May 27, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. James, the Elder

Last night in the Passion Play, I was cast in a role I had never played before. I was James, brother of John, one of the sons of Zebedee, a Son of Thunder. We don't always consider the age of the person in each role, so it was certainly interesting for me at age 73 to have a younger brother who was 16. Bryce could easily be Karen and my great grandson and yet there I was as an old, older brother to him..
One of the great things about being in the cast of TGPP is being given different roles, having to play a wide variety of characters and, in many cases, learn the role as we are doing it for the first time. Most of us know the lines for each part and the basic blocking of where we are supposed to be in each scene, but each role has a specific place to be at every specific time and while the audience may not realize we are not where we are supposed to be, the cast does know and is very helpful in guiding us to the right place at the right time. At times I it can be dangerous to be in the wrong place as the wrong time and since we have to often move from place to place in the dark, "bloopers" do occur. I was grateful for my younger brother, John and his assistance in my rookie performance as his older brother, James. I hope next time to do a better job of climbing the ladder, dropping the cloth strips over the arms of the Cross and behind the arms of The Christ Figure, prying his hands from the nails, getting down the ladder and to the tomb in the prescribed time.
It was a good experience. Thank you to all my "trainers" ..........and Thank You, Lord.




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May 24, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. Pick Up The Pace

This weekend, three performance days in a row. Next week three performance days in a row. And then for the next 8 weeks, four performance days per week. The pace will definitely quicken. Our youth mission trips begin in June and continue thru July with anywhere from 10 to 40 young people and their church leaders here to help with many of the ongoing projects on the property and also be part of our Passion Play cast.
We anticipate larger numbers of visitors coming to experience the Holy Land, the Play and other attractions and there are the mountain bike enthusiasts expected to ride our 20 miles of back country trails. All in all, the pace will quicken, the work to be done will escalate and our volunteers and additional hired staff will be stretched and stressed to meet the many needs and expectations of our guests. But that's what ministry is all about. In every situation we are told to plant seeds, be Christ to those who don't know Him and an encouragement to those who do. A simple plan, but a plan not easy to implement day after day in a world made of mere mortals.
Jesus never promised us an easy row to hoe, but hoe it we must as best we can.......that some may be saved and others lifted up in a tough row they have been asked to hoe. Thank You, Lord for the call on our lives, the freedom we have in You and those with whom we have been blessed to serve with....... strong and courageous...........in Your Name and for Your glory.

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May 21, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. The Show Did Go On

After a Saturday with heavy rain and small crowds, the weather cleared and the Play went on as scheduled before those who stayed the course. Daryl, the lot attendant for Lot B had no cars, so he came on set and joined the cast as a "street person". Although he has been here for many years, he had never been in the play, so it was a new experience for him and he seemed to enjoy his newest role.
It was a pleasant evening and regardless of the small number in the audience, we do our best to perform as if every seat is full. In the 51st season of the Great Passion Play, we are facing many obstacles to being assured of a 52nd season, and so we look for ways to keep telling the same story, but try to appeal to a population which is reluctant to hear it and also expand the audience to those who need to hear it. Only God knows what the future holds for TGPP and for each of us, but most of us here, staff and volunteers, want the future to include this ministry. It would be wonderful to pass the 8 Millionth visitor level and see the message delivered to a whole new generation of people and their children and grandchildren.
The story needs to be told.....and heard. Peoples' eternal fate is at stake. The Show Must Go On.

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May 18, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. Weather or Not

Once again we are on the fringe of severe weather which extends from San Antonio, Texas to well past Chicago. What the radar shows directly to our west is heavy rain and thunderstorms and they are expected here in 14 minutes. The wind has picked up, the sky is getting darker and there are very few people coming to tour The Holy Land. I think the red and yellow on the radar screen is keeping people away from here and possibly even heading to locations east and south of us.
Whatever the weather, we are at the ready to "perform" and present whether they come or not. The Play may be a "no show" if the threat of thunder and lightening continues on, but we still have time before that decision is made. We are now down to the "one minute warning" for heavy rain, so I will have the poncho at the ready, the radio close at hand for whatever may be requested and we'll weather the storm whether it comes or not. The forecast is now light rain with heavy rain and a thunderstorm for at least 120 minutes..........but no evidence of it yet.........Stay dry, y'all. It has begun to rain.........

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May 15, 2019 Eureka Springs, AR. Animal Friends

Monster is our latest animal acquaintance. Karen and I have never had a pet of our own in our married years, but we love animals and seem to attract other peoples' animals to us. It doesn't seem to make any difference what the animal is, who they belong to, or where we happen to be, animals must sense that we like them and they like us, too.
Karen gives great doggie massages and we have been known to be a boarding house for vacationing animal-owning friends. Thinking back, i have been a willing participant, but I do remember a few exceptions.
Many of the dogs and cats we have known are no longer alive (d), but we have pictures of some of them and even use pictures of them on our phones to identify the incoming caller. I don't know if there is an Animal Heaven, but our believing friends, believe there is one and look forward to a reunion someday. What a crowd of witnesses.
Some of the names which come to mind!: Tobyd), Tobie(d), Etta Fay(d), Lazlo(d), Buddy(d), Gracie, Earl(d), Skittles(d), Nicole(d), Tommy, Susie, Tommy, Gus(d), Harley, Peeka(d), Pryia, Samson, Rusty(d), Muffie(d), Annabelle(d), Ginger, Ruddick(d), Freckles(d), Zoey(d), Angel(d), Charlie, Romeo, Clay, Glaze, Indy the pig, Buddy the Llama, Abraham, Creme, Lady(d), Michelle, Nancy, Casper(d), Boo(d), Maggie, Gizzie(d), LittleBit, Delilah, Chumlie, Monica, Dakota, Zack(d), the Chow who ate the Gergil(d), Cinammon the goat, Dazey, Rosie, Chloey, Hillary, Barack, Elizabeth, Kolo, Lightfoot, CoCo......I can see others, but their names are not coming to me. I'm about to nod off and Karen is doing the same, (but just woke me up and added to the list).
We're almost into tomorrow, so we'll have to put them in another post up the road. Good night.


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Monster and Me: Out For A Ride

May 12, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. The Show Must Go On

Sometimes we have to "play hurt". We are told to "suck it up", "shake it off", don't be a quitter, let me kiss it and make it better, it'll only hurt for a while, it hurts me more than it hurts you, "grin and bear it", smile through the pain, it's only a flesh wound, get your second wind, win one for the Gipper , keep a stiff upper lip, this too shall pass. In other words.........run the race, finish strong and get up tomorrow and do it again. The show must go on.
People have different attitudes toward the tasks they undertake, the jobs they do and the way they want others to perceive them. I have always striven to finish what I start, to not leave a task in any condition but done, and done to the best of my ability. I remember one bicycle race in which I had a terrible crash within sprinting distance of the finish line, and as everyone passed me as I lay in a heap on the ground, I was determined to get up and cross the finish line, but my injuries prevented me from doing so. I was unable to muster up the strength and ability to overcome the pain or even stand on my feet. The race was over for that day.
But from that experience and eventual physical recovery, I did finish other races, completed tasks and came to a better understanding of what Scripture tells us about striving to reach goals, do our best, seek excellence, please God, become more Christlike and run the race with perseverance fixing our eyes on Jesus and His will for our life and not the temporal, worldly, material, fleeting rewards of life. Yes.....the show must go on......as God wills it......in His timing.....and for His Glory. Thank You, Lord.

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