BAD DAY AT GOPHER'S BREATH--Ritz Theater Fall production

Today was the final performance of BAD DAY AT GOPHERS BREATH (Samuel French) a western farce. It was the first time that my wife and I have been on stage together (me as BARKEEP and her as TEMPERANCE LADY). We certainly had fun.

The Ritz Community Theater here is an all volunteer organization. I'm privileged to be on the Board of Directors and to have had the chance to direct a play here (UNDER THE SYCAMORE TREE) and will direct the next one (CHRISTMAS BELLES). All that fun begins tomorrow night with the first read through of the cast.

My entire family has been on stage here at The Ritz. I'm grateful for a place where we can all plug in and add to the culture of our community.

Worship Confessional, October 11, 2009

Today was another good day of worship. Even though it was cold out side and attendance was down, I feel that we really worshiped! Word was good--worship was good. I'm so thankful for days like this.

Set List

Scripture Reading--Psalm 85--" Will you not revive us again?"

Revive Us Again (G3 Worship)--second week for this updated hymn

Scripture Reading--Psalm 118--"Give thanks to the Lord, his love endures forever"

Forever (Tomlin)--good energy on this one.

Welcome/Announcements/ Offering

Choir---WORD OF GOD SPEAK (Brentwood-Benson 30 MINUTE CHOIR)

Scripture Reading--Isaiah 11-"The tender shoot from Jesse's root"

Jesus Messiah (Tomlin)-they are quickly coming to love this one!

Scripture Reading--Isaiah 63---"He is mighty to save"

Mighty To Save/The Stand (Hillsong)

Morning Message---"Dirt Check"--by Jeremiah Boatright (Matt 13: 1-23) A great word from Jeremiah about the soil and the seed and the condition of our hearts to receive God's stirring in our lives.

Blessed Be Your Name (Redman)

Elder closes

Out-Your Name (Baloche)

How was your Sunday? What songs did you sing?

This post is part of Sunday Set Lists over on Fred McKinnon's blog.

White Buffalo 5K

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It's been a week since the 5K White Buffalo Run here in Snyder. I thought I'd post some pics from the event. My son, Daniel, and I ran in the race. He got first place in his division! Way to go Daniel with a time of 28:22! It was his first time to run and he's begging to go with me every morning (we'll see about that since he's usually a grump in the morning)

I got nothing--although I do have a picture of me beating the third place guy by a good 5-10 yards. My time was 32:17 and his was 32:22. Oh well, victory is sweet in the mind of the winner.

Next on our agenda is the Turkey Trot in FW on Thanksgiving Morning. It's a 10K--so I'm going to have to start hitting the trail again and move it up a notch.

A year ago this was only a dream. I had run before but it's been a long time and I didn't know if I had it in me! Little by little, day by day I challenged myself to go a little further. You can do it too if you set your mind to it and discipline yourself.

And The Balloons... They Didn't Fly

We made the trek to Albquerque this morning at 4:45 AM to see the Balloons launch at the Fiesta. About half way there a light rain began to fall and I knew we might be in trouble. A stop at a local grocery story didn't fare much better as the cashier told me she thought they had already been cancelled.

We made it to the park and rode the shuttle down to the area and unpacked all our gear only to hear "No flights this morning because of the rain". We were disappointed, but then the weather turned even worse with lightening and heavy downpours.

We consoled ourselves at Cracker Barrell and then made our way to the Old Town area for some shopping and sight seeing.

A long day--but a fun day was had by all.

Pastors!--Shape Up or Ship Out!

(Disclaimer: I am writing this note to fellow pastors, but also to remind myself where I've come from and where I don't want to return to)

Pastors! Shape up or ship out! That's how I feel today after talking to an insurance rep today who said "Pastors are some of the most out of shape people--and other pastors are paying for it"

Obesity in the ministry has risen to new heights. Just take a look at a religious paper or magazine and you'll see people who are overweight, out of shape and headed for physical ruin.

