A Horn, A Drum, And A Gun
Loading ...By Ed Crumley
In the early years of my life, at least the ones I can remember, I wanted the same three things every Christmas: a horn, a drum, and a gun. Not sure why. We were in the midst of World War II, so at least the gun could’ve had something to do with the war. Maybe I wanted the musical instruments to make my war games sound more dramatic. Or, perhaps I could blame Roy Rogers, our musical cowboy hero, who always got the bad guys with his nickel-plated revolvers blazing.
During those times you couldn’t buy many toys, so Dad made Christmas presents for us. He got out his tools and built things out of wood. Big things like a rocking boat or a rocking horse complete with mane, bridal, and saddle. Those were fine secondary gifts as long as the three required items mentioned above also came in Santa’s bag.
In later years, our Christmas present requests migrated more toward clothes. My brother and I both had to have SMU football jerseys with the number 37, the number of our local hero, Doak Walker. I don’t know why Ken couldn’t have had some lesser player’s number instead. In junior high, my gift request reflected fashion. There was a cool kid at school who was the original Fonz. I had to have the same jacket and scarf that he wore. Funny, but when I put them on, I didn’t look like The Fonz.
Microwave Stalactites
By Rhonda Rhea
I opened the door to the microwave to reheat my coffee a few mornings ago, and then realized I just didn’t want to put it in there. Ew. Before the coffee was going in, somebody was going to have to clean out that microwave. It looked like someone had a tiny little ticker tape parade. So much food-confetti, so little space. Worst of all, there were a couple of spaghetti sauce stalactites in there. I like my coffee with lots of sweetener and plenty of creamer. But call me picky, I like it completely without spaghetti sauce drippings. And speaking of “picky,” I thought I might actually need a pickaxe to get to the root of some of those stalactites. Do they make a microwave cleaner that has dynamite as its main component?
Life can be a little like my microwave. Anytime I’m wondering why it doesn’t taste as sweet, I really have to look at what I might be hanging onto, stalactite-style. Hanging onto self-centeredness, bitterness, laziness—any of those kinds of things—will zap the deliciousness right out of life.
“There Goes Bob” Video Series Tackles Major Issue for Churches
(Nashville, TN) – According to the book The Unchurched Next Door, over 82% of non-church goers would attend if asked by a friend yet only 2% of church attendees actually invite friends to church. After learning of this dichotomy, professional dramatist Chuck Neighbors decided to tackle the subject head-on through the medium he knows best – drama. But rather than his usual one-man shows, Neighbors wrote a script with video in mind and produced the new “There Goes Bob” video series. The response has been immediate.
“We have had churches tell us they use the video beyond even their services,” says Neighbors. “One church emailed the video to their entire congregation to encourage them to ask friends and neighbors to Sunday services. We’ve been really astonished at the incredible response.”
“Chuck captured our imagination with his true-to-life vignettes about ‘Bob’ and his neighbor,” says Pastor Jon Karn, Light on the Corner church in Montrose, California. “I pastor a congregation of ‘Bobs.’ I can’t help but think that the on-going saga of ‘Bob’ and his neighbor just may help liberate our congregation from the notion that church is for us, not them. I am praying that the evolving story of ‘There Goes Bob’ will help our flock to see their neighbors as people who are eager to come to church, if only someone would ask them.”
Though Neighbors still prefers the live drama setting, he also recognizes the immediacy and convenience that a video series can bring. “The language of our culture is entertainment and the combination of drama and media is an excellent way to speak that language,” he says.
Master’s Image Productions, under the direction of Neighbors, has grown from its first one-man drama, an adaptation of the best-selling book In His Steps, to national prominence as a leader in church drama ministry over the past 25 years. Master’s Image has performed and taught at conferences, conventions, retreats, colleges, churches, and organizations including the U.S. Military, Focus on the Family, Moody Radio, National Creative Arts Festival, among many others. The company’s productions are designed for worship services, dinner theaters and special events. In addition to touring productions, the ministry offers training and consulting for church drama ministries, published scripts, and guest services such as directing and play writing.
