As I was listening to the chatter of our Holy Land bus drivers, cart drivers and various others who have access to Channel 2 on our Passion Play two-way radios, it became pretty obvious that without clear communication we would not be able to operate our Holy Land Tour. Monitoring the flow of our guests, controlling the movement of busses and carts on two-way-one-lane twisty roads, letting our venue presenters know when to expect their next "audience", and taking care of a host of other unpredictable situations in a timely, safe and courteous manner help all of us end each day with the hope that we did a good job, our guests had an enjoyable and memorable experience and that tomorrow we can do even better.
Communication is so crucial to the smooth operation of any organization. Every aspect of our lives is dependent on our ability to talk so we are understood, listen so we understand and keep our "cool" when the situations start to get "hot", but "warm" to the task of giving others a "warm" feeling when they recall the time we had in each others' company. How they communicate their experience to their acquaintances will impact how successful we will be with those who are still to come here so we can communicate to them, too.
All that made sense to me, and I hope I communicated effectively my thoughts on what we do when we present all the activities of the day here at The Great Passion Play. We tell an old story in a wide variety of ways and hope what we do will encourage our guests and our staff to tell others about the story we tell and the One we are communicating about. Keep at the task, keep the Faith, plant seeds, and keep communicating. Go and make disciples..........
Sent from my iPad
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Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Saturday, July 27, 2019
July 27, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. A Day Off
There's always something which needs to be done here at the Passion Play. To have a day off is a rarity and I came about as close to having one today even though my "time sheet" will still show five or six hours of work. This is our last week of four performances, so our load does lighten after eight weeks of four-a-week performance days. We are some pooped puppies.
Today I had a few early morning clean-up chores, a two hour Tabernacle teaching for 40 people, cleaning up trash and pulling weeds in the Amphitheater and then a brief visit to my newest favorite donkey, Ruthie, in the Holy Land and the past two hours of sitting and relaxing in the motor home. In another two hours I will head down to the set for the evening Play performance. It really wasn't a day off, but it really felt like one in comparison to a normal work day.
Since we are "in the public eye" and "entertainment field" it takes a different attitude than many jobs I have had in the past. Plus, we are messengers, ministers and ambassadors for Jesus and that is a full-time-no days off effort and one not to be compromised. To be able to get behind closed doors, not be a "Moses", not be presenting, not listening to the stories and issues of others, is a time to refresh, renew one's strength and enthusiasm; have some time to "be in the Word" and be able to listen for God's voice and His guidance. Even a couple of minutes of such quiet can be a tremendous boost for me; an hour or two.....an indescribable blessing.
It may not have been a literal day off.......but it has been a day off, nonetheless. I feel like I've been on a week's vacation (not that we have ever really had one). My aching body has been rejuvenated . Amazing !!! Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Today I had a few early morning clean-up chores, a two hour Tabernacle teaching for 40 people, cleaning up trash and pulling weeds in the Amphitheater and then a brief visit to my newest favorite donkey, Ruthie, in the Holy Land and the past two hours of sitting and relaxing in the motor home. In another two hours I will head down to the set for the evening Play performance. It really wasn't a day off, but it really felt like one in comparison to a normal work day.
Since we are "in the public eye" and "entertainment field" it takes a different attitude than many jobs I have had in the past. Plus, we are messengers, ministers and ambassadors for Jesus and that is a full-time-no days off effort and one not to be compromised. To be able to get behind closed doors, not be a "Moses", not be presenting, not listening to the stories and issues of others, is a time to refresh, renew one's strength and enthusiasm; have some time to "be in the Word" and be able to listen for God's voice and His guidance. Even a couple of minutes of such quiet can be a tremendous boost for me; an hour or two.....an indescribable blessing.
It may not have been a literal day off.......but it has been a day off, nonetheless. I feel like I've been on a week's vacation (not that we have ever really had one). My aching body has been rejuvenated . Amazing !!! Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
July 24, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?
That seems to be one of the most common questions we were asked as we went through school and made plans for our future. It's also one of the most common questions we ask young people we meet when we don't know what else to say to them. Of course, every boy wants to a fireman, a Major League Baseball player or the President of the UnIted States. Every girl aspires to be an astronaut, a doctor or the first woman President of the United States.
I had dreams of being a musician, a baseball player, a translator at the United Nations, a millionaire, and retired, by age 50. My parents wanted me to be a Rabbi. I think my first Rabbi wanted me to be a Rabbi. I have played music, on and off my whole life, tried out for two professional baseball teams, studied Russian in high school and college but I never "made it" in those fields. I may have made $1,000,000 in my life, but I certainly didn't keep much of it, and at 50 I was still working and not thrilled with what I was doing.
But in 1999, just over 20 years ago, I came to faith in Jesus, and began what was a new journey toward what I wanted to be when I grew up. I'm still trying to find what the ultimate goal is, but I have given up trying to make that decision myself. God will reveal it when the time is right. I would never have dreamed we would be in Arkansas, volunteering at The Great PassionPlay for our sixth season and happy living in a 40'x11' motor home and about to be without a regular house with a street address for the first time in over 40 years.
Yes.........God has the plan........when the time is right...........
Sent from my iPad
I had dreams of being a musician, a baseball player, a translator at the United Nations, a millionaire, and retired, by age 50. My parents wanted me to be a Rabbi. I think my first Rabbi wanted me to be a Rabbi. I have played music, on and off my whole life, tried out for two professional baseball teams, studied Russian in high school and college but I never "made it" in those fields. I may have made $1,000,000 in my life, but I certainly didn't keep much of it, and at 50 I was still working and not thrilled with what I was doing.
