Telling the Story Again

Once again we had the privilege of sharing The Real Story of Christmas this year at Crossroads Church. This was our seventh year to produce the show and we worked hard to scale our efforts after such an amazing response to the show last year. In order to reach even more people with the story, we expanded to two weekends and twelve showtimes - three on Saturday and three on Sunday the first two weekends of December. Our goal was to reach more people and make our crowds more safe and manageable. Last year we had several "standing room only" crowds and it was far from ideal. 

Our efforts paid off in some regards and failed in others. We did have a pretty major setback when the School Board decided not to allow us to put an invite in the hand of every child in the Parish like we have the past few years. However, that didn't prevent us from growing. This year over 15,000 people attended the show! More importantly, over 2,000 responded to the gospel! 

The premise of the show is so simple a child can understand it. The moment our main character - Grace Doll - admits she's broken and looks to the Toymaker for a new heart, the gospel comes alive for so many people and they immediately see themselves in the storyline and desire to become a part of the real story themselves! 

The aspect of our efforts that didn't work as well was spreading the crowds out over the twelve performances equally. The second weekends show were almost all at capacity, where the first weekend we had several shows that were pretty light. We are hoping next year, people will work with us on distributing the crowds more equally. We are considering offering online registration for seating as a measure to achieve this. If we are able to spread the crowds out, we literally could accommodate 20,000 people with our current schedule! 

Another real success for us this year was financing the outreach. It is very expensive! Over the past few years we have opened the show to sponsors, began selling concessions and merchandise and this year made a limited number of prime seats available for purchase. All this really paid off and allowed us to put on the production in the black! The reason this is so important is because, by underwriting the outreach we are able to tell the story again and again! 

Elsie Willow

We are so blessed to welcome the newest addition to our beloved family! Little Elsie Willow arrived just after midnight on December 17th! Weighing in at 8.7 pounds and 20" long, she is bigger than Ezekiel at birth - a wonderfully healthy baby girl! 

Her mom and dad are head over heals in love with her, Poppy and Lovey are completely smitten, Uncle Chase is already securely tied around her little finger and big brother Ezekiel thinks she's the cutest!

I love that she was born on the 17th! My birthday is January 17th. Similarly, Robin's birthday is January 8th and Ezekiel's is February 8th. Donna's birthday is September 11th and Chase's is February 11th. I don't know if I like this for sentimental reasons, or it just makes it easier to remember! 😁

We are so thankful for this little bundle of joy and so grateful for the blessing of enjoying our children's children.  

Get Back

A while back, Donna and I watched a documentary produced by Peter Jackson, the director best known for his work with The Lord of the Rings series. The special, which streamed on The Disney Plus platform, was called "Get Back." It featured footage that had been shot in 1969 during The Beatles recording of their last record. The plan then was to create a television special that would air at the same time the record would be released. That plan never materialized and a large televised concert became Plan 'B.' That too was scraped and the closest thing they came to producing, in the way of film, was the now famous impromptu rooftop concert above their Apple Record Studios in London. Jackson took all that footage and created this new documentary and it is nothing less than fascinating. 

Much has been written about the infighting that was going on during those final weeks of the band and you certainly feel the tension to a degree. However, you also see the friendship, camaraderie and respect the boys had for one another. They were British, so even their squabbles are filled with good manners and self restraint. 

One of the most spectacular aspects of the documentary is watching the construction of these famous songs. While producers, engineers, attorneys and tech crews are sitting around discussing the television special, the album, the concert and the like - Paul McCartney is over in the corner writing "Let It Be" - arguably one of the greatest songs of all time. As the cameras roll, we see Paul come in with the early workings of "Get Back" where, originally the JoJo character in the song had a last name - JoJo Jackson! We watch George Harrison introduce his idea for "Something In the Way She Moves" and we hear him ask John for advise on writing the line "attracts me like no other lover." Since he doesn't have those words yet, John encourages him to just use words that fit until he gets it. Suggesting, "Moves me like a cauliflower!" Their writing process is mesmerizing! 

I've always enjoyed the Beatles music, although it was released much earlier than my impressionable years. There is no arguing the point that their music laid the foundation for modern popular music. Getting to see some of that music created in this way was a real treat! Thank you Mr. Jackson!

Celebrating Pastor Denny

This past week we had the privilege of participating in the celebration of Pastor Denny Duron's 70th birthday. We traveled north to Shreveport and attended the Sunday morning service at SCC where Pastor Denny's daughter, Dawn Cherie Wilkerson preached a message that needs to be heard in every church around the world called A Hill to Die On. The Katina's were there leading worship. I haven't heard the brothers in a long time. They still got it! So talented! We enjoyed the service and then got to hang out with the Duron family and their close friends at a luncheon held at the church. 

That evening the place was packed out as Pastor Denny's children and grandchildren all shared what this amazing man has meant to them and sang songs that Pastor Denny has written, along with some of his all time favorites. It was magical! Pastor Denny has led such an amazing life! Along with winning national championships and preaching around the world, he is a Grammy Award winning songwriter!

I love Pastor Denny so much and Donna and I are so thankful that he and Deanza are a part of our lives. Their friendship has meant so much to us and their leadership has helped shaped who we are, how we live and how we love. 

While trying to think of the right gift to give a man who has it all on his 70th birthday I thought of getting him a Mont Blanc pen. I thought a fine writing instrument was the perfect gift for him to use to begin writing his memoirs - but then I realized, no - he will be using this pen to journal all the amazing things God will continue to do in and through his life! 

I even got the commemorative T-shirt!