Dad's voice

The Graduate

One of Robin's graduation photos. Wow! Talk about your mile marker...

Stones: 2010 Easter Production

Once again the Crossroads team has pulled off another highly successful Easter Production. This year the presentation was called "Stones." It was the most unusual telling of the resurrection story the presentation team (under the direction of Richard Gaspard) and I have ever come up with, but I'm very proud of how it turned out. The story takes place on a caving expedition experienced by six vacationers and their guide on the week leading up to Easter. Once inside the cave (that few know exist) the party is trapped by an avalanche that leaves their exit sealed off by a huge stone. Tension runs high as the group attempts to survive for three days in the cave. One by one, their personal struggles are revealed and we discover that the boulder blocking their exit isn't the only 'stone' in their lives. Each of the characters have things standing between them and God's best for them. All our actors did an incredible job bringing the script (brilliantly written by Daphne Gaspard) to life. As each character's struggle was revealed, the music team followed with a song that addressed those issues. (Example - A father and son's struggle to reunite after years apart was followed by a cover of John Mayer's "Say.") Our music team (led by Coy Watson) is so incredibly talented!

The set, designed and built by Crossroads' Property Manager Rhett Wyatt and his team was the biggest and most elaborate we've ever attempted and it looked phenomenal! The stage was transformed into a mammoth cave complete with multiple levels, various sized stones and stalagmites. I kept thinking, "If I were a little kid I could play on this set for hours!" Finally I grabbed an Indiana Jones torch and did just that!

Everyone in attendance was given a stone when they entered the auditorium. I reminded them that the stone that sealed the tomb where Jesus' body lay represented a lot of things to the disciples: Things like disbelief, disappointment, disillusionment. But God rolled that stone away, bringing forth the resurrected Jesus as a redeemer for all mankind. I told them the stone we had given them represents the things standing between them and God's best for their lives. I asked them to write what that is on their stones (fear, anger, addictions) and bring it to the altar. They did - by the HUNDREDS! It was a powerful moment. We plan to use those stones in our landscaping and let them serve as memorial stones. I believe in the years to come, people will see those stones they wrote on this weekend and be reminded how God, on Easter weekend 2010 rolled away the stone in their life that stood between them and His will!

We had five performances this weekend (We should have done six) and had over 4,000 in attendance with nearly 100 decisions for Christ! Thanks to everyone who had a hand in presenting this life-changing production! I plan to post the video soon.

Socialized Medicine and the Parable of the Talents

Many who want to socialize medicine and other aspects of American life and turn them over to government control have found themselves teachers who are willing to tell them what their itching ears want to hear. These ‘teachers’ say that our Christianity requires us to go along with this socialist agenda for the sake of the poor and needy.

One quick question: What do you do with the parable of the talents? In the parable of the talents God reprimanded the wicked lazy servant who hid his talent and refused to do anything with it. What he had was taken from him and given to the servant who was busy using his talent in a way his master was pleased with. Socialism does the opposite: It rewards the wicked, lazy servant by taking from those who are working diligently and giving what they’ve earned to those unwilling to work. That doesn't mean that every poor person is a lazy person, but there's no question that many fall into that category! If a person is disabled and can't provide for himself, I have no problem with a portion of my tax dollars going to help him. The truth is, my tithe dollars are already going to help many, many poor and needy people - and this is the Biblical context for helping the poor!

There’s no question that Christianity obligates us to help the poor. But there is nothing in the Bible that would suggest that assisting the poor should be something regulated by the government. You cannot regulate benevolence. It is an act of compassion motivated by God’s love.

The truth is, much of the poor in America have healthcare provided to them through charitable organizations, hospitals and clinics. Is it on par with the medical care others in this country have access to through health insurance policies or private wealth? No, but it is typically head and shoulders above any ‘health care’ provided in socialist nations. I’ve been there. I’ve seen their socialist health care system and believe me – We don’t want that in America!