the needed task. One day, time will be a thing of the past. In Eternity, time will not matter, everything will be accomplished when it needs to be, there will be no such thing as being late or tardy, calendars will be unnecessary and we will not be rushed or be restricted by speed limits or the victim of a radar gun on the highway. We will always be on time, no matter how late or early we arrive, and we will not need watches, clocks, cell phones, GPS or Metamucil to keep us "regular". What a wonderful day that will be.
As for this blog.........time's up.
Sent from my iPad
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