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Jun 09
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With 10 days left until our next production of Godspell / Resurrectio, I thought a little looksee into the past was in order…and I’ll throw in a few personal observations and experiences along the way (on the house).
The 4 performances over Resurrection Weekend were incredible in so many ways, and yet to use Shannon’s analogy which he started each show off with, it was just the “Tip of the Iceberg”. For me, along with a number of my cast mates, Godspell was my first time on stage in any theatrical context. This was also my first time singing by myself for any period of time (even a few seconds was torture for me prior to this experience), and that thought alone was almost enough for me to decline Ms. Sherri’s offer to join the Godspell cast. I have/had (it’s a work in progress) a huge fear of singing in front of people, especially when I’m out of my comfort zone, my shower…which now that I think about it would be even more uncomfortable. Needless to say that the 3-5 minute cameos playing Little John were not quite the same as a 2.5 hour production and although I had 1 (one) line in Edison The Electric Man in the 2nd grade, I have never had to memorize any substantial amount of script. I could seriously fill this blog with all of the challenges that I, along with a number of the other cast and crew members faced in this production, but I’ll save that for another possible post.
For me, stepping on stage for the first time during the opening number, Tower of Babble, was Thrilling! and Scary, yet Empowering, and A Dream Come True all at the same time (I had always wanted to be in a musical). I can still remember starting to sing my first solo line, and as the words were leaving my mouth I suddenly became very aware of my heartbeat…it was getting faster and faster and louder and louder, and I remember thinking “HOLY MOLY my heart has NEVER raced this fast, this could be it!” and then I thought, “If you don’t stop thinking about how loud your heart is beating you could forget your lines!!!!”…I mean I was more calm watching Bronwyn walk down the isle at our wedding…and yet, as the show went on with each song, and each night, the stage started to feel like home. Everything that was scene and unscene (a little pun for ewe) which brought Godspell / Resurrectio up to the level that Asheville saw was totally not from us…it was all God, and all for His Glory.
Now any true boxing fan would tell you that they are amused with a 3 second one punch knock out in the first round, but they would much rather see an all out battle reminiscent of the 15 round war between Frasier vs. Ali. This isn’t to take anything away from Mike “I’ll bite your ear off” Tyson, but after the excitement wears off, most people are saying “ARGH (not to be mistaken for a pirate’s YARGH)…I can’t believe I paid $WayToMu.ch for that Pay-Per-Punch special!” compared to the possible satisfaction if the fight were to go the distance.
Typically the first round in boxing is used to feel out your opponent, i.e. how does he respond when I head bob to the left, where do his arms go if I feign a left hook, is he at all intimidated when I start mooing like a cow and stand in a crane kick stance? You could say that our first 4 shows in April were our Round 1. We (the cast, band, crew) were able get a feel for the ring so to speak. How did the audience respond to the incredibly awesome revamped music? How long would they laugh at the jokes written by Myles or how many people would walk out after the jokes written by Jason? Our cast worked seamlessly together, our band was phenomenal, and the behind the scene make up and tech crews were superb. We were stingin’ like butterflies and flying like…bees?…all in all it was a remarkable experience. A week later we had a great cast party, which although fun, was a bit sad as we thought for the most part that Godspell was completed, at least for the moment.
Apparently like any great showman and fight producer (possibly minus the big fro, as I can’t say for certain and wouldn’t want to limit God) God saw the crowds reaction when a Risen Christ appeared. He heard the cheers for more Jesus in Asheville, and has orchestrated another go’ round. Thus if you were to liken our Broadway Musical to the Sweet Science, you could say that this coming production (JUNE 19,20,21) is our Round 2. We made it through Round 1 unscathed and most people scoring the fight would say that God was clearly the winner.
We are still billing our production as Godspell: Like You’ve Never Seen It, so I am allowed to tell you that there are some definite changes between what the June audience will see compared to what we did in April. I cannot however reveal any of the “NEW and IMPROVED” secrets of Godspell, after all I am not really the best one to talk about secrets, so you’ll just have to come and see it a second (3rd, 4th, or 5th) time! If you missed it in April, come and see it for the first time (but it will only be NEW for you and not IMPROVED as you have nothing to base it’s improvement). Like I said, I can’t give you specific details but I have heard rumors that Jason’s magic trick in Act 1 may involve one or more of the following: a White Tiger, the Great Wall of China, and Pyrotechnics!!! Now keep in mind that none of this is for sure so you’ll just have to come and see for yourself.
Although I won’t make a prediction on how many rounds the fight will go, I can say that Round 3 will be in Charlotte July 17th and 18th…which could be slated as the Rumble in the (Concrete) Jungle? Right, moving on…anywho, I’m looking forward to another great round that continues to make Jesus famous in Asheville! We will be limited to 400 seats per show this time, so please get your tickets early!!!
Lastly, on behalf of the Orange Peel, please remember that while attending Godspell / Resurrectio that there is no hitting below the belt, holding, tripping, pushing, biting, spitting or wrestling! Do NOT hit to the groin area, unless for a shameless comedy attempt to win America’s Funniest Video. No kicking, head-butting, or hitting with any part of the arm other than the knuckles of a closed fist (including hitting with the elbow, shoulder or forearm, as well as with open gloves, the wrist, the inside, back or side of the hand). You are also prohibited from hitting the back, back of the neck or head (called a “rabbit-punch”) or the kidneys. No holding the ropes for support when punching, holding an opponent while punching, or ducking below the belt of their opponent (dropping below the waist of your opponent, no matter the distance between). If a “clinch” – a defensive move in which a boxer wraps his or her opponents arms and holds on to create a pause – is broken by the referee, each fighter must take a full step back before punching again (alternatively, the referee may direct the fighters to “punch out” of the clinch). When a boxer is knocked down, the other boxer must immediately cease fighting and move to the nearest neutral corner of the ring until the referee has either ruled a knockout or called for the fight to continue.