I write this note because I'm pointing fingers, but because I was one of them. This time last year I was sporting some 50 pounds of blubber, heavier and out of breath. By God's grace I've been able to overcome that and now feel better about myself, my ministry and my future. All I'm saying is if I can do it you can do it too.

Here are some steps to take:

1. Determine that you are going to change. You have the Holy Spirit to help you! Ask for the Lord's help.

2. Make a plan--join weight watchers, write down you food intake in a journal, log into an exercise website to keep you accountable ( I use http://411fit.uncc.edu)

3. Make some goals--start small and attainable. Make them measurable and able to be accomplished. Little goals add up to larger goals.

4. Announce your plans to a group--they'll keep you accountable.

5. Make it part of your discipline--you do it spiritually, why not do it physically!

6. Exercise--walk (everyone can walk) and then build up to something you love to do ( I love to run!)

Most of the cost of insurance for ministers doesn't go to help the healthy, it goes to those who have yet to claim their part in their health by keeping their body presentable to God's service. I read today that ministers may not struggle with earthly things, but they may substitute food for those other earthly lusts which so easily entangle. Food can become an addiction if we're not careful.

So, pastors (all pastors) Shape up! Your congregation will love you for it and we'll all benefit from healthier pastors.

Rt:Clergy Recovery

Worship Confessional, October 4, 2009

We opened with the above video this morning. I got it from Worship House Media

Video Opener--Now Is The Time
To God Be The Glory--(Smith) My friend, Rich Smith, has done this slower arrangement of To God Be The Glory--it's great. I wish he would record it!

Pass It On (Walker)--I've been waiting to do this one--I love this song. And no-it's not the 1970 version of "It only takes a spark!"

Welcome/Announcement/Offertory

My Savior, My God (Choir--Brentwood Benson book-30 Minute Choir). Ok, so our track didn't fire and we waited an awkward minute or so before I had to jump back to the piano to play it. I was just praying the book would stay open. And it did, but I kinda messed up the repeat to the chorus. Oh well-the choir sounded SMASHING!

Revive Us Again(G3 Worship)-- a hipped up arrangement of this standard hymn!

Scripture Reading (Isaiah 53). I've been listening to Daily Audio Bible as I run in the mornings. We've been in Isaiah for a while. I never knew how beautiful the book was until I listened to it being read. One day last week Isaiah 53 was the passage and it reminded me of Jesus Messiah!

Jesus Messiah (Tomlin)-- 2nd week on this one. We pulled back today on it. More accoustic and no track so the people could really sing it.

Morning Message -Robbie Boyd Robbie did a creative element within his sermon as we illustrated the story of Abraham and Isaac with two live actors in the sermon.

I Surrender All (Hymncharts)--great arrangement

Introduction of New Members

This post is part of Sunday Set Lists over on Fred McKinnon's blog

This Video Blew Me Away

While purchasing some media the other day, I happened across this video. Did you watch it? Did it have an impact on you?

What a simple truth told through Coke? I'm blown away by this truth! God gives to us in proportion to what we need and what he wants to accomplish in our lives. How true it is that we always compare what God gives to someone else and wonder why he doesn't do the same thing in our lives.

Maybe I can't see what God is doing in my life because I'm fixated on the size gift he's given everyone else. As the last line in the video says "If this is all you see, then you'll never see what I've given to you" Wow!

What do you think?

Worship Confessional, September 27,2009

So, one good week, one bad week--we're even. Today was the oddest thing. Seemed like all of the gremlins around the sound system decided to come out and play. (channels muted that weren't in rehearsal, mics falling that didn't in rehearsal, just odd things happening). When it all adds up to things like today I realize that the enemy doesn't want us to worship and will do anything to keep us distracted. It was a tough day.

This post is part of Sunday Set Lists over on Fred McKinnon's blog.

Set List

Awesome Is The Lord Most High (Tomlin) Second week on this--we didn't have the power that we did last week on this one, but it was also the only song in the opener, so maybe they weren't warmed up yet.

Welcome/Offertory

Mighty Is The Power of The Cross (Tomlin) Choir---we were down here too. Song is familiar to me, but I don't think we've done this one corporately.

