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Sunday, September 28, 2014
September 28, 2014. Eureka Springs,AR. Light the Light
Jesus Christ told His disciples that He was the Light of the World. His disciples spread the word and for 2000 years the word has been passed down generation to generation and many have heard and believed and done what they can to preach Jesus and the Good News to those who will listen and follow. At The Great Passion Play we seek to be disciples and make disciples. I've blogged often about out stay here the past 5 months and the mission of staff and volunteers of TGPP. The Christ of the Ozarks Statue is a visible symbol of Jesus Christ and overlooks the city of Eureka Springs to our west. While many people can see the Statue and take pride in it as a "landmark" for area, there is still an element of the population which does not follow Jesus and His teachings or even know what He taught and modeled.
But this week, something different happened here. First, one of the non-functioning lights which illuminate the Statue at night was replaced and the Statue was more visible to those in Eureka Springs. This weekend, every motel and hotel room in Eureka was occupied as a major motorcycle event (Bikes, Blues & BBQ) took place in northwest Arkansas. While TGPP's Bikes, Bibles & BBQ did not attract a large number of participants, there were many bikers who rode onto the grounds from Thursday to today to see the Statue. We pray that seeds may have been planted, the Light of the World shined a little bit brighter to all who saw Him, that a friendly wave or a smiling face may have tweaked curiosity, and that sometime in the future, in God's timing and with His nurturing, the seeds will sprout and the harvest of saved souls will be reaped for God's Kingdom. Let us stay faithful, continue to pray for lost souls and preach The Good News of Jesus Christ in words and deeds. Our mission is not yet accomplished.
Sent from my iPad
But this week, something different happened here. First, one of the non-functioning lights which illuminate the Statue at night was replaced and the Statue was more visible to those in Eureka Springs. This weekend, every motel and hotel room in Eureka was occupied as a major motorcycle event (Bikes, Blues & BBQ) took place in northwest Arkansas. While TGPP's Bikes, Bibles & BBQ did not attract a large number of participants, there were many bikers who rode onto the grounds from Thursday to today to see the Statue. We pray that seeds may have been planted, the Light of the World shined a little bit brighter to all who saw Him, that a friendly wave or a smiling face may have tweaked curiosity, and that sometime in the future, in God's timing and with His nurturing, the seeds will sprout and the harvest of saved souls will be reaped for God's Kingdom. Let us stay faithful, continue to pray for lost souls and preach The Good News of Jesus Christ in words and deeds. Our mission is not yet accomplished.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
September 24, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Where did you serve?
The Ministry of Miles hasn't logged many miles since we came to The Great Passion Play at the end of April, but we still talk with a lot of veterans when we are on the PP grounds or in Berryville or Eureka Springs. My Vietnam Veteran hat attracts attention and initiates dialogue about my service and our ministry. Whenever I see anything which makes me think an individual is a veteran, or the discussion trends toward why we are here, I tell about the Ministry of Miles and let the discussion go where it will.
Yesterday, while putting some literature in the Chapel in the Grove, I met Wayne and Connie and we got to the topic of military service, Vietnam and "where did you serve". I have gotten so used to hearing Vietnam locations (some of which I know and have been to, and others which I'm not familiar with) that when Wayne said he served at Phu Loi, it sounded so familiar that for a few seconds it didn't register ,,,,,,,,until it dawned on me: that was where I spent most of my 13 1/2 months "in country" from May, 1969 to June, 1970. Wayne had served there and returned home in early 1969. He knew the base, some of the history which complimented what I knew, and also gave me some information about the extensive use of Agent Orange on the base while he was there and extended into my time of service there as well. Wayne has a number of health issues on the agent Orange "presumptive" list including a son born with spina bifida and he does receive VA assistance although he has not taken full advantage of all the avenues open to him, We talked a little more about Phu Loi, the 79,000 Gallons of AO sprayed in that area by the Air Force and the AO sprayed there by his own helicopter unit to clear the perimeter of foliage prior to the Tet Offensive and the subsequent program to make sight lines wider to allow any attacking ground forces more visible and easier to detect for his unit and thereafter, mine. But the effects of AO persist and have impacted a lot of Vietnam Veterans over a long period of time.