One Tall Thesbian
Family Challenge: Last week, we read about Hannah and how God answered her prayer with a baby boy she named Samuel. The name Samuel means, heard from God. Wow! And he grew up under that name and became a prophet of God. This week, we are going to read one of my favorite stories about this boy who grew up in the temple of God. His mother gave him to God, which means as a boy he grew up serving the priest of God’s temple. In those days, God’s Spirit lived in the temple like He lives in our hearts today. So, Samuel was in good soil for growing. This story is the beginning of Samuel recognizing God’s voice, listening, and obeying. Read 1 Samuel 3.
One of my favorite verses in this story is verse 19: The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words (God’s) fall to the ground. This means, he took to heart all that God spoke to him and he did what God told him to do. He didn’t loose any of God’s Words….he did not drop any of them. He carried through. Samuel was a boy who was “growing”. Samuel’s faith was being cultivated in the house of God. I am always blessed by this story. The same cannot be said of me. The Lord has given me words that I have not carried through with….they fell to the ground. I am so thankful for his grace. Samuel’s story raises the bar….listening to God and doing. Growing with God ~ as we grow older…..may we also be ones who bear fruit.
Cultivating-Soul/Sole Craving: Sunday we started a new series. Shannon led our hearts as he again revealed to us our Friend ~ Jesus…through the scriptures. We sat inside John 15:1-17 and looked at our relationship to the Vine and the Gardener. As a Christ Follower, Jesus defines the whole experience. He is the One we start with and grow in and under; he is with us along the way….in the middle; and He is with us to the end. John 15:9 says, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love.” Galatians 5:25 says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” May we keep our eyes on Jesus ~ the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews12:2).
It was very befitting that we held our Parent/Baby Dedication this past Sunday, as we learn to cultivate a “good start” for their journey with Jesus. Once again this year, I was amazed at the strong names our children are growing into; it is such a blessing to my heart to discover the names of these young hearts. We had seven families dedicate their children…setting apart these young lives to Jesus. The greatest teacher for our children is our best Friend and Savior, Jesus. He knows them intimately, may we, as their parents, learn how to ~ Be ~ with Jesus and make him first in our life. This is the Key. (Luke 11:52) The HCC Family then stood and promised to stand beside them with love and grace as they figure out their faith….and may we.
Family Challenge: Gardens – planting – growing – cultivating: In the dictionary it says cultivating is to “foster growth”…this means do what you can to help your plants grow. Think about what we do to help plants grow. BB Barns is right across the street from my house and they have all kinds of stuff they are selling to help people be successful with “their green, growing things”. Plants and souls…..hmmm, are they related in anyway? The Creator is the Gardener of both.
So, from the start, Samuel entered the world as a result of prayer and a humble heart. That sounds like some good fertile soil for kingdom growing. I don’t know all the words Hannah said to this boy….she knew she would only have for a short while…but she must have taught him about the One who gave him life. The older I get I realize how much God has got us. Our part is fairly simple: pray, have a humble heart before the Lord, trust Him, and he will do the rest. One of the wonderful things about our God is:….He can begin His cultivating….at any age…at the start….in the middle of life…or at the end. But at whatever point it begins….growth is about HIM.
40 Highland men were soaking wet on Saturday morning as they braved the white water rafting trip at the Highland Men’s retreat. The paddles sort of some how became splashing devices and grown men were shivering a bit in the 52 degree water. I am told that only two brave souls voluntarily dove in and then one pretty much begged the men to pull him back in. In the midst of adventure, steak, campfires, bunk beds, snoring and very little sleep the men deepened their friendships and pushed each other to find “Strength for their Task.” Shannon called the men to really recognize their roles as leaders and to understand and identify their spheres of influence in the home, work, community and 
church. They sat in small groups and discussed this challenge and their understanding of it. The men were also blessed with letters from their family and friends - there were wonderful words shared with the men, much needed encouragement. They returned home with a lot to process and a challenge before them…Shannon asked them to be the men who would “Change life as we know it through the Love, Loyalty and Friendship of Jesus Christ.” Our prayer is that Asheville will look dramatically different someday - more like the Kingdom of God, and that these men will be among those who lead the way. 
It was good to be back in the Orange Peel this week after traveling the previous week. There really is something very special about this place and this moment. It is just good to sit inside this gathering of folks from so many different walks of life. Shannon welcomed us all with the true welcome from God. He reminded us that we are all journeying toward Christ from very different places, and all of us are in a different pace in our pursuit. We have some among us who are watching from the edges, others who are in all the way, and then everything in between. There is a beautiful honesty about all this that I love.
This Sunday Shannon continued the series “How to Get to Heaven from Asheville” with U-Turn. It was the critically important and very uncomfortable step of the 180! The great big Biblical word called repentance. There comes this point in the process of following Jesus that involves our release of all the things that we love more than Him. It is very real, very poignant. U-Turns beckon those who will admit that they are lost….therein lies our problem. There really is no real encounter with Christ without this step, this turn around. The 180 is the evidence of the Faith…or to be more exact, it is the Fruit of the Faith. Shannon declared that if there is not evidence of life change, evidence of the Fruit that belongs to the nature of God now revealed in a 
human heart- then their may have never been a true encounter and surrender to Christ. The nature of God radically transforms the nature of the human heart…He just does. That is the other big point - He does it, we don’t. Nope, we are just called to die…just die. Just give up! Just surrender, then He takes it from there…and Wow! He is really good. His work is amazing. He is thorough, not leaving any corner untouched. He is beautiful- if we will adore Him and His ways, His nature will make its way into our heart. Our fruit will be His fruit, the fruit of the Holy Spirit.