Holy, Holy, Holy (Praise Charts arr--Cole)

God of Wonders --finally back to some familiar stuff!!!

Jesus Messiah (Tomlin)---this one is coming into our rep and we introduced it. Does anyone do it in a key other than A? It seemed high to me. May have to search for a lower key!

Morning Message--George Ray (we continue to have prospective interim preachers speak for us. It's amazing that even though we don't plan services together, the HS puts it all together thematically.)

Here I Am To Worship/The Heart of Worship---good standards to close on.

We had a huddle after the service to talk about all of the issues. It's just one of those days that you like to say "we'll get'em next time!" Have you ever had days like this?

How was your Sunday?

Friday Night Lights

It's that time of year again when you travel in the darkness and see bright lights shining from small towns all across the nation. It's an American past time that we all know--FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL.I made the first game this year, and now we're almost at the half way point and that's all I've seen is one game. Kinda makes me think I'm missing something.

Anyway, Friday's here in our town are filled with black and gold banners, kids wearing their school colors to class and the Friday morning pep rally. Here are some shots from this morning's pep rally.

Mattie is playing the smallest drum in the band this year.

Taylor is going with Chance and he's on the football team.

Now, here's a clip from "GLEE" that I don't think you'll see this Friday night on the Football field. These people at FOX don't get FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL---in fact, they might get beat up if they tried this on a real FRIDAY NIGHT GAME!


Thanks to my friend Chuck Harris for alerting me to this clip!

Worship Confessional, September 20, 2009

Back in the saddle again--after 2 weeks off, it was good to lead worship today

Set List

Call To Worship (Forever/Everlasting God)--Worship Choir (Brentwood Benson)

Today Is The Day (Brewster)

Awesome Is The Lord Most High (Tomlin)

Welcome/Announcement

Offering (Baloche)

I Will Sing of My Redeemer/You Set Me Free-(Cottrell)

I Will Sing (Boswell)--a late addition because Matt's grandfather was preaching at our church today. We surprised him with Matt's song. This is a great song!

Morning Message--Ron Boswell

Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us (Hymn Charts)

Closing--

This post is part of Sunday Set Lists over at Fred McKinnon's blog

The Longest Day

I'm on the last leg of the journey home. It began yesterday morning (6AM Italy time, around 10PM Thursday evening Texas time). Sat in the airport for nearly 4 hours and then a 9 hour flight! It wasn't too bad until you wake up from a cat nap and realize that you have 5 more hours of flying to go.

Landed in Chicago around 3--wait until 6 to get to fly to Dallas at 8, hotel by 9--and I think I missed dinner in there somewhere!

Anyway--headed to LBB this morning and then home by sometime this afternoon. What a day!

Can't wait to put up more pics! Glad to be home in the land of Wifi!!!!!

Lovely Day On Capri

Today was our last and final stop in Naples. We exited the gangway about 7:45 AM (that would be around 11PM Wednesday night in Texas). We made our way to a Jet Boat which probably held 300-400 people for the 50 minute ride to the Island of Capri.

What a wonderful little town Capri is. It was very quiet in the morning (but got busier as the day went on) and we just sat and enjoyed some of the local life there in Capri. We even spotted Brad Pitt (see if you can see him in the pictures)

The afternoon was spent at the Augustus Gardens--very lovely and then lunch in a local hotel. We enjoyed lunch with a French couple from Quebec and she was learning English. So she practiced on us and I taught her how to say "howdy"

After that it was a mad house and rush to get back to the Funicula that runs up and down the mountain. This by far was the most stressful part of the day. What a rush of people. And then when we got on, this lady in front of us was rocking the "tight" swim suit top and the underarm hair! She lifted up her arm and we thought we were going to faint! We quickly popped in a cough drop to avert the smell. We just chuckled. What a way to end the day.

We're back on ship and ready to sail in about an hour. Heading to Cittavechia where we'll disembark and head for Rome airport.

