July 12, 2020. Eureka Springs, AR. Who Do You Trust?

Not the Johnny Carson game show of the late 50's and early 60's, which I don't remember ever watching. I mean who do you trust in today's political arena, health field, for economic/financial advice, religious leader, insurance products, advertising spokesman, weather forecaster or any other area where someone professes to know more than you and seeks your allegiance, financial support, loyalty or endorsement?
For whatever reason, I am reluctant to "hitch my wagon" to anyone, and especially in this time of uncertainty, political and social unrest and TMI coming from our news sources and social media, I have become very cautious of what I listen to, who I believe and what I do with my time, my money and the people I spend my time with. I have always been wary of those who talk more than they listen, and those who have "been there, done that" although my closest friends (who I have only a few), all have "been there and done that" and they do tend to talk more than they listen.
Who do I trust? I trust The God I have dedicated my past 21 years to and who believed in me from the day I was born over 74 years ago; I trust Karen, my wife of 46 years and I trust that however we come through this current health/economic dilemma we will have the best still to come, beyond anything we could dream or imagine. Thank You, Lord, for giving us hope now and a certain future. Yes..............Thank You, Lord.

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July 9, 2020. Eureka Springs, AR. Sabbath Rest

The Bible talks a great deal about times when we are supposed to rest. Even God who created everything in six days, rested on the seventh and called us to do the same. It's not a simple or easy declaration or command to implement because I don't really believe God rested, ever stopped creating or has ever taken a break from His work of directing His creation on the path, and in the direction He wants us to go.
That being said, Karen and I are in our seventh (Sabbath)year volunteering at The Great Passion Play and it has not been, or looks to be a rest year from the work of telling the world the story of Jesus Christ and His last week of earthly ministry. This has been a doozie of a year and with four months still to go, it would appear to be a year when rest is going to be a scarce commodity for those of us committed to serving here in Eureka Springs. Of course, the Covid-19 situation is unprecedented and with less people doing the work, it has been tough, to say the least. Our attendance is down, our resources less than ideal, the uncertainty of governmental directives, the stress of masks and social distancing, concern for the health and welfare of staff, cast, visitors from all over the place and the hot and humid conditions have made it tough and stressful for all of us. Rest doesn't appear to be part of the agenda and yet, without it, we are wearing down and praying for wise decisions, reliable information and cool heads to prevail. We will press on, trust that God is in complete control and will see us through, to do it all again in the days, months and years to come, until He Comes, to take us to the eternal rest we hope for and trust will be ours when it is God's time for it.
I think I'll hit the sack a little earlier tonight. It's hard to make up for late nights and early wake-ups, but I need to start somewhere, and now is as good a time as any. Nighty night.




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July 6, 2020. Eureka Springs, AR. No News Is Good News

Another expression we use often to convey the thought that when we don't hear from someone, everything is okay and we needn't be concerned. But the phrase can also be interpreted as: nothing on the news is very good and so none of what we hear is very good. To counter this impression, the news broadcast tries to report a "feel good" story as they end the broadcast to have us leave with a positive experience from the mountain of negativity which preceded it.
I don't know why, but I usually turn the news off before the last story and, therefore, have a pessimistic view of the world to end my viewing experience. The world is in sad shape. Our priorities are all out of whack and we are digging up old hurts and distorting our past to try to create a Utopia when it is impossible to do so since we have no idea what that means. We lost our only Utopia when Adam and Eve decided that the one tree they were told not to touch became the only tree that they wanted.
There is an solution, but the world doesn't really want to believe it and those of us who do believe in the solution are about to lose our right to meet together, to tell others about it and make the feel good story the Good News which will return us to the "pre-Apple Garden" which God has prepared for us.
Almost like a parable. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear". It's up to us.

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July 3, 2020. Eureka Springs, AR. Whatever It Takes

Sometimes our plans go awry, the best laid plans of mice and men fall apart under the weight of reality; be flexible and spontaneous when the door we think is the right one doesn't open or isn't even there. There is a reason why things are as they are and not as we want them to be. God's plan is not ours, unless we drop ours and adopt His, and then we see the foolishness of trying to go it alone, without Him.
Life is a roller coaster and God is the architect of the whole "amusement park". He is The Question and The Answer. He Is The Creator, The Organizer and The Solution. He Is Everything and.......whatever it takes, WHATEVER IT TAKES.......we are to drop what we have and pick up what He gives us and give it our all, so that His Will, not ours, Be Done. Let's renew our efforts to do It right, and feel the joy it gives us, and HIM.
Thank You, Lord


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June 30, 2020. Eureka Springs, AR. On The Attack.......Again

As we get acclimated to our new home, from the country to The Country, an old nemesis has reared its' ugly, unseen head......the dreaded chigger. Even Karen has been exposed to them as she is doing some of the watering duties. I have been overwhelmed with the little pests over the past few weeks and am beginning to look like a goalie at a dart game. Thus, the search for new, and more effective remedies.
While shopping for a hummingbird feeder, after the squirrels nearly destroyed the one left by the prior owners, I was exposed to sulfur and the sulfur sock as a new and powerful weapon against chiggers. I will implement that weapon along with DEET when I venture into the wilds of rural Holiday Island.
We are working hard to make our new house a home, learning more about living in the woods and how to overcome obstacles we never thought we would have to face, let alone, overcome. We have decided this is where we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to be doing, so with God's help and some increased spunk, we will do it.......and we will prevail. Above all..........resist the urge to scratch........

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June 27, 2020. Eureka Springs, AR. Happy Born Again Day

I've written before about June 27, 1999 when I accepted Jesus into my life. The 21 years since then have been an exceptional journey and it seems to get more interesting and blessed as we continue to follow Him and the path He sets before us.
The devotional in Streams in the Desert for this date is so appropriate for me and it would be well worth you looking it up and being strengthened by it in your walk with The Lord. To summarize: The Lord is my strength to go on
The Lord is my strength to go up
The Lord is my strength to go down
The Lord is my strength to sit still
The Lord is my strength.......
Take a few minutes, look it up online or in the copy on your shelf. I pray it inspires and uplifts you as it does me.......every year when I read it............on my Special Day.
Thank You, Lord.

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June 24, 2020. Holiday island, AR. Are We Having Fun Yet?

At the Passion Play we work long hours and perform a wide variety of tasks. At the end of the day we look back at the events of the day, go to bed tired but anxious to do it all again tomorrow. My head hit the pillow at about midnight at our cabin in Holiday Island and I was anticipating a day of enjoying our new home, doing a few easy chores, meeting with someone who I wanted to help control the humidity in our house, have our televisions hooked up to the Dish and get to bed at a reasonable hour.
It really didn't work out as planned and a few issues popped up which caused some anxious moments and we are at 6:30 still waiting for the Dish guy. I had to dig a hole to find a water leak, will have a friend help me with the fix tomorrow, and still be able to have water and a much-needed shower tonight. We spent a lot more money on the humidity thing, but way less than I expected to update our heating, cooling and dehumidity situation, learned some interesting hints about high speed internet, boosting our cell phone reception, animals we need to protect ourselves from in the. country and a host of other practical things and contacts who will enhance our cabin experience. Karen and Jinny worked all day on indoor cleaning, laundry, putting things "away", planning for a major shopping adventure in Rogers tomorrow and we are still waiting on the Dish guy. We may get to sleep at midnight again. Quite a day of rest. Are we having fun yet? You bet your boots we are!! And looking forward to doing it all again early tomorrow. You know..........God is GOOD.




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