But in 1999, just over 20 years ago, I came to faith in Jesus, and began what was a new journey toward what I wanted to be when I grew up. I'm still trying to find what the ultimate goal is, but I have given up trying to make that decision myself. God will reveal it when the time is right. I would never have dreamed we would be in Arkansas, volunteering at The Great PassionPlay for our sixth season and happy living in a 40'x11' motor home and about to be without a regular house with a street address for the first time in over 40 years.
Yes.........God has the plan........when the time is right...........
Sent from my iPad
Sunday, July 21, 2019
July 21, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. An Audience Of ONE
No matter whether the Passion Play has been performed to a sold-out Amphitheater of over 4000, as it was in the 1970's and '80s, an arena with around 500, as we do in our present season, or the empty amphitheater as visited by a few rays of the morning sun, we are blessed to do what we do.....for an audience of One.
Our life is not supposed to be a display, a performance or a show intended to impress vast numbers of people or bring attention to ourself. Rather it is supposed to be a witness to the One who gave us life, who sustains us in that life and gives us each day for an opportunity to tell others about Him and all He has done for us and all He promises to do for us as we serve and glorify Him. To that audience of One, I humbly say......Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Our life is not supposed to be a display, a performance or a show intended to impress vast numbers of people or bring attention to ourself. Rather it is supposed to be a witness to the One who gave us life, who sustains us in that life and gives us each day for an opportunity to tell others about Him and all He has done for us and all He promises to do for us as we serve and glorify Him. To that audience of One, I humbly say......Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, July 18, 2019
July 18, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. What Did You Say?
My memory has been good for some things and pretty poor for others. I have a lot of trivia-type knowledge, can do crossword puzzles, even the tough one, because my vocabulary is quite extensive and can recall obscure things I have read over the years. But when it comes to remembering what I have said, sometimes I can't repeat the last words which came out of my mouth.
Because of this, I never pursued the law career I was planning after completing Law School and passing the Virginia State Bar. A lawyer who can't remember what he says is not one anyone would want to defend him in court. And so I had to find other ways to earn a living and support Karen and myself the past 45 years. Fortunately we have done okay, and God has played a MAJOR role in that.
Now, I find myself presenting information to our Passion Play visitors. I teach about Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness, talk about Bethlehem where Jesus was born, the Upper Room where Jesus and His disciples celebrated the "Last Supper", and a host of other subjects from the Old and New Testament, and I have to listen to myself as I present, so that I can remember what I have said in case I am asked to repeat or explain what I have just said. Maybe, just maybe, I have overcome the problem which kept me from practicing law. But when I face the reality that I sometimes have difficulty staying awake during the sermon at church, or I see people starting to nod off during my own presentations, I still have a long way to go in being all God has called me to be. At least, if I want to know what I just blogged, I can always read it again.
What did I just say?
Sent from my iPad
Because of this, I never pursued the law career I was planning after completing Law School and passing the Virginia State Bar. A lawyer who can't remember what he says is not one anyone would want to defend him in court. And so I had to find other ways to earn a living and support Karen and myself the past 45 years. Fortunately we have done okay, and God has played a MAJOR role in that.
Now, I find myself presenting information to our Passion Play visitors. I teach about Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness, talk about Bethlehem where Jesus was born, the Upper Room where Jesus and His disciples celebrated the "Last Supper", and a host of other subjects from the Old and New Testament, and I have to listen to myself as I present, so that I can remember what I have said in case I am asked to repeat or explain what I have just said. Maybe, just maybe, I have overcome the problem which kept me from practicing law. But when I face the reality that I sometimes have difficulty staying awake during the sermon at church, or I see people starting to nod off during my own presentations, I still have a long way to go in being all God has called me to be. At least, if I want to know what I just blogged, I can always read it again.
What did I just say?
Sent from my iPad
Monday, July 15, 2019
July 15, 2019. Eureka Springs, AR. Sleeping In
I don't use an alarm clock except on those rare occasions when I have an early morning appointment such as a visit to the VA in Fayetteville. On most other days, I get up when I get up and still have time for my daily "quiet time" with the Lord, and then prepare for the activities of the day.
I have been very tired of late, and decided it was time to try to intentionally sleep later yesterday morning and today, as well. Since I normally get up around 6am no matter how late I get to sleep the night before, I was hoping for a wake up time of ........maybe 8 or beyond. That was the plan. I even decided that not planning to go to Sunday Bible Study and Church yesterday and making no morning plans for today would convince my body to sleep in both days. But, it didn't work out as planned.
Yesterday, I was up at my usual time, and today......the same thing. No naps either day, so the sleep "log" remains the same.....and I'm still tired. Tonight, I'm aiming for being in bed by 10pm, so a wake up at my normal time would still give me 8 hours. Let's see what happens.
Sent from my iPad
I have been very tired of late, and decided it was time to try to intentionally sleep later yesterday morning and today, as well. Since I normally get up around 6am no matter how late I get to sleep the night before, I was hoping for a wake up time of ........maybe 8 or beyond. That was the plan. I even decided that not planning to go to Sunday Bible Study and Church yesterday and making no morning plans for today would convince my body to sleep in both days. But, it didn't work out as planned.
Yesterday, I was up at my usual time, and today......the same thing. No naps either day, so the sleep "log" remains the same.....and I'm still tired. Tonight, I'm aiming for being in bed by 10pm, so a wake up at my normal time would still give me 8 hours. Let's see what happens.
Sent from my iPad
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