It was not my career objective to serve in Vietnam. It was not my plan to have a heart attack 6 years ago this week. And it certainly was not in my thoughts that Vietnam, ischemic heart disease and a AO disability would all tie together to allow us to have the Ministry of Miles and be where we are, doing what we are doing and using the comfort and compassion shown to me to give comfort and compassion to others as 2 Corinthians 1 calls us to do.
Brothers in Arms......where did you serve?......thank you for your service......and may God bless you as He blesses us. Bad things may happen, but we serve a God who works them out for the good of those who love and serve Him. Thank You Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Yesterday, while putting some literature in the Chapel in the Grove, I met Wayne and Connie and we got to the topic of military service, Vietnam and "where did you serve". I have gotten so used to hearing Vietnam locations (some of which I know and have been to, and others which I'm not familiar with) that when Wayne said he served at Phu Loi, it sounded so familiar that for a few seconds it didn't register ,,,,,,,,until it dawned on me: that was where I spent most of my 13 1/2 months "in country" from May, 1969 to June, 1970. Wayne had served there and returned home in early 1969. He knew the base, some of the history which complimented what I knew, and also gave me some information about the extensive use of Agent Orange on the base while he was there and extended into my time of service there as well. Wayne has a number of health issues on the agent Orange "presumptive" list including a son born with spina bifida and he does receive VA assistance although he has not taken full advantage of all the avenues open to him, We talked a little more about Phu Loi, the 79,000 Gallons of AO sprayed in that area by the Air Force and the AO sprayed there by his own helicopter unit to clear the perimeter of foliage prior to the Tet Offensive and the subsequent program to make sight lines wider to allow any attacking ground forces more visible and easier to detect for his unit and thereafter, mine. But the effects of AO persist and have impacted a lot of Vietnam Veterans over a long period of time.
It was not my career objective to serve in Vietnam. It was not my plan to have a heart attack 6 years ago this week. And it certainly was not in my thoughts that Vietnam, ischemic heart disease and a AO disability would all tie together to allow us to have the Ministry of Miles and be where we are, doing what we are doing and using the comfort and compassion shown to me to give comfort and compassion to others as 2 Corinthians 1 calls us to do.
Brothers in Arms......where did you serve?......thank you for your service......and may God bless you as He blesses us. Bad things may happen, but we serve a God who works them out for the good of those who love and serve Him. Thank You Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, September 21, 2014
September 21, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. .....The road beckons.....
When we began our journey last December, we envisioned that we would be driving many miles and be moving from place to place on a fairly regular basis. Never did we imagine such a long stay in one place, like our stay at The Great Passion Play from April to the present and still a month to go. Karen did get back to Colorado, we had a brief trip to Searcy and then Rogers, Arkansas, but in effect we will have been in Arkansas for six months. A number of our new acquaintances here have moved on to other projects, and some like my friends in the Play, Gideon and Mary will be leaving before the season ends to take up residence in the Florida panhandle. Two of our volunteer couple are leaving for a week-long Campers On Mission rally up the road in Missouri to determine where they they will be volunteering over the winter months, and some of the volunteers will be staying the winter to keep the grounds of the Play in shape for the 2015 opening in the Spring. Karen and I are still not sure of our plans for after-October 25th. I do know that I will get a haircut and look less like Moses and more like I did when we left Colorado and we will be moving on.......somewhere.
We have enjoyed our stay here, and are sad that the season is winding down because we have truly felt at home here. We have learned new skills, met some wonderful people and feel we have done what God called us to do for Him and His Kingdom. Yes, there have been some rough moments, people who may not have liked our being here, toes stepped on or other personality conflicts, but that happens to a lot of people in a lot of life's situations. We are not yet in Heaven, after all, and the world is still the world. But soon the "road" beckons for us as it does for all when we face the decisions of life. God has a plan. He still is in control and when He speaks, and He always does, it's up to us to hear Him, obey Him and serve Him wherever the road beckons. Thank You, Lord for leading us and walking with us. What a joy it is to serve You.
Sent from my iPad
We have enjoyed our stay here, and are sad that the season is winding down because we have truly felt at home here. We have learned new skills, met some wonderful people and feel we have done what God called us to do for Him and His Kingdom. Yes, there have been some rough moments, people who may not have liked our being here, toes stepped on or other personality conflicts, but that happens to a lot of people in a lot of life's situations. We are not yet in Heaven, after all, and the world is still the world. But soon the "road" beckons for us as it does for all when we face the decisions of life. God has a plan. He still is in control and when He speaks, and He always does, it's up to us to hear Him, obey Him and serve Him wherever the road beckons. Thank You, Lord for leading us and walking with us. What a joy it is to serve You.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
September 17, 2014. Eureka Springs, AR. Sharps and Flats
I'm not writing about music. I'm writing about sharp objects that cause flat tires. An unusual topic, but one with specific application to our stay here at The Great Passion Play.
