It gets really hot, humid and rain-challenged in Arkansas during August, so the performance schedule goes from four a week to three and then two per week until September and October when we complete the season with three performance days per week. A number of volunteers who left for other obligations will be coming back to help close out the season and work on projects for the 2015 opening. We've all worked hard at the tasks we have been given and feel that the Passion Play is going to finish 2014 strong. With proper planning, coordination of effort between the employees and volunteers and some modifications to the script and a more focused marketing plan, promotions and advertising, the prospects for 2015 looks bright and optimistic.
A number of the volunteers were informally talking about our plans for November and beyond. While we didn't come to any firm decisions, we did agree that it would be nice to stay together, find some places we could "vacation" and also be able to help a ministry, church, outreach or other service project and use our talents and what we have learned here to help do God's work in other places. Karen and I have been apart for the past month and she is planning on heading back to Arkansas later this week, so we need time to review all that has happened since June 25th and make arrangements for some needed repairs to the motor home and then decide what's next. We are so fortunate to be able to live this way and while I miss some of my Colorado routine, I have really enjoyed and thrived in the past 4months on the road and 3 months here in Eureka Springs. I would not have imagined how blessed I feel for the experiences we have had. God had a plan we could not have envisioned and provision we can thank no one else but Him for. The cloud and the pillar of fire still rest on us here and where we go from here is for God to reveal and for us to obey. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
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Monday, July 28, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
July 25, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Bless The Lord, Oh My Soul
A lot of things happened yesterday that were not planned and put a serious crimp in not only the events of the day, but altered what we thought would be the agenda for today. In an instant, or rather a series of instants, life changed. Scripture is replete with verses which speak to making plans, looking too far ahead, worrying about the future, bemoaning the unexpected, getting ahead of God, relying too much on our own strength, not trusting God. In every such verse, the lesson is the same: God is God, and we are not. Accept what comes and press on. He has it all under control.
The Streams in the Desert devotional today cites John 13:7 where Jesus tells Peter that he may not understand why He is washing Peter's feet, but will someday. In similar fashion we don't fully understand why the water pipe sprung a leak and required 6 people a full day to repair, the air brakes on the Holy Land bus failed, the maintenance pickup slipped into neutral, rolled down the hill into a tree, a brief, but intense 70 mile per hour wind, knocked over trees and caused other minor property damage, and the list goes on. Today we have pre-sales which indicate it will be our busiest day and largest Play audience, yet we are facing issues which will make our day a test of our resources and our patience, plus it is going to be in the mid 90's with high humidity. We don't understand.
The words of the song, "Bless The Lord, Oh My Soul" is my prayer: "The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, it's time to sing Your song again, whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.......worship His Holy Name......"
Look up all the words when you have a few minutes, and let it be your prayer for today, and every day.
Sent from my iPad
The Streams in the Desert devotional today cites John 13:7 where Jesus tells Peter that he may not understand why He is washing Peter's feet, but will someday. In similar fashion we don't fully understand why the water pipe sprung a leak and required 6 people a full day to repair, the air brakes on the Holy Land bus failed, the maintenance pickup slipped into neutral, rolled down the hill into a tree, a brief, but intense 70 mile per hour wind, knocked over trees and caused other minor property damage, and the list goes on. Today we have pre-sales which indicate it will be our busiest day and largest Play audience, yet we are facing issues which will make our day a test of our resources and our patience, plus it is going to be in the mid 90's with high humidity. We don't understand.
The words of the song, "Bless The Lord, Oh My Soul" is my prayer: "The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, it's time to sing Your song again, whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.......worship His Holy Name......"
Look up all the words when you have a few minutes, and let it be your prayer for today, and every day.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
July 22, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. How hot is it.........?
It's only 91 degrees, but it feels like 103 according to the weather people. When you are involved with outdoor activities on days like this, it's important to stay hydrated, seek shade and limit the physical activity. For better or worse, the Holy Land Tour here at The Great Passion Play involves a certain amount of walking, with limited areas of shade and while there are water stations most people don't drink enough in such conditions. Even our presenters and drivers don't always follow the basic "rules" and we all face the possibility of heat-related problems. I have retired to the comfort of our motor home and the air-conditioning, but there are still a bunch of people still in "the fire". I pray for their well-being . We will be having this weather
for the rest of the week, so suck it up everyone and be weather wise.
As for my chigger war, I've had a few good days. Between the 9 old remedies and a few added ones suggested to me (rubbing alcohol, clear nail polish, Cetaphil, Deep Woods Off on the ankles, Clean and Clear foaming facial cleaner and new underwear), I have turned the tide and am scratching less and feeling comfortable more. I haven't claimed victory yet, but the score has tightened up considerably. Thank You, Lord.
Enough for now. I've already dozed off once and the iPad is acting funny. Must be the heat. See you again, soon.
Sent from my iPad
for the rest of the week, so suck it up everyone and be weather wise.
As for my chigger war, I've had a few good days. Between the 9 old remedies and a few added ones suggested to me (rubbing alcohol, clear nail polish, Cetaphil, Deep Woods Off on the ankles, Clean and Clear foaming facial cleaner and new underwear), I have turned the tide and am scratching less and feeling comfortable more. I haven't claimed victory yet, but the score has tightened up considerably. Thank You, Lord.