Thanks for following all of our adventures. More pics will be up once I arrive back in the states where Wifi (at least at my house) is FREE!

Update--Boat will dock at 4AM--that's 8PM Thursday evening (about the time of the Homecoming parade in Snyder). Pray for my journey home!

Candy's Day At Sea

It's been a lazy day here on the boat.

So I decided to feature CANDY! Candy is a stuffed animal that Diane got for me some 15 years ago when I would travel away from home. She wanted me to remember her. Since then, the kids have now entered the scene. Each time I leave, one of them remembers to stick CANDY in my suitcase.

Today was CANDY'S day around the ship. She went to breakfast, to the Spa, in the elevator, to the library and to the Bistro. Quite a day for her.

She got a little seasick this afternoon as we hit some swells associated with a storm system we were in the middle of. Lightning and rain were all around us as the water washed over the deck on 5!

Anyway, it's the last formal night and we're headed to the last show in the theater. Dock in Naples by 5 AM in the morning. I'm tired and ready to head home--but it's been a blast.

Athens

Today was a great day--but boy was it crowded. Seems that three ships got off at once and there were 3000 people at the Acropolis between 8 and noon. They had to shut it off because so many people were on the mountain and couldn't get down. Luckily, we were up when they closed it, but I wasn't sure that we would get down.

We made all 191 steps to the Parthenon (the Temple of Athenia) Its under some restoration right now so there are lots of scaffolds around it. Still, it's one of those "Bucket List" things that you always want to do.

The highlight for me was Olympic Stadium. This was the stadium constructed in 1896 to launch the modern Olympic games and is the site every four years where they bring the torch from Olympus and start the race around the world. I ran there today--not far--but I ran at the Olympic stadium!

Some shopping in downtown Athens, but we were bushed and headed back to the boat. We depart in an hour. Headed toward Naples!

Ciao!

Music At Sea

I've been most impressed with the musicians and the entertainers on the ship this week. They have quite the variety (from a string quartet to an Accapella group called SoulD Out). Each evening in the theater there is some show or entertainer.

We've seen two shows by the company of the Solstice (Ghostlight and Groove) Both were high energy and entertainment from the crew of the Solstice.

We're heading into Greece tonight--will arrive there at 6:00 in the morning--about 10 PM Texas time. Headed to the Acropolis and Parthenon and some more shopping in Greece.

Today was a much needed day of doing nothing. A midafternoon nap was just the ticket before dinner and the show tonight.

Look for more pics tomorrow. I'm running low on my minutes, so as in the beginning I'll have to be selective about putting them up or at least doing a couple of posts at a time.

Good Day= in Greece that goes like this KALIMERA!

"Class" or Kanye?

I didn’t quite know what was going on last evening when I logged on (actually this morning) as I was seeing KANYE, KANYE-BEYONCE going on as Twitter trends and on facebook.

Now, this afternoon I see on the Today show (Yes it’s 2:31 PM here and 6:30 AM Texas time) as I see him interrupt Taylor Swift at the VMA’s. What in the world was he thinking when he pulled that stunt?

I’m depending on you guys to fill me in on all of this as we are limited to the information that we get.

Please fill me in!

Sea Day 2---Catch Your Breath

It's sea day as we head toward Athens. Boy do we need it after 5 full days of going and going. They are delaying breakfast this morning to have a BRUNCH. I guess they figure no one would be up to eat it, but I am.

Today will be a day to catch up on some things. I definitely need some laundry done--my same shirts every other day are getting a little tiring and I need just a few things to get me to Friday when I head home.

I realize in the states right now that some of you are going to bed--I'm seeing the sunrise over here and it's beautiful.

Good night dear friends.

A Day In Ephesus

By far this was the most anticipated day for me on the trip. I have longed to visit here and to truly understand Paul’s love for the church here at Ephesus.

We arrived around 9 this morning and not to long after that we were on the bus and off to Ephesus which is some 20 minutes away --but only 5 miles. The Agean Sea used to go up to Ephesus, as it was a port city, but it has since receeded.