In 1982, I was in serious training for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and in 1983 for the Race Across AMerica (RAAM), a 3200 mile coast-to-coast competitive bicycle race. In literally thousands of miles of bicycling during those two years I had a minimum of flat tires and during both races did not have a single flat tire. However, while training for the 1984 RAAM, I had so many flat tires, I was forced to stop my training and not enter the Race that year. I recall one evening after a flat-ridden training ride having a flat in my front tire as I rode up the driveway of our Lakewood, Colorado home. The next morning as I rode down the driveway, I had a flat in the rear tire. As a non-believer at that time, I'm sure the language was quite colorful and not fit for repeating here. Frustration caused me to stop my training and opened the opportunity for Karen and I to be crew members for one of the1984 competitors who was less flat-prone.
This year, here at the Passion Play we are having a tremendous flat tire problem. It's not thorns, thistles or nails causing the problem, it's the plentiful and sharp Arkansas rocks which are the problem. We are dealing with tires on cars, pickups, trailers, golf carts, busses, ATV's, backhoes, tractors and mowers and the number of flats is extremely high. We are dealing with older vehicles, tires which have seen better days and have been plugged numerous times already and with budgets being what they are for individuals and the Play, we are getting very skilled at plugging tires while they are on the vehicle or replacing a flat with a recently plugged tire of similar size. There is not a single vehicle which can boast of a matching set of tires or even tires of similar width or diameter. Our motor home does have 6 new tires, but I'd rather not spend more time telling of our repair expenditures in the first year of owning our RV. That brings up sharp emotions and a flatter wallet. Enough said.
We don't have much choice but to plug the tire and plug ahead with the chores at hand. There are times we feel like a pit crew at a NASCAR race since we do have to get the vehicles "back in the race" and into service. We're on the home stretch of our time here at TGPP, and we can see the end of the tire problems. Thank God we have an extended service contract on the motor home with roadside assistance and a tire repair/replace clause and insurance which covers the same for our car. How blessed and grateful we are.
Sent from my iPad
In 1982, I was in serious training for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and in 1983 for the Race Across AMerica (RAAM), a 3200 mile coast-to-coast competitive bicycle race. In literally thousands of miles of bicycling during those two years I had a minimum of flat tires and during both races did not have a single flat tire. However, while training for the 1984 RAAM, I had so many flat tires, I was forced to stop my training and not enter the Race that year. I recall one evening after a flat-ridden training ride having a flat in my front tire as I rode up the driveway of our Lakewood, Colorado home. The next morning as I rode down the driveway, I had a flat in the rear tire. As a non-believer at that time, I'm sure the language was quite colorful and not fit for repeating here. Frustration caused me to stop my training and opened the opportunity for Karen and I to be crew members for one of the1984 competitors who was less flat-prone.
This year, here at the Passion Play we are having a tremendous flat tire problem. It's not thorns, thistles or nails causing the problem, it's the plentiful and sharp Arkansas rocks which are the problem. We are dealing with tires on cars, pickups, trailers, golf carts, busses, ATV's, backhoes, tractors and mowers and the number of flats is extremely high. We are dealing with older vehicles, tires which have seen better days and have been plugged numerous times already and with budgets being what they are for individuals and the Play, we are getting very skilled at plugging tires while they are on the vehicle or replacing a flat with a recently plugged tire of similar size. There is not a single vehicle which can boast of a matching set of tires or even tires of similar width or diameter. Our motor home does have 6 new tires, but I'd rather not spend more time telling of our repair expenditures in the first year of owning our RV. That brings up sharp emotions and a flatter wallet. Enough said.
We don't have much choice but to plug the tire and plug ahead with the chores at hand. There are times we feel like a pit crew at a NASCAR race since we do have to get the vehicles "back in the race" and into service. We're on the home stretch of our time here at TGPP, and we can see the end of the tire problems. Thank God we have an extended service contract on the motor home with roadside assistance and a tire repair/replace clause and insurance which covers the same for our car. How blessed and grateful we are.
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, September 14, 2014
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