Enough for now. I've already dozed off once and the iPad is acting funny. Must be the heat. See you again, soon.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, July 19, 2014
July 19, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Chiggers 1, Hal 0
We have had a gorgeous week here at TGPP. The weather has been unseasonably cool and the humidity has been Colorado-ish. We were threatened with a blast of rain Thursday, but it stood still to our west and then divided and went around us with little more than a sprinkle as the Play ended. We have been blessed. But in one area I have come out on the short end of the scoreboard: Chiggers.
I've blogged a few times about the critters we have encountered on our journey, but for the moment the chiggers have the upper hand and I am doing everything in my power to even the score and eventually claim victory. I woke the other morning to a horrendous sight in an area that even a Speedo could not cover (NO picture with this post). The number of bites was astronomical. The few remedies I had on hand were no match for the itch and it became necessary to bombard the internet and the pharmacy for assistance. I even prayed while being healed of leprosy in the Play last night that Jesus would extended the healing to the chigger bites, but it didn't work.
My allies right now are Calamine Lotion, Epsom Salts, Dermoplast, Lotrimin, Hydrocortisone, Triple Antibiotic, Chiggerex 2X power, Gold Bond Medicated Extra Strength Body Powder, Oatmeal Soap, and prayers for will power and self-control. I'm going to trim my nails and run around the motor home with a minimum of garments below the waist. I'm not too concerned about drug interactions at this point. Any suggestions would be appreciated and put into immediate use. This is a battle I need to win, and soon. We are expecting temperatures in the mid-to-high 90's next week and that will require an itch-free environment. We all have questions we hope to get answers to in Heaven............Chiggers? Why, Lord?
Sent from my iPad
I've blogged a few times about the critters we have encountered on our journey, but for the moment the chiggers have the upper hand and I am doing everything in my power to even the score and eventually claim victory. I woke the other morning to a horrendous sight in an area that even a Speedo could not cover (NO picture with this post). The number of bites was astronomical. The few remedies I had on hand were no match for the itch and it became necessary to bombard the internet and the pharmacy for assistance. I even prayed while being healed of leprosy in the Play last night that Jesus would extended the healing to the chigger bites, but it didn't work.
My allies right now are Calamine Lotion, Epsom Salts, Dermoplast, Lotrimin, Hydrocortisone, Triple Antibiotic, Chiggerex 2X power, Gold Bond Medicated Extra Strength Body Powder, Oatmeal Soap, and prayers for will power and self-control. I'm going to trim my nails and run around the motor home with a minimum of garments below the waist. I'm not too concerned about drug interactions at this point. Any suggestions would be appreciated and put into immediate use. This is a battle I need to win, and soon. We are expecting temperatures in the mid-to-high 90's next week and that will require an itch-free environment. We all have questions we hope to get answers to in Heaven............Chiggers? Why, Lord?
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
July 16, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. The News
I don't watch much television any more. We only have five or six channels to choose from and to be honest, there isn't much to get excited about on them. But we do get two national network news broadcasts and most evenings at 5:30, I opt for one or the other, usually NBC. Tonight I watched the News and soon realized that all the stories were about horrible things happening in our world: war in the Middle East, samples of deadly bacteria and disease strains being poorly monitored, drought and water shortages in California, the rising cost of chocolate, airline mishaps, severe weather and lightening deaths, a drug used by heart patients to lower cholesterol which is now deemed to be inefficient, a report on the movie Jaws and how it has unreasonably kept people from swimming in the ocean for years, a state Governor's testing the waters of Presidential politics when he already has an image problem in his own state. Even the commercials were depressing with all the medicines and their endless list of side effects and warnings. Only the hope of $5000 a month for life and the life of someone of my choosing after I am dead, boosted my morale for 15 seconds until it dawned on me that my "heir" might want me gone sooner than later to reap the benefits of his legacy.
The news is over now, and there isn't much I really care to watch on NBC or CBS or PBS or the two cooking channels or the Arkansas channel which reads to the blind. It's nice to be here in northwest Arkansas listening to the chirping of some birds or crickets, to enjoy a quiet evening after a cooler than normal day and 52 degrees at dawn. I think I'll go for a walk or take one of the golf carts and visit my animal friends at the barn, take a picture of the Christ of The Ozarks Statue and watch the sunset a little later. By the way, I'll skip the 10 o'clock news. I've already heard the news from Razorback Nation about the U of Arkansas' winless football season last year and the prospects for an equally gloomy season this year. How much more bad news do we need. Tomorrow we welcome visitors again to the Passion Play and our ministry of proclaiming The Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's the news we all need and can rest on for what's left of this life and the promised one to come. Thank You Lord. How Great Thou Art.
Sent from my iPad
The news is over now, and there isn't much I really care to watch on NBC or CBS or PBS or the two cooking channels or the Arkansas channel which reads to the blind. It's nice to be here in northwest Arkansas listening to the chirping of some birds or crickets, to enjoy a quiet evening after a cooler than normal day and 52 degrees at dawn. I think I'll go for a walk or take one of the golf carts and visit my animal friends at the barn, take a picture of the Christ of The Ozarks Statue and watch the sunset a little later. By the way, I'll skip the 10 o'clock news. I've already heard the news from Razorback Nation about the U of Arkansas' winless football season last year and the prospects for an equally gloomy season this year. How much more bad news do we need. Tomorrow we welcome visitors again to the Passion Play and our ministry of proclaiming The Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's the news we all need and can rest on for what's left of this life and the promised one to come. Thank You Lord. How Great Thou Art.
Sent from my iPad
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