Saying "Goodbye" to Jesus

The first night of Godspell went really well.  Pam said to me afterwards "why didn't you tell me it would be so emotional when they were saying "goodbye" to Jesus at the last supper?  I said that I started to get emotional at the dress rehearsal on Wed. night.   It took me by surprise, because I've never thought of saying goodbye to Jesus.  I was putting myself in the disciples situation and I felt deep sadness for a moment.  I'm so glad that I never have to say goodbye to Him!  He promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us.  We are His children for "Eternity"! 

Kidshine, Karaoke & Godspell

I found this 3+ year old photo of some of our FBC youth at the Karaoke place at Winterxtreme in 07.  It's fun to see old picutres.  (At least for me)  I've got music & drama on the brain a lot lately.  We have an awesome performing arts ministry coming June 7-11 called Kidshine!  They put on a performing arts camp where kids can be involved with music, drama, puppets, dance, instruments, scenery painting, friendship building, fun & games and an awesome performance on Friday night June 11 at 7:00 at the First Baptist gym stage!  We have a really cool lighting system that we put in for the Eternity drama that we will use.  I'm also thinking a lot about drama stuff, because I get to play bass in my oldest daughter's  (Alyssa) musical Godspell .  That's going on this Thursday - Saturday at Judah Christian High School .  Musicals are such an amazing thing to be part of for anyone young or old.  So don't miss this opportunity and join at Kidshine!  It will be one amazing week in the summer!  (Maybe the best week of the summer!)
http://www.fbc-cs.org/multimedia/billboard.html

The Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Check the Buzz about Kidshine.  You don't want to miss out on an absolutely great week of camp!
It might be the best week of the summer!  (or maybe the worst if you missed out!)
http://www.kidshineonline.org/  scroll down to the words "The Buzz" in red.  Check out what others have said about kidshine camps!  The other churches that I talked with raved about the camp and how much kids loved it!

Taking the first step

Yes that's my baby pic!  Watching babies take their first steps is a lot of fun.  They usually wobble like crazy, get a few steps in and fall on their big ole fluffy diaper.  Many youth made decisions to accept Christ and now it's time to take some of their first steps.  So if that's you and your young and your in the Champaign area come on out to the "Getting Started" class that we're starting this week.  It's 9:30-10:30 Sunday morning by the cafe (which is the side room in the gym).  If you're not in this area take some steps to grow in your walk with the Lord today!

Unbelievable!...... or is it?

So the Eternity drama is over here at First Baptist in Champaign.  People are still talking to us a lot about it. I even heard some in town say that they really wanted to come, but couldn't. When we first talked about hosting Eternity I would tell people that we were going to do 5 shows and they told me we wouldn't have many people come for 5 shows.  Sometimes I had faith that many people would come and sometimes I gave in and believed that not many would come to the show.  There were over 2,200 people that came out to the shows.  I heard some people say it was unbelievable how many people came out and it was unbelievable that this effort could have the impact that it had.  One e-mail that I recieved said that "it was unbelievable or should it be believable!"  I think he was right, because if we truly believe that the Lord can do amazing things beyond what our little minds can imagine then this is no problem imagining the Lord touching many lives.  This last Tuesday we held a prayer & praise time to celebrate.  People shared stories for over one hour and fifteen minutes of how God had worked in thier lives and the lives of others.  I had to move us to prayer otherwise I think people could have shared stories for another hour or so.  It was believable, because we serve the Mighty Awesome Lord! 

Can't Nobody

"Can't Nobody, do my Jesus" is an old song that floods my mind with a lot of memories and images.
That song is sung Erma in the dramatic production of Eternity at First Baptist.  I will always think of our good friend Marta who plays the part.  We're on the fourth of five nights.  It's been an awesome experience!   The song "Can't Nobody" was one the songs that the first youth band at First Baptist in Marshalltown called E.T. C. used to sing when we led worship at camps and churches.  Each person in the band would take turns belting out the song.  One person Huston Callaway ended the song with the splits.  My college roommate Sam Ost used to say "I don't know how people make it in life without Jesus".  Sam lost his battle with M.S. a few years ago.  Now he is probably leaping around with the angels, doing the splits and belting out "Can't Nobody, do me like Jesus, cuz He's myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy friend"!  Some day my family will join him in that song. 

Casting Call

The Casting Call was Fabulicious!  I laughed sooo hard and really enjoyed the many who came out to open themselves up to be in the drama "Eternity".  It started off with the director J.R. telling about the vision of why we're doing "Eternity".  Shortly after that everyone was put into groups of seven people who were to perform improve scenes.  It was a great ice breaker.  For me it was fun to see people be really actors and actresses whom I didn't know could act!  I knew it was good after I laughed for about an hour and then I was very moved by people who were reading serious scenes.  We're starting to hear a buzz around town of people coming to the performances Sat.-Wed. this week!  Hope to see many of you there!

Double Hockey Sticks

When I was young my friends and I would say "H, E, double hockey sticks" to describe that place down below of eternal torment or to say the swear word without really saying it.  Our church (First Baptist in Savoy) is putting on the "Eternity" drama starting this Sat. night.  As the Eternity set was being built the set construction leader Rodger said something like "we wanted to build hell first so we could concentrate on heaven".  So they built the hellpit first before they built the stairs leading to heaven.  They did an awesome job. Sunday morning I led the worship band on top of the hellpit.  Beforehand I thought someone could really freak me out by opening the doors by feet and grabbing my ankles.  That would have freaked me out!  On a more serious note I also thought wow what if we all lived our lives in a way that affected people going to heaven more than it had to do with things that ultimately don't do good, tears people down or leads them on a path to hell?  Many lives would be different forever and ever....and ....ever!  "Eternity" auditions start tonight.  I can't wait to see what happens!  I think God is on the move to touch people's lives forever!