Though Master’s Image operates as a non-profit themselves, Neighbors has partnered with World Vision for nearly a decade, sponsoring over 4,000 children and becoming the relief organization’s number one producing drama artist. Neighbors is set to travel to Uganda in January with World Vision, marking his third trip to Africa and fifth trip overseas with World Vision.
Neighbors is currently touring in a new one-man show based on the parables entitled “Not the Way I Heard It.” The 50-minute presentation is a modern-day retelling of five biblical parables. “Jesus was the master storyteller,” says Neighbors. “I wanted to keep the integrity of the original parable intact, yet bring new insights and perspectives for today’s audiences. It has been exciting to see people rediscovering these stories through this drama.”
For the holiday season, Neighbors will again be performing one of Master’s Image’s most popular shows, “Merry Christmas Mr. Jones.” All of Neighbors’ dramas are original works, and have spawned several books over the years including his “how-to guide” for drama ministry, Drama Now. Neighbors recently contributed to the Lillenas Publishing project, Real Time, a collection of original short scripts on topics such as hope, adoption, freedom from abuse, God’s answers, abandonment, divorce, and depression.
2009 marks the 25th anniversary of Master’s Image Productions, and to celebrate the occasion, Neighbors is offering a free performance of his newest production, “Not The Way I Heard It.” Churches can simply log into the company’s website at MastersImage.com to vie for the free offer. On January 4th, 2010 one church will be chosen at random to receive the special performance.
To view the “There Goes Bob” videos, visit www.MastersImage.com
Chuck Neighbors is an expert on current trends in drama and arts ministry and is available for interviews or guest editorials. He is also available to do on-air, broadcast performances of his various dramas.
For interviews with Chuck, contact: Gina@AdamsPRGroup.com, or 888-253-3622.
DELIRIOUS? FAREWELL CONCERT IN LONDON TO BE BROADCAST WORLDWIDE DEC. 27 ON GOD TV
Broadcast Previews Live Farewell CD/DVD Scheduled To Release May 2010
History Makers: Greatest Hits CD Garners Acclaim
Nashville, TN (December 4, 2009) –The UK-based, RIAA Certified Gold-selling, GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award winning band Delirious? played its final, farewell concert at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo Nov. 29. Although sold-out well in advance, fans of Delirious? will be able to see highlights of this historic concert as GOD TV was there and captured exclusive footage to share with its worldwide audience. As part of a full evening of programming to recognize the band’s many achievements, a three-hour “Delirious? Night” is scheduled for broadcast on GOD TV Sunday, Dec. 27 at 9:30 p.m. (EST) with a replay on Monday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. (EST). (Check your local listings.)
As a precursor to a Delirious? farewell live CD/DVD from the London concert scheduled to release in May 2010 from Kingsway, “Delirious? Night” on GOD TV will include footage from the live concert and the network’s youth presenters Chip-K and Emma Owen interviewing the band’s lead vocalist Martin Smith, guitarist Stu G, keyboardist Tim Jupp, bassist Jon Thatcher and drummer Paul Evans, who took over for Delirious? founding member Stew Smith in 2008. The program will also include a video countdown of the Top 10 Delirious? songs of all time, as voted by GOD TV viewers. GOD TV’s potential viewing audience of half-a-billion viewers worldwide is being encouraged to visit the network’s website to choose their favorite track out of 15 songs the band has short-listed. The online poll at www.god.tv/delirious closes on Dec. 15.
VeggieTales: Saint Nicholas—A Story of Joyful Giving To Be Featured This Week on FOX & Friends, Huckabee,
Stay Tuned for Television Appearances by GRAMMY Award-winning Amy Grant and Acclaimed Sparrow Records Singer/Songwriter Matthew West in Support of Saint Nicholas and Operation Christmas Child!
⇒ Tune in for these special guest appearances/interviews by Amy Grant and Matthew West:
•FOX & Friends Morning Show – Interview with Amy Grant – (Live) Friday, December 4. Amy Grant will discuss her involvement with the all-new song and current radio single “Give This Christmas Away,” penned by Matthew West and performed by West and Grant for the VeggieTales: Saint Nicholas Christmas DVD!
•Huckabee, Fox News Channel – Matthew West’s and Amy Grant’s live performance of “Give This Christmas Away” will air Saturday, December 5 and re-air Sunday, December 6.