We went straight to the House of the Virgin Mary where it is told that Mary spent her last days of her life here--protected by the Ephesian church and accompanied by St. John. We were to attend a small service there, but it was Sunday and they were overrun with people.

As the service started, I was the only one in the congregation singing with the song leader “ COME CHRISTIANS JOIN TO SING”--every verse. People just looked at me because I was singing. Oh, well--it’s my job.

The service went on, but not without me having to “shhh” some people walking behind me headed toward the house.

We went in the house afterwards--so many relics. And we went got water from her house --even have a little vase to fill, but it leaked!

Then we were off to EPHESUS, The third. Five times the city of Ephesus was built. The one we see today is 3rd time and most likely the one Paul saw. We went to city center and the Library and finally ended up in the Grand Theater where it was said that Paul preached and the Artemis God makers were mad at him because he killed their idol business. We spent almost 2 hours here.

Lunch was soon afterwards and it was a biblical lunch-foods from time of Bible (lentels, barley, wheat, vegetables, lamb stew, nuts and fruits and more) It was delicious.

Then it was off to the Basillica of St. John where John is said to be buried after returning from Patmos (Domitian banished him there) and where one of the first baptistry’s was seen.

Much shopping was to follow in the town of Kusadasi--and we were back to this ship by 6:00--and bushed.

A very fast and filled day. I’ll take tomorrow to reflect on what I saw. I’m reading Watchman Nee’s book SIT STAND AND WALK which is his commentary on Ephesians.

Grace and peace!

Worship Confessional, September 13, 2009

• 15		Announcements Run

• 20		Pre-Service Music Matt Maher

• Service Begins

• 10:40a 3		Today Is The Day [D]	2 attachments

• 10:43a 3		Beautiful One [D] begin: "You've opened my eyes to your wonders anew..."

• 10:46a 5		Welcome Jeremiah

• 10:51a 1		Offertory Prayer Jeremiah

• 10:52a 4		Come Thou Fount, come Thou King

• 10:56a 4		God Of This City [Db]	1 attachment

• 11:00a 4		Made Me Glad [Bb] "I will not be moved..."	1 attachment

• 11:04a 4		Mighty To Save [A] "Saviour, He can move the mountains..." (chorus only)	1 attachment

• 11:08a 40		Morning Message David Strunk

• 11:48a 3		Your Name [Bb]	1 attachment

• 11:51a 2		Closing Prayer Elder update--prayer

  
  

A "Wisit" to Istanbul

That’s right... we went on a “wisit” to Istanbul today. At least that is the way our tour guide pronounce “visit” as we boarded the bus.

Today was a much better day than yesterday with the disaster we had as a guide. Today’s guide was very kind and knowledgeable and took his time with our group. What a difference. We really enjoyed him.

We went to the Blue Mosque, made famous because of the blue tiles that line the inside of the mosque and were made in Nicea (where the Council of Nicea met in 325 BC). So much of the biblical history and geography is coming into place for me. We’ve decided though after a visit to a mosque in Egypt and now Turkey--no more mosques.

Then we headed to the Topkali palace which was the home of the Sultans (not of Swing) of the Ottoman Empire. Much of the Empire was ruled from here and is filled with jewels and gems of the conquests of Egypt, Asia and Europe (Russia). A very peaceful place, we also learned where we get the word DIVAN (low couch and the DIVAN was also the room where the Council of the Ministers met) and OTTOMAN (a low rise piece of furniture)...hmm..How global.

Back to the Grand Bazar one more time-we were armed and ready to shop. We had to endure a couple of rude guys, but the man we eventually bought with gave us space and room to dig through his goods to find what we wanted.

It was back to the ship by 1:30 and set sail for Ephesus at 2:00. Thank goodness the rain held off for us in Istanbul, but as we pulled out it began to pour. As I look out now on the Mamara Sea it is sunshine and beauty.

Some time to rest this afternoon and then get ready for Ephesus tomorrow. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to putting the place with the words from Ephesians. They say this will be the high point of the trip.